Roots and All - Gardening Podcast (Sarah Wilson)
Explorez tous les épisodes de Roots and All - Gardening Podcast
| Date | Titre | Durée | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24 Sep 2019 | Episode 58: A New Garden Ethic with Benjamin Vogt | 00:31:57 | |
A New Garden Ethic with Benjamin Vogt
Sarah talks to garden designer and author Benjamin Vogt about his book A New Garden Ethic: Cultivating Defiant Compassion for an Uncertain Future. Benjamin writes in his book how it’s imperative that we take up a new style of gardening, a new garden ethic, and that we do so fast. Benjamin explains what it means for him to garden with every species in mind and what happens when we separate ourselves from the rest of our garden’s community. Benjamin Vogt runs Monarch Gardens, a prairie garden design practice. His own garden was named a top outdoor space of 2012 by Apartment Therapy and has been featured in Fine Gardening, Garden Design, Nebraska Life, the Omaha World Herald, the Lincoln Journal Star, and on KOLN (Lincoln's CBS affiliate). Benjamin wrote an award-winning garden column for Houzz for five years and has contributed to books such as Lawn Gone! and Pollinator Friendly Gardening. His book A New Garden Ethic: Cultivating Defiant Compassion for an Uncertain Future was published in 2017 by New Society Publishers.
We talk about:
Links
Benjamin Vogt - Monarch Gardens www.monarchgard.com A New Garden Ethic:Cultivating Defiant Compassion for an Uncertain Future by Benjamin Vogt (2017)
Get in touch; Email podcast@rootsandall.co.uk Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram rootsandallpod
Patreon Link; Help us keep the podcast free & independent! Donate as much or as little as you like at https://www.patreon.com/rootsandall
| |||
| 17 Oct 2022 | Episode 210: Gardening in a Changing World | 00:26:35 | |
This week my guest is garden and landscape designer and writer, Darryl Moore. Darryl is one of the most, if not in my opinion, the most informed voice on gardens and design in the UK and his new book Gardening in A Changing World: People, Plants and the Climate Crisis presents an overarching perspective of the complexity of plant life, and the ways that we can begin to appreciate and work together with plants, rather than against them, in addressing the rapidly changing conditions affecting the planet. About Darryl Moore Darryl Moore is an award-winning garden and landscape designer and writer. He is Director and co-founder of the innovative urban landscape organisation Cityscapes, realising creative approaches to greening city spaces through novel design ideas that ensure ecological, economic and social sustainability. He is co-curator of thehub.earth. He sits on the Society of Garden Designers Council, and is a fellow of the RSA. His most recent award was for the St Mungo’s Putting Down Roots Garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2022, showcasing sustainability and ecology in public places. Links Gardening in A Changing World: People, Plants and the Climate Crisis by Darryl Moore - Pimpernel Press Ltd, Oct 2022 Other episodes if you liked this one: | |||
| 04 Oct 2021 | Episode 159: Cosmos & Hollyhocks with Jonathan Sheppard | 00:39:34 | |
My guest this week is Jonathan Sheppard, a political lobbyist who somehow fell into becoming the holder of 2 national plant collections; hollyhocks and cosmos. Jonathan talks about how to grow hollyhocks and cosmos, what you can, or can’t do about rust, good varieties to try and what to look out for in the coming year in terms of new varieties and colours. Dr Ian Bedford’s Bug of the Week: Dragonflies Please don’t forget to rate, review and share the podcast! What we cover Hollyhocks and rust When to sow hollyhocks Are they biennial or perennial? The best places to grow hollyhocks Some of the best varieties New colours The cultivation of Cosmos Links Jonathan Sheppard on Twitter | |||
| 05 May 2020 | Episode 88: Scent Magic with Isabel Bannerman | 00:31:26 | |
This is an interview I did with garden designer and author of the book Scent Magic, Isabel Bannerman. You will deduce from some of the comments in the episode that it was recorded in autumn last year and for one reason or another, I’ve sat on it all that time, never quite sure when to release it. Of course, there are scents in the garden all year round, but when you’re heading towards winter and the scent of a sweet pea flower seems a lifetime away, somehow I couldn’t quite get together the enthusiasm for the subject matter that I felt this episode deserved, especially as scents are such an important thing to me. If you read the book, you will realise these ethereal, ephemeral things make up an integral part of our very being and yet we don’t have a consensus on a vocabulary to even begin to describe them. As the natural world bursts into green and flower around us, stick your nose in the air and have a good sniff. About Isabel Bannerman: Alongside Julian Bannerman, Isabel heads up a garden design practice. Together, the couple have designed gardens for HRH The Prince of Wales, clients from the worlds of film and fashion and have won gold medals at RHS Chelsea for their work. Isabel is also an accomplished photographer with 4 solo shows under her belt and is the author of two books, 'Scent Magic’ and ‘Landscape of Dreams’ (2016). What We Discuss:
Links: Scent Magic by Isabel Bannerman - Pimpernel Press, 2019 Isabel & Julian Bannerman Garden Design Get in touch: Email podcast@rootsandall.co.uk Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram @rootsandallpod Help me keep the podcast free & independent! Support me on Patreon Or donate as much or as little as you like at GoFundMe | |||
| 18 Feb 2020 | Episode 77: Design Experts Part 3 with Leon Kluge | 00:29:41 | |
Hello and welcome to this episode of the podcast. This episode is the hotly anticipated Part 3 of the Design Experts series and this week’s guest is South African garden designer Leon Kluge who runs a design practice in Cape Town. I spoke to Leon about his work and the particular set of challenges he faces in South Africa. And let’s just say, you might just think twice the next time you moan about aphids…Leon goes out of his way to source and propagate plants from his local region and he discusses some of the amazing landscapes that surround the area. He also talks about when and where to go if you’re a plant lover and you’re planning a visit to South Africa. This series has very kindly been sponsored by the London College of Garden Design. About Leon Kluge: “Leon kluge was brought up in the Lowveld botanical gardens,From an early age, Leon has nurtured a great affinity for plants; his grandfather was the curator of the Betty’s Bay Botanical Garden and the Lowveld National Botanical Garden, while his mother owns and runs a renowned wholesale nursery in Nelspruit. Leon has been invited to create his unique landscapes throughout the world: being the only landscape designer from Africa that has ever won the Gardening World Cup held in Nagasaki Japan. He has also been awarded best designer at the biggest Garden design event on earth held in the USA, The Philadelphia flower show. Leon is also a multiple Gold award winner at the prestigious Chelsea flower show held in London-UK. He has also been the first designer from Africa to win Gold at the biggest design show in Asia, The Singapore Garden Festival and also the New Zealand International flower show. Some of Leon’s Clients include gardens for Disney ,The United Nations, Hollywood celebrities, and for governments all over the world. Leon also represents Cape Town and Kirstenbosch at the Chelsea flower show yearly. Leon Kluge has become synonymous with modern contemporary landscaping and garden design.” - www.leonkluge.com/about/ What We Discuss:
Links: Leon Kluge Design www.leonkluge.com Leon Kluge on Instagram @leonkluge With thanks to the episode sponsor, the London College of Garden Design. Tel +44 (0) 1483 762955 Email info@lcgd.org.uk Get in touch: Email podcast@rootsandall.co.uk Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram @rootsandallpod Patreon Link: Help me keep the podcast free & independent! Donate as much or as little as you like at Patreon Or GoFundMe | |||
| 28 Aug 2018 | Episode 9: Houseplants | 00:30:40 | |
Houseplants have come a long way since your mum’s Swiss cheese plant from the 1970s. However, successfully cultivating one of the myriad of varieties available today, is not as simple as wedging your chosen species into the barren corner of the living room in a once redundant terracotta pot. From nurturing your first cactus at university to transforming your home into an indoor sanctuary full of orchids, bringing the outside in has always had its challenges but also its benefits. Discover why, as Sarah places her partner Jason Stevens in the hot seat to grill him on his knowledge and passion for houseplants. Jason served 16 years in the Army leaving in 2016 for medical reasons, after which he undertook a period of rehabilitation. During his recovery he noticed what a positive effect gardening had and chose to follow this up by embarking on a garden design diploma. Eventually he narrowed his focus to sourcing and caring for indoor houseplants. Jason chats about numerous varieties of houseplants, from easy care perennials such as ferns and aspidistra to trickier specimens such as selaginella. He discusses the potential health benefits some may provide and offers some great tips on general plant care. Whether you know your bonsai from your begonia, there is plenty of useful information to ensure you can achieve your indoor zen. *Listen today to find out the winner of the review competition.
Points of interest; Easiest and most difficult houseplants Sunny spots and shady spots Bathroom plants Bedroom plants Hanging pots Tips on the procedure of buying plants General plant maintenance Rain water Vs distilled water Top 5 common pests and diseases
FAQs answered; Do I need to repot a plant once I get it home? How do I tell if my plant needs watering? How often should I water my plants? Should I give my plants food? Which plants need misting? Should I use leaf shine?
