英国皇家园艺（下）“Royal Gardens of the UK (Part 3) #DailyLife #Film #Documentary” #生活记录 #电影 #纪录片

Every year, across the UK, more than 300,000 volunteers dig for victory. Ants! Whoops! In a competition that's now half a century old. It's Britain in Bloom. Look at your garden. It's like a show garden. Run by the Royal Horticultural Society, it's the UK's biggest gardening contest. Some of these weeds are bigger than me. We're not looking for manicured lions. Only about another 2,000 plants to put in. But it's about so much more than just flowers. Just make sure his bottom's clean. As proud bloomers, young and old, come together... One, two, three, Bloom! ...to show that where they live is worthy of recognition. The last time I was here, there was nothing but a birdbath in it. It is about winning. It isn't just about taking part. I'm Chris Bavin. Hello, garden gang. Hello, Chris! As a former flower trader, I know my blooms. And in this series... I'll be following 15 communities right through till judging day, when only one thing matters. If you did get gold, what would that mean to you? Everything. Will they win bronze, silver, or that all-important gold? Nothing out of place, because they pick up on everything. I reckon we're going to get a gold pack. Gold! I'm in Tewkesbury, an old mill town that's home to an iconic Norman Abbey and many beautiful, historic buildings. Situated in North Gloucestershire, Tewkesbury stands at the confluence of the River Severn, the River Avon, and two minor tributaries. That means the best way to see this town is by boat. Beautiful swans, ducks, the lily pads, the light reflecting off the river, so beautiful. The waters surrounding Tewkesbury are incredibly lovely, but there's a dark side to this beauty. Every year, these rivers rise and flood the town. I'm going to meet a group of committed gardeners to find out why they put so much of their energies into entering Bloom, when every year, all their efforts literally get washed away. On the quay to meet me is Tewkesbury and Bloom's committee, headed up by Chairman John Badham. What a fabulous part of the world. We're very lucky because we live in one of the most beautiful, historic market towns anywhere in the kingdom. How long have you been entering Bloom? We started 26 years ago. For the first five years, we didn't get anything at all. For the last 10 years, we've had the gold. Wow. OK, that's fairly serious. The last 10 years, you've got gold in Britain in Bloom? Yes. That's brilliant, isn't it? So tell me about the floods then. It floods to some degree or another every year, doesn't it? Well, we have four rivers, which means that when we have floods, we tend to have them pretty extreme here. So it seems that nature's working against you. What makes you continue to enter Bloom? I think the whole thing enhances the whole experience of Tewkesbury. It looks like there's a... we care for the town, and we do. It's also a great way of getting community together. Even if you don't achieve what you hope to achieve, the process of doing it is worthwhile. My name is John Badham. I'm chairman of Shooksbury in Bloom. I know absolutely nothing about gardening. Well, I'm quite good at weeding, providing I'm told what is a weed and what is not a flower. I'm involved because I believe this is a wonderful vehicle for getting the community involved. And that's really what it's all about. This year, the Tewkesbury bloomers have come up with an ambitious post-flood plan that focuses on three key areas. Their centrepiece is Victoria Gardens, a public park that floods every winter. In spring, volunteers clean it up. But now they're taking on the mammoth task of making it shine with colour all summer. Stage two takes place on the outskirts of town, on the nature reserve. On this flood plain, the bloomers have to battle the elements to create an environmental haven for the local community. Finally, they need to make sure the centre of town is crammed with colour. Every shopfront and planter needs to be overflowing with flowers. Heading up stage one is Dawn Hunt, who wants to show me how flooding affects the community here. The field over there is the flood plain and is often full of water. And sometimes we get jet skiers over there. Do you? Over on the field, you get jet skiers over there? Yeah. This town floods every year, mostly in the winter. However, in July 2007, Tewkesbury experienced the worst flooding in a century. The whole area was completely cut off and 50,000 homes and businesses were underwater for days. Dawn's house, like many others, was devastated. The mark here is where the flood came up to in 2007. Blimey. It must be heartbreaking to see, you know, the water cascading into your house. We weren't too sure which things we would lose, but you lose everything, basically. So, for ten months, we lived upstairs. Wow. So, tiny little fridge, little mini oven, microwave. But most people were out of their houses six months. How did the community in Tewkesbury all pull together and try and make it work? Well, they did pull together. I had loads of people coming round to me, giving me the keys to their house and telling me that their address was such-and-such and if I wanted to use a washing machine or go for a shower or something. And then people turned up with curries and stews and all of our furniture was out the front, so we had communal barbecues down the front. So, you really made the best of it and tried to put a positive sort of angle on it. You realise how wonderful people are. It was this