Roots and All - Gardening Podcast

This week I'm speaking to Dr Wilson Wall of Bewdley Orchids. Dr Wall is also the co-author of How to Grow Native Orchids in Gardens Large and Small and is a foremost expert on UK native orchids. In this episode, he talks about growing orchids in lawns, borders, containers…they're much more versatile than you might expect! Not only are they beautiful and versatile, if you grow them, you'll be doing your bit to conserve these plants as their numbers in the wild diminish. About Dr Wilson Wall Wilson Wall is the Director of Bewdley Orchids, provider of native British orchids for individuals and groups to grow in their garden or meadow. Elected Fellow of the Institute of Biology (now the Royal Society of Biology) and Chartered Biologist, Wilson has a PhD in genetics and a long interest in growing orchids from seed. He has written several books before, of both single and joint authorship and was editor of The Clematis, journal of the British Clematis Society. What We Cover: The relationship between orchids and fungi Which orchids are suitable for growing in gardens Orchids that work in containers Soil requirements The sourcing of plants Common pests and diseases Links Bewdley Orchids www.bewdleyorchids.com How to Grow Native Orchids in Gardens Large and Small - by Wilson Wall and Dave Morgan. Published by Green Books. https://www.greenbooks.co.uk/how-to-grow-native-orchids-in-gardens-large-and-small Get in touch; Email [email protected] Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram rootsandallpod Patreon Link; Help us keep the podcast free & independent! Donate as much or as little as you like at https://www.patreon.com/rootsandall

This week I'm speaking to John Little. John founded the Grass Roof Company in 1998 and for the past 20 years, he's been designing and implementing gardens in public spaces that work for people, for plants and for wildlife. Often working in urban locations, he installs wildlife habitats and planting in some unusual places including on roofs and structures such as cycle shelters. He also includes many edible plants in his schemes in order to create beautiful and useful spaces that engage the community. Maintenance and management is a key focus, and is vital to the success and longevity of his projects. We also talk about the need to revise traditional maintenance practices in order to reduce costs, save time and preserve wildlife. About John Little "John's life with green roofs started when he self built his own home in Essex. The green roof on John's new house consisted of the standard green roof structure, onto which he literally dumped soil from the foundations. That was 17 years ago and the roof is still growing strong. A few years ago a colony of Bee Orchids appeared from nowhere!! He has since designed and built small green roofs buildings throughout South Essex and London over the last 20 years. often combining the living roofs with habitat walls made designed to support solitary bees. John's company the Grass Roof Company does landscape contracting and green roof construction in Essex and London. John also part owns Green Roof Shelters, a company that produces modular design bike, bin and freight container green roofs.." What We Cover: How John creates gardens that mimic brownfield sites Green roofs The Clapton Park Estate project Including edible plants in a community garden John's favourite trees and herbaceous plants for wildlife Links John's Design Practice - The Grass Roof Company https://www.grassroofcompany.co.uk Green Roof Shelters - the sister company to The Grass Roof Company, specialising in buildings and structures incorporating green roofs of all types https://greenroofshelters.co.uk Online Guide to building Green Roofs - co-authored by John Little & Dusty Gedge https://greenrooftraining.com John on Twitter @grassroofco https://twitter.com/grassroofco?lang=en Get in touch: Email [email protected] Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram rootsandallpod Patreon Link: Help us keep the podcast free & independent! Donate as much or as little as you like at https://www.patreon.com/rootsandall

This week I'm speaking to Alex Mitchell, aka the Edible Gardener. Alex is the gardening columnist for the Evening Standard and author of five books on gardening, including her latest 'Crops in Tight Spots'. I speak to Alex about growing edibles when space in tight and she has some brilliant tips and tricks about how to grow, what to grow and what not to bother with. Alex's book is based on years of experience and I respect her approach of trialling, experimenting (including catching pupae in jars and observing them as they hatch!) and just giving things a go. As a result of this hands-on experimentation, she's developed some nifty time, money and space-saving methods and she shares some of those with us in the episode. For the rest, you'll just have to buy the book! About Alex Mitchell "Alex Mitchell is a gardening writer who has been obsessed with growing things she can eat for about 20 years. Before this, she was obsessed with television. On balance, gardening is healthier. Alex is the weekly gardening columnist for The Evening Standard and has written five books about gardening and growing food. Previously she wrote a column for The Sunday Telegraph about growing fruit and vegetables, first in a polytunnel in a muddy field, which often made her cry, then in a little south London garden, which made her happy. She now gardens in a large space in Kent which makes her ecstatic though often overwhelmed. She has written five books, The Girl's Guide to Growing Your Own – Or How to Grow Fruit and Vegetables Without Getting Your Hands Too Dirty, The Edible Balcony, The Rurbanite: Living in the Country Without Leaving the City, Gardening on a Shoestring and Crops in Tight Spots." What We Cover: Crops to grow indoors Crops for pots Recycling compost Essential crops for ease and high yield Creative training of tomatoes Links www.alex-mitchell.co.uk http://alex-mitchell.co.uk Crops in Tight Spots - Alex Mitchell, 2019 https://www.waterstones.com/book/crops-in-tight-spots/alex-mitchell/9780857835925 Alex's Previously Published Books http://alex-mitchell.co.uk/alex-mitchell-the-edible-gardener/books/ Alex on Instagram @alexmitchelleg https://www.instagram.com/alexmitchelleg/ Get in touch: Email [email protected] Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram rootsandallpod Patreon Link: Help us keep the podcast free & independent! Donate as much or as little as you like at https://www.patreon.com/rootsandall

This week I chat to Olivia Kirk about low allergen planting. Olivia works on both public and private gardens and has a number of show gardens under her belt, including a gold medal winning garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower show. She specialises in healing gardens and has worked on a number of projects such as hospice gardens, where the effect the garden can have on a person's physical health is of paramount importance. We often think about the positive effects on mental and physical health that gardens and green spaces can provide, but we don't often stop to think about the harm they might cause. Olivia explains how with a little bit of knowledge and a few relatively simple steps, we can make our environment a much better place for everyone, especially those suffering from allergies. Check out Olivia's work at www.oliviakirkgardens.com Instagram: oliviakirkgardens Get in touch; Email [email protected] Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram rootsandallpod Patreon Link; Help us keep the podcast free & independent! Donate as much or as little as you like at https://www.patreon.com/rootsandall

This week I'm speaking to Dave Goulson, who is a Professor of Biology at the University of Sussex. Dave is also the founder of the Bumblebee Conservation Trust and author of three books, the most recent of which is The Garden Jungle: or Gardening to Save the Planet. With the recent interest in wildlife gardens, we talk about how you can create a good environment for wildlife, but more importantly, how you can avoid actively harming the environment with your gardening habits. About Dave Goulson "After a childhood chasing butterflies and collecting bird's eggs, I studied Biology at Oxford University, and then did a PhD on butterfly ecology at Oxford Brookes University. Shortly afterwards I got a lectureship at University of Southampton, where I stayed for 11 years. It was there that I began to specialize in bumblebee ecology and conservation. In 2006 I became Professor of Biology and Stirling University. In 2006 I also founded the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, a charity devoted to reversing bumblebee declines. In 2013 I moved to Sussex University. I have published over 200 scientific articles on the ecology of bees and other insects, and am author of Bumblebees; their behaviour, ecology and conservation (2010, Oxford University Press) and A Sting in the Tale (2013, Jonathan Cape), a popular science book about bumblebees and The Garden Jungle: or Gardening to Save the Planet (2019, Jonathan Cape). I am a Fellow of the Royal Entomological Society, and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. In 2010 I was BBSRC "Social Innovator of the Year" and in 2013 I won the Marsh Award for Conservation Biology from the Zoological Society of London." What We Cover: What you need to look out for when buying plants and seeds Plants for wildlife Native vs non-native plants The effects of pesticides and fungicides on wildlife Links The Garden Jungle: or Gardening to Save the Planet - Dave Goulson https://www.hive.co.uk/Product/Dave-Goulson/The-Garden-Jungle--or-Gardening-to-Save-the-Planet/23728420 A Sting in the Tale - Dave Goulson https://www.hive.co.uk/Product/Dave-Goulson/A-Sting-in-the-Tale/22927310 A Buzz in the Meadow - Dave Goulson https://www.hive.co.uk/Product/Dave-Goulson/A-Buzz-in-the-Meadow/17156479 The Bumblebee Conservation Trust https://www.bumblebeeconservation.org Follow Dave Goulson on Twitter - @DaveGoulson https://twitter.com/davegoulson?lang=en RosyBee - Plants for bees http://www.rosybee.com Contact: Stefan Batorijs 3 Barnsey Gardens Ashburton Devon TQ13 7GA UK [email protected] +44 1364 652162 Nature and Therapy UK on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/shinrinyokuUK/ Common Farm Flowers on Twitter: @TheFlowerFarmer https://twitter.com/TheFlowerFarmer Common Farm Flowers on Instagram: @commonfarmflowers https://www.instagram.com/commonfarmflowers/?hl=en Get in touch: Email [email protected] Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram rootsandallpod Patreon Link: Help us keep the podcast free & independent! Donate as much or as little as you like at https://www.patreon.com/rootsandall