Guest follow up; Jason Stephens Instagram simply_garden Facebook @simplygardensw
Further useful research; Plant names mentioned: Aspidistra elatior Sansevieria trifasciata – Mother-in-Law’s Tongue Calathea Nephrolepis exaltata – Boston Fern Ficus elastica – Rubber Plant Ficus benjamina – Weeping Fig Spathiphyllum – Peace Lily Ceropegia woodii – String of Hearts Selaginella species Echinocactus grusonii – Mother-in-Law’s Seat
Brand names: House Plant Focus SB Plant Invigorator
Pests: Aphids Fungus gnats Mealy bugs Spider mites Thrips
Get in touch; Email podcast@rootsandall.co.uk Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram rootsandallpod
Patreon Link; | |||
| 22 Aug 2022 | Episode 202: The Composting Process | 00:28:18 | |
This week’s guest is ecologist and author Julian Doberski. If you think about compost heaps, how much do you really think about the living micro and macro organisms that dwell within them, how they contribute to the composting process and how what you do to your heap can increase or decrease their chances of survival? Julian has written about the science of what goes on in a compost heap and about the living organisms who provide the ‘hard graft’ of transforming waste organic matter in his latest publication The Science of Compost. I spoke to Julian to find out more. Dr Ian Bedford’s Bug of the Week: Fuchsia Gall Mite What We Talk About What is compost? Does what go in also come out? Eg if we want a high nitrogen compost product should we use raw materials that are also high in nitrogen? How do you know what you’ll be getting as an end product? How do you get the right balance of the organisms that break down the heap? The correct ratio of woody versus green materials in a compost heap What makes a compost heap break down, apart from the organisms in it? About Julian Doberski Julian Doberski has degrees in Zoology (BSc Southampton), Forestry (MSc Oxford) and a PhD in biological control of insects using fungi (Cambridge). He has thirty years of teaching experience at Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge (and its predecessor institutions) where he was a Principal Lecturer in Ecology. He has jointly published a resource pack for A level ecology students and a range of scientific research and science in education papers. He is currently retired and lives in Cambridgeshire. Links The Science of Compost: Life, Death and Decay in the Garden by Dr. Julian Doberski Other episodes if you liked this one: The Regenerative Grower’s Guide to Garden Amendments with Nigel Palmer | |||
| 28 Mar 2022 | Episode 181: A Therapist’s Garden | 00:26:47 | |
This week I’m chatting with New England-based horticultural therapist and master gardener, Erik Keller, who is also the author of the book A Therapist’s Garden: Using Plants to Revitalise Your Spirit. Over 20 years, Erik has worked with thousands of people of all ages and types, using horticulture and therapeutic techniques to help them deal with physical, emotional and mental challenges. Erik talks about using an outdoor space as a place for therapy and learning and about the downs and ups of bringing horticulture into peoples’ lives as a way to heal. Dr Ian Bedford’s Bug of the Week: Home grown bugs What we cover Erik’s background in therapeutic gardening The most therapeutic and stimulating plant scents for people to work with How plants spark memories Establishing a connection between growing and eating plants Techniques to stop attention wandering whilst completing a task Techniques you use if people are exhibiting undesirable behaviour Lesson planning and being flexible during gardening sessions Using your garden year round How seasonal changes can help garden users deal with their personal issues and relate to the garden About A Therapist’s Garden: Using Plants to Revitalise Your Spirit The Zen of mixing mud with seniors; crafting surprising salads out of weeds; and a hidden rabbit bringing joy to girls in a juvenile detention center. These are a few of the nearly 100 stories that Erik Keller takes readers on through a journey of how interacting with plants and nature can help heal mental, emotional, and physical trauma. Through the lens of January to December in a New England landscape, discover how horticultural therapy improves the lives of those in pain including special-needs children, cancer patients, and disabled seniors. A Therapist’s Garden is unique in portraying how gardening, nature-based arts, plants and horticulture can revitalize the spirit of people. It encompasses over 20 years of experiences seeing the healing power of horticultural therapy. Its themes and subject material are universal in interest as different portions of this book apply to nearly anyone who likes plants or to garden, both booming activities today, as well as therapists who will find the approach interesting and of use to their client bases. About Erik Keller Over the last 20 years, Erik Keller has worked with thousands of people of all ages and types using horticulture and therapeutic techniques to help them deal with physical, cognitive, social and emotional challenges. Venues have ranged from special-needs schools, to prisons, to nursing facilities to private homes. Certifications from the University of Connecticut as a Master Gardener in 2000 and the New York Botanical Garden in Horticultural Therapy in 2009 has given Keller a strong base of knowledge from which he has been able to help his clients. He is a member of the American Horticultural Therapy Association, the Northeast Horticultural Therapy Network as well as the Connecticut Master Gardeners Association. He writes extensively about the healing power of horticultural therapy on a variety of social media platforms and on his website www.grohappy.com. For over a decade, Keller has been running a twice-monthly horticultural therapy (HT) program at Ann’s Place, a not-for-profit facility helping those with cancer located in Danbury, CT. Since the emergence of COVID-19, Keller has developed a wide variety of virtual and hybrid HT sessions for clients. He also manages and maintains the grounds at Ann’s Place, which he designed over a decade ago to accommodate therapeutic needs of the client base. Keller is also a commissioner for the Ridgefield Conservation Commission, which manages and maintains over 5,800 acres of open space in Ridgefield, CT. In the past, he has run horticultural therapy programs at senior living and nursing facilities as well as run programs at Green Chimneys, a school for special-needs children in Brewster, NY. Earlier in Keller’s career, he spent a decade as a journalist and editor for a variety of technology- focused trade publications, a decade as a Research Fellow at Gartner, Stamford, CT (the leading technology advisory firm in the world), and another decade as a management consultant with his own firm. During that time he received many awards for editorial, writing and analytical excellence. He also wrote a well-received book for the technology community called Technology Paradise Lost (Manning Publications) in 2004. Keller graduated from State University of New York at Stony Brook with a Bachelor’s of Engineering degree as well as minored in English and Journalism. While at Stony Brook, he won the University’s Martin Buskin Memorial Scholarship for Journalism. Links Black Rose Publishing - A Therapist’s Garden: Using Plants to Revitalise Your Spirit | |||
| 23 Apr 2019 | Episode 38: Wildlife Gardening with Kate Bradbury | 00:30:23 | |
Following on from my episodes on native vs. non-native plants and gardening for wildlife, who better for me to interview than wildlife gardening guru Kate Bradbury? We talk about the best ways to garden for wildlife, including what to put in to your wildlife garden and what to leave out. Kate champions some unusual species and our conversation touches upon aspects that may surprise even the most seasoned wildlife gardener. The timing was perfect too, as Kate’s new book Wildlife Gardening for Everyone and Everything hit the shelves 5 days ago. Once she’s tempted you with snippets of wildlife gardening gold, you can go buy the book and find out everything you need to know about turning your own garden, whatever its size, into a haven for all creatures great and small.
