BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Podcast

Actress Indira Varma shares her London garden

Oct 2, 2025
Indira Varma, an award-winning actress known for her roles in Game of Thrones and Luther, reveals her passion for gardening. She shares the challenges of her small London garden, including dealing with pesky wildlife using creative deterrents. Indira discusses how her family's artistic influence shaped her garden's sculptures and her love for scent, especially her prized Gertrude Jekyll rose. She emphasizes the importance of community gardening and the restorative effects of nature, providing insight into how gardening connects us all.
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ANECDOTE

Starting From A Small, Improvised Plot

  • Indira describes inheriting a small terraced London garden with heavy clay soil and sparse planting.
  • She calls it a 'jumble sale' garden built by chance, enthusiasm and limited funds while continuing her parents' DIY legacy.
ANECDOTE

Family Sculptures And Seed Experiments

  • Indira shares how her Indian father and Swiss mother influenced her garden with edible, scented plants and lots of handmade ceramics and sculptures.
  • She keeps her parents' pottery and faces in her garden, continuing their experimental, artisanal approach.
ADVICE

Learn From Great Gardens, Then Adapt

  • Visit inspirational public gardens and 'snaffle' seasonal seeds to learn planting ideas and colour combinations.
  • Use visits to adapt elements you like within the limits of your own garden size and resources.
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