Podcasts about RHS

In this episode, Laura and Chay are joined by the talented James Smith, an accomplished garden designer at Landscape Services. James is a former RHS medalist and was a finalist for the prestigious Young Designer of the Year award. With years of experience designing stunning gardens and landscapes across Hampshire and Dorset, James brings a wealth of knowledge and creativity to the conversation.James shares his journey into the world of landscape design—what first inspired him, how he developed his craft, and what drives his ambitions today. Prior to the interview, Laura and Chay sent James the designs of their own allotment plots, and during the episode, he offers honest and thoughtful feedback—highlighting what he loves, suggesting areas for improvement, and giving practical tips to consider.The chat also touches on James's own growing season, how his new greenhouse has transformed his gardening experience, and what exciting plans he has on the horizon.Whether you're a budding gardener or a design enthusiast, this episode is full of inspiration and insight into the creative world of garden design.You can follow James journey on instagram HEREIf you have any questions you would like to ask us or would like to collaborate with us, then please contact us on: allotmentdiariespodcast@gmail.com. You can also follow our social media accounts: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or YouTube. Allotment Diaries Podcast is a podcast that examines what has worked well and what hasn't worked so well when it comes to having an allotment plot. It seeks to give an honest insight into what owning an allotment plot is actually about.

On this episode of the Lancaster Farming Industrial Hemp Podcast, we take a look at the fight for industrial hemp's future — from grassroots advocacy to global certification and the ongoing struggles farmers face in the banking system. Act 1: Virginia Hemp Month – Reclaiming the Word "Hemp" Joe Domino and Scott McStacy of the Virginia Hemp Coalition join the show to talk about their efforts to officially recognize June as Virginia Hemp Month. With events ranging from hempcrete building workshops and beekeeping demonstrations to film screenings and brewery gatherings, Virginia is building momentum to reclaim the word hemp for fiber, grain, and industrial uses — and to separate it from cannabinoids and cannabis. Learn more: Virginia Hemp Month virginiahempmonth.com Virginia Hemp Coalition https://www.vahemp.org/ Act 2: Responsible Hemp Standard – Certification for Fiber Hemp Eric Singular returns to introduce the Responsible Hemp Standard (RHS) — the first global certification system for the industrial hemp fiber supply chain. RHS brings traceability, transparency, and verified responsible practices to every stage of hemp fiber production, from cultivation to cottonization. This certification gives brands and textile mills the confidence to source truly sustainable hemp fiber for apparel, textiles, and home goods. Learn more: Responsible Hemp Standard responsiblehempstandard.com Act 3: Banking Headaches on Brush Mountain In our final segment, we head back to Brush Mountain in Centre County, PA, where bison farmer and hemp grower Herb Grove tells how his local bank abruptly canceled his accounts — simply because he held a legal hemp farming permit. His story is a stark reminder of the outdated financial roadblocks still facing hemp farmers nationwide. Thanks to our Sponsors! • IND Hemp — indhemp.com • King's AgriSeeds — kingsagriseeds.com • Forever Green / KP4 Hemp Cutter — hempcutter.com Don't forget the Global Industrial Hemp Fiber Summit in Raleigh, NC — hosted by NC State and NIHC this July

This week, we're stepping off the garden path and into the wild. James Armitage, editor of The Plant Review, joins Gareth Richards to reflect on how a little wilderness can bring balance, biodiversity, and unexpected beauty, to even the most cultivated spaces. We begin with a tribute to the intrepid botanist John Watson, whose plant-hunting adventures in South America unearthed a treasure trove of wild flora. Plantsman Robert Rolfe shares stories of Watson's passion and the remarkable plants he helped bring into cultivation. Then, it's over to the Garry oak meadows of Vancouver Island, where nurserywoman Amy Sanderson and writer Eric Hsu are rethinking everything we thought we knew about camassias – revealing their surprising resilience in dry climates. Finally, we ascend to the Himalayas with botanist Richard Moore to meet the hardy Roscoea – a plant both wild and wonderful, whose taxonomic tale is as twisty as its mountain roots. All this, plus a call to action: find out how you can help protect community growing spaces by supporting the RHS-backed Space to Grow amendment in Parliament. Hosts: Gareth Richards & James Armitage Contributors: Robert Rolfe, Amy Sanderson, Eric Hsu, Richard Moore Links: RHS Horticultural bursaries Subscribe to The Plant Review Space to Grow amendment for the government's Planning and Infrastructure Bill Use this template to send to your MP find your MP's email address here Saving allotments and community gardens

It was a week of firsts for the Ridgefield Tiger Talk podcast! We welcomed our first-ever RPS Communications intern, RHS senior Murphy Everdell. She discusses her internship, which is covering her fellow senior interns—in the office, in the schools, or on the farm. In the second part of the show, Murphy takes her turn as our first student co-host, interviewing her school counselor, Lori Bran, about the first intern service trip to Panama. Interns packed a lifetime into a five-day trip. Thanks for listening

