Horticulture Week Podcast

This week the HortWeek Podcast welcomes Helen Waddington from Perennial and Creepers' head of horticulture, Michael Buck.As the first port of call for horticulturists needing extra support, horticulture charity Perennial is on the front line when it comes to gauging the mental health of the sector as a whole.With an estimated one in five people suffering from a common mental health disorder, Helen Waddington says the most common issue they hear on the Perennial helpline is related to the "cost of living". Ostensibly a financial issue, this in itself will cause stress, but it can have a knock-on effect on relationships (queries for this a have shot up by 93% she says), causing further stress, poor sleep, all of which can impact on work. "The longer this goes on without seeking help it impacts so much more on people".Michael Buck received a diagnoses of depression in 2021, "one of the hardest things" he has had to confront.He describes his experience of depression which had been building in him for many years, and the difficult decision he made, at a time of feeling great vulnerability, to seek help - "that was really tough, but that has really opened my mind to bettering yourself, understanding yourself as well".He talks about the professional stresses that have contributed to poor mental health including damage to plant imports at the border, the huge extra work generated by resulting mixed loads, negotiating with other nurseries to disentangle complex problems that can take hours or days to resolve.They talk about the importance of paying attention to the symptoms, not diminishing them, and the benefit of seeking help in good time, before more serious mental health problems can take hold.For some "pushing through" is seen as a "badge of honour" and often it feels an impossible to take time off work. For self-employed workers where "if you don't work you don't get paid" Waddington says Perennial can offer advice and support, sometimes financial."For somebody who's employed... you are better to say something to your manager about how you are feeling and they will probably give you a 'welfare day' or a 'sofa day'. For those who feel vulnerable in their role, Waddington's advice is "talk to your GP, get signed off - but you can take a signed off week without even going to the doctor's, people sometimes forget that - and get that support."Addressing the issue from the other side, Buck gives advice to employers on how to engender a "culture" within your business that can support employees: "You are only as good as the culture you foster".He says: "I've been in horticulture 20 years now, I've seen a lot and in the early days people would just [say] 'man up'...you didn't want to say anything because if anything goes wrong I'm the first to go because I'm seen as the weak link."Where that shift has gone to the positive people will see through that and see the talent and everything that you bring." He talks about the "open door" approach and culture of trust at Creepers that is not just helpful to staff, but is good for staff retention.For those interested in improving their understanding and handling of mental health issues in the workplace, Perennial has a Mental Health First Aiders programme with ambassdors network meetings where they share "top tips". Waddington shares some of the tips and initiatives that have worked for different businesses.Waddington outlines the signs to look for that someone you work with might be struggling with their mental health. And she talks about Perennial's presence at peak-stress events like RHS Chelsea Flower Show where they are on hand to offer support "when they're spinning the whole John Lewis crockery department!"Finally the group discuss how to handle another major source of stress, social media, and share they ways they manage stress in their own lives. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Adrian Bloom makes a welcome return to the HortWeek Podcast to talk about his new book and discuss the ongoing state of horticulture, garden industry and his own Norfolk garden, Foggy Bottom.In February, Bloom was still reeling from some significant plant losses after a long wet winter. His recommendation is Taxodium distichum (Swamp Cypress) from America which "will survive with its roots in water"."Every 10 years or roughly you have to redo the garden. It's all very well planting a garden for the future but the future is about 10 years". Being situated in East Anglia, the climate trend is generally getting drier, however, and Bloom says they are struggling to keep Astilbes alive and have given up on Meconopsis "because we don't have the right humidity to grow them". He discusses the plant breeding market, lamenting some launches: "There's so much breeding going on now, people are throwing out plants almost with a minor change and I think there's not enough of a difference between some of them...but they're for a bedding market really and we are losing some really good plants."But there are good new plants coming in too and he names a few of his personal highlights.The discussion touches on the US garden market where Bloom spent some time living and working - he is still a member of "a thriving" American Conifer Society but he admits in the UK conifers, and heathers are going out of fashion: "I think they have a place, but I think largely they won't be in fashion...Leylandii didn't help."Bloom reflects on his live in horticulture, much of it spent overseas, the USA, Norway and Denmark and Switzerland: "I wanted to do something different to my father, I wanted to go into things that offered a longer term aspect".His latest book Garden Odyssey is published this spring and is "an attempt to encourage everybody into gardening", a topic he returns to during the podcast. Bloom is also planning a children's book, part of a campaign he has embarked on to try and encourage children to appreciate plants and gardening. One of the topics of discussion in HortWeek's Parks & Gardens Week was about income sources and ways parks and gardens managers and owners can generate funding. Bloom, who runs a railway attraction at Bressingham Gardens, discusses how it is done in his garden and how challenging it can be. "One of the answers is, promoting plants and gardens, promoting many garden centres have almost forgotten about; they react to things, they're not proactive on the plants."There was a time when we were more interested in plants. Now, with wages going up, with no training, it's rather a depressing picture."HortWeek editor Matthew Appleby raises whether the idea of an autumn planting season might be revived and Bloom says he thinks it is unlikely but adds: "There are so many mistakes made, people planting something that is not suitable [for their own garden] ... people often plant what is looking good rather than what is right for their own garden."We need to try and promote more reality, and more success through gardens, and that's something that only the nurserymen, the garden centre and the trade can do."Make sure you never miss a HortWeek podcast! Subscribe to or Follow HortWeek podcasts via Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your preferred podcast platform. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do we solve population pressure and climate crisis in space? How has GPS allowed us to provide 12% more food globally? How did the UK become a global leader in small satellite manufacture after the British Government said, “there's no future for the UK satellite industry”? How did Elon Musk turn reusable rockets from science fiction to science fact in less than 20 years? What else are “Elon and Jeff” going to allow us to do? And why is SpaceX still “the elephant in the room”? Join Alice as she talks to Will Whitehorn, chair of giant space tech investor Seraphim and former president of Virgin Galactic, and they discuss the implications of “The Elon Musk show” and its legacy, “the beginnings of a competitive space industry of scale”. Contributors:Alice Bunn, President of UKspace Dr Alice Bunn OBE FIMechE FRAeS CEng | LinkedInUKspace: Overview | LinkedIn Will Whitehorn OBE, Seraphim Space Investment TrustWill Whitehorn OBE | LinkedInKey topics covered:UK satellite manufactureUK universitiesSpaceX valuationReuseable rocketsAgricultural managementPopulation pressureClimate crisisSolar powerData centres in spaceIndustrialising in space Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Steve Chapman, an experienced ex-grower and ICL technical area sales manager, turns his attention to vine weevil — often cited as the number one pest on nurseries in the UK and Ireland. BASIS qualified, Chapman has many years of experience advising growers on how to keep this pest at bay. Vine weevil are highly topical because spring is a key time to target the larval or grub stage before they hatch in to adults. Chapman was previously a production manager on a large Kent nursery. He controlled vine weevil back then with products such as Exemptor that are now off the market. He recommends options such as Lalguard (formerly Met52) now. Lalguard can be mixed into growing media.He says understanding the lifecycle of this pest is important, from egg stage to larvae and pupation into adults, and how important it is to target at the right time.Chapman recommends starting planning when it is quiet, then to apply Seeka beneficial nematodes in March and April. He also recommends using bait plants such as heuchera to attract vine weevil.Beneficial nematodes play a central role in controlling vine weevil. Chapman says timing and monitoring are important. His three top tips are: Know the pest's lifecycle.Plan ahead.Use a wetting agent such as Transporter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As part of HortWeek's Parks & Gardens Week held 23 - 29 March 2026, Rachael Forsyth held a Horticulture Question Time session to answer reader questions with a truly expert panel which featured:Jane Moore - award-winning writer and author and a head gardener for more than 30 yearsJoe Whitehead - head gardener at Burghley House and new Professional Gardeners Guild chair, with more than 20 years of expertise in garden design, plant care, and landscape managementFIND MORE PARKS & GARDENS WEEK CONTENT HEREThe Questions00:02:24 What are the biggest issues you are seeing from drought and excess rain and how can this be managed?00:11:35 What can I do about brown lawns?00:14:04 How can I communicate what we are doing to mitigate climate change in my park or garden?00:19:19 How can I bring nature back into the garden when I need to maintain a formal, tidy or neat-looking garden?00:28:55 What is the one piece of tech that has made your life easier?00:31:14 How can I work my way up to a head gardener position?00:33:58 What kind of park/garden events have you found to be most successful?00:36:12 What plants can you suggest for adding winter interest into a garden? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What did the Space-Comm Expo conference and exhibition tell us about connecting space and wider business? How does this manifest as tech connectivity in telecoms and why do farmers care about that? What did we learn about the benefits of extreme cold in manufacturing laboratories and why do pharmas care about that? How vulnerable are global logistics to the spoofing of navigation signals? And why is the UK government centralising space strategy in the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology? Join Alice and Jonners as they reflect on the UK space sector's largest trade event and the “energy, diversity and …sheer scope of what this industry has to offer”. Contributors:Alice Bunn, President of UKspace Dr Alice Bunn OBE FIMechE FRAeS CEng | LinkedInUKspace: Overview | LinkedIn Jonathan Daves, The Karman LineJonathan Daves | LinkedIn Subscribe to The Karman LineApple: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-k%C3%A1rm%C3%A1n-line/id1876605462Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3qED4CgdRDxfKKzYNKZCIH?si=lZ-I4a19SPGLAJL-dHi4DQYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheKármánLineUKKey topics covered:Space-Comm Expo, London, March 2026Conference overviewSector integrationInsuranceCustomer utilityGovernment roleFuture outlook Technological advancements· Telecoms· Manufacturing Defence and security· Satellite capabilities· Current threats Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

GIMA director Vicky Nuttall retires from the role this spring after 12 years in the role.GIMA's annual big day conference event on 26 March is about future of the supply chain and will include panels on sales agents versus employed staff, logistics, marketplace and Yorkshire Garden Centres' Mark Farnsworth.Talking to Matt Appleby on the HortWeek Podcast, Nuttall says the biggest changes at GIMA since she started there 12 years ago include GIMA taking on the Garden Press Event in 2016 and Nuttall says she was really pleased to add the event, alongside the HTA, to its offer.Covid in 2020 saw trade associations "come to the fore" and GIMA joining the CBI in 2019 proved to be a good decision as they were close to Government. Bringing trade associations closer together and growing the membership, helped by Tony Kersey (ex-Homebase), has helped that.She says she seeks influencers online, and "they find us" and they generate content from the Garden Press Event. She added that GIMA manages who comes through the door so only people who are trying to make a living get in.GIMA has taken on some members from the defunct Gardenex export organisation and will manage their international lounge at Glee in September.There's uncertainty about the weather so far in 2026 from retailers, after a good Christmas, Nuttall observes: "Everything is in place for a good 2026 season. But the most important factor is the weather." She adds: "It's tough out there for some of the smaller businesses...that might be a reflection of what some of the more established brands are doing."The biggest challenges looking ahead include increased employment taxes, regulations such as EPR packaging bills eat away at margins and some smaller garden centres are coming to the point where they think they canlt be boithered and we are seeing consildiation, as well as some in the supply side. She advises using professionals to monitor reporting of EPR."It's tough for smaller or single product suppliers to get a "foot in the door". There are fewer buying points and buying groups and chains are getting stronger and some bigger suppliers are getting "more dominant".Marketplace retailing gives more opportunity but has a knock-on effect for the retail landscape, especially for DIY and High Street stores.In terms of trends, "accessible and easy" wellness and well-being hobbies than gardening are getting more popular, she says.Nuttall says the organisation is well-placed placed for the future. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Long-time HortWeek columnist and nursery business consultant John Adlam of Dove Associates joins the HortWeek Podcast to talk about the latest Government document "A New Vision for Water".Adlam explains the significance of this document to horticulture and raises concerns because "there's no real mention of how [horticulture is] going to be participating in the new vision" and "still does not consider irrigation to be an 'essential use'".He talks about how horticulture has fared in recent months with extremes of drought and "a deluge" in different parts of the country affecting water harvesting, stores and growth.Adlam talks about the measures available to horticulturists to mitigate the risk associated with extreme weather that is becoming more "normal" with every year that passes. Whereas in the past, water was "a minor part of growers' annual costs". But "today the biggest concern is not so much the costs of water as to the availability of water" he says, with high capital costs often associated with maintaining supply.Growing media is as important as the water itself and peat-free is presenting growers with fresh challenges and watering has become a highly technical skill he says: "People are becoming more fastidious in the way they irrigate."He talks about water testing and the need to monitor water quality, pH, conductivity and more.Like many HortWeek Podcast guests, Adlam was born into horticulture and grew up in his family's plant nursery and landscaping business: "I was nearly born in a glasshouse. Mum came in to labour as she was de-leafing tomatoes."He talks about narrow escape from a career playing trumpet which he still plays as part of his church work. As an ordained Anglican vicar, Adlam connects his day work in horticulture to his pastoral church work - "in fact my parish was the nursery industry of England".Adlam reflects on his lifelong connection to and career in horticulture and the huge changes in pest and disease treatments over the years: "Many of the products have less efficacy than they did in the olden days but they are much safer".Although we have lost a lot of "actives" - active chemical herbicides, fungicides, acaricides and pesticides - we are better off than some countries Adlam says: "Last year Denmark [for example] had only 93 actives; [the UK] has got something like 400 or 500 actives". But being out of the EU, or potentially getting more closely aligned again via the SPS agreement in 2027 is a "swings and roundabouts" situation Adlam says, where we are able to continue using some chemicals the EU has restricted, but we miss out on products registered in the EU but not in the UK.Biological plant health products are in the ascendency but Adlam believes that while we expect "blemish-free plants and at the moment it's very hard to do that entirely biologically". Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joe Whitehead, head gardener at Burghley House and new Professional Gardeners Guild chair, has over 20 years of expertise in garden design, plant care, and landscape management.He talks about harnessing the experience of 850 members via webinars and members' workshops.The PGG turns 50 in 2027 and has a new website and membership system. Celebrations are planned. Founder Brian Hutchinson died in late 2025 and Whitehead wants to commemorate his legacy. Hutchinson retired in 1998 as Castle Howard head gardener, where he had been for 25 years (having previously been at Chatsworth) and from where he founded the PGG in 1977.Whitehead began as a tree surgeon, during which I attained a National Diploma in Horticulture at Riseholme. After five years, he took a position at Burghley House. Then, after a two-year Wisley Diploma in Practical Horticulture, his first head gardener role was at Salle Park in Norfolk. Eight years as head gardener at Raveningham Hall followed and before his return to Burghley House as head gardener in 2018.There are 140,000 visitors annually and a five-person marketing team. He said if visitors love a garden they will return, so he has created layers of interest for year-round interest, plus 'experiences' to make the garden a 'natural classroom', as well as secondary spend places such as cafes. Engagement with visitors is important too. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As of 2026, the UK space industry is a significant and strategic driver of the national economy, contributing over £19 billion in revenue and supporting tens of thousands of high-skilled jobs. Satellite-based services and data underpin roughly 18% of UK GDP, equivalent to approximately £454 billion of the wider economy. And the sector is growing exponentially.But this is just the tip of the iceberg. For the space industry to fully realise its potential it needs more of the right people to understand what's happening and get involved. People like policy makers, investors, regulators, planners, communicators, lawyers and consultants.Dr Alice Bunn, the president of UK Space, and her panel of guests, Sam Alden co-CEO of Space Solar, Nick Shave managing director of Astroscale and Anushka Sharma founder of Naaut, discuss the surprising, awe inspiring business of space and make the compelling case for why more companies and investors should get involved. Contributors:Host:Alice Bunn, President of UKspace Dr Alice Bunn OBE FIMechE FRAeS CEng | LinkedInUKspace: Overview | LinkedInGuests:Nick Shave, Managing Director of AstroscaleNick Shave FRAeS | LinkedInAstroscale: Overview | LinkedInSam Adlen, CEO of Space SolarSam Adlen | LinkedInSpace Solar: Overview | LinkedInAnushka Sharma, founder of NaautAnushka Sharma | LinkedInNaaut: About | LinkedInKey topics covered:Impact of Space on Everyday LifePractical ApplicationsEnvironmental MonitoringGlobal SecuritySustainability and Innovation in OrbitSpace DebrisManufacturing in MicrogravitySpace-Based Solar PowerEconomic and Regulatory LandscapeCost ReductionInvestment and FinanceRegulation and PolicyThe Future of Space ExplorationNew PlatformsAcademic Contribution Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Georgie Newbery is chair of Flowers From The Farm and founder of Common Farm Flowers, one of the first of the new artisan flower farmers to establish in the UK.A small scale flower farm and educator, the farm, established in Somerset in 2010, grows up to 100,000 stems annually without the use of chemicals,Newbery is set to feature at RHS Chelsea Flower Show this May in the Great Pavilion where she will present the first representation of a flower farm at the show, showcasing Ranunculus, also for the first time.She hopes the display will "advocate for flower farmers" and inspire them to perhaps start growing flowers themselves. One of her Chelsea funders is peat-free compost supplier Sustain - and Newbery, as a peat-free flower farm from the start, says there is no excuse for using peat "just because it makes life easier for me". She also believes she can "demonstrate that it's easy to grow peat-free".While she fully understands the difficulty and cost for larger commercial growers of switching their nurseries to peat-free systems, she says "everything we do, we make a choice... we choose to learn how to use other kinds of compost, because it's possible, and it's not breaking the planet".Newbery talks about the operation she runs at the farm, how she manages to grow successfully without chemicals, and her experience with peat-free compost, products, techniques and adaptations. She revels in the idea of the flower farm as a reservoir of life and biodiversity that will act as "innoculation stations" that, come the end of the world, could seed the desert green landscapes surrounding them.As well as growing flowers Newbery runs workshops and demonstrations on propagation and seed-saving, such as how to design a cut flower patch. Weddings and funerals account for most of her cut flower sales. Customers there usually come through word of mouth, she says, often "because they want something that has come from a garden".Newbery has a distinctive philosophy of business and in mentoring small businesses. She encourages "the stepping away from the 'more for the sake of more' model. The key, she says, is to work out "what your 'enough' is". If you work out what your minimum need is, modest or luxurious, "whatever it is...then work out how to build a business that will pay for it". And she is fierce in her support of other small business owners who want to make a good living supplying a high quality product without endlessly having to expand. Asked about her "flowers of the future" she says "seed sovereignty" should be the focus, with locally-grown seed, adapted to UK conditions more likely to provide "bigger, stronger" plants compared to imported options.A new edition of her book "The Flower Farmers's Year" is out in May 2026. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Paul Greenyer, Gareth Wilson and Craig Nester are high flyers in the world of landscape design and contracting. Greenyer is director of Paul Greenyer Consultancy and carries out design and build landscape work as well as being an RICS-accredited expert witness and mediator.Wilson is an independent expert witness, hard landscaping expert and garden consultant and is known for his Chelsea gardens.And Nester is a design and build specialist with his firm Habitat Landscapes.While their routes into the industry are different, they share a hurdle over which they have all had to jump - having ADHD (attention deficit/ hyperactivity disorder).In the discussion with Rachael Forsyth, the three offer disarmingly frank accounts of the ways ADHD has affected their lives and the people the love, live with and work with.They explain some "symptoms" of the condition and share some of the strategies they have employed and evolved that have helped them first "cope" and ultimately "thrive" and excel in their chosen professions.Podcast producer: HortWeek digital content manager, Christina TaylorPodcast presenter: HortWeek senior reporter, Rachael ForsythMake sure you never miss a HortWeek podcast! Subscribe to or Follow HortWeek podcasts via Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your preferred podcast platform. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

HortWeek editor Matt Appleby and senior reporter Rachael Forsyth report on the essential horticulture stories of the week.HortWeek editor Matthew Appleby and Rachael talk about:Ruxley Manor Garden Centre takes on organised crime by installing extensive security and anti-theft measures Marketing tips from IPM Essen where the watchword was 'innovation'Pros and cons of influencers for horticulture marketingPeat panel at the BOA Conference gauges the direction of travel, sentiment, quality and the EU on going peat-freeSociety of Garden and Landscape Designers award winnersRBG Kew's Orchid Festival + climate resilience, visitor numbers, engagement and plans to improve itHortWeek's plans for Parks & Gardens Week - taking place 23-30 March 2026 - details TBCDo check out our huge archive of HortWeek Podcast interviews with an unrivalled selection of prominent and fascinating figures from all corners of the horticulture sector.Podcast presenters: Matthew Appleby and Rachael ForsythPodcast producer: Christina Taylor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

HortWeek's panel at the BOA conference 2026 analysed in-depth how growers and suppliers are working towards peat-free, with the big messages being that retail product needs to be better and that the Government needs to offer clarity to the horticulture industry.Panellists were Chris Reid, Westland head of technical – growing media,, David Denny of the HTA, Robin Squance, ex-Brookhouse Nurseries and BOA technical committee chairman, Michael Smith – W D Smith & Son, and Steve Carter – Responsible Sourcing Scheme and Fleurie Nursery.Find out more HERE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apprenticeship Week for 2026 starts 9 February so HortWeek has brought together two specialists in horticultural apprenticeships to explain how they work, the various options available and the vast array of benefits for employers and employees alike.Speaking to Rachael Forsyth in this episode are:Christa McDermot from BCA (Berkshire College of Agriculture) runs a range of land-based courses including horticulture.Helena Bassop from Euphorbia gardens and vice chair of the Chartered Institute of Horticulture Education and has a background as a lecturer, course manager and is an apprenticeship endpoint assessor. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bruce Harnett of Kernock Park Plants, Megan Green of Hayloft Plants and Yvonne Marquenie of Plants & Flowers Foundation Holland joined HortWeek new plants writer Mr Plant Geek Michael Perry on a panel at IPM Essen to discuss how the horticulture industry should understand today's plant consumer.They discussed: 1. The peat-free and sustainability dilemmaThe transition to peat-free media remains the industry's most "hot-button" issue, particularly in the UK.Kernock Park Plants (KPP) went 100% peat-free in 2024 and Bruce Harnett says that sustainability (biomass, water self-sufficiency) is a moral choice, even if the "commercial advantage" is currently unclear.Panellists agreed that, for consumers to fully switch, peat-free media must be equal to or better than peat. Currently, some "staunch" growers still believe peat performs superiorly.But while sustainability is a growing concern many consumers still "turn a blind eye" when price is a factor.2. Innovation vs. "Trust Erosion"Should the industry stop introducing new plants? The consensus: Innovation must have purpose.KPP uses a rigorous trials process to ensure only "the best of the best" hit the market. Introducing novelty without value leads to "trust erosion."Plants like Salvia ‘Hot Lips', Lavender ‘Hidcote', and standard Rosemary remain dominant because they are reliable. Consumers value the "tried and tested" for mail-order success."TikTok Plants": Novelties like the TomTato or "family" apple trees resonate with younger, online audiences, but the industry must distinguish between viral aesthetics and long-term garden performance.3. Multi-platform marketingThe panel discuss approaches and strenghts of different platforms:YouTube: ideal for practical "how-to" guides.Instagram/Pinterest: use aspirational/inspirational imagery.Facebook: focus on community and storytellingMeanwhile Matthew Perry raises concerns about influencers who focus on garden aesthetics rather than plant health. The panel stresses the need for authentic voices over "unattainable" glossy imagery.And Megan Green says that, for Hayloft, 75% of business is now online, though the physical catalogue remains a valued tactile experience for a core demographic.4. The "Holy Grail" of 'engagement'Green highlights the power of visual merchandising—linking the plant, compost, and pot in one display to remove customer friction.QR codes on labels and improved storytelling are seen as the "Holy Grail" for garden centres to provide info at the point of purchase.Research shows search behavior is often driven by nostalgia (especially in herbs) and the desire to care for others (gifting).5. Reaching the Next GenerationYounger consumers represent the future but are the hardest to recruit due to a lack of gardening space and lower spending power. Engaging them requires shifting from a "critical" focus to a "positive attitude" shift, making gardening feel attainable rather than a luxury chore.In summary, the industry must balance the marketing "pull" of new varieties with the "push" of sustainable production, ensuring that every new introduction builds consumer trust through reliability and climate resilience. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In an era of AI fakery and fake news, star of the CutCrew YouTube channel, Jack Churchman has built his grounds maintenance business through authenticity and it has served him well. Eschewing the 'easy' money of kit sponsorship, he has won respect, credibility and work by sticking to his principles and maintaining standards.Inspired by his mum and grandad who were keen gardeners, he got his first job at a golf course at the tender age of 9. After a spell in the military he used his spare time to work for free on gardens and golf courses during the pandemic and gradually turned it into a business. Blessed with a ferocious work ethic, tenacity, resilience and a restlessness, he now at least partly attributes to ADHD, Churchman built his landscape maintenance business from the ground up and he is candid about the challenges of finding finance to grow his company with "no mummy and daddy to lend me £100k or whatever". As much as YouTube has served Churchman, it has drawn some unwanted attention, tipping off burglars looking to move expensive machinery to competitors trying to sabotage CutCrew by trolling, misrepresenting and even stalking him. Despite the dramas, however, he maintains "the benefits far outweigh the negatives".But interspersed with laughs and self-deprecation that have made Churchman such a YouTube phenomenon, is frank discussion of the challenges of running a business, negotiating competition, issues with late payment, spreading of risk, pricing, cost pressures and being responsible for people's livelihoods. The podcast is also littered with tips and hard-won wisdom on how to win clients. And his advice to prospective entrepreneurs?: "Chase the thing you like, know and love from the beginning".Find the CUTCREW LTD | Grounds Maintenance & Tractor Action YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@cutcrewltd Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

View slides and Vodcast edition at https://www.hortweek.com/article/1944940In this edition of the HortWeek Podcast, Matt Appleby spoke to Dries Jansen of Garden Center Advice talking about how to optimise garden centre operations for profit through layout, assortment, and realisation.Jansen began his career as an analyst at Intratuin in the Netherlands, working with 56 stores and €250 million turnover. He used trends and data back then to identify predictable patterns.But now, working alongside leading garden centre architect Fred de Rijcke, Jansen has combined data from HortWeek's exclusive annual Top 250 Garden Centres with insight from the garden centre markets in the Netherlands, Germany, France, and Belgium, to create a comprehensive decision-making model for the UK market. The data analysis system maps annual turnovers against store area, various variables and individual store offerings, proximity to population centres and other key metrics. Combining these data sets he finds an 'average' yield per sqm that all garden centres can be measured against. Individual stores can be indexed to understand how they are performing and whether they may benefit from further investigation to find ways to improve that performance. Stores identified with 'potential' to improve are profiled individually to assess their performance in various metrics, eg. ambience, service, price etc. and action points can be generated to help boost turnover.Jansen refers to slides and images during the podcast - to view these or see the video version of this podcast, CLICK HERE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

HortWeek editor Matthew Appleby, senior reporter Rachael Forsyth and technical editor Sally Drury make their predictions for horticulture in 2026.JUMP TO00:02:16 - weather00:06:24 - cost pressures00:14:20 - volunteers00:15:27 - imports/exports/SPS agreement and UK plant production00:17:15 - pests & disease00:19:08 - climate change and innovation00:20:17 - Turf - turfgrass breeding and appreciation of grass and grass eating! 00:23:02 - readiness for spring and an early Easter and how to monetise the 'fallow' post Christmas period00:27:43 - sharing of knowledge and raising of professionalism in the horticulture industryCheck out our huge archive of HortWeek Podcast interviews with an unrivalled selection of prominent and fascinating figures from all corners of the horticulture sector. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Studies such as that of McCance and Widdowson have revealed dramatic drops in fruit and vegetable mineral content since the 1940s. This week's guest on the HortWeek Podcast Jennifer Brodie believes that 'rock dust', a by-product of volcanic rock mined for road construction and rich in minerals trapped since the pre-dinosaur era, could help reverse this by remineralizing the soil and feeding microbes that will re-fortify plants.Brodie has come full circle in her career and is now returning to her passion project 12 years after she founded REMIN (Scotland), which pioneered the use of rock dust as a top dressing for soil, compost mixer and activator.Now leading the Pro-Grow rock dust division for resource management company Veolia, she explains the geology behind basalt rock dust, its dual benefits for plant health and carbon capture, and how the industry is shifting toward "ecological transformation".She details how some of the 400,000 tonnes of green waste they process annually is integrated with rock dust to create a PAS 100-certified compost for the garden retail market. Her goal now is to expand rock dust's use into the organic farming sector.Quoting Soil Association founder Lady Eve Balfour, Brodie says: "Everything begins to matter when the rate of soil erosion exceeds the rate at which life can invade the mineral rock underlying the soil and convert it into soil." Brodie believes that rock dust has an "unrecognised" role in rectifying the mistakes of the past and helping renew soils for the benefit of all.Make sure you never miss a HortWeek podcast! Subscribe to or Follow HortWeek podcasts via Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your preferred podcast platform. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

HortWeek editor Matthew Appleby, senior reporter Rachael Forsyth and technical editor Sally Drury share their top horticulture stories of 2025.JUMP TO...00:00:43 - horticulture and peat-free00:04:10 - developments in Biodiversity Net Gain00:07:26 - remote mowers, new technology and implications00:13:13 - loss of horticulture colleges and new learning options00:17:54 - the impact of drought in 2025 going into 202600:21:30 - how horticulture is turning to battery-powered kit00:26:20 - diversity, inclustion and equity in horticulture00:30:34 - border inspections - imports, exports and an SPS agreement for 202600:36:42 - what are the team looking forward to in 2026?Do check out our huge archive of HortWeek Podcast interviews with an unrivalled selection of prominent and fascinating figures from all corners of the horticulture sector.Podcast presenters: Matthew Appleby, Rachael Forsyth and Sally DruryPodcast producer: Christina TaylorMake sure you never miss a HortWeek podcast! Subscribe to or Follow HortWeek podcasts via Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your preferred podcast platform. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Garden Trust's Linden Groves is campaigning against a proposal to end the organisation's role as a planning statutory consultee.She robustly contests the proposal to remove the statutory consultee role and disagrees that it would improve the planning system. Instead, precious parks and gardens, hard won over many centuries, would be lost to communities both now and in future.“We are passionate about the role that the UK's world-famous historic parks and gardens can play in supporting positive economic growth and healthy cohesive societies, and eager to continue helping this in our role as statutory consultee. We encourage supporters to respond to the consultation and will publish our response as soon as possible.”In March, the Government decided to ditch planning consultancy from bodies including The Gardens Trust, to speed up the planning system. “We are seeking views on reforming the role of statutory consultees in the planning system in England,” it said. The consultation closes at 11:59pm on 13 January 2026.The consultation can be accessed here.Make sure you never miss a HortWeek podcast! Subscribe to or Follow HortWeek podcasts via Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your preferred podcast platform. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tony Kirkham has a mission, one that will resonate with many arborists across the UK: "I'd like to get rid of the term 'tree planting'".The former Kew arboretum head says: "Our success rate of establishing trees isn't good in this country... I'd sooner see less trees planted and established rather than planting big numbers that fail to establish." In his conversation with HortWeek editor Matthew Appleby, Kirkham gives his thoughts on the "exotics" versus "natives" debate and reveals his "top future trees" which include his favourite "hard-working trees".On pest and disease threats to trees, Kirkham issues a stark warning. Experts say it is a case of "not if but when" Xylella enters the UK, and Kirkham says, with more than 400 host plants identified so far: "I think every woody plant is vulnerable. We really need to crank up our biosecurity."Other than Xylella, his the top concern is plane wilt, which "is spread by arborists" via tools, machinery, PPE and clothing, and which is "coming towards us pretty quick...we need to keep that out at ALL costs".He also talks about how arborists can handle the rising frequency and intensity of storms, recalling how he got Kew back up and running in the wake of the storm of 1987 that brought down so many trees that he considered "old friends".But despite the devastation that took three years to clear, he now says it is "the best thing that could have happened" - getting rid of unsafe trees, giving the Kew team a chance to replant and refresh the arboretum, revolutionising tree-planting practice. Make sure you never miss a HortWeek podcast! Subscribe to or Follow HortWeek podcasts via Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your preferred podcast platform. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is the second special podcast with an arboriculture focus produced as part of ArbWeek, HortWeek's deep dive into all things arb held from 24 - 30 November.Listen to Jeremy Barrell on how 'Failing clients deserve failing trees', plus tree growing, procurement, planting and establishmentThis week's guests bring their distinct perspectives on the arb sector - but also bring a holistic perspective having worked together for many years on fascinating and crucial research projects.Kevin Martin, head of tree collections at RBG Kew and Adam Dunnett, production and amenity director for Hillier Nurseries are thought leaders in their fields and bring fascinating insights and forthright opinions to their discussion with Rachael Forsyth.They discuss tree planting and establishment, ground breaking research with "remarkable" results that is transforming tree selection and understanding of how to grow and in particular, water, trees.Skip to...00:00:49 How Kevin and Adam began their careers in horticulture00:05:45 Kevin Martin on his research into resiliant trees sourced from around the world00:09:53 Trees we should be planting to weather the future00:14:40 Hillier's 'Streetwise' range of trees for urban environments00:17.39 Peat-free growing and trees00:20:48 Groundbreaking research into irrigation for trees at Hillier00:30:13 The importance of grants, continuity in Government support and business certainty00:40:39 Adam Dunnett on seeing changes in the school curriculum making a difference to hort00:50:40 The latest on Resistor elms00:52:43 Kevin and Adam's 'dream' pieces of research topicsOn the topic of encouraging young people into horticulture, Adam Dunnett relates a "chink of light" following a visit to a secondary school where as part of their work on the "2050 project" they are looking at what trees will be thriving in 25 year's time. "That's just one school, but actually that could be really quite transformational if that's happening in other schools!"Kevin says: "Horticulture and growing plants is an applied science, and it's one fo the most important applied sciences we do and it's so overlooked...it's always been seen as suitable for someone who's not academic, and that's not the case."We need some of the brightest people to solve some of the biggest questions...we need to work on that narrative."In this episode the Victorians get a couple of name-checks and we also get some top tips on which tree to go to to get unbeatable conkers.Podcast presenter: Rachael ForsythPodcast producer: Christina Taylor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chloe Whiteside, ICL's technical area sales manager covering Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire – has spoken on the HortWeek podcast about the highs and lows of the 2025 spring bedding season and what the strong start and weaker finish mean for the 2026 bedding plant season.She talks about what bedding growers should be doing in the lead-up to the spring season and gives advice about watering, nutrition and storage regimes for peat-reduced and peat-free growing media.On nutrition, she talks about using controlled release fertiliser and water solubles, as well as which biocontrol, biopesticide and biostimulant products are at the grower's disposal and, as a BASIS qualified adviser, what she recommends.Before joining ICL, Whiteside spent 10 years in horticultural research at ADAS, delivering research projects on a wide range of ornamental and edible crops. She managed the AHDB funded Bedding and Pot Plant Centre trials, as well as the AHDB, Defra and industry-funded project on Transition to Responsibly Sourced Growing Media Use in UK Horticulture. The project ran for five years and covered all sectors of horticulture, from bedding propagation right through to container grown trees and soft fruit production. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The HortWeek Podcast has joined ArbWeek to bring HortWeek readers a series of interviews with leading arborists. The first of these is Jeremy Barrell.A influential figure in the tree care landscape (and HortWeek columnist) Jeremy Barrell is one of the leading authorities on tree care.A passionate campaigner on street trees in the wake of a number of controversial local authority fellings, in this week's podcast HortWeek editor Matthew Appleby hears Jeremy's uncompromising views on tree safety, tree planting, tree production and local authority procurement.Barrell says: "The standard of training on some of the people that are planting [trees] - it's not surprising the trees don't survive...if you don't have a specification that is up to scratch, then of course contractors are going circles around you and you deserve to have a load of failures". "I deal with more tree failure cases that result in harm than any other expert in Britain...the harsh reality is there are many large duty holders...that don't do anything like the standard of tree checking that should be done". Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

HortWeek editor Matt Appleby and senior reporter Rachael Forsyth report on the essential horticulture stories of the week.HortWeek editor Matthew Appleby and Rachael talk about:The "outrageous" ongoing delays and reports of damaged to imported plantsThe latest on the prospective peat banWhat the garden centre of the future might look likeDo check out our huge archive of HortWeek Podcast interviews with an unrivalled selection of prominent and fascinating figures from all corners of the horticulture sector.Podcast presenters: Matthew Appleby and Rachael ForsythPodcast producer: Christina Taylor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Andrew Fisher Tomlin, co-founder and director of the London College of Garden Design talks on the HortWeek podcast about his new book, The Modern Professional Planting Designer, was published by Rizzoli New York in October 2025.In the podcast he talks about how the book came about and what impact he hopes it will have, what he thinks of Chelsea designs this year, his views on international garden design versus that of the UK, on horticulture education, trends for 2026, AI and what his favourite plant is. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Garden centre personality Rosie Bone brings her new ideas for garden retail to the HortWeek Podcast this week this week.Founder of the World's End Garden Centre in 1970 with Len Bone, Rosie puts her success in garden retail down a focus on customer service, looking after your staff and above all "value for money". She argues if you get those three right, other considerations such as location are almost irrelevant.She discusses her passion, which is sustainable garden retailing."Profit isn't a dirty word... but I think in this day and age we have to start to recognise that there is an environmental cost to everything any of us do".She says that imports from China cannot be avoided in many product areas, but that carbon footprint could be offset by focusing on plant-based options in the restaurant:"It's not about telling customers what they should and shouldn't eat, but presenting [food] in a way that encourages customers to make [a plant-based] choice for themselves but that can be done with clever marketing, clever menus."After a period away from the industry Rosie reveals the garden business that revived her interest in and passion for it and what they do so well.And she reveals some significant gaps in the market that garden centres, with their large footprints and nature-oriented client base, could capitalise on. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the HortWeek podcast, HortWeek editor Matt Appleby interviews horticulturist, garden writer, organic gardening advocate and the new president of the Hardy Plant Society, Val Bourne. They discuss Val's journey in horticulture, her dedication to organic gardening, and the challenges facing plant societies today. Val shares her experiences and insights on the importance of preserving plant diversity and supporting local nurseries and the challenges around going peat-free.Skip to...00:01:27 Val's role in the hardy plant society00:02:11 The importance of plant diversity00:03:57 Challenges facing nurseries00:10:59 Val's journey into horticulture00:14:17 The significance of organic gardening00:20:57 Promoting plant societies00:25:42 Val's future plansPodcast presenter: Matthew ApplebyPodcast producer: Christina TaylorMake sure you never miss a HortWeek podcast! Subscribe to or Follow HortWeek podcasts via Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your preferred podcast platform. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With HortWeek senior reporter Rachael Forsyth fresh from the GrootGroenPlus trade show, we hear how European growers are tackling the challenge of imports/ exports with the UK - with producers saying they would be "delighted" to see the SPS agreement come into force.HortWeek editor Matthew Appleby and Rachael talk about:Inspection regimes and paperwork both sides of the border, and how it is affecting European tradersThe latest round of delays and reports of damaged plants at BCP SevingtonHow 'experiences' could transform the fortunes of garden centres and horticulture showsHow new analysis of horticulture company results is showing who is doing wellDo check out our huge archive of HortWeek Podcast interviews with an unrivalled selection of prominent and fascinating figures from all corners of the horticulture sector. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Biodiversity Net Gain market has come along way since BNG became mandatory in England under the Environment Act 2021. The ruling requires developers to deliver at least 10% biodiversity net gain for new construction projects.In this week's HortWeek Podcast Rachael Forsyth speaks to head of sales and services Emma Hindle and head of business development Brian Smith at Ground Control, which provides ready-to-buy BNG units as part of a habitat bank.They discuss how the market is developing, the drivers of demand, and shifting balance of supply and demand.Although Government targets and policy for house building is driving construction projects, Brian explains that Ground Control is "not betting the farm on housebuilders" and is keeping it's client base deliberately broad, including utility companies, transport companies as well as corporate clients such as supermarkets. Interestingly, a burgeoning "voluntary market" is also part of the picture, he says, But while developers might, understandably, focus on the immediate costs when deciding on how to approach BNG requirements, a 30-year maintenance lifespan means a "whole life" cost approach is more appropriate, he argues. The market has come on leaps and bounds since 2021, Emma adds, insisting the focus should always come back to nature recovery and the "benefits for the country". Many that had reservations initially are now "taking it seriously", she says, and the prospects for BNG over the next five years are "amazing". Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's News In Focus podcast HortWeek editor, Matthew Appleby, technical editor Sally Drury and senior reporter Rachael Forsyth discuss:the eagerly awaited Top 250 Garden Centres 2025some of the garden product highlights from GLEEHow YouTube is 'where it's at' for gardening contentProspects and stresses for the garden retail sector after a busy 2025How changes in peat and coir supply are causing price fluctuations and how division in the industry over the prospective peat ban is hurting horticultureDo check out our huge archive of HortWeek Podcast interviews - an unrivalled selection of prominent and fascinating figures from all corners of the horticulture sector. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the fifth of HortWeek's News In Focus podcasts, we take a deep dive on Groundsfest trade show, with technical editor Sally Drury, horticultural consultant Howard Drury and senior reporter, Rachael Forsyth.Topics this week:The trio, who judged the Groundsfest awards, hosted and guested on panels, enthuse about the depth and breadth of the show, which caters for grounds maintenance, landscape contracting, arb and turf contractors. Highlights among the award-winning products and kit, and some of the machines they think should have entered for awards, but didn't.How Groundsfest is driving innovation, healthy competition, and is the perfect showcase for product manufacturers and practitioners across the whole of the landscape maintenance sector and beyond.See all HortWeek's Groundsfest coverage including exclusive videos or products and industry panels at https://www.hortweek.com/groundsfest Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to the third of HortWeek's new stream of podcasts where we give the HortWeek take on the biggest news stories. This week editor Matthew Appleby, technical editor Sally Drury, horticultural consultant Howard Drury and digital content manager Christina Taylor chew over the week's top stories.Topics this week:the latest cabinet and Defra reshuffle and what it might mean for horticulturists.Four Oaks Trade Show judges Sally and Howard give their expert insight into award-winning products and plants from this year's show. Do check out our huge archive of HortWeek Podcast interviews with an unrivalled selection of prominent and fascinating figures from all corners of the horticulture sector. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to the third of HortWeek's new stream of podcasts where we give the HortWeek take on the biggest news stories. This week editor Matthew Appleby and digital content manager Christina Taylor chew over the week's top stories.Issues this week:the new and improved HortWeek Power List which celebrates the top 100 most impactful horticulturists.the issues driving a churn in horticulture businesses - see our Mergers, closures and acqusitions LIVE MAP to stay up-to-date with the latest.the results of a HortWeek survey on the top businesses concerns - including inflation, peat, legislation and changes to imports/exports rules.The team discuss highlights of discussion panels and awards featuring at Four Oaks Trade Show and Groundsfest this SeptemberDo check out our huge archive of HortWeek Podcast interviews with an unrivalled selection of prominent and fascinating figures from all corners of the horticulture sector. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

HortWeek columnist and business consultant Neville Stein talks about his 50-year career in the industry.He discusses his path into horticulture and the "life-changing" impact of some of the articles written for for HortWeek over the years.Neville's regular features for HortWeek include:Whatever Happened To... - a series exploring the history of much-loved nurseries that are no longer in businessBusiness Planning - a long-running series of business advice articles on topics ranging from how to make the best of trade shows to succession planning. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

BBC Gardeners' Question Time stalwart and landscape architect Bunny Guinness returns to the HortWeek Podcast to give her views on some of the pressing horticulture issues of the day.Topics covered include garden sector shows. Bunny wonders if there are too many that are struggling commercially. She expresses particular concern over RHS Chelsea Flower Show gardens and the lack of commercial sponsorship which she says is helping drive down design standards as well as the chilling effect that banning peat for RHS shows might be having on exhibitors.A full YouTube convert and broadcaster, Bunny discusses why she thinks it is the best place for gardening content, a view given some weight by Alan Titchmarsh's recent migration to the platform.And she talks about her path into horticulture and why she believes a 'landscape architect' career path offers more and better opportunities than that of a 'gardendesigner'.Podcast presenter: Matthew ApplebyPodcast producer: Christina Taylor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to the second of HortWeek new stream of podcasts where we give the HortWeek take on the biggest news stories editor Matthew Appleby, technical editor Sally Drury and senior reporter Rachael Forsyth give their digested and analytical views.Issues this week:The thorny question of whether dogs should be allowed into gardens, an issue that dominated the recent RHS AGMthe pressures affecting gardens after the news Hestercombe House and Gardens went into administrationafter a flurry of closures, mergers, sales and acquisitions in the horticulture sector, the HortWeek team discuss what is behind it and how it can be a good thingThe team discuss highlights of discussion panels and awards featuring at Four Oaks Trade Show and Groundsfest this SeptemberDo also check out our huge archive of HortWeek Podcast interviews with an unrivalled selection of prominent and fascinating figures from all corners of the horticulture sector.Podcast presenters: Matthew Appleby, Rachael Forsyth and Sally DruryPodcast producer: Christina Taylor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Good Gardeners International is a charity that since 1962 pioneered the no dig system in the UK, based on Sir Albert Howard's research on organic farming.Richard Higgins became involved in 1995 after a formative trip to India and inspired by Howard, developed the HH-2 (Howard-Higgins Agricultural and Horticultural System) Waste Management and Horticultural System.The HH-2 equipment reproduces specific fungi and bacteria that creates a sustainable habitat to enable the colonisation of the root hairs of plants giving them huge boots of previously unattainable nutrients. It claims, along with a unique, manure-based feedstock, to be able to renew degraded soils in one season. Adoping a no-dig appoach complements this as keeping the soil intact protects the "mycorrhizae, and that is the network that feeds the nutrients from soil into the root hairs of plants. So if you don't dig, that's preserved."Higgins explains: "[HH-2 is] a composting system that breeds fungi, specific fungi and bacteria. Now, ordinary compost doesn't do that; this system does, and it's this fungi and bacteria that makes plants so resistant to disease. I mean, we already cured slug snails and caterpillars 30 years ago!"Initially marketed and sold to amateur gardeners, "it's so popular and farming today is in such a problem with soil depletion and pollution in rivers, etc., that we've blast into farming. It applies to farmers as well as gardeners".He says a focus on 'new varieties' has stymied research into how soil conditions can impact plant health. GGI has a demonstration farm where, he says, "we've got universities, colleges, agricultural colleges queuing up to come and see it, because people don't seem to know how to stop these common agricultural pests. We don't use any supplementary feeds like comfrey or rhubarb leaves in... no nets for the black fly, white fly, carrot fly, you know. We don't use any nets at all and we have none of these problems."Higgins discusses startling claims for treatments that could reverse the effects of ash dieback and says he is in the process of liaising with scientific institutions, agricultural research stations and soil scientists with a view to carrying out trials and scaling up production for wider distribution to amateur, and professional growers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week's guest is Guy Watts of West Sussex-based specialist plant nursery, Architectural Plants.After a successful debut at RHS Chelsea Flower Show, Guy talks about Architectural Plants' apprenticeship scheme Home Grown which he hopes will encourage new talent into the industry.The nursery grows and sells a huge variety of unusual and exotic plants, and in line with the nursery's aims to reduce plant movements within and without the UK, Guy talks about the nursery's innovative 'lab' which allows the nursery to propagate and grow plants that require more specialist conditions.On biosecurity risks Guy has strong views: "Our evidence is that they are as likely to come from within the UK as they are from outside of it". And despite bans on chemicals increasing biosecurity risks, he reveals how the nursery has been largely chemical-free for some 20 years which has mitigated some of those biosecurity challenges. He outlines some of the systems and strategies he uses to monitor pests and diseases, some of the non-chemical treatments they use and how staff are involved in the process.Guy also talks frankly about his perspective on going peat-free; the nursery is running trials and has reduced peat use, but Guy expresses doubts about talks of the RHS imposing "blanket ban" and he questions whether the alternatives are environmentally sound: "it needs to be the right decision commercially and it needs to be right for the environment". Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

