Roots and All - Gardening Podcast

In this episode, I'm talking to Dr Elizabeth Westaway and Matthew Adams, founders of Growing Real Food for Nutrition, or Grffn for short. Grffn's vision is for a world where all food is grown for its nutritional qualities using regenerative practices, and made accessible to all. We talk about how the way food is grown can affect its nutritional value and how this can support environmentally sound growing practices. Dr Ian Bedford's Bug of the Week: Conopid flies This episode is sponsored by gardencourses.com. gardencourses.com offers online horticultural training for those looking to develop their own, home gardens. The lasted course to be added is Create Your Garden Sanctuary - you can go to gardencourses.com to find out more. What we cover How Elizabeth and Matthew came to start Growing Real Food for Nutrition Why not all carrots are made equal How you measure the nutrient content of food Why it can vary How we can make sure we're growing nutrient dense food How citizen science helps Brix testing Is organically grown food generally higher in nutrients than non-organically grown? About Growing Real Food for Nutrition Grffn's vision is for a world where all food is grown for its nutritional qualities using regenerative practices, and made accessible to all, creating an abundance of health and harmony, reconnecting humans with Mother Earth. Grffn's mission is to deepen citizens' understanding of how we derive nutrition from natural processes and to realise its impact on human development. Links www.grffn.org

This week I'm speaking to Michelle Mason, stylist, designer, author and co-founder of Mason & Painter a shop located next to Columbia Road which specialises in furniture, homewares and plants. Michelle's latest book Flower Market: Botanical Style at Home, is a mouth-wateringly beautiful and inspirational guide to styling your home using plants and cut flowers. Dr Ian Bedford's Bug of the Week: Noctuid moths This episode is sponsored by gardencourses.com. gardencourses.com offers online horticultural training for those looking to develop their own, home gardens. The lasted course to be added is Create Your Garden Sanctuary - you can go to gardencourses.com to find out more. What we cover Can you learn an eye for design? The importance of taking the time to arrange a small corner or table top with a collection of beautiful things The creative process and the end result Starting the habit of creating botanical displays How a theme or narrative can underpin a creation The accessories Michelle wouldn't be without when styling The importance of sourcing sustainably grown and seasonal plants and flowers Arranging plants and flowers on a budget? About Michelle Mason Michelle Mason is a designer, shopkeeper and stylist and has worked for a number of clients including Sir John Soane's Museum shop, the British Library, the National Gallery and the Southbank Centre. She is also co-founder of east London vintage shop Mason & Painter in Columbia Road, home to the weekly Sunday Flower Market. Her first book was Flower Market (Pimpernel, 2019). https://www.pimpernelpress.com/michelle-mason Links Mason & Painter Flower Market: Botanical Style at Home by Michelle Mason Vintage Shops London by Michelle Mason www.gardencourses.com

This week I'm speaking to Mark Laurence. For decades, Mark has been at the vanguard of sustainable and ecologically sensitive landscape and garden design. He currently specialises in coastal plants and gardens and in this interview we cover what makes a coastal garden, which types of plants fare well on the coast and whether these gardens can be havens for wildlife. Dr Ian Bedford's Bug of the Week: Flatworms This episode is sponsored by gardencourses.com. gardencourses.com offers online horticultural training for those looking to develop their own, home gardens. The lasted course to be added is Create Your Garden Sanctuary - you can go to gardencourses.com to find out more. What we cover Mark's background and work What is a coastal garden? How far can a garden be from the sea and still be classified as coastal? Some of the challenges facing plants in a coastal garden Plants that do well by the coast and plants don't fare well Coastal gardens and wildlife Trees for coastal gardens Further resources (or not!) About Mark Laurence Since 1987 Mark has worked as a designer, specialising in sustainable and adaptive landscapes, natural "drift" planting, coastal, water & rain gardens, living walls and vertical green infrastructure for urban environments. He is a current committee member (Technical & Sustainability) and has been a keynote speaker at SDG and other conferences. He works locally and internationally, creating water gardens in USA, living walls in London, Trondheim, Chicago and Dubai. Mark is a chartered horticulturalist and consults on horticulture and arboriculture in the Middle East. He has a passion for creating nurturing and relaxed gardens and landscapes which connect people to nature and place. https://www.sgd.org.uk/find_a_designer/search_for_a_designer/designers/f4775253-4f5d-4eaf-8fc1-cdb3b3755524/ Links www.marklaurence.com Mark Laurence on Facebook www.gardencourses.com

Today's guest is Mairi MacKenzie, fashion historian, writer and curator, whose research looks at the relationship between the clothes that we wear and our culture. Her latest research is into the world of scent and what flower could be more intrinsically linked with perfume than the rose? In the interview, we discuss famous rose-based perfumes, the symbolism behind its use, whether its historically been perceived as a feminine scent, the mysterious workings of the Osmotheque and why that rose perfume you made as a child never worked! Dr Ian Bedford's Bug of the Week: Hummingbird Hawk Moths This episode is brought to you by the team at LECHUZA, suppliers of self-watering pots and planters. www.lechuza.co.uk What we cover Mairi's career and her interest in the role of the rose in perfume When roses were first used in fragrance The Osmotheque Roses for symbolism as well as scent Has rose always been perceived as a feminine scent? What does rose scent connote? Scents that are heavily rose based The role of the rose as an ingredient in contemporary perfumes About Mairi MacKenzie Mairi MacKenzie is Research Fellow in Fashion and Textiles at Glasgow School of Art. She is a fashion historian, writer and curator, and her research seeks to understand not just what was worn and by whom, but why it was worn and what the relationship is between the clothes that we wear and our culture. - https://www.gsa.ac.uk/research/design-profiles/m/mackenzie,-mairi/ The London College of Garden Design's Horti-couture conference takes place in October. The Conference will explore the influence of plants and gardens on the fashion world and features some of the industry's leading academics and influencers. For more information visit the LCGD website LCGD.org.uk or their Eventbrite page. Tickets start at just £59 and the day will be streamed online as well as in person at Kew Gardens.

In this episode I'm speaking to horticultural therapist Carol Sales. Carol headed up a therapy garden in a prison, before moving over to lead the Therapy Garden at Headley Court, a rehabilitation centre for injured military veterans. Carol was a pioneer in the use of horticultural therapy and is one of the most well-respected professionals in the field. Carol is featured in many books and media articles, including Head Gardeners by Ambra Edwards and Sue Stuart-Smith's The Well Gardened Mind and she was awarded the British Empire Medal in 2019. Dr Ian Bedford's Bug of the Week: Vapourer Moths This episode is brought to you by the team at LECHUZA, suppliers of self-watering pots and planters. LECHUZA brings decades of experience in state-of-the-art, precision manufacturing to bear on its stylish high-functionality range of planters. All LECHUZA products are designed in-house and manufactured in the same factory as the iconic Playmobil toys. The complete collection comes in a wide variety of traditional and trend-led colours and shapes and are highly reliable for use both indoors and outdoors. The integrated soil irrigation system ensures that the plant receives the perfect amount of water for optimal growth. Thanks to a reservoir that always holds enough water and is controlled by a water level indicator, dried out or overwatered root bales are a thing of the past. Find out more by visiting www.lechuza.co.uk About Carol Sales Carol is a gardener and designer who started working in horticultural therapy for the prison service. She was recruited by High Ground who worked out of Headley Court, a military hospital providing horticultural therapy to military veterans. Carol ran the therapy garden there for almost a decade, during which time she pioneered treatment methods and set the gold standard for therapeutic horticulture as it pertains to those with both physical and mental health issues. Links www.veteransgrowth.org www.highground-uk.org

This week I thought it would be good to get an overview of the horticultural industry - so I'm speaking to the person with their finger on the pulse, Matthew Appleby, Editor of Horticulture Week and host of the Horticulture Week podcast. We cover the effect of Brexit, plant passports and the pandemic on plant supplies and how this has affected consumers. Find out how the industry is faring given supply issues and the uptick in interest in gardening. Matthew talks about whether consumers need to adjust their expectations and their way of gardening and we end on how has the push to go peat-free is affecting gardeners and the trade too. Dr Ian Bedford's Bug of the Week: Aphids and Ecosystems This episode is brought to you by the team at LECHUZA, suppliers of self-watering pots and planters. LECHUZA brings decades of experience in state-of-the-art, precision manufacturing to bear on its stylish high-functionality range of planters. All LECHUZA products are designed in-house and manufactured in the same factory as the iconic Playmobil toys. The complete collection comes in a wide variety of traditional and trend-led colours and shapes and are highly reliable for use both indoors and outdoors. The integrated soil irrigation system ensures that the plant receives the perfect amount of water for optimal growth. Thanks to a reservoir that always holds enough water and is controlled by a water level indicator, dried out or overwatered root bales are a thing of the past. Find out more by visiting www.lechuza.co.uk Whether a gardener or working in the horticultural trade, this episode is relevant, covering Brexit, the pandemic, plant supplies, the popularity of gardening and how the push to go peat-free is affecting gardeners and the trade too. Matthew, Editor of Horticulture Week & host of the Horticulture Week podcast, gives an overview. Dr Ian Bedford's Bug of the Week: Aphids and Ecosystems This episode is brought to you by the team at LECHUZA, suppliers of self-watering pots and planters. www.lechuza.co.uk Links www.hortweek.com Horticulture Week Podcast

This week I'm speaking to smallholder and YouTuber Liz Zorab. Liz has been documenting her growing efforts, firstly via a blog and then via her hugely popular YouTube channel. She's recently written Grounded: A Gardener's Journey to Abundance and Self-Sufficiency in which she talks about setting up at a new site in Wales and how her gardening journey went hand in hand with her journey from ill-health to relative wellness. Dr Ian Bedford's Bug of the Week: Black Garden Ants This episode is brought to you by the team at LECHUZA, suppliers of self-watering pots and planters. LECHUZA brings decades of experience in state-of-the-art, precision manufacturing to bear on its stylish high-functionality range of planters. All LECHUZA products are designed in-house and manufactured in the same factory as the iconic Playmobil toys. The complete collection comes in a wide variety of traditional and trend-led colours and shapes and are highly reliable for use both indoors and outdoors. The integrated soil irrigation system ensures that the plant receives the perfect amount of water for optimal growth. Thanks to a reservoir that always holds enough water and is controlled by a water level indicator, dried out or overwatered root bales are a thing of the past. Find out more by visiting www.lechuza.co.uk About Liz Zorab "Liz works full time on the homestead and as a content creator in various media. Her love of gardening started as a small child, but blossomed when she left home. In her own garden, she found joy in propagating plants and growing food for her family. At her happiest when pottering in the garden, Liz now manages the half acre fruit and vegetable gardens and food forest at Byther Farm. Liz is available for talks and presentations about gardening, growing for food security and self-sufficiency." http://bytherfarm.com/about/ Links Byther Farm YouTube channel www.bytherfarm.com

