Wednesday, July 11, 2007

For Immediate Release

NEW DVD RELEASE CELEBRATES THE HEART OF A GARDEN

A NEW film series bringing some of Britain's most impressive gardens to a new audience has been launched by a Cornish film production company.

Narrated by Richard Briers, and with an accompanying book by Cornish author Jess Wynne, The Heart of a Garden looks to establish just that – it delves beyond pure horticultural interest to tell the story of the gardens through the eyes of those who tend them.

The series, written, filmed and produced by Penryn film-maker Oscha, takes a modern look at this traditional subject encouraging a wider engagement with the natural environment.

Currently encompassing two DVDs and a book, each disk features eight stunning gardens filmed across the seasons. The first covers eight in Cornwall and Devon while the second displays the pick of Somerset, Wiltshire, Dorset and Gloucestershire.

The Oscha team had their work cut out choosing the best gardens to truly represent The Heart of a Garden. The full list can be seen in the Notes To Editors section.

The book, in glossy coffee-table format, is light-hearted and fun-filled with history, folklore and even the odd recipé. Taking a slightly irreverent look, it is destined to appeal to gardeners and non-gardeners alike.

The series represents in excess of £350,000 of private sector investment by Oscha in promotion of Britain's garden product. It aims to widen attraction of one of the most vital elements of the UK's tourism resource. Indeed, each DVD comes with a booklet of discount and gift vouchers offering discounts on admission, travel, gardening products, etc, worth many times the purchase price, to encourage garden visits.

"The series is intended to bring home the wonder of these fabulous places to those who would not normally visit them," explains Oscha's producer Martin Gaunt.

"The Heart of a Garden forgoes the chintz of traditional garden documentaries to take a fresh look at these places throughout the seasons. Horticulturalists will be pleased to hear that beautiful and interesting flowers, plants and trees are still the stars of the film.

"Above all, it is a genuine call to get outside and celebrate the natural environment that we, as humans, help to create, nurture and cherish – to uncover the living heart of the garden," he added.

General manager of Trebah Gardens Nigel Burnett said: “The Heart of a Garden takes a view from a refreshingly different perspective. Featuring an eclectic mix of gardens across the south west, the book and the DVD both excellently convey the character, atmosphere and unique characteristics of the featured gardens.

“The project has been a huge undertaking and, having been involved at the embryonic stages, we are especially pleased to see this grow to fruition and to support Martin Gaunt and his team.”

The two DVDs, and large format photographic book containing 184 pages of stunning photography, can be bought at participating gardens or via the internet at www.theheartofagarden.com. The High Street release will be announced before Christmas.* (Products have now been released, if you require more details please contact us online or on 01326 376064.)

ENDS

Notes to Editors
• Reader offers and competitions are available. Contact Oscha on 01326 378737.

Single discs approx running time 90 minutes RRP £12.99
• Disc one: Gardens from Devon, Cornwall & the Isles of Scilly.
• Disc two: Gardens from Somerset, Wiltshire, Dorset and Gloucestershire.
• Twin set: Disc one and two RRP £24.99
Each DVD comes with a booklet of discount and gift vouchers including admission vouchers, travel, gardening products, etc, worth many times the purchase price.

The DVD is accompanied by a beautiful large format photographic book which retails at £14.99. Each of these products is available through the website www.theheartofagarden.com

GARDENS FEATURED IN THE DVDS:

DISC 1
Bicton Park Botanical Gardens, Budleigh Salterton, Devon
Fast Rabbit Gardens, nr Dartmouth, Devon
Docton Mill Gardens, Hartland Peninsula, Devon
Compton Acres, Poole, Dorset
The Abbey Garden, Tresco, Isles of Scilly
Trebah Garden, nr Falmouth, Cornwall
Pencarrow House and Gardens, nr Bodmin, Cornwall
Prideaux Place, Padstow, Cornwall

DISC 2
Abbey House Gardens, Malmesbury, Wiltshire
Bourton House Garden, Bourton-on-the-Hill, Gloucestershire
Cothay Manor Gardens, nr Wellington, Somerset
Moreton Gardens, Moreton, Dorset
Painswick Rococo Garden, Painswick, Gloucestershire
The National Arboretum, Westonbirt, Tetbury, Gloucestershire
Burrow Farm Gardens, Painswick, Gloucestershire
Stourton House Flower Garden, Stourton, Wiltshire

• The book features all 16 of the above gardens.