The Journey: Hosting BBC Gardeners’ Question Time at Newland Allotments

The Team

Once the venue was confirmed, we completed the necessary paperwork and began organising the event. Our Newland Allotments team led the way in managing the logistics:

• Nathan Lockwood (Chairperson)

• George Stanfield (Vice Chairperson)

• Kurtis Moore (Treasurer)

• Daniel Smales (Secretary)

• Jeanette Wood, Julie Waudby, Shaunna Moore, and Suzanne Brown (Committee Members)

Promoting the Event to the Hull Community

Promotion was a crucial part of making this event a success. Working closely with BBC Humberside, alongside Doug Stewart and Fiona Mills, we ensured that the event received local media attention. Daniel Smales took the lead on designing all marketing materials and promoting the event on social media, including Facebook, Instagram, and Threads. We also engaged with local gardening groups, spreading the word within the wider Hull community.

One of the key objectives of the event was to raise awareness about Newland Allotments. Despite being a historic and vital part of Hull’s community, many people were unaware of the scale and impact of our allotments. This event gave us the opportunity to introduce ourselves to a broader audience, many of whom hadn’t known that the allotment site even existed. It was great to see so many people take an interest in our work.

The Day of the Event: Set-Up and Excitement

The event took place on Tuesday, 10th September 2024, and the day kicked off with early preparations. Setup began at 1 PM, with the BBC sound engineers arriving to set up their equipment at Middleton Hall. As the afternoon progressed, the production crew and panellists arrived to prepare for the evening's recording.

Here was the timeline for the event:

• 1:00 PM BBC sound engineers arrived and began setting up.

• 4:30 PM – Production crew, presenter, and panellists arrived.

• 5:00 PM – Doors open, guests enter and view the displays.

• 6:00 PM – The first recording of Gardeners’ Question Time.

• 7:00 PM – The second show was recorded.

• 8:00 PM – The event wrapped up with guests mingling and taking photos with the BBC presenters and panellists.

Nathaniels Allotments

Alongside the BBC, some of our local projects and charities helped set the scene. Bakersville Allotment and Let’s Talk (part of the Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust) provided an engaging backdrop, displaying the incredible community work that takes place at Newland Allotments. One highlight was Nathaniels Allotment, which showcased a beautiful display of produce alongside photographs documenting their allotment's journey from its early days to present success. Nathaniels Allotment goal with this display is to inspire more people in the Hull community to try their hand at vegetable gardening. The display demonstrated how accessible and rewarding growing your own produce can be, with the hope that attendees walked away feeling motivated to start or expand their own vegetable gardens.

For Newland Allotments, this is more than just a display, it’s a chance to share the joy of gardening with the wider community, promoting sustainable living and a closer connection to nature.

The Panel: Gardening Experts Take the Stage

The BBC Gardeners’ Question Time panel was made up of some of the UK’s leading experts in gardening. These panellists provided invaluable insights throughout the evening:

• Kathy Clugston, our presenter, expertly guided the conversation and ensured a lively discussion.

• Matthew Pottage, curator of the Royal Parks and Downing Street Gardens, shared his knowledge on maintaining historic and public spaces.

• Bunny Guinness, a celebrated landscape gardener and regular at the Chelsea Flower Show, provided advice on garden design and management.

• Marcus Chilton-Jones, from RHS Garden Wisley, contributed his expertise in plant care and horticultural trends.

Capturing the Moment - A Packed House

One of the most memorable aspects of the BBC Gardeners’ Question Time event was the incredible turnout from the community. The audience, as seen in the photo, filled the auditorium at Middleton Hall, creating a vibrant and energetic atmosphere, with a room full of passionate gardeners and members of the Hull community, all coming together to celebrate the love of gardening. We are so grateful for the enthusiasm and support shown by everyone who attended. 

We’d like to extend a massive thank you to everyone who made the effort to attend and contribute to the success of the evening. Your presence helped make this event truly special, and we’re proud to have been able to share this experience with you all. We are growing a stronger, more connected gardening community!