Our latest episode comes from a rather unexpected venue: a former Chelsea Flower Show garden! Now located in London's Notting Hill, it's where we meet Danny Clarke, garden designer, TV presenter, and self-confessed tree hugger. As we explore the public woodland-themed garden, Danny explains how it tells the stories of injustice against humans and nature. He created the garden as part of his work with Grow2Know, a charity dedicated to making nature more appealing and accessible to a wider audience. It's a subject close to his heart and as he tells us about his childhood and the meaning behind his moniker, The Black Gardener, his passion is clear. Danny finds comfort and joy in nature: the sound of birdsong, the smell of tree bark, the texture of soil. And he's doing his utmost to help as many people as possible, regardless of background, to find that joy too. Don't forget to rate us and subscribe! Learn more about the Woodland Trust at woodlandtrust.org.uk Transcript You are listening to Woodland Walks, a podcast for the Woodland Trust presented by Adam Shaw. We protect and plant trees for people to enjoy, to fight climate change and to help wildlife thrive.  Adam: Well, today I'm off to meet someone much closer to home than normal. I can do it on the tube rather than going on the train. I am meeting Danny Clarke, who is a British garden designer who shot to fame in 2015 as BBC's Instant Gardener. Since then, he's been on our screens with a host of popular garden makeover shows and horticultural advice. He joined ITV's This Morning's presenting team, and he is now a member of Alan Titchmarsh's Love Your Garden team as well. In fact, in addition to all of that, he helps run a charity known as Grow2Know which, whose heart I think really lies in reclaiming space and reconnecting people with nature and each other. And it's one of those projects I think I'm going to see him at really very centrally, in London, in Notting Hill, where they have tried to bring some green space, some nature right to the heart of the city, and include all the local communities.  Danny: My name is Danny Clarke. I'm a garden designer and TV presenter.  Adam: Lovely. And we are meeting in what is now fashionable Notting Hill, wasn't always the case when I was growing up around this area, actually, so, but but we're we're in an urban garden that is your design.  Danny: Well, not the whole garden, not the whole space. I mean, this is Tavistock Square. Yeah, uh, but we've, um, kind of elicited a section of it to rehome our Chelsea Flower Show garden from 2022, which is which actually is a Grow2Know project, of which of which I'm a director of.  Adam: So I what wanna know about Grow2Know. But you you've already mentioned the garden and we're standing right by it. So. Well, why don't you describe it to begin with. So people get a sort of visual image of what it is we're standing next to.  Danny: OK, so basically your corten steel structure, it's dominated by a corten steel structure. And that's supposed to represent two things, a) the mangrove restaurant, which was a place that was owned by a West Indian immigrant in the late 60s/70s that was brutalised by the police. And so it's telling that story. And it's also telling the story of man's injustice to nature. So what we see here really is a corten steel structure, which represents the roots of a mangrove tree. And as you can see, it looks quite brutal and and and the top where the trunk is, it's actually been severed, which actually represents what, you know, man's kind of lack of, shall we say, I don't know, respect for nature.  Adam: So it's it's a political, I mean, it's an interesting installation, if that's the right word, in that it's it is political in this with this sort of small P, not party political, but it's sort of reflecting the societal challenges that this area certainly went through. But you it's interesting, you talk about the trunk, is it is it also a tree? I mean this is a sort of tree podcast. Is there a reference in that as well?  Danny: Yeah, that's a reference to the tree, so that the reference to the tree is that it is a mangrove tree alright, so mangrove and mangrove restaurant. Yeah, so it's kind of a play on words, if you like. So we're telling it's really about storytelling. So we're telling two stories here. We're telling the story of man's brutality against man and man's brutality against nature.  Adam: Wonderful. So you run this organisation? What's it called again?  Danny: It's called Grow2Know. I don't actually run it, I'm a director, so I'm I'm I'm it's so it started well, it started soon after the Grenfell fire in 2017.  Adam: Which is also I mean this is not far from here as well.  Danny: It's not far from here. It's just up the road. And I was horrified by what unfolded like many people were. And I felt quite powerless. So I thought, you know what I'll do? I'll get in touch with the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, where the tower resides and see if I could help in some way, maybe use my expertise as a garden designer to maybe build a small, I don't know, small garden and I spoke to our head of greening guy called Terry Oliver. There's lots of emails flying backwards and forwards. And he was eulogising about this young man called Tayshan Hayden-Smith, 19, single father and who lives near the tower who knew people who perished in the flames. And he turned to gardening or guerilla gardening. I don't know if you know what that is? It's gardening without permission.  Adam: Well, yeah. A friend of mine does that actually near where I live, and sort of grows plants, actually vegetables and potatoes in the street trees. I'm I'm going I don't wanna eat your potatoes! But anyway, I get it. It's an interesting sort of little subculture, guerilla gardening.  Danny: He was just drawn to it. I think it's probably because his mum used to was into nature when Tayshan was very young and she used to point things out to him. Like, look at that tree, isn't that wonderful? Look at that sunset, isn't it lovely? And this, this kind of instilled into his sort of consciousness. And he just naturally just felt he needed to just go out and find a piece of land, community space, pick up litter, syringes, maybe go to the garden centre, get some fading plants and just pretty the place up as best he could, and he got a lot of healing from that and people will be attracted to him. So there'll be this conversation going on. Sometimes people will stay for a minute, then go off again. Others will probably stay and help him along the way. You know? You know, to to transform the space as best they could. And he got a lot of healing from that.  Adam: And and and you, you and your colleagues sort of created this charity around.  Danny: So so no, no. So o what then happened was that I... he wanted to know if I'd like to meet this guy, and I'm thinking to myself, you know, I've been meeting a guy that's got all sorts of issues that I might not be able to deal with. But I had this outline of him, and when I met him, there was none of that. He's the most amazing, well-put-together, guy – young man – I've ever met really. And I, cut a long story short, became his mentor, and we've just been on this fabulous journey ever since. And this is part of it. So one day, Tayshan said to me, he'd like to form a nonprofit. We didn't have a name for it at the time, but it did become Grow2Know, and and he wanted to show the wider, more people wanted to make it nature more inclusive, and he because he got so many benefits from it, he wanted the other people to enjoy, you know, the curative effects of gardening and being in nature – cause we all know it's good for the mind, body and soul. So that's how Grow2Know was born. But we've actually sort of gone on from that now. We're more than just a a gardening collective. We're more pace-making, change making. We're out there to sort of change the narrative, if you like. And we're kind of an activist group and we're just trying to make nature more appealing to a wider audience.  Adam: And how how are you doing that? I mean, you've clearly got this garden here. But in trying to sort of bring urban communities closer to nature, how are you doing that?  Danny: Yeah. Bring, bring, bring communities closer to nature.  Adam: And how do you do that?  Danny: By having spaces like this. So we've got spaces, quite a few spaces that we've converted in this area and this is just one of them. So it's about bringing people into nature and making it more diverse and more accessible. And in many ways, that's what we're about.  Adam: And so I'm interested in in your view about urban communities, youth communities, diverse communities.  Danny: That we're all drawn to nature. You know, we, we we all needed part of it in our lives. That's what lockdown taught us, that it was very important for us.  Adam: So it's not a challenge for you to bring them into your world. You think they're already there?  Danny: No, the people are already there. It's it's just giving them access to these spaces. I mean, for example, excuse me, in the north of Kensington where, let's say it's less affluent than the South, people have the equivalent of one car parking space of nature or greenery that they can access. In the South, which is a lot richer by the river, you know, you've got the like, well, the Chelsea Flower Show is actually by the Thames River, and where people like Simon Cowell and David Beckham have properties, so you get an idea.  Adam: Yeah. Yes, yes, yes.  Danny: We all know how wealthy that area is. They've got on average half a football pitch of nature they can access, or greenery. So that tells its own story and and the life expectancy between the people in the north of the borough and the south of the borough, there's a 15 year difference, so you're expected to live 15 years longer if you live in the south than you are in the north.  Adam: It is and I hadn't thought of that before you said that, but it is an interesting part of London, this, because Kensington has this sort of reputation of being very posh and everything and the David Beckhams and the what have you. But it is a very divided sort of part of London, isn't it? With the very rich and really the quite quite poor and disadvantaged as well, all within the same borough.  Danny: It is, there's a big difference and I think you'll probably find it's the biggest, there's a bigger disparity here than any other borough in in the country.  Adam: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Interesting. So also, oh, well, why don't we have a walk? We'll walk through through your garden whilst we're talking about this. So also just tell me a bit about, so we we you you very eloquently describe the the the metal sculpture we're we're sort of walking under now, but a bit, the planting as well. So you've got sort of beds of bark here which make it look very nice.  Danny: Yeah. So we're we're kind of going with the woodland theme cause as you can see there's lots of trees around here, cause I'm I am a bit of a tree hugger and I love trees. That's my thing.  Danny: And we didn't want to, I mean, the, the this garden, although it was our Grow2Know show garden at Chelsea, we haven't actually transformed it in that form. It's the planting is completely different because if we did that, it would jar with what's around. So we've gone with the space. So although yeah, it's all good.  Adam: It's all quite green and evergreen.  Danny: So the actual structure is the same, but that's all that's that's that's similar. Every, everything else is different. And of course we've had to adapt it as well because the garden that we had at Chelsea had ponds. So for health and safety reasons, we couldn't have that here. So we've gone with the woodlandy theme and so there's rhododendrons, there's ferns.  