This week I'm speaking to Chris Williams, co-founder of Edibleculture, an inspirational nursery based in Faversham in Kent. From the day the nursery was established 5 years ago, ethically and ecologically sounds principles have been employed to create the brilliant business that exists today. We talk about how the nursery succeeds where so many others are failing to make changes; using peat-free compost, gardening organically without chemicals, eliminating single use plastics from their sales output and many other initiatives that make this nursery truly revolutionary. Find out more about Edibleculture Ltd at www.edibleculture.co.uk and the paper pots Chris discusses at www.posipot.co.uk Thanks to Linda from Hastings for giving me the heads up on Edibleculture and their work. Get in touch; Email [email protected] Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram rootsandallpod Patreon Link; Help us keep the podcast free & independent! Donate as much or as little as you like at https://www.patreon.com/rootsandall

Forest Bathing, or Shinrin Yoku, is the practice of immersing yourself in nature as therapy. It's the perfect antidote for those who feel disconnected from the land and unattached from nature, which is increasingly likely to happen in a world where 55% of us live in urban areas. In this episode, I speak to Stefan Batorijs who founded Nature and Therapy UK in 2017, as a response to a growing need to foster a spiritual and psychological connection to the land. If you've always wondered what Forest Bathing, or Shinrin Yoku, entails, this is the episode for you! About Stefan Stefan has been exploring the wild places for 50 years, and trained originally in Countryside Management, Conservation and Environmental Education. He is a qualified Integrative Psychotherapist and Mountain Leader, with 25 years experience facilitating individuals and groups in natural environments. In 2008 he established the highly acclaimed Ecotherapy Project with Plymouth NHS, for people with severe and enduring mental health needs. Stefan is currently an Associate Lecturer at Plymouth University. He teaches the role of Nature and benefits of natural immersion for mental health and recovery from trauma on the Clinical Psychology Doctorate Training. Stefan is passionate about trees, birds and Sacred land. Stefan is a member of INFOM, the International Society of Nature and Forest Medicine and a member of the Eco-psychology Network. What We Cover: Stefan's personal journey through nature and into Shinrin Yoku What Shinrin Yoku entails The evidence behind why Shinrin Yoku works An excercise from a typical session of Forest Bathing Links Nature and Therapy UK - check out the Resources page for excellent links to the research surrounding Forest Bathing http://natureandtherapy.co.uk Contact: Stefan Batorijs 3 Barnsey Gardens Ashburton Devon TQ13 7GA UK [email protected] +44 1364 652162 Nature and Therapy UK on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/shinrinyokuUK/ Common Farm Flowers on Twitter: @TheFlowerFarmer https://twitter.com/TheFlowerFarmer Common Farm Flowers on Instagram: @commonfarmflowers https://www.instagram.com/commonfarmflowers/?hl=en Get in touch: Email [email protected] Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram rootsandallpod Patreon Link: Help us keep the podcast free & independent! Donate as much or as little as you like at https://www.patreon.com/rootsandall

Sarah speaks to the Earth Friendly Gardener, John Walker about the use of peat in our gardens. We all know it's bad, but how bad is it and what's being done to prevent the use of peat in horticultural products? Is it realistic to think we can eradicate our use of peat? John is one of the foremost experts on this topic and it's fascinating to hear his thoughts. Sobering stuff indeed... About John: "As well as being a lifelong gardener and allotmenteer, I'm also an award-winning British gardening and environment writer with over 30 years combined experience in professional gardening, horticultural teaching and the garden media. I trained as a student gardener at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens & Glasshouses, Cambridge University Botanic Garden, and at the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, England, where I was awarded the Kew Diploma in Horticulture in 1986. I gained a Permaculture Design Certificate in 1997. While in publishing, I've been both features and deputy editor of Garden Answers magazine, contributing editor of Kitchen Garden magazine, and have been technical editor of The Organic Way. My long-running 'digging deeper' column, exploring the connections between gardening and our wider environment first appeared in Organic Gardening (later Organic Garden & Home) magazine in 2006. I write and blog about greener, earth-friendly gardening for national newspapers, magazines and websites. My work has been published in NFU Countryside, Garden Answers, Garden News, Grow It!, Kew magazine, Organic Gardening (later Organic Garden & Home), the Telegraph, The Garden, The Organic Way and Kitchen Garden, and online at the Guardian and Hartley Botanic. I'm the author of the new and updated Weeds: An Organic, Earth-Friendly Guide to Their Identification, Use and Control and The Bed & Border Planner, the editor of A Gardeners' Guide to Annuals, and a major contributor to the Garden Organic Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening." John's website is a treasure trove of articles and information, please do check it out: http://earthfriendlygardener.net You can buy a signed copy of John's latest book, Weeds: An Organic, Earth-friendly Guide to Their Identification, Use and Control' here Get in touch; Email [email protected] Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram rootsandallpod Patreon Link; Help us keep the podcast free & independent! Donate as much or as little as you like at https://www.patreon.com/rootsandall

How many of us haven't dreamt of having an idyllic smallholding that allows us to be financially self-supporting, maybe even one that grows flowers by the barrowload? Well, this week's guest is living the dream! Common Farm Flowers is an artisan floristry and cut flower farm based in Somerset. Founded by Georgie Newbery and her husband Fabrizio in 2010, the ethos of the farm is to produce flowers that are Grown, Not Flown. Add to that Georgie's passion for wildlife, organic methods and her love of everything that grows and you have a successful business that produces eco-friendly, sustainable and beautiful floral creations. As well as selling cut flower creations, Georgie also runs workshops and courses and has written two books on the subject. Her first book, the 'Flower Farmer's Year' is a great book for gardeners who want to grow a cut flower patch, whether for pleasure or for profit, and its sister volume, 'Grow Your Own Wedding Flowers.' is an inspiring floristry book for growers and people who enjoy arranging their own flowers. Check out her website www.commonfarmflowers.com to find out more. What We Cover: The values behind Common Farm Flowers The current state of the cut flower industry Good cut flowers for scent What to grow if your space is limited Shrubs that make a useful addition to your cut flower patch Dealing with pests on a 7 acre site Links To order some of Georgie's amazing creations, call 01963 32883 www.commonfarmflowers.com Georgie's Books https://www.commonfarmflowers.com/books.html Common Farm Flowers on Twitter: @TheFlowerFarmer Common Farm Flowers on Instagram: @commonfarmflowers Get in touch: Email [email protected] Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram rootsandallpod Patreon Link: Help us keep the podcast free & independent! Donate as much or as little as you like at https://www.patreon.com/rootsandall

What happens to all the cows if everyone turns vegan? In Part 2 of Iain's talk, recorded at VegFest 2019, Iain addresses issues surrounding current farming practices. He describes how he believes stock-free is better in terms of carbon emissions and soil health and answers that common question; "what happens to all the cows if we all go vegan?" If you're interested in gardening, many of Iain's practices are also applicable to small-scale and ornamental sites, as well as farms. Plus, if you're concerned about the impact of your food shopping habits, he presents some fascinating facts and figures. With thanks to the Vegan Organic Network for inviting me along to record the session. http://veganorganic.net/ Get in touch; Email [email protected] Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram rootsandallpod Patreon Link; Help us keep the podcast free & independent! Donate as much or as little as you like at https://www.patreon.com/rootsandall

Mary Reynolds has a long and successful career in horticulture, which is underpinned by design, but has evolved along the way as she has striven to align her personal beliefs with her work. Starting out in landscape design, Mary went on to become the youngest gold medal winner at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in 2002 where she took the show by storm with her naturalistic Celtic Sanctuary Garden. The incredible story of her journey to Chelsea and the creation of the garden was told in the 2016 film 'Dare to be Wild'. Mary continues to design gardens, seeking to create spaces "that are healing, truthful and magical". Her design ethos is set out in her 2016 book 'The Garden Awakening – Designs to Nurture Our Land and Ourselves' which she describes as "a practical treasure map that leads gardeners into a gentle and healing relationship with the land. This book is a step by step instruction manual drawing on ancient methods of working with the land and using them to invite the power and energy of nature back into your life". In 2019, Mary launched an initiative called We Are The Ark, which invites gardeners, land owners and stewards to re-wild areas in their care. It's this project that we focus on mainly in this episode and Mary explains the idea behind the project and how we can all get on board. What We Cover: - Mary's career evolution - We Are The Ark - What stops people rewinding their land and how can we overcome these problems? - Growing food yourself - How this can work in urban areas or for those with small/no gardens - What to watch out for when buying plants - Establishing and managing your own Ark - The future of garden design and gardening Links: www.wearetheark.org www.marymary.ie Mary on Instagram: wildmarymary Claire & Joe on Instagram: irishforestgarden Dr Masaru Emoto - The Hidden Messages in Water Get in touch: Email [email protected] Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram rootsandallpod Patreon Link: Help us keep the podcast free & independent! Donate as much or as little as you like at https://www.patreon.com/rootsandall