positive community spirit that led Dawn and a group of residents to rescue the local riverside park from wrack and ruin. This is Victoria Gardens. It floods every year, at least once. And in 2007, it was the final straw for the Borough Council, so they gave up on it. And we, as locals, decided to take it on ourselves. That's tremendous. Two of the dedicated volunteers who maintain Victoria Gardens are Kitty and Colin. They're making a star on the feature bed for their bloom entry this year. And I've been asked to lend a hand. Very good. So, you do lots of hard work throughout the year and then see all your hard work get washed away. That's right, and then we have to clear all the paths afterwards because they're covered in silt. Literally, you're covering the whole park. Yes, yeah. One of the achievements which, as a town, I think we're all very proud of is what's happened to Victoria Gardens. It's gone from a field to a beautiful park in a decade because of a few volunteers. It's wonderful. Well, the first year we did these beds, after the flood had gone, we came and all the topsoil, everything had gone with the water all down the river. So, you have to use specific things to be able to cope with the constant flooding. What sort of things work here? Hydrangeas, roses. They don't mind being flooded. It's gone from being completely neglected by the local authority to being... A good attraction for the town. One of the judges said to us, there are two jewels in this town, Victoria Gardens and the Abbey, and that's how you get your gold. It's amazing to see what the bloomers have achieved here. But to impress the judges, they need to create a gold-standard garden from these empty beds. On the edge of town, there's a site that's even more impressive in scale. It's the Community Nature Reserve, and it's looked after by Les Buchanan. The reserve is land that floods. And in 2007, the water would have been well over the top of our heads here. Would it? The Nature Reserve is a natural flood barrier. And it's stage two of Tewkesbury's bloom plan. We've spent a lot of time and effort trying to alleviate the flooding by making ponds which hold the water longer so that it cuts down the amount of water going into the town. And the last three years, it's actually played a part in being judged for Britain in Bloom? Yes, I think that it fits a lot of the criteria that Britain in Bloom are looking for. It's run by volunteers, it was instigated by volunteers. And it's very much to do with the environment. This looks massive. How big is it? Well, you can see from here that it extends for more than 100 acres. How on earth do you show the judges around 100 acres of land? Well, it's difficult. This year, we're actually hoping we'll be able to take the judges on a helicopter trip. You're planning to send the judges up in a helicopter? Absolutely. Brilliant. With so much to show the judges here, it's no wonder the sky's the limit for this lot. One part of the nature reserve is a community orchard. And working here today are Larry and Joanna. Over the last two or three years, we've planted apple, pear and plum trees. So the schoolchildren came down and actually did the planting. And they would then take some ownership of their tree and look after it. Oh, wow. The weeds have grown so high here, you can hardly see the 30 heritage fruit trees they've planted. So the volunteers are busy practising the ancient art of scything. So why are you using this? Why are you not using a strimmer or something far easier? It's much more environmentally friendly. We don't have to use any petrol, so there's no fumes, there's no noise. And we can hear the birds singing while we're doing it. You haven't got to do this whole area, have you, surely? Yeah, we will be doing this whole area, yes. Looks like there's lots of work to do, so I'd better have a go at scything. Let's hope I can cut it. Ideal is the blade skims along the ground. Yeah, OK. It's as easy as that. Piece of cake. Brilliant. OK, here we go. Keep the blade closer to the ground. I think pole darts job's safe. It's fantastic for your core. Yeah, and it's the forearms. I'm feeling it in. I don't know if that means I'm doing it wrong, but it's hard work, isn't it? 20 minutes of scything is enough for me. We've cleared half the orchard, but they've got to finish the whole place before judging day. The nature reserve is a wonderful community space that looks set to tick those environmental boxes for the bloom judges, just as long as all this hard work isn't flooded before judging day. In the town centre, John wants to show me stage three of the grand plan from an interesting vantage point, the abbey. It's amazing, isn't it? That's the largest Romanesque tower in England, even in Europe. Is it really? Absolutely. And we're going up it. Are we? Up there? Yeah, it's a long way. This 12th-century abbey has long been at the heart of the community. Indeed, the townsfolk of Tewksbury saved the building from destruction by purchasing it for £453 from King Henry VIII. 222 steps to go. Keeps you fit, this. Wow. Every time I come up here, it amazes me, the view. Look at that. This is incredible. I mean, you've got a beautiful view for miles and miles, haven't you? How important is bloom for the residents of Tewksbury? Over there are the Cotswolds, which is perhaps, after London, the richest area of England. Tewksbury doesn't benefit so much from that extraordinary wealth. A lot of people, their jobs depend on the tourist industry, they depend on the locality, and