This episode, I'm speaking to Canadian gardening superstar Niki Jabbour. Niki is a gardener and author of 3 books, including 'Growing Under Cover', which is the most comprehensive guide to using crop covers in your vegetable garden. It's based on Niki's first-hand, decades long research into successfully growing food 365 days a year in the challenging climate of Nova Scotia and what she doesn't know about using covers to protect crops, prolong the season and cheat the weather, you could write on the back of a stamp and still have room to lick it. Dr Ian Bedford's Bug of the Week: Doodlebugs and Billy Witches This episode is brought to you by new green-tech company Harvst. The company's recently launched smart web-connected 'mini greenhouses' are designed to help people grow more at home, with less effort and minimal space. Choose between The Yard and The Terrace; both are simply popped directly on the ground or patio, they're self-watering, climate controlled, space efficient and enable you to grow your own produce without the need to tend every day. So whether you're a budding beginner or a seasoned pro, visit www.harvst.co.uk and take advantage of a 5% discount on all 4 seasons and eco Mini Greenhouse orders from now until the end of July. Simply enter the code mentioned in the episode at the checkout. About Nikki Jabbour Niki Jabbour is the award-winning author of four books – The Year Round Vegetable Gardener (2012 American Horticultural Society Book Award), Groundbreaking Food Gardens: 73 Plans That Will Change the Way You Grow Your Garden, Veggie Garden Remix: 224 New Plants to Shake Up Your Garden and Add Variety, Flavor, and Fun (Winner of the 2019 American Horticultural Society Book Award, Winner of the Gold Book Award from GardenComm, and winner of the 2019 Silver Award from Taste Canada), and Growing Under Cover: Techniques for a More Productive, Weather-Resistant, Pest-Free Vegetable Garden. She also writes for magazines like Fine Gardening, Horticulture, and Birds & Blooms. Niki is an in-demand speaker, offering seminars and keynotes at events, shows, societies, and greenhouses across North America such as the Northwest Flower & Garden Show, The Dow Gardens, The Philadelphia Flower Show, The Boston Flower Show, and Canada Blooms. Since 2006, Niki has hosted and executive produced her popular radio show, The Weekend Gardener which airs on News 95.7 FM in Halifax as well as online. For her broadcasting work, Niki won the 2015 Gold Award from GardenComm as 'Best On-Air Talent'. Niki is very active on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter and you can find her gardening videos on Youtube. When she's not writing, speaking, or broadcasting about food gardening Niki is harvesting year-round from her twenty raised bed vegetable garden in Halifax, Nova Scotia which is filled with an eclectic mixture of popular vegetables like tomatoes, cucumbers, and beans, as well as unique heirloom varieties, and crops from around the world like cucamelons, snake gourds, and za'atar. https://savvygardening.com/about-us/ Links www.savvygardening.com Growing Under Cover by Niki Jabbour - Storey Publishing, 2021

This week's episode is a little bit different as it's a recording of me chatting to Daniel Fuller on the brilliant Plants Grow Here podcast. Although we may be geographically antipodean, there are a lot of similarities between Roots and All and Plants Grow Here, as Daniel and I both cover a wide range of horticultural topics, including those on the fringe and we both love a bit of geeking out! Join us as we dive into the world of podcasting and gardening. Dr Ian Bedford's Bug of the Week: Garden snails This episode is brought to you by new green-tech company Harvst. The company's recently launched smart web-connected 'mini greenhouses' are designed to help people grow more at home, with less effort and minimal space. Choose between The Yard and The Terrace; both are simply popped directly on the ground or patio, they're self-watering, climate controlled, space efficient and enable you to grow your own produce without the need to tend every day. So whether you're a budding beginner or a seasoned pro, visit www.harvst.co.uk and take advantage of a 5% discount on all 4 seasons and eco Mini Greenhouse orders from now until the end of July. Simply use the code mentioned in the episode. About Daniel Fuller Daniel is the primary host on the Plants Grow Here Podcast and content writer. Currently based in St. Kilda, Melbourne, he has been working in the horticultural maintenance field for 8 years, leading crews for most of this time. The idea of Plants Grow Here was born from his desire to learn more from people who have specialised knowledge and a passion for what they do. Links www.plantsgrowhere.com Plants Grow Here Podcast

Today's intro comes to you from by back garden, courtesy of the local birds! This week I'm speaking to Jessica Walliser, author of 'Plant Partners: Science-Based Companion Planting Strategies for the Vegetable Garden' which as it says, is a scientific look at companion plant to find out if it works, and if it does, in what way and why. Jessica's unique book is essential reading if you like to uncover some of the secrets behind the received horticultural wisdom that's passed down from one gardener to the next. Dr Ian Bedford's Bug of the Week: Red lily beetle This episode is brought to you by So & Mo. Launched this year, So & Mo is a new lawn care brand bringing the right products and expertise to give everyone the confidence to be a lawn expert. They have developed the perfect 12 month plan, through 6 liquid feeds to give your lawn all the nutrients needed for complete plant health and professional results. Packaged into a one size fits all box lasting 6, 12 or 24 months based on the lawn size, ensures the ability to cater for all lawns with no waste. As a special offer for listeners, So & Mo is offering 15% off your first box. Simply visit soandmo.com and enter the code mentioned in the episode at checkout. What we talk about: What we know now about companion planting that wasn't known previously Why companion planting works Why we should be interested in nitrogen fixing plants Cover crops How companion plants help with weed control Busting the myth that it's the scent of the companion plants that deters pests Beetle bumps Companion planting and plant diseases About Jessica Walliser Jessica is the co-founder of SavvyGardening.com and was co-host of the award winning radio show 'The Organic Gardeners' for 15 years. Jessica is a journalist, editor and Acquisitions Editor for Cool Springs Press. Jessica takes an organic and wildlife-friendly approach to gardening and is the former owner of a 25 acre market farm. She also teaches horticulture and has a degree in ornamental horticulture from the Pennsylvania State University. She's the author of 'Good Bug, Bad Bug: Who's Who, What They Do, and How to Manage Them Organically', 'Attracting Beneficial Bugs to Your Garden: A Natural Approach to Pest Control, 'Container Gardening Complete: Creative Projects for Growing Vegetables and Flowers in Small Spaces', 'A Gardener's Journal: Life With My Garden' as well as 'Plant Partners: Science-Based Companion Planting Strategies for the Vegetable Garden'. Links jessicawalliser.com Plant Partners: Science-Based Companion Planting Strategies for the Vegetable Garden

Today's intro comes to you from by back garden, courtesy of the local birds! In this episode I'm joined by Greg Peterson, who started The Urban Farm nearly 30 years ago. His third of an acre site is covered in edible crops which feed his family and other families too. Gardening as he does in Phoenix, Arizona he has to make full use of rainwater harvesting systems, soil improvement techniques, plus he's heavy into recycling and reuse. We talk about how he's created a fully functioning and successful farm in an urban neighbourhood. Dr Ian Bedford's Bug of the Week: Leaf rollers This episode is brought to you by So & Mo. Launched this year, So & Mo is a new lawn care brand bringing the right products and expertise to give everyone the confidence to be a lawn expert. They have developed the perfect 12 month plan, through 6 liquid feeds to give your lawn all the nutrients needed for complete plant health and professional results. Packaged into a one size fits all box lasting 6, 12 or 24 months based on the lawn size, ensures the ability to cater for all lawns with no waste. As a special offer for listeners, So & Mo is offering 15% off your first box. Simply visit soandmo.com and enter the code ROOTS15 at checkout. What we talk about: Why Greg began The Urban Farm Gardening in a desert and managing water Greg's natural soil and how he fertilises it The importance of growing local Seed saving Neighbourhood rules and regulations One easy win that people could achieve if they're thinking of establishing their own urban farm About Greg Peterson Greg has lived at the Urban Farm for almost 30 years. His 1/3-acre yard features an entirely edible landscape, including over 70 fruit trees, rainwater and grey-water harvesting, solar applications, and extensive use of reclaimed and recycled building materials. Greg is a longtime permaculture advocate, flunked out of university in 1981 because he was bored, then went back twenty years later to get a bachelor's degree and a Masters in Urban and Environmental Planning in 2006 and is a lifelong continual learner. On his days off he hangs out in his garden with his sweetheart Heidi and their chickens, creating new projects and catching some rays. Links www.urbanfarm.org The Urban Farm Podcast Brad Lancaster - Rainwater Harvesting Ishmael by Daniel Quinn soandmo.com

In this episode, I'm interviewing Gina Buenfeld-Murley, exhibitons curator of the Camden Art Centre and co-curator of the online exhibition The Botanical Mind. In this episode, we go deep into the relation between art and the natural world and talk about sacred geometry, indigenous art, symbolism, Jung, the mysterious Voynich manuscript and why this exhibition is so pertinent given the current relationship humans have to the rest of nature. Dr Ian Bedford's Bug of the Week: Pollen beetles This episode is brought to you by the team at The Real Soil Company. Launched to the market in 2020 The Real Soil Company proudly offers new organic, peat-free SuperSoil. Packed full of organic nutrients for optimal plant health, SuperSoil's natural 'boosters' will stimulate quicker plant establishment and better resilience against pests and disease, whilst also enabling edible crops to benefit from nutritional enhancement and a higher crop yield. The enhanced soil also offers better water retention and release for optimum plant growth, whilst providing a more balanced and workable material for gardeners. What we talk about: Sacred geometry and that patterns that are found in nature and in entheogenic experiences and which occur at the micro and macro level Georgio Griffa's writing, which forms part of the exhibition, talks of art and science two being in extricably linked. How do seemingly pre-determined and logical patterns such as fractals influence art? Do the patterns stop being science when they are recreated by a human hand? How can we be inspired by indigenous art and nature appreciation, both past and present, whilst avoiding cultural appropriation or slipping into romanticism? The Voynich Manuscript The significance of Jung's archetypes in relation to botany About The Botanical Mind and Gina Buenfeld-Murley Humanity's place in the natural order is under scrutiny as never before, held in a precarious balance between visible and invisible forces: from the microscopic threat of a virus to the monumental power of climate change. Drawing on indigenous traditions from the Amazon rainforest; alternative perspectives on Western scientific rationalism; and new thinking around plant intelligence, philosophy and cultural theory, The Botanical Mind Online investigates the significance of the plant kingdom to human life, consciousness and spirituality across cultures and through time. It positions the plant as both a universal symbol found in almost every civilisation and religion across the globe, and the most fundamental but misunderstood form of life on our planet. Gina Buenfeld-Murley is Exhibitions Curator at Camden Art Centre, London where she has co-curated The Botanical Mind: Art, Mysticism and The Cosmic Tree (2020-21); A Tale of Mother's Bones: Grace Pailthorpe, Reuben Mednikoff and the Birth of Psychorealism (2019); Athanasios Argianas, Hollowed Water (2020); Wong Ping, Heart Digger (2019); Yuko Mohri, Voluta, (2018); Joachim Koester, In the Face of Overwhelming Forces (2017); João Maria Gusmão & Pedro Paiva, Papagaio (2015); Bonnie Camplin (2016) and Rose English (2016). Recent independent curatorial projects include Gäa: Holistic Science and Wisdom Tradition, at Newlyn Art Gallery and The Exchange, Cornwall, and Origin Story, at The Wäinö Aaltonen Museum of Art, Turku, Finland (both 2019). In 2017 she was curatorial resident at Helsinki International Curatorial Programme, Finland and has been researching the place of plants within indigenous cultures in Europe and South America, including in Finnish Lapland (Samí shamanism) and in the Colombian, Peruvian and Brazilian areas of the Amazon Rainforest where she researched the sacred geometries and music of the Yawanawa, Huni Kuin and Shipibo-Conibo peoples. In 2014-15 she was curator-in-residence with Arts Initiative Tokyo (AIT) and established Tokyo Correspondence, a series of exhibitions, residencies and research visits, facilitating cultural dialogue between artists in the UK and Japan and curated At the Still Point of the Turning World at Shibaura House Tokyo, featuring work by Manon de Boer; Joachim Koester; Simon Martin; Ursula Mayer; Jeremy Millar; Sriwhana Spong; Jesse Wine; and Caroline Achaintre. She was previously Director at Alison Jacques Gallery, London. Links The Botanical Mind Online Camden Art Centre on Facebook

