Roots and All - Gardening Podcast

Hello and welcome to this week's episode where my guest is Mark Schofield, Plantlife's Road Verge Advisor for the UK. Mark has a huge amount of experience when it comes to green space conservation and is currently involved in a number of projects across the country to manage road verges better for wildlife involving biomass harvesting trials and the use of AI in surveys. He's also one of Plantlife's representatives for the #NoMowMay campaign, and in this interview, he talks about how we can maintain both private and public green spaces more sympathetically for wildflowers and the wildlife they support. About Mark Schofield Mark used to work for the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust before he joined Plantlife as their Road Verge Advisor for the UK. He has 15 years of experience of road verge and urban green space conservation and has organised extensive citizen science surveys. He is currently involved in a number of projects across the country to manage road verges better for wildlife involving biomass harvesting trials and the use of AI in surveys. Mark is also one of Plantlife's representatives for the #NoMowMay campaign, and has written much of the guidance on the Plantlife website for how we can maintain our lawns and public green spaces more sympathetically for wildflowers and the wildlife they support. Links No Mow May and lawn management guidance: https://www.plantlife.org.uk/campaigns/nomowmay/ https://www.plantlife.org.uk/advice-learning/managing-grassland/ Trends in green space management: Report from APSE with good news from local authorities for meadows and biodiversity priorities Other episodes if you liked this one: Tapestry Lawns - This episode, I'm talking to Dr Lionel Smith, horticulture lecturer and author of the book Tapestry Lawns: Freed from Grass and Full of Flowers. As the title suggests, a tapestry lawn replaces grass with flowering dicots, increasing biodiversity, lowering maintenance needs and seriously upping the aesthetic value of a lawn. Living with a tapestry lawns involves a little bit of self-education around how you treat plants and I start by asking how to overcome one of my own biggest worries about having one… Gardening for Your Senses - This week I'm chatting with writer Kendra Wilson. Kendra has written a vast amount about gardening but I was particularly interested in speaking to her about her book Garden for the Senses. Engaging all your senses can lead to a deeper connection with the landscape and it can be an unusual and transformative experience. I wanted to find out how we can all learn to better use our senses and firstly, what prompted Kendra to write the book. Support the podcast on Patreon

This episode, my guest is Sam Frings who founded The Organic Plant Nursery. Sam explains in his own words how he got started and how things have been along the way. It's not easy being a pioneer, but listen on to find out how Sam and his family have battled against the odds to do it right. Links www.organicplantnursery.co.uk Other episodes if you liked this one: Running a Green Nursery with Chris Williams of Edible Culture - This week I'm speaking to Chris Williams, co-founder of Edibleculture, an inspirational nursery based in Faversham in Kent. From the day the nursery was established 5 years ago, ethically and ecologically sounds principles have been employed to create the brilliant business that exists today. We talk about how the nursery succeeds where so many others are failing to make changes; using peat-free compost, gardening organically without chemicals, eliminating single use plastics from their sales output and many other initiatives that make this nursery truly revolutionary. School Gardening - This episode I'm joined by 3 guests; Louise Moreton who heads up the horticultural programme at Wicor Primary School and 2 of the MiniHorts themselves, Rebecca and Kieran. Louise set up a horticultural programme at the school 11 years ago, initially in a voluntary capacity. The programme became such a success she's now employed by the school and works 4 days a week to deliver what has become a vital part of the curriculum. Rebecca and Kieran are Year 6 pupils who are members of the after school gardening club and leads in the MiniHorts programme, passing on their knowledge and enthusiasm to younger pupils. The MiniHorts have been in the media quite a bit, including featuring in an episode of Gardeners' World in 2017, so they're seasoned pros at this sort of thing! If you don't have children or children of school age, I think you'll still find this episode interesting and inspiring, it's well worth a listen. Support the podcast on Patreon

This episode, my guest is Sarah Dodd AKA the Tree Hugging Lawyer and founder of law firm Tree Law. Sarah specialises in civil and criminal claims arising from disputes with trees, in particular trees causing damage to properties. She's also the host of Tree Law TV channel on YouTube and today, we find out all about her background, her work and the law as it relates to trees. What We Talk About Common neighbour disputes when it comes to trees Subsidence Cutting trees that overhang your property Is there such a thing as a right to light or a right to privacy? How TPOs work Is enough done to protect trees through the law? About Sarah Dodd Sarah is the Tree Hugging Lawyer and founder of law firm Tree Law. Sarah specialises in civil and criminal claims arising from disputes with trees, in particular trees causing damage to properties. Sarah acts for various clients including homeowners, commercial properties owners, insurers, local authorities and developers. Sarah is a past chair of the Subsidence Forum and a member of the LTOA, MTAO and the Arboricultural Association. Sarah is the host of Tree Law TV channel on YouTube providing free contents answering some commonly asked questions about trees. Sarah is hosting the Tree Law summer conference in London on 17 September. Tickets are on sale for that event at Lincoln's Inn via Eventbrite - Treelawconference www.treelaw-ap.co.uk Other episodes if you liked this one: Trees with Peter Thurman - Selecting and planting trees can be a minefield. Never fear though, help is on hand as 'legend in the world of trees', Kew-trained, Peter Thurman is here to provide straight-forward advice about what to do and what not to do when buying a tree and planting it out. Discover how to select the right tree for your garden's soil type and which species of tree will help you create the effect you are targeting. Learn how pleached trees can become an attractive alternative to fencing, just beware of the High Hedges Act! Does it pay to have patience when growing your tree, or is it easier to have instant impact? Pick up some valuable tips and tricks on the planting process. From deciding which food you should feed your prized specimen with, to mulching and watering, your questions are sure to be addressed in this informative episode. Irreplaceable with Julian Hoffman - This episode's guest is writer Julian Hoffman and we're talking about his book 'Irreplaceable'. I read the book a few months back and as you might expect from reading the blurb, it's about those irreplaceable wild environments and the species we're in danger of losing. But it's also about the people who are so deeply connected to the landscapes and the animals they're battling to save. Julian speaks about why it's imperative that we stop the destruction of precious landscapes, how we can help at the individual level and why it's vital to maintain the connection between people and place. Support the podcast on Patreon

This week my guests are Northern California based musical duo Misner & Smith. Sam, who is Misner, and Megan, who is Smith comprise one of the most acclaimed acts in the Americana world. Blending elements of that genre with bluegrass, traditional folk ballads, and more pop leaning ideas, they've been described as making music that is gloriously nonconforming. Aside from their musical chops, Sam & Megan are expert gardeners who focus on pollinators, sustainability and community gardening. Listen on to find out how their connection to nature feeds into their music. What We Talk About Sam & Megan's gardening backgrounds Gardening sustainably and for the community Gardening as a creative outlet? How gardening inspires when you are looking for creative prompts How gardening factors into their music? The garden soundscape About Misner & Smith Northern California based unclassifiable duo Misner & Smith treasure the unpredictability of their band. Technically precise songwriting mirrored with an improvisatory spirit and soaring harmonies have made the band consisting of Sam Misner and Megan Smith one of the most acclaimed acts in the Americana world. Blending elements of that genre with bluegrass, traditional folk ballads, and more pop leaning ideas, Misner & Smith makes music gloriously nonconforming. The duo first met at a Shakespeare festival as professional actors in California in 2002 but began working as a musical duo two years later when Sam and Megan discovered a mutual love of roots music, Woody Guthrie, and in particular, harmony singing. Before the release of their career defining sixth LP ALL IS SONG, the duo had released five critically acclaimed records, including Halfway Home (2004), Poor Player (2008), Live at the Freight & Salvage (2010), Seven Hour Storm (2013), and headwaters (2017). It was that 2017 release that found the group stripping their sound back down to where it began, two voices and two instruments. headwaters was recorded live in the studio and features the duo doing what they do best. On ALL IS SONG, they build upon that momentum and turn in their finest work to date, an album of inspired declarations to the power of music, song, and, most importantly, collaboration. www.misnerandsmith.com YouTube Other episodes if you liked this one: Natural Fibres - This week's guest is multi-media artist Hanna Varga. Hanna incorporates the natural world into her work and her current projects involve foraging for fibres she turns into both useful and beautiful items. The conversation began with Hanna talking about her work past and present and developed into a really important conversation about the value of items at their more than fiscal level. Soundscapes & Landscapes - This week I'm speaking to Dr Mike Edwards, Chief Listening Officer at Sound Matters, a company focussed on using sound and listening to create more sustainable and resilient futures. Sound Matters provided the soundtrack to the Rewilding Britain garden that one best in show at this year's Chelsea Flower Show. Mike recently spoke passionately about climate change, soundscapes and landscapes at the Beth Chatto Symposium and wowed a lecture theatre full of rapt listeners with his prowess on the didgeridoo. Support the podcast on Patreon

This week my guests are Kevin Philip Williams and Michael Guidi, authors of a new book 'Shrouded in Light: Naturalistic Planting Inspired by Wild Shrublands'. I'll let Kevin and Michael say more about the idea behind it but a book about horticulture that compares natural landscapes to graffiti and branch frameworks to sigils catches my attention immediately… What We Talk About The premise behind the book What is a shrub? Why have shrubs fallen out of fashion? Which of the global shrublands most inspires and informs their planting design at the garden level Good examples of designed shrublands The future of innovative garden design Shrouded in Light: Naturalistic Planting Inspired by Wild Shrublands by Kevin Philip Williams and Michael Guidi Other episodes if you liked this one: The View From Federal Twist - This episode features James Golden, talking about the naturalistic garden he's built around his home in New Jersey. James's garden has been created intuitively over time and sits perfectly within the landscape, in fact is a landscape in its own right. Sometimes baffling, sometimes threatening and without utilitarian purpose, the garden is nonetheless life-affirming, vital and dramatically beautiful in different ways from one moment to the next. Gardening in a Changing World - My guest this episode is garden and landscape designer and writer, Darryl Moore. Darryl is one of the most, if not in my opinion, the most informed voice on gardens and design in the UK and his new book Gardening in A Changing World: People, Plants and the Climate Crisis presents an overarching perspective of the complexity of plant life, and the ways that we can begin to appreciate and work together with plants, rather than against them, in addressing the rapidly changing conditions affecting the planet. Support the podcast on Patreon