if you improve the local economy, you improve the people's lives. You improve their morale. I think they're all linked. It's a very special community. It's a real town with all sorts of people who are really committed to this place. I understand now why a show-stopping display in the town centre is key here. Above all, I take my hat off to these resilient bloomers who come out every year after the floods recede to make their town look splendid. One man who's been charting Tewksbury's progress over the years is Judge Roger Bache. I've judged Tewksbury for six years. Tewksbury's a place that's a quintessential market town. Lots of stuff going on from a tourist point of view, lots of history, so it's a bit of a chocolate-box place on the face of it, but beneath all that is the effort from the volunteer groups, and it's a wonderful place to be. Everyone has its challenges. Their biggest threat, of course, is that ubiquitous flood and that river. It's now only seven weeks until judging day, and there's plenty of work to do. Despite some rather ominous clouds, the volunteers are making a start blooming up Victoria Gardens. So, this is the grand plan. Basically, we sit and work it out on the back of a fag packet and then we order it from there. Dawn and Kitty's grand plan involves planting up the three large beds with a bold blue and orange colour scheme. We're going to do a ring of Blue Salvia, and then take the template out. It grows very tall. It lasts all through the summer. It's a very, very dependable flower. The bloomers have taken delivery of 1,500 plants, and it's essential the whole place is packed with flowers. So, they've put a call out for volunteers. It's all hard work, all hands to the pump, and it will look lovely when it's finished. It looks a bit of a mess at the moment, but it will look lovely. Even the youngest members of the bloom team are helping clean up the last remnants of this year's flooding. Normally, when the floods come, lots and lots of muck and slime and algae get on the tree. They need to be cleaned so they can breathe. Meanwhile, in the centre of town, stage three of Tewkesbury's plan is coming along. Colourful flags are going up along the length of the high street, and the local flower club kids have been tasked with renovating some tired old troughs with planting and a fresh coat of paint. We've chosen really bright colours to catch people's eyes and hopefully get a golden Britain in bloom. Back at Victoria Gardens, those beds look like they're taking shape. This looks good. Yeah, doesn't look bad at all. And it'll all fill out. Yeah, it'll fill out. And I think for judging, we're just going to time it right, you know, for them to look their best, really. I believe that the blooming process is a great way of getting the community together. It's going to be my last year as chairman, and obviously I want us to do really well this year. It'd be quite nice, wouldn't it? It's July, and with only three days until judging, I'm back in Tewkesbury. Walking down the high street, there's a real feast for the eyes. It's clear to see just how much work has gone on here. The town centre is awash with colour. The flowers and flags make for a distinctive and impactful display when set against the timber-framed buildings. These are lovely colours. I'm heading straight to Victoria Gardens, as I can't wait to see what the volunteers have done. Hello, Dawn. Hi, Chris. How are you doing? I'm very well. How are you? I'm all right, thanks. Surely good. How are you feeling, three days to go? Well, a little bit nervous, but I think we've done a good job. Well, I'm looking forward to seeing the park, because there wasn't any flowers, really. No, I think you'll see an awful lot of difference now. This looks brilliant, doesn't it? It's so bright, so vibrant. But the last time I was here, there was nothing but a birdbath in it. Hello. Hello, Chris. How are you? I'm very well. This looks lovely, doesn't it? What a change. I think this looks brilliant. Are you happy? Yes, very much so. Ready for judging, three days' time? We've got a little bit of rubbish to clear up from round the edges and a bit of deadheading to do, and then I think we're ready. Do you want to do a bit of deadheading? I do, yeah. Why not? Don't get your big feet on the bed. Well, don't worry, I've really put my foot in it. Well, good, good, good. This one here? Yep, that's it. There you go, balance. Whoa! So you've not had any problems with flooding? Don't say the F word in Chicksbury. Good thing it hasn't flooded. It's an impressive transformation. The feature bed is a three-tiered masterpiece of orange marigolds and blue salvia surrounded by white allicin. The other two beds are just as beautiful in their complementary colours. There are colourful planters all along the riverside and a bee-friendly flower bed that's really buzzing. It's hard to believe that this whole park was underwater like this just a few months ago. Across town at the community orchard, Les and Larry are preparing the trees and the ground for judging day. Hello. Oh, hi, Chris. The orchard's looking good, isn't it? It's coming along very well indeed, yes. And this is all new, isn't it? Another of our rural skills we're putting into effect. This is called the espalier technique, where you train the trees along horizontal wires. When you bend the tree over, it stops the growth and puts the strength in forming buds and getting better fruit. So this is great for the productivity and the yield of the tree, but also, I