Horticulture Week Podcast

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.

Lee Connelly, the Skinny Jean Gardener and the UK's leading children's gardening educator talks about National Children's Gardening Week, which is from 24 May to 1 June.As part of his ambassadorial role, he will lead the 2025 UK School Gardening Tour, sponsored by National Garden Gift Card. He will visit selected schools across the country, bringing hands-on gardening experiences to 10,000 children.He talks about his 'pukka' mate Jamie Oliver and his plans for a children's gardening coaching book as well as his life on the road. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joining Matthew Appleby on the latest HortWeek Podcast is Pippa Greenwood, the well-known horticulturist and broadcaster, who is HTA horticulture manager, where she supports the membership as well as the broader garden and greenspaces industry.BBC Gardeners' World television programme and has been a regular panellist on Gardeners' Question Time on BBC Radio 4 since 1994. She also was the gardening consultant on the ITV series Rosemary and Thyme in 2003–2006. Greenwood was awarded an honorary doctorate by Durham University.A big part of Pippa's role at the HTA is advising on plant health and biosecurity, "translating" plant health information for the grower members, where, she says, "my heart really lies". And Greenwood has great sympathy for the issues confronting growers at the border: "I always think when you look at what happens at the border...I can feel and really empathize with the frustration of the grower who's imported some plants or a garden centre who's imported some plants that then get held and inspected, sometimes taking longer than they might feel is necessary. But there is a good reason behind it."Reflecting on the recent costly destruction of plants due to a - some suspect faulty - risk assessment for Pochazia, she says: "So obviously every loss is, in my mind, of extreme significance. But what can be done? We as the HTA are regularly and currently in communication with Defra and others about trying to increase not only reporting, but also increase the chances of someone feeling that it's safe to report or if they find something on their nursery or that if something does come in"If you've imported some plants and they've got a pest on it and they're impounded, then in theory, you should be able to claim back from the nursery that they originated from. I'm not saying that's easy. I'm not saying that you get all your money back, but you often can get quite a bit of it back. But the HTA is very aware of the fact that money and time and morale actually sometimes as well is lost over situations like this."Pippa discusses how growers cannot claim compensation for plants impounded or destroyed during border checks, while animal importers can.She recently took charge of the HTA's New Plant and Grower of the Year awards and she urges members to put themselves forward, or nominate others, to be "noted, celebrated and allowed to blow their own trumpet". Innovations she has introduced includes blind judging to ensure winners are selected "on the basis of quality".The deadline for entering Grower of the Year Awards is 25 July 2025.The closing date for the New Plant Awards is 17 May 2025 and amid controversies over 'remote' judging of plants at the Chelsea Flower Show, Greenwood is insisting that judges examine the plants in person at the National Plant Show (18-19 June, Stoneleigh). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joining Rachael Forsyth the week's HortWeek Podcast are Harry Baldwin head gardener at the Somerset garden and estate, The Newt, alongside Katie Lewis, estate architect.After four years as a headline sponsor at the Chelsea Flower Show, it is The Newt's 'finale' year and it is set to showcase tropical plants sourced from nurseries in the UK, South Africa, and from its own collection in its Karoo Succulent show garden, a collaboration with The Newt's South African sister farm, Babylonstoren.As Katie says: "There will be plants in the garden that probably many will not have seen before, as well as some quite recognizable plants that people might have as houseplants. But they'll be able to see them set in what we're trying to evoke as their natural setting, so we're hoping that that's going to be quite inspiring and exciting for people."But The Newt's relationship with the RHS will not end completely, Katie explains: "So we'll continue to be a partner garden and we'll continue to support the RHS."Harry talks though some of the attractions and features on The Newt Estate, aka the Hadspen Garden. He explains the way the 40-strong specialist staff work - which includes dedicated garden and woodland teams.New to the team is entomologist Tom Oliver who is instrumental to work The Newt is undertaking to understand, audit and improve its biodiversity. Tom's data will also be used to help The Newt experiment with new cutting regimes for the wildflower meadows to try and maximise the invertebrate life throughout the year.Harry says: "We have a really rich biodiversity across the estate. I guess we're also quite lucky here because we've got different types of landscapes...we've got the woodlands, we've got pasture, we've got our formal gardens, and we've got quite a big range, which no doubt helps with the biodiversity."The Newt is set to host a Head Gardeners Conference in October 2025 which will gather 100 head gardeners to discuss trees for the future.Like all gardens The Newt faces challenges with pests and diseases and climate change and trees are central to these topics.Harry explains: "native plants are important because our invertebrates have adapted ... to our native plants and our native landscapes. But it's obviously important that we do start to bring in some non-natives. For example, we've got one area ... where we've had to sadly remove a number of large ash trees because of ash dieback...So there I'm hoping to planting native trees but also looking slightly out the box where we can planting, for example, we can plant a Caucasian hornbeam ...which is still going to service our woodland but it might have the added diversity of being able to be slightly more drought tolerant perhaps."In keeping with it's lightly unorthodox approach, The Newt allows visitors to pick vegetables and fruit from its kitchen garden:"The ethos of the kitchen garden is that for people to try - everything in there is completely edible and there is almost no boundaries... We want people to be immersed into our landscape, into our fruit and sort vegetable heritage."And with her design hat on, Katie is keen to extend the spirit of experimentation and innovation at The Newt:"I think there's ways that we can champion plants more, champion seasonality more, offer more to our guest experience in various ways. "I want to really showcase plants that aren't necessarily purchased from your local garden center...I've had the opportunity to work with some really great, wonderful and unusual plants from various temperate regions of the world. And I really want to bring that to The Newt." Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Director of operations at The Batsford Foundation Stuart Priest has led a rich life in horticulture, starting with an apprenticeship with Blakedown Nurseries followed by a National Diploma in Hardy Nursery Stock at Pershore College. He joined Batsford Arboretum in 1986 after an opportunity came up to open a nursery at the Cotswolds attraction.After developing a successful hardy fern production line, he decided to pivot away from the stresses of growing plants towards garden retail, installed a garden centre within the nursery site and built a garden visitors centre. Two years ago Batsford added a restaurant.The arboretum houses collections of birch, maple, oak, ash, lime, magnolia, mountain ash, pine, fir, spruce and many other rare trees.Priest discusses the origins of the arboretum through to current challenges including dealing with extreme weather events as well as strategies to attract visitors throughout the year.A series of droughts prompted a decision to build a three million litre lake, which has also become an "absolute magnet" for wildlife.He says extreme weather events have become more common but his reaction to losses is now more philosophical - as there are also gains.In high winds "some of the veteran trees are dropping boughs, going over and it used to be really upsetting...now we've just assured ourselves that one big tree goes, it opens up a massive planting place."We're able to grow a vast amount of plants, different sorts of species now that 20-odd years ago we wouldn't dreamt of trying". Batsford has invested hundreds of thousands of pounds in an extensive solar panel network in which generated £10,000 "in a dull year" to help offset Batsford's £60,000 electric bill. And he hopes to generate more when further solar panels set to adorn a new workshop facility and tractor shed are added to the network.A passionate horticulturist, Priest ends the podcast with a heartfelt plea: "The comradeship is brilliant in horticulture and we've got to encourage the youngsters to come into it." Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Neville Stein's guest on this episode of the podcast works in one of horticulture's most hands-on areas, arboriculture.James Gadd is a director of Gadd Brothers Trees and Landscape and as an arboricultural professional he works with amenity trees – those found in private gardens, public parks and open spaces, schools, churchyards, playgrounds, urban woodlands and nature reserves and alongside roads, railway lines and routes for utilities like electricity pylons. It is a role which sees him mix heavy machinery, heights, problem solving and things that sound like they could be from a Mission Impossible movie, as well as conservation and planting of trees. As someone running a business, James tells us a little about what he is looking for when he hires staff, how to get started in the industry, and reveals some of the things that some people do not realise are part of the job.For more information about Gadd Brothers Trees and Landscapes visit https://gaddbrothers.co.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.

