Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen's Escape to the Country

Gertrude Jekyll might come as a surprise in Laurence Llewelyn Bowens's series about the countryside, given that she is loved for her colourful borders rather than any grand landscape. But Jekyll did something that profoundly contributed to our idea of the British countryside- she transformed the garden from a lawn and parterres into a microcosm of the natural world. Just when the wilds of Kent or Berkshire or her own beloved West Surrey were being invaded by the city, her action was to protect, to encase nature, to bring it, in all it's wild unevenness, into our gardens. Producer: Kate Bland A Just Radio production for BBC Radio 4.