Adam: I was gonna say quite a lot of ferns and some also some big stones here as well, which sort of nice, nice bit of sculpture.  Danny: Yeah. That that's a bit of a coincidence really, because.  Adam: Because they're just there.  Danny: These were already here, but believe it or not, we had stones this size in our Chelsea Flower Show garden. We didn't transport them from there to here. These were already here and we've just kind of re- sort of jigged them. Re-placed them. Just to make it all look a bit more appealing. But we actually had these at Chelsea as seats in the central area underneath the structure. But now they're actually sort of dispersed in the beds and they make great features and and having them there actually helps move the eye around the space.  Adam: Yeah. So I mean what, ecology and and concerns about the environment. Clearly a a big issue at the moment. What what's your sense about how the people you work with and and talk to feel about that and engage with it? Are you optimistic about that engagement and and what difference that might make? That was that was my phone. I'm sorry, I should have should have put that on silent.   Danny: I'm working with amateurs Ruby! Ohh.   Adam: Yeah, I know, I know. I know. You know what? When I'm out with the film crew, you have to buy the round of drinks if that, ‘whose phone went?' Right, you're buying a round the, yeah, we're we're we're right by the...  Danny: Yeah, well, and it's and it ain't cheap.  Adam: OK. I'll put it on silent now. That'll teach me. What was I saying? Yeah, so. Yes. I wonder whether you're optimistic about that reengagement? Cause the way you're talking about it is very positive actually. Everything you've said is very positive. Is that I, I want to get a sense of is that because you're a positive guy and you or, you know, you're trying to look on the positive side, or you genuinely feel no, no, this, you know, these communities are engaging and that's a great thing, not just for them. But for nature, because if people support nature, nature's got a sort of pal hasn't it.  Danny: Yeah. And I think people are engaging and and do you know what? I mean I'm all for getting young people involved in nature as much as I possibly can. I think that's very, very important. I think we gotta get them out at a a very early age, the earlier the better because then it sort of stays with you for the rest of your life. If you are not sort of involved in it at young age then you're not, you're less likely to be interested in it later on in life. But I think people generally are engaged in nature. They do need a bit of green. Yeah, I think we're naturally drawn to it. I know when we put it, for example, installing this garden here, the amount of people that are coming out and saying what a wonderful job we were doing. And you know this sort of thing is much needed in this space. And it's also by doing this, it's encouraged the cause. This is a council owned area. It's encouraged the council now to reconfigure the whole of this area to sort of give this more of a sense of place.   Adam: I mean, it's interesting you say that. I have to say my experience is not that, it's that young people I meet and I don't meet as many as probably you do, so I will accept that maybe you have a more expert view on this. But my experience is that younger people are engaged with the politics of nature like they're very into green politics maybe and talk about it, but you don't see them a lot in the woodlands.   Danny: Oh, absolutely.  Adam: It's actually older people I see in the woodlands and it's the young people are sort of politically going, yeah, yeah, that's cool. But actually, I don't see them at these sort of events and they might grow into that. But so is that I I'm just wondering whether you recognise that or you think no, no, that's not what you see. They are actually out there and I'm just seeing, you know, a sort of different view.  Danny: I think I think they are. I think they are out there. Obviously there are a lot of young people aren't kind of, don't, aren't as engaged with nature as say I was when I I was a lot younger. I mean you don't see them outside sort of playing around, kicking the ball, climbing trees like we would do, going off of bike rides into the fields.  Adam: Are you a country boy, then are you? Or you grew up in town?  Danny:  No. In fact, my my childhood was very I I moved around a lot cause my dad was in the army. So lived in Belgium, Germany, Malta, all those sort of places. But we were never encouraged to be indoors. We were always thrown outside. I mean, I remember even at the age of 8 or 9 just disappearing for all day. My parents would never know where I was. But you know, I'd I always came home. I never came to any harm. But I think these days I think parents are kind of very worried that that something might nefarious might happen to their children and and the kids aren't given the freedom that we were given, which is a shame. So they're not exposed to nature as much on their own. I mean, I do see kids going around with their parents on walks and stuff like that, but it's not quite the same as being able to explore on your own. You know, children naturally want to sort of push the boundaries. We really need to let kids do their own thing, explore more. It's a growing experience and you know, and we all need it. We all need to be out and about and you know, listen to the tweet, I mean, tweeting of the birds, you know, feeling, feeling the wind on our on our faces, the warmth of the sun on our skin, all those things that you know, just feeling the texture of the soil, the texture of the bark on the trees. It's lovely. I love doing that. When I hug a tree, you know. Just to smell the bark. It's lovely. It's comforting. And that's because I was exposed to it when I was a child. And you know it, it gives me those fond memories and and because of that it's it's very calming and and and a great stress-buster.  Adam: I follow you on on Instagram. You got a good Instagram following and your Instagram handle, if anyone wants to do that, is?  Danny: The Black Gardener  Adam: The Black Gardener. So that, which itself is an interesting sort of handle. So you're making, I don't know, is that just a random handle or are you making a point about, oh I am the black gardener. That's that's a statement.  Danny: *laughs* Well I am. I am what it says on the tin.  Adam: No, no. But look I'm a bald, I'm a bald reporter *laughs*. My handle isn't bald reporter, right? So it feels like you're saying something about that that's important. And I just...  Danny: It is it is, it is important.  Adam: Unpack that for me. Why is, why did you choose that, why is that connection to gardening, to nature and the lack community and your heritage? Why is that important?   Danny: It's important because there are few black people who are in my industry, so that's why I'm The Black Gardener. So I got the idea from a guy called so, The Black Farmer.   Adam: Yeah, famous range of sausages.  Danny: That's right and I saw that he was having success with his name and the reason he calls himself The Black Farmer, cause at the time he's the only black farmer in the country, so hence The Black Farmer. Black gardeners, professional black gardeners are as rare as hen's teeth. So I thought to myself, why don't I call myself the black gardener?  Adam: But why? Why do you think it is then? Cause that goes back to our earlier conversation. About sort of other diverse communities.  Danny: It could be some psychological reason, maybe from the days of slavery. Where working the land is seen as servile. Parents don't want their children to be working the land. They want their children to do something respectable like be a doctor or lawyer or something like that, so they tend to veer them away from doing something which is connected to the land, and and I think maybe that could be a reason, I mean I did have a conversation with somebody via Twitter in the States about it, and she said it's the same there. People of colour tend not to want to go into land-based industry. I mean I've I've only ever and this is only about two months ago, I saw my first black tree surgeon. Yeah, and and you know my plant wholesalers. I've spoken to them about it and they said, you know what, we've got thousands of people on the books and they can only count on one hand the amount of people of colour who are actually in the land-based industry. But also you you've gotta see it to be it as well, you know.   Adam: What do you mean?   Danny: Well, what I mean is if people see me in this space, then it's gonna encourage them to be in this space.   Adam: I see, it normalises it more.  Danny: It it normalises it more. I mean, I I go into the countryside. I mean, I'm a member of the National Trust, RHS. And I go and visit these great gardens and I walk around. I'm obviously in nature, and I very rarely see people of colour. I I I was in, where was I? Sissinghurst, a little, Sissinghurst Gardens a while back. And I must have been there for a good four or five hours. And I was the only person of colour who was walking around that space. So I I want people to see me in those spaces and that hopefully will encourage them to think, well if it's for him, why can't I go there as well.  Adam: Yeah, very cool. So I mean addressing, I mean that community and or anyone who's sort of listening to this podcast then. What would your message to them be about, maybe about that you've learned from your experiences engaging with gardens and trees and nature that you'd encourage them to do, or ways of getting involved, any anything you'd want to say to them?  Danny: Just just go out and enjoy the space, you know? Don't be put off because you feel it's not for you. It's for everybody. I mean, nature shouldn't have any boundaries. It's there for everybody to enjoy and you get the benefits from being out there. It's it's it's all good for us. I mean I would really like to see more people engaged in gardening or horticulture as a way of earning a living. Because for me it's it's not a job. It's just what I do. It's what I enjoy. I've got a real passion for it. I love it and I like to see other people, whoever they are. It it doesn't have to be a colour thing. It it, I'm talking about young, old, I'm talking about gay, straight, whatever, whoever you are, it's there for everybody to to enjoy.  Adam: Brilliant. Well, it's been a real treat meeting you. Thank you very much indeed. Under your wonderful sculpture in your garden in the centre of London.  Danny: Yeah, you're most welcome.  Adam: Thank you very much. Remind me of your your your social media handles.  Danny: It's The Black Gardener. I'm I'm on Facebook and I'm on Threads.  Adam: On Threads, now there's something I haven't heard for a long time!  Danny: Yes. Yeah *laughs* So there you go. There you go.   Adam: Right, The Black Gardener, thank you very much indeed,   Danny: You're most welcome.  Adam: Well, thank you very much for listening to that and those bangs you might have heard in the background were a sign that we should go because that was the the local bin men coming along to collect the rubbish *laughs*. Anyway, thanks for listening. And wherever you're taking your walks, be that in real life or just with us on the Woodland Walks podcast, I wish you all happy wandering.  Thank you for listening to the Woodland Trust Woodland Walks. Join us next month when Adam will be taking another walk in the company of Woodland Trust staff, partners and volunteers. And don't forget to subscribe to the series on iTunes or wherever you are listening. And do give us a review and a rating. If you want to find out more about our woods and those that are close to you, check out the Woodland Trust website. Just head to the Visiting Woods pages. Thank you. 

