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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.
Trees are ever-present in our lives and have enabled us to connect to the natural world. But should we be concerned for our trees with our changing climate and what trees can we plant in our gardens for the future?Tony Kirkham, MBE, British botanist and former Head of Arboretum, Gardens and Horticulture at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, discusses how trees are adapting around the world to climate change and what we can expect to see as our future tree-lined horizon takes on a different shape. Do you have a gardening question you'd like Alan Titchmarsh's help with? Submit your question in the comments below or go to www.gardenersworld.com/podcast/questions/ Alan will answer a selection in the Ask Alan podcast series from BBC Gardeners' World Magazine in February and March. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
If you've ever been even a little curious about the magic of trees, you won't want to miss this conversation with the ultimate tree expert, Tony Kirkham. We're diving into Tree: Exploring the Arboreal World—a seriously stunning collection of art, history, and culture, centred around the human-tree connection. This book documents the historical significance of trees throughout human history, society and culture. This really is the coffee table book to end all coffee table books for anyone with even so much as a passing interest in trees. About Tree: Exploring the Arboreal World This exquisite survey presents a breathtaking sequence of full-page images – from landscape paintings and botanical drawings to ancient frescos, vintage book illustrations and contemporary photographs – revealing the tree as a source of inspiration throughout history. Spanning continents and cultures, Tree reflects the diversity of its subject, depicting giant sequoias, cherry blossoms, palms, poplars, ginkgoes and other species found across Earth's forest biomes, in a wide-ranging selection of visuals dating from Ancient Greece to the present day. More than 300 images include Roman stone mosaics, illustrated Norse myths, Edo-period woodblock prints and living tree installations, each lavishly reproduced. Curated by an international panel of botanists, naturalists, art historians and other experts, the images expand the definition of botanical art, together forming a vibrant, vital homage to the natural world. About Tony Kirkham Tony Kirkham is a renowned British arboriculturist and tree expert, best known for his lifelong dedication to the care, study, and preservation of trees. He served as the Head of Arboretum, Gardens, and Horticultural Services at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, where he played a pivotal role in maintaining one of the world's most diverse tree collections. Over his distinguished career, Kirkham became an authoritative figure in tree health, conservation, and education, helping to shape public understanding of trees' importance to ecosystems and human culture. He has participated in several international expeditions, collecting seeds and studying trees in countries such as China, Japan, and Chile, to enhance Kew's collections and support global conservation efforts. In addition to his practical work, Tony Kirkham is a popular figure in the media and has authored several books, including Remarkable Trees and Essential Pruning Techniques. He has also been featured in television series like BBC's The Trees That Made Britain, where he shared his extensive knowledge of how trees are woven into the fabric of human history and culture. Throughout his career, he's received numerous accolades, including an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) for services to arboriculture, in recognition of his contributions to tree preservation and education. His work continues to inspire tree enthusiasts and professionals alike, highlighting the deep connection between trees and humanity. Links Tree: Exploring the Arboreal World - Phaidon Authors, forward by Tony Kirkham Other episodes if you liked this one: If you liked this week's episode with Tony Kirkham, you might also enjoy this one from the archives: The Language of Trees - My guest this episode is artist and activist Katie Holten. Katie has just released a book called The Language of Trees, a collection of literary and scientific works by people like Robin Wall Kimmerer, Ursula le Guin, and Ross Gay. Using her Alphabet of Trees, the book is underpinned by the Katie's art and asks us to examine our relationship with trees by pulling together wide-reaching strands and demonstrating in one place, just how connected we are to them. Inspiration from Nature - This week, my guest is watercolour artist Lisa Gardner. Lisa is inspired by the natural world, the connection between breath and brushwork and rare wild plant species on the edge of extinction – seemingly far flung interests that come together in a beautifully natural and synergistic way in Lisa's work. Please support the podcast on Patreon