suppose, then the kids can come and pick the fruit, can't they? Well, that's full circle, really, because the kids actually dug the holes and planted the trees, the kids from the local schools. There you go. Ah, super job. You were born to this, Chris. Just like scything. These 30 fruit trees may not have generated a huge harvest just yet, but this is a long-term bloom project. So the judges are arriving three days' time. Yeah. What are you looking forward to showing them most? Well, we've done a lot of work over the winter since they saw it last summer. So there's a lot to do with the orchard. We've also done a lot of work on our wildflower meadow. The judges aren't going to see it from the ground, though, are they? No. To show them it's on the ground wouldn't do justice to the work that we've done. The judges are taking off in a helicopter. None of them are scared of heights or flying, are they? I hope not, but we will be very gentle with them. The helicopter is going to take off and zoom over Tewksbury with the judges there, hopefully, impressed. We can only hope. Tewksbury's bloom entry is truly unique. Through necessity, they've had to learn to work with the natural environment. This year, though, so far, the waters have been kind to the people of Tewksbury and the bloom volunteers. I just hope the judges are too. The big day is finally here. It's judging day morning and there's lots to do. Dawn and the volunteers are making sure Victoria Gardens looks pristine. Well, I feel excited and I hope we do well. Everybody's just been round for a last-minute once-over and a last-minute tidy-up. The bloomers have pulled out all the stops to impress the judges. They've even asked the town band to play in the gardens. Well, I think you always feel on judging day a sense of anxiety. All that I care about is that we don't let the town down, really. And here come the team to decide their fate. Feels like a royal visitation, doesn't it, really? Good morning, everyone. Getting the full regal treatment are judges David Pritchard and Roger Bache. Well, we've been to Tewksbury, my colleagues and I, and we've had a great time. Over the years, and this year, I'm expecting the standard to be as high as ever, but we will see. Tewksbury have just two and a half hours to get the judges around the town to see all they've done this year. Timing is crucial, as they need to get them airborne for the grand finale, the helicopter ride over the nature reserve. First off, in the town centre, there's plenty of planting to inspect. Stunning, isn't it? First impressions really do count. They do. The riverbank should impress them further, as even the boats are florally decorated. Good morning. You comfortable there? You look very comfy. But there's no time to stop and chat, as they've got to get to their glorious showcase. Right, I'd like to introduce you to Victoria Gardens. This year, the flood, we only had one flood in November, and it only came in for about four days, which is great, because the year before, it was like two months. But it did come right to the end of this path there. Right on cue, the band strikes up. What will the judges make of the feature flowerbeds? They look fabulous, don't they? Those beds are absolutely superb. And the work, it's all volunteers. Lovely. Yeah, very impressive. Sounds like it's a thumbs-up from the judges, but now the pressure's on to get them over to the nature reserve for the grand finale. Yes, here it is, the helicopter we've been expecting. And the judges have arrived too. I hope they've got a head for heights. They're not the easiest of things to get into. Enjoy your flight. Aren't they lucky? I've got my right arm to be up there. From this bird's-eye view, the judges can see the scale of the reserve and mark the bloomers on their work. The reed beds they've re-sculpted, the meanders they've added to the river and the community orchard. What more could you ask on a lovely Sunday day like today? After this, what are we going to do for next year? I don't know. A Harrier jump jet, perhaps? Good idea, Lewis. Ten minutes later and they're back on Terra Firma. They're looking as though they've had a good time anyway, and I hope that they've seen Tewkesbury at its best. That was good. That was enjoyable. When I think about Tewkesbury, those images of floodwater raging through across the town stick with your mind. But today, you saw how beautiful the river was and how it helped to define the town. On behalf of David and I, I thank you all for a wonderful day. We've certainly seen a new perspective on Tewkesbury, on your nature reserve and the rest of Tewkesbury. A lovely day. Thank you very much. Time for Pim's O'Clock. Pim's O'Clock, I'm with you. And lunch. Today in Tewkesbury really put Tewkesbury on the map, put Tewkesbury in our heads. It was wonderful. It was great. It was good. And people was lovely. Everywhere was lovely. And the whole atmosphere was quintessently English. It was what an English country town should all be about. And really, it made me feel proud of Tewkesbury. When the flood comes up and then goes down, we stand there and we say, Oh, God, not again. We've got to start all over and clear all of these paths. So, yeah, it is nice for somebody to come and say, this did great. Well done. Now that the judge is finally over, I feel relaxed, laid back, ready to take the dog out and afterwards have a snooze. For John's final year at the helm, Tewkesbury were awarded gold. And they came top of their category. The whole team is delighted.