This week, I'm speaking to Senior Arboricultural Research Manager Dr Glynn Percival, who works for Bartlett Tree Experts. I first heard Glynn speak about 7 years ago and I was blown away by his straight talking and the research he presented that day, which exploded many myths about tree planting. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that his eye-opening lecture was a pivotal moment in my understanding that I didn't have to swallow all the received wisdom surrounding horticulture. Dr Ian Bedford's Bug of the Week: Orange tip butterflies This episode is brought to you by the team at The Real Soil Company. Launched to the market in 2020 The Real Soil Company proudly offers new organic, peat-free SuperSoil. Packed full of organic nutrients for optimal plant health, SuperSoil's natural 'boosters' will stimulate quicker plant establishment and better resilience against pests and disease, whilst also enabling edible crops to benefit from nutritional enhancement and a higher crop yield. The enhanced soil also offers better water retention and release for optimum plant growth, whilst providing a more balanced and workable material for gardeners. What we talk about: Why tree pests and diseases are on the increase The benefits of feeding trees with sugar Chemicals and how they can switch on tree defences Mulching trees - why it matters Biochar applications Chitin and phosphites Issues affecting trees in the UK Scented plants and their effect on tree health About the Bartlett Tree Experts "Bartlett Tree Experts was founded by Francis A. Bartlett in 1907 and is the world's leading scientific tree and shrub care company. From its over 100 offices worldwide, Bartlett helps both residential and commercial customers maintain beautiful, healthy trees. Bartlett is dedicated to developing environmentally sound products and promoting their use on our clients' properties. With the Bartlett Legacy Tree Programme, Bartlett provides tree seedlings to help with reforestation efforts, and teaches people how to care for trees." https://www.bartlett.com/about-us.cfm Links www.bartlett.com Bartlett Tree Experts on Facebook

Today's episode is the first in another new series called the Roots and All Takeover, where I hand the microphone over to an individual or group of people and they produce the content for the episode. There are no rules, they have complete free rein, the idea being to give an audio platform to people that don't already have one. So this first takeover is by The Young Propagators Society and features a chat between Ellie and Sophie, the founding members of the society, Michal who's a dendrologist at Westonbirt Arboretum and Natasha, a builder and gardener and they talk about the challenges, successes and techniques they've discovered when propagating a very diverse range of plants. Dr Ian Bedford's Bug of the Week: Broad bean pests This episode is brought to you by the team at The Real Soil Company. Launched to the market in 2020 The Real Soil Company proudly offers new organic, peat-free SuperSoil. Packed full of organic nutrients for optimal plant health, SuperSoil's natural 'boosters' will stimulate quicker plant establishment and better resilience against pests and disease, whilst also enabling edible crops to benefit from nutritional enhancement and a higher crop yield. The enhanced soil also offers better water retention and release for optimum plant growth, whilst providing a more balanced and workable material for gardeners. About the Young Propagators Society The Young Propagators Society was founded to create a network of people interested in propagation to share their knowledge with one another. They produce a quarterly zine that members contribute to, which you can find on their website www.youngpropsoc.com and you can get involved by contributing written pieces or artwork to [email protected] Ellie and Sophie are co-creators of The Young Propagators Society, they met at Great Dixter when they were both students. They, at the same time, got their positions in their jobs as; propagator at Crug Farm and assistant nursery manager at Great Dixter. Respectively. Michal and Ellie worked together in the arboretum nursery at RBG Kew when Michal was botanical horticulturist and Ellie was a student, Michal is now the dendrologist at Westonbirt arboretum. Natasha and Ellie have been friends since teenagers and they have inspired each others' learning and understanding of plants and botany. Natasha is a gardener and builder. Links www.youngpropsoc.com

This week I'm speaking to Doug Bierend, journalist and author of In Search of Mycoptopia, a book which documents Doug's journey of discovery as it pertains to the world of mushrooms. We talk about what sparked this journey, about what, as he puts it in the interview, was his Come to Mushroom moment and how his interest in fungi continues to develop with each new step he takes along the way. Dr Ian Bedford's Bug of the Week: Hoverflies This episode is brought to you by the team at The Real Soil Company. Launched to the market in 2020 The Real Soil Company proudly offers new organic, peat-free SuperSoil. Packed full of organic nutrients for optimal plant health, SuperSoil's natural 'boosters' will stimulate quicker plant establishment and better resilience against pests and disease, whilst also enabling edible crops to benefit from nutritional enhancement and a higher crop yield. The enhanced soil also offers better water retention and release for optimum plant growth, whilst providing a more balanced and workable material for gardeners. Order HERE. What we talk about: How Doug's relationship with mushrooms began and what led to the birth of the book The future of mycology in terms of research and education Citizen science and its relevance to the progression of mycology Mushroom farming as an industry Why Doug thinks those in the mycological community are so non-competitive and community-minded How mycelial networks can be used as potential blueprints for societal organisation How mushrooms help improve soil About Doug Bierend "Hi, my name is Doug. I'm a freelance writer and recent first-time author based in the Hudson Valley. Over the last decade or so, I've written with a special interest in science, technology, visual and interactive media, food, sustainability and general subversiveness. My first book, In Search of Mycotopia, is due out in March of 2021 with Chelsea Green Books." https://dougbierend.com/About-Me Links In Search of Mycotopia by Doug Bierend - Chelsea Green Publishing, 2021 www.dougbierend.com

This episode features Luke Taylor, co-founder of So and Mo, talking about a new type of liquid lawn feed that's formulated to work in different ways at different times of the year, depending on the growing needs of your lawn. When you buy the box, you receive 6 formulas that you apply to your lawn between February and December. They've been developed using the decades of experience and knowledge Luke and his business partner have gleaned working with lawns on a commercial scale - basically, it's a professional standard of lawn care simplified and delivered so you can get professional results in a really easy way. Luke talks about the product, about lawn care, what you should be doing with your lawn right now and how to get the best out of those pesky sprayers - plus if you listen to the end there's a discount code just for you. So and Mo Performance Liquid Lawn Feed Background on So and Mo

This week's guest is Laura Erickson, talking about her brilliant book the Love Lives of Birds. Find out why some birds mate for life whilst others play the field, why some value age and experience, which birds lay their eggs in other bird's nests and which stash their young in riverbanks and why there's so much dancing involved! Dr Ian Bedford's Bug of the Week: Bee Flies This episode is brought to you The Seed Sistas, who have been community herbalists for over 20 years. Their work took a turn last March and they converted their passion for plants, people and the planet into an online course called the Pathway to Peace. It is an engaging Seven-day immersive journey with lots of wonderful content. If you suffer from stress or anxiety this course may well be able to offer you connection to herbs and tools for stress management, better sleep and nourishment for your nervous system. The next course starts again on April 28th. What we talk about: Why bird courtships so varied and whether there's any correlation between courtship patterns and life span/size/habitat Why there's so much dancing involved The issue of age and its relevance when finding a partner Nest parasites and why they steal other birds' nests Kingfishers and where they nest The need for privacy when mating Why some birds mate for life whilst others can have multiple mates in a breeding season About Laura Erickson "Laura Erickson, 2014 recipient of the American Birding Association's prestigious Roger Tory Peterson Award and the 2020 Minnesota Ornithologists' Union's Thomas Sadler Roberts Memorial Award, has been a scientist, teacher, writer, wildlife rehabilitator, professional blogger, public speaker, photographer, American Robin and Whooping Crane Expert for the popular Journey North educational website, and Science Editor at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. She's written twelve books about birds including, in 2020, The Love Lives of Birds. (also the ABA Field Guide to the Birds of Minnesota, National Geographic Pocket Guide to Birds of North America, the best-selling Into the Nest: Intimate Views of the Courting, Parenting, and Family Lives of Familiar Birds (co-authored by photographer Marie Read); the National Outdoor Book Award-winning Sharing the Wonder of Birds with Kids; 101 Ways to Help Birds; and The Bird Watching Answer Book for the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. She's currently a columnist and contributing editor for BirdWatching magazine. Since 1986 she has been producing the long-running "For the Birds" radio program for many public radio stations; the program is podcast on iTunes. She lives in Duluth, Minnesota." - https://www.lauraerickson.com/about-laura/ Links www.lauraerickson.com The Love Lives of Birds: Courtship and Mating Rituals by Laura Erickson - Storey Publishing, 2020 Pathway to Peace course - starts 28th April - more details. Episode 67 with Karen Lawton of Sensory Solutions

This week's guest is Stephen Hackett, head gardener at Horatio's Garden South West. We talk about this amazing garden which was designed by Cleve West and is managed by Stephen, with the help of and for the benefit of the staff and patients at the adjacent spinal injuries unit. Dr Ian Bedford's Bug of the Week: Brimstone Butterflies This episode is brought to you The Seed Sistas, who have been community herbalists for over 20 years. Their work took a turn last March and they converted their passion for plants, people and the planet into an online course called the Pathway to Peace. It is an engaging Seven-day immersive journey with lots of wonderful content. If you suffer from stress or anxiety this course may well be able to offer you connection to herbs and tools for stress management, better sleep and nourishment for your nervous system. The next course starts again on April 28th. What we talk about: About the charity Horatio's Garden and the South West How the gardens help people with spinal injuries Managing a garden from a therapy as well as a horticultural perspective The features of the garden which make it useful to patients and staff The most rewarding part of the job Visiting the Horatio's Garden sites About Stephen Hackett Stephen Hackett grew up in Lancashire, before studying at Oxford and Nottingham. He spent several years teaching Cultural Studies in Southampton before joining the Arts Council in 2000. Subsequently he worked in in adult education, and was Principal of a residential adult college in Oxfordshire. Always a keen gardener, Stephen trained in Horticulture at Sparsholt College in 2010 and established a gardening business in the Salisbury area. Stephen joined Horatio's Garden South West in 2016 as Head Gardener. He lives in Salisbury with his family, and has written gardening columns for magazines including Wiltshire Life and The English Garden. Links horatiosgarden.org.uk Online Spring Raffle running from 29th March - 3rd May Horatio's Garden Summer Art Auction which opens on 15th May for two weeks until 30th. Pathway to Peace Course - starts 28th April. Sign up now. Episode 67 with Karen Lawton of Sensory Solutions

