00:00So we're here in Market Drayton at Riverside Garden and beautiful it is and
00:05it's the work of you guys, what's your names folks? Sue and Eric Harrison.
00:10How long have you lived here? 26, 27 years. Yeah and it's this garden as we see it
00:16it's all your work isn't it? It wasn't like this when you moved in. No it wasn't, not at all.
00:21So have you always been into gardening? Yeah I suppose so, yeah yeah but not
00:28as much as we bought the house for the garden. Yeah. Because I wanted the garden.
00:32And it's gone, it's one of those, we'll put a couple of shrubs in and then a
00:36couple more and then before you know it you've got, it must take up a lot of time
00:41to maintain it because it's a big plot isn't it? It does, yeah. They call it the
00:45green gym though don't they? Well yeah, yeah it is, it is very much. Any particular
00:50favourite spots in the garden? The woodland I love, I love the feel of the
00:56woodland, I love the feel of here for a drink in an evening. So there's all
01:01different areas that you you go to each time of the year. Yeah. The hosta garden
01:07in the spring because it's full of snow drops. Yeah. So, so you've opened
01:12previously for Macmillan that you do some work for, fundraising. Yeah. And this
01:18year's been your first year with the NGS. Yeah, it is. So how's it gone for you? It's
01:22gone very well, it's gone very well. We've had people come that are really keen
01:26gardeners, interested but they've also supported us for Macmillan and they've
01:31been very generous. Yeah, yeah. So you think you'll be on the NGS list next
01:36year, is that the plan? Yeah, yeah. So this year you'll be opening, not this, what's
01:41the date you're opening? We're opening on the 15th of September, that's the last
01:45one for this year. Yeah, yeah. And then there's dates to be confirmed for next year,
01:50we'll confirm them later. And that's the third of your openings for the year
01:55isn't it? Yeah, yeah. So has it been nice going, you know, getting, being in your
01:59garden, even the, oh wow, and even the reactions. Yeah, it's been nice to chat to people. Yeah.
02:05You know. Just the stress from the month before. Just getting, all the getting it
02:10ready like, yeah, yeah. So you've give yourself free, lots of stress haven't you
02:14Yeah, we have, we have. And cakes, making cakes. Yeah, yeah. People do travel though, don't they, with the NGS's, you know.
02:21Always, always. Yeah, they do come some distance. Yeah. So, so who's the garden designer then?
02:27Who's, who's kind of the brains, is that you Sue? Me, well me, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And Eric, any
02:34particular favourite spot for yourself in the garden? Well, cutting the grass is about
02:38my thing. We've, we've said you've had a few nice times in this little building here,
02:46we've had a glass of wine in the evening, it's a nice spot to relax isn't it? Yeah, yeah it is.
02:51Yeah. Have you ventured round to any, any other gardens around Shropshire? We've been to a few
02:55this year haven't we? Yeah, yeah. Friend opens don't they? Yeah, and my friend opens as well.
03:01Oh yeah, who's your friend then? Chris Brown, she opens her garden. What's her garden called?
03:05Um, oh. Is it in Market Drayton or? It's just outside. Near Hodgman. Lockley Wood is it? Lockley
03:12Wood. Okay. Yeah, yeah, we'll look out for it. She opened. Yeah, yeah. For the second year she opened.
03:17Yeah. Yeah. So when you've curated such a magical garden, you can never leave this house now can
03:23you? You're tied to it aren't you? That's the problem, yes. Yeah, that is the problem. Yeah.
03:28Yeah, yeah. I mean, it's a good size house but yeah, you're tied to it aren't you now? This is
03:33it, you know what I mean? You're not starting again with another 20-year garden project are you?
03:37No, no. I don't think we should somewhere, a nice little bungalow. Yeah. Well maybe, pass this one on,
03:43you can just pay a fiver and come and visit on an open day. Come and visit myself, yeah, yeah.
03:48Well thank you for inviting us to your garden, it really is magical. So many little paths and
03:54little gardens and like you say, that wooden section, you look to all of a sudden you're in
03:58a different world aren't you really? Yeah, a different feeling completely. Yeah, yeah.
04:02And I'm just relaxing here listening to the rail in the background. Yeah. Beautiful. Well thank you
04:07very much and good luck with your third and final opening for the year folks. Thank you, thank you
04:11very much, thank you.
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