About Kate Bradbury Kate Bradbury is an award-winning author and journalist, specialising in wildlife gardening. She edits the wildlife pages of BBC Gardeners World Magazine and regularly writes articles for the Daily and Sunday Telegraph, The Guardian, RHS magazine The Garden and BBC Wildlife and BBC Countryfile magazines. In 2015 she became the first Butterfly Ambassador for conservation charity Butterfly Conservation, and she writes a quarterly column for its members magazine, Butterfly. Kate regularly talks at events and festivals, and appears on radio including BBC Gardeners Question Time and the popular RHS gardening podcast. She also makes wildlife gardening videos for gardenersworld.com. She lives and breathes wildlife gardening, and is currently transforming a tired north-facing patio garden into a wildlife oasis, where she hopes to attract a wealth of creatures including frogs, toads, newts, birds, beetles, hedgehogs, butterflies, not to mention her very favourite, and first love: bees.
Links: Buy a copy of Kate’s new book Wildlife Gardening for Everyone and Everything here https://www.amazon.co.uk/Wildlife-Gardening-Everyone-Everything-Trusts/dp/1472956052/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=Kate+bradbury&qid=1554217200&s=books&sr=1-3 Kate on Twitter @Kate_Bradbury https://twitter.com/Kate_Bradbury?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor On Instagram kategbradbury https://www.instagram.com/kategbradbury/ The Bumblebee Flies Anyway by Kate Bradbury - Buy Here https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bumblebee-Flies-Anyway-year-gardening/dp/1472943104/ref=la_B00O0X7MLI_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1554215473&sr=1-2 The Wildlife Gardener by Kate Bradbury - Buy Here https://www.amazon.co.uk/Wildlife-Gardener-Kate-Bradbury/dp/152671289X Butterfly Conservation www.butterfly-conservation.org https://butterfly-conservation.org Big Butterfly Count www.bigbutterflycount.org https://www.bigbutterflycount.org Moths Count www.mothscount.org http://www.mothscount.org Froglife www.froglife.org https://www.froglife.org Bumblebee Conservation Trust www.bumblebeeconservation.org https://www.bumblebeeconservation.org BTO (British Trust for Ornithology) www.bto.org https://www.bto.org
Get in touch; Email podcast@rootsandall.co.uk Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram rootsandallpod
Patreon Link; Help us keep the podcast free & independent! Donate as much or as little as you like at https://www.patreon.com/rootsandall | |||
| 31 Jan 2022 | Episode 173: Sharing and Borrowing Gardens | 00:26:59 | |
This week, I’m talking to Joyce Veheary about her fantastic Lend and Tend project, which aims to match garden owners who perhaps don’t have the time, experience, desire or means to tend their garden with gardenless gardeners keen to employ their green fingers, pairing up people who are local to each other, then sending them on their merry way in the hopes they will have a long and happy garden sharing relationship. Joyce talks about why she felt the need to begin the project, how it works, what happens when it succeeds and why the idea is of benefit to whole communities, as well as the individuals involved. Dr Ian Bedford’s Bug of the Week: Indoor houseplant bugs What we cover Lend and Tend and how it came about How likely are you to find someone on Lend and Tend who shares the same view of what a garden can and should be? Some of the keys to having a mutually beneficial relationship between lender and tender What about tools? Practical considerations such as insurance and references The social element of Lend and Tend and how it benefits the community Where to find out more and get involved About Joyce Veheary Joyce is the founder of Lend and Tend and is a self-taught gardener with a passion for sharing skills and experiences. She is particularly interested in growing her own produce to cook with and she’s a keen forager too. Joyce is always looking for ways to look after the environment and to promote social justice. Her aim with Lend and Tend is to democratise access to growing space, which she rightly views as an act of horticultural rebellion. She’s also a film and TV actor and her latest role is in Zack Snyder’s Justice League where she plays a Gotham cop. Talk about multi-talented! Links | |||
| 04 May 2022 | Episode 186: Climate Cuisine with Clarissa Wei | 00:26:13 | |
Hello and welcome to this episode of the podcast where I’m speaking to journalist and host of the Climate Cuisine podcast, Clarissa Wei. On her podcast, Clarissa shares the stories of the crops grown sustainably around the world. The goal is to highlight climate-centric conversations about crops and the food we eat as they become increasingly important to the resiliency and survival of our food systems. Dr Ian Bedford’s Bug of the Week: Bumbling bees What we cover Clarissa's background and the idea behind her Climate Cuisine podcast What’s wrong with the way we currently farm and consume our food? How individuals can join the growing revolution The importance of growing food that is specific to your climate region How this can change the way we grow and use food How regional food independence helps local communities Government support (or not!) The future of the Climate Cuisine podcast About Clarissa Wei Clarissa Wei is an American Taiwanese freelance journalist and video producer based in Taipei. Bylines include the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, National Geographic, VICE, among others. She is currently working on her first cookbook, Made In Taiwan (Simon Element). Links | |||