This week's guest is Carolyn Mullet. Carolyn is an author and garden tour organiser. She recently released a book about some of the most beautiful gardens she's visited in Europe, called Adventures in Eden. In the interview, I speak to Carolyn about the book and (with barely concealed envy) I ask her about the trips she undertakes and the gardens she sees with her company Carex Tours. Dr Ian Bedford's Bug of the Week: Bay Sucker Psyllid This episode is brought to you by our friends at Natural Grower. Launched in 2019, their award winning liquid fertiliser and plant feed and soil conditioner is made entirely from maize. Naturally rich in nitrogen, potash, phosphate and other trace elements that plants and vegetables love, it is approved by the Soil Association, Vegan Society and Organic Farmers and Growers. Their concentrated natural fertiliser can be poured around the base of plants, whilst the plant feed and soil conditioner can be mixed into the soil or compost and used as a mulch on the surface as a long-term slow-release fertiliser. The fertiliser can be used for all outdoor and indoor plants. As a special offer for listeners, Natural Grower are offering 15% off all of their range. Simply go to naturalgrower.co.uk and enter ROOTS15 on checkout. What we talk about: How Carolyn chooses gardens to visit How does a garden make the grade for the book or to be included in a tour? Whether there is any correlation between an owner's personalities and the type of garden they have The ways Carolyn has noticed private gardens changing over the past decade or so The recipe for a successful garden The most exciting place for garden design and innovation right now About Carolyn Mullet Carolyn Mullet is a retired award-winning garden designer who practiced in the Washington, DC metro area for over 30 years. She received her formal training in residential landscape design from George Washington University. She is also the owner and creative director of CarexTours offering international garden tours each year for the discerning garden traveler. Her book "Adventures in Eden: An Intimate Tour of Private European Gardens" was published by Timber Press in 2020. In addition, she produces popular social media posts daily showcasing gardens from around the world on both Instagram and Facebook for a large international community of garden and plant enthusiasts. Links CarexTours Facebook Instagram

This is the first episode in the series and it features Rik Sellwood who along with his business partner Chris Tanner, has launched a company called Harvst. They build greenhouses for home gardeners, which can be controlled via an app. During the episode we talk about Harvst's products of course, but we also talk about managing crops in greenhouses and how technology can be applied in a garden setting to make our lives easier. Listen to the end for the 15% discount code! Shop Harvst Information on the technology App information and to register for the app go to app.harvest.co.uk

Hello. This is a short introduction to a new episode that's being released on Thursday called Roots and All: Dig In. Dig In is a new series which came about because I've been contacted by various companies who would like to come on the podcast and talk about the wonderful products they have to sell. So do drop by on Thursday when I'll be speaking to Rik Sellwood of Harvst about, that amongst other things, a greenhouse you can water and ventilate via an app. Clever stuff!

This week's guest is forest gardener Anni Kelsey. Anni is an experienced grower of edibles and she follows the principles of forest gardening - if you're not sure what that means, all will be revealed. Her latest book The Garden of Equal Delights sets out principles for managing a garden in order to maximise its productive yield but it's much more than that, it's about gardening sustainably and using techniques that many conventional gardeners might find unusual but which work. Dr Ian Bedford's Bug of the Week: Signalling This episode is brought to you by our friends at Natural Grower. Launched in 2019, their award winning liquid fertiliser and plant feed and soil conditioner is made entirely from maize. Naturally rich in nitrogen, potash, phosphate and other trace elements that plants and vegetables love, it is approved by the Soil Association, Vegan Society and Organic Farmers and Growers. Their concentrated natural fertiliser can be poured around the base of plants, whilst the plant feed and soil conditioner can be mixed into the soil or compost and used as a mulch on the surface as a long-term slow-release fertiliser. The fertiliser can be used for all outdoor and indoor plants. As a special offer for listeners, Natural Grower are offering 15% off all of their range. Listen now for details. What we talk about: What is a forest garden? Anni writes in her book "how would I describe or explain what I do in the garden to someone else?". Given her gardening style is very intuitive and site specific, find out how she manages to communicate her principles to others The practice of bringing nothing in and taking nothing out of the garden How Anni brings uncultivated areas into production Dealing with weeds Why she doesn't compost Why all plants are special About Anni Kelsey "Anni Kelsey has been passionate about gardening and the natural world for as long as she can remember. As her concerns about the unsustainability of our present food system grew she began to 'edibilise' her garden aiming to find a way of growing food that required as little time, effort and skill as possible. She based her experiments on forest gardening but adapted this to fit in an average sized back garden. This led her to focus on experimenting with perennial vegetables, obtaining and growing as many as she possibly could. As she gained experience and enthusiasm for this style of gardening she wanted to convey what she had learned to others which in turn led her to write Edible Perennial Gardening or the book she would have liked to have been able to read years ago, if it had already been written! She hopes that it will inspire and enable others to grow perennial vegetables which are little known but tasty and rewarding crops. Anni's garden is in a challenging situation high on a hill facing Wales in one direction and England in the other. When she is not in the garden she loves nothing more than exploring the local countryside and coffee shops" - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Anni-Kelsey/e/B00N8XJMPK/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_ebooks_1 Links Anni's Veggies Blog The Garden of Equal Delights by Anni Kelsey - Permanent Publications, 2020

Podcast 101 - GrowVeg with Benedict Vanheems This week I'm talking to Benedict Vanheems, gardener, author, editor and face of the popular GrowVeg.com YouTube channel. If you're thinking about growing veg this year, whether you're an old hand or new to it, you're bound to hear something of value from Benedict, who's innovative approach to growing food takes the hard work out of things. Dr Ian Bedford's Bug of the Week: Black Garden Ants This episode is brought to you by Natural Grower. Launched in 2019, their award winning liquid fertiliser and plant feed and soil conditioner is made entirely from maize. Naturally rich in nitrogen, potash, phosphate and other trace elements that plants and vegetables love, it is approved by the Soil Association, Vegan Society and Organic Farmers and Growers. Their concentrated natural fertiliser can be poured around the base of plants, whilst the plant feed and soil conditioner can be mixed into the soil or compost and used as a mulch on the surface as a long-term slow-release fertiliser. The fertiliser can be used for all outdoor and indoor plants. As a special offer for listeners, Natural Grower are offering 15% off all of their range. Listen to the episode now to access the discount code. What we talk about: Is growing edibles right for everyone? And is it worth it? Tips for getting seeds started in open ground Moving seeds from indoors to outdoors What should we be doing in our veg gardens right now? Upcycling and repurposing household items as containers for growing in Labour intensive jobs in the veg garden and ways to make them easier/quicker Keep things low maintenance Growing mushrooms Sprouting seeds About Benedict Vanheems Benedict Vanheems is a passionate home gardener specialising in delicious, organically grown fruit, vegetables and herbs. No stranger to dirt under his nails, Benedict's fascination with plants started at an early age. As a young boy he could often be found digging holes, experimenting with sowings, or helping his granddad plant leeks or pick climbing beans on his veg patch. As a teenager, Benedict worked during his school holidays at a nursery supplying plants to many of the UK's top garden designers. After completing a degree in Horticulture he went on to edit gardening publications, including Garden Design Journal and Grow it!. He has written for Grow Your Own magazine and is an ongoing contributor to Kitchen Garden, Britain's longest established edible gardening title. In 2014 Benedict joined the team at GrowVeg.com where he has become the face of their YouTube channel, growing it from 20,000 subscribers to more than 280,000. A firm advocate of growing in tune with nature, he continues to produce compelling gardening content for the respected GrowVeg.com website, inspiring both new and seasoned gardeners to get more from their space. Benedict lives in Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire and has recently moved house, taking on a third-of-an-acre garden where he is creating two kitchen garden areas to indulge his horticultural hunger. Links growveg.co.uk GrowVeg: The Beginner's Guide to Easy Vegetable Gardening by Benedict Vanheems - Storey Publishing, 2021

This week's guest is Nigel Palmer, an experimental gardener who brings to bear his experience as an aerospace engineer to analyse, identify and organise the various components that make plants grow well. From his research, he's compiled a recipe book of garden amendments, some easy to make and some involving more complex methods, but all of which you can recreate at home and use on your garden for better plant health and resilience. Dr Ian Bedford's Bug of the Week: Darwin's Worms This episode is sponsored by gardencourses.com What we talk about: The book 'Natural Farming Agriculture Materials' by Cho Ju-Young and how it influenced Nigel's work When making soil amendments and fertilisers and having them analysed in a laboratory, how does Nigel know the results will be consistent for future batches? Why is local biological material important for a garden? The theory behind feeding a plant with its own 'ancestors' The ability of a plant to change the soil pH in the immediate vicinity of its roots How plants need different nutrients and minerals at different stages of their development Using a refractometer Fermented plant juice and its uses What difference can these amendments make to a garden? About Nigel Palmer "Nigel Palmer has been a lifelong gardener in New England relying on the amazing complexity of nature to inspire his gardening philosophy, as well as working as an aerospace engineer sorting, organizing, and resolving complex technical issues. He is the instructor and curriculum developer of the Sustainable, Regenerative Gardening program at The Institute Of Sustainable Nutrition (TIOSN). " - https://www.chelseagreen.com/product/the-regenerative-growers-guide-to-garden-amendments/ Links The Regenerative Grower's Guide to Garden Amendments: Using Locally Sourced Materials to Make Mineral and Biological Extracts and Ferments by Nigel Palmer - Chelsea Green Publishing, 2020 www.tiosn.com Dr James Duke's Phytochemical and Ethnobotanical Databases

This episode I'm speaking to Professor Jeff Ollerton, author of the brilliant new book 'Pollinators and Pollination', another must-have to add to your ever burgeoning reading pile I'm afraid! I loved the book and as you'll hear during the interview, it threw up all sorts of interesting questions about pollinators, their role in our lives and gardens and how much we need them. Dr Ian Bedford's Bug of the Week: Queen Bumblebees This episode is sponsored by gardencourses.com What we talk about: What is a pollinator? Apart from being nice to look at, why should gardeners want pollinators to visit? How pollinators navigate via linear features in a landscape and what this means for plants situated near these features Would it be fair to say the increase in pollinators since older times has gone hand in hand with that of humans? Did our populations increase in tandem? Now we seem to have the upper hand and are disregarding the pollinators, will we ultimately be damaging ourselves, at least from a food growing point of view? How useful is it to measure the number of species of pollinators that visit a garden? Are species over-represented in gardens due to the garden's value as a food source? Top tips for inviting pollinators into the garden About Jeff Ollerton "During a career spanning more than 30 years, Professor Jeff Ollerton has established himself as one of the world's leading experts on pollinators and pollination. The author of more than 120 articles and book chapters, his highly-cited, ground-breaking research has been used by national and international agencies to support efforts to conserve pollinators and their pollination services. Jeff is also in demand as an advisor and consultant to governments, local authorities, printed and broadcast media, and funding organisations. Although he is based in the UK, Jeff's field work in support of his research and advisory activities has been conducted across Europe, Africa, Asia, South America and Australia. He received his PhD in pollination ecology in 1993 from Oxford Brookes University, and holds Visiting Professor positions at the University of Northampton in the UK and Kunming Institute of Botany in China. Jeff has previously held visiting researcher positions at the University of Campinas (UNICAMP) in Brazil and the University of New South Wales in Australia." - https://jeffollerton.co.uk/about/ Links www.jeffollerton.co.uk Order a copy of Jeff's book and get 30% off with the offer code ROOTS30 Episode 74: Wasps with Richard Jones

