Seeds and plants firm Thompson & Morgan is to feature in the Great British Garden Revival show on BBC2 on Monday, January 13.

Series co-presenter Christine Walkden filmed at the company’s trial grounds near Ipswich last August and met with new product development manager Michael Perry.

“We chatted about the decline of busy Lizzies due to disease and about new alternatives which are now available to replace this bedding staple”, said Michael.

“Through its breeding programme, Thompson & Morgan is constantly striving to offer bigger, better and stronger plants. Bedding is still very much in vogue – it’s usually the focal point of many British gardens.”

The 10-part series, which Christine Walken hosts alongside Toby Buckland, aims to bring together Britain’s top television gardening talent to inspire viewers to save the rich garden heritage of the nation.

Michal added that, during her visit, Christine was keen to talk about ways that plants have evolved over time and been transformed into the plants that 21st Century gardeners are growing.

“Viewers should look out for the quirky way in which this is demonstrated in the programme”, he added. “I’m not allowed to give the game away, but it was fun filming this part.”

Also in Monday’s episode, Toby Buckland talks about how he wants to put home-grown fruit back into Britain’s gardens. He’ll be giving tips and advice on how easy it is to plant and care for fruit trees. Christine Walkden promotes the case for maintaining the heritage of ornamental bedding and also demonstrates how to grow geraniums from cuttings.