Highlights from the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2025. David Maxwell explores the show gardens including the gold medal winning ‘The Glasshouse Garden' by Jo Thompson and an alpine garden for the British Red Cross inspired by the Giant's Causeway. In the great pavilion, David chats to plant experts on peonies, sweet pea and unusual heirloom vegetables. Along the way he meets some celebrities with green fingers including his annual catch up with Joanna Lumley and he chats to an exhausted Monty Don who has been hands on creating the ‘Dog Garden' this year for the RHS and BBC Radio 2. Also on the programme, Strictly dancer Amy Dowden on a new sweet pea named for her and Dara Ó Briain on how his gardening efforts amount to getting the right hose attachment to wash his dog! Email the programme at gardenerscorner@bbc.co.uk

After a month apart, Mollie and Darren are reunited to bring you this week's episode! After a 4 hour delay while Mollie tried to sort the technicalities of the podcast equipment out, they are back in the swing of things. Mollie chats to David Austin on the gold award winning stand at the Chelsea Flower Show. Hear his reaction when she confesses to him that it was her who fell in to the rose display at Chelsea last year! Hear a chat with Chris Baines at Chelsea too as he was the special guest of the RHS this year honouring his wildlife garden in 1985. Lots of laughter as always. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hot off the press! Michael Perry in his exhausted and exhilarated state, tells us what he enjoyed about the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2025, the plant of the year winner, some celebrity spots and why next time he might wear a wig.    Series 18 is sponsored by British Garden Centres. British Garden Centres are the largest family owned, and family run garden centre group in the UK, with over 70 garden centres. “We aim to provide you with great plants and gardening products at affordable prices, with a first-class service delivered by a passionate team.” – The Stubbs Family.  With garden centres offering plants, food  and gift areas, outdoor living, Christmas departments, restaurants, homeware and so much more. All garden centres are pet friendly, and many welcome coach parties. The business also boasts a variety of retail partners across the group inside each garden centre. www.britishgardencentres.com

Leon Kluge, landscape designer, joins John Maytham to discuss his victory abroad in London, winning RHS designer of the year - he tells us all we need to know! Presenter John Maytham is an actor and author-turned-talk radio veteran and seasoned journalist. His show serves a round-up of local and international news coupled with the latest in business, sport, traffic and weather. The host’s eclectic interests mean the program often surprises the audience with intriguing book reviews and inspiring interviews profiling artists. A daily highlight is Rapid Fire, just after 5:30pm. CapeTalk fans call in, to stump the presenter with their general knowledge questions. Another firm favourite is the humorous Thursday crossing with award-winning journalist Rebecca Davis, called “Plan B”. Thank you for listening to a podcast from Afternoon Drive with John Maytham Listen live on Primedia+ weekdays from 15:00 and 18:00 (SA Time) to Afternoon Drive with John Maytham broadcast on CapeTalk https://buff.ly/NnFM3Nk For more from the show go to https://buff.ly/BSFy4Cn or find all the catch-up podcasts here https://buff.ly/n8nWt4x Subscribe to the CapeTalk Daily and Weekly Newsletters https://buff.ly/sbvVZD5 Follow us on social media: CapeTalk on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@capetalk CapeTalk on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ CapeTalk on X: https://x.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CapeTalk567 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do you know the secret to creating show-stopping planting combinations? Combining plants in ways that means they look good and grow well together. Plantswoman Carol Klein has spent decades growing and exhibiting plants at over 200 RHS shows, winning a slew of gold medals. Her encyclopaedic plant knowledge combined with her artistic flair makes her a master of the art and science of combing plants successfully. Carol reveals how we can all add a little of her planting flair to our gardens. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Princess of Wales just reminded us all that polka dots are, in fact, a power move.At Westminster Abbey for the 80th anniversary of VE Day, Kate stepped out in a very familiar—and very fabulous—outfit: the same black-and-white polka-dot Alessandra Rich dress she wore to the Order of the Garter in 2023. Yes, the dress that had people comparing her to Eliza Doolittle in *My Fair Lady*Kate is once again proving her title as the Queen of Rewears. As British Vogue's Emily Chan put it, she's turned outfit recycling into something of a royal superpower.Also, A new rose has been named in honour of the Princess of Wales, celebrating both her advocacy for the healing power of nature and her ongoing support for cancer care. *Catherine's Rose*, a coral-pink floribunda with a rich fragrance reminiscent of Turkish Delight and mango, was unveiled by the Royal Horticultural Society on Thursday.The flower, bred by Harkness Roses, will be available to the public by pre-order. Each sale will include a £5 donation to The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, aiding the hospital where Her Royal Highness underwent chemotherapy treatment last year.The funds raised will contribute to the creation of a national training programme in prehabilitation and rehabilitation for clinical teams, aiming to help cancer patients live well both during and after treatment.The RHS explained that the naming of *Catherine's Rose* was not only to honour her public service, but also to raise awareness of the vital role nature plays in physical, mental, and spiritual wellbeing.Only 15,000 *Catherine's Rose* plants will be made available in 2025, with bare root roses priced at £29.99 and potted plants at £34.99. Orders may be placed now for delivery in autumn next year, with additional availability planned for spring and autumn 2026.The rose, which is said to thrive in borders, large containers, or as part of a hedge, has also been specially cultivated to attract pollinators.Get the show without ads. Five bucks.  For Apple users, hit the banner on your Apple podcasts app which says UNINTERRUPTED LISTENING. For Spotify or other players, visit caloroga.com/plus.   

It's that time of the year again where Ann and Coxy leave the Petersphere and take a trip to beautiful Beaulieu in the New Forest for the Gardeners' World Spring Fair. In this episode they speak to Emma, Charles and Chris from Hilliers, Oliver Parsons from the RHS, father and son from Headley Jonny & Inigo and Kelly-Jane Leach. Kelly-Jane Leach is also known as @Dirtygardenhoe on instagram. You can view her profile hereSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rico McDonald, a Ripley High School Graduate, earned many honors during his senior year including being an all-state running back.  He went on to play college football at Delta State University in Cleveland, MS where he helped lead the team to the 2000 NCAA Division II National Championship.  McDonald served as an assistant football coach at RHS from 2004 to 2020. During his tenure at Ripley High (2016), McDonald was inducted into the Delta State University Hall of Fame (see link below).  McDonald left Ripley for a few years to assist at Lafayette, Amory and New Albany.  He returned to Ripley last year (2024-2025) as the Tiger Defensive Coordinator.  The fall of 2025 will mark McDonald's first head coaching position.  The Tigers will play in a pre-season exhibition game called Tiger Pride Day on May 15, 2025.  The Tigers will take on Tippah County neighbors, Falkner High SchoolDelta State University Hall of Fame  Welcome to HEARD IT ON THE SHARK with your show host Melinda Marsalis and show sponsor, Mississippi Hills National Heritage Area. HEARD IT ON THE SHARK is a weekly interview show that airs every Tuesday at 11 am on the shark 102.3 FM radio station based in Ripley, MS and then is released as a podcast on all the major podcast platforms. You'll hear interviews with the movers and shakers in north Mississippi who are making things happen. Melinda talks with entrepreneurs, leaders of business, medicine, education, and the people behind all the amazing things happening in north Mississippi. When people ask you how did you know about that, you'll say, “I HEARD IT ON THE SHARK!” HEARD IT ON THE SHARK is brought to you by the Mississippi Hills National Heritage area. We want you to get out and discover the historic, cultural, natural, scenic and recreational treasures of the Mississippi Hills right in your backyard. And of course we want you to take the shark 102.3 FM along for the ride. Bounded by I-55 to the west and Highway 14 to the south, the Mississippi Hills National Heritage Area, created by the United States Congress in 2009 represents a distinctive cultural landscape shaped by the dynamic intersection of Appalachian and Delta cultures, an intersection which has produced a powerful concentration of national cultural icons from the King of Rock'n'Roll Elvis Presley, First Lady of Country Music Tammy Wynette, blues legend Howlin' Wolf, Civil Rights icons Ida B. Wells-Barnett and James Meredith, America's favorite playwright Tennessee Williams, and Nobel-Laureate William Faulkner. The stories of the Mississippi Hills are many and powerful, from music and literature, to Native American and African American heritage, to the Civil War. The Mississippi Hills National Heritage Area supports the local institutions that preserve and share North Mississippi's rich history. Begin your discovery of the historic, cultural, natural, scenic, and recreational treasures of the Mississippi Hills by visiting the Mississippi Hills National Heritage Area online at mississippihills.org. Musical Credit to: Garry Burnside - Guitar; Buddy Grisham - Guitar; Mike King - Drums/Percussion All content is copyright 2021 Sun Bear Studio Ripley MS LLC all rights reserved. No portion of this podcast may be rebroadcast or used for any other purpose without express written consent of Sun Bear Studio Ripley MS LLC