This week, I'm speaking to Danielle Draper, Manager of the Cats Protection National Cat Adoption Centre in Surrey and we're talking about that sometimes contentious issue of cats and gardens. Cats are part of gardeners' lives, particularly if you live in an urban area. Love them or hate them, you can't get away from them and Danielle's here to talk about learning to live harmoniously alongside the neighbourhood felines… Dr Ian Bedford's Bug of the Week: Narcissus Bulb Fly This episode is brought to you by our friends at Natural Grower. Launched in 2019, their award winning liquid fertiliser and plant feed and soil conditioner is made entirely from maize. Naturally rich in nitrogen, potash, phosphate and other trace elements that plants and vegetables love, it is approved by the Soil Association, Vegan Society and Organic Farmers and Growers. Their concentrated natural fertiliser can be poured around the base of plants, whilst the plant feed and soil conditioner can be mixed into the soil or compost and used as a mulch on the surface as a long-term slow-release fertiliser. The fertiliser can be used for all outdoor and indoor plants. As a special offer for listeners, Natural Grower are offering 15% off all of their range. Simply go to naturalgrower.co.uk and enter ROOTS15 on checkout. What we talk about: How many cats there are in the UK - is cat ownership growing or declining in popularity? Where do cats factor in the big picture of wildlife decline? Can we exclude the neighbourhood cats from our gardens? Or deter them? Is it myth that cats don't use their own gardens to go to the loo? Can we deter them from doing it? What can we do if all the neighbourhood cats choose to use our garden as a battleground? What can we do if we want to feed the birds but keep them safe from cats? What about if we put food out for foxes, hedgehogs? Ways to avoid wildlife casualties Plants cats particularly like/don't like What benefits can cats bring to a garden? About Cats Protection Cats Protection is the UK's largest feline welfare charity in the UK and helps around 200,000 cats and kittens every year. Formed in 1927, when it was known as the Cats Protection League, Cats Protection (CP) has grown to become the UK's leading feline welfare charity. Its vision is a world where every cat is treated with kindness and an understanding of its need and it has simple and clear objectives to help cats: • Homing - finding good homes for cats in need • Neutering - supporting and encouraging the neutering of cats • Information - improving people's understanding of cats and their care More information about the work of the charity can be found at www.cats.org.uk. To make a donation, please visit https://www.cats.org.uk/donate Advice about cats and gardens: https://www.cats.org.uk/help-and-advice/home-and-environment/garden-and-outdoors https://www.cats.org.uk/help-and-advice/home-and-environment/keeping-cats-out https://www.cats.org.uk/help-and-advice/home-and-environment/dangerous-plants

This week I'm speaking to Harriet Gross, Emeritus Professor of Psychology at the University of Lincoln. She was part of a team that won a gold medal for the Digital Capabilities garden at the 2013 Chelsea Flower Show and she is the author of The Psychology of Gardening. Harriet talks about our emotional connection to our gardens, what makes people connected to nature and the environment, why we can be territorial over our gardens and just what it is we get from gardening. Dr Ian Bedford's Bug of the Week: Stridulation This episode is sponsored by the London College of Garden Design Melbourne. Based at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne the college brings together unique Australian design and horticultural expertise with the training experience of Europe's leading garden design college. The College delivers professional skills training for those aiming for a career in landscape design and from 2021 will offer a real-time online option for those who want to study from anywhere in Australia or New Zealand. To find out more visit lcgd.com.au What we talk about: What led Harriet to write the book Is the amount of research conducted into the psychology of gardening commensurate with its popularity in the UK? People who are more connected to natured and concerned with the environment and their personality type Personality traits that are generally common to gardeners Why people become so emotionally attached to their gardens Taking refuge in our gardens during the pandemic Emotional attachment to allotments Fractals and their significance in landscapes and to our appreciation of these landscapes About Professor Harriet Gross Harriet Gross is Emeritus Professor of Psychology at University of Lincoln. She was part of a team that won a gold medal for the Digital Capabilities garden at the 2013 Chelsea Flower Show and she is the author of The Psychology of Gardening. Harriet Gross on Twitter @Harriet_Gross Links The Psychology of Gardening by Harriet Gross - Routledge, 2018

This episode is the last one before Valentine's Day. Of course, you may be thinking about buying some flowers to give on Sunday so I thought, what better person to interview than a British flower grower? So I'm talking to Ben Cross of Crosslands Flower Nursery, a family owned and run nursery specialising in cut Alstroemerias. Ben is an expert grower, public speaker, an ambassador for British flowers and founder of the British Flowers Rock Campaign. As you will find out, growing flowers isn't all roses but Ben loves what he does and he starts by giving some background on the nursery and his involvement… Dr Ian Bedford's Bug of the Week: Tobacco Whitefly What we talk about: The history of Crosslands Flower Nursery and how Ben came to be involved Specialising in growing Alstroemerias - why them? The scale of the nursery operations Organic and sustainable flower farming Some of the biggest challenges facing British flower growers The British Flowers Rock campaign About Ben Cross Ben is a 4th generation grower at Crosslands Flower Nursery which was established in 1936 in West Sussex and is one of the last flower nurseries producing cut flowers in a full colour range all year-round. Ben's British Alstroemeria is a very sustainable crop. His flowers are not sprayed with any chemicals after being harvested and go into recyclable, reusable boxes and arrive with customers the next day. No soil cooling techniques are used to force production and some flower beds are over 20 years old, still producing premium quality stems. Under 5% of the crop is replanted a year so sterilizing the soil is kept to a minimum. The British Alstroemeria is known as a 'Cool Crop' and a 'Dry Crop' so doesn't take much heat input or watering. Optimum heat at night through the winter is just 13°C via a biomass boiler and the crop is watered for just 20 minutes once a month in the winter and just 20 minutes once every 10 days in the summer unlike flowers grown in warmer countries that use a lot more water resource. When Ben's flowers have been picked they don't go into big freezers, the cooling storage system at Crosslands is usually turned off between November and March. When the flowers need to be stored in warmer weather they're only chilled at about 6°C instead of 0.5°C like most imported flowers. They are only stored for a couple of days before they are with the customers. They are a lot fresher than flowers that go all around the world. Most importantly all the stems are harvested at a 'ripe' big fat bud stage giving a bigger more vibrant flower unlike the imports that are harvested too tight so more can be transported in boats and planes. Ben also only employs local people and more importantly does apprenticeship schemes with local horticultural colleges and goes into floristry colleges to give his British Flowers Rock Talks. Next to being a full time grower, Ben is an avid campaigner for British Flowers and takes any opportunity he can to spread the word that British Flowers Rock! Ben won the Grower Award in 2019 and won the Gold Sussex Environmental award in 2020. Links Crosslands Flower Nursery Barnham Lane Walberton Nr Arundel West Sussex BN18 0AX M: 07712332241 Email: [email protected] Follow on Twitter @AlstroemeriaBen Follow on Instagram @AlstroemeriaBen Find Us on Facebook at Crosslands Flower Nursery

In this week's episode I'm speaking to Fiona Edmond of Green Island Gardens about one of the stars of the winter garden, the Hamamelis aka witch-hazel. Fiona is the holder of the National Collection of Hamamelis and she talks about their cultivation and goes through some of the fool-proof and some of the choicer varieties. I dare you not to buy one after listening! Dr Ian Bedford's Bug of the Week: Fig Wasps This episode is sponsored by gardencourses.com What we talk about: Fiona's background and that of Green Island Gardens How Fiona came to have the National Collection of Hamamelis Their preferred soil and aspect and their hardiness Pruning Propagation Potential pests and diseases (hint: this is short answer!) What can they be underplanted with? Do they look particularly good in one sport of setting/against a certain type of plant as a background? The flower colour spectrum Easy to grow cultivars and Fiona's favourites About Green Island Gardens Green Island Gardens are private gardens, open for the public. Professionally designed by its owner Fiona Edmond, they are laid out as a series of structured gardens displaying a huge range of unusual trees, shrubs, perennials, and bulbs - 'A Plantsman's Paradise'. Surely one of the best gardens open to visit in Essex. Recommended in Great British Gardens 2019 and Essex Days Out. 20 acres of Water Gardens, Seaside Garden, Japanese Garden, Gravel Garden, Woodland Gardens, Island beds and stunning colour everywhere. There is a tearoom serving light lunches, home-made teas and cream teas. The nursery offers plants all seen growing in the gardens. We now offer mail order service for the nursery during the lockdown period. We also run different courses and special events. Visitors will be able to enjoy flat and easy walking throughout the gardens. Links Green Island Gardens Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuTfQ6Aq6evRmBZ0fjfqwdA Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/greenislandgardens Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/greenislandgardensuk/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/greenislandgdn

This week's episode features garden designer and horticulturist Jo McKerr, who runs Pratensis Gardens. Jo is particularly interested in designed spaces where soil health, biodiversity and wildlife are encouraged but which still look good to the human eye. I started with a list of questions for Jo but the interview became more of a fireside chat, so pull up a chair and join Jo and I as we wend our way through eco-gardening. Dr Ian Bedford's Bug of the Week: Winter Moths This episode is sponsored by the London College of Garden Design Melbourne. Based at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne the college brings together unique Australian design and horticultural expertise with the training experience of Europe's leading garden design college. The College delivers professional skills training for those aiming for a career in landscape design and from 2021 will offer a real-time online option for those who want to study from anywhere in Australia or New Zealand. To find out more visit www.lcgd.com.au What we talk about: Jo's background and the type of projects she is currently working on. Rewilding has been a buzzword for a few years and is creeping over into gardening. Can we rewild our gardens? Jo wrote an article for Bloom magazine about creating natural gardens and stated that due to our lack of real knowledge about gardens and their wild inhabitants, "I've come to the conclusion that if we are to garden in a way that's kind to the planet, we need to be conscious protectors and regenerators, with good instincts." Jo explains what she means by this and talks about how it can be at odds with the way many currently garden. Younger generations or people new to gardening - are they are alienated by certain practices or traditional methods of thinking? The place of gardens in a climate crisis. The future of horticulture. About Jo McKerr "Horticulture and garden design is my second career. Before I had children and a mortgage I worked as a TV producer and director and dreamed about writing and performing in the theatre. Plants and garden-making snuck up on me. I initially just wanted to save some stag beetles and create bit of an oasis in London. I found life in London challenging, I was used to space and quiet and contact with the elements, and I ended up becoming homesick (what we now understand as "biophilia"). It was my little London garden with two trees and birds and insects and the feel of the soil that made me sane at the weekend. I have all the requisite qualifications that make me both a garden designer and trained gardener: a Garden Design Diploma from Merrist Wood and a RHS2 in Practical Horticultural Theory from Bristol University. However, it has been my fortunate ability to constantly fiddle in my own gardens that has allowed me the space to develop and grow. I am always looking to collaborate with fellow landscapers, soil scientists, entomologists, gardeners, architects, designers and artists. Please don't hesitate to get in touch – my gate is always open!" - https://jomckerr.com/about/ Links www.jomckerr.com www.lcgd.com.au