| 30 Nov 2018 | Episode 21: Climate Change Gardening - Panel Discussion | 00:51:16 | |
Gardening in A Changing Climate This is a recording of a panel discussion that took place at a Designers' Day event on 27th November 2018. The sound quality is pretty raw and not up to our excellent standards, as we recorded in a polytunnel in the lashing rain! The topic up for debate was how climate change is affecting the way designers design gardens for clients. Or not, as the case may be! A straw poll at the beginning revealed that in a room full of garden designers and landscapers, about 4 said their work had been influenced by a changing climate. Which is comforting, or frightening, depending on how you look at it... Although the debate was intended to be heard by designers, there are definitely words of wisdom that can be applied in gardens or all shapes and sizes, and by gardeners at all levels. The panel is chaired by Jack Wallington. The designers taking part are your host Sarah Wilson, Emma Page and Nic Howard. The event was held at How Green Nursery in Hever, Kent. How Green Nursery is a trade nursery supplying plants to retailers, landscapers, designers, local authorities and historic gardens. They also supply plants for show gardens, including the RHS Chelsea and Hampton Court Flower Shows. Thanks to the guys at the nursery for hosting an informative and thought-provoking event. Further Information The Roots and All website - https://rootsandall.co.uk https://twitter.com/rootsandall https://www.facebook.com/rootsandalluk/ https://www.instagram.com/rootsandallpod/ Email: podcast@rootsandall.co.uk How Green Nursery - 01732 700382 - www.howgreennursery.co.uk Jack Wallington www.jackwallington.com Emma Page www.natureredsigned.co.uk Nic Howard www.we-love-plants.co.uk | |||
| 04 Dec 2023 | Episode 266: The Winter Garden | 00:22:06 | |
This week's guest is Naomi Slade. Naomi is a journalist, author, designer and consultant. She works as a writer and broadcaster and lectures on a range of specialist subjects. She has written a number of popular gardening books and as if that weren't enough, she's also an award-winning garden designer and will be exhibiting the Flood Resilient Garden, which she's co-designed with Ed Barsley, at RHS Chelsea 2024. We're speaking about her latest book, The Winter Garden: Celebrating the Winter Season. Dr Ian Bedford's Bug of the Week: Organic Recyclers and Millipedes The Winter Garden by Naomi Slade Other epsiodes if you liked this one: | |||
| 24 Jan 2022 | Episode 172: Saving Our Seeds | 00:28:33 | |
Hello and welcome to this episode of the podcast, where I’m speaking to Madeline McKeever, owner of Brown Envelope Seeds. Madeline’s company produces organic, open-pollinated seeds, which are harvested from crops grown on site at the Brown Envelope Seeds’ HQ, a farm in Skibbereen in County Cork. Madeline talks about why open-pollinated seeds are essential in the fight to feed people and for greater food biodiversity, the benefits of seed saving and sourcing seeds locally and how you can harvest your own seeds. P.s. for those expecting exotic plants and sunny climes as promised last week, apologies! The course of podcasting never did run smooth - hopefully next week! Dr Ian Bedford’s Bug of the Week: Overwintering moths What we cover Brown Envelope Seeds and how Madeline started the company Why organic seeds? Why open-pollinated? On the Brown Envelope Seeds website, Madeline writes that open pollinated seeds “are naturally pollinated - by insects or wind; not enforced pollination or in-breeding”. She expands on what she means by this. Food plant biodiversity Why you should try to buy seeds from a seed producer in your region or from one who has similar growing conditions Saving our own seeds If we save seeds each year, are the resulting plants are getting better and better? What to look for when saving seed Potential problems with seed crops that can affect the quality of the seed The situation globally with seed production and seed sellers? About Madeline McKeever Madeline began Brown Envelope Seeds in 2004 with 25 varieties. Since then, the company has grown, along with the amount of varieties offered (especially tomatoes!) to a family business supplying organic and open-pollinated vegetable seeds to Irish growers. Madeline’s mission statement is to enable people to grow their own food and she believes producing and saving seeds is a vital part of that. She is doing her part to preserve and safeguard the future of food diversity in Ireland and by sharing her knowledge and expertise, is helping this happen on a global scale. Links Other episodes you might like: | |||
| 11 Dec 2023 | Episode 267: Growing Box: Moths, Blight and Solutions! | 00:25:01 | |