This week my guest is Carolyn Dunster. Carolyn is a planting designer, botanical stylist, garden writer and author of a book all about eating flowers entitled 'A Floral Feast: A Guide to Growing and Cooking with Edible Flowers, Foliage, Herbs and Seeds'. We discuss how to expand your culinary endeavours to encompass the ornamental parts of your garden. A Floral Feast: A Guide to Growing and Cooking with Edible Flowers, Foliage, Herbs and Seeds by Carolyn Dunster Other episodes if you liked this one: Edible Flowers with Jan Billington - In this episode, I'm speaking to Jan Billington of Maddocks Farm Organics, a flower farm in Devon growing and selling organic edible flowers. We talk about the easiest and tastiest flowers you can grow, colour trends, some more unusual edible flowers and how you can use edible flowers for your own special event. The episode starts with Jan telling us about her farm and why she feels her business needs to give something back. Welcome to Mintopia - This week's guest is Dr Si Poole, founder of Mintopia, a website dedicated to mint featuring its own online reference library for the different types, the mintopaedia. Si holds one of the National Collections of mint and holds getting on for 200 different cultivars. From his plastic-free, organic nursery, he sells themed collections of mints and he's passionate and knowledgable about every aspect of the Mentha genera, impressive given that there's much more to this plant than mint sauce and mojitos. Support the podcast on Patreon

My guest this week is Kumud Gandhi, a food scientist, author and founder of The Cooking Academy. Kumud has written a book called The Garlic Story, a look at the history of garlic and its culinary uses. We talk about how garlic has been celebrated and revered throughout history, the different types and uses and how you can incorporate more of it into your life. 'The Garlic Story' is a celebration of all things garlic with over 50 delectable recipes, promising a flavourful journey that showcases the diverse and irresistible facets of this humble ingredient. The Garlic Story by Kumud Gandhi www.thecookingacademy.co.uk Other episodes if you liked this one: Unusual Edible Plants - This episode I'm speaking with Kevin Hobbs & Artur Cesar-Erlach, authors of EDIBLE: 70 Sustainable Plants That Are Changing How We Eat which looks at edible plants from around the world that are revolutionising how we grow, eat and appreciate food. It tackles important questions like what do we eat when our usual diets are no longer sustainable, how do we future proof food and how can we be more mindful about what we eat and considers what the future of global food production might look like. Climate Cuisine with Clarissa Wei - this episode of the podcast, I'm speaking to journalist and host of the Climate Cuisine podcast, Clarissa Wei. On her podcast, Clarissa shares the stories of the crops grown sustainably around the world. The goal is to highlight climate-centric conversations about crops and the food we eat as they become increasingly important to the resiliency and survival of our food systems. Support the podcast on Patreon

My guest this week is Nadine Charlton. Through her business Home Spring Gardens, Nadine provides specialist services to the horticultural and landscape construction industry, advising on sustainable best practice and creating beautiful gardens and landscapes with an environmental conscience. We talk about the importance of sourcing sustainable garden products, how you can tell whether what you're buying is sustainable and whether enough is being done on this front. About Nadine Charlton & Home Spring Gardens Nadine provides specialist services to the horticultural and landscape construction industry with commitment to sustainable best practice and creating beautiful gardens and landscapes with an environmental conscience. She has exhibited personally at RHS shows, and has project managed and advised on multi award winning gardens at RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Nadine has an ability to see a vision and make it happen, connecting people and bringing teams, partners as well as commercial objectives together with demonstrable results. She has a lifelong passion of historic landscapes and architecture and is an advocate for using traditional methods with the benefit of modern insights and techniques. A passionate lover of outdoor living, Nadine is committed to innovation and education; inspiring the next generation. www.homespringgardens.co.uk Nadine is currently working with Landscape Architect Michael Lote on his debut show garden 'It doesn't have to cost the Earth' which will be featured at RHS Malvern Spring Festival 9-12 th May 2024 showcasing innovative sustainable construction products and methods. The garden will be repurposed to Woodoaks Farm which is owned by the Soil Association Land Trust to create a permanent training and educational space to facilitate learning for school children and adults, growing together with the horticultural and agricultural industry. Other episodes if you liked this one: Historic Roses Irises Support the podcast on Patreon

My guest this week is Polly Nicholson. Polly is the owner of Bayntun Flowers in Wiltshire, and holds the national collection of Tulipa (Historica) with Plant Heritage. Polly has also written a book called 'The Tulip Garden: Growing and Collecting Species, Rare and Annual Varieties' which is released on the 21st March and today she shares her knowledge of this complex and fascinating group of plants. About Polly Nicholson Specialist flower grower and tulip expert Polly Nicholson is the owner of Bayntun Flowers in Wiltshire – growers of organic flowers cultivated in walled gardens and a one-acre field at the foot of the Marlborough Downs in Wiltshire. Nicholson holds the National Collection of Tulipa (Historic) with Plant Heritage, and has featured on BBC Gardener's World, Radio 4, in Gardens Illustrated, Country Life, T: The New York Times Style Magazine, The World of Interiors, and House & Garden. Links The Tulip Garden: Growing and Collecting Species, Rare and Annual Varieties by Polly Nicholson www.bayntunflowers.co.uk Other episodes if you liked this one: Historic Roses Irises Support the podcast on Patreon

Hello and welcome to this week's episode where my guest is Kyo Maclear. Kyo is an author and her latest book is centred around family secrets, her mother and how gardening shaped their relationship and helped her frame their mutual experiences. About Unearthing Kyo Maclear's Unearthing: A Story of Tangled Love & Family Secrets is published on 7th March 2024. It's a gripping and emotionally eloquent memoir about a family secret revealed by a DNA test, the lessons learned in its aftermath, and the transformative possibilities of growing plants. A memoir of inheritance that goes far beyond heredity, Unearthing is about what happens when we give up the watered, weeded, and pruned plots of our family histories and embrace a more expansive view of kinship. Told through the passage of seasons with exquisite illustrations by the author, it is a tender testimony to the ineradicable love between a mother and daughter for readers of Michelle Zauner's Crying in H Mart and Katherine May's Wintering. When Kyo Maclear receives the result of a DNA test showing that she and the father who raised her, whose death she is grieving, are not biologically related, she is suddenly a detective in her own life, desperately seeking answers from her ailing mother whose memories and English are failing. Maclear no longer speaks Japanese, her mother's first language, so she turns to her mother's second fluent tongue: the wild and green language of gardening, to provide them with a way of connecting. This beautifully constructed, intricate memoir is a work as unique as its author, and yet, movingly, achingly relatable. About Kyo Maclear Kyo is an award-winning novelist, essayist, and children's author. Her books have been translated into eighteen languages and published in over twenty-five countries. She is the author of the hybrid memoir Birds Art Life (2017,) and winner of the Trillium Book Award. She holds a doctorate in environmental humanities and is on faculty at the University of Guelph Creative Writing MFA. Links Unearthing: A Story of Tangled Love & Family Secrets by Kyo Maclear www.kyomaclear.com Other episodes if you liked this one: A Rolling Stone Gathering Moss All My Wild Mothers Support the podcast on Patreon

Vicky Chown is a Medical Herbalist, foraging instructor and self taught permaculturist. She's head gardener at Omved Gardens, a fascinating community garden in London which focuses on food, creativity and wellbeing. What we talk about The idea behind Omved Gardens How nature factors in to the garden Where food and creativity fit in The design of the site and how it feeds into the purpose and the overall experience for visitors Who uses the site The activities that take place About Vicky Chown Vicky Chown is a Medical Herbalist (BSc), foraging instructor and self taught permaculturist. She is head gardener at Omved Gardens and Coordinator of their Seed Saving Network. Links Vicky Chown on Instagram @handmade_apothecary The Seed Saving Network @seedsavingnetwork Omved Gardens @omvedgardens Other episodes if you liked this one: Gardening for your Senses Permaculture Support the podcast on Patreon

Caroline & Jon have created the most amazing swimming pond in their back garden and have documented their journey on social media, posting videos of year-round swimming adventures and pond-life. If you need inspiration to tackle a garden project you've always thought was just a pipe-dream, listen in as Caroline & Jon offer their refreshingly optimistic and can-do approach. What we talk about What made Caroline & Jon install a pool in their garden? Planning permission Filling the pond Cleaning the pond Swimming year round Bringing in wildlife The planting scheme - aesthetic or functional? Build cost Links Caroline & Jon on TikTok Caroline & Jon on Instagram Other episodes if you liked this one: Creating Wildlife Habitats Bats Support the podcast on Patreon

Alexandra Steed is a passionate landscape architect with a profound commitment to art, sustainability, and the transformative power of landscapes. Alexandra recently authored Portrait to Landscape and we talk about the possibility of and the necessity for shaping our landscapes so they may help to heal the earth. What we talk about Why portrait to landscape? The biosphere An overview of Alexandra's ideas for better landscape design and management? Urban vs rural landscaping Can we rely on change that comes from the top down? How individuals can make a difference About Alexandra Steed Alexandra Steed, a passionate landscape architect and Fellow of the Landscape Institute (FLI) and the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA), has a profound commitment to art, sustainability, and the transformative power of landscapes. In 2013, she founded URBAN to bring joy to people's daily lives through landscape design that enhances beauty and fosters well-being. Steed actively advises and serves on expert panels for organisations such as the Design Council UK and the Government's Office for Place. As a lecturer at The Bartlett, UCL, she shares her knowledge and volunteers her time to support community empowerment and inclusive public spaces. Steed's exceptional contributions to landscape architecture have garnered prestigious awards, including the WAFX Award for innovative global solutions and The LI Award for Excellence in Tackling Climate Change. With a strong focus on preserving biodiversity and ecosystems, Steed's dedication to integrating natural processes into her designs is evident. Through her work and advocacy, she champions climate change mitigation and inspires others to connect with and appreciate the natural world. About Portrait to Landscape "Portrait to Landscape: A Landscape Strategy to Reframe Our Future" is a ground-breaking book that calls for a transformative shift in our relationship with the natural world. Written by a renowned landscape architect, this book offers a new perspective on our place in the world and a compelling vision for a regenerative future. In an era plagued by environmental disasters and global challenges, the book argues that our exploitative and fragmented relationship with nature is at the root of these issues. Drawing upon the metaphor of a self-focused portrait versus a wide-angle landscape view, the book illuminates the profound impact of our narrow perspective. It offers a roadmap for reconnecting with the larger community of life. Through a captivating narrative, the author explores the interconnectedness of the living world and the urgent need to shift from a human-centric mindset to one that embraces the wisdom of nature. It demonstrates with inspiring examples from around the world how landscapes can become catalysts for healing and regeneration, leading to improved well-being and sustainability. "Portrait to Landscape" presents a holistic approach to restoring the earth, addressing not only the symptoms but also the underlying causes of environmental degradation. The book outlines practical strategies for policymakers, activists, and individuals to protect and restore landscapes, emphasising collaboration and long-term stewardship. With passion and expertise, the book calls on global citizens to take action and become active participants in the healing process. It offers a powerful message of hope and possibility, envisioning a future where humanity and all nature coexist in harmony. This thought-provoking book will inspire readers to reconsider their relationship with nature and join the movement towards a more sustainable and regenerative future. It is a must-read for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of our place in the world and how we can inhabit it with integrity. Links "Portrait to Landscape" is available here. South Essex Estuary Park Project, UK Sponge City Project, China Other episodes if you liked this one: Led by the Land with Kim Wilkie Responsibly Designing the Built Environment Support the podcast on Patreon