Sarah is interviewed by podcast listener Joanne Richardson After a few prompts from listeners, Sarah takes the plunge and decides to be interviewed for an episode of the Budcast. Listener Jo does a fantastic job of asking the questions that were posed by listeners, so a huge thank you to her for taking over the reins of the show. This is the longest ever episode of the podcast but it's a not to be repeated event, so sit down with a cup of tea or glass of wine and enjoy! Get in touch; Email [email protected] Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram rootsandallpod Patreon Link; Help us keep the podcast free & independent! Donate as much or as little as you like at https://www.patreon.com/rootsandall

As the RHS Chelsea Flower Show opens its doors to the public today, it's interesting to see many of the gardens focus on the wellbeing and therapeutic benefits of spending time outdoors. Social Therapeutic Horticulture is a horticulture-based therapy that's growing in popularity in the UK as more people become convinced of the mental and physical health benefits of spending time outdoors and with plants. In this episode, I speak to Damien Newman of Thrive, a charity responsible for promoting and providing Social Therapeutic Horticulture throughout the UK. Thrive is also the leading provider of training for those entering the profession. The Thrive website states; "Social and therapeutic horticulture is the process of using plants and gardens to improve physical and mental health, as well as communication and thinking skills. It also uses the garden as a safe and secure place to develop someone's ability to mix socially, make friends and learn practical skills that will help them to be more independent." - www.thrive.org.uk Damien is hugely knowledgable and a great ambassador for the discipline of STH and this is a fascinating insight for anyone considering it as a career or a therapy. We cover; What is Social Therapeutic Horticulture (STH) The origins of STH Whether STH works for everyone and who benefits from it the most Details of where to find evidence-based research supporting the benefits of being outdoors How can somebody be referred into STH How is STH applied at a practical level What makes a therapy garden How to embark upon a career in STH Some info about the charity Thrive About Damien Newman "I have been working in health and social care for 20 years beginning in mental health care where I first noticed the impact of gardens and gardening for health and began to be involved in utilising gardens and nature within care approach. Teaching in the field across my career I had the privilege of moving to Thrive 10 years ago and now manage our training, education and consultancy services. I aspire to support gardens and gardening to be appropriately utilised across society for the value and benefits it can bring." Links Thrive Charity www.thrive.org.uk Carry On Gardening www.carryongardening.org.uk King's Fund Gardens and health Report - 2016 https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/publications/gardens-and-health Report Author David Buck's Blog https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/about-us/whos-who/david-buck Get in touch; Email [email protected] Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram rootsandallpod Patreon Link; Help us keep the podcast free & independent! Donate as much or as little as you like at https://www.patreon.com/rootsandall

Sarah attended a fantastic 2 day weekend course at Homeacres and posed these questions to Charles after the first day of the course was completed, based on what she had learnt up to that point. They talk about what No Dig means, if it works and how to apply the technique in your own garden or allotment. To find out more, check out Charles's informative website www.charlesdowding.co.uk where you can find links to his books, YouTube channel and also find out how you can attend one of his courses. Get in touch; Email [email protected] Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram rootsandallpod Patreon Link; Help us keep the podcast free & independent! Donate as much or as little as you like at https://www.patreon.com/rootsandall

This week, I'm speaking to Giles Heap, Managing Director of CED Stone. CED has a long history of supplying natural stone paving and facilitating the use of stone throughout the landscape and construction industries. Giles took over as the Managing Director of CED in 2013. We discuss: - Sourcing stone ethically, including mention of the Ethical Trading Initiative - Using materials appropriate to the job and the location - Options for those looking to source local stone in the UK - The production process and the environmental impacts of this - Issues with permeability and drainage surrounding hard surfaces and how to overcome these - The future of stone products About Giles "I have been working for CED for over twenty years, on and off in many different roles. My specialities lean towards design specification and consultation using natural stone in both the Urban Realm and Landscaping arenas. With hands on experience in quarrying, production and remedial masonry work I tend to have a slightly more practical and straightforward view on stone, its capabilities and uses. I regularly lecture (preach) on the use of natural stone, both in Urban Design and Garden Design to Landscape, Urban and garden designers, students and contractors and I am more than happy to write and present bespoke lectures on the subject. Before working full time for CED, I have previously been a Publican, Bodyguard, Chauffeur, Night-club manager, doorman, and a whole host of other unusual careers! With a slight addiction to Scuba diving, martial arts (although not so much now I'm a Dad!) and extreme sports, especially climbing, I am quite happy to "say it as I see it" and I am always willing to face a challenge! As a member of the family that owns CED and the current Managing Director, my professional goal is to make us the best supplier of natural stone and hard landscaping products in the UK, by ensuring that the right advice and materials are used in our cities, parks and gardens, indeed wherever and whenever it is right and correct to do so." Links CED Stone - www.cedstone.co.uk 728 London Road, West Thurrock, Grays, Essex, RM20 3LU Tel: 01708 867237 Blog by Giles on Using British Stone https://www.cedstone.co.uk/news/using-british-stone-by-ced-stone-group-managing-director-giles-heap CED and the Ethical Trading Initiative https://www.cedstone.co.uk/about#3 More info: www.ethicaltrade.org Ethical Stone Register - www.ethicalstoneregister.co.uk Steintec - StoneBed Permeable Bedding Mortar https://www.cedstone.co.uk/products/stonebed-permeable-bedding-mortar-pbm Get in touch; Email [email protected] Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram rootsandallpod Patreon Link; Help us keep the podcast free & independent! Donate as much or as little as you like at https://www.patreon.com/rootsandall

Sarah chats to organic kitchen gardener James Mellors. They discuss organic, no-kill pest control, companion planting, interesting varieties and bees in your veg plot. Get in touch; Email [email protected] Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram rootsandallpod Patreon Link; Help us keep the podcast free & independent! Donate as much or as little as you like at https://www.patreon.com/rootsandall

This episode is produced in association with the Vegan Organic Network. It was recorded at VegFestUK on the 23rd March 2019. Iain Tolhurst is a pioneer of what he terms Stock-free Farming; that is farming which uses no animal inputs. Based in South Oxfordshire, Iain talks about the history of his growing operation plus shares some unique practices he employs to maximise crops whilst making the farm a haven for biodiversity. He also gives figures about produce yields and carbon output of his farm, which are fascinating (and encouraging, for anyone considering this method of farming). With thanks to Iain Tolhurst and The Vegan organic Network for allowing me to part of such a great day. To find out more about Iain, including his courses, veg box scheme and consultancy work, please check out http://www.tolhurstorganic.co.uk The Vegan Organic Network is the only organisation in the UK solely working for food to be grown the veganic way. Please check out their website to find out more about the important work they are involved in: http://veganorganic.net