My guest this week is Belgian nurseryman Karel Goossens. Karel runs an internationally renowned nursery supplying box plants and is the Chariman of the Belgian arm of the European Boxwood & Topiary Society. With decades of experience growing box and an irreverent approach to tackling the problems that go along with it, when he was recommended to me, I thought he was my ideal sort of guest! He does recommend intensive cultivation methods which include spraying chemical fungicides and insecticides, so this epsiode is not for everyone. However, I do acknowledge that many historic gardens are built around a backbone of box and that many listeners are professional gardeners who deal with box and its attendant blights, so this epsiode is a practical look at what you can do. Dr Ian Bedford's Bug of the Week: Box Tree Moth Links Kwekerij Goossens on Instagram European Boxwood & Topiary Society Karel's website for tripod ladders Our Plant Stories with Sally Flatman Other episodes if you liked this one: | |||
| 25 Apr 2022 | Episode 185: Bonsai with John Hanby | 00:28:50 | |
This week I’m speaking to Bonsai expert John Hanby. John has decades of experience studying and creating bonsai trees and has just released an incredibly comprehensive guide called the Practical Art of Bonsai. We talk about selecting a plant, how to train it, and artistic methods and we finish with John’s thoughts on how bonsai techniques relate to and inform wider gardening practices. Dr Ian Bedford’s Bug of the Week: Large bulb flies What we cover What is a bonsai tree? What can you bonsai? Indoor and outdoor trees Overall aims of bonsai Starting a tree from seed or a cutting Wiring and directional pruning Dead wood as an artistic addition to a tree Watering bonsai trees Specialist bonsai equipment About John Hanby John has been teaching bonsai for over thirty years and is owner of one of the biggest bonsai schools in Europe. He’s a long-serving member of the Yorkshire Bonsai Association committee and has previously been the secretary of the Federation of British Bonsai Societies, in addition to being a member of the Belgian Kawabe School. He gives talks and demonstrations in the UK and internationally, and has won multiple awards for his fabulous trees. He provides advice, articles and photographs for podcasts, books and magazines, and has produced a successful DVD. Links Practical Art of Bonsai by John Hanby - The Crowood Press, 2022 | |||
| 02 Jul 2019 | Episode 48: Forest Bathing with Stefan Batorijs | 00:27:31 | |
Forest Bathing, or Shinrin Yoku, is the practice of immersing yourself in nature as therapy. It’s the perfect antidote for those who feel disconnected from the land and unattached from nature, which is increasingly likely to happen in a world where 55% of us live in urban areas. In this episode, I speak to Stefan Batorijs who founded Nature and Therapy UK in 2017, as a response to a growing need to foster a spiritual and psychological connection to the land. If you’ve always wondered what Forest Bathing, or Shinrin Yoku, entails, this is the episode for you! About Stefan Stefan has been exploring the wild places for 50 years, and trained originally in Countryside Management, Conservation and Environmental Education. He is a qualified Integrative Psychotherapist and Mountain Leader, with 25 years experience facilitating individuals and groups in natural environments. In 2008 he established the highly acclaimed Ecotherapy Project with Plymouth NHS, for people with severe and enduring mental health needs. Stefan is currently an Associate Lecturer at Plymouth University. He teaches the role of Nature and benefits of natural immersion for mental health and recovery from trauma on the Clinical Psychology Doctorate Training. Stefan is passionate about trees, birds and Sacred land. Stefan is a member of INFOM, the International Society of Nature and Forest Medicine and a member of the Eco-psychology Network. What We Cover:
Links Nature and Therapy UK - check out the Resources page for excellent links to the research surrounding Forest Bathing http://natureandtherapy.co.uk Contact: Stefan Batorijs 3 Barnsey Gardens Ashburton Devon TQ13 7GA UK stefan@natureandtherapy.co.uk +44 1364 652162 Nature and Therapy UK on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/shinrinyokuUK/ Common Farm Flowers on Twitter: @TheFlowerFarmer https://twitter.com/TheFlowerFarmer Common Farm Flowers on Instagram: @commonfarmflowers https://www.instagram.com/commonfarmflowers/?hl=en
Get in touch: Email podcast@rootsandall.co.uk Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram rootsandallpod
Patreon Link: Help us keep the podcast free & independent! Donate as much or as little as you like at https://www.patreon.com/rootsandall
| |||
| 29 May 2023 | Episode 239: Growing Biodiversity | 00:29:05 | |
My guest this week is gardener Benny Hawksbee. Benny has a background in biology and gardens with one eye on biodiversity. His projects include the Eden Nature Garden, a community garden designed to be a haven for people and wildlife, and John Little’s garden in Essex. We talk about how Benny brings biology and ecology into his work, what we can all do to garden for wildlife whilst reducing our input in terms of resources and how we can involve the community in building and using gardens that work for everyone. Dr Ian Bedford’s Bug of the Week: Broad bean pests What We Talk About Benny’s professional background and how he got into horticulture The Eden Nature Garden How Benny brings biology & ecology into his work Gardening on a low budget and with low resource availability, such as the absence of running water and electricity Going against the horticultural rule book Bees - native species and honeybees The importance of community involvement in public gardens The future of gardening in the UK Links London Natural History Society UK Bees, wasps, ants recording society Other episodes if you liked this one: | |||
