Charity's 'tropical tunnel' to appear on BBC show

Many of the plants used in the "tropical tunnel" were grown on site by learners and staff

A charity's exotic garden project will be showcased on BBC Two's popular show Gardener's World.

The "tropical tunnel" is an eco-system made by learners and staff at St Andrew's Healthcare, a charity based in Northampton, and features exotic plants and a waterfall.

The tunnel took months of collaboration from staff, learners, and volunteers, with the final touches completed in June last year.

The charity’s chief executive, Dr Vivienne McVey, said she was "excited" it would appear on the BBC gardening show. "I never imagined the work we do at St Andrew’s and Workbridge would be featured [on television]," she said.

The tropical tunnel will be showcased during Gardeners World on BBC2

The tropical tunnel project emerged when gardening programme attendees were invited to creatively repurpose an old polytunnel.

The waterfall is crafted from recycled pallets, while many plants were cultivated on-site.

Jenny Lane, manager at Workbridge, part of St Andrew's Healthcare, said: "We decided to transform the polytunnel into a tropical garden to educate learners about climate, ecosystems, and sustainable practices.”

One of the learners, John from Northampton, said he had "a lot of fun" and learned a lot about gardening and teamwork.

He added: "It was amazing to see our waterfall idea come to life.”

The tropical tunnel section will be featured on BBC Two’s Gardener’s World on Friday at 20.00 BST.