In this episode Bunny chats to Tony Kirkham MBE in his South London garden. Tony Kirkham talks about his life growing with trees. He was voted one of the most influential Londoners in 2016 but in fact he has a huge influence world-wide. He is extremely pleased The BBC Radio 4 program ‘The Archers' is now highlighting tree surgeons, but is concerned that vast quantities of trees are being planted in a way that ends up with poor specimens or dead trees and points out that in 50 years time the UK may well have the climate of Barcelona, and so we need to consider carefully what to plant. When Tony was asked out to dinner at Chateau Lafite, by the Rothschilds, surprisingly he took them trees not wine! Bunny took Tony a great ground cover plant perfect for growing in dry shade Mellitis melissiphyllum, or Bastard Balm, which grows to 60cm high and has pink flowers, perfect, hopefully for under his trees. To see Tony Kirkham in his garden talking about his passion see Bunny's YouTube video ‘Trees: Tony Kirkham with Top Advice'. #bunnyguinnesspodcast #tonykirkham
Brian Cox and Robin Ince leaf through the latest tree science with Dame Judi Dench, Tony Kirkham and Tristan Gooley. Dame Judi Dench shares her great love for treekind and describes how over time she has come to create a small woodland in her garden and how meaningful that is for her. Tony Kirkham, former head of Kew Arboretum and Gardens shares some of the amazing journeys he's been on to find unusual and rare trees around the world. Navigator Tristan Gooley, has spent a lifetime learning how to read trees, he explains how nearly everything on a tree can provide clues into the environment around it and how elements like leaf shape and colour can help us to use trees as a compass to navigate our way.Producer: Melanie Brown Exec Producer: Alexandra Feachem BBC Studios Audio production
Tony joins Peter to talk about the 2024 WAFL season, developing young talent into the league, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Growing Together gardening magazine podcast It's still very squelchy at the Adhurst Estate Allotment! In this episode, Claire and Steve discuss how to dig up and store dahlia tubers, cutting back autumn raspberries, plans for community composting and the benefits of being outside no matter what the weather. Tony Kirkham, former Head of Kew Gardens Arboretum, joins Claire at Dorset's Sculpture By The Lakes to talk about his fabulous career and Head Gardener Ben Pope has advice for how to look after your garden this time of year, what you can be doing in the garden and how to stay warm while you're in the garden!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Growing Together gardening magazine podcast It's still very squelchy at the Adhurst Estate Allotment! In this episode, Claire and Steve discuss how to dig up and store dahlia tubers, cutting back autumn raspberries, plans for community composting and the benefits of being outside no matter what the weather. Tony Kirkham, former Head of Kew Gardens Arboretum, joins Claire at Dorset's Sculpture By The Lakes to talk about his fabulous career and Head Gardener Ben Pope has advice for how to look after your garden this time of year, what you can be doing in the garden and how to stay warm while you're in the garden!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This week head of masterplanning Julian Tollast and David Hughes, estate landscape manager tell us about the transformation of Wembley Park which has given the area around the eponymous stadium an ''urban arboretum" and includes far more extensive and varied green space than people may realise.One of London's largest development schemes of recent times, the long-neglected neighbourhood received more than £2bn investment from Quintain in 2004 giving a new lease of life to the original landscape, first designed by Humphry Repton who laid out the original gardens for Wellers, the home of the Page family, in the late 18th century. One of the highlights of the development is the addition of an avenue of "champion trees of the world" which line the route from Wembley Park underground station to the stadium, developed with the assistance of Tony Kirkham, formerly of RBG Kew.Tollast discusses plant selection and design principles which incorporate formal planting in some areas and "informal shaggy planting" in others. Hughes explains the maintenance regimes and some of the challenges of maintaining a landscape that has to withstand the footfall, litter and tree-climbing antics of tens of thousands of football and music fans on a regular basis. He also recounts his plans to introduce beehives on the high profile site.They also recount the particular challenges they faced in the wake of the tumultuous European Cup Final of 2021, not to mention the stresses of drought on the landscape and trees and and challenges to maintaining and increasing biodiversity. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
As the chill of winter bites, David is joined in studio by Ann Fitzsimmons for some timely advice on protecting the garden when the mercury falls. One listener wants advice on ‘Old Man's Beard' but this one isn't wearing a red suit. From Greenmount college to New Jersey – David Wilson on the joy of his horticultural career. At Ballyrobert Cottage Garden, Maurice Parkinson is clearing away the remnants of last season's growth and putting some of it to good use for wildlife and Tony Kirkham reveals his final ‘Tree of the Month'. Contact the programme on gardenerscorner@bbc.co.uk
As winter approaches, Helen Mark heads to Drenagh Gardens near Limavady where Conelley McCausland has set about restoring the vast walled garden and extensive grounds which had almost disappeared under the invasion of bamboo. Also on the programme, a visit to Ciaran Mulholland's garden at the foot of Slemish where he's growing a ready supply of winter veg. In studio, Reg Maxwell joins Helen to take questions live and Tony Kirkham reveals his tree of the month for November.