Joining Rachael Forsyth on this week's HortWeek Podcast is John Durnell from the Hampshire Wildlife Trust and Alistair Emery, founder of Land and property investment and consultancy, Kingwell.John and Alistair are collaborators on significant natural capital scheme at Keyhaven near Milford-on-Sea converting degraded arable farming land into a "high value wildlife site".Kingwell bought the farm in 2020 and is working with Hampshire Wildlife Trusts to create meadows and grassland, enriching the biodiversity as large-scale BNG habitat.The land will be transformed in five or six phases which will be offered to developers as BNG credits - "we thought was probably what the market would absorb" Alistair says.Working alongside local authorities and the Environment Agency in a form of public-private partnership HWT will provide technical support on habitat creation and ongoing management of the land over the next 20 or 30 years. As John says, "frankly if we're going to turn around the sort of fate of wildlife in the UK I think every single sector is really going to have to do its bit."Alistair talks about the benefits from a land owner's point of view and how it can benefit rural business and community as well as the environment: "Farmers are under a lot of pressure to look at how they can diversify and commercialize their farms, particularly with BPS falling away. It's looking at what are the opportunities that can keep farms going. Environmental schemes such as this are going to play a part in enabling farmers to continue."They outline the carbon sequestration benefits of soil restoration and way the "nascent" BNG credits market will interact with local construction schemes and planning departments.Alistair says: "Our planning system is broken. And it's not broken because of things like BNG. It's it's other factors that are driving that."Also in the planning system, developers are finding ways to get around BNG, finding exemptions so that they don't have to deliver it onsite or even offsite."I think things will change. It's a very new thing. It was only February last year that it became statutory and small developments in April. It takes a long time to get these schemes approved and over the line and supply."John says: "What I always find frustrating is when the Government infer that lack of supply or BNG or protection for the environment is the thing that's stopping house building. And frankly, that's risible when... if you speak to most developers, they'll admit that it's high interest rates, lack of planning officers, lack of capacity... [and] things like lack of labour. They discuss the teething troubles with BNG, issues with planning and posit options on how system might be adapted to allow the various agencies to work together more effectively, which means, John insists, public and private partnerships.They also make the case for larger schemes. Alistair says: "If you have on-site mitigation where you've got fragmented patches of areas within developments that are completely unconnected and going back to the resource problem of the local authorities, then being able to monitor and enforce to ensure that the biodiversity is actually being delivered in those areas, it just doesn't work. It will only work properly if we can do it strategically on large areas of land like what we've got in Keyhaven.John adds: "Small areas suffer from this thing called edge effect where the edges, problems come in from the edge and the edges tend to be degraded to a certain extent....mitigating at scale strategically is a really, really good model. " Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

HortWeek is delighted to present the Cultivate Your Future podcast, in partnership with the Colegrave Seabrook Foundation and sponsor Westland Horticulture.At a time when horticulture needs to encourage a new wave of young people to come into the industry, this podcast is designed to highlight the multiple and varied career opportunities available.Hear from people who have found their way into their chosen career through different paths, what their job involves and what it means to them.In this episode Neville Stein catches up with students from Sparsholt College to discuss their recent experience of exhibiting at RHS Chelsea Flower Show and how they felt about it.As the Colegave Seabrook Foundation supports students studying horticulture, we were very proud to be sponsors of their exhibit and are thrilled at their success. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week's guests are Chris Wellbelove (recently appointed managing director) and Steve Buckingham, CEO of Blakedown Landscapes.Blakedown just won the contract for the Queen Elizabeth garden scheme for The Royal Parks as part of their landscape construction framework. Chris outlines work being done using "environmentally sensitive construction methods" and Steve discusses some of the highlights of their work with The Royal Parks which goes back some 35 years, including the Greenwich Park Revealed scheme which won them a National BALI Award. The Outdolf Landscape project at RHS Garden Wisley won the firm another BALI Award that year and Chris talks about the pleasure of a free-flowing collaboration made possible by working with the hands-on and knowledgeable Wisley team.The pair also discuss some of the challenges faced in the landscape sector, including increased and unpredictable lead-in times for materials and plants.Chris says: "By the time we get to see it it's got a specification it's got planning permission based on a certain set of materials so for us to have much input is difficult", adding "where we are involved at earlier points we do have these discussions about 'where are you purchasing from, is it ethical, is it sustainable, is there a UK alternative?'. On plans for growth, Chris talks about how contractor design work is now part of every contract they undertake, so the firm took on Ruth Miller as a design manager to manage those design elements efficiently without disrupting the progress of the project. Andy Harris also joined as an operations manager to bolster the management team. Steve adds they are aiming for "organic growth" while looking expand activities outside their traditional territories in the South of England. Nigel Payne has also come on board to help develop Blakedown's grounds maintenance offering.Among the varied and numerous challenges thrown up in 2024, Steve says the "continually wet period" from autumn 2023 to spring 2024 was one of the hardest.And a new challenge faced by all landscape contractors is in the planning department. On the one hand, a change in pre-commencement conditions means Blakedown is being involved in signing those off after starting the contract causing delays of several weeks to commencement of works. This is exacerbated by a lack of and high turnover of overstretched planning officers, all adding to delays. "[A project] we were due to start last September, we are only getting on board now [early March]... it has a real effect on your sales forecast and your planning."Another area of growth is public realm and infrastructure improvements set in motion by the last Government's 'Levelling Up" agenda and Blakedown is embarking on a major project in to transform Canterbury's open spaces including a 'green link' to provide a safe way for pedestrians to walk around the city. Chris is inspired by how it is finding ways to "improve accessiblity but not a the cost of nature"."For the next five years it is about organic growth...We're not looking to grow hugely; we want to do what we do really well, and keep doing that." Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

ICL Professional Horticulture Technical Manager Andrew Wilson explains what water soluble fertilisers are and how they can be applied directly to the plant through drip irrigation and foliar application. He explains how to apply them through a diluter, overhead irrigation or drip irrigation. WSF's are usually applied as a supplementary feed in combination with a Controlled Release Fertiliser such as Osmocote 5. They are typically used to give a growth boost to outdoor crops after a prolonged high rainfall period during the growing season.Wilson talks about different types of water soluble fertilisers to suit your water type and ratios of NPK in the product, as well as conductivity (EC) of the fertiliser.He explains how AngelaWeb 3.0 software takes many nursery specific factors into account such as water quality, growing media and Osmocote levels and says how WSF's can be used in peat-free growing with care and tells us about frequency of feeding Lots of advice can be found on the ICL website and many practical videos on our Youtube channel ICL UK/Ire Professional Horticulture. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Roisin Wilson is business development director at HSK Gardening and Leisure, which is a specialist importer of 'Jurassic' plants from the Antipodes, specifically Dicksonia antarctica tree ferns from Australia.It is a tightly regulated activity, but Roisin explains that the tree ferns it imports from Tasmania are 'rescue' tree ferns that might be otherwise cast aside by loggers.Big plans are afoot at HSK and Roisin talks about the recent rebrand of the company and a shift towards "concept gardens" which takes inspiration from IKEA's approach to retail providing a "garden in a box" providing "instant impact, instant garden".These 'Jurassic' concepts will be retailed through independent garden centres and bigger chains, with a focus on educating them on the concept, how it works and how to sell it. Roisin feels it is an "untapped market" and the ideal way to reach reluctant and perhaps younger customers - "the gardeners of the future". She also believes there are opportunities to access new markets in Europe "and what was really interesting when I was at [IPM] Essen [in January 2025], there were no tree ferns, no big trees. There was one stand that had two tree ferns, but other than that, there were no tree ferns anywhere. And that was really, for me, that was quitestriking."HSK is also adding more species and took in its first shipment of Dicksonia squarrosa from New Zealand in Janaury 2025: "We are currently growing them on and probably will do a release of those in the summer once we know that they are all you know very very happy and growing beautifully in this country."As a relative newcomer to horticulture, Roisin gives her perspective on the sector. Upsides include the people-focus of the sector. But she highlights the need to promote women and encourage and develop young people and she celebrates the work of the YPHA in doing just that. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Having recently been awarded an MBE for his contributions to landscape architecture, garden design, and heritage, Andrew Wilson speaks to HortWeek editor Matthew Appleby about what this means to him personally, but also what it means for the industry.He talks about his teaching career and how, as director of garden design studies at London College of Garden Design, he is seeing more students come in from other professions and is curious about what's causing them to deflect from their initial interest in horticulture. He also touches upon the mergers and closures of horticulture colleges and whether it is a trend likely to continue.As a former RHS judge, Wilson says he often gets asked for his advice on whether show gardens are good things. With his garden designer hat on, he says they are, especially for nurturing students. He says:"Andy Sturgeon probably wouldn't be where he is today, or Tom Stuart-Smith, without the Chelsea gardens that they have produced. So from my student-nurturing point of view, they're undeniably a good thing.”Wilson also talks about his concern around sustainable gardens all looking similar: “I am totally supportive of gardens with sustainability running through everything. But it can potentially produce similar results in terms of where materials come from, how materials are used, and how our planting works.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Set up as an independent charity in 1992, The Parks Trust was granted 999-year leases for 4,500 acres of green space land in Milton Keynes, and an endowment in the form of freehold ownership of income-generating commercial properties valued at £22 million. Deputy chief executive of The Parks Trust, Hannah Bodley explains the benefits of this model. Head of operations and forestry at The Parks Trust, Frank Gill, talks about how climate change is affecting Milton Keynes, with issues such as flooding and the rise in pests and diseases, and how they are managing these.Gill also reveals that litter is one of the biggest challenges, with the team removing over 100 tonnes from the parks every year. Bodley adds that caring for green spaces with multiple users – including livestock – can come with its difficulties. And with Milton Keynes set to grow, Bodley explains how The Parks Trust plans to grow with it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