| 06 May 2023 | Episode 236: Mosses | 00:30:17 | |
This week, my guest is Dr Neil Bell, bryologist at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and author of The Hidden World of Mosses, which takes a look into the minute and fascinating world of bryophytes. If you’ve ever wanted to know how these plants live and reproduce, whether you can cultivate moss indoors or outdoors, what that green stuff is you find on the surface of potted plant’s compost and whether you should take it off, the environmental and habitat value of mosses and how they are affected by the moon, listen on… Dr Ian Bedford’s Bug of the Week: Tardegrades What We Talk About What is moss? How is it different to other plants? Liverworts and hornworts How mosses reproduce Moss species in the UK Cultivating mosses in a garden or as a houseplant Liverworts growing on the surface of potted plants Is there a place for mosses on brownfield sites? Do all mosses need shade and moisture? How mosses take in nutrients and attach to structures The role mosses play in the environment in terms of water attenuation and conservation, and as habitats for other creatures Sphagnum bogs as a ‘potential positive feedback loop’ for climate change and what can be done about this The connection between sphagnum moss and the moon How you can better see mosses, to explore what they look like in detail and appreciate them About The Hidden World of Mosses Did you know that there are nearly 20,000 different species of mosses and their relatives worldwide with over 1000 in the UK? And did you know that Sphagnum moss is almost wholly responsible for the creation and maintenance of peat bogs, preventing harmful carbon from being released into the atmosphere? The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh has published The Hidden World of Mosses, providing an accessible guide to these not-so-humble botanical gems. Written by bryologist Dr Neil Bell, the book presents information about these incredible plants, exploring their tiny, intriguing and diverse environments in detail. This fascinating book also contains hundreds of stunning photographs which reveal the beauty and splendour of moss. Perhaps the most misunderstood and misrepresented of all groups of organisms, moss is often thought of as unattractive and unremarkable, but nothing could be further from the truth. Mosses and their relatives (liverworts and hornworts) are found in almost every part of the world, from lush forests to rocky mountains tops and from city centres in the tropics to Antarctic tundra. Mosses are critical to the planet - if they ceased to exist tomorrow the world would be in a lot of trouble. Examining the many different types of moss, including those found in the UK and internationally, The Hidden World of Mosses explores the incredible environments of these plants that form their own miniature forests filled with grazers and predators, and have their own ecological norms and mechanics. They play a critical role in climate change prevention and have an extraordinary ability to hold and control water in forests, uplands and valleys. Incredibly, some mosses can hold more than 20 times their own weight in water. Peat mosses (Sphagnum) are almost entirely responsible for creating and maintaining peat, which is a traditional fuel and used for the flavour it imparts to many whiskies. Sphagnum moss keeps the soil in which it grows permanently wet, largely preventing decomposition.Interestingly, Sphagnum moss has also been used by medics over the centuries. Due to its absorbent and antiseptic properties, it was used as a cheaper alternative to cotton wool dressings in World Wars One and Two, and has been used to treat wounds for many years. On tropical mountains, mosses prevent flooding by capturing large amounts of water, gently controlling the flow of heavy rainfall, absorbing it like a giant sponge and then slowly letting it out again into rivers in a regulated manner. Additionally, mosses offer hunting grounds, protection and food for a host of much smaller creatures such as worms, mites, spiders and beetles, who use moss as a place to shelter, graze, or reproduce. Speaking about the publication of The Hidden World of Mosses, Neil Bell said, “Mosses are just a little smaller than most things we deal with in our everyday lives, so we tend not to notice their intricate beauty and how different they are from each other unless we make the effort to look really closely. Mosses and their relatives have evolved to live in a different way from other plants, playing a critical role in the environment that other plants can’t, and the mosses and liverworts we have in Scotland are of international significance - far more so than our other native plants, in fact. We need to recognise that and protect them. I hope that this book will raise awareness of this hidden botanical world and encourage more people to explore