Kew Gardens: A Year in Bloom - Season 1

Nestled in London's suburbs is the Kew Gardens, 320 acres of the most diverse, exciting and important plant life in the world. Cameras follow 12 months in the lives of its staff, beginning in winter. In the Palm House, Solene and her team are making sure the banana plants don't smash through the ceiling.

As the team at Kew Gardens heads into spring. Solene is beginning preparations for the giant waterlily display, which sees the small glasshouse transform from empty to bursting point. In the Rock Garden, supervisor Tom discusses the work of a botanical horticulturist.

It's summer and Kew Gardens is enduring a drought, which means the staff have plenty of watering to do, along with the regular weeding and maintenance. Work continues in the Tropical Nursery too as Sam tends to the orchid collection and Lara busies herself pollinating plants.

The year is drawing to a close as a glorious summer gives way to autumn and Kew Gardens embraces its new colour palette. On Cherry Walk, 6,000 tulip bulbs are being planted for spring flowering and Tony encourages the team before visiting the arboretum to investigate why some of his trees are showing signs of seasonal shock. In the kitchen garden, Helena is planting onions in the autumn in a bid to avoid an onion-munching bug. She shows off some potato substitutes and pumpkins, while also selling produce to raise seed money.