HortWeek is launching a new stream of podcasts where we give the HortWeek take on the biggest news stories.Drawing on the immense industry expertise of editor Matthew Appleby, technical editor Sally Drury and senior reporter Rachael Forsyth the podcast will give listeners a digested and analytical view with added perspective and insight.Stories tackled this week:the admission by the RHS that it expects to lose sales as a result of banning peat in its gardens and retail outlets by the end of 2025.the story behind Sarah Raven Kitchen & Garden which went into administration, was bought back by Raven but which now is looking to make redundancieswhy hosepipe bans are bad for garden retailersDo check out our huge archive of HortWeek Podcast interviews with an unrivalled selection of prominent and fascinating figures from all corners of the horticulture sector.Make sure you never miss a HortWeek podcast! Subscribe to or Follow HortWeek podcasts via Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your preferred podcast platform. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Six months into her role as head of parks and gardens at the National Trust Sheila Das speaks to HortWeek's Rachael Forsyth about the Trust's new strategy and how it is taking a step back to re-evaluate its approach to planting, the “scarcity and abundance” of water, climate change, outreach, education, going peat-free and more.Speaking on changes at Cliveden in Buckinghamshire – where The Long Garden redesign focussed on long-term resilience, moving away from bedding being changed twice a year – Das explains that the Trust won't “eradicate” the presence of bedding but it might be done slightly differently. They will also evaluate where the plants come from, how they're grown, the resources required to grow them, and the financial cost.Climate change is being felt within gardens across the UK and Das said each garden within the National Trust will have to work to understand its own individual challenges, which will be done through workshops. On the specific challenge of water – both scarcity and abundance – Das says it's important to be “mindful of the pressures we're putting on our local environment through having a garden.” A particular challenge the National Trust has, she says, is that certain sites are working to create an atmosphere and a particular type of plant might be doing that that isn't going to work in the future climate. Working out how to keep the spirit going, cherishing the site's heritage, without depleting natural resources is going to mean “delicate decisions” balancing being “a good descendent as well as a good ancestor”. The National Trust is 100% peat free in its gardens, but Das says “there's no denying it's a challenge” with gardeners unable to get all of the species they would like. She adds that the range and diversity of plants feels “fragile”. Suppliers are doing “a really good job” Das says, they just might not be able to move as quickly as everyone wants. National Trust, in common with gardens and attractions across the UK, faces the challenge of falling visitor numbers and she addresses the various causes of this and outlines how the Trust's new strategy is looking at ways to “end unequal access” and “inspire millions of people”. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Andy Jasper CEO and Peter Jones director of horticulture, both fresh faces at Eden Project, speak to HortWeek's Rachael Forsyth about their goals and ambitions for not only the Cornwall attraction but for the multitude of “new Edens” that are opening across the UK and internationally. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week's guest on the HortWeek Podcast is Rebecca Bevan, who leads on sustainability and plant health for National Trust Gardens. Rebecca comes fresh from publishing her new book, the National Trust Book of Nature Friendly Gardening, which "looks at gardening in a way that's good for people and good for the planet" and is full of ideas and tips for amateur gardeners."I was given fair amount of freedom about what to include, but it made sense really to cover creating wildlife habitats and gardens ... making sustainable choices about what you buy in the garden, what materials to use ... a bit about well-being ... growing your own and also what to grow that you're really actually going to eat that's going to keep you out of the supermarket a little bit."The book chimes with a shift at NT by head of gardens and parks, Sheila Das, who introduced the World Food Garden to NT along with an ethos of sustainable planting with a 21st century aesthetic. Rebecca says it's "really encouraging people to think about, to learn about their soils and their situations and choose plants that will last and trying to slightly get away from the impulse buying that many people do and the heavy use of bedding, which is not as sustainable as choosing perennials that are really suited to your garden are going to last a long time.""I've come to realise that actually, with farming as it is, really quite intensive, our gardens are quite an important refuge...they might be only place that is providing habitat." She has applied this to her own garden - with help from her late partner ornithologist Rich Hearn - where she has focused on enhancing it for the local birds.Her diverse career includes a period working with the fruit team at RHS Garden Wisley followed by a stint as a researcher on BBC Gardeners' World in Monty Don's garden."It's fun, it's fun, you learn a lot, you get to meet some great growers." she admits, adding "it's not always easy being the person during filming that has to listen in and question whether things are exactly right and stop filming so things can get looked up."Despite the ecological downsides of bedding plants, NT is still using them and she explains it's policy on this and sourcing plants in general where. The charity has lead on peat-free plants with a relatively early commitment to peat-free growing and selling of plants."Certainly, for us, when places like Kernock [Park Plants] have gone over to providing peat-free plugs, then that's making life much easier for us and for some of our suppliers as well."Part of Rebecca's remit is pests and diseases and she talks how she's made peace with slugs and snails: "I hope that lots of people over time will start to see their gardens as part of the ecosystem and accept that if there's something nibbling their plant, that's because their plant is providing something to the ecosystem. Our gardens shouldn't really be bereft of plant-eating insects and slugs and snails are just a part of that." Looking further afield, she says Xylella is the biggest threat to UK biosecurity and has the potential to exceed ash dieback in terms of impacts on our national landscape."One of the things we try to do within the National Trust is to encourage our gardeners to buy plants that have actually been grown in the UK. Because that obviously really minimises the risk.She adds that we need to be producing more peat-free plants, particularly trees: "Meeting our tree targets is absolutely crucial. I think that we [must] increase our capacity to produce what we need within the UK because it is mad to be meeting our own tree planting targets with imported trees that are at the same time increasing our risk of importing diseases." Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Chartered Institute of Horticulture recently published the results of its survey into rates of melanoma among horticulturists and the alarming but perhaps not unsurprising results showed one in eight of the 700 respondents said they had been diagnosed with some form of skin cancer. HortWeek wanted to lend it's voice to its campaign and invited the CIH's Jason Daff, Susanna Daniels from Melanoma Focus and Andrew Poole, farmer and agronomist and skin cancer survivor, to talk about the findings of the report, and how employers can support workers within the horticulture sector to take simple precautions to protect themselves from sun damage and prevent skin cancer.Jason gives an overview of the reports findings, one of the most striking of which was that men are almost twice as likely to have been diagnosed with skin cancer compared to women, perhaps due to the presence of sun protection in some women's skincare products, but also perhaps, Andrew speculates, due to a more 'macho' attitude and a reticence among men when it comes to looking after their skin. As Andrew says:"When I was a lot younger, it was a cavalier attitude to go out and it was almost a badge of honour to be burnt."I had the attitude, well I work outside...my life is outside, I'm gonna be protected, my skin has built up a resistance, I'll be fine."But clearly not, it's caught up with me later in life."Susanna outlines best practice on choosing and applying suncream - crucially not forgetting the tops of the ears - and explains how each incidence of sun burn can drastically increase the probability of a person developing skin cancer in their lifetime.She also highlights the responsibility employers have to provide suncream, argues that it should be regarded as PPE for outdoor workers, and to that end, CIH is lobbying the UK Government to make it exempt from VAT.For more information on melanoma in the workplace, how employers can help educate and protect employees resources and much more, visit https://melanomafocus.org/. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Valeria Kogan is founder and CEO of Fermata – a data science company developing computer vision solutions for both controlled environment agriculture and outdoor. With a background in biotech, Valeria saw an opportunity in the market to bring the knowledge from the medical space to agriculture. Meeting with friends of friends who were tomato producers, Valeria learnt about the problems they face, and how they deal with them, and knew there was knowledge from the medical space which could lend itself to agriculture.Valeria was recognized as one of Forbes' “30 Under 30” in 2022 but she says “it doesn't feel like an incredible achievement” because it sets a threshold for when you have to achieve something, or figure everything out. Instead, Valeria says the focus should be on the work and not when it's achieved.Fermata recently won an innovation award at Fruit Logistica for Croptimus™ and its advanced image analysis, which works to transform greenhouse pest and disease detection. The technology automatically detects pests and diseases, aiming to reduce scouting time and crop losses. Valeria explains growers install the cameras and then can “forget about them”.Valeria explains that they often come across those who are sceptical because the technology is “replacing the eyes” and so they have to prove themselves. But she explains that the proof is in the results, with the technology often identifying diseases either before the growers do, or identifying diseases the growers miss. Looking at the future and how the technology might be used, Valeria says they think it could help distinguishing between other insects in the glasshouse to track the pollinator population, as well as utilising environmental data to better analyse the data they are currently receiving. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Horticulture is a home to endless study, innovation and learning and on this episode of the Cultivate Your Future podcast Neville Stein is shining a light on where horticulture meets cutting edge science, because his guest is plant scientist, Dr Madalena Vaz Monteiro.Madalena works for part of the Forestry Commission's research division, and as you'll hear, a lot of her work revolves around the role that plants and trees can play in combating climate change. She also explains a little about the part of the Forestry Commission that she works for, the Urban Forest Research Group.For more information about Forest Research visit www.forestresearch.gov.uk and to find out how the Colegrave Seabrook Foundation can support your career in horticulture visit https://colegrave seabrook foundation.org.uk/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

BBC Gardener's World Live runs from 12 - 15 June this year so the HortWeek Podcast took the opportunity to talk to Immediate Live horticultural director Bob Sweet and event director, Lucy Tremlett about shows past and present.After record attendances for the BBC Gardeners' World Live May Spring Fair show held at Beaulieu, Tremlett is looking forward to some 90,000 visitors over the four days. The main stage will feature BBC Gardeners' World lead presenter Monty Don, fellow presenters Adam Frost, Rachel de Thame, Frances Tophill, Sue Kent and Nick Bailey with a headline garden. Show designer Pip Probert and Plant Geek Michael Perry will also appear.Hot Off the Potting Bench is a new plants awards feature with up to 100 launches vying for the Peter Seabrook Award.Last year's winner was a hydrangea from Allensmore. Judges include David Hurrion, Boyd Douglas-Davies and HortWeek editor Matthew Appleby.There is also a garden for the 30th anniversary of the APL (Association of Professional Landscapers) and a stand for Plant Healthy to remind "visitors, the general public, gardeners should watch out for in their gardens about bringing plant material into the country".Central to this year's show is the Make A Metre Matter campaign "encouraging our audience to turn a metre of their space, whether it's their garden, whether it's a windowsill, whether it's balcony, and turn it into something that does something good for the planet. So thinking about encouraging a bit of biodiversity into the garden, or it's thinking about growing some edibles and reducing your food miles. It's just encouraging everybody to have a go".Tremlett says: "We aim through our show gardens here and through our exhibits to relate very much to take home ideas, what's achievable, and the things that people really can grow, do and grow in their own gardens...the whole show and its background going back a long, long time is about the fundamentals of gardening and we very proudly stick to those principles."Sweet brings a long pedigree in garden shows having run events with the RHS Chelsea, Hampton Court, Tatton Park, Cardiff and Scotland's National Gardening Show. After enjoying the 2025 Chelsea Flower Show earlier this year, he said: "it certainly warms the cockles of your heart when you see the expertise of some of the growers and what they've been able to achieve". On the podcast he reminisces about the impact he had on Chelsea during his tenure."There's so many aspects of Chelsea that I feel there's a little Bob Sweet stamp on when I go around...there's lots of little hints of my career left behind there which I'm very proud of" from the names of the various routes through the show to fundamental changes to the way awards were judged. He also lifts the lid on some of the more light-hearted aspects of the show and the mischief-makers he has had to contend with over the years. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week's HortWeek Podcast guest, TV presenter and garden designer Mark Lane, started gardening young although he initially studied art history and worked in publishing for RIBA and Thames & Hudson.After a car crash in 2000, a horticultural therapist and his husband suggested a new horticulture career as a designer and in the media. His new book, The Future of Gardens, published this May, is part of a series of imaginative future visions on a wide range of subjects, written by experts, academics, journalists and leading pop-culture figures. For his installment, Mark takes a "positive look at gardening with regards to the future of gardens. And of course, it has to cover everything from the climate crisis to being, you know, an adaptable and resilient gardener.He sees AI as limited to "being a great assistant. I don't think it will take over with regards to gardening or garden design" but with great potential to help with plant selection and speed up processes.With an eye on climate resilience, Mark has been exploring and implementing xeriscaping concepts into his garden:"By having a mixture and increasing that biodiversity of plants you're...more likely to have a garden that's going to flourish because while some will do well when it's really hot, others will do better when it's a bit wetter and a bit warmer."His book considers permaculture, regenerative agriculture and biophilia in the context of a broad definition of "Horticulture with a capital 'H'" that includes "floristry, agriculture, the perfume industry, anything you could possibly think of when it comes to plants." He reveals how apps and a drone means he is "able to go around areas in gardens, especially large gardens where I can't get my wheelchair, so I can still have my eyes and I can still go and see those places. So it's about again using this sort of future tech, which a lot of it is already here."Mark and Matt discuss the ultimate in futuristic horticulture, growing in space, which Mark says, is not just a matter of overcoming a technical challenge and the benefits of eating fresh produce:"[Astronauts are] going to be away for a long period of time and being able to undertake a task such as gardening reconnects them to Earth. So it actually reconnects them back to where they came from and that's really going to be very important for their for their mindset more than anything else.As a wheelchair user, Mark shares his perspective on how landowners can and should make access to parks, gardens and the countryside easier for all:He adds: " I do strongly believe that it doesn't matter whether you have a physical impairment or not, you can enjoy gardening. And you just have to really think a little bit outside the box. You have to be very, very honest with yourself and sort of assess yourself and see what it is that you can and you cannot do...and then try and adapt your gardening because of that."And as an owner of dogs, Mark gives us his take on the controversial topic of dogs, gardens and garden centres.Finally he gives an update on his plans with his ongoing presence on Morning Live keeping him busy, appearances at flower shows such as RHS Hampton Court Flower Festival, another book due "on cost-wise gardening" to come out in May 2026, as well as his garden design practice."I'm still designing the gardens, but I'm now having to limit the number of gardens that I do...here I used to do on average between 8 or 10 projects a year, I now do anywhere between 2 and 3, just because I just don't really have the time now, because I'm just constantly doing stuff." Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this HortWeek Podcast, Andrew Wilson, technical manager for ICL professional horticulture and Carl Mason, experienced grower and ICL technical area sales manager for the East of England, speak about how to grow the best professional quality poinsettias.While Christmas may seem a long way off, in June UK growers will be starting to produce Poinsettias to adorn our homes in December. The poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima) is a fascinating blend of Aztec heritage, Mexican tradition, and American commercialisation—all blended into vibrant red plant that is now inseparable from the Christmas season.Carl speaks about how easy a crop poinsettia is to grow, while Andrew discusses market trends we are seeing with the UK's most popular winter indoor plant.Andrew details the nutritional requirements of the crop while Carl outlines advises on the growing media that suit poinsettias best. Carl also explains what goes into ICL's special Poinsettia mix to ensure plants thrive and they both offer their top tips for successful poinsettia growing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.