Mr Bloom
A gardening nanny! A bubbly allotment owner who looks after the 'Tiddlers' (children) when they come to help him. He's the parent/teacher character for the Tiddlers and the loveable group of Veggies.
The Compostarium (compo)
Created by Mr Bloom and existing both outside in the allotment and inside the Nursery, Compo is everything from an elaborate storage solution to a complex problem solver, and everything in between (including being a compost bin of course!).
Compo often suggests or provides props and implements which may be of use to the Tiddlers and the Veggies.
When hungry it signals to Mr Bloom who encourages the Tiddlers to help feed it with compostable material. When fed it sets off a chain reaction of events which indicates it's time to go and meet the Veggies.
The Wee MacGregors
A clan of cheeky radishes. Working as a team, the Wee MacGregors are often behind mischief caused in the Nursery.
As all parents to more than one child can testify, it's rather frightening how children can team up and achieve more than the sum of their parts! This is the Wee MacGregor effect. They're excitable and egg each other on, so much so that things quickly get out of hand!
But because of their energy, boldness and enthusiasm they're also brilliant helpers - to Mr Bloom and to the other Veggies. They would think nothing of tackling a huge turnip all by themselves, or of creating a spaceship out of rubbish for Margaret!
The Veggies
Colin the Runner Bean - an enthusiastic, energetic and big-hearted young bean. One of the youngest Veggies in the Nursery, Colin likes nothing more than whizzing around on his scooter or dressing up as his favourite superhero Captain Asparagus.
Colin has simple language (often ending with the word 'Bean'!) so, as with all young children, Colin is always relating events to himself, and vocalising how he's feeling about them.
In the storylines where Colin is the central character, he is learning about themes such as patience (he doesn't believe he's grown tall enough to ride the Helter-Skelter!) or energy (he discovers that food and drink are important if you want to keep on dancing!)
Joan the Fennel - one of the oldest Veggies in the Nursery, Joan loves performing and is rather fond of organising the others!
The inspiration for Joan's character came from observing a four-year-old girl at a birthday party. She walked boldly up to the host and asked very politely whether there was going to be jelly. Having been told that unfortunately there wasn't, the child replied (just as politely) “Hmm, that's a disappointment!”
Joan is like one of those children who seems old beyond their years - confident, strong-willed, and keen to make an impression. As such there are some lovely storylines where Joan tries to boisterously organise a dancing competition and a fashion show, and then there's the time where the colour of the bananas didn't match her outfit.
Margaret the Cabbage - Margaret has a gentle, almost shy, personality but has a creative streak and loves an adventure!
Margaret is like one of those quiet, unassuming children who is more than happy to be lost in their own world colouring in or playing with their dolls. She may appear a little reticent to get involved in something at the outset, but because of her careful nature and attention to detail, she'll often triumph in the end.
Margaret has a vibrant imagination and this is seen in such episodes where the Veggies go on a pirate adventure and where Margaret wants to become a space cabbage!
Raymond the Butternut Squash - a little clumsy but with an infectious chortle, Raymond loves nothing more than a cuddle with a Tiddler or two!
Raymond is like the type of child who is so lost in the enjoyment of being on a roundabout that he has little idea that he's feeling very dizzy until it's too late!
Raymond's emotions are always there for all to see. He has an infectious laugh, is rather ticklish, and if upset will wail until someone picks him up. He is endlessly playful and enjoys the company of others, but he could do with being a bit more careful - something that Mr Bloom and the Tiddlers try to help him learn!
Sebastian the Aubergine - Sebastian is French and always sums up the day's events in song at the end of the show.
Sebastian is more often than not an observer of the antics at the Nursery. His main role is to cement the learning points in each episode - to remind the viewer of the gardening theme and how that has translated to the lives of the Veggies inside the Nursery - but he occasionally appears elsewhere in the storylines, either providing musical backing where required or organising activities like his art competition!
