After six years, Wimbledon gardeners finally got the opportunity to grill the Gardeners' Question Time team.
The popular BBC Radio 4 production came to Rutlish School following a request from Davinia Miln, chair of the Friends of John Innes Society.
Audience member Jane Watkins said: “It was a really enjoyable evening, and it was great to have some input on urban gardening.”
Mrs Miln originally attempted to organise a Question Time event to coincide with both the 100th anniversary of John Innes' death in 1904, and the restoration of John Innes Park in 2004.
The BBC team put the society on a waiting list, and it was only this year, on the 100th anniversary of the park being given to the people, that they turned to London.
Just 10 days before they were due to arrive, the Friends were faced with the prospect of organising an audience of 200 or more people to put questions to the team.
Mrs Miln not only successfully organised the event, but ensured a wide and diverse attendance at Rutlish School.
Gardeners from the school gardening club, several nearby allotment holders, and Wimbledon gardeners joined with society members and staff from the park to create an event which Mrs Miln called “very successful”.
She added: “The atmosphere was good, and it was a very jolly evening.”
Panel chair Eric Robson said he was “astonished” at the beauty of the park, and said: “We must come south more often”.
The programme is due to be aired on BBC Radio 4 this Friday, October 9, at 3pm and on Sunday, October 11 at 2pm.
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