This week, David visits the gardens at Glenarm Castle where Neil Porteous is making the best of late autumn sunshine to prepare for next year. From heeling in rhododendrons, to starting perennials from seed, there is a long list to get through before winter sets in. At Rowallane Gardens near Saintfield, Claire McNally picks some highlights including Mahonia and reveals her quest to find a ‘not so tart' berry from the plant sometimes known as the Oregon Grape. Also on the programme, Mary Doris on her favourite plants for winter interest, Tony Kirkham's ‘Tree of the Month' for November and Claire Woods joins David live in studio to take questions and offer autumn inspiration. gardenerscorner@bbc.co.uk
As the Halloween half term begins, David Maxwell visits a pumpkin patch in the Orchard county. Brian Hutchinson has been growing the gourds for a decade and knows what they need to thrive. Also on the programme, a visit to Mount Stewart where head gardener Mike Buffin is making plans t0 revamp the lily wood and Tony Kirkham will reveal his tree of the month for October. In studio, David is joined by Reg Maxwell who will take questions live and suggest some activities for kids in the garden over the half term break. Contact the programme on gardenerscorner@bbc.co.uk
Join Dame Judi Dench as she guides presenter Arit Anderson and tree expert Tony Kirkham around her private orchard – created over many years to honour the life of much-loved actor friends (part 2 of this extended podcast) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
With Autumn colour all around, Gardeners' Corner with David Maxwell celebrates the wonder of trees. At CAFRE's Greenmount campus, the first of the Hiroshima survivor trees grown by staff and students is planted out. In County Laois, David is back at Gash Gardens where Mary Keenan has an impressive Katsura tree, also known as the candyfloss tree because of the smell given off by its dying leaves. In County Antrim, Duneane Primary have a school garden full of trees but its autumn containers the pupils are planting to keep up their reputation as a ‘Best Kept' school and Tony Kirkham will reveal his tree of the month. Also on the programme, Claire McNally will be live in studio with David to answer questions from the Gardeners' Corner mailbox. Email gardenerscorner@bbc.co.uk
We visit Dame Judi Dench at home, in the company of Arit Anderson and tree expert Tony Kirkham, to hear how she has formed a deep connection with trees, and has planted dozens in her garden (part 1 of 2). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
With late summer approaching David is joined in studio by Reg Maxwell to take questions on everything from sickly tomatoes to Oh la la clematis. He finds out about the Old Mill garden in Helen's Bay which is being lovingly restored alongside an abandoned walled garden and Tony Kirkham picks his top tree for August. Contact the programme on gardenerscorner@bbc.co.uk
This week David gets a masterclass in the art of cloud pruning. He finds out why it's time to abandon precision pruning and spirit level accuracy for something more freestyle, natural and altogether less stressful. Also on the programme, the listener who wants to turn bumpy apples into a bumper crop, Tony Kirkham selects his tree of the month at the Chelsea Physic Garden and why organic grower Klaus Laitenberger is on a Greek Odyssey to find forgotten veg. You can contact David and the team on gardenerscorner@bbc.co.uk
It's June in the garden and that means the roses are blooming. In this week's programm, David Maxwell meets up with Cherry Townsend to explore her collection of over 150 roses. She explains which roses suit different locations and why everyone can grow them no matter what size garden they have. Cherry will also join David live in studio and together with Reg Maxwell they'll take listener questions on roses. Also on the programme, a visit to the new L'Arche garden on the outskirts of Belfast which provides a haven for those with and without disabilities and Tony Kirkham on his favourite tree for June. Contact the programme with questions via email – gardenercorner@bbc.co.uk.