HortWeek's podcast about peat-free standards was recorded at the Garden Press Event with Evergreen Garden Care, Durston's, Westland, Melcourt, Southern Trident, Responsible Sourcing Scheme, Growing Media Association and Treasure.Speakers in order are:1: 20 - Simon Blackhurst with Durston's, Treasure Gardening and the Growing Media Association5: 03 - Colin Stephens of Evergreen Garden Care10: 15 - Stuart Staples of Westland13: 35 - Catherine Dawson of Melcourt Industries14: 10 - Steve Harper of Southern Trident and the Responsible Sourcing SchemeThe industry leaders told HortWeek editor Matthew Appleby a standard could be introduced by as early as 2026 to show consistency, sourcing and quality of peat-free consumer growing media.But speakers acknowledged the hard work required over decades it has taken to get here and that there is work to do in the future to educate gardeners towards success. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With the celebration of its 90th year and announcement of a brand refresh, this week the Grounds Management Association (GMA) talks to HortWeek about what this means for members. Jason Booth, chief operating officer of the GMA and Jennifer Carter, director of communications & marketing at the GMA also explore some of the challenges facing the turf sector with a recent GMA survey showing 68% of head grounds managers think climate change is their main challenge.Booth argues that the football pitch is often the least invested in, despite footballers spending 90-95% of their working week on one. He explains how the GMA is trying to change perceptions.Carter explores the common challenge of the skills shortage and how GMA NextGen is looking to help this, launched to inspire the next generation of grounds professionals. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

HortWeek spoke toa range of industry experts at IPM Essen trade show 2025 on how to export.Andy Jeanes of Guernsey Clematis says planning, procedure and relationships with customs and shipping agents and phyto inspectors are the keys to successful exporting.The USA could become an issue. Soiless plants are air freighted to the US but there are concerns about 25% Trump import levies, as there has been for Canada and Mexico.Commercial Horticulture Association's Susan Fairley says research the target market, establish demand, identify market trend data, plan a strategy, find the right country, identify channels, get staff trained and ready, build relationships, use Department of Business and Trade webinars, be patient, consider costs and make sure you know your IP, customs paperwork, credit check customers and get the right logistics in place. Cenrral Asian countries are places of growth.Tim Briercliffe of AIPH adds that understanding your target market and how easy it is to reach it are important. Systems such as Floriday can be a way in. The UK has not been strong at exporting as businesses concentrate on the home market. You need something new, special and different. He says potential levies are challenges, while exchange rate problems can be huge. Plant health issues like false codling moth are becoming bigger threats to international trade. Green cities are the areas to look for growth.David Austin's head of international partner networks Kate Porter said selling licences rather than plants is the rose grower's way forward, post-Brexit. There is US growing base so it is the brand that is exported. Australia is a growing market.Air-Pot's Suzie and Jamie Single say there is a team of partners around the world, in Europe distributors and otherwise consultants working on commission. Taiwan is a growing market, as is Switzerland and the US. The CHA help Air-Pot with exports, particularly via IPM Essen. The Scottish Government is helpful, she said, while a new Air-Pot 7 product, endorsed by ex-Kew arboretum head Tony Kirkham, has created a wave of publicity for the company. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week's HortWeek Podcast Stuart Mackley, head of grounds for Fulham Football Club's home ground at Motspur Park, explains how he found a career in groundscare through a love of football. As well as explaining what it is like at Fulham in the lead up to matches, Mackley relates what the team get up to in the off season which he says is “our busiest period…the most important”.The weather a significant impact on football matches and the condition of pitches – with high rainfall, high winds, extreme heat, and intense cold; Mackley explains what Fulham has in place to try and mitigate these challenges and how it has changed the way they work. Mackley also talks through some of the new systems he is keeping an eye on.Sustainability is of high importance at Fulham Football Club, but Mackley explains its not just a case of replacing all the petrol equipment with battery powered - and that it cannot happen overnight. Mackley talks about the challenges of retrofitting the club as it stands which Mackley hopes can be brought in when a new training ground is built.Mackley also talks through some of the new technology he has got his eye on, how he got into the industry and learnt everything from “arguably one of the best grounds people we've had in the industry”, Steve Braddock, as well as how Fulham attracts new talent. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cosmos and hollyhocks national collection holder Jonathan Sheppard and dahlia and sweet pea grower Darren Everest discuss whether flower show judges should reward homegrown, sustainable plants, rather than give medals for uniformity.Everest said at RHS shows you compete for medals and not against other growers as you would at a sweet pea show. But the public "want to see perfection" and not "leaves that have been eaten by slugs". Getting the balance right between best practice and what the public wants to view is the key.Sheppard disagreed, saying the public "don't want plant perfection at any cost" and rust-free hollyhocks would need a lot of chemical use, so he will not exhibit them. If he did the judges would mark them down for having any rust on them. What's more, perfection gives the public an unrealistic idea of what plants will look like at home.Everest argued that plants that do not look their best will not sell.Sheppard recently proposed in HortWeekthat there should be a 'Green Medal' for growers. He said we have seen some movement with awards for show gardens, but nothing as yet for growers.Sheppard added that some exhibitors have perfect plants but "the reality is you can purchase your flowers" for exhibiting and have "nothing to do with the growing of them whatsoever, have them flown in, have them grown using pesticides and preservatives, arriving in a plethora of single-use plastic, and because you arrange them nicely, walk away with a gold medal".Everest agreed that you should grow your own at shows.Further listening:In October 2024 Jonathan and Darren discussed whether we should we ban peat in horticulture.Presenter: HortWeek editor Matthew ApplebyProducer: Digital content manager Christina Taylor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ben raskin and Andy Dibben have written Silvohorticulture, A Grower's Guide To Integrating Trees Into Crops published in January 2025 by Chelsea Green Publishing.Raskin is head of horticulture and agroforestry for the Soil Association and Dibben is head grower at Abbey Home Farms in Gloucestershire.They say interactions between trees and crops is an under-investigated area and that trees can offer many benefits for food growers.The foreword is by Stockfree Organic farmer Iain Tolhurst who calls this "agroforestry at its finest" and says which trees to choose is "no longer an act of faith".There are negative impacts from planting the trees in the shade, but many crops do not actually need full sun all day.Abbey Home Farms in Cirencester is a 650ha acre mixed organic farm, intercropping into 6ha of veg production with mixed top fruit tree, coppice species for wood chip, as well as peach trees in the glasshouses. Also featured in the book are:Eastbrook Farm in Wiltshire – 200 acre silvopastural system (trialing almonds, apricots, berries and other fruits into a 25year business plan)Shillingford Farm in Devon – 420 acre fruit and veg farm using alley cropping systems Troed-y-Rhiw Farm in Wales – 23 acre mixed organic farm growing top fruit and bush fruit, but outside and in tunnels Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Having been in the landscape industry for over 53 years Alan Sargent is regularly commissioned to either take part in, or organise job interviews and recruit new senior and head gardeners.On this week's HortWeek Podcast Sargent takes us through some real life questions produced by himself for a recent interview for a head gardener. Beginning with advice on what to wear and bring to an interview Sargent examines interview questions, breaking down why they are being asked and how best to respond. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sean Higgs, of Floralive, is the foremost authority on peat-free cultivation of carnivorous plants. In this HortWeek Podcast he discusses his path growing peat-free plants which grow in peat in the wild,and the future of the houseplant market.After the bounce delived by the John Lewis 2023 Christmas venus flytrap advert he relates how that has continued to make the plant dominant in the market, the challenges of fulfilling demand with UK one-stop houseplant shop HortiHouse and how CITES rules have affected imports. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