Following on from my episodes on native vs. non-native plants and gardening for wildlife, who better for me to interview than wildlife gardening guru Kate Bradbury? We talk about the best ways to garden for wildlife, including what to put in to your wildlife garden and what to leave out. Kate champions some unusual species and our conversation touches upon aspects that may surprise even the most seasoned wildlife gardener. The timing was perfect too, as Kate's new book Wildlife Gardening for Everyone and Everything hit the shelves 5 days ago. Once she's tempted you with snippets of wildlife gardening gold, you can go buy the book and find out everything you need to know about turning your own garden, whatever its size, into a haven for all creatures great and small. Providing shelter in the garden Kate's top features to include in a wildlife garden Kate's top plants for wildlife Common mistakes we make when trying to help wildlife The decline of certain species Gardening for flies! Resources for wildlife gardeners About Kate Bradbury Kate Bradbury is an award-winning author and journalist, specialising in wildlife gardening. She edits the wildlife pages of BBC Gardeners World Magazine and regularly writes articles for the Daily and Sunday Telegraph, The Guardian, RHS magazine The Garden and BBC Wildlife and BBC Countryfile magazines. In 2015 she became the first Butterfly Ambassador for conservation charity Butterfly Conservation, and she writes a quarterly column for its members magazine, Butterfly. Kate regularly talks at events and festivals, and appears on radio including BBC Gardeners Question Time and the popular RHS gardening podcast. She also makes wildlife gardening videos for gardenersworld.com. She lives and breathes wildlife gardening, and is currently transforming a tired north-facing patio garden into a wildlife oasis, where she hopes to attract a wealth of creatures including frogs, toads, newts, birds, beetles, hedgehogs, butterflies, not to mention her very favourite, and first love: bees. Links: Buy a copy of Kate's new book Wildlife Gardening for Everyone and Everything here https://www.amazon.co.uk/Wildlife-Gardening-Everyone-Everything-Trusts/dp/1472956052/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=Kate+bradbury&qid=1554217200&s=books&sr=1-3 Kate on Twitter @Kate_Bradbury https://twitter.com/Kate_Bradbury?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor On Instagram kategbradbury https://www.instagram.com/kategbradbury/ The Bumblebee Flies Anyway by Kate Bradbury - Buy Here https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bumblebee-Flies-Anyway-year-gardening/dp/1472943104/ref=la_B00O0X7MLI_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1554215473&sr=1-2 The Wildlife Gardener by Kate Bradbury - Buy Here https://www.amazon.co.uk/Wildlife-Gardener-Kate-Bradbury/dp/152671289X Butterfly Conservation www.butterfly-conservation.org https://butterfly-conservation.org Big Butterfly Count www.bigbutterflycount.org https://www.bigbutterflycount.org Moths Count www.mothscount.org http://www.mothscount.org Froglife www.froglife.org https://www.froglife.org Bumblebee Conservation Trust www.bumblebeeconservation.org https://www.bumblebeeconservation.org BTO (British Trust for Ornithology) www.bto.org https://www.bto.org Get in touch; Email [email protected] Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram rootsandallpod Patreon Link; Help us keep the podcast free & independent! Donate as much or as little as you like at https://www.patreon.com/rootsandall

This week, I'm honoured to be joined by the Queen of Containers, Harriet Rycroft. Harriet worked for many years at Whichford Pottery in Warwickshire, where she became renowned for producing season after season of the most spectacular planting and colour combinations. Oh, and Harriet had the door open to her garden, so enjoy the birdsong! We talk about: The ideal container Layer planting Planting media Feeding your pots Well and badly behaved container plants Pests in/on pots Tricks for discouraging mice and squirrels Planting combinations for the wow factor About Harriet Rycroft Harriet Rycroft switched careers to horticulture while her children were small and spent 14 years working for Whichford Pottery. As Head Gardener she was responsible for planning, planting and maintaining large displays of planted flowerpots of every conceivable shape and size and was careful always to provide plenty of planting inspiration for visitors all year round. With up to 500 plantings on display at any time the garden attracted many visitors and much praise from some of the UK's leading horticulturists. While at Whichford Harriet also planned and planted container displays for events and shows, including Chelsea Flower Show, and gave lectures and demonstrations both in the UK and abroad. She now divides her time between writing about gardening and container planting, giving talks and demonstrations, and teaching container gardening online at LearningWith Experts.com. She still gardens at the Cotswold Wildlife Park and Gardens and at home, where she usually has at least 200 planted containers on display. She's a keen photographer, using her camera to record her own workbut also as a way to celebrate gardens and the natural world generally and to share inspiration for the creative use of plants. When she has a bit of spare time she writes a blog called "A Parrot's Nest' at https://harrietrycroft.com/ and can also be found chatting about plants and gardening and sharing photos on Twitter and Instagram @HarrietRycroft Harriet gives talks and planting demonstrations to garden clubs and groups, so if you would like a talk about container gardening for your society please contact her at [email protected] for more details. She recently wrote (and took most of the photographs for) a book about the amazing gardens at the Cotswold Wildlife Park with their Head Gardener, Tim Miles. A Celebration of The Gardens is available from the Park's website. Links: Cotswold Wildlife Park Website https://www.cotswoldwildlifepark.co.uk Buy a copy of The Cotswold Wildlife Park - A Celebration of the Gardens https://shop.myonlinebooking.co.uk/cotswoldwildlifepark/shop/product-list.aspx?catid=8 Get in touch; Email [email protected] Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram rootsandallpod Patreon Link; Help us keep the podcast free & independent! Donate as much or as little as you like at https://www.patreon.com/rootsandall

To be completely contrary after her plea for gardeners to plant more native plants, Sarah interviews Graham Blunt of Plantbase, a nursery specialising in the most fabulous, exotic and downright bizarre plants! Graham talks about hardy palms, his favourite exotic trees, cacti and succulents that can be grown outdoors and how to overwinter caudex plants and bananas. Graham has also been intensively researching new regulations that come into play in December 2019 and how these will affect plant lovers. He reckons that Brexit will seem like a "small gust of wind" compared to the potential havoc wreaked by new CITES, Plant Health and Nagoya regulations due to come into effect on Dec 14th 2019. If you buy garden or indoor plants, this episode will be of real interest. www.plantbase.co.uk Plantbase, Sleepers Stile Road, Cousley Wood, Wadhurst, East Sussex, TN5 6QX. 01892 785599 07967 601064 [email protected] Twitter: @Plantbaseuk Get in touch; Email [email protected] Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram rootsandallpod Patreon Link; Help us keep the podcast free & independent! Donate as much or as little as you like at https://www.patreon.com/rootsandall

The daffodils have been in full swing for a few weeks now and as today's guest, Adrian Scamp of Scamp's Daffodils tells us, we can expect them to carry on gracing us with their cheery blooms into May. Each year, I'm newly amazed by the indomitable daffodil; its ability to cope in all weathers, to grow in seemingly unpromising situations and to flower successively from December to May if you choose the right varieties. This episode, we cover every question you had about daffodils but were afraid to ask! Adrian gives his expert advice on: - When to order and when to plant bulbs (hint: order now!) - The conditions favoured by daffodils including soil and aspect- When to feed and with what - How to propagate - Troubleshooting any problems About Adrian Scamp's Daffodils was started by Ron Scamp. Ron's passion for the daffodil developed as a child in the 1940's and 50's whilst spending his childhood on his uncle's daffodil farm in the Tamar Valley. In 1990 after years of growing daffodil varieties in his garden and greenhouse, Ron produced his first catalogue offering select varieties to other daffodil enthusiasts. Over the years the collection has developed and now contains approximately 2500 varieties including modern, species and historical collected from all over the world. As a professional grower, Ron has achieved many awards including RHS gold, the E.H Trophy for best exhibit and the Lawrence Medal. Adrian joined the company in 2007 and continues to grow and develop the collection. During the spring, they display their flowers at many shows and find this aspect of their work particularly enjoyable, as they meet other enthusiasts and customers both old and new. Each year, a list of the shows they will be attending is published in the news section of their website. Adrian can be contacted by phone 07826 067175 or via email [email protected] Please leave a message on the mobile as Adrian is often on the fields with no phone signal. Links: Scamp's Daffodils https://qualitydaffodils.com The Scamp's Daffodil Catalogue https://qualitydaffodils.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Scamp-Booklet-2019.pdf A.M. Scamp 49 Mongleath Road Falmouth Cornwall 07826 067175 [email protected] Scamp's on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/QualityDaffodils/ Scamp's on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/scampsbulbs/ The Daffodil Society https://thedaffodilsociety.com/wordpress/ Daffodil: the Remarkable Story of the World's Most Popular Spring Flower by Noel Kingsbury https://www.amazon.co.uk/Daffodil-Remarkable-Worlds-Popular-Spring/dp/1604693185 Get in touch; Email [email protected] Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram rootsandallpod Patreon Link; Help us keep the podcast free & independent! Donate as much or as little as you like at https://www.patreon.com/rootsandall

Join Sarah for a brief recap of why native plants are better than non-native, before a delve into the more positive impact gardeners can have in ensuring wildlife has a future in our landscape. Part 2 of this exploration of native vs. non-native plants looks at the reality of what happens when natural and human habitats collide. Sarah discusses Darwin Comes to Town, a book by Menno Schilthuizen, which explores how nature is adapting to fit in with our urban landscapes but as in Part One, the conclusions she comes to about the future of our wildlife aren't pretty! However, the second half of the episode looks at how we as gardeners and growers can help make a difference, no matter how big or small our plot. Get in touch; Email [email protected] Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram rootsandallpod Patreon Link; Help us keep the podcast free & independent! Donate as much or as little as you like at https://www.patreon.com/rootsandall