Text Agony Aunt Roz with your Cutflower Questions.In this inspiring episode, Roz welcomes Donna Sutton, a career-changer who swapped accountancy for horticulture. Donna shares her journey into gardening, her experience with the WRAG scheme and the challenges and triumphs of finding joy and purpose in a new field. Together, Roz and Donna discuss the evolution of The Granary Garden, Donna's commitment to sustainable cut flower growing, and the role of community and social media in modern horticulture. From career pivots to preparing for Gardeners' World Live, this episode is packed with encouragement for anyone pursuing a passion for plants.Key Takeaways:Donna transitioned from accountancy to horticulture through the WRAG scheme.Social media has played a key role in sharing her journey and connecting with the gardening community.The WRAG scheme provides practical experience and valuable exposure in horticulture.Donna highlights the power of taking small steps toward big changes.Community and mentorship are vital for new growers and career changers.She's preparing a feature for Gardeners' World Live — a testament to following your passion.Donna emphasizes the joy of continuous learning and adapting through the seasons.Find out more and connect with Donna here Make the most of your garden by visiting bramblecrest.com and use the code FIELDGATE at checkout. See website for full details. https://fieldgateflowers.kartra.com/page/newsletters A Cut Above Waitlist: https://fieldgateflowers.kartra.com/page/ACutAboveWaitlist The Growth Club: https://fieldgateflowers.kartra.com/page/thegrowthclub Lots of free resources on our website: https://thecutflowercollective.co.uk/cut-flower-resources/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fieldgateflowers Facebook Group 'Cut Flower Farming - Growth and Profit in your business' https://www.facebook.com/groups/449543639411874 Facebook Group 'The Cut Flower Collection' https://www.facebook.com/groups/cutflowercollection

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.

May in the Garden 2025 short notes v2It's May and as the saying goes, “N'er cast a clout till May is out”. A proverb which reminds us about the fickle British weather and its ability to bathe us in warmth one day and bring chilly winds the next! Peter Brown and Chris Day discuss what gardening tasks need to be done in one of the busiest months in the gardening calendar, plus a round-up of events and topical news stories.What's on2 - 4th May: BBC Gardeners' World Spring Fair, Beaulieu, New Forest, Hampshire. 2 May - 10th August: Unearthed: The Power of Gardening, British Library, London.8 - 11th May: RHS Malvern Spring Festival, Three Counties Showground, Worcestershire. 20 – 24th May: RHS Chelsea Flower Show, Royal Hospital, Chelsea, London.24 May - 1st June National Children's Gardening Week.30 – 31st May: Scone Palace Garden Fair, Perthshire, Scotland.NewsChelsea 2025 gardens showcasing climate resilience.Monty Don's dog, Ned assists in creating first dog friendly Chelsea Garden.Frank P Matthews to debut at Chesea Flower Show showcasing Malus.England's non-woodland trees freely mapped for first time.Ancient oak tree cut down by Toby Carvery.National Trust steps in to save rare Black Poplar trees.Mixed fortunes of UK gardens visitor numbers in 2024 revealed.Biddulph Grange Stumpery renovation completed.A call for action over declining hoverfly numbers from The Wildlife Trust and RHS.Horticultural Trade Association supports Urban Green Spaces Bill.2025 Ballot open for 10 Downing Street Garden which will be open to the public for one day.Rising costs lead to Shrewsbury Flower Show cancellation.Westland Horticulture acquires Bulldog Products.Huw Richards and Gardena search for Britain's best plot in new competition.Survey conducted by Stihl highlights common garden mistakes Peter A. Cox of Glendoick, a pioneering figure in the world of horticulture and rhododendron cultivation, has died.Lawns overlooked in new builds.Wildlife gardens see a ‘change for the better' say Wildflower Gardening Forum.DIG IT Top 5 Top Fragrant Plants5th spot Lonicera Gold Flame, 4th Lavandula Hidcote, 3rd Rose Lilac Bouquet, 2nd Trachelospermum jasminoides and Lavandula stoechas at the number 1 spot.Plants mentioned: Polyanthus and Primulas – perfect for division, Swede, Beetroot, Carrots, Autumn Cabbage, autumn / winter Cauliflowers, Broccoli, Peas, Potatoes, Radish, Lettuce and Spring Onions. French and Runner beans, Sweetcorn, Courgettes, and Pumpkins. Blueberries, Cranberries and Strawberries. Sweet Peppers, Chillies, Aubergines, Melons, and Cucumbers. Summer bedding and Seasonal plants. Aquatic oxygenators, marginals, and waterlilies. Pop-in / Drop-In Speedplanters.Products mentioned: Bug Hotel, Horticultural fleece, Dutch Hoe, Ericaceous fertilisers, Garden Netting, Evergreen 4-in 1 Lawn Food, Lawn seed, Hanging baskets, and Melcourt Peat-Free Tub and Basket Compost.Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for supplying the music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Continuing our Anthropy special series from the Eden Project, we speak with Andy Jasper, CEO of the Eden Project itself. Andy shares his philosophy that sustainability should follow regeneration - that we need to boost and accelerate natural systems before we can sustain them. With a career spanning the RHS, National Trust, and now Eden Project, Andy brings a wealth of knowledge about how large-scale environmental projects can transform landscapes and communities. He discusses Eden's global expansion with projects in China, Costa Rica, and across the UK, and shares his perspective on the importance of confidence and optimism as key skills for business leaders navigating the sustainability transition.

Spring is the season when gardeners throw off the hibernation and slumber of months of wet feet, many layers and waterproofs and are reborn anew! The stirring of life in the garden is one of the years great experiences, and makes a gardening life such a worthwhile pursuit, not only is it good for the planet to see the earth greening up, it is also good for the gardeners soul. But there is still lots of hard work to get on with - seeds have to be sown, mulch laid, supports erected and lawns mown. So join Lucy and Saul as they continue their professional gardening lives in the pure heaven that is Spring!Lucy is off for her Easter break, so Saul invites an old friend, fellow Kew graduate and now Head of Horticultural Relations at the Royal Horticultural Society, Emma Allen, to join him in conversation about her teams role at the charity. She has a large remit of very interesting roles which includes Funding Bursaries, in which she wants to encourage a wide range of diverse backgrounds to apply for funding to help realise long held study and networking ambitions. We also chat about the evolution of the charities seven Expert Groups (formerly know as the Plant committees) and the long standing and fruitful relationships with the RHS Partner Gardens, a key benefit of being a member. Useful Links: Bursaries and Funding - Click hereRHS Expert Groups - Click HereTrials and AGMS - Click HereRHS Partner Gardens - Click HerePlant Societies - Click HereInstagram link:Lucy lucychamberlaingardensLinkedIn link:Emma AllenSaul WalkerIntro and Outro music from https://filmmusic.io"Fireflies and Stardust" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)Support the show

We start this week with a journey back in time, exploring some of the oldest and most resilient plants on the planet: ferns. Gardener, botanist and author Ben Dark has been uncovering some surprising stories about these living fossils as part of his sweeping journey – 2.5 billion years deep – into the fascinating history of plants. Ferns thrive in damp, shady garden corners — but they're not the only ones. Horticulturist Alessandra Sana faced this exact challenge when she took on the north-facing wall of RHS Wisley's walled garden. She shares her go-to plants and creative inspiration for transforming those tricky, low-light spots into lush, green sanctuaries. And finally, we cross the Atlantic to hear from John Sonnier, Head Gardener at the British Embassy in Washington, D.C. His pioneering sustainable gardening practices have just earned him the prestigious Elizabeth Medal of Honour from the RHS. Host: Guy Barter Contributors: Ben Dark, Alessandra Sana, John Sonnier Links: The Grove: A Nature Odyssey in 19 ½ Front Gardens Shade planting: annuals, bulbs and perennials What can I grow in a dry shady spot? Sustainable planting combinations: shade collection RHS People Awards

In this episode, Dr. Seipp discusses a grassroots initiative led by student with the support of Mr. Bischoff and Ms. Katzenberger to acknowledge and support the mental health of our student athletes. They are hoping to develop awareness and support structures where not only RHS student athletes, but athletes in our community can gain access to support for mental health needs including a growing understanding of the evolving mindset of athletes and the stress produced by athletics."Be curious, not judgmental."

In this mini edition of Waterfall, Cath & Karen are joined by Dr. Mark Gush, Head of Environmental Horticulture at The Royal Horticultural Society, for an illuminating chat on thoughtful water use in the garden and the work of RHS. The full length edition of this episode was originally released on 23/6/2023.