Beautiful trees and the UK landscape go hand-in-hand, but did you know that many of our beloved trees are under threat, becoming ravaged by pests and diseases? As part of National Plant Health Week, here, Gardeners' World presenter Adam Frost chats to former Head of Arboretum at Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Tony Kirkham, and Head Forester for the Duchy of Cornwall, Geraint Richards, about the state of our nation's trees.Delving into which UK trees are currently under threat, from the caterpillar attacking popular parkland horse chestnuts, to ash dieback and acute oak decline, just how bad is it? Are we gardeners on the front line and more importantly, what, if anything, can we do to steer some of our most important native trees away from a possible point of extinction?Whether ancient specimens in native woodlands, or prize examples in our parks and gardens, trees have always been adored and celebrated by gardeners and nature lovers alike. So, listen now, as Adam, Tony and Geraint explain why we need to start taking tree health seriously and how to ensure we don't see some of them disappearing from our treescapes entirely.Plus, advice on what you should be planting into your garden, what to look for when buying a tree, how to spot a healthy one and best gardening hygiene practice for tackling biosecurity. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Have you ever heard of onions that can walk? David Maxwell finds out all about them from organic grower Klaus Laitenberger. April showers bring plenty of growth in the garden including to plants often considered weeds, but wild garlic and nettles can also provide a tasty lunch as David finds out when he pops in with Ann Fitzsimmons. Also on the programme, garden designer and BBC Gardeners' World presenter Adam Frost on his new book and the ‘King of Trees' Tony Kirkham opts for a Cherry as his tree for April. David will also be joined by Claire Woods and Brendan Little who will take on gardening questions live – gardenerscorner@bbc.co.uk
Trees are the life givers on planet earth, providing the oxygen we breathe, habitats to thousands of species, while creating beauty in our landscapes too. Yet these giants of nature are at risk. Arit talks to world-renowned tree expert Tony Kirkham, to discover why there's a tree crisis and why we cannot – and must not – live without them. What role do trees play in helping to improve our gardens and the environment? How do trees support wildlife and biodiversity? Just how important is it to balance increased tree planting with the environmental risks? Today's guest started as a forestry apprentice aged 16, before embarking on a 40-year career as Kew's Head of Arboretum, Gardens and Horticultural Services. Managing 14,000 trees and sharing his passion with his team and visitors, here, he explores how trees can help everything from our mental wellbeing to noise pollution. Plus, how to choose the right trees for our gardens, whatever the size, and the vital changes we should all make now in our approach to trees.Dr Tony Kirkham was the Head of Arboretum, Gardens & Horticultural Services at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew until his retirement in 2021. He is the author of many award-winning and popular books on trees, including pruning and training guides and his celebration of their glory in Remarkable Trees (Thames & Hudson). See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
In this week's programme, David Maxwell travels to the National Botanic Gardens, Kilmacurragh in county Wicklow. The country cousin of the gardens at Glasnevin in Dublin, Kilmacurragh covers over 100 acres and enjoys a mild maritime climate where rhododendrons and Chilean exotics flourish. David walks through the crocus lawn with head gardener Seamus O'Brien and gets a sneak peak behind the scenes at a newly acquired historic walled garden. Also on the programme, Tony Kirkham chooses Arbutus unedo, also known as the strawberry tree, as his ‘tree of the month' and Ciaran Mulholland is pruning trees at his garden at the foot of Slemish mountain in county Antrim. David will also be putting questions from listeners to expert Brendan Little including how much wheat you need to grow to produce a home grown loaf.