Rough & Ready Audio Alert! This is a bonus episode recording of the wild food tasting session that took place before the main interview with forager Michael Wachter, which aired in Episode 18. A supporting blog post featuring a photo and names of the plants that were sampled can be found on the Roots and All blog. As with the main episode, this episode and the blog post are not to be used as guides to foraging. Please do not attempt to eat any wild plants unless you are capable of correctly identifying them or you are accompanied by someone who can. Please note, there is much giggling, background noise and chewing audible throughout, which is not standard for there Roots and All podcast which is usually impeccably produced and edited! Get in touch; Email [email protected] Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram rootsandallpod Patreon Link; Help us keep the podcast free & independent! Donate as much or as little as you like at https://www.patreon.com/rootsandall

In this episode, I'm talking foraging with expert forager Michael Wachter. Michael has masses of experience when it comes to living outdoors sustainably and being self-sufficient, having lived on a remote island off the North Coast of Germany. He also regularly treks across the landscape both in the UK and abroad, with nothing but a sleeping bag and his survival kit, foraging for food along the way. Michael currently lives and works in East Sussex, where he indulges his passion for plants at every opportunity. We only scratched the surface of his experiences and if you ever have the opportunity to hear him speak, I urge you to do so, you will be spellbound as he recounts his adventures! We cover: The best places to find wild food How to forage in your own garden, however limited you are on space Michael's trek along the South Coast of England The philosophy of foraging About Michael Wachter Born in the rolling hills of North Bavaria along a river in Bamberg, Michael studied landscape architecture near Frankfurt. After a short stint working in an office, he went to work for the protection of mainly seabirds on the North Coast of Germany, before coming to England in 2014. He currently works as a gardener in East Sussex and indulges his passion for wild plants on a daily basis. Links: Michael Wachter on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/michael_wachter/?hl=en Robin Harford's site provides great information, plus he produces a podcast on the topic: https://www.eatweeds.co.uk The Woodland Trust's guide to foraging sustainably: https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/visiting-woods/things-to-do/foraging/ Wild Food & Foraging UK Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/WildFoodUK/ The website of Samuel Thayer, a foraging resource for listeners in the US: https://www.foragersharvest.com Get in touch; Email [email protected] Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram rootsandallpod Patreon Link; Help us keep the podcast free & independent! Donate as much or as little as you like at https://www.patreon.com/rootsandall

Sarah explores the reasons we all need to go native in our gardens. From declining insects and struggling bird populations to invasive species and plants for pollinators, Sarah looks at the impact planting non-native species in our gardens can have. Acknowledgement to Douglas W Tallamy for the excellent research presented in his book Bringing Nature Home. Get in touch; Email [email protected] Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram rootsandallpod Patreon Link; Help us keep the podcast free & independent! Donate as much or as little as you like at https://www.patreon.com/rootsandall

UK HEDGEHOGS NEED YOU! Since 2000, UK populations of hedgehogs have declined 30% in urban areas and 50% in rural areas. Today's guest, Hugh Warwick, estimates hedgehog populations have dropped by 90% or more since the second world war. Based on these horrendous figures, we can deduce if we don't start helping them right away, these beautiful animals could be facing extinction. That's where we, as gardeners, come in. Hugh talks about how we can encourage hedgehogs into our gardens and how we can best look after those who decide to share our space. We cover: Encouraging hedgehogs into your garden Supplemental feeding and watering Ensuring hedgehog safety in the garden The importance of creating a network to facilitate hedgehogs' movements How to identify and deal with poorly hedgehogs About Hugh Warwick Hugh is an ecologist and author with a particular interest in hedgehogs. He is a spokesperson for the British Hedgehog Preservation Society, runs the Oxfordshire campaign, HedgeOX and is a regular contributor to radio and television. He has written two books about hedgehogs … and much to the distress of his family, has plans for more! Links: https://www.hughwarwick.com Hugh on Twitter: https://twitter.com/hedgehoghugh Link to the video we discussed, where Hugh drills through a perfectly good wall in aid of helping our hedgehogs, a worthy sacrifice! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8joMexoVo38&feature=youtu.be Hedgehog Street: https://www.hedgehogstreet.org British Hedgehog Preservation Society Website: https://www.britishhedgehogs.org.uk Twitter: https://twitter.com/hedgehogsociety Telephone 01584 890801 Email [email protected] State of Britain's Hedgehogs 2018 Report: https://www.britishhedgehogs.org.uk/state-britains-hedgehogs-2018/ Hugh's project the HedgeOX campaign aims to help Oxfordshire's hedgehogs: Website: https://www.hedgeox.org/?fbclid=IwAR2FJwEaBz4Wejdl5PRWn5R-hFq9b8yUCqWrCSwSOes8_HjMpxTqj3Z4S3E Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hedgeox/

Back by popular demand, it's Part 2 of taking on and managing an allotment. With Louise Bell. Listen as we talk about what to do with your allotment over winter, which crops you should be growing, when to harvest and if you only have time to do one job, which should it be. The follow up to Allotments Part 1 - Episode 5 of the podcast, published on 7th August 2018. Get in touch; Email [email protected] Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram rootsandallpod Patreon Link; Help us keep the podcast free & independent! Donate as much or as little as you like at https://www.patreon.com/rootsandall

Have you ever wondered which are the most poisonous plants in your house and garden? Do you know how plant toxins work and how to handle poisonous plants safely? What are we, as gardeners, most at risk of when dealing with our beloved plants? And which risks are sometimes blown out of proportion? Join me as I speak to botanist Dr Liz Dauncey about poisonous plant facts, myths and interesting cases. And if you're particularly fascinated by the macabre and want to find out the most gruesome way to go, plus which poisons are untraceable, listen on! About Dr Elizabeth A. Dauncey Liz is a botanist with a PhD in Plant Taxonomy during which she undertook a taxonomic revision of Dendrobium section Pedilonum, a group of orchids from South-East Asia. She spent most of her career as a botanical toxicologist working for the Poisons Unit of Guy's & St Thomas' Hospital in London, on joint initiatives with the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Her work involved developing strategies and products to reduce the number of poisoning incidents involving plants, and to improve the identification of plants by treatment centres. She worked with the Horticultural Trades Association on their 'Harmful?' campaign that introduced a list of 117 plants on sale in garden centres that should carry warnings on their pot labels. Liz subsequently spent four years with Kew's Medicinal Plant Names Services, which enables effective communication about medicinal plants in health, regulation and research. She now works freelance, writing books, providing information and advice about plant toxicity, and undertaking poisonous plant surveys. Liz is author of Poisonous Plants: A Guide for Parents and Childcare Providers (Kew Publishing, 2010) and co-author of Plants That Kill: A Natural History of the World's Most Poisonous Plants (Kew Publishing, 2018). Plants That Kill is now also available in German, Dutch, Italian and Japanese! She is currently co-authoring a follow-on book called Plants That Cure, due to be published in 2020, which looks in particular at the plants from which pharmaceutical drugs have been developed. There are also plans for a revised and updated edition of her Poisonous Plants guide that will be expanded to include plants that are poisonous to pets. Links: Poisonous Plants: A Guide for Parents and Childcare Providers (Kew Publishing, 2010) - out of print at the publisher but still available online: https://smile.amazon.co.uk/Poisonous-Plants-Parents-Childcare-Providers/dp/184246406X/ref=smi_www_rco2_go_smi_g8682124849?_encoding=UTF8&%2AVersion%2A=1&%2Aentries%2A=0&ie=UTF8 Plants That Kill: A Natural History of the World's Most Poisonous Plants (Kew Publishing, 2018) - widely available https://shop.kew.org/plants-that-kill-a-natural-history-of-the-world-s-most-poisonous-plants Horticultural Trades Association - Code of practice for potentially harmful plants, downloadable list https://hta.org.uk/resourceLibrary/code-of-practice-for-potentially-harmful-plants.html Kew's Medicinal Plant Names Services - plant name portal https://mpns.science.kew.org/mpns-portal/ Twitter - @liz_dauncey Get in touch; Email [email protected] Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram rootsandallpod Patreon Link; Help us keep the podcast free & independent! Donate as much or as little as you like at https://www.patreon.com/rootsandall

An episode dedicated to Esiah Levy. A short intro to seed sharing and open pollinated varieities. Sadly, Esiah Levy who you may have heard interviewed in Episode 12 of the Podcast, passed away on the 22nd January. This episode is dedicated to sharing his passion for seed sharing and open pollinated seeds, and will hopefully inspire you to add some of these varieties to your patch this year. Please check out the GoFundMe set up to help Esiah's young family: https://www.gofundme.com/esiah-levy Get in touch; Email [email protected] Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram rootsandallpod Patreon Link; Help us keep the podcast free & independent! Donate as much or as little as you like at https://www.patreon.com/rootsandall