Spring is the season when gardeners throw off the hibernation and slumber of months of wet feet, many layers and waterproofs and are reborn anew! The stirring of life in the garden is one of the years great experiences, and makes a gardening life such a worthwhile pursuit, not only is it good for the planet to see the earth greening up, it is also good for the gardeners soul. But there is still lots of hard work to get on with - seeds have to be sown, mulch laid, supports erected and lawns mown. So join Lucy and Saul as they continue their professional gardening lives in the pure heaven that is Spring!With day upon day of sunshine, Saul and Lucy could be forgiven for thinking that spring is set to stay, but a brisk wind reminds them both that conditions can turn on a sixpence... That might be handy to be fair, because the soil is dry (as per normal) in Essex, but also in Saul's beloved Devon, so April, do your traditional thing, if you please. Weather waffle aside, the duo chat this week about shifting RHS peat policies and muse over why things could be taking a little longer than liked. Lucy also beams about her day filming at Audley End, and Saul braces himself for a trip up the country to be a key speaker at the Northern Hardy Plants Society key event. Come on Berlingo, don't let him down!Instagram link:Lucy lucychamberlaingardensLinkedIn link:Saul WalkerIntro and Outro music from https://filmmusic.io"Fireflies and Stardust" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)Support the show

Curriculum Vitae não é biografia, cursos não são experiencia: a teoria é muito importante, mas sem a prática e a execução não se forma um grande profissional. A Senioridade chega com a maturidade após erros, acertos, auto-conhecimento e o rompimento com crenças limitantes. Neste episódio vamos aprender com Magda Santana a visão de construir uma biografia voltada para uma carreira exitosa, e em que os profissionais precisam focar para tornar suas histórias de vida e profissionais atrativas no mercado de trabalho. Magda conta com mais de 26 anos de sólida formação acadêmica e vivência executiva em cargos de direção em empresas de grande porte dos setores de serviços, indústria e financeiro, passando por todas as áreas de RH, atuando e contribuindo de forma relevante em consultorias, treinamento e desenvolvimento de lideranças. Atualmemente, através da Adigo Consultoria, suporta diversos projetos corporativos buscando a melhoria e inovação contínua nos RHs e seus talentos. Em meio a muita discussão sobre a empregabilidade do publico 50+ e toda uma revolução nas relações empresa e empregado, Magda expõe valiosas considerações sobre temas atuais, como: IA, os conflitos genZ, Y e X, as evoluções e retrocessos na vida laboral no século XXI e a necessidade de atualização e desconstrução do Talento Sênior para torna-lo atrativo ao mercado de trabalho. Por fim, aproveitar a oportunidade para pensar sobre os impactos do home office, jornadas flexíveis, pejotização, diversificação e inclusão, produtividade, quiet – quitting / vacationing. Entre mitos e verdades, ficamos com uma Lei secular: empresas precisam de talentos comprometidos e estes necessitam empresas que os valorizem. Quanto melhor e mais respeitosa essa relação, mais benefícios e êxitos irão vivenciar ambos nessa simbiose de tanto sucesso! Acompanhe o Tábula Rasa nas redes sociais:– Facebook– Instagram– LinkedIn– Threads– X/Twitter– YouTube Ouça o Tábula Rasa nos principais agregadores:- Spotify- Apple Podcasts- Deezer- Amazon Music- PocketCasts O Tabula Rasa é produzido pela Rádiofobia Podcast e Multimídia e publicado pela Rádiofobia Podcast Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this week's episode of Ridgefield Tiger Talk, we welcome back to the show, Kimberly Davis, Library Media Specialist at RHS, and Danny Martins, Department Head for Social Studies. They tell us about an exciting new club called Educators Rising. In this club, our students learn what it takes to become an educator, take on roles and responsibilities in different facets of education, and compete at the local and national level. We are already seeing our students gain many accolades. Thanks for listening!

This week we're finding out how to be a hoverfly hero. These masters of mimicry are vitally important pollinators, decomposers, and aphid predators, but their populations are in steep decline in the UK. RHS entomologist Josie Stuart will be telling us more about these garden friends, and how we as gardeners can help. Keeping our gardens blooming for as long as possible is a great help for all our pollinators and Cosmos shows off its delicate flowers all the way from late summer through to the first frosts of autumn. We'll speak to National Collection holder Jonathon Sheppard for his recommendations of the best cultivars to try this year. And from one remarkable collection to another – Sarah Cook has dedicated years to researching and reviving the lost irises of Cedric Morris. These striking blooms, once thought to survive only in his famous paintings, have been brought back to life thanks to her tireless work in the RHS archives and in Cedric's garden at Benton End. Host: Jenny Laville Contributors: Josie Stuart, Jonathan Sheppard, Sarah Cook Links: Be a hoverfly hero Help hoverflies: 5 top plants and 5 fun facts What are hoverflies? Read Jonathan's cosmos and hollyhock blog British cosmos (seed sales) Plant Heritage, home of the National Plant Collections Benton End The Nurture Landscapes Garden at Chelsea Flower Show  RHS People Awards

As we welcome the fresh energy of spring, it feels only right to celebrate the season with a conversation about gardens and the beauty they bring into our lives. And who better to join us than one of the most distinguished garden designers in the UK - Butter Wakefield.Butter grew up on a small farm outside Baltimore, Maryland. After gaining experience at Christie's in New York City, she relocated to London in 1988. There, she began her career at Colfax and Fowler as a design assistant, where she honed essential design principles such as color, scale, and pattern.In 1992, she followed her true calling: gardening - an art form embedded in her family's legacy. With a mother, aunt and grandparents who were all accomplished gardeners, it was inevitable that Butter would cultivate a passion for gardens herself. She trained at the English Gardening School before graduating from the prestigious London College of Garden Design.Today, she's recognized as one of House & Garden's Top 50 Garden Designers and has earned multiple accolades including the RHS, Gold medal and the People's Choice Award at the Chatsworth Flower Show for the Belmont Enchanted Garden. Her talent was also acknowledged at the Chelsea Flower Show, where she received Best Trade Stand Award for Gay's Burrville.William Kent once said, "Garden as if you will live forever." The wisdom Butter shares today reminds us of the lasting beauty we can create when we design with intention and heart.Butter's vibrant spirit, generosity, and boundless creativity are as inspiring as her gardens.In this episode, Butter and Anne discuss:Butter's journey into garden designInsights on designing small, traditional gardensTips for seamlessly blending indoor and outdoor spacesEmbracing maximalism in interior design Complete show notes can be found at: @styledbyark.com ___Connect with Butter Wakefield on IG @butterwakefield and at butterwakefield.co.uk You can also learn more about Small Garden Design from Butter Wakefield at Create Academy, UK's most beloved learning platforms. 

On this week's episode of Ridgefield Tiger talk we welcome three RHS music teachers. Michael McNamara VPA chair, Lauren Verney-Fink chorus teacher, and George Beratis Band teacher. They tell us about an amazing opportunity that our music students will be having by traveling to New Orleans later this month. They will perform live at a few venues. Participate in a college level music clinic, and learn about the rich musical history of New Orleans. Thanks for listening!

Leon Kluge, award-winning international landscape designer and botanist, joins John Maytham to discuss South Africa’s return to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in May 2025. As the leader of the South African Floral Kingdom Abroad team, Kluge shares insights into this year’s stunning ocean-inspired exhibit, the challenges of international showcasing, and the efforts to secure funding for future floral exhibits. With South Africa’s rich botanical heritage on display, this initiative not only celebrates the country’s biodiversity but also strengthens global awareness and conservation efforts. The show opens to RHS members on 20 May and the public on 22 May 2025See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy 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.

Are wildflower lawns the best thing to do with your garden? Do rats deserve their bad rep? Can books be more sustainable, and am I still allowed to buy new ones sometimes? This week we're answering your big green listener questions, and we're introducing two new members of the For What It's Earth team!   An RHS guide to making wildflower meadows: https://www.rhs.org.uk/lawns/creating-wildflower-meadows Pre-order Sophie's upcoming book, To Have or To Hold: https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/to-have-or-to-hold-9781399412162/ Get in touch We're on Instagram, Bluesky, Twitter and email forwhatitsearthpod@gmail.com. Send us your Listener Questions and weekly One Good Thing For The Planet. Support the show: Organic cotton FWIE tees & merch  Help us cover our running costs with a one-off donation or sign up for monthly support through Ko-fi. & subscribe so you never miss an episode! For What It's Earth is hosted and produced by Emma Brisdion and Sophie Pavelle, and edited and mixed by Mark Skinner (2024).

