News

Access-all-areas as garden partnership blooms

(6 September 2007)

DURHAM University is to host an iconic national radio show which will capture the imagination of the region’s green-fingered enthusiasts.

The renowned team of horticulturalists from BBC Radio 4’s Gardeners’ Question Time (GQT) is making a rare trip to the region to record the latest edition of the programme which will be recorded from 5pm on Monday September 17 and broadcast on Sunday 30th. September at 2.00pm. The producers of the long-running programme, which was first broadcast in 1947, accepted an invitation from Durham University to bring its famous question forum to the region to mark the University’s 175th Anniversary celebrations. The event on Monday 17 September will be held at the Sir James Knott Hall at Trevelyan College – just a stone’s throw from the University’s award-winning Botanic Garden – one of the North East’s most popular cultural attractions. Aside from its role as a guardian of the Botanic Garden, the University has many illustrious gardening connections with regular GQT panellist Pippa Greenwood and Eden Project founder Tim Smit both Durham graduates and famous botanist, broadcaster and writer, David Bellamy, a former member of staff. The University’s new Vice-Chancellor, Professor Chris Higgins was himself a botany student at Durham in the 1970s. He said: “Durham University is delighted to play host to such an iconic national programme and news of the event has already captured the imagination of the community. The popularity of our Botanic Garden is an indication of the passion and interest in gardening that exists in the region and this event will provide an opportunity for gardeners of all abilities to receive some tips and guidance from a renowned panel of experts. “As the University continues to mark its 175th anniversary, this event provides another opportunity to welcome the wider community to join in our celebrations.” A very limited number of tickets are available for the recording on Monday 17th September. For information visit www.durham.ac.uk/175 or contact the University’s Development office on Tel: 0191 334 6300 / Email nicky.sawicki@durham.ac.uk