Matthew Appleby is a multi award-winning horticultural journalist who regularly writes for gardening magazines, national newspapers and the industry bible Horticulture Week. Matthew is a long-time vegan and organic gardener and has a wealth of growing experience upon which to base his new book, The Super Organic Gardener. The book is released on the 31st January 2019 and I spoke to Matthew about what it means to garden in this style. We touched upon: The definition of organic and vegan gardening Why veganism is gaining so much traction What products do and don't qualify for use in a vegan garden What is no-dig gardening Vegan composts, green manures, fertilisers , seeds and plants Matthew's reasons for practising vegan gardening Further reading: The Super Organic Gardener - Matthew Appleby Jan 2019 - Pen & Sword https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/The-Super-Organic-Gardener-Paperback/p/15572 Charles Dowding - No-Dig Gardening https://www.charlesdowding.co.uk Poyntzfield Herb Nursery https://www.poyntzfieldherbs.co.uk Delfland Nurseries https://www.delfland.co.uk Walcot Organic Nursery https://walcotnursery.co.uk Hulme Garden Centre https://hulmegardencentre.org.uk Get in touch; Email [email protected] Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram rootsandallpod Patreon Link; Help us keep the podcast free & independent! Donate as much or as little as you like at https://www.patreon.com/rootsandall

Why it's good to know what goes in your compost, especially if you want to shop ethically, sustainably and/or vegan. "Since the 1980's Fertile Fibre have been producing peat free coir based organic composts. Fertile Fibre have also been working closely with the Vegan Society and the Biodynamic Association to develop composts which are specifically tailored to meeting the needs of those growers. I talk with Caroline about what goes into making Fertile Fibre composts, what you should look for when making purchasing decisions about composts and fertilisers and why this is important. For more info visit www.fertilefibre.com Further contact Information; Fertile Fibre Ltd Withington Court Withington Hereford HR1 3RJ Tel: 01432 853111 Email: [email protected] Twitter: @fertilefibre Facebook: fertilefibre Get in touch; Email [email protected] Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram rootsandallpod Patreon Link; Help us keep the podcast free & independent! Donate as much or as little as you like at https://www.patreon.com/rootsandall

In this episode, I talk with critically acclaimed garden designer Cleve West about his journey to a vegan lifestyle and how this impacts upon his work. We touch upon vegan gardening, cooking, farming for vegan and meat based diets and why we all need to think about the mark we leave on our gardens and the wider environment. Further resources; www.clevewest.com Our Plot by Cleve West. Published in 2011 by Frances Lincoln https://www.amazon.co.uk/Our-Plot-Cleve-West-2013-04-04/dp/B01K939IVO/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_14_img_0?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=X4JTJ0GQZVM0R9T860M9 Earthlings – a 2005 documentary http://www.nationearth.com Cowspiracy http://www.cowspiracy.com Forks Over Knives https://www.forksoverknives.com Land of Hope and Glory – Documentary https://www.landofhopeandglory.org Knepp Farm https://knepp.co.uk Matthew Appleby – The Super Organic Gardener. Published 31st Jan 2019 by Pen and Sword. https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/The-Super-Organic-Gardener-Paperback/p/15572 Iain Tolhurst – Tolhurst Organic http://www.tolhurstorganic.co.uk https://www.amazon.co.uk/Growing-Green-Organic-Techniques-Sustainable/dp/0955222516 BOSH Cookbook https://www.bosh.tv/book/bosh-the-cookbook Dr Michael Greger https://nutritionfacts.org Get in touch; Email [email protected] Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram rootsandallpod Patreon Link; Help us keep the podcast free & independent! Donate as much or as little as you like at https://www.patreon.com/rootsandall

Fibrex is a family run nursery, started by Hazel & Dick Key over half a century ago. The business is still run by family members; Angela works alongside her sister, brother and sister-in-law, as well as other family members, to make the nursery the success it is today. In addition to being respected horticultural experts, they hold two National Collections and continually attain top accolades at flower shows such as RHS Chelsea, Hampton Court, Malvern and Gardeners World Live. The nursery is open to visit, but they also offer an excellent mail order service and you can order plants through their website. Key talking points with Angela were: Growing ivy as a houseplant Ideal growing conditions for ivy indoors Ideal growing conditions for ivy outdoors Different growth habits and the suitability of certain species for certain garden situations Fast and slow growing varieties Pruning Benefits to wildlife Unsuitable situations for ivy Growing ivy in containers If you'd like to view and shop the full range of Ivy that Fibrex Nurseries has to offer, you can visit their website: https://www.fibrex.co.uk Nursery Contact Information: Fibrex Nursery LTD Honeybourne Road Pebworth Stratford-upon-Avon Warwickshire CV37 8XP Telephone: 01789 720788 Email: [email protected] Opening Hours 1 Mar - 31 Aug: Mon-Fri 9am-5pm 1 Sept - 28 Feb: Mon-Fri 9am-4pm 1 Apr - 25 Jun: Sat-Sun 10.30am-4pm Twitter @FibrexNurseries Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Fibrex-Nurseries-Ltd-217275455080317/ Instagram fibrex_nurseries Get in touch; Email [email protected] Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram rootsandallpod Patreon Link; Help us keep the podcast free & independent! Donate as much or as little as you like at https://www.patreon.com/rootsandall

Born in 1986 to Jamaican parents in South East London, Esiah Levy is a London-based creative Food Grower, Gardener Designer and the founder of SeedsShare, a project sending edible plant seeds all over the world. SeedsShare is a project set up by Esiah in December 2016 to provide organic seeds which can be sown to produce free food and provide long-term food security for Individuals or community gardening groups, particularly in areas where organic fresh produce is at a minimum. Countries which have SeedsShare seeds growing include Japan, Canada, Peru, Indonesia, France, America, the Netherlands, Russia and more! What makes the SeedsShare unique is all seeds are grown and harvested locally in Esiah's own garden and various plots around London. All seeds are 100% free with only postage to pay to get your hands on them! Key talking points were: What is an heirloom vs. a hybrid variety? Which is better and why? What are the easiest types of seed to collect and save? As a seed distributor, is the SeedsShare subject to any regulations or legislation? Can you explain the implications of legislation surrounding seeds? Esiah has great social media accounts that are well worth a follow! You can find and connect with him here: twitter / instagram / facebook - @croydongardener Website – www.SeedsShare.co.uk Linkedin - Esiah Levy Get in touch; Email [email protected] Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram rootsandallpod Patreon Link; Help us keep the podcast free & independent! Donate as much or as little as you like at https://www.patreon.com/rootsandall

Gardening in A Changing Climate This is a recording of a panel discussion that took place at a Designers' Day event on 27th November 2018. The sound quality is pretty raw and not up to our excellent standards, as we recorded in a polytunnel in the lashing rain! The topic up for debate was how climate change is affecting the way designers design gardens for clients. Or not, as the case may be! A straw poll at the beginning revealed that in a room full of garden designers and landscapers, about 4 said their work had been influenced by a changing climate. Which is comforting, or frightening, depending on how you look at it... Although the debate was intended to be heard by designers, there are definitely words of wisdom that can be applied in gardens or all shapes and sizes, and by gardeners at all levels. The panel is chaired by Jack Wallington. The designers taking part are your host Sarah Wilson, Emma Page and Nic Howard. The event was held at How Green Nursery in Hever, Kent. How Green Nursery is a trade nursery supplying plants to retailers, landscapers, designers, local authorities and historic gardens. They also supply plants for show gardens, including the RHS Chelsea and Hampton Court Flower Shows. Thanks to the guys at the nursery for hosting an informative and thought-provoking event. Further Information The Roots and All website - https://rootsandall.co.uk https://twitter.com/rootsandall https://www.facebook.com/rootsandalluk/ https://www.instagram.com/rootsandallpod/ Email: [email protected] How Green Nursery - 01732 700382 - www.howgreennursery.co.uk Jack Wallington www.jackwallington.com Emma Page www.natureredsigned.co.uk Nic Howard www.we-love-plants.co.uk

Decoding plant categories so you can tell how long your plant will live. This episode sees the introduction of a new segment, 'Getting to the Roots of...' and this week we're going back to basics to find out the differences between annuals, biennials, perennials etc. so you know how long to expect your plant to live. Get in touch; Email [email protected] Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram rootsandallpod Patreon Link; Help us keep the podcast free & independent! Donate as much or as little as you like at https://www.patreon.com/rootsandall