Steve is reunited with Claire Vennis to talk about the much anticipated third Petersfield Seed Swap. He also interviews local gardening legend, David Petche, who has received a recognition award from the RHS for 50 years of allotmenteering. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Valentine's Day and flowers go hand in hand, so what better way to celebrate than by dedicating this week's programme to the stunning blooms you can grow right in your own garden? Over the past four years, the RHS has been on a mission to find the best red roses for home gardens. We'll be revealing the top contenders with Wisley's Roz Marshall. If roses aren't your thing, Roz Chandler from Field Gate Flowers will be guiding us through the process of starting your own cut flower garden from bare earth to vase. And finally, nothing signals the arrival of spring quite like the golden explosion of daffodils! This year, the RHS is launching a nationwide appeal to track their varieties, flowering times, and distribution across the UK. RHS Principal Scientist and daffodil enthusiast Dr. Kálmán Könyves will share their fascinating history and his hunt for rare—and possibly lost—cultivars. Host: Gareth Richards Contributors: Roz Marshall, Roz Chandler, Kálmán Könyves Links: Red Roses Trial results Field Gate Flowers Seed To Vase Course Daffodil Diaries

This week, Jenny Laville explores the incredible world of seeds with RHS botanist James Armitage, uncovering their diverse shapes and dispersal methods. We'll also be embracing this time to start planning our gardens for the growing season ahead, RHS Senior Wildlife Specialist Helen Bostock will be describing all the key things to consider when it comes to creating wildlife friendly spaces bursting with key habitats. Plus, in the final part of our front garden mini-series, RHS Gardening Advisor Nick Turrell offers practical advice on designing a space that's both beautiful and functional.  Host Guy Barter Contributors Jenny Laville, James Armitage, Nick Turrell, Helen Bostock Links The Great Seed Swap at RHS Garden Wisley Wildlife Gardening

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.

Join us as we celebrate garden birdlife ahead of the RSPB's Big Garden Birdwatch! The RSPB's Adrian Thomas gives us a crash course in birdwatching from the comfort of your own kitchen window, while scientist Arran Folly discusses the threats facing our feathered friends and what we as gardeners can do to help. Plus Nick Turrell from the RHS advisory team shares how front gardens can play a vital role in reducing flood risks in our communities. Host: Gareth Richards Contributors: Dr Arran Folly, Adrian Thomas, Nick Turrell Links: The Big Garden Bird Watch RHS guide to identifying garden birds The Vector-Borne RADAR project

Well winter is on our doorsteps, and for the general population any thoughts of gardening stops, as the common thought is the 'garden has gone to sleep'...Well nothing could be farther from the truth, as the season of shorter days and chilly weather could be one of the most important and busy in the yearly life of your garden. Join Lucy and Saul every week as they show you exactly how busy they are, whether getting everything festive for Xmas, clearing up after the latest storm, enjoying the emergent shoots of early flowering plants or getting ready for spring and a return to the start of the great garden cycle!Anything that stands still runs the risk of being overtaken, so the Royal Horticultural Society is sprinting forth in its plans for 2025 to lead our industry through excellent research, communication and garden development. Lucy and Saul have been privy to these details this week, and the duo are also deliberating their own horticultural activities, too. Does Lucy think her begonias will see the light of day in 2025, and is Saul right to embrace his present 'benign' Devonshire weather? Instagram links:Lucy lucychamberlaingardensBluesky links:Lucy @lucycgardens.bsky.socialTwitter links:Saul @GardeningSaulIntro and Outro music from https://filmmusic.io"Fireflies and Stardust" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)Support the show

On this week's episode of Ridgefield Tiger Talk, we welcome Stephanie Cheung Counseling Supervisor and Lori Bran School Counselor. We discussed this year's course selection for RHS students and students coming from middle school, next week's (01/15/25 @6pm) open house for parents of eighth graders to see the high school's elective offerings, and tips and tricks for both parents & students when trying to figure out what courses to take. Click here for the counseling website that was mentioned in the show. Thanks for listening! 

We all feel instinctively that house plants are good for us. But is it all in the mind, or is there something real and tangible going on? Can house plants really scrub the air around us, and if so how on earth do they do it? And what difference can one little plant on a shelf really make in our lives? In this episode we delve deep into the amazing world of house plants and their health benefits, with the expert help of Dr Tijana Blanusa, Principal Horticultural Scientist at the RHS. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today Guy, Gareth, and Jenny reflect on the past twelve months of beautiful blooms and bountiful harvests, but also wet weather and guzzling gastropods! Join us as we revisit some of our favourite stories from 2024, and share what garden tips and seasonal advice we're taking with us into the new year. Hosts: Gareth Richards, Guy Barter, Jenny Laville Episodes mentioned: Dr Hayley Jones discussing slugs from episode ‘Critter camaraderie: Slugs, Snails, and Guerilla Gardening Tales'  Gareth Richards and James Armitage take a walk through Chelsea from episode ‘Notes on hardiness' James Lawrence and the sustainable planting combinations from episode ‘Sustainable plant combos, GYO tips (for tomatoes, beetroot, squash), flowering shrubs' Jassy Drakulic on encouraging mycorrhizal relationships in your soil, from episode ‘Compost, fungi, and giant vegetables' Anya Lautenbach's money saving advice from episode ‘Growing on a budget' Additional Links: Become an RHS member

This week we're bringing the garden indoors and welcoming in the Christmas cheer. RHS Horticultural Advisor Jenny Bowden will be sharing her love letter to the tradition of the Christmas wreath, and Freddie Garland – founder of Freddie's Flowers – will be sharing his tips on how to make your own (among many other seasonal crafts to get stuck into). And finally, we'll be learning all about our favourite festive parasite, mistletoe, with Oxford PhD student and mistletoe expert Oliver Spacey. Host: Guy Barter Contributors: Jenny Bowden, Freddie Garland, Oliver Spacey Links: Christmas with the RHS Freddie's Flowers MistleGo! RHS plant profile: mistletoe Hippeastrum Amaryllis belladonna

This week we're decking the halls with seasonal foliage, as RHS Garden Hyde Hall's Sarah Wilson-Frost shares her ideas for natural decorations foraged from your own garden. Gareth Richards is here to inspire you to try a different type of Christmas tree this year and consider bringing a potted plant indoors for the festive season. And we've got the perfect gift idea to brighten up a dreary January day, as Chris Lane of Witch Hazel Nursery explains why he fell in love with these winter gems.  Host: Jenny Laville  Contributors: Sarah Wilson-Frost, Gareth Richards, Chris Lane Links:  Grow your own Christmas Witch hazels Chris Lane - Witch Hazel Nursery  Become a member of the RHS

Explore the extraordinary world of exotic gardening with Paul Spracklin, author of The Dry Exotic Garden. Paul shares his infectious passion for transforming gardens conditions into lush, visually striking landscapes using drought-tolerant plants. Tune in to hear about the inspiration behind his book, the unique joys of cultivating exotic species, and the techniques that make gardens with drought loving plants not just possible, but breathtakingly beautiful. About The Dry Exotic Garden Discover everything you need to know about designing, choosing and planting cacti and succulents to create a drought-tolerant garden in this lavishly illustrated guide with experts forecasting reduced summer rainfall, xeriscaping – the practice of landscaping with minimal water – is now a popular choice for many gardeners.  Links The Dry Exotic Garden: A Gardener's Guide to Xeriscaping with Succulents by Paul Spracklin Other episodes if you liked this one: If you liked this week's episode with Paul Spracklin you might also enjoy this one from the archives:  161: The Jungle Garden with Philip Oostenbrink - This week's guest is Philip Oostenbrink, Head Gardener at Walmer Castle and Gardens, Collections Coordinator for Plant Heritage in Kent, Plant Trials committee member for the RHS and self-confessed jungle plant nut. Philip has just published a new book titled ‘The Jungle Garden' and in this interview, I talk to him about what a jungle garden is, whether they can work in shady and sunny aspects, easy jungle plants, rarer ones, plant hardiness, seasonal and winter interest and where to get plants. 175: Seeking Rare Plants - This week's guest is Nick Macer, plant hunter, self-taught botanist, rare species expert and owner of Pan Global Plants, a nursery based in the Severn Valley, which, to quote the website, offers “a selection of the finest, most desirable and often rarest plants capable of growing on these isles”. And that's key – Nick hand selects plants, in the past, directly from where they were growing in the wild and brings them into cultivation. He's renowned for choosing sublime varieties and for openly sharing his knowledge and experience. I did intend to talk to Nick a bit about his plant hunting trips, but as a stop has been put to these recently due to rules around the transportation of plant materials, the conversation went in other directions. Please support the podcast on Patreon

