There’s an abiding and undeniable pleasure in seeing how other people live – and arguably, nowhere is that more revealing than in the garden. By definition, more organic, these are spaces shaped slowly, over years – created with skill, love, talent and often a soupcon of luck. We are delighted, then, that a new podcast from the Royal Horticultural Society has arrived to dig deeper into that idea.
Roots is a twice-monthly podcast hosted by Jo Whiley, who brings a gentle curiosity to conversations with a roster of well-known names across food, television and horticulture. The premise is simple but effective: to step inside the gardens that matter to them, and to understand what those spaces reveal about their lives.
The result focuses less on notions of grand design and more on the experience both accrued via the garden and expressed within it. These are working, evolving places shaped by family life, professional pressures and the simple trial and error that defines so many people's relationship with plants.
The opening episode features the ever-delightful Richard E. Grant, whose south-west London garden draws on a childhood spent in Eswatini. It is, by all accounts, an idiosyncratic space: evergreen, layered and dotted with relics from past film projects. It's also a genuinely lived-in garden – one that has hosted family gatherings, weddings and, happily, the occasional late-night party.
Subsequent episodes promise a similarly varied mix, with contributors including Dame Judi Dench, Mary Berry, Alan Titchmarsh and Nigel Slater. We can't wait to nosy around the outdoor spaces of these cultural titans – but more than that, there is also a practical thread running through each episode. Guests are invited to put their own gardening dilemmas to RHS experts – a useful counterpoint to the more reflective elements, and a reminder that even the most seasoned enthusiasts are still working things out as they go.
It makes for companionable listening: the sort of podcast to have on while potting seedlings, walking the dog or idly planning what to do with a neglected corner of the garden.
Podcasts To Pair It With
The Country House Podcast
A natural companion. Expect conversations that move between interiors, gardens and the vagaries of country life, with a similarly unhurried sensibility. Listen to The Country House Podcast.
The House Guest
Hosted by Carole Annett, this brings designers, makers and tastemakers into the mix. Slightly more interiors-led, but full of ideas that translate easily to the home. We enjoyed recent episodes with Tom Dixon, as well as Lucinda Chambers and Serena Hood. Listen to The House Guest Podcast.
grow cook eat arrange
A charming podcast from Sarah Raven, grow cook eat arrange is garden-focused but, as its title suggests, comes with a hearty helping of lifestyle content too. Featuring excellent guests, from the impossible not to love Arthur Parkinson to Milli Proust, it is the perfect gentle pod for slow Sundays. Listen to grow cook eat arrange Podcast.
FAQs: RHS's Roots Podcast
What is the RHS Roots podcast about?
Roots is a new twice-monthly podcast from the Royal Horticultural Society, exploring the personal gardens of well-known figures. It's less about perfection and more about the stories, memories and trial-and-error that shape these spaces.
Who hosts Roots?
The podcast is hosted by Jo Whiley, whose relaxed, inquisitive style keeps conversations feeling intimate rather than overly polished.
Who features on the podcast?
Expect a strong line-up, including Richard E. Grant, Mary Berry, Dame Judi Dench, Alan Titchmarsh and Nigel Slater—each offering a glimpse into the gardens that matter most to them.
Is Roots suitable for beginner gardeners?
Very much so. Alongside the storytelling, each episode includes practical advice from RHS experts, making it as useful for novices as it is enjoyable for seasoned gardeners.
Where can I listen to the RHS Roots podcast?
Episodes are available via major platforms including Apple Podcasts, with accompanying video content on YouTube for a more visual look at the gardens themselves.
