BBC Radio Ulster's Gardeners' Corner celebrates 40 years on air
To help mark the occasion David Maxwell will present a special garden party recorded at Maurice Parkinson's Ballyrobert cottage garden.
The first episode of Gardeners' Corner was presented by Libby Hunter on Saturday 29 June,1985. Cherrie McIlwaine took over as lead presenter and was its familiar (and much loved) voice for the best part of three decades. The show has also seen many guest presenters over the years, including Helen Mark who has had a long term connection with the show. David Maxwell has been the programme's Head Gardening Enthusiast since September 2017.
Gardening on the local BBC airwaves began in April 1937 – making it a real broadcast perennial.
Gardeners' Corner offers a mix of garden-related advice, stories and news. It tracks the seasons and has something for every type of garden enthusiast – and garden!
David Maxwell said: 'Over the last 40 years, Gardeners' Corner has become an established part of the BBC Radio Ulster schedule. Its enduring appeal owes much to our expert contributors and the programme's relationship with its listeners. Together, we've created a garden of the airwaves that never ceases to delight, whatever the time of year.'
Gardeners' Corner on Saturday 28 June will feature listeners' gardening questions from throughout the years, past contributors and plenty of archive material, including from Cherrie McIlwaine.
To mark 40 years on air, Gardeners' Corner has also had a daffodil named in its honour. Narcissus Gardeners' Corner, is white with a pink trumpet, and was produced by world-renowned breeder Brian Duncan at his home near Omagh.
In 2022 the programme won the prestigious national Garden Media Guild award of Radio Broadcast of the Year for its broadcast special on the Victorian gardener William Robinson.
The 40th Birthday show will be on BBC Radio Ulster on Saturday 28 June from 9am with every episode available on BBC Sounds.
Listen to Gardener's Corner on BBC Sounds
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