New HTA president Will Armitage started his career at The Barton Grange Group at Woodford Garden Centre before joining family business Armitage & Sons (Seeds) where he eventually became joint managing director.He was chair of the Garden Centre Association from 2014 to 2016 and says the big difference between now and then are the costs of employing people, which have risen 10% again he believes thanks to the Autumn Budget's changes to National Living Wage and employers' National Insurance Contributions. This means the industry will struggle to grow and could mean price rises, he says.Armitage has been on both sides of the fence, with supplier Mulch and running garden centres. His former Pennine centre has since been owned by Wyevale and now Dobbies has it for sale and Armitage says the private equity sale and leaseback model is proving to be unsustainable.He looks forward to a better weather year, with high hopes for 2025 helped by more industry Business Improvement Schemes and increased lobbying at Westminster. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chris Hull, one of the stars of BBC One's Garden Rescue, is a rising gardening star, working with Charlie Dimmock and Alan Titchmarsh as the new face of garden makeovers.He got his first gardening job was when he was 15 at a country house hotel in Devon, and studied at Duchy College and for a garden design degree at Sparsholt College. Hull believes schools' thinking about horticulture as a trade is moving on from being somewhere where students are funnelled when they're "not doing so well" into being seen as a worthwhile career which generates billions of pounds for the country. He sees clear pathways through diploma or a degree or RHS courses for everyone.The Garden Rescue job came about through an advert at the Society of Garden Designers "and I thought why not?" He's just finished filming season 10 for broadcast in May 2025.He says long-time presenter Charlie Dimmock is "really, really amazing because she's just really fun and just knows everything". He's also been filming with her former Groundforce co-star Alan Titchmarsh on Love Your Weekend but can't choose who he prefers, joking: "I'll have one of them hitting me over the head with a shovel!"His inspiration for TV designs comes from the strong briefs he is given, for instance for someone with a disability who has not got great access into the garden: "We're making gardens on a real budget, and you've got to be creative with a way that you use very cheap materials to still deliver like quite interesting and bespoke design. So it's hard, but it's good fun, and hopefully it teaches people at home different ideas and how they can use materials."Hull recognises the show "can get a bit of hate from the landscapers in the industry because they believe it's misleading, which I understand. But the client's budget paid for by the BBC is £6,000 for materials only, with labour not included. There's a disclaimer, which he recognises is sometimes missed.He worked with Sid Hill and won a gold at Chelsea in 2024 on a garden, having been friends since they were about 14. Managing budgets with London logistics was tough but the experience was "really, really fun overall".Hull has no plans for another show garden but if he does another he'd like to make a mental health-themed garden because his father is a paranoid schizophrenic and an ambassador for the Rethink Mental Illness charity which works to break down the stigma around mental illness. Other industry experience includes working with JPL Landscape Architects and also Agrumi, on the nursery, and helping at 2021 Chelsea Flower Show when the Hampshire business exhibited with a New Forest theme.Looking ahead, with primetime garden makeover shows such as Love Your Garden no longer on, "there's probably a gap in the market. Garden Rescue remains well liked because everybody adores Charlie and it shows people how to do projects on a budget...and also it's quite lighthearted."What's really good about garden makeover shows generally, like a lot of the home 'reno' shows, is that they're quite repeatable. So I think they're always going to be picked up and kept on TV. I think there should be more to come. Any newer ones might move in more of a direction of maybe they're recycled gardens or upcycling or more sustainability-focused." Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Crop technician Ross Dyke has a new project called Get Children Growing. He's a Plant Pod host and works at Bonterre CIC alternative education establishment near Worcester, teaching horticulture skills. An unassuming networker, he is also studying at Pershore College and is a Colegrave Seabrook and IPPS scholar.He left school at 14 and worked in various jobs before moving to Webbs Garden Centres and becoming a horticulture industry lover.To get Get Children Growing off the ground, to bring sunflower grow kits to children in schools across the UK, Dyke has worked with Amy Stubbs from British Garden Centres and Skinny Jean gardener Lee Connolly and with help from Mr Fothergill's, Westland, New Leaf Plants and Webbs Garden Centres.He said: "I believe every school should have a garden and it should teach children where food comes from and even where cut flowers come from. Because you go into these garden centres, you see the flowers in the pots and if you're a child, you don't know where they've come from, you don't know how they've been grown, you don't know how they've been nurtured. So I just want to educate the younger generation and you never know, it might inspire some to say, do know what, I want to do that for a living."For more Get Children Growing details, see www.theplantpod.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the hot summer of 2022, RBG Kew lost more than 400 trees. By July 2024, Kew announced that it believed over 50% of its trees could be at risk by 2090 due to environmental changes due to climate change.This week's guest is Kevin Martin, head of tree collections at Royal Botanic Gardens Kew and he joined the HortWeek Podcast to relate the research Kew has done that led it to such a stark conclusion."What we started to look at first was mortality data, but we soon realized that that's a really unstable data set. can't always know why a tree or a plant has died in the landscape. It's not always due to environmental factors."We then started looking at climate modeling...and using species observation data to start building a better picture of the impact of climate change on the living landscape here at Kew.Perhaps surprisingly, the focus was not on identifying vulnerable species, but "the provenance of the seed".Kew studied its own environment, located as it is in "an urban heat island" on the edge of Greater London with relatively thin and poor soil, "so the effect of climate change is always exaggerated". To understand the plants that suited this environment, they found themselves in the Romanian steppe which proved a good match.His next trip will take him to Georgia to find more species that might thrive at Kew.Rather than building more and more glasshouses to create the right condition for plant collections, with their huge energy bills, botanic gardens must play to their strengths and grow the plants that fit their ecosystem and climate profile."And the native, the English native one is a really interesting question. "You've got Quercus robur, they all have a large distribution range. So we're now looking at their dryest range to understand how those trees have adapted...they will grow right up to the edge of Azerbaijan, right on the dryest edge of their range. So we're selecting seed from those areas to bring them back to Kew to understand how they've adapted."And the change needs to translate to all green spaces and gardens, large and public as well as domestic and small."A lot of the plants that we all go to the garden centre to put in our own private gardens, those trees have been selected for us realistically by the Victorians. A lot of those plants are available in commercial nurseries, they're all from the original plant collectors from the Victorian era especially, and they're the same cloned material that's just passed round."So it's really not just changing the planting palette within Botanic Gardens...This is a change of planting palette... and that does need support and investment in further research from government in order to support the commercial nurseries as well."I do think it's going to be the biggest shift we've seen since the start of the organisation back in the 1840s". Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kate Ashbrook is an author and has been the general secretary of the Open Spaces Society for 40 years and counting, but she is first and foremost, a campaigner.On this week's HortWeek Podcast she recounts some of the best changes she has seen during her tenure - "the greater awareness of the importance of open spaces for the public and the greater awareness among the public of the importance to them of open spaces, paths, getting out there, enjoying the countryside and green spaces in towns.And the worst... "After 40 years, open spaces, commons and paths are still very much under threat. We haven't made that step change, which means that governments, local authorities recognise that actually open spaces and paths are so important that we need to invest in them fully. They may say they're important, but they don't actually put the money and the resources in."Current focuses include closing the "green space gap" in the current National Planning Policy Framework:"We don't see in the consultation, governments giving prime importance to green spaces. We think they should be at the core of all planning policies, thinking about the wider public and what people need and then framing the development around that... we shall be making suggestions of how government can give greater priority to green spaces." Rachael and Kate also discuss biodiversity net gain and how that interacts with the society's goals and wider issues.With a new Government in place she talks about her hopes for policy change and support for offering greater access to land and protection of common land that has always been at the core of the OSS's mission.She outlines the Open Spaces Society's long history - from its foundation in 1965 - which is bound up with the creation of the National Trust. And she recounts some of her own, fascinating career path and what motivates her."I really want to help people to campaign. 50 years ago, I got into campaigning because I met a wonderful person called Sylvia Sayre on Dartmoor and she was 50 years [older than me] and ]encouraged me and helped me and gave me opportunities. And I am thinking, well, I'm now the age that she was when I met her and it's my turn to kind of pass the baton to the younger generation. And I'm out there looking for people to talk to and to learn from and to help."Find out more at https://www.oss.org.uk/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