Perrine Bulgheroni is a renowned farmer who, along with Charles Herve-Gruyer, co-authored the Living with the Earth series of books and co-founded the famous Bec Hellouin, an ecoculture farm in Northern France. We talk about growing produce, closed loop farming, how food growing helps capture carbon and how to manage your natural environment for maximum benefits for people, wildlife and ecosystems. What we talk about What ecoculture is Does it take up less space than traditional agriculture? The ecoculture approach to rainfall and soil Volumes two and three of Living with the Earth Ideal land area for a plot The Flow of Organic Matter How ecoculture contributes to carbon capture About Living with the Earth: A Manual for Market Gardeners - Volume 1: Permaculture, Ecoculture: Inspired by Nature by Perrine and Charles Hervé-Gruyer Living With The Earth is a three volume series bringing together years of hands-on organic growing experience and research from the world-renowned Bec Hellouin Farm in France. In 2006, Perrine and Charles Hervé-Gruyer set out on a mission to discover a new form of agriculture that provides organic crops, creates healthy soil and brings meaningful employment to the local community. A combination of biointensive methods and permaculture design, which they have named 'ecoculture', and backed by scientific research, has resulted in a highly abundant market garden that sequesters carbon and frees up land for Nature. This beautifully illustrated, comprehensive first volume shows you how natural systems work, and explains how a wide range of simple and effective techniques can create ecologically diverse gardens or highly productive farms. The in-depth chapters on weather patterns, soil types and ecosystem services, give the reader a sound understanding of the environment they are growing in. The book covers everything you need to design a farm and implement a high-yielding food system from scratch, from understanding permaculture and its tools to the full design process, using the successful systems at Bec Hellouin as examples. Chapters on composting, mulching, fertilisers, green manures and working with beneficial microorganisms offer the reader a selection of tools for creating healthy soil within the farm ecosystem. About the Authors Perrine Hervé-Gruyer pursued a career as a lawyer in Asia before devoting herself to psychotherapy. She is now a farmer. An educator by training, Charles Hervé-Gruyer travelled the globe aboard the training sailboat 'Fleur de Lampaul' for 22 years. He is the author of several books. Perrine and Charles became certified permaculture teachers in 2013. Links Living with the Earth: A Manual for Market Gardeners - Volume 1: Permaculture, Ecoculture: Inspired by Nature Other episodes if you liked this one: Urban Smallholding The Garden of Equal Delights Support the podcast on Patreon

Miles Hayward is a dendrophile and keen plantsman, who discovered a passion for Japanese Maples and soon began to accumulate a wide variety of different cultivars. He started Miles Japanese Maples in 2016 specialising in Japanese Maples, after becoming frustrated by the lack of good quality trees in garden centres and local nurseries. He now grows high-quality trees in relatively small numbers, focussing on quality over quantity. What we talk about What is a Japanese Maple? The different species Preferred growing conditions Should you feed your Japanese maple? Where to site them Growing maples in containers Pruning maples Miles' favourites About Miles Hayward Miles Hayward is a dendrophile and keen plantsman, having studied Botany at Reading University in the late 1990s before going on to work at a hardy exotic plant nursery for ten years where his love of trees flourished. While exhibiting at various flower shows around the country, he discovered a passion for Japanese Maples and soon began to accumulate a wide variety of different cultivars. Miles decided to start a small nursery in 2016 specialising in Japanese Maples, frustrated by the lack of good quality trees in garden centres and local nurseries. We like to think of ourselves as 'small batch growers', producing high-quality trees but in relatively small numbers, due to lack of space! Each tree receives a lot of care and won't be sold to a customer until Miles is completely satisfied that it is the best it can be (or he really likes it and wants to hang on to it!) Miles Japanese Maples has been peat and pesticide free since inception, although there is always experimenting and tinkering to find the perfect compost mix. The trees have been grown in Air-Pots for the last 5 years or so, to ensure that they have the best possible root systems. The nursery is open to visitors by appointment or we are at various plant fairs around the south-east at some lovely venues. We were delighted to exhibit for the first time at Chelsea Flower Show last year and will be returning in 2024. Miles is a member of The Maple Society of Britain and Ireland, The International Dendrology Society and various others too numerous to mention! Links www.milesjapanesemaples.co.uk Miles Japanese Maples on Instagram Green Heart Horticultural Services on Facebook Green Heart Community Nursery The Nursery Fundraiser Other episodes if you liked this one: Bonsai with John Hanby Hardy Eucalyptus Support the podcast on Patreon

My guest this week is Catherine Conway-Payne. Catherine is the course director of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh's diploma in Herbology and an expert on the history of natural remedies. Catherine recently authored possibly the most beautiful book ever, a book called 'Herbology – A Physic Garden Pharmacy' where she looks at the origins of the physic garden at RBGE in the mid-17th Century. She recreates and reimagines original recipes from that time, mentioning in the book the historical uses of such ingredients as powdered toads and spiders' web, but thankfully providing alternatives to those who want to look at growing their own medicine and herbal remedies. What we talk about What is the 'Herbology' about? What is green pharmacy? What are the Materia medica? What is a vulnerary herb and can you give me an example of one and how you could use it? What are lunar infusions? Some of Catherine's favourite plants to work with About 'Herbology – A Physic Garden Pharmacy' The practice of referencing and using nature to create remedies, recipes and therapeutic preparations has been around for thousands of years. Over time, our knowledge of the more traditional 'green pharmacy' of this sort has diminished. Yet today herbology, the study of herbs, is enjoying a renaissance as reconnecting with nature and sustainability surges. To coincide with this renaissance, the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh has published Herbology – A Physic Garden Pharmacy, a beautiful, hard-back book filled with natural remedies and recipes, and showcasing the best practices on gathering ingredients and safely preparing them. Much more than a recipe and remedy book, Herbology is also a history of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, a place where medicinal plants have been grown for hundreds of years, for the benefit of the medical profession and their patients. The book references four other publications which date from the origins of the Garden in the 17th century. One, the Edinburgh Pharmacopoeia (1699), was discovered in the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. Originally published in Latin, the contents of the Pharmacopoeia have remained relatively inaccessible to most for over 300 years. However – with the kind assistance of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh and the dedicated work of one research associate from the Garden, Robert Mill – the work in its entirety has now been translated into English; several extracts of which are being shared, for the first time, within the pages of this book. Author Catherine Conway-Payne said, "It was an absolute joy to delve in to the Pharmacopoeia and discover which medicinal plants were being grown in Edinburgh during the latter part of the 17th century, which may be regarded as something of a golden age of herbalism. Then, the worlds of plants and medicine were closely aligned and it has been fascinating to find out that some recipes have not changed at all and that others contained extraordinary ingredients such as powdered toad, mouse droppings and even spider's webs. Readers of Herbology will be relieved that our modern-day holistic formulations have omitted these from their list of ingredients." There are many precious botanicals within the pages of Herbology – among them nettle, dandelion, wild garlic and winter blooming witch hazel. Organised by the seasons, the book is filled with recipes and remedies and readers will join Catherine on a journey into 'green pharmacy' making special botanical creams, green ointments, herbal honeys, syrups, juices and teas along the way. Catherine continued, "So much has been lost and forgotten over the years but we have been enjoying a real resurgence of interest in herbology recently." "There has never been more desire to study all things 'green' and to learn how to work as one with nature, understand the precious therapeutic potentials of medicinal plants and nurture the earth that sustains them. The very nature of herbology is so expansive that once you are immersed within this facet of botanical learning you cannot help but become more aware of its inherently curative and dynamic spirit. For generations to come, perhaps this age in time might be viewed as a period of great holistic change and life sustaining initiative." Herbology is illustrated by botanical artist Jacqui Pestell and contains evocative photography by Kate Soltan. Links Herbology – A Physic Garden Pharmacy by Catherine Conway-Payne www.rbge.org.uk Other episodes if you liked this one: Herbs with The Herb Society Magical Plants & Flowers Support the podcast on Patreon

This episode features horticulturist, garden designer, RHS Show Judge and plant guru Nina Baxter. We talk about what garden designers do, why they differ from landscapers, how you can find one and what they might charge for their work. Whether you're thinking of hiring a garden designer, thinking about becoming one or are just curious about the profession, this is worth a listen. Nina begins by describing her journey into garden design… What we talk about What is a garden designer? Where can you find one? What might the process look like once you've hired one? What should they possess in terms of qualifications, insurance, etc? How do they differ from landscapers? How do they charge for their work and what might you expect to pay? About Nina Baxter Nina Baxter is an experienced garden designer and horticulturist who has run her successful practice; Nina Baxter Garden Design Ltd. since 2004. Nina is Director of London College of Garden Design, an RHS Show Judge and a member of RHS Show Gardens Selection Panel. Links Nina Baxter Garden Design London College of Garden Design Other episodes if you liked this one: Hiring a Garden Designer Hiring a Gardener Support the podcast on Patreon

My guest this week is writer, broadcaster, nature observer, citizen scientist and champion of the outdoors, Kelly Brenner. This episode came about off the back of a listener suggestion and begins with a look at Lycoris radiata aka the Death Flower, and its place in nature and culture. This may seem an odd choice of subject for this festive time, but this is the last episode of 2023 and the nearest to the winter solstice, which heralds the death of the sun, so it somehow seemed fitting. Dr Ian Bedford's Bug of the Week: Overwintering fruit and veg pests What we talk about What intrigues Kelly about Lycoris radiata, and why she thinks it has garnered such dark symbolism throughout history Nature, wildlife, and folklore – how they are seamlessly woven into Kelly's work The origin story of Kelly's passion for plants, nature and folklore and how they naturally blend into her writing and explorations How urban dwellers can maintain their connection with nature, and are there specific aspects of urban landscapes that come alive during these colder months? The Sleuth Wood Show Invertefest Links Kelly Brenner's website Other episodes if you liked this one: The Winter Garden Camellias with Fiona Edmond Support the podcast on Patreon