I'm kicking off the year on the podcast with an interview with conservationist and wild meadows expert Keith Datchler. We talk about the state of our wildflower meadows, their importance for biodiversity and where we, as humans, fit as part of the biodiversity that feels at home in meadows. Dr Ian Bedford's Bug of the Week: Winter Bumblebees What we talk about: The definition of a meadow How many ancient meadows are left in the UK. When they date from. How they were created. Do we need to protect them from a wildlife and a human perspective? How meadows are region and ecosystem specific Why we should consider the locale when choosing plant species to add to or to create a meadow Can meadows work on a small scale? How long do they take to establish? What are the major hurdles to implementing one? Whether it's desirable to encourage people to visit meadows and interact with them in terms of footfall and conservation What's being done to preserve ancient meadows and create new ones About Keith Datchler OBE Keith Datchler started his career as a dairy farmer, before moving into estate management, with his latest position being Estate Manager at the Beech Estate in Ashburnham, East Sussex. He is a Trustee of the Weald Landscape Trust and of People Need Nature and he works as a conservationist and wild meadows consultant. Links www.peopleneednature.org.uk www.highwealdlandscapetrust.org

This week I'm talking to Dr Jack Hunter, anthropologist and author of the book Greening the Paranormal: Exploring the Ecology of Extraordinary. The book isn't about fairies at the bottom of the garden, although they do get a mention in the episode, but looks more at ways of studying and engaging with the super-natural and considers how these might be useful when approaching the environmental crisis. Dr Ian Bedford's Bug of the Week: Holly Leafminer About Dr Jack Hunter Dr. Jack Hunter is an anthropologist exploring the borderlands of ecology, religion and the paranormal. He lives in the hills of Mid-Wales with his family. He is an Honorary Research Fellow with the Alister Hardy Religious Experience Research Centre, University of Wales Trinity Saint David and a Research Fellow with the Parapsychology Foundation, New York. He is a tutor on the MA in Ecology and Spirituality and the MA in Cultural Astronomy and Astrology with the Sophia Centre, University of Wales Trinity Saint David. He is the founder and editor of Paranthropology: Journal of Anthropological Approaches to the Paranormal, the author of Spirits, Gods and Magic: An Introduction to the Anthropology of the Supernatural (2019) and Engaging the Anomalous (2018). He is the editor of Strange Dimensions: A Paranthropology Anthology (2015), Damned Facts: Fortean Essays on Religion, Folklore and the Paranormal (2016), Greening the Paranormal: Exploring the Ecology of Extraordinary Experience (2019) and is co-editor with Dr. David Luke of Talking With the Spirits: Ethnographies from Between the Worlds (2014). Links Dr Jack Hunter's website Greening the Paranormal: Exploring the Ecology of Extraordinary Experience by Dr Jack Hunter, August Night Press, 2019

This week, I'm talking to Anna Soper, a Canadian artist, writer, podcaster and master of too many things to mention really about Kate Crooks, a largely forgotten Canadian botanist whose work Anna uncovered for a project she undertook in 2018. Anna's research into Kate Crooks has unearthed pieces of a historical jigsaw puzzle which leave us wondering how many other botanists and specimens are out there just waiting to be discovered and how many of these important pieces of the botanical record have been lost forever. Dr Ian Bedford's Bug of the Week: Fleas About Anna Soper "Anna Soper has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from OCAD University, where she won the OCAD University Medal in 2011. She has studied abroad at the Glasgow School of Art, and has a Master of Library and Information Science degree from Western University. Soper has exhibited her work in Toronto, New York, and London, UK. She lives and works in Kingston, Ontario, Canada, where she has created two public art works for the City of Kingston." https://www.annasoper.ca/about Links Anna Soper's Article on Kate Crooks in Atlas Obscura www.annasoper.ca Flora150Project on Twitter Teen People Podcast on Twitter Teen People Podcast on Instagram Botanical Society of Canada - Biodiversity Library https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/london/kate-crooks-botany-collection-lost-1.5249427 https://news.westernu.ca/2019/08/alumna-searches-for-botanists-trailblazing-work/

This week, I'm delighted to speak to Robert Galster, one of the co-founders of Safe Soil UK, about soil testing. There are many companies offering soil testing but the whole process is incredibly opaque. Companies offering the testing don't often tell you what to test for, or offer to explain the results they'll be sending and the process can be very costly. Enter Soil Safe UK, who offer soil tests for gardeners, that make sense and that don't cost a small fortune! Dr Ian Bedford's Bug of the Week: Indoor Plant Pests What we talk about: What does a soil test involve? Are all soil tests the same? When might we need one? Is it a legal requirement in some cases? What does it measure? What might it reveal about your soil? What are some typical results we might see? What are some common problems that might be revealed? About Robert Galster & Safe Soil UK "At Safe Soil UK, our aim is to make the testing and analysis of soil easy. Whether it's to check that soil has all the nutrients it needs to grow great veg or to investigate for potential serious contamination (the UK's industrial heritage has left behind much that can have a negative impact on our health), we offer a straightforward approach to soil testing. Because while growing and eating local, even homegrown, should ideally be what we do as often as possible, it definitely shouldn't be dangerous. Britain's proud industrial and farming history left behind a legacy of contamination, with countless substances and waste products that have the potential to harm human health being discharged into the ground. Our testing packages can give you peace of mind that your growing space is safe - so why chance it? We're big fans of gardening in general and growing vegetables in particular. Have been for as long as we can remember. Robert, one of our cofounders, tells of his early childhood memories annoying his mum by "planting" exotic fruit in various plant pots around the family home. This involved making a little hole in the soil using a toothpick and dropping orange, grapefruit and lemon seeds into the holes. Not a great deal came of these early efforts - Robert blames the climate - but he got better with time. And lots of practice. Since then his interest in gardening has remained with him and flourished as it expanded to include growing his own fruit and veg. And that interest played a part in launching Safe Soil UK. That and curiosity. A few years ago we came across a local rumour that a site near our urban house was once a battery factory. At this point, our interest started to extend beyond soil basics like pH and texture and on to toxic elements that may have been lurking beneath our feet. So we started to root around (pardon the pun) for a way to check the soil. What if our little annual harvests of veg and flowers were actually serving up a cocktail of lead, arsenic, chromium and other unsavoury (to say the least) elements while our time tending the fledgling crops was exposing us to airborne samples of dioxins, hydrocarbons and even asbestos? Posing that question marked the germination (again, sorry!) of Safe Soil UK, which aims to make the testing of urban soils easy, affordable (the scientific analysis involved in the testing is never going to be cheap but we're doing our best) and also help interpret the results using UK government standards where they're available and relying on international guidelines to fill in any blanks. There's no disputing that the UK's industrial heritage has left behind a legacy of contaminated land. We are descendants of a people who were at the sharp end of the industrial revolution and while this played an important part in establishing the living standards we now enjoy, there was a darker downside as the very industrial processes and activities that made Britain one of the wealthiest nations on earth also released substances and waste products into the environment that have the potential to have a detrimental impact on our health. When we started our journey in search of peace of mind that our little patch of land was not slowly killing us, we hit a roadblock. There is no shortage of laboratories capable of testing soil but many of these charged a fortune. Then there was the problem of what we actually wanted to test for. The list of harmful chemicals and elements that a lab could test for is a long one. Which ones should we be testing for? And finally, how much of something is too much? The answers to these questions required extensive research but we got there in the end. And while no health authority can make a definitive call on the precise level at which something becomes harmful or even lethal, most agree on ranges. We use these to interpret results and where conflicts exist, we point them out to allow our customers to make informed decisions and, hopefully, provide peace of mind. When that's not possible, we are happy to share recommendations on potential remediation approaches. We're happy to report that we're now i

In this episode, I am very pleased to have a double interview with Dan Pearson and Midori Shintani, the two key horticultural forces driving the Tokachi Millennium Forest project in Hokaido, Japan and co-authors of the book Tokachi Millennium Forest: Pioneering a New Way of Gardening with Nature. I speak to Midori first, then Dan, about this vast, 1000 year project, their hopes and intentions for now and the future and about their own places with the timeline of the forest. Dr Ian Bedford's Bug of the Week: Ivy Mining Bees What we talk about: The history of the site of the Tokachi Millennium Forest The idea behind the project The challenges on site, posed by flora and some big fauna! Influences on the design The future of the site About Dan Pearson & Midori Shintani Twenty years ago, Dan Pearson was invited to make a garden at the 240-hectare Tokachi Millennium Forest in Hokkaido, Japan. Part of the intention was to entice city dwellers to reconnect with nature and improve land that had been lost to intensive agriculture and this was achieved along with much more. By tuning into the physical and cultural essence of the place and applying a light touch in terms of cultivation, this world-class designer created a remarkable place which has its heart in Japan's long-held respect for nature and its head in contemporary ecological planting design. The bold, uplifting sweep of the Meadow Garden mixes garden plants with natives while the undulating landforms of the Earth Garden bring sculptural connection with the mountains beyond. Under the skilful custodianship of Midori Shintani, the garden has evolved beautifully to reflect principles that lie at the heart of Japanese culture: observation of seasonal changes, practical tasks carried out with care and an awareness of the interconnectedness of all living things. This beautiful, instructive book allows us all to experience something of the Tokachi effect, gain expert insights into how to plant gardens that feel right for their location, and reconnect with the land and wildlife that surround us. Links Tokachi Millennium Forest: Pioneering a New Way of Gardening by Dan Pearson & Midori Shintani - Filbert Press, 2020 www.danpearsonstudio.com

This interview features two guests instead of the usual one and those guests are Lottie and Connor, founders of Earthly Biochar. Maybe you already use Biochar in the garden, maybe you've heard of it but aren't quite sure what it does or how it works, or maybe you're completely new to it as a concept. In any case, I'm sure you'll learn such a lot from this interview. Dr Ian Bedford's Bug of the Week: Spiders and their Webs What we talk about: The origins of Earthly Biochar What is biochar Biochar in the home & garden The history of biochar and its uses around the world 'Charging' biochar About Earthly Biochar Website: www.earthlybiochar.com Biochar maker Organic biochar Free biochar guide + webinar Twitter: @earthlybiochar Instagram: @earthly.biochar Email: [email protected] and [email protected] "We'd love to offer the audience 10% off their order with the code ROOTSANDALL - simply place an order on our website and enter this code at checkout. All our orders come with free shipping! We're based in North Devon in Appledore and if anyone wants to meet up, talk biochar, have a go with our kiln, please reach out to us on Instagram or via email. We're currently offering a special price for our biochar makers for the first 10 orders, if anyone would like to be a raving fan and get one of our first kilns, then please email [email protected] ***The special price is not listed on our website so if you're interested please email us*** We sell only high quality, EBC certified, organic and professionally tested biochar which has been made in a carbon negative process – aka it's capturing carbon not emitting it! You can learn more about this process in our free guide and webinar, which you can sign up to receive on our website here. Lottie is doing her PhD on biochar at Reading University, working with growers across the UK, and she is recruiting farms (of all sizes and all crops), nurseries and orchards – basically anyone growing plants on a commercial scale – who would like to take part and try biochar out. If you want to take part, please email us! We're a growing company with great friends and partners in soil health, horticulture, agriculture and wood management but we're always looking to meet new people. We have an exciting project coming up, working with tree planting projects in the UK, and we are starting trials with the RHS. Please get in touch if you want to learn more about us, our plans and opportunities to collaborate.