HortWeek presents The End of Peat, a new four-part podcast series that will hear from leading horticulturists and garden retailers as they navigate a transition to peat-free that is piling pressure on a sector facing stresses on all sides.Over the four episodes, Christina Taylor explores the story of the UK peat ban, how the horticulture industry is facing up to the challenge, and how it might shape the future of the sector.In Episode 4 we hear from growers who have successfully made the leap to peat-free. Christina asks whether growers are ready for legislation and industry figures voice how it could work without destroying the horticulture industry in the process.Written, produced and presented by Christina Taylor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

HortWeek presents The End of Peat, a new four-part podcast series that will hear from leading horticulturists and garden retailers as they navigate a transition to peat-free that is piling pressure on a sector facing stresses on all sides.Over the four episodes, Christina Taylor explores the story of the UK peat ban, how the horticulture industry is facing up to the challenge, and how it might shape the future of the sector.In Episode 3: The cost of trial and error, Christina explores the two particular challenges faced by UK horticultural growers.Where peat-free might cause an amateur gardener to lose a batch of lettuce seedlings, professional growers face the loss of entire crops as many attempt to trial new, and quite alien, growing media mixes.Professional growers tell us their stories of trial and error, what they have learned in the process and discuss the fears that some plants and specialist nurseries will be lost to the UK for good.Series writer, producer and presenter is Christina Taylor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

HortWeek presents The End of Peat, a new four-part podcast series that will hear from leading horticulturists and garden retailers as they navigate a transition to peat-free that is piling pressure on a sector facing stresses on all sides.Peat is one of the most popular and reliable types of growing media for plants, but peatlands are also a valuable store for carbon and as the UK Government tries to meet net zero targets, a peat ban is on the agenda.Over the four episodes, Christina Taylor explores the story of the UK peat ban, how the horticulture industry is facing up to the challenge, and how it might shape the future of the sector.Christina asks:Do we need a peat ban?Why is the transition to peat-free causing so much division and proving so difficult?And as the sector navigates the numerous challenges, she asks what is needed for the sector to survive, if and when peat ban legislation actually comes into effect.In Episode 2: From multi-purpose to pick 'n' mix, Christina explores the two particular challenges faced by garden centres. The first is the transition from selling peat-based compost to peat-free mixes. Challenges here include the variable quality of peat-free compost mixes, fears over supply of new ingredients, the higher price of these mixes and how they can help educate amateur gardeners learn to grow their plants. Many have found difficulties in germinating seeds prompting fears that thousands of customers, particularly those trying to Grow-Your-Own fruit and veg, may give up, costing garden centres valuable customers in the process.We hear about the initiatives from thought leaders in the industry on how these challenges can and should be addressed.The second challenge relates to the sourcing of plants that have been grown in peat-free compost. This is where the interests of retailers intersect with the growers as peat-free adds to cost pressures. Ways to grow so-called tricky plants continue to be elusive prompting fears that we may lose the ability to buy whole categories of plants in the UK. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

HortWeek presents The End of Peat, a new four-part podcast series that will hear from leading horticulturists and garden retailers as they navigate a transition to peat-free that is piling pressure on a sector facing stresses on all sides.Peat is one of the most popular and reliable types of growing media for plants, but peatlands are also a valuable store for carbon and as the UK Government tries to meet net zero targets, a peat ban is on the agenda.Over the four episodes, Christina Taylor explores the story of the UK peat ban, how the horticulture industry is facing up to the challenge, and how it might shape the future of the sector.Christina asks:Do we need a peat ban?Why is the transition to peat-free causing so much division and proving so difficult?And as the sector navigates the numerous challenges, she asks what is needed for the sector to survive, if and when peat ban legislation actually comes into effect.In Episode 1: Do we need a peat ban? Christina unearths why a peat ban is being proposed and outlines some of the arguments for and against. It examines the history of peat use in the UK, the properties of peat and peat-free growing media, and begins to unearth why the topic has so bitterly divided the horticulture industry. The End of Peat was written, produced and presented by HortWeek digital content manager Christina Taylor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bob Askew was Garden Media Guild award winner a year ago for his new writer work for Hortweek. He works for Kernock Park Plants as production director and was previously at Darby Nursery Stock and Brinkmans.Here he names his top three tree genera for gardens, three underused tree genera and top five skinny trees for small gardens.He believes the reliance of nurseries and garden centres on too few ornamental tree cultivars is a bad thing and is critical of overuse of Betula utilis var. jacquemontii and Crataegus Paul's Scarlet, and offers alternatives to them.Askew also names three awful crab apple cultivars and five brilliant ones for gardens, as well as five brilliant but below-the-radar flowering cherries.He delves into the pros and cons of growing trees in solid pots, versus airpots, or slotted pots. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week the HortWeek Podcast meets Imogen Bell, supervisor at Thomson's Garden Centre and a YPHA Southeast regional coordinatorIn her article for HortWeek 'Despite CITES, not all doom and gloom for houseplant sales' Imogen reflects on how the reinterpretation of CITES "meant practically a third of my stock became unavailable overnight". One of the "Brexit benefits" often quoted was the possibility that more friction across the borders would encourage clients to buy British and boost British-grown plants. As tightening border controls cause unprecedented chaos at BCPs Imogen might be feeling a degree of relief that she took the decision to switch to British houseplant nurseries months ago."Cacti, carnivorous plants, the majority of orchids... it's almost impossible to import, which is obviously quite a large part of most houseplant departments."Luckily, I was already having looking into UK growers after Brexit - just in case anything got super difficult to import. And at the same time a lot of UK nurseries then opened up to garden centres - Oppenman's plants, Double H, Hills Brothers all opened up to garden centres about the same time.I was already ordering from them so I just got to order in much higher volume.The only plants she's struggled with are more unusual orchids, she says, but initiatives such as Horti House which allows nurseries to trade as one unit is helping."You get some great nurseries in there like Dibley's who do Streptocarpus and Begonia.. and where before you would have to order either half a trolley or a whole trolley, you can now just order by the tray which means you can get a good range of more unusual things without having to kind of put all your eggs in one basket with a specific supplier."She talks about the challenge of competing with supermarkets with their economies of scale, "but on the other hand, I think if you look at any supermarket at their house plant department, it is all half-dead... where garden centers and other plant shops really stand out is the level of knowledge and customer service they can offer".At Thomson's she has added labels showing the air miles for plants on sale: "I'd like to introduce UK suppliers and just extend that so you can say this orchid or Monstera or whatever has come from 40 miles away and it's come from this nursery and it's a family -run business. I think it just adds to the value of the plant to be able to give it that origin."It surprises her that, given the huge rise in popularity of houseplants in recent years, many garden centres fail to put on a good display.New trends she is seeing include Marimo moss balls. They grow like a couple of millimetres a year. But for some reason they were flying off the shelves." The appeal for many customers she says, are plants that "thrive off neglect".On peat-free, Imogen says customers are asking for it and garden centres are moving in that direction, ban or no ban. "Horti House is peat-free and again out of necessity I guess the other ones will come into line" she says.On peat-free composts, she says: "I've noticed more and more people are mixing their own soils. So instead of just getting a packet off the shelf, they're buying a base and then they're buying perlite or coir or coco husk and then blending it for the specific plant".And will the houseplant boom continue?"I'm not sure we'll quite get the sky high sales we had during the lockdowns...They've plateaued since, but the interest is consistent. I don't think house plants will go away." Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

