THE head gardener at Stourhead is presenting a new BBC Four series uncovering the social and horticultural history of four British heritage landscapes.

Alan Power took time out from his work at the National Trust’s landscape gardens to visit the four gardens for British Gardens in Time, which started on Tuesday at 9pm.

The four-part series explores the grand Georgian landscape at Stowe in Buckinghamshire, Biddulph Grange in Staffordshire, Nymans in West Sussex, and Great Dixter in East Sussex.

Mr Power said: “All four gardens are very special places, rich in social history with powerful stories of escape, social ambition, heartbreak, downfall and disaster written into their landscapes.

“What I found fascinating was really getting under the surface of the gardens we visited.

“I had the chance to read and research the places and then spend some real quality time there filming and talking to the people who care for and love these places.

“I came away from the experience with even more respect for the wonderful gardens that have been created in times past.”