This week I'm speaking to scientist and science communicator Dr Anna Zakrisson about green roofs, particularly with regard to their use in urban areas and the important role they can play in water management. Amongst other things, we talk about the functions these roofs can perform, whether they can work in rural as well as urban situations, how self-sustaining we should expect the plants on green roofs to be and if they're always the best solution. Dr Ian Bedford's Bug of the Week: Allium Leaf Miner About Dr Anna Zakrisson Anna Zakrisson has travelled extensively for work and study, including periods spent at Lucy Cavendish College, Cambridge University and Stockholm University, where she completed her doctoral thesis on cyanobacteria. She worked as a researcher for the Max-Planck-Institute before working in Berlin as a biologist. She currently works as a consultant on green roofs and is attached to US-based research company Green Roof Diagnostics. What we talk about: The functions green roofs can perform Do green roofs improve our environment? The adverse effects they can mitigate Can green roofs have an application in rural areas too? Is it responsible to supplement green roofs with water and/or nutrients? Are green roofs always the best solution? Pioneering work in the world of green roofs and future developments Links: Anna's Imaginarium website Anna Zakrisson on Twitter www.greenroofdiagnostics.com

This week I'm speaking to Barbara Wilkinson, a Trustee of The Herb Society, which was founded in 1927 in order to promote the use and understanding of herbs and to provide a worldwide forum for the exchange of ideas and information pertaining to these plants. We talk about growing herbs in different garden situations, unusual herbs to grow, why humans seem drawn to them, what Barbara refers to as "generous" herbs and why we seem to enjoy abusing them by cramming them in unsuitable containers and most importantly, what even is a herb? Dr Ian Bedford's Bug of the Week: Box Tree Moths About Barbara Wilkinson Following a lifelong passion for health and nutrition, Barbara qualified as a Consultant Medical Herbalist in 2012. She is a member of the College of Medicine and Integrated Health, and runs The Springfield Clinic of Natural Healing in Cheshire. Barbara is an advocate of cultivating the use of plants in everyday life and keen to empower people with the confidence to embrace food as medicine. As well as running her own practice, Barbara is a Trustee for The Herb Society and has appeared as a guest speaker at numerous events and conferences. She has an allotment, where she grows produce that is used for medicines within the practice, and has worked with The Herb Society on designing gardens for the RHS Flower Show Tatton Park. In 2018, she appeared in the BBC's coverage of the RHS Flower Show, as part of a special segment looking at fermented foods. She recently supported Horticulturist Alys Fowler in producing her new book A Modern Herbal. What we talk about: What is The Herb Society? The definition of a herb Humans' affinity with herbs Herbs for shade Herbs for dry, sunny spots Unusual herbs to grow Links: www.herbsociety.org.uk The Herb Society on Instagram : @theherbsocietyuk Evolutionary Herbalism: Science, Spirituality, and Medicine from the Heart of Nature by Sajah Popham Tree Medicine by Peter Conway Self-Sufficient Herbalism : A Guide to Growing and Wild Harvesting Your Herbal Dispensary by Lucy Jones

This week I'm speaking with Sir Roderick Floud, author of 'An Economic History of the English Garden'. The book charts the economics surrounding English gardens since the seventeenth century and talks about private gardens, public spaces, professions related to gardening and the often eye-watering amounts of money spent on achieving a bigger and better gardens. Sir Roderick calculates the cost of yesteryears' gardens in today's money and it's worth reading the book alone to find out how much the likes of Capability Brown earned or the amounts spent on the gardens of Versailles! Dr Ian Bedford's Bug of the Week: Cluster Flies About Roderick Floud "Roderick Floud has been a pioneer of two new kinds of history: using statistics to study the past and the history of human height and health. The economic history of gardens is his third innovation. He has taught at the universities of Cambridge, London and Stanford, has written or edited over 70 books and articles and is the long-standing editor of the Cambridge Economic History of Modern Britain. He has also led London Metropolitan University and Gresham College London and undertaken many other roles in the university world, such as President of Universities UK, receiving a knighthood for services to higher education." - https://www.penguin.co.uk/authors/123901/roderick-floud.html?tab=penguin-biography What we talk about: Public parks Charles II and his popularisation of garden making. Why were extravagant gardens built? Were these gardens worth the huge sums spent on them? Technological advances that were later applied outside the world of horticulture Trends around people growing their own fruit and vegetables Trends in the numbers of people employed as gardeners How gardeners wages over the centuries compare with those today Economic trends on the horizon related to gardening Links: An Economic History of the English Garden - Roderick Floud Paperback out 5th Nov 2020. Pre-order here.

This week I'm speaking with permaculturist, teacher, speaker and author, Graham Burnett. Through his organisation Spiralseed, Graham has been involved with both public and private projects across the globe and has accumulated a huge portfolio of work. We talk about the principles which underpin permaculture and how to implement these in your own garden. Dr Ian Bedford's Bug of the Week: Earwigs About Graham Burnett "In addition to cultivating his own garden and allotments in Southend in Essex, where he lives with his family, Graham nowadays teaches permaculture and writes extensively on the subject. Graham founded Spiralseed in 2001, and he has worked with projects and organisations including Comic Relief, Naturewise, Green Adventure, the Vegan Organic Network, Ars Terra (Los Angeles), NuArc Health and Wellbeing Centre (Puglia, Italy), Wild Earth Farm and Sanctuary (Kentucky, USA) and Ekosense Ecovillage (Croatia), as well as a number of Transition Town initiatives. He has also over the years written a number of books and booklets (including The Vegan Book of Permaculture, Permaculture a Beginners Guide, Well Fed Not An Animal Dead, and Earth Writings). Earlier this year Graham taught a permaculture course in Italy, and in summer 2015 he was one of the instructors in the first ever vegan permaculture course in the USA. He continues to teach and organise courses both at home and abroad." - https://spiralseed.co.uk/graham-burnett-‒-path-permaculture/ What we talk about: How Graham became involved in permaculture The theory behind a permaculture garden How much work is involved in establishing a permaculture garden from scratch, or from an existing garden? Can permaculture gardens incorporate ornamental areas? Permaculture gardens; are they completely dedicated to production? Vegan permaculture gardens Can we feed ourselves without harming animals in some way? For example, how do you successfully grow brassicas without excluding birds and butterflies? Links: www.spiralseed.co.uk Online courses in Permaculture from Spiralseed

This week's guest is Caroline Ball, author of a beautiful book called 'Heritage Apples'. In normal circumstances, this week would have seen lots of events to celebrate Apple Day taking place across the country, but instead, I'm celebrating here on the podcast by delving into some of our lesser known and historic varieties with Caroline, plus there's a very useful bit at the end where Caroline explains the mysteries of apple tree pollination. Dr Ian Bedford's Bug of the Week: Leather Jackets About Caroline Ball "Caroline Ball is an editor, copywriter and occasional translator. She has written on subjects from horticulture and travel to antiques and health, and has contributed to books about William Morris and a guide to historical sites. She is a keen gardener and, having been born a 'Kentish Maid', some of her earliest memories are of apple orchards in blossom." - https://bodleianshop.co.uk/products/heritage-apples What we talk about: What is a heritage apples? The Herefordshire pomona Why should we grow heritage apples? Some of the varieties described in the book; Beauty of Kent, Catshead & Oslin Where to taste heritage varieties Apple tree pollination Links: Heritage Apples by Caroline Ball Paul Barnett's Family Tree

This week I'm speaking to Nick de Rothschild, President of the Nerine and Amaryllid Society and of Exbury Gardens in the New Forest. The gardens play host to a huge range of plants providing interest throughout the year, but one of jewels in the crown of Exbury is the collection of Nerines. There are many types of Nerines planted in the garden and an exhibition is currently underway of one particular species, sarniensis. We talk about the different types, how to grow them successfully and about some of the intricacies and intrigue of plant breeding. (Apologies for sounding muffled, I was wearing a mask!) Dr Ian Bedford's Bug of the Week: House Spiders About Nick de Rothschild Nick de Rothschild, President of the Nerine and Amaryllid Society and of Exbury Gardens in the New Forest. Now celebrating more than 100 years, Exbury Gardens encompasses a spectacular collection of woodland, herbaceous, contemporary, formal and wildflower gardens. At over 200 acres, these impressive gardens located in Hampshire, were created and are now managed by the Rothschild family. They boast a number of special collections including world-famous rhododendrons and azaleas, unprecedented swathes of hydrangeas and the National Collection of Nyssa trees - https://www.exbury.co.uk/gardens What we talk about: The different nerine species Growing nerines outdoors and under glass The history of Nerine sarniensis cultivars Breeding Nerine sarniensis Pests and diseases Links: www.exbury.co.uk Nerine & Amaryllid Society

This week I'm speaking to Sue Allen of Microbz, which produces and distributes probiotics for gardens. The concept of probiotics in gardens is new to me, but it dovetails nicely with previous episodes looking at soil health and mycorrhizal fungi so I was delighted to speak to Sue and find out more about how probiotics work in gardens and what we can do to encourage them. Dr Ian Bedford's Bug of the Week: Woodlice About Susan Allen I'm co-founder and co-director of Microbz Ltd, producers and distributors of probiotics for gardens. Most of all I love gardening. I love long summer evenings out on our land nurturing our plants and vegetables, and even cold wet winter days preparing for the next season. Part of the reason I am so passionate about microbes is because I really see the difference that they have made to my garden. They really work. My soil is healthier, my plants are more robust, and the best thing is: it is all natural. I want to share my love of using microbes so that other people feel confident to give it a go. It will benefit their health and the long-term health of soil and plants all over the UK. About Microbz In 2007 my husband was asked to join a philanthropist who travelled the globe looking for solutions to environmental problems. His job was to mediate the potential conflicts of interest between investors and innovators. It was a fascinating time of travel and discovery. When he got home, Jeff described the technology he saw that really excited him: Microbial Balancing Technology. The excitement we both felt for the potential of this 'solution' for the planet, was immediate. We committed to learning more and quickly turned one of our outbuildings into a mini-brewery. The first brews in 5-litre jars were trialled by us, and by friends and family. Now we're up to 100 and 300-litre containers, regular lab tests and a fully functioning business. Our involvement with microbes is all that you would wish a love affair to be, full of enthusiasm to be learning and growing and caring for and nurturing the brews. Our hope is that every person who uses microbes sees a health benefit and is aware that they are contributing to the sustainability of our precious planet. What we talk about: Microorganisms as the fundamental building blocks of life What microbes do in our gardens How do they work Why it's important to have them in the soil What happens when you don't have a diversity of microbes or you use a lot of chemicals in the garden? How does introducing beneficial microbes back into your garden work? How do microbes impact each stage of the cycle of life e.g. seeds, growth, flowering, death, decay, composting, back to new life? Links: www.microbz.co.uk Microbz on Instagram Microbz on Facebook Susan on Facebook Probiotics Research Soil Your Undies Challenge Life at the Edge of Sight by Scott Chimileski, Roberto Kolter The Garden Jungle by Dave Goulson