HortWeek is delighted to present the Cultivate Your Future podcast, in partnership with the Colegrave Seabrook Foundation and sponsor Westland Horticulture.At a time when horticulture needs to encourage a new wave of young people to come into the industry, this podcast is designed to highlight the multiple and varied career opportunities available.Hear from people who have found their way into their chosen career through different paths, what their job involves and what it means to them.In this episode Neville Stein catches up with students from Sparsholt College to discuss their recent experience of exhibiting at RHS Chelsea Flower Show and how they felt about it.As the Colegave Seabrook Foundation supports students studying horticulture, we were very proud to be sponsors of their exhibit and are thrilled at their success. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week's guests are James Cairncross and Angela Lewis from the Midlands Parks Forum which has its annual conference on the 17th of October at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire. Highlights include keynote speaker Dr. William Bird, a GP who contributed to a select committee report on access to green space who will speak on health benefits of physical activity and green spaces."Other speakers include people from MHCLG, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Heritage Lottery Fund, and also some experience from out in the real world, such as Islington Borough Council" Angela explains and she outlines workshops also to be run at the event.James addresses the "perennial problem" of parks budget cuts. "Despite there being quite a clear return on any investment in parks, local authority officers are still struggling to protect what they've got, let alone improve the funding for green spaces."Our chair of trustees Liz Stuffins attended the previous Government's DEFRA inquiry into urban parks, and they found that both the quality and the quantity of urban parks are in quite serious decline.This exacerbates the skills shortages suffered by the parks sector but The Midlands Park Forum aims to help overcome this by offering learning events, the conference and webinars "focused on the skills and competencies in a framework that aligns with the Landscape Institute's framework on competencies identifying over 60 skills in six categories, which we've identified as being important for a good park manager. And it's not just about cutting grass. This is people skills, environmental stewardship, income and finance, future visioning and planning, and all the competencies that go with being a professional."The lack and loss of expertise in the sector combined with budget cuts means some parks "are already losing their green flag awards because the authorities can just no longer attain the quality that's needed to keep those award...some councils now can't even afford the cost of the application, let alone the quality".With a new Government installed, James acknowledges parks will have to "join the queue" when asking for more state funding but top of his list of asks is "a national urban parks strategy and it needs to be integrated into public health because the benefits of that are both obvious." Close behind is a wish that the Green Jobs Task Force be expanded to include the green spaces sector.They discuss best practice in the sector and for Angela it means "local spaces that can become the hub of the local community and making sure that people do look at different collaborations locally, whether that's with local charities providing physical activity and exercise or local charities that provide volunteers to look after the green spaces and just making sure that all those things are considered in terms of local people having that space that they've got within 15 minutes of home".For the future, the Forum wants to "continue to deliver quality service to members" including CPD offerings, via learning events and knowledge sharing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Both our guests on the HortWeek Podcast broadly agree with the reasons for a peat ban and agree there is a need to reduce carbon emissions to help fight climate change. But they are not equally convinced a peat ban is the way to do it.In the 'for' corner is cosmos and hollyhocks national collection holder and lobbyist Jonathan Sheppard.Sheppard says: "You only have to look at places like Hampton Court where they have the peat-free garden where the plant list was massive. I've never seen a plant list as long which showed people that you can grow without peat. So I'm just wholly not convinced that you can't be a successful grower. But then I guess it depends on what do we mean by a successful grower. I just don't want to see rewards being given when there's an RHS sustainability strategy when using peat...It must be the wrong thing to do, given the science that we know about how much CO2 digging this cheap product up emits."And in the 'not so sure' corner we have dahlia and sweet pea grower Darren Everest.Darren argues: "Just for example in the National Dahlia Society, you try finding me one of the top elite growersn that don't use peat and I think you'll struggle to find any...growing flowers to national level requires a lot of time and years of knowledge and experience growing and I haven't found anybody online yet, certainly in the dahlia world, that has found a suitable non-peat-based product. "HortWeek editor Matthew Appleby hosts the discussion which focuses on efforts to end peat use by growers and RHS exhibitors.The pair reflect on their experience of using peat free and debate how significant the carbon emissions cuts achieved by ending peat use in horticulture will be.The RHS plans to end peat use from 2026 and they ponder how this ban will affect different growers, awards, whether shows will attract fewer exhibitors and crucially, how it can be policed.For more information on growers and garden retailers going peat free, see https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/peat Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

ICL's Sam Rivers digs down into Integrated Pest Management and speifically IPM planning.Sam describes what the current situation in the industry is with regards to IPM planning and details the 'hierarchy of control', which includes cultural, biological, physical and chemical methods.He gives examples of the different types of controls and talks about regulations for biological control.Sam warns that chemical control is a last option and lists some of the many new restrictions on chemicals that are coming in. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