With the festive gift giving season just around the corner, this week we've turned our attention to the botanical wonders awaiting us on the bookshelf. We've invited journalist, author, and gardening enthusiast Ann Treneman and horticultural hero and authority on all things plants, Guy Barter to join our host - head of Libraries and Exhibitions at the RHS, Fiona Davison, to chat about some of their favourite garden reads from the past 12 months. Host: Fiona Davison Contributors: Ann Treneman, Guy Barter Visit the RHS Bookshelf   Books mentioned: Horti Curious: A Gardener's Miscellany of Fascinating Facts & Remarkable Plants by Ann Treneman RHS Garden Almanac 2025 by Guy Barter and Zia Allaway The Accidental Garden: Gardens, Wilderness and the Space In Between by Richard Mabey  Good Nature: The New Science of How Nature Improves Our Health by Kathy Willis Brutalist Plants by Olivia Broome Small Space Revolution by Tayshan Hayden Smith A Year Full of Pots by Sarah Raven A Garden A Day by Ruth Chivers How Plants Can Save Your Life: 50 Inspirational Ideas for Planting and Growing by Ross Cameron  100 Herbs to Grow by Jekka McVicar The Crevice Garden: How to Make the Perfect Home for Plants from Rocky Places by Kenton Seth and Paul Spriggs

This week, we're teaming up with The Plant Review magazine for a houseplant special. Jenny Laville talks to Rebecca Hilgenhof of Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh to learn about the exciting prospect of growing passionflowers on the windowsill. James Armitage is in conversation with former RHS Director of Horticulture Jim Gardiner to chat all about his favourite houseplant, Begonia masoniana, and the famous plantsman who it is named for. Plus, Kevin Mann shares his love of the miniature Christmas cactus. Passionflowers mentioned: Passiflora citrina, Passiflora murucuja and Passiflora boenderi. Host: Gareth Richards and James Armitage  Contributors: Rebecca Hilgenhof, Jim Gardiner, Kevin Mann, Jenny Laville Other Links: The Plant Review The Orchid Review RHS Plant Finder 2025 Passion Flower Cultivation Become a member of the RHS

Get ready for an inspiring journey as I'm joined by RAF Warrant Officer Pete Welsh—a man whose story spans the adrenaline of military life to the quiet power of the garden. While excelling in a remarkable military career and contributing to an RHS award-winning community garden, Pete has also confronted the profound challenges of mental health. Through the therapeutic calm of gardening and the transformative power of community connections, he's found resilience and growth. Pete's journey reveals the extraordinary parallels between cultivating plants and healing ourselves. Links Veterans' Growth: A charity focused on providing horticultural therapy to veterans dealing with mental health challenges. You can visit the official site at veteransgrowth.org Tadpole Garden Village: This community initiative has a focus on gardening and sustainability. You can find more information about their activities and community updates through their dedicated website at tadpolegardenvillage.com Other episodes if you liked this one: If you liked this week's episode with Pete Welsh you might also enjoy this one from the archives:  286: Natural Happiness - This episode my guest is Alan Heeks, former corporate world inhabitant, organic farmer, coach and author of the book ‘Natural Happiness'. After his transition into organic farming, Alan realised that “a cultivated organic ecosystem is a profound guide to tending human nature, and that organic growth methods have parallels for people: such as composting your stress, and using crop rotation to avoid burnout.” We explore the idea further… 145: Therapy Gardening - In this episode I'm speaking to horticultural therapist Carol Sales. Carol headed up a therapy garden in a prison, before moving over to lead the Therapy Garden at Headley Court, a rehabilitation centre for injured military veterans. Carol is featured in many books, including Head Gardeners by Ambra Edwards and Sue Stuart-Smith's The Well Gardened Mind and she was awarded the British Empire Medal in 2019. Please support the podcast on Patreon

This week we find out how to help our beloved prickly friends, as RHS Senior Wildlife Specialist Helen Bostock explains the threats to hedgehogs, and what we can do as gardeners to support them. Next we head indoors to find out how tailoring your potting mix can give your houseplants a new lease of life, with the lovely folks at Soil Ninja. Finally, if you're looking for an autumn project, why not build some raised beds? We glean some expert advice on how to go about this, with RHS horticulturist Peter Adams. Host: Jenny Laville Contributors: Helen Bostock, Amy Loosley, Levent Latif-Maeer, Peter Adams  Other Links: National Hedgehog Conservation Strategy  Hedgehog-friendly gardening Hedgehog street  Wild about gardens - Get creative for hedgehogs  Wild about gardens - Make friends with molluscs Soil Ninja Grow Your Own Veg Through The Year  Become a member of the RHS 

This week, Gareth Richards and Guy Barter discuss the science behind autumn colour, why some years are more dazzling than others, and what we can expect to see across the UK this year. RHS Horticultural Advisor Jenny Bowden will share a Love Letter to her favourite tree that promises to shine bright at this time of year and has a distinctive smell that would tempt anyone. We head to northeast Scotland, to explore an RHS Partner Garden - Gordon Castle Walled Garden - to find out what visitors can expect to see at this time of year, and to find out more about the history of one of the UK's largest kitchen gardens. And we hear from the RHS Garden Wisley trials team about the results of this year's lily-flowered and fringed tulip trial and ask what we should be planting this autumn for a great display next spring.   Host: Gareth Richards Contributors: Guy Barter, Jenny Bowden, Zara Gordon Lennox, and Roz Marshall.  Other Links: Cercidiphyllum japonicum (katsura tree) Gordon Castle Walled Garden Sheffield Park and Garden Bluebell Arboretum and Nursery RHS Partner Gardens RHS Lily and Fringed Tulip Trial Results Become a member of the RHS 

This week, Gareth Richards talks to writer and designer Naomi Slade about the allure of chrysanthemums and their long history of symbolism. We head to RHS Garden Rosemoor for the second part of our series on storing produce over winter, focusing on onions, potatoes and root vegetables. And RHS Garden Wisley's Ian Trought brings us a masterclass on dividing perennials to create more plants for our gardens next year.  Host: Jenny Laville Contributors: Gareth Richards, Naomi Slade, Catherine Mawdsley, Ian Trought Other Links: How to grow chrysanthemums Naomi Slade Dividing perennials  Become a member of the RHS 

This week, RHS Garden Wisley's Sheila Das talks to ‘no dig' champion Charles Dowding all about his new book on composting, and how you can go about starting the perfect sized heap to suit your own garden. We explore the wonders of mycorrhizae and learn about the beneficial relationship between fungi and the roots in our soil. And we take a trip to the Malvern Autumn Show to marvel at the display of record-breaking giant vegetables and to talk to some of the hardworking growers.   Host: Guy Barter Contributors: Charles Dowding, Sheila Das, Jassy Drakulic, Jenny Laville, Sebastian Suski, Peter Glazebrook, Graham Barrett   Other Links: RHS Grow Your Own Veg Throughout the Year RHS Horti Curious  Charles Dowding  Results from Malvern Autumn Show Become a member of the RHS

As the cooler weather of autumn settles in, there's still plenty to do when it comes to keeping your garden in top shape. We'll be hearing from RHS Garden Rosemoor's Catherine Mawdsley about how to store your homegrown apples, pears, squashes, and pumpkins through the winter months. We'll also be finding out the results of the recent Muscari trial with horticulturist Roz Marshall, who shares some of the standout varieties ready to get in the ground now. And finally RHS senior plant pathologist Dr. Jassy Drakulic shares her love of fungi with us, ahead of National Fungus Day. Host: Guy Barter Contributors: Roz Marshall, Catherine Mawdsley, Jassy Drakulic Other Links:  Bumbles on Blooms (a citizen science project) Finding Fungi at the RHS Muscari trial results