This week David gets around the problem of pricey perennials by finding out just how easy many are to grow from seed. Ann Fitzsimmons recommends ‘first year flowering' varieties and shows how sowing some seed now can save gardeners a small fortune. It's the weekend of the RSPB's big garden birdwatch. Listeners are invited to text in what they are seeing and Claire Barnett from the charity has all the information on how to take part. Also on the programme, the RHS is gifting 4 community or school gardens this year. David has been chatting to chief horticulturalist, Guy Barter, on what they are looking for. And in the first of a new series, Tony Kirkham, aka ‘the king of trees' from the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew on his favourite tree for January.
Following an apprenticeship in the forestry industry and 2 years as an arborist, in 1978 Tony started at The Royal Botanic Gardens Kew on the 3-year Diploma course, graduating in 1981 with honours.He is now the Head of the Arboretum, Gardens and Horticultural Services, responsible for the management and curation of over 14,000 trees in the collections and curates and manages the hardy shrub and herbaceous collections as well.Please click here for Tony's full biography.
Soundbite from this weeks Friday episode of Tree Lady Talks is from Tony Kirkham, Head of the Arboretum at Kew.
Join us for the full interview with Tony, his life in trees, and special planting and tree care advice.
Organic growing tips from your favourite gardening podcasters - Chris Collins and Sarah Brown. Nominated as 2020 gardening podcast of the year.
The remarkable Turner's oak in Kew Gardens in London not only survived the Great Storm that ravaged the south of England in 1987, but also changed the way that trees are cared for around the world. Alejandra Martins has been speaking to Tony Kirkham, head of the Arboretum at Kew. (Photo: Turner's oak. Credit: Alejandra Martins)
In Gardeners' Corner this week David Maxwell visits world renowned Kew Gardens in Richmond outside London where he talks to the gardeners who work there including Tony Kirkham, well known writer and broadcaster whose specialist interest is trees, particularly at Kew. Also in the programme Brendan Little shares his thoughts and reminisces about his time as a student there and how it influenced his future life and love of gardening. Gardeners' Corner on Saturday morning on BBC Radio Ulster and BBC Sounds.
During the early hours of October 16th 1987, hurricane force winds ripped through southern England recording gusts of 110 mph. In just a few hours 15 million trees across the country were felled. Dawn revealed over 700 of Kew's trees sprawled on their sides, their root systems spread in the cool calm air after the storm. Kathy Willis explores how one Kew oak tree - the Turner Oak - that didn't fall, helped transform the understanding of tree planting, arboreal care and provided insights into why trees stay upright. She takes a walk with arborealist Tony Kirkham around Kew Gardens to learn how this natural clearout gave a once in a generation chance to rethink Kew's arboreal canvas. It also created an opportunity for the first-ever comprehensive tree root survey, which has since transformed our approach to tree planting and long-term care that's now finding its way into horticultural practices today. Producer: Adrian Washbourne
By the end of the First World War the mysterious sudden death of elms was a common sight across Belgium and the Netherlands. Dutch researchers managed to elucidate the real culprit amidst rumours of drought or wartime gas poisoning. It was a fungus thought to originate from America, carried by a beetle and the disease rather unfairly gained its name Dutch elm disease. Diagnosis produced no cure and it soon advanced across the channel to Britain. Professor Kathy Willis talks to the head of Kew's arboretum, Tony Kirkham, on the disease's impact amidst complacency, and how the emergence of a vigorous new fungal strain was to completely transform the landscape during its peak in the 1970's. Now that the principle replacement for lost elms, ash, itself has fallen victim to the latest disease to hitch a ride on incoming nursery stock, Paul Smith, Head of Kew's Millennium Seed Bank, explains why this new disease could be easier to control. Producer Adrian Washbourne.
This month we've a tour of the latest attraction at the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, with head of arboriculture Tony Kirkham introducing the exciting new Rhizotron and Xstrata Treetop Walkway. We also talk to salad-growing expert Charles Dowding about his new book Salad Leaves for All Seasons.