GroundsFest 2024 took place10 - 11 September at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire. Initial visitor numbers from day 1 (unaudited) of 4,738 were 40% up on last year, the show's inaugural year.The podcast was recorded on day 2 of GroundsFest amongst the hustle and bustle of the show. HortWeek senior reporter Rachael Forsyth spoke with Chris Bassett, event director at GroundsFest, Jonathan Snowball head of professional at Husqvarna and David Fisher head of landscape and rural at LANTRA about how the show has been going so far.Snowball explained that Husqvarna took advantage of the outdoor space making its entire stand a live demo area – one section for chainsaws and another for robotic lawn mowers and ride on machines. Bassett explained that this was a USP when setting up GroundsFest, allowing exhibitors to have that flexibility with their space and offering something different for visitors. Fisher said conversations at the show centred around the skills shortage with LANTRA facilitating a “well attended” seminar on the challenges and opportunities in the amenity sector. Questions arose around where the next generation is coming from, keeping people in the industry, and how we can best show off what careers and pathways look like. Bassett said the show has had really good feedback so far, and while you will never get 100% positive feedback the team is ready to make tweaks based on feedback for next year. Overall, though, Bassett said visitors are enjoying being able to get their hands on the kit and test it.See: www.groundsfest.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alan Down is a gardening broadcaster and writer and current HTA president, shortly to be replaced by Will Armitage after two eventful years.He studied at Cannington and Pershore College of Horticulture and after a spell working Germany, he developed and managed Hillier Nurseries' container grown and seed propagation nurseries for nine years.For the following 35 years, Alan built up Cleeve Nursery and Garden Centre, near Bristol and alongside hi wife Felicity, co-presented the long-standing ‘Garden Calendar' TV programme.On the podcast Alan talks about his role at the HTA including presiding over changes in structure and strategy.He discusses his desire to shift the terminology and emphasis of production horticulture from 'ornamental' to 'environmental' horticulture which runs alongside the topics the HTA engages with, including with the Government. These topics include the issues of trade and border checks, "the extra costs [growers] incur... and we continue to apply pressure to try and resolve the issues that are there. We also have huge concern about the few inspections that there are, which means that we are a threat in terms of importing pests and diseases which could be harmful to our industry and indeed to the country as a whole".He discusses the on-going shift away from peat. In the absence of official figures (since 2022) he estimates garden centre use of peat-based growing media is down to around 10%, but the picture with growers is more complex."Some have been growing peat-free for quite some time. Others are still trialling and finding out what medium works for them and how to handle growing plants in peat -free compost and others may not have even started. But we are there to support our members in this transition and we'll continue to do that."He and HortWeek editor Matt Appleby discuss the Lords Parliamentary horticultural inquiry of 2023 and the impact, if any, it has had since on the sector, which has partly been disrupted by the arrival of a new Government, Alan points out.But. Alan says, he believes the HTA is well-placed to influence the new administration as an institution which represents growers, landscapers and retailers. He talks about initiatives such as inviting MPs to visit growers on site and the opportunity exhibiting at Chelsea gives the HTA to meet them in a "in a more relaxed mood'.Matt and Alan talk about the health of horticulture shows including collaborations with GIMA, Alan's enthusiasm for more regional events and the HTA's own conference taking place on September 25 at the International Conference Centre in Birmingham.And as he celebrates his 50th wedding anniversary, he contemplates life after the HTA and what it might hold as well as his latest Desert Island plant. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A Sussex native, Susan Raikes, the new director of Wakehurst, Kew's wild botanic garden in West Sussex (she joined in June) was familier with the garden since childhood. "We're Kew's younger, bigger and wilder sister and very much a botanic garden with a purpose...a site of horticultural and scientific excellence and a living laboratory where groundbreaking science projects are taking place as well. So lots of beautiful gardens, beautiful spots to come and visit, but some really important science and horticultural work going on as well."After Kew released a report detailing risks to over half of its 11,000 trees, Wakehurst will carry out a similar exercise next year: "it's a different challenge, but absolutely we're thinking about the resilience of the planting".She talks about the effects of climate change on the garden, with respect not just to plants, but impacts for visitors and scientists working at the centre.Related to this, Wakehurst has been "championing meadows" via it's Meadowland feature this summer (until September 10) and has a focus on threatened and rare UK habitats which have been combined with newly commissioned pieces of contemporary art to enhance the ecological and educational aspects.Wakehurst is home to Kew's Millennium Seed Bank, which houses more than 2.4 billion seeds from around the world and which will celebrate its 25th birthday next year.Among research programs currently live at the garden Sue highlights Nature Unlocked, "which is helping us to use Wakehurst as a living laboratory, looking at it as an ecosystem observatory. We're looking at pollinators and carbon, but also well-being and the different kinds of landscapes and environments that people get the most benefit from". The research project will be reflected in features in visitor areas such as the children's garden which will house a bee bank, a rebuilt mud kitchen and edible meadow.Next year will also see the 60th anniversary of Kew's presence at Wakehurst and the garden plans to bring "to life that story of being a living laboratory so that visitors really know that they are visiting somewhere that is really making a difference in terms of all of the work we need to do around climate change and habitat loss as well."Previously Sue was director of learning at the Science Museum Group and before that you were head of learning and national partnerships at the British Museum and is familiar with "taking sometimes quite complicated and specialist content and then working with that in a variety of different ways to bring it to as many people as possible" and she plans to bring these skills to bear at Wakehurst.Wakehurst has enlisted two champions, TV GP Dr. Amir Khan and BBC Springwatch presenter Megan McCubbin to help "amplify our message and spread the word about this incredible wild botanic garden that we have." Local resident and A-list actor Cate Blanchett has made a promotional video for the garden and it is hoped she will have more involvement in the future.The aim is to build on the 400,000 visitors Wakehurst receives every year and hopes to "reach people who might not know about us" through access schemes and community work. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

GroundsFest 2024 takes place on the 10 and the 11 of September at Stoneleigh Park, in Warwickshire. The free annual event is a must-attend for grounds staff, greenkeepers, landscapers, designers & architects, gardeners, local authorities, estate managers and contractors.It combines indoor business and education opportunities with outdoor demonstrations and on the evening of the 10 September there is a live music festival for visitors to network and unwind. HortWeek senior reporter Rachael Forsyth speaks with Chris Bassett, event director at GroundsFest about what to expect from this year's show, as well as exhibitors Wayne Grills chief executive at BALI, and Ian Graham chairman of Amenity Forum about the benefits of attending and exhibiting. 2023 was the show's inaugural year, but its success has meant additional space has been added both indoor and outdoors. Bassett explains that the success also accelerated the goal of reinvesting profits from GroundsFest back into the industry to support education through the GroundsFest Education Fund.Grills explains that he attended as a seminal panellist and visitor last year which encouraged him to have a BALI presence at the event this year, with the association hosting its AGM at the show. Graham describes why Complete Weed Control was drawn back to the world of exhibitions through GroundsFest, as well as what visitors can expect from Amenity Forum at the event. See: www.groundsfest.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