My guest this week is Belgian nurseryman Karel Goossens. Karel runs an internationally renowned nursery supplying box plants and is the Chariman of the Belgian arm of the European Boxwood & Topiary Society. With decades of experience growing box and an irreverent approach to tackling the problems that go along with it, when he was recommended to me, I thought he was my ideal sort of guest! He does recommend intensive cultivation methods which include spraying chemical fungicides and insecticides, so this epsiode is not for everyone. However, I do acknowledge that many historic gardens are built around a backbone of box and that many listeners are professional gardeners who deal with box and its attendant blights, so this epsiode is a practical look at what you can do. Dr Ian Bedford's Bug of the Week: Box Tree Moth Links Kwekerij Goossens on Instagram European Boxwood & Topiary Society Karel's website for tripod ladders Our Plant Stories with Sally Flatman Other episodes if you liked this one: Lawns with David Hedges-Gower Hiring a Garden Designer

This week's guest is Naomi Slade. Naomi is a journalist, author, designer and consultant. She works as a writer and broadcaster and lectures on a range of specialist subjects. She has written a number of popular gardening books and as if that weren't enough, she's also an award-winning garden designer and will be exhibiting the Flood Resilient Garden, which she's co-designed with Ed Barsley, at RHS Chelsea 2024. We're speaking about her latest book, The Winter Garden: Celebrating the Winter Season. Dr Ian Bedford's Bug of the Week: Organic Recyclers and Millipedes The Winter Garden by Naomi Slade Other epsiodes if you liked this one: New Nordic Gardens Natural Stone Support the podcast on Patreon

This week's guest is multi-media artist Hanna Varga. Hanna incorporates the natural world into her work and her current projects involve foraging for fibres she turns into both useful and beautiful items. The conversation began with Hanna talking about her work past and present and developed into a really important conversation about the value of items at their more than fiscal level. Dr Ian Bedford's Bug of the Week: Cabbage Whiteflies About Hanna's 'Say It With Knots' Project "I am currently working on an engaging and urgent body of work in response to our current ecological times. I'm making a new series of sculptural forms using wild foraged plant fibres and transforming them into tactile artefacts of cordage, ropes and knots to tell stories. I source the art materials I use from the local environment to minimise my carbon footprint. The process of both gathering and making cordage is beautiful, versatile and yields evocative results. The metaphors in language offer us a diverse range of symbols, hiastorical and cultural associations and highlights the important role of rope making technologies played in the development of civilisations. I juxtapose the craftmanship with the natural history of the landscape where the raw materials come from. I'm beginning this work on the north coast of the Scottish Highlands where a long history of shipping and fishing trades have been present. Natural and human history intertwines in the resulting artworks. I am currently in Cromarty on an artist residency developing this project that will culminate in the first exhibition of this project opening on the 15th of December. I wish to transport my audience in time - back to the beginning, where it all started by twisting together vegetal fibres into a piece of string. Also, looking ahead into the future, an invitation to imagine new possibilities in tactile dimensions in our increasingly digitised age. I wish to awaken curiosity and evoke questions about interconnectedness. How will we continue making meaning with our hands? How can we create in reciprocity with the more-than-human world around us?" Links Hanna on Instagram Ashleaf London Other episodes if you liked this one: Botanical Storytelling with Amanda Edmiston Amanda's new book - The Time Traveller's Herbal Making & Using Natural Dyes Patreon

Hello and welcome to this week's episode where my guest is Gill Perkins, CEO of the Bumblebee Conservation Trust. We talk about bumblebee populations and habitats, what we can do to encourage and care for bumblebees in our gardens and about the role of bumblebees in tomato pollination, which came as a complete surprise to me! Dr Ian Bedford's Bug of the Week: Fuchsia Gall Mite What We Talk About Bumblebee concerns Bumblebee identification Honeybees and beekeeping Encouraging and caring for bumblebees Tomato pollination Links Bumblebee Conservation Trust Bee the Change Managed Honeybees lbka.org Article on beekeeping Honeybees and other wildlife Trouble with beekeeping boom Other episodes if you liked this one: Urban Bees with Mark Patterson Pollinators with Professor Jeff Ollerton Patreon

This week's episode my guest is Pete Russell, founder of Ooooby, an online platform which matches customers with small scale, local growers. Shopping for food in this way promotes homegrown produce, farm to consumer sales, supports independent growers, helps people to buy local, protects our farming heritage and helps us to move away from the chronically broken food system we currently live under. Listen in as Pete tells us how Ooooby works and how you can get involved if you're interested. Dr Ian Bedford's Bug of the Week: Allium Leafminers What We Talk About The idea behind Ooooby The value of small scale and local farming Sustainability The range of products available Quality control The cost to the producer Links www.ooooby.com Pete's Ted Talk More on Ooooby Other episodes if you liked this one: Climate Cuisine with Clarissa Wei Greg Peterson of The Urban Farm Patreon

My guest this episode is New Zealand based landscape designer Jo Wakelin. Jo creates low impact and environmentally conscious spaces and her own garden is a masterclass in water-wise planting that sits lightly within the landscape - beautiful but in keeping with its surroundings both aesthetically and ecologically. We talk about her extensive research and the lessons she's learnt along the way. Dr Ian Bedford's Bug of the Week: Black Vine Weevils What We Talk About Jo's work and what she does in her own garden Jo's thoughts on native versus non-native plants in a garden setting How gardens can and should work with their surrounding landscape Current schools of thought in NZ garden design Links Jo Wakelin on Instagram Other episodes if you liked this one: Design Experts - Xanthe White Ecologically Integrated Gardens Patreon

This week's episode, my guest is Clive Farrell. Clive is a butterfly expert who established The London Butterfly House at Syon House and has dedicated his life to breeding and studying the butterflies of Britain and the world. His latest project has been to develop the 100 or so acres around his home in Dorset into a haven for insects, that features unusual, even magical elements such as a giant fibreglass dragon, a replica of a Saxon longhouse that is home to a huge bog oak sculpture, a temple dedicated to ravens and a giant's chair. Clive's garden is the stuff of dreams to adult and child visitors, but also to the invertebrates which makes their homes amongst this garden which is built for them. Dr Ian Bedford's Bug of the Week: Overwintering Butterflies What We Talk About I'm not telling you, just listen ;-) Other episodes if you liked this one: Butterflies with Peter Eeles Bugs in Your Garden with Dr Ian Bedford Patreon

This episode my guest is Jarema Osofsky, founder of the design studio Dirt Queen NYC and author of Moon Garden: A Guide to Creating An Evening Oasis. Moon gardening is an enchanting way to slow down in the evenings, immerse yourself in nature and cultivate a relationship with your plants and the moon and I'm talking with Jarema about how you can create your own. Dr Ian Bedford's Bug of the Week: Large Hairy House Spiders What We Talk About What is a moon garden? Do they have to contain all white flowers? Should you plant for year round interest? Should the garden be visible from the house? Apart from colour, what else is important in a moon garden? Can you create a moon garden indoors? Can moon gardens benefit wildlife? Night blooming and night fragrant plants How best to enjoy your moon garden About the book MOON GARDEN: A Guide to Creating an Evening Oasis (Chronicle 10/3/23) is a guide to creating a garden that comes alive at night, with night-blooming plants and night fragrant flowers. The book is full of design and horticultural wisdom; planting tips for outdoor, indoor, and container gardeners; and soothing rituals such as journaling and meditations. With beautiful botanical illustrations, Moon Garden encourages readers to approach gardening as a grounding, spiritual practice. Spending time outdoors, and bringing nature into one's home, is both joyful and healing. MOON GARDEN is part of Jarema's mission to design beautiful garden spaces that help people cultivate meaningful connections to the natural world, while also benefiting local ecosystems in the process. About Jarema Osofsky Brooklyn-based landscape and interior plant designer, Jarema Osofsky is the founder of Dirt Queen NYC, a garden design and plant care business. Her debut book, MOON GARDEN: A Guide to Creating an Evening Oasis (Chronicle 10/3/23), invites readers to dive into the world of moon gardens and all that they offer. MOON GARDEN is a guide to creating a garden that comes alive at night, with night-blooming plants and night fragrant flowers. The book is full of design and horticultural wisdom; planting tips for outdoor, indoor, and container gardeners; and soothing rituals such as journaling and meditations. With beautiful botanical illustrations, MOON GARDEN encourages readers to approach gardening as a grounding, spiritual practice. Jarema grew up in New York's Hudson Valley, the daughter of an avid gardener. Throughout Jarema's life, visiting family in Hong Kong and Arizona sparked Jarema's love affair with tropical plants, the desert landscape, and unusual cactuses. What started out as a hobby and a "fresh start" after a bad break-up, Jarema began growing plants and sold them in vintage pots in her neighbourhood. She earned her BA in East Asian studies and fine art from Oberlin College and worked as an artist assistant in New York and Los Angeles, where she struggled to find her own form of expression. It was a pivotal moment when she realised that plants were the medium she had been searching for. After developing a strong customer base and advising plant owners, she decided to pour all her energy and passion into starting her own business. Jarema's design studio, Dirt Queen NYC, works closely with clients to create verdant gardens that offer meaningful and ecologically sustainable connections to the natural world. Jarema's work has been featured in Architectural Digest, T Magazine, Elle Decor, Apartment Therapy, and others. Jarema currently resides in Brooklyn, New York with her partner Adam, and their pup, Esme. A day in the life includes a trip to the local farmers market, walks in the park with her dog, qi gong and evening journaling. Always watering, pruning or propagating in her garden, Jarema also loves to travel and immerse herself in other cultures, landscapes, botanical gardens, art and architecture. Links Moon Garden:A Guide to Creating an Evening Oasis Jarema on Instagram @dirtqueennyc Other episodes if you liked this one: Botanical Styling Houseplant Legends Patreon