This week I'm speaking to Joff Curtoys, conservationist, ecologist and founder of Sloemotion Distillery. Saturday just gone saw the launch of National Hedgerow Day, an annual event launched by Joff to inspire people to undertake their own foraging missions to spot what's growing and living in their local hedgerows. Hedgerows are historically important, biodiverse and fascinating, as Joff explains. Dr Ian Bedford's Bug of the Week: Fruit Flies About Joff Curtoys Joff is the founder of Sloemotion Distillery, a family-run Yorkshire business producing small batch spirits and liqueurs, and a passionate advocate of wildlife conservation. He has a background working for the RSPB and his respect for the environment and protection of the countryside is deeply embedded into how Sloemotion operates. The brand has its roots firmly in the Yorkshire countryside and this is a huge influence on the premium spirits they produce providing not only a source of sloes and hedgerow fruits, but also inspiration on their doorstep. What we talk about: The history of hedgerows Hedgerows and biodiversity When and what to forage from hedgerows Managing hedgerows for foraging Links: https://www.sloemotiondistillery.com National Hedgerow Day A Natural History of the Hedgerow - John Wright

This week I'm speaking to Adam Kirtland, who began gardening seriously at the start of lockdown. His initial interest has become a full-blown obsession and we talk about the challenges presented by going back to work full time and having less time to garden. For more seasoned gardeners, this episode may be a useful reflection upon how we communicate with newer gardeners. Dr Ian Bedford's Bug of the Week: Flatworms About Adam Kirtland "Bookseller by day, gardener by night. I work as part of the head office team at Waterstones looking after some of the gifting products rather than books, but it's still the love of books that got me here in the first place. Gardening has always been something that I've used as a tool to relax and wind down but it's only this year, during lockdown that I really found what it was to be a gardener. For me it's not just mowing the lawn every fortnight or doing a bit of weeding, it's become so much more. Making a garden for both me and my family that can be used in all season. Lockdown opened my eyes to the world of Instagram and how huge the community is there and that's where my gardening journey has taken me now." What we talk about: Sources of gardening information Catching the gardening bug Gardening post lockdown and post-furlough Gardening social media Links: Adam's Instagram account - @viewfromthepottingbench Episode 20 - Container Planting with Harriet Rycroft Episode 1 - Dahlias

This week I'm speaking to Philip Johnson of Johnson's Sweet Peas. Philip grows and sells plants and seeds via his website and he sells and exhibits his plants at shows across the country, when they're on! He judges at major shows and has put in 25 years service as a Sweet Pea judge. He is a former chairman of the National Sweet Pea Society/RHS Sweet Pea trials held at Wisley and is currently serving as a member of the RHS Herbaceous Committee. So what Philip doesn't know abut sweet peas you could write on the back of a stamp and still have room to lick it. Dr Ian Bedford's Bug of the Week: Woolly Aphids About Johnson's Sweet Peas Johnson's Sweet Peas is a traditional Sweet Pea specialist, growing their own seeds and plants at their nursery in Kent. Through their extensive breeding programme, they occasionally have brand new varieties available for naming and introduction. Philip grows and sells plants and seeds via his website and he sells and exhibits his plants at shows across the country. He judges at major shows and has put in 25 years service as a Sweet Pea judge. He is a former chairman of the National Sweet Pea Society/RHS Sweet Pea trials held at Wisley and is currently serving as a member of the RHS Herbaceous Committee. What we talk about: When to sow sweet pea seeds Can we succession sow to prolong the season? Pinching out seedlings Deadheading; why? Essential? Why do stems get shorter as the season progresses? Watering, feeding, soil requirements Best kinds of supports for sweet peas Pests and diseases Wildlife value Best varieties for scent Colours in sweet pea flowers Colour trends for next year. Exciting developments on the horizon in sweet pea breeding? Links: www.johnsonssweetpeas.co.uk Philip Johnson on Twitter Johnson's Sweet Peas on Instagram National Sweet Pea Society on Twitter

This week I'm speaking to biologist and ecologist Sophie Leguil. Sophie is an outspoken and passionate advocate for nature, plants and wildlife and can often be found on social media, helping make sense of complex concepts that affect gardeners and their outdoor spaces. We talk a bit about public spaces, a bit about gardens and urban areas and we touch upon what can happen when you try to stand up for what you believe in. Dr Ian Bedford's Bug of the Week: Tardegrades About Sophie Leguil: "Trained as a biologist & ecologist, with experience in horticulture, I am fascinated by the natural world in all its forms. I have a soft spot for plants, from the tiniest orchid at the top of a Vietnamese mountain, to the blousiest iris in a 18th century garden. I currently work freelance in the UK and France, as a writer, photographer, speaker, translator and wildlife tour leader. My BSc research focused on pollens of Psychotria (a fascinating genus with ethnobotanical uses), and my MSc on systematics of a small genus of African orchids. I am particularly interested in the love-hate relationship between plant conservation and horticulture, and more specifically how growing plants can help us better understand, preserve and raise awareness on need to conserve plants." https://naturanaute.com/about/ What we talk about: Rewilding Warren Park Meadows and wildflower planting Sophie's 'More Than Weeds' Project Brownfield sites and their ecological value The future of nature under our current government Links: www.naturanaute.com www.morethanweeds.co.uk Sophie Leguil on Twitter Sophie Leguil on Instagram More Than Weeds on Twitter

This week I'm speaking to garden designer, writer and podcast host Rachel McCartain. Rachel believes the garden should work for you, that it should suit your lifestyle. If you struggle to reconcile the garden you want with the time you have to spend on it, this is the episode for you. Whether you have your own garden or you create gardens for others, Rachel's advice will no doubt prove useful. Dr Ian Bedford's Bug of the Week: Tree Bumblebees About Rachel McCartain: Rachel founded PlantPlots.com an online garden design company which is now one of the world's most popular websites. PlantPlots offers uniquely practical garden design advice, with the aim of making gardening easier for everyone. In addition PlantPlots creates affordable and practical garden design for anyone with a garden. She has designed gardens in both the UK and the USA and presents the popular gardening podcast The Plotting Shed. It was whilst transforming her second garden, she began to wonder why with all the thousands of gardening books available do so many gardens all look the same! A lawn in the middle surrounded by borders hugging the fence and a couple of hanging baskets. It began to dawn on her that the reason was because all these books showed how to make A garden but didn't say how the reader could change THEIR garden - and that's why PlantPlots was founded. To help you make the gardening easier. Rachel currently lives by the sea in West Sussex UK, she is married with 3 children. Although having pets has never been high on her list of must haves, her garden does boast a chicken wire heron named Eric, a shoal of wire 'Michael' fish (named after a departed uncle) and in pride of place a 7-foot sunbathing topiary leopard called Ingwe. Rachel is currently planning whether to 'grow' a giraffe or some antelopes. What we talk about: Useful ways of analysing your garden from a planting and design perspective Having a garden that works for your skills and your schedule Buying plants for your garden Links: I Want to Like my Garden by Rachel McCartain The PlantPlots website PlantPlots on Facebook PlantPlots on Instagram

This week I'm speaking to botanical storyteller Amanda Edmiston. Amanda trained in herbalism and has an encyclopaedic knowledge of historical plants and botanical figures but in this episode, we focus mainly on what Amanda does and her work around Elizabeth Blackwell's book 'A Curious Herbal'. Dr Ian Bedford's Bug of the Week: Conopid Flies About Amanda Edmiston: "Amanda takes people into the stories she tells and brings other worlds, redolent with layers of history into people's lives. Immersion into one of Amanda's stories involves all the senses and often reveals facts which are often threatening to drift from the everyday consciousness. Each session is a magical experience and often stays in participants memories for years. Her work weaves together plants, herbs and flowers with traditional tales, facts and her own stories.Amanda creates an enchanted world to take people into, one that is frequently funny and full of unexpected twists. Her work illustrates and is inspired by oral traditions, history, food, smells, places, objects and the audience themselves. Working with people in museums , botanical gardens, libraries, wherever they are, Amanda's work opens up different possibilities and can enhance a range of events and projects." https://www.botanicafabula.co.uk/about What we talk about: The art of botanical storytelling Elizabeth Blackwell's 'A Curious Herbal' The lost connection with nature? Historical herbals Links: Amanda's website: www.botanicafabula.co.uk The Botanica Fabula Facebook group

This week I'm speaking to nationally acclaimed entomologist and author of the book 'Wasp', Richard Bugman Jones, about a species of wildlife that may not spring to mind as one of your immediate favourites. Wasps, yellow jackets, jaspers, stripy bastards…whatever you call these members of the insect world and whether you love them or loathe them, you will certainly learn lots about them as Richard explains their life cycles and the role they play in ecosystems. If you're not convinced to become a full-blown wasp lover by the end of the episode, I suspect you will at least have a grudging respect for these resilient creatures. (FYI This episode was recorded a while ago, so it may sound as if we're talking in late winter.) About Richard Jones: Richard writes about insects, wildlife and the environment for a number of publications such as Gardener's World and BBC Wildlife magazines, The Guardian and The Sunday times. He guests on programmes such as Radio 4's Home Planet and Natural Histories, plus is the author of many books, full list below. He is a fellow of the Royal Entomological Society and of the Linneaen Society of London. He's past president of the British Entomological and Natural History Society. What we talk about: The number of species of wasps plus which wasps you're most likely to find in your garden The life cycle of a wasp A look at a typical nest What stings worse, a wasp, bee or hornet? Invasive species Links: Richard Jones's website: www.bugmanjones.com Books by Richard Jones Wasp - Reaktion Books, 2019 Beetles - Collins New Naturalists Series, 2018 Call of Nature: The Secret Life of Dung - Pelagic Publishing, 2017 House Guests, House Pests - Bloomsbury Publishing, 2016 Nano Nature - Collins, 2008 Mosquito - Reaktion Books, 2012 The Little Book of Nits - A & C Black Publishers, 2012 Extreme Insects - HarperCollins, 2010 Get in touch: Email [email protected] Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram rootsandallpod Patreon Link: Help me keep the podcast free & independent! Donate as much or as little as you like at https://www.patreon.com/rootsandall