This episode, I'm talking BioChar with Craig Sams, the co-founder of Carbon Gold, a company that produces a range of BioChar products for the garden but also for agricultural use. I interviewed Craig in his beautiful garden in Hastings, so please excuse the cries of the seagulls who tried to get in on the act around halfway through the interview. We discuss: - What is biochar? - Why did people start to produce biochar? What are its origins? - How is it produced? - Does it matter what kind of biomass goes into the kiln to make the biochar? Do the end results vary depending on the input? - What is the difference between biochar and simple BBQ charcoal? Won't BBQ charcoal be almost as good? - What does it actually 'do' – how does it help plants? - Is there a rule of thumb regarding which soils and which types of crops it works best on? - How is it best to apply? - Can you apply too much? - Is it for application on new plantings only – or is it also good for mature specimens? About Craig: Before this interview, I probably knew more about Craig than about his product, because he's a legend in many fields, not least in food and growing. He founded the first macrobiotic restaurant in London in 1967 and went on to start Harmony Foods, which later became Whole Earth Foods. He and his friends provided the food for the first ever Glastonbury Festival in 1972. In 1991, he and his wife Josephine Fairley founded Green and Black's. He was Chair of the Soil Association from 2001-2007 and is the author of four books, including the seminal text 'About Macrobiotics'. Craig's website is www.craigsams.com To read more about/buy BioChar products, go to www.carbongold.com To read more about the CarbonGold Tree Rescue and to nominate a tree, visit https://www.carbongold.com/save-a-veteran-tree-for-free/ Follow CarbonGold on Twitter: @carbongold Like on Facebook: www.facebook.com/CarbonGold Further Resources The Greenhouse Gas Removal Report https://royalsociety.org/~/media/policy/projects/greenhouse-gas-removal/royal-society-greenhouse-gas-removal-report-2018.pdf Get in touch; Email [email protected] Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram rootsandallpod Patreon Link; Help us keep the podcast free & independent! Donate as much or as little as you like at https://www.patreon.com/rootsandall

Have you ever noticed how natural landscapes always seem to work? The colours, shapes, scale and textures of a natural landscape appear pleasing to the eye despite little or no human input. It's this sense of innate beauty in nature, speaking to us on an almost subconscious level, that interests today's guest Toby Diggens. We speak about naturalistic and ecological gardens which incorporate elements of nature that gardeners have traditionally sought to keep out. Key talking points were: Naturalistic planting and designing – elaborating on what Toby refers to as Aesthetic Ecology The importance of plants as food for invertebrates Unpopular plants that are actually good for wildlife The best wildflowers/weeds for wildlife Wildflowers that are too badly behaved for the garden Ornamentals that work well in naturalistic gardens Resources for those interested in practicing wild gardening Toby's top tips for wild gardeners About Toby: Toby Diggens runs Digg & Co., a design studio focussing on ecological landscape design and architecture. His style is one which brings ecological science into the design process, and marries this with the aesthetic and artistic practice of design. Toby studied Landscape Architecture at the University of Gloucestershire and received distinctions in both Post Graduate Diploma and Masters. His masters work, entitled Second Nature explores how wild life can be brought back into our cities and towns through the understanding of ecology as a function rather than only an aesthetic. A great lover of plants, he sees the opportunity of beautiful landscape design, touched by a hint of the wild, as a moving way to rekindle the human passion for the natural world, and hopes that his work, regardless of scale, adds both drama and beauty, but importantly nature back into the gardens and parks of the UK and beyond. To contact Toby his email is below: You can also request a copy of his Masters work. [email protected] Or Follow his Instagram @diggandco Further Resources Emorsgate Seeds – www.wildseed.co.uk Books The Wild Garden – William Robinson The Dynamic Landscape: Design, Ecology and Management of Naturalistic Urban Planting – Dunnett & Hitchmough Meadows – Christopher Lloyd Sowing Beauty – James Hitchmough Get in touch; Email [email protected] Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram rootsandallpod Patreon Link; Help us keep the podcast free & independent! Donate as much or as little as you like at https://www.patreon.com/rootsandall

Do you welcome foxes into your garden or are they the bane of your life when it comes to growing plants and keeping a clean and tidy plot? Foxes can be a joy to watch but a pain when they're digging up your plants! In this episode, I speak to animal behaviour expert and fox aficionado Terry Woods. Terry is co-founder of Fox-A-Gon, a company which offers organic and ethical solutions in situations where foxes may be unwelcome visitors. We discuss common problems that can occur when sharing our gardens with foxes and Terry dispels some of the myths and misunderstandings surrounding these occasionally maligned animals. Terry offers a refreshing and common-sense perspective to living alongside wildlife based on his decades of experience and observation. The Fox-a-Gon website is a fantastic resource if you'd like to find out more about co-existing with foxes. It also provides solutions to dissuade them from visiting your plot, should you need them. Their FAQ page is comprehensive and no-nonsense; I highly recommend it as your first port of call if you need even general advice about foxes, it really does provide some brilliant information. Points of interest; The Law as it relates to fox control/removal in the UK Feeding foxes Why foxes dig up plants Foxes and cats Foxes and humans Urban foxes Injured foxes Guest follow up; Terry Woods founded Fox-A-Gon alongside Graham Le Blond. The company is based in the South East, however they work all over the UK. www.fox-a-gon.co.uk Telephone: 0208 925 9639 Mobile: 07768 903 043 / 07973 414 935 Further useful resources; The Fox Project – www.foxproject.org.uk Get in touch; Email [email protected] Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram rootsandallpod Patreon Link; Help us keep the podcast free & independent! Donate as much or as little as you like at https://www.patreon.com/rootsandall

Sarah fields listener questions about herbaceous border maintenance in October and when to prune pieris. She reports back on her visit to the Great Dixter Plant Fair and there's a little bit of housekeeping too. Get in touch; Email [email protected] Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram rootsandallpod Patreon Link; Help us keep the podcast free & independent! Donate as much or as little as you like at https://www.patreon.com/rootsandall

Alliums have to be one of our most well-loved, contemporary perennials. They're relatively pest and disease free, pollinators love them, they look good in flower and also in skeletonised form during the winter. However, if you thought growing alliums was as straightforward as bunging some bulbs in the ground and enjoying them year after year, you may be surprised… After losing some alliums in my own garden, I was determined to find out a bit more about what these plants need to succeed in the garden. Jackie Currie has held the National Collection of Alliums for the past 4 years and I surmised that if anyone could help me on my quest to make my alliums happy, she could. Since she started studying alliums in earnest, Jackie has learned many things that might surprise even the most seasoned grower and it appears she may be re-writing the rule book on alliums as we know it. Listen to the episode to find out which alliums truly act as perennials, coming back year after year. Also find out which alliums to treat as annuals, what to feed them, where to grow them and the answers to many other questions about alliums you didn't even realise you should be asking! Points of interest; Ideal soil conditions for alliums Alliums that are easy to grow Alliums that are tricky Potential diseases What to plant them with Feeding How to propagate them Guest follow up; Jackie Currie has run Euphorbia Design in partnership with Lorraine Cooke for the past 15 years. www.euphorbia-design.co.uk [email protected] Jackie and her alliums can often be found exhibiting at RHS Flower Shows Hampton Court & Chelsea, where she is a multiple medal-winner. Further useful research; There is none! Jackie doesn't recommend any books or websites as useful resources for information on Alliums and I must say that having a poke around on the internet reveals common advice mainly conflicts with Jackie's findings. Perhaps if you have any experience of alliums that may be useful you can email them to me [email protected] and I will can pass them on to Jackie and I will find a way to share them online with listeners. Allium names, in order of mention; Allium atropurpureum 'Silver Spring' ampeloprasum 'Purple Sensation' wallichii altissimum christophii sphaerocephalon senescens lusitanicum giganteum 'Ambassador' schubertii caeruleum caesium 'Eros' 'Mount Everest' 'Mont Blanc' 'Globemaster' nigrum 'Gladiotor' paradoxum var. normale siculum litvinovii angulosum fistulosum 'Early Emperor' Get in touch; Email [email protected] Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram rootsandallpod Patreon Link; Help us keep the podcast free & independent! Donate as much or as little as you like at https://www.patreon.com/rootsandall

Sarah talks about jobs she should have done two weeks ago (same old same old) and about how National Collections work and why you may be able to have one if you so desire it. Get in touch; Email [email protected] Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram rootsandallpod Patreon Link; Help us keep the podcast free & independent! Donate as much or as little as you like at https://www.patreon.com/rootsandall

The first ever Vegan Garden Festival was held at Hortus Loci Plant Centre in Hampshire on Sept 15th 2018. Sarah reviews the event and her discovery that she may be more than just a vegan who gardens. Get in touch; Email [email protected] Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram rootsandallpod Patreon Link; Help us keep the podcast free & independent! Donate as much or as little as you like at https://www.patreon.com/rootsandall