This episode I'm speaking with Kevin Hobbs & Artur Cesar-Erlach, authors of EDIBLE: 70 Sustainable Plants That Are Changing How We Eat which is a beautifully illustrated book looking at edible plants from around the world that are revolutionising how we grow, eat and appreciate food. It tackles important questions like what do we eat when our usual diets are no longer sustainable, how do we future proof food and how can we be more mindful about what we eat and considers what the future of global food production might look like. Dr Ian Bedford's Bug of the Week: Harvestmen What We Talk About The idea behind the book Traditional staple crops Hopniss Great Burdock Cornelian cherry Ebbing's Silverberry Sea buckthorn Kevin & Artur's vote for the most under-utilised crop About the authors Kevin Hobbs is a UK-based professional grower and plantsman with over thirty years' experience in the horticulture industry. He is the author of The Story of Trees and Herbaceous Perennials, Hillier's Gardener's Guide. Artur Cisar-Erlach is an ecologist and food expert based in Vienna, whose work spans the fields of food and ecotourism. He is the author of The Flavor of Wood. Katie Kulla is an illustrator, writer and farmer based in Oregon in the United States. Links Edible: 70 Sustainable Plants That Are Changing How We Eathttps://www.summerfieldbooks.com/product/edible-70-sustainable-plants-that-are-changing-how-we-eat/ Lucinda Weldon Coaching Other episodes if you liked this one: Wild Food Tasting Session Edimentals with Stephen Barstow Patreon

This episode, my guest is Susan Poizner. Susan is the author of the award-winning fruit tree care book Growing Urban Orchards and her new book, which is now an Amazon Number One Bestseller, Grow Fruit Trees Fast. Susan trains thousands of new growers worldwide through her award-winning fruit tree care training program and is the host of The Urban Forestry Radio Show and Podcast and an ISA Certified Arborist. She founded the Ben Nobleman Park Community Orchard in Toronto in 2009, helps others establish and maintain community orchards and food forests in Toronto and beyond and has won multiple awards for her work. Dr Ian Bedford's Bug of the Week: Ivy Mining Bees What We Talk About Selecting trees for disease resistance and planning for a staggered harvest if you grow multiple trees Choosing a spot for your tree Tree roots as the tree matures Feeding your fruit trees Mulching Success in a community orchard Summer and winter pruning About Susan Poizner Susan is the author of the award-winning fruit tree care book Growing Urban Orchards and her second book Grow Fruit Trees Fast. Susan trains thousands of new growers worldwide through her award-winning fruit tree care training program and is the host of The Urban Forestry Radio Show and Podcast and an ISA Certified Arborist. She founded the Ben Nobleman Park Community Orchard in Toronto in 2009, helps others establish and maintain community orchards and food forests in Toronto and beyond and has won multiple awards for her work. Links Growing Urban Orchards Grow Fruit Trees Fast The Urban Forestry Radio Show Great Dixter Charitable Trust Other episodes if you liked this one: Plan, Plant & Maintain Fruit Trees Apples Patreon

This episode, my guest is qualified herbalist Meghan Rhodes. Meghan discusses how we can tap into our gardens for better health, why herbs are good for dealing with conditions that are manifestations of multiple problems, such as stomach issues, the 7 keys tastes you find in herbs and how you can get started on your own journey using herbs for wellbeing. Dr Ian Bedford's Bug of the Week: Spanish Slug Story What We Talk About How herbalism adds another layer of wellbeing to gardening Why taste is baked into our biologies, even if you're brand new to working with plants and herbs How to recalibrate your palette to be able to detect the 7 key tastes of herbs How understanding tastes helps you make the most of foraged and homegrown herbs About Meghan Rhodes Meghan Rhodes is a qualified herbalist who has helped over 80 people start living herbalism, making healthier, safer solutions for themselves and their families a reality. As the founder of Rhodes Roots & Remedies, she has written 10 course books, authored the books Easy Herbal Remedies for Infants and Slow-Infused Self-Care, as well as developed a unique four season sense-based herbalism course and journey, Awaken Herbal Wisdom. Meghan's practice of herbalism is rooted in the belief that we must remember, reclaim and relearn our knowledge of our bodies, our autonomy and how to work with plant medicine in order to bring control of our own health back into our families and homes for a sustainable future for ourselves and the planet. Meghan is a member of both the College of Practitioners of Phytotherapy and the Ayurvedic Professionals Association. Links Get on the waiting list for Meghan's intensive herbalism course - Awaken Herbal Wisdom - enrolling annually - or DM Meghan the word ACCESS for the link. Exclusive access to exploring one of the seven tastes Instagram - @rhodesrootsandremedies GreenBlue Urban Other episodes if you liked this one: Sensory Herbalism The Herb Society Patreon

Hello and welcome to Roots and All, where my guest this week is urban apiculturist Mark Patterson. Mark founded and runs Apicultural where he work with businesses and communities to invest in natural capital, improving the environment for pollinators and delivering pollinator monitoring surveys for clients. He provides honey bee hive management solutions, beekeeping training and education and also supplies quality urban honey to a select group of establishments. So you'd think Mark would be all for the idea of urban honeybees, right? Listen on… Dr Ian Bedford's Bug of the Week: Ear Wigglers What We Talk About How many hives are there in London, does anybody have an estimate? Is it a sustainable number? Where are they foraging for floral resources? Are there enough of these? Are urban conditions more taxing for bees? Do environmental stressors lead to higher incidences of disease, for example? Do managed bees outcompete wild bees when it comes to consuming pollen and nectar? Are managed bees necessary? Useful? Desirable? Filling a niche left by potentially dwindling numbers of wild bees? A useful pollination and food source for humans? Why are commercial beekeeping companies trying to muscle in on the beekeeping tradition in London? Do honeybees count as an 'environmental credit' in terms of planning and building? About Mark Patterson After completing a National Diploma in Agriculture, Land use and recreation which included a practical Horticultural course Mark went on to study for an Honours Degree in Countryside Management and Ornithology at Kingston Upon Hull University - an ecology based course of study. It was during this time at University that Mark was introduced to bee keeping by a fellow student. As senior Consultant Mark has amassed over 26 years of experience in the fields of nature conservation and ecology. His past professional positions include marine biologist/ranger on the Farne islands national nature reserve, Countryside Ranger for a local Authority, Nature reserve manager for Durham Wildlife services, Worked on a bird of prey Reintroduction program with the RSPB , Freelance consultancy and 11 years as a project and program manager for a national Environmental regeneration Charity, Groundwork. Having assisted others with their beekeeping for several years Mark began bee keeping on his own in 2010 having attended an introduction course and a seasons mentoring. Since then he has volunteered extensively for Bee keeping associations, serving as elected committee official and Trustee to the LBKA, taught courses and organised forage planting activities for the bee keeping community he serves. Mark spent 3 years working for DEFRA as a seasonal Bee Inspector and currently cares for around 30 colonies of honey bees,10 of which are his own. Mark currently posses the BBKA Bee basic certificate, BBKA Honey bee management certificate, several of the BBKA modular exam certificates and the General Husbandry certificate. Mark has extensive training and experience in notifiable bee diseases diagnosis and management. As well as Honey Bees Mark is also highly knowledgeable about Solitary bees and Bumblebees and teaches Bee identification courses for the Field Studies Council as part of the nationwide BioLinks program. Links www.apicultural.co.uk Mark Patterson on LinkedIn www.howgreennursery.co.uk Other episodes if you liked this one: The Garden Jungle with Professor Dave Goulson Pollinators with Professor Jeff Ollerton Patreon

My guest this week is David Hedges-Gower. David is a prominent figure in the UK's lawn care industry, known for his expertise and dedication to promoting sustainable lawn care practices. He wrote the book 'Modern Lawn Care', is the Chairman of The Lawn Association, founded the world's first lawn care qualification and works tirelessly to promote responsible, sustainable lawn care practices that benefit the environment and homeowners. What David has to say on lawns certainly challenged my notions on what lawn care involves, whether they're a sensible option to those concerned about wildlife and the environment and what they can and should be like from a horticultural perspective, so listen on with an open mind… Dr Ian Bedford's Bug of the Week: Horse Chestnut Moth What We Talk About Lawns and their uses Do lawns have to be high maintenance? Ideal grass species for sustainable lawns Do you have to feed a lawn? Can lawns be of use to wildlife? Artificial lawns About David Hedges-Gower David Hedges-Gower is a prominent figure in the UK's lawn care industry, known for his expertise and dedication to promoting sustainable lawn care practices. His background in greenkeeping, including his role as Superintendent at the prestigious Oxfordshire Golf Club, provided him with a strong foundation in turf management. After recognizing the need for better information and knowledge in the lawn care field, David transitioned into lawn care and authored a book titled "Modern Lawn Care" in 2014. This publication served as a valuable resource for those seeking to improve their lawn maintenance practices. In addition to his book, David has been actively involved in educating people about proper lawn care through training days, seminars, and advisory services. He is a trusted source of information, having accumulated 43 years of experience in the field. He often serves as an expert for publications, radio channels, and other advisory bodies, helping to disseminate his knowledge to a wider audience. One of David's notable achievements is founding the world's first lawn care qualification, which caters to both homeowners and professionals. This qualification helps individuals gain a better understanding of modern and sustainable lawn care practices, contributing to the overall improvement of lawn maintenance. David Hedges-Gower is also the Chairman of The Lawn Association, an organization dedicated to promoting the value of living lawns and distinguishing between genuine sustainable lawn care and marketing tactics that claim sustainability without delivering on it. The association collaborates with significant horticultural bodies like English Heritage to educate staff, trainees, and apprentices on sustainable lawn care methods. Recently, David launched the True Garden Range, a groundbreaking product in the form of 2-in-1 fertilizers and soil conditioners made from composted recycled food waste. This product addresses the need for sustainable lawn care options in the retail market, providing a more environmentally friendly choice for gardeners. David's passion lies in making sustainable lawns a priority, countering the practice of franchises that prioritize profits over the health of lawns. He envisions sustainable lawns as not just a feature of our surroundings but a necessity, and he works tirelessly to promote responsible lawn care practices that benefit both the environment and homeowners. Links www.davidhedges-gower.com Modern Lawn Care by David Hedges-Gower www.lawnassociation.org Other episodes if you liked this one: Tapestry Lawns So & Mo Patreon

This week, my guest is Andrew Bullock, who runs The Lavender Garden Nursery. Andrew holds the National Collection of Buddlejas and grows a huge range of lavenders and buddlejas from his nursery in The Cotswolds. We talk about how to attract pollinators to your garden, when and how to prune your buddlejas and lavenders, whether buddlejas are invasive, why lavenders are sometimes short-lived and anything else you ever wanted to know about these two plants for pollinators. Dr Ian Bedford's Bug of the Week: Mosquitoes What We Talk About Which is better for bees - buddleja or lavender? The best varieties for bees/butterflies/pollinators in general Night time pollinators How to grow lavender and buddleja When to prune and how much to take off Buddleja - invasive? Causes of short-lived lavender Links The Lavender Garden Contact Andrew on the phone: 01453 860356 or 07837 582943 www.premierpolytunnels.co.uk Other episodes if you liked this one: Pollinators & Pollination Bugs in Your Garden Patreon