HortWeek is delighted to present the Cultivate Your Future podcast, in partnership with the Colegrave Seabrook Foundation and sponsors MorePeople.This episode was recorded on location at Ball Colegrave where the great and the good from the horticultural industry gathered to celebrate 30 years of the Colegrave Foundation. In this episode Neville Stein talks to seasoned professionals as well as recent recipients of a bursary from the foundation and discusses the sense of community that makes the industry such a great one to work in. Make sure you never miss a Horticulture Week podcast! Subscribe to or Follow Horticulture Week podcasts via Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your preferred podcast platform. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week's guest is Angus Soft Fruits' breeding program director, Lucy Wilkins. Angus Soft Fruits sells to the major multiples in UK, food service and wholesale and also exports fruit around the world to Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Angus is launching two revolutionary raspberry varieties: AVA™ Monet and AVA™ Dali - so named because they are, “works of art!” Lucy explains how they represent a "significant breakthrough in raspberry cultivation".With UK growers squeezed between increased challenges for UK growers due to production and labour costs and ever-rising demands from supermarkets, the higher yield and high quality of the new breeds will "enable [Angus's growers] to sell the fruit at a higher price".She discusses trends in customer tastes and their expectations and how Angus Soft Fruits breeding program is aiming to meet these for strawberries, blackberries, raspberries and blueberries.Health, wellness and nutrition are big areas of interest as well as environmental impact of food and ethical farming practices, she says, which need to be balanced against demands for cheap, large, tasty fruits available all year round.She discusses how the season, relative production performance for fruits has gone in 2024."We're also looking internationally to see how our varieties can perform in other climates. So we've got trials in Southern Europe and Morocco to sort of see how these varieties could perform in an import perspective, which would obviously allow for year-round production of our Ava berries, which is really exciting and it's a fantastic opportunity for growers around Europe as well as the UK", she says.This year is Angus Soft Fruits 30th anniversary which will be celebrated in its annual conference held in November in Scotland which will feature talks from people from across the industry sharing their insights, updates and tech and what is driving innovation in the industry. "It's just a fantastic opportunity to get the whole team together, all of our growers and just celebrate 30 fantastic years."Lucy discusses her route to her current role, why Tayside is so good for soft fruit growing and what Angus is doing on sustainability, coping with climate change and improving disease resistance and tolerance to help reduce pesticide use."Our Scottish growers have been working with AgriCalc to measure their carbon footprints on their farms since 2023 and they've already reduced their carbon emissions per kilogram of fruit by 28% which is just fantastic" she says, highlighting changes to lighting, and food waste among other measures towards net zero goals.As the new Government continues to bed in, Lucy talks about her support for the six priority areas outlined by the British Berry Growers Association which include measures for seasonal labour, planning, exports and hopes for a 'grower charter'. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Edwin Meijer from Green Solutions speaks about the dos and don'ts of loyalty programmes for garden retailers.Edwin speaks about the role of smartphones in loyalty campaigns as the older generation uses social media more.Research from KPMG showed that more than 80% of the consumers expect a mobile-based loyalty programme. If you retired aged 65 in 2020, you spent over 20 years with computers.Edwin says there are a lot of misunderstandings. Some UK customer are mobile-only and that works really well. This is not about who your current customers are, but who your ideal future customer is. The solution is also to integrate iOS and Android wallets to make it mobile-based He also gives tip about chasing inactive customers and how to get 40% of them back in-store in two weeks using interaction, inspiration and information.Edwin also speaks about Green Solutions/Haymarket's acquisition of Garden Connect, what Green Solutions does and what we've seen with shofts from loyalty printed vouchers to emails/apps.He says personalisation, weather-dependent campaigns and using AI can all help loyalty programmes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matthew Bent of Bents Garden and Home and Plants for Europe's Graham Spencer speak to HortWeek about the visitor experience at Four Oaks Trade Show.Four Oaks is the UK's leading international exhibition for the whole of commercial horticulture. From production to point-of-sale, the breadth of exhibits on display is the show's strength, attracting a broad visitor base. The event takes place on a 23-acre nursery site in Cheshire UK, close to the Jodrell Bank Radio Telescope, covering an area of 13,000m² under glass with additional outdoor areas. The 52nd show takes place this September 3rd & 4th and organisers urge potential exhibitors to contact them about space ASAP because they expect to sell out.Bent and Spencer reveal they have both been attending the show for more than 20 years each and find it offers plants and products they can't find anywhere else.They share top tips for getting the most out of visiting the show and say what makes the event so unique and important to the industry as a whole.See https://www.fouroaks-tradeshow.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sales development executive at Collier Turf Care Sally Jarrett is not a football fan but as stories of divot-strewn pitches she has sympathy for grounds keepers under the spotlight during the Euros tournament held in Germany last June."When football pitches are getting ready for big tournaments, they undergo a lot of work...it could be that some of that weather has either stopped work being able to be done. Or the work that was done had to be redone because maybe it was ruined with the torrential rain that we had.""It's really difficult because there's such a large expectation on turf managers and there's nothing they can do about the weather...as a turf manager, that's your pride and joy. That's your pitch and you've got it on the world stage...it must be devastating for some of those turf managers to be looking at some of the pitches and getting the comments that are coming back to them."She discusses the impact of climate change and and extreme weather that is making a the tricky job of turf managers more challenging still with an increase in pest and diseases another side effect.Time was when turf managers would cure everything with a liberal spray of chemicals but "things have changed" Sally explains and the new way is an "integrated method" to help prevent or mitigate pests and diseases including environmental measures, air regulation, cutting heights and feed programmes.As with other sectors "the staff levels are getting worrying" as replacing those retiring can prove difficult she says. She echos calls for more discussion of horticulture in schools to help boost the sector's profile.Sally welcomes new technology as robotic mowers and automated irrigation systems can help free staff up to carry out other tasks.She also talks through the challenges of those notorious turf foes, chafer grubs and leatherjackets. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week's podcast guests are leaders in the UK fruit growing sector: Alana Deakin, the new chair of the NextGen Fruit Group and head of operations at Hall Hunter and Oli Pascall, MD of Clockhouse Farm and the NextGen past president. They talk about their key takeaways from a recent visit to the USA including ag-tech, driven in part by scarcity and the high cost of labour, and where "they are definitely ahead of where we are in the UK" but also efficient water use, spearheaded in water-scarce California but also the use of branding and competition between large fruit brands.Alana explains the aims of fruit farming group NextGen which despite its focus on the next generation of fruit farmers, is "not limited to that because we need the industry experts to come and teach the next generation".The group unites people from across the various fruit-growing sectors to provide "cross-industry information that can be very, very useful" through networking events and farm visits."I think it's also good to solidify that with some proper scientific learning. So I'd like to introduce a few technical days" says Alana, who also has ambitions of creating the UK's first conference for fruit growers.The group went to California to see how the US growers are coping with labour challenges.The UK seasonal worker scheme is among the issues Oli and Alana want to see the new Labour Government address as well as industry funding and food and environmental policy.After a particularly wet growing season in 2024, they reflect on how their crops have fared with blueberries enjoying the conditions in particular, a crop they both agree has significant potential for growth.On strawberries, Oli says:"I think, fair to say, prices over the past few years have been challenging, growth returns have been challenging as the industry has regularly reported. It's still challenging but it's a lot more manageable than it has been for the past couple of years. So we need to see continued increase in returns for the industry to be sustainable and get back to where it was a few years ago."I think we are going to see shortages of product throughout the season at certain points. And I know some of our customers are importing throughout the season as well. So that is showing a weakening of British supply throughout what has traditionally been a season fully catered for with local production."Water supply is a major concern, says Oli who began a plan to build a reservoir a year three years ago with two more to go as part of his plan to ensure water security for his business. He is also aiming for Net Zero for 2040:"As far as on-the-ground changes at the moment, I think we need to build growing structures that are suitable for changing climates. So we need to be ready for more variation in temperature, colder winters, hotter summers, and more set weather patterns."As for the future, technology and innovation will play a large part, says Alana who has just installed a new grader with AI. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The author of The Ethical Carnivore, Louise Gray takes a journalistic approach to questioning trusims about fruit and veg being better for you and the planet.Mike Berners-Lee wrote about the carbon footprint of 100 things in 2010's How Bad Are Bananas. As many businesses attempt to go carbon neutral, ethical and environmental sourcing is more of an issue than ever.In her book, Louise interviews banana, potato and avocado experts, adds some history and scientific references plus some personal worries related to her own baby in an attempt to bring clarity to the dilemma many consumers face when choosing what to eat.Louise discusses the use of avocados, beloved of millenials and vegetarians, and long used by anti-vegetarian campaigners as a stick to tell them they are being bad for the planet. She talks about how much less carbon is produced importing avocados from abroad compared to producing beef in Britain. Avocados are a lot less bad than meat and airfreighted asparagus, but are worse than UK-grown potatoes, she says.For apples, English Apples and Pears' Ali Capper is the interviewee and Louise discusses how the loss of apple biodiversity is a cause for anxiety.She concludes that the perfect diet does not exist and that food stories (the growing and selling of plants) are 'complex'. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tayshan Hayden-Smith's Wikipedia entry tells you he is a professional footballer from Ladbroke Grove, London. Nicknamed the "English Neymar" Tayshan had a burgeoning international career underway until the Grenfell Fire in 2017 took 72 lives from his local community. A quest for healing led him into the world of horticulture and his non-profit organisation Grow to Know was born with the aim of addressing societal and environmental inequality. Its activities earned Tayshan a new name as the "Grenfell guerilla gardener" and he helped create a Grenfell garden from leftover nursery plants. Fast-forward 7 years and he has partnered with The Black Gardener Danny Clarke to take the Hands Off Mangrove garden to Chelsea Flower Show, become and RHS ambassador, appeared on Your Garden Made Perfect (BBC1) and Alan Titchmarsh's Gardening Club (ITVX). Talking to senior reporter Rachael Forsyth on the podcast, they first discuss the Peter Rabbit-inspired community garden that Grow to Know worked on in partnership with publisher Penguin Random House that typifies Tayshan's philosophy as a gardener."It was otherwise an unused bit of land in the school and now it's one of the most used bits of the school where the kids, at every opportunity, just try to be in that space."[It's] just to see how magical that is for the children ... threading in those ideas around kind of food security and growing our own food and biodiversity and the importance of wildlife in, especially in, urban space.Though Tayshan clearly seeks and finds solace and beauty in plants, the driver behind his career is activism, but he says he's not expecting any Government to respond to lobbying to support horticulture for education, well-being or the environment:"I'm kind of tired of asking now and I think we just got to do, so, I'd like to think that we're leading by example of what we're doing... I think it's for the people and for the local organisations and grassroots organisations to show the way rather than relying on those who clearly just can't deliver."He queries why for more than a century RHS Chelsea Flower Show has "existed on the more affluent side of the borough, but has never had any impacts on North Kensington. "In North Kensington, you can expect to live on average 20 years less than someone who lives in South Kensington.... that stark bit of data really inspires the need to build that bridge to a place that is filled with resource, filled with beauty, filled with magic, filled with nature, yet there are people who are suffering on the outside of those boundaries."It is very political and I think we have to understand that from the very get-go and through that lens...When I tell you that people are living 20 years less and a big influencing factor of that is nature access, then it should be taken seriously.Tayshan Hayden-Smith's book, Small Space Revolution, Planting Seeds of Change in Your Community, is "an amalgamation of my experiences, my insights, my thoughts, but also the thoughts, experiences and insights of many other people around the world. And so there's case studies in the book, there's ideas and thoughts, there's interviews, there's how-tos. And so hopefully you can open a book at any page and take some inspiration...I guess it will hopefully activate the activism within [readers]."Our intention is to bring gardening, horticulture, nature, to the fore to the people that could really do with it, the people in survival mode on the 10th floor of tower blocks... For me if we can engage those people then we can engage anyone." Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.