Selecting and planting trees can be a minefield. Never fear though, help is on hand as 'legend in the world of trees', Kew-trained, Peter Thurman is here to provide straight-forward advice about what to do and what not to do when buying a tree and planting it out. Peter's CV is suitably impressive. He is a landscape designer and plantsman and holds chartered status in arboriculture, horticulture, forestry and the environment. He is a fellow of both the Arboricultural Association and the Chartered Institute of Horticulture and it doesn't end there. Find out more about Peter and his passion for all things tree related in this episode. Discover how to select the right tree for your garden's soil type and which species of tree will help you create the effect you are targeting. Learn how pleached trees can become an attractive alternative to fencing, just beware of the High Hedges Act! Does it pay to have patience when growing your tree, or is it easier to have instant impact? Pick up some valuable tips and tricks on the planting process. From deciding which food you should feed your prized specimen with, to mulching and watering, your questions are sure to be addressed in this informative episode. Points of interest; Soil conditions when planting a tree Choosing the right trees for your garden The process of planting a tree Round vs square hole Tree food How to deal with planting a tree in clay soil Watering your tree Staking your tree The importance of mulching Ideal trees for small or large gardens Trees for; privacy/scent/flowers/autumn colours/the ultimate seaside garden FAQs answered; When is the best time of year to plant a tree? Should I take the hessian off a field grown tree before planting? When shopping for my tree, should I buy the biggest one possible? Are soil Testing kits a good idea? What do I need to put at the base of my newly planted tree? How do I deal with leaders? Which type of stake should I use? Guest follow up; Peter Thurman Email: [email protected] www.thurmanconsultancy.co.uk - Peter Thurman Consultancy, Landscape www.lcgd.org.co.uk - London College of Garden Design Further useful research; www.kew.org - Visit The Royal Botanical Grades at Kew www.reading.ac.uk - Dr Glynn Percival www.biochar.co.uk - Tree food Rigel-G - Tree food product Trees in order of mention, Botanical name followed by UK common name; Kolreuteria paniculata fastigiata – Pride of India Quercos phellos – Willow Oak Lime trees AKA Tilia species: Tilia tomentosa – Silver Lime Tilia T. henryana – Henry's Lime Taxus baccata – Yew Ginkgo biloba – Maidenhair Tree Cordyline australis – Cabbage Palm Pterostyrax hispida – Epaulette Tree Liriodendron tulipifera – Tulip Tree Liquidambar styraciflua - Sweetgum Parrotia persica – Persian Ironwood Tamarix species - Tamarisk Quercus ilex - Holm Oak Acer pseudoplatanus – Sycamore Cedrus libani – Cedar of Lebanon Get in touch; Email: [email protected] Website: www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter: @rootsandall Instagram: rootsandallpod Patreon Link; https://www.patreon.com/rootsandall

If you want to know the answers to why your carnivorous plant may look dead but isn't and why none of them can eat greenfly, listen in... Get in touch; Email [email protected] Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram rootsandallpod Patreon Link; Help us keep the podcast free & independent! Donate as much or as little as you like at https://www.patreon.com/rootsandall

Sarah is surprised to find that August is not the most popular month with gardeners and explores some ways in which the month can be made a little more bearable. She also talks about thrips on houseplants. Get in touch; Email [email protected] Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram rootsandallpod Patreon Link; Help us keep the podcast free & independent! Donate as much or as little as you like at https://www.patreon.com/rootsandall

Houseplants have come a long way since your mum's Swiss cheese plant from the 1970s. However, successfully cultivating one of the myriad of varieties available today, is not as simple as wedging your chosen species into the barren corner of the living room in a once redundant terracotta pot. From nurturing your first cactus at university to transforming your home into an indoor sanctuary full of orchids, bringing the outside in has always had its challenges but also its benefits. Discover why, as Sarah places her partner Jason Stevens in the hot seat to grill him on his knowledge and passion for houseplants. Jason served 16 years in the Army leaving in 2016 for medical reasons, after which he undertook a period of rehabilitation. During his recovery he noticed what a positive effect gardening had and chose to follow this up by embarking on a garden design diploma. Eventually he narrowed his focus to sourcing and caring for indoor houseplants. Jason chats about numerous varieties of houseplants, from easy care perennials such as ferns and aspidistra to trickier specimens such as selaginella. He discusses the potential health benefits some may provide and offers some great tips on general plant care. Whether you know your bonsai from your begonia, there is plenty of useful information to ensure you can achieve your indoor zen. *Listen today to find out the winner of the review competition. Points of interest; Easiest and most difficult houseplants Sunny spots and shady spots Bathroom plants Bedroom plants Hanging pots Tips on the procedure of buying plants General plant maintenance Rain water Vs distilled water Top 5 common pests and diseases FAQs answered; Do I need to repot a plant once I get it home? How do I tell if my plant needs watering? How often should I water my plants? Should I give my plants food? Which plants need misting? Should I use leaf shine? Guest follow up; www.simplygarden.org Jason Stephens Instagram simply_garden Facebook @simplygardensw Further useful research; Plant names mentioned: Aspidistra elatior Sansevieria trifasciata – Mother-in-Law's Tongue Calathea Nephrolepis exaltata – Boston Fern Ficus elastica – Rubber Plant Ficus benjamina – Weeping Fig Spathiphyllum – Peace Lily Ceropegia woodii – String of Hearts Selaginella species Echinocactus grusonii – Mother-in-Law's Seat Brand names: House Plant Focus SB Plant Invigorator Pests: Aphids Fungus gnats Mealy bugs Spider mites Thrips Get in touch; Email [email protected] Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram rootsandallpod Patreon Link; https://www.patreon.com/rootsandall

Beth Otway AKA Pumpkin Beth has turned terrarium gardening into a perfectly balanced combination of science and art. Sarah reads excerpts from her interview with Beth and also talks about when to order your tulips and offers some suggestions for ones to look out for. Get in touch; Email [email protected] Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram rootsandallpod Patreon Link; Help us keep the podcast free & independent! Donate as much or as little as you like at https://www.patreon.com/rootsandall

Sarah starts by pondering how come the roses seem to be having 2 distinct flushes this year and gets no nearer to an answer. She also discusses when to trim your box bushes and talks about the intriguing houseplant du jour, the Crocodile Fern. The Budcast finishes with an unexpected confession... Get in touch; Email [email protected] Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram rootsandallpod Patreon Link; Help us keep the podcast free & independent! Donate as much or as little as you like at https://www.patreon.com/rootsandall

Lacking the space but certainly not the enthusiasm? Taking on an allotment has fast become a popular solution to keeping those green fingers satisfied and the benefits are endless. Not only is it environmentally friendly, working an allotment can be seen as therapeutic, sociable and an all round healthy discipline, which can promote a healthier lifestyle. In the first part of this episode, Sarah chats to Louise Bell, an accomplished writer and editor and co founder of Sunny Creative. Louise also happens to be a sympathetic gardener and was on the committee for the Marina Allotment and Horticulture Association in Hastings. Having worked on her own allotment for 10 years, Louise is armed with knowledge to enlighten us on how best to go about finding an allotment. Whether it's run by the local council or independently managed, she presents a number of key pointers to take into account before committing to a plot and those you will need to consider once you are the proud owner. With first hand practical advice on various topics, from restrictions on what you are allowed to grow, to how to clear a plot previously owned, there's enough to get the ball rolling if you are thinking of investing your time and energy into growing your own produce. Nevertheless don't forget to follow up soon with part 2 of this episode to discover more about allotments and how to manage expectations on what you grow. Alongside self sowing plants, difficult crops and suggestions on plot structure, you can be sure to pick up many more helpful tips to ensure you have a productive plot. Please take the time to rate this podcast and you could be in with a chance to win a copy of the Great Dixter cookbook (2017) which contains a delightful concoction of seasonal recipes and is a book Louise was involved with creating. Points of interest; Associate members. Generic allotment rules and regulations. Choosing your allotment plot. Practical issues, such as water, electricity and toilet. Visitors allowed onto the premises. Time restrictions. Recommended tools. Taking over someone else's allotment patch. FAQs answered; Are all allotments run by the local council? Do I specifically need to choose an allotment near to where I live? Do allotments have waiting lists? Will I have to pay for my allotment? How do I know if having an allotment is the right thing for me? Do I need planning permission for a shed? Will I be allowed bonfires? Who is responsible for any waste? Are there restrictions on what I can grow in an allotment? Further useful research; www.marinallotments.org.uk www.gov.uk/apply-allotment sunnycreative.co.uk www.greatdixtershop.co.uk The Great Dixter Cookbook 2017 Get in touch; Email [email protected] Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram rootsandallpod Patreon Link; https://www.patreon.com/rootsandall