it .” Dr Neil Bell is a bryologist at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. Much of his research is focused on quantifying, understanding and promoting Scotland’s globally important bryophyte flora, of which mosses are part. Neil is also editor-in-chief of the Journal of Bryology. This year, the British Bryology Society celebrates its centenary. The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh is one of the world’s leading scientific botanic gardens, holding knowledge gained over centuries that the world needs today. All known life depends on plants and fungi. The Garden’s mission is to explore, conserve and explain the world of plants for a better future. We all know biodiversity loss and climate change is threatening thousands of plants with extinction. Through cutting edge science, conservation and education, the organisation is helping to save them. Its four Scottish gardens – Benmore, Dawyk, Logan and ‘The Botanics’ in Edinburgh – attract over a million visitors every year. Together, these gardens comprise one of the richest plant collections on earth. As a registered Scottish charity, the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh is funded principally by the Scottish Government – but as an organisation, it is very much global, taking positive action for plants and people around the world – from local communities in Scotland, to over 40 countries overseas. Links The Hidden World of Mosses by Dr Neil Bell
www.britishbryologicalsociety.org.uk Other episodes if you liked this one: | |||
| 14 Mar 2022 | Episode 179: Welcome to Mintopia | 00:44:03 | |
This week’s guest is Dr Si Poole, founder of Mintopia, a website dedicated to mint featuring its own online reference library for the different types, the mintopaedia. Si holds one of the National Collections of mint and holds getting on for 200 different cultivars. From his plastic-free, organic nursery, he sells themed collections of mints and he’s passionate and knowledgable about every aspect of the Mentha genera, impressive given that there’s much more to this plant than mint sauce and mojitos. Dr Ian Bedford’s Bug of the Week: Locusts What we cover How Si became interested in mint The different species and cultivars of mint The Mintopia Mint Collections How is mint propagated? The cultivation of mint in the garden Is it true that you shouldn’t allow mints of different varieties grow in the same container otherwise they all end up tasting the same? Mint pests and diseases Links | |||
| 29 Jan 2019 | Episode 26: Super Organic Vegan Gardening with Matthew Appleby | 00:26:52 | |
Matthew Appleby is a multi award-winning horticultural journalist who regularly writes for gardening magazines, national newspapers and the industry bible Horticulture Week. Matthew is a long-time vegan and organic gardener and has a wealth of growing experience upon which to base his new book, The Super Organic Gardener. The book is released on the 31st January 2019 and I spoke to Matthew about what it means to garden in this style.
We touched upon: The definition of organic and vegan gardening Why veganism is gaining so much traction What products do and don’t qualify for use in a vegan garden What is no-dig gardening Vegan composts, green manures, fertilisers , seeds and plants Matthew’s reasons for practising vegan gardening
Further reading: The Super Organic Gardener - Matthew Appleby Jan 2019 - Pen & Sword https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/The-Super-Organic-Gardener-Paperback/p/15572 Charles Dowding - No-Dig Gardening https://www.charlesdowding.co.uk Poyntzfield Herb Nursery https://www.poyntzfieldherbs.co.uk Delfland Nurseries Walcot Organic Nursery Hulme Garden Centre https://hulmegardencentre.org.uk
Get in touch; Email podcast@rootsandall.co.uk Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram rootsandallpod
Patreon Link; Help us keep the podcast free & independent! Donate as much or as little as you like at https://www.patreon.com/rootsandall | |||
| 20 Jul 2020 | Episode 99: Growing Food with Stephanie Hafferty | 00:41:21 | |
This week I’m chatting with Stephanie Hafferty. Amongst other things, Stephanie is a writer, speaker, long-time champion of No-Dig gardening, a food growing expert, a talented chef she shares some brilliant tips with us this week. The knowledge comes thick and fast in this episode, so you may want to grab a pen and paper before you begin listening! Dr Ian Bedford’s Bug of the Week: Asian Hornets About Stephanie Hafferty: “I’m an organic no dig kitchen gardener, plant based cook, award winning food & gardening writer, small scale homesteader and mum of three. I live in Bruton, a small market town in rural Somerset where I grow delicious vegetables, fruit, flowers and herbs in my garden and allotment using no dig methods. I love reading (I studied Literature and Art History at university and worked as an English teacher), crafting, visiting interesting places, exploring the countryside, trying out new recipes and food, making potions and learning new skills.” https://nodighome.com/about/ What We Discuss: Avoiding bolting crops The best way to pick leafy crops to prevent bolting When to sow to stop bolting Eat crops like rocket and mustard greens when they’ve flowered Quick fillers for gaps Gluts of crops How