Several years ago, Penn Allen inherited a collection of diaries that had been meticulously maintained by her great grandmother. Penn discovered the diaries documented the building of her great grandmother and grandfather's Arts and Crafts house and the development of the garden that followed. She uncovered an untold story of her family, of plant hunting and of rock gardens - one that has significance to the wider world of horticultural history and in fact, goes some way to rewriting it. Dr Ian Bedford's Bug of the Week: Buddleias and Butterfly Tongues What We Talk About What the book is about and why Penn felt it was important to write it How the garden helped heal; through providing a space to contemplate, a space to communicate, a distraction… Alpines and rock gardening Plant hunters Reginald Farrer Will Purdom What became of house and garden About Penn Allen Having spent most of my life in the UK, I moved permanently to the beautiful Lot region in SW France with my husband around fifteen years ago. I have a passion for my garden and the outdoors and can generally be found either striding over a windswept hillside or upside down in my flower beds, always with a Labrador or two by my side. The Lost Garden of Loughrigg is my first story, though hopefully not my last! Links The Lost Gardens of Loughrigg by Penn Allen Tickets to see Penn Allen at the Kendal Mountain Book Festival Twitter @PennAllenwrites Instagram penn.allen www.modicagardens.com

My guest this week is Amy Anthony, a certified clinical Aromatherapist and Aromatic Gardener. In addition to that, Amy is an aromatherapy educator, podcaster, herbalist, certified master composter, and artisanal distiller and is one of New York's top aromatherapy practitioners. We talk about the importance of connecting with nature through scent, how aromatherapy can support wellness and vitality and how you can become an aromatic gardening practitioner yourself. Dr Ian Bedford's Bug of the Week: Rosemary Leaf Beetles What We Talk About What is aromatherapy? What is aromatic gardening? What's the difference between plant aromatics and synthetics? What are best essential oils for supporting wellness and vitality? Do you need to be careful with any aromatic oils? What are safe and practical approaches to aromatherapy? How are you connected to plants from your culture? "Aromatherapy is not a consumptive exercise." Why? What can we do about this in our own gardens? How is aromatherapy linked to the moon? Where to find out more About Amy Anthony Amy is a certified clinical Aromatherapist and Aromatic Gardner who left her career in marketing research to pursue what is closest to her heart: working with plants. As a certified aromatherapist, aromatherapy educator, herbalist, gardener, certified master composter, and artisanal distiller, Amy is one of NYC's top aromatherapy practitioners. Host of the Essential Aromatica podcast, Amy also tends her own aromatic garden on the North Fork of Long Island where she distills her unique products. Listed as one of America's most influential aromatherapists, Amy Anthony is currently the New York State representative for the Alliance of International Aromatherapists and has her private practice called NYC Aromatica which includes one-on-one customized aromatherapy sessions, online class offerings, corporate consulting and article writing. Links Essential Aromatica Podcast NYC Aromatica Other episodes if you liked this one: Scent Magic with Isabel Bannerman Gardening for Your Senses Patreon

This episode, my guest is green roof guru, urban designer, photographer, birdwatcher, punk ideologist and all-round straight talker Dusty Gedge. We talk about green infrastructure, encouraging species back into landscapes, how to maintain landscapes for habitat value and what's being and can be done to up the green value of public spaces. Dr Ian Bedford's Bug of the Week: Woodlice What We Talk About Brownfield gardening Biodiversity in decline The problems faced by birds in urban environments What initiatives Dusty is most excited by What happens if biodiversity starts causing a problem? Maintaining green roofs as habitats About Dusty Gedge Links www.dustygedge.co.uk Facebook Instagram Twitter LinkedIn Collecting the Love 1 Collecting the Love 2 Other episodes if you liked this one: The Botanical Mind Public Green Spaces Patreon

This episode is an interview with environmental landscape artist, TED Speaker and art21 Educator Tobacco Brown. Tobacco connects art and environmental justice and is a visual artist, digital storyteller, master gardener, social practitioner, cultural historian and intuitive environmental advocate. We talk about community green spaces, how humans connect with the land and why it's so important that we do. Dr Ian Bedford's Bug of the Week: Beewolf What We Talk About What can gardens teach us about ourselves? Lessons we can learn from a garden that help us live our lives well Are there lessons we can take from life that will help us be better gardeners? Wisdom residing in the soil Land justice Communication blight remediation How gardens grow with you as you go through life About Tobacco Brown Links Email [email protected] Tobacco Brown What Gardening Taught Me About Life - Tobacco Brown's TED Talk On Instagram art21 Other episodes if you liked this one: The Botanical Mind Public Green Spaces Patreon

My guest this week is Blanche Cameron, who leads UCL Bartlett School of Architecture's Environmental Design and Greening Cities modules, and is an urban green infrastructure advocate who works closely with industry and the government on urban greening issues. To say our towns and cities are not always good examples of environmentally sound design and biodiversity would be quite the understatement, but Blanche is one of a group of outspoken advocates for nature inclusive design who are are working towards better outcomes in this regard. Dr Ian Bedford's Bug of the Week: Dagger flies What We Talk About The built environment and biodiversity collapse Landscaping in towns and cities How good design can help mitigate biodiversity loss and climate change Vertical planting and green roofs Do we need a coherent plan or is it up to individuals to start changing their landscapes? "Productising" and the construction industry's need for homogeneity Where does technologically fit in? About Blanche Cameron Blanche leads UCL Bartlett School of Architecture's Environmental Design and Greening Cities modules and contributes to other modules and programmes, including the Landscape Architecture and Sustainable Heritage MSc.She coordinated the Living Landscape Strategy for UCL's £1Bn UCL East development, and sits on UCL's campus greening 'Wild Bloomsbury' steering group. Blanche is an urban green infrastructure advocate, working closely with industry and government, bringing practitioners into the heart of teaching, including John Little, biodiverse landscapes innovator, and Dusty Gedge, living roofs expert and founder in 2004 of the independent advisory organisation, Livingroofs.org. Blanche edited the GLA's 2019 10-year update report on the impact of a decade of urban greening since the London Plan's Green Roofs and Walls 2008 policy, co-written by Dusty Gedge and Gary Grant. Links Blanche on LinkedIn www.naturalgrower.co.uk www.veteransgrowth.org Other episodes if you liked this one: John Little Green Roofs with Dr Anna Zakrisson Patreon

This episode I'm speaking with author and expert gardener Maggie Stuckey about growing food in containers. We talk about growing a container garden of vegetabhttps://rootsandall.co.uk/podcast/episode-52-grow-fruit-vegetables-in-pots-with-aaron-bertelsen/les, herbs, and edible flowers and the inspirational history of wartime Victory Gardens and their legacy for today's gardeners. Dr Ian Bedford's Bug of the Week: Painted Lady Butterflies What We Talk About Victory gardens Growing food in containers With container space at a premium, how can you choose what to grow? Essential equipment Cool season and warm season plants Maggie's neat trick for planting garlic cloves Root vegetables in containers Should you try to focus on one type of plant or can you grow a mixture of things? Succession planting About Maggie Stuckey Bestselling author Maggie Stuckey is an expert in the art of growing good things to eat in containers. For more than twenty years, Maggie has been enjoying vegetables, herbs, and edible flowers grown in her own container garden — and inspiring others to transform even the tiniest spaces into vibrant personal foodways. In her book The Container Victory Garden, Maggie shares practical and comprehensive tips and techniques for container gardening alongside the rich history of the original wartime Victory Gardens, which date back to 1917. Links The Container Victory Garden: A Beginner's Guide to Growing Your Own Groceries by Maggie Stuckey - HarperCollins Focus, April 2023 Move with Adele Other episodes if you liked this one: Fruits and Vegetables in Pots Container Planting with Harriet Rycroft Patreon

This episode I'm speaking with Seb Stroud. Seb is based at Leeds University and is part of the Ecology & Evolution Group, where his research looks at many different topics including botany, freshwater ecology, ecosystem structures and urban landscapes. He recently co-authored a research paper which looks at the state of botanical education and that's what I was particularly interested in chatting about today. Dr Ian Bedford's Bug of the Week: Woolly Aphids What We Talk About What is the extinction of botanical education? Why is it happening? The effects of losing our tradition of botanical education Plant blindness The UN's sustainable development goals and future funding The impact of botanical education extinction on climate change, food security and our economy What is actually being done about it? Natural history GCSE Equity and accessibility in environmental education The UK as a nation of gardeners and nature lovers…? About Sebastian Stroud Links Botanical education paper Seb Stroud on Twitter Botanical University Challenge Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh RBGE's PropaGate Learning - Online Courses BSBI Kew's Grow Wild Botanists are Disappearing with Seb Stroud - The Conversation, July 2022 CW Studio Other episodes if you liked this one: Modern Plant Hunters The State of Horticulture Patreon

My guest this episode is urban smallholder Sara Ward. Sara runs Hen Corner, a backyard smallholding in London. Her website Hen Corner has a wealth of information on growing and making food, she runs courses, sells products from her bakery and has just published a book 'Living the Good Life in the City'. I began by asking Sara what prompted her to follow in the wellieprints of Barbara Good. Dr Ian Bedford's Bug of the Week: Gardening for Nature What We Talk About What prompted Sara to set up Hen Corner How much can you grow in your average urban garden? Keeping animals Getting rid of waste from the garden Preserving food Looking after things when you're away About Living the Good Life in the City Sara Ward has transformed her Victorian terraced house in London into an urban smallholding, 'Hen Corner', and in Living the Good Life in the City she shares some of the ways she and her family have brought city and country together, and shows that you, too, can make a difference to how you live and the food you eat. Divided into sections covering Make, Grow, Preserve, Keep and Celebrate, Living the Good Life in the City is packed full of recipes, stories, tips and tricks including baking bread, making your own jam, pasta, sausages and cheese, keeping bees and livestock, preserving, foraging, harvesting and celebrating with food. Links Living the Good Life in the City by Sara Ward - Pimpernel Press, July 2023 www.hencorner.com Digital Fuse Other episodes if you liked this one: Huw Richards on Veg Growing Food Forest in Your Garden with Alan Carter Patreon

My guest this episode is artist and activist Katie Holten. Katie has just released a book called The Language of Trees, a collection of literary and scientific works by people like Robin Wall Kimmerer, Ursula le Guin, and Ross Gay. Using her Alphabet of Trees, the book is underpinned by the Katie's art and asks us to examine our relationship with trees by pulling together wide-reaching strands and demonstrating in one place, just how connected we are to them. Dr Ian Bedford's Bug of the Week: Asian Hornets What We Talk About The idea behind the Language of Trees The Tree Alphabet Themes behind the essays Inspiring Tree People About The Language of Trees In this beautifully illustrated collection, artist Katie Holten gifts readers her visual Tree Alphabet and uses it to masterfully translate and illuminate pieces from some of the world's most exciting writers and artists, activists and ecologists. Holten guides us on a journey from prehistoric cave paintings and creation myths to the death of a 3,500 year-old cypress tree, from Tree Clocks in Mongolia and forest fragments in the Amazon to the language of fossil poetry. In doing so, she unearths a new way of seeing the natural beauty that surrounds us and creates an urgent reminder of what could happen if we allow it to slip away. Links The Language of Trees by Katie Holten - Elliott & Thompson, June 2023 www.katieholten.com Starcroft Farm Cabins Other episodes if you liked this one: Plants and People The Botanical Mind Patreon

My guest this week is wildlife author and photographer Paul Sterry. Paul has written many books on wildlife but his latest, The Biodiversity Gardener, pulls together his decades of knowledge and the result is a wildlife gardening manual with real-life examples taken from Paul's Hampshire wildlife friendly space. Dr Ian Bedford's Bug of the Week: Dark Edged Bee Flies What We Talk About Can small gardens really make a difference to our declining biodiversity? Won't they become unsupportable islands of life? How to start wildlife gardening Butterfly caterpillars and when to safely cut the grass/meadow/hedges Weeding and cutting back and species that use certain plants as larval hosts Is scrub good and how can you incorporate it in your garden? Do you need to manage it to avoid it becoming woodland? Advice for anyone looking to transition away from a conventional to a wildlife garden The Nature Conservancy Council! About Paul Sterry Links The Biodiversity Gardener by Paul Sterry - Princeton University Press, June 2023 Paul Sterry on Twitter www.naturephotographers.co.uk Other episodes if you liked this one: The Garden Jungle with Dave Goulson Making a Wildlife Garden Patreon

This week's episode, my guests are Chris Young and Susan Ottaviano. Chris and Susan are better known as the 2 Green Witches. Chris Young is a lifelong gardener whose acclaimed garden, Tiny Sur is a certified wildlife habitat and Susan is an artist, performer, songwriter, and food stylist. Their new book is The Green Witch's Guide to Magical Plants & Flowers: Love Spells from Apples to Zinnias and together we take a light-hearted look at the power of plants to help you manifest your deepest desires. Dr Ian Bedford's Bug of the Week: Invasive Species What We Talk About What is a grimoire? What is green witchcraft? The forward to the book is written by the iconic Debbie Harry. Is she a green witch? Love spells Do spells work? How the practices in the book help you to connect more deeply with your garden The Indian paintbrush plant. Queen Anne's lace jelly About Susan Ottaviano Artist, performer, songwriter, and cooking maven Susan Ottaviano welcomes you into the lush and whimsical world of green witchcraft with her new book, The Green Witch's Guide to Magical Plants & Flowers: Love Spells from Apples to Zinnias ( 6/6/23 Skyhorse Publishing). With her rich illustrations and inspiring vegan recipes, Susan and co-author Chris Young shine light on brilliant ways to use products from the farmers market, supermarket, or even your backyard garden to bring light, love, good food, and good humor into your life. Susan has been a groundbreaking food stylist and recipe developer for over twenty years. Her work has been featured in magazines, cookbooks, and advertisements from Bon Appétit to Grey Goose to Uber Eats. Best known as the lead singer for pop band Book of Love, Susan and her bandmates recorded five albums for Warner Brothers Records/Sire Records. Book of Love was a fixture on the Billboard Dance Club charts throughout the 1980s and 1990s, with multiple hits in the top ten. The group reunited in 2016 for a sold-out world tour to mark their 30th Anniversary. Her evocative artwork, which explores food, femininity, and sexuality, has been featured in numerous gallery shows, including a Spring 2023 group show titled "Eat It" at Collar Works Arts Organization. She earned a BFA in Painting from The Philadelphia College of Art, and has been awarded post-graduate certificates from the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park and the Institute of Culinary Education in New York City. She lives in New York's East Village. Susan can be found on Instagram at @susanottavianoart About Chris Young Author, gardening expert, and former Comedy Central executive Chris Young first discovered his love of the outdoors growing up exploring the vast Indiana backyard of his late grandfather. Even while obtaining a degree from Indiana University and working as the Director of Talent at Comedy Central, Chris never lost his fascination with the power of nature. In his new book, The Green Witch's Guide to Magical Plants & Flowers, Love Spells from Apples to Zinnias (6/6/23 Skyhorse Publishing), Chris and co-author Susan Ottaviano share the surprising mystical properties of dozens of plants and flowers. Over the years, Chris honed his expertise working with green witches, gardening virtuosos, and botanical magic practitioners from New York City to rural Oregon. Eventually Chris settled down in California with his husband, television writer Jon Kinnally, where he re-committed himself to the botanical world. Chris' own garden, "Tiny Sur", has been designated by the National Wildlife Federation as a certified Wildlife Habitat. It is also certified by The Xerces Society as a Pollinator Habitat, by Monarch Watch as a Monarch Waystation, and by the Humane Society as a Humane Backyard. On Facebook, Tiny Sur (@tinysuroflaurelcanyon) boasts thousands of loyal, engaged followers. Chris writes, gardens, and practices green witchcraft in Laurel Canyon, where he lives with husband Jon, cats Simon, Howard, and Elliott, and two Russian tortoises, Wentworth and Boris. Chris can be found on Instagram as @plantymcflowers. About The Green Witch's Guide to Magical Plants & Flowers Chris Young and Susan Ottaviano, better known as the 2 Green Witches. Chris Young is a lifelong gardener whose acclaimed garden, Tiny Sur is a certified wildlife habitat. Susan is an artist, performer, songwriter, and food stylist. Their new is The Green Witch's Guide to Magical Plants & Flowers (6/6/23 Skyhorse Publishing). Couldn't we all use a little more magic in our lives? Equal parts practical guide and beautiful keepsake, The Green Witch's Guide to Magical Plants & Flowers shows you how to bring more love and contentment into your life using elements of nature. This book, written by our favorite 2 Green Witches, unlocks the secrets hiding in your garden, transforming everyday flowers, fruits, and plants into bath salts, herbal infusions, soaps, sachets, tinctures, and more. It provides all-natural recipes that illuminate pathways to health, peace, love and prosperity, and harmo

Hello and welcome to this week's episode where my guest is poet and scholar Camille Dungy. Camille has documented how she diversified her garden to reflect her heritage in her book 'Soil: The Story of a Black Mother's Garden'. We talk about the politics of gardening, planting a nature garden and how nature writing has influenced our gardens in the past and how it can shape the way we do so in the future. Dr Ian Bedford's Bug of the Week: Bloodsuckers What We Talk About Why Camille believes "Every politically engaged person should have a garden" The idea behind Camille's pollinator garden in Colorado Gardens that offer something more than beauty Is there something we can do to make ourselves take more thinking, creating time? The state of modern nature writing The lessons learnt from gardening "If I cultivate a flourishing I want its reach to be wide". What Camille means by this. About Camille Dungy Camille T. Dungy is the author of Soil: The Story of a Black Mother's Garden (Simon & Schuster: May 2, 2023). She has also written Guidebook to Relative Strangers: Journeys into Race, Motherhood, and History, a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award, and four collections of poetry, including Trophic Cascade, winner of the Colorado Book Award. Dungy edited Black Nature: Four Centuries of African American Nature Poetry, the first anthology to bring African American environmental poetry to national attention. She also co-edited the From the Fishouse poetry anthology and served as assistant editor for Gathering Ground: Celebrating Cave Canem's First Decade. Dungy is the poetry editor for Orion magazine. Her work has appeared in Best American Poetry, 100 Best African American Poems, Best American Essays, The 1619 Project, All We Can Save: Truth, Courage, and Solutions for the Climate Crisis, over 40 other anthologies, plus dozens of venues including The New Yorker, Poetry, Literary Hub, The Paris Review, and Poets.org. You may know her as the host of Immaterial, a podcast from the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Magnificent Noise. A University Distinguished Professor at Colorado State University, Dungy's honors include the 2021 Academy of American Poets Fellowship, a 2019 Guggenheim Fellowship, an American Book Award, and fellowships from the NEA in both prose and poetry. Links Soil: The Story of a Black Mother's Garden by Camille Dungy - Simon & Schuster, May 2023 www.camilledungy.com Other episodes if you liked this one: Can Women Save the Planet? Ecologically Integrated Gardens Patreon

This week's episode, my guest is writer Victoria Bennett, author of'All My Wild Mothers – motherhood, loss and an apothecary garden'. The book weaves memoir and herbal folklore and is a story of re-wilding our wastelands, and the transformation that can happen when we do. Daisy, for resilience. Dandelion, for strength against adversity. Borage, to bring hope in dark and difficult times… Dr Ian Bedford's Bug of the Week: Box tree moth What We Talk About What is an apothecary garden? How Victoria learnt about gardening and herbalism The garden Victoria and her son built in their new house Dealing with the challenges thrown up by neighbours and housing associations Some of the most powerfully useful plants Victoria has grown How Victoria's mother influenced her gardening aesthetic Victoria and her son's next joint gardening adventures About 'All My Wild Mothers – motherhood, loss and an apothecary garden' The book was published earlier this year with Two Roads Books. An intimate weaving of memoir and herbal folklore, it is a story of re-wilding our wastelands, and the transformation that can happen when we do. Daisy, for resilience. Dandelion, for strength against adversity. Borage, to bring hope in dark and difficult times. Victoria says, "faced with a life very different to what I thought it would be; deep in grief following the tragic death of my eldest sister, facing financial difficulties, and caring for my young son who was diagnosed at age 2 with Type One diabetes, I decided to see what could grow on the barren land of the former industrial site over which our new social housing home was built. With my son, I began to grow, relying on the weeds that were under our feet and the things that other people threw out or eradicated from their pristine gardens. Stone by stone, seed by seed, my son and I turned the rubble into a wild, healing garden. As we did, we discovered that sometimes what grows does so, not in spite of what is broken, but because of it." Links Victoria's website 'All My Wild Mothers – motherhood, loss and an apothecary garden' by Victoria Bennett Other episodes if you liked this one: Grounding Roots with Lulah Ellender Darwin's Garden with Dr Jude Piesse Patreon

My guest this episode is author and activist Ellen Miles. Ellen is the founder of Nature is a Human Right, she runs Dream Green, a social enterprise that helps people get guerrilla gardening with guides, grants, and workshops and has a book that will be released this Thursday the 8th of June, Get Guerrilla Gardening: A handbook for planting in public places. Dr Ian Bedford's Bug of the Week: Spider silk What We Talk About What is guerrilla gardening? Does it matter who owns the land you guerrilla garden? Is it illegal? Are you liable if someone trips over your planter, for example? Should we be growing more food in communities? If you're growing food in an urban location, how can you know the soil isn't contaminated with anything that will be taken up by your plants? Who decides why a space should be used for? Where is the input from the people that live with and use guerrilla gardened spaces? What are some potentially good sites? What are parklets? Are there spaces (such as wild spaces) that should be left alone? In order for a plant to establish either from seed or as a plant, it needs to have a degree of tenacity. Is it easy to strike a balance between finding plants that are tough enough to survive and persist and avoiding plants which can be invasive? How do you cope with practical hurdles such as no water, nowhere to store your tools, nowhere to sit down…? How do you cope with vandalism? Should you try and communicate with the local authority? If so, who and how can you best get hold of them? How do ensure a garden continues to thrive after it's established? Other resources and people doing good work in this area About Ellen Miles Ellen Miles is an author and activist rooting for nature in urban neighbourhoods. She founded Nature is a Human Right and edited the acclaimed anthology of essays inspired by the campaign (Nature is a Human Right: Why we're fighting for green in a grey world, DK, 2022). Ellen also runs Dream Green, a social enterprise that helps people get guerrilla gardening with guides, grants, and workshops. Get Guerrilla Gardening is a joyful handbook – packed with illustrated 'how to's, inspiring stories, and photos of vibrant transformations – demystifies the art and science of planting in public places. With no prior gardening knowledge required, Get Guerrilla Gardening guides you through a straightforward, flexible action plan to suit your aims and abilities, covering everything from the legalities of guerrilla gardening, to how to choose the right plants for your patch. Links Get Guerrilla Gardening by Ellen Miles Ellen on Instagram Other episodes if you liked this one: Public Green Spaces with Neil Sinden of CPRE Ecological Gardens with Sid Hill Patreon

My guest this week is gardener Benny Hawksbee. Benny has a background in biology and gardens with one eye on biodiversity. His projects include the Eden Nature Garden, a community garden designed to be a haven for people and wildlife, and John Little's garden in Essex. We talk about how Benny brings biology and ecology into his work, what we can all do to garden for wildlife whilst reducing our input in terms of resources and how we can involve the community in building and using gardens that work for everyone. Dr Ian Bedford's Bug of the Week: Broad bean pests What We Talk About Benny's professional background and how he got into horticulture The Eden Nature Garden How Benny brings biology & ecology into his work Gardening on a low budget and with low resource availability, such as the absence of running water and electricity Going against the horticultural rule book Bees - native species and honeybees The importance of community involvement in public gardens The future of gardening in the UK Links www.edennaturegarden.org www.hawksbeegardening.com Benny on Instagram London Natural History Society UK Bees, wasps, ants recording society Other episodes if you liked this one: John Little Nature from the Rubble Patreon

This episode goes out in celebration of The Chelsea Fringe. The Fringe is an annual event which runs concurrently to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show and celebrates everything alternative in horticulture. And this episode is certainly alternative! It was intended to be an AMA (Ask Me Anything) episode but quickly evolved into a general chat with my host this week, Jake Rayson. We then moved on to talk about a new initiative I'm launching. The idea is in its embryonic stage and I have no idea how it's going to develop, but listen on for some more info. Thank you very much Jake for being a friend, stand-in host and long-term supporter of Roots and All. Please check out the links to Jake's work below. Links Jake made a handy list of free resources, NBN Atlas and GBIF his latest faves, quite amazing. And he's available for wildlife forest garden design work, remote sites a speciality. Here's his portfolio Here's Jake's Garden Wild Spreadsheet Other episodes if you liked this one: The Chelsea Fringe with Tim Richardson Introduction to Forest Gardening with Jake Rayson Patreon Custom permalink

This episode features writer, garden historian and returning guest Caroline Ball. In eighteenth-century Bavaria a prosperous apothecary, Johann Wilhelm Weinmann began an extraordinary project, the compilation of an A to Z of plants, meticulously documented, and lavishly illustrated by botanical artists using the latest colour-printing methods of the time. He aimed to include thousands of plants from all over the world, describing their individual characteristics and commissioning magnificent colour illustrations of each specimen. The first complete volume of the Phytanthoza Iconographia, as he called it, was published in 1737 and the work grew to four immense tomes. The Iconographia gives an unparalleled view of the ornamental and useful plants that were known to botanists and gardeners in the early eighteenth-century. Caroline has written two books, A Splendour of Succulents & Cacti and A Cornucopia of Fruit & Vegetables, which document how this piece of work came to be collated and which reproduce many of the amazing images featured within. Dr Ian Bedford's Bug of the Week: Butterfly Tongues & Buddleia What We Talk About Johann Wilhelmina Weinmann and his Phytanthoza Iconographia Where Weinmann sourced the plants that were included The painters who documented the specimens Historical plant pots How the work was reproduced Matching the plants depicted to contemporary specimens Are historical botanical texts merely a curiosity, or can they inform our knowledge of horticulture in the present day? Some of the more surprising medicinal uses for plants that are documented in the book About Caroline Ball & the Phytanthoza Iconagraphia In eighteenth-century Bavaria a prosperous apothecary, Johann Wilhelm Weinmann, grew an 'American aloe' that astounded all who saw it. He was also the mastermind behind an extraordinary project - a comprehensive A to Z of plants, meticulously documented, and lavishly illustrated by botanical artists using the latest colour-printing methods of the time. Weinmann aimed to include thousands of plants from all over the world, describing their individual characteristics and commissioning magnificent colour illustrations of each specimen. The first complete volume of the Phytanthoza Iconographia, as he called it, was published in 1737 and the work grew to four immense tomes. The Iconographia gives an unparalleled view of the ornamental and useful plants that were known to botanists and gardeners in the early eighteenth-century. Caroline Ball is an editor, copywriter and occasional translator who has written on many subjects, but has a particular interest in horticulture, garden history and plant-hunters. She is also a keen gardener. Caroline's books A Splendour of Succulents & Cacti and A Cornucopia of Fruit & Vegetables feature illustrations from an eighteenth-century botanical treasury, celebrating Weinmann's rare and precious volumes by theme. Links A Splendour of Succulents & Cacti A Cornucopia of Fruit & Vegetables: Illustrations from an eighteenth-century botanical treasury Members of the public can explore the collections via the Bodleian's online image portal here. digital.bodleian.ox.ac.uk Other episodes if you liked this one: Heritage Apples with Caroline Ball Herbs with the Herb Society Patreon

This week, my guest is Dr Neil Bell, bryologist at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and author of The Hidden World of Mosses, which takes a look into the minute and fascinating world of bryophytes. If you've ever wanted to know how these plants live and reproduce, whether you can cultivate moss indoors or outdoors, what that green stuff is you find on the surface of potted plant's compost and whether you should take it off, the environmental and habitat value of mosses and how they are affected by the moon, listen on… Dr Ian Bedford's Bug of the Week: Tardegrades What We Talk About What is moss? How is it different to other plants? Liverworts and hornworts How mosses reproduce Moss species in the UK Cultivating mosses in a garden or as a houseplant Liverworts growing on the surface of potted plants Is there a place for mosses on brownfield sites? Do all mosses need shade and moisture? How mosses take in nutrients and attach to structures The role mosses play in the environment in terms of water attenuation and conservation, and as habitats for other creatures Sphagnum bogs as a 'potential positive feedback loop' for climate change and what can be done about this The connection between sphagnum moss and the moon How you can better see mosses, to explore what they look like in detail and appreciate them About The Hidden World of Mosses Did you know that there are nearly 20,000 different species of mosses and their relatives worldwide with over 1000 in the UK? And did you know that Sphagnum moss is almost wholly responsible for the creation and maintenance of peat bogs, preventing harmful carbon from being released into the atmosphere? The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh has published The Hidden World of Mosses, providing an accessible guide to these not-so-humble botanical gems. Written by bryologist Dr Neil Bell, the book presents information about these incredible plants, exploring their tiny, intriguing and diverse environments in detail. This fascinating book also contains hundreds of stunning photographs which reveal the beauty and splendour of moss. Perhaps the most misunderstood and misrepresented of all groups of organisms, moss is often thought of as unattractive and unremarkable, but nothing could be further from the truth. Mosses and their relatives (liverworts and hornworts) are found in almost every part of the world, from lush forests to rocky mountains tops and from city centres in the tropics to Antarctic tundra. Mosses are critical to the planet - if they ceased to exist tomorrow the world would be in a lot of trouble. Examining the many different types of moss, including those found in the UK and internationally, The Hidden World of Mosses explores the incredible environments of these plants that form their own miniature forests filled with grazers and predators, and have their own ecological norms and mechanics. They play a critical role in climate change prevention and have an extraordinary ability to hold and control water in forests, uplands and valleys. Incredibly, some mosses can hold more than 20 times their own weight in water. Peat mosses (Sphagnum) are almost entirely responsible for creating and maintaining peat, which is a traditional fuel and used for the flavour it imparts to many whiskies. Sphagnum moss keeps the soil in which it grows permanently wet, largely preventing decomposition.Interestingly, Sphagnum moss has also been used by medics over the centuries. Due to its absorbent and antiseptic properties, it was used as a cheaper alternative to cotton wool dressings in World Wars One and Two, and has been used to treat wounds for many years. On tropical mountains, mosses prevent flooding by capturing large amounts of water, gently controlling the flow of heavy rainfall, absorbing it like a giant sponge and then slowly letting it out again into rivers in a regulated manner. Additionally, mosses offer hunting grounds, protection and food for a host of much smaller creatures such as worms, mites, spiders and beetles, who use moss as a place to shelter, graze, or reproduce. Speaking about the publication of The Hidden World of Mosses, Neil Bell said, "Mosses are just a little smaller than most things we deal with in our everyday lives, so we tend not to notice their intricate beauty and how different they are from each other unless we make the effort to look really closely. Mosses and their relatives have evolved to live in a different way from other plants, playing a critical role in the environment that other plants can't, and the mosses and liverworts we have in Scotland are of international significance - far more so than our other native plants, in fact. We need to recognise that and protect them. I hope that this book will raise awareness of this hidden botanical world and encourage more people to explore it ." Dr Neil Bell is a bryologist at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. Much of his research is focused on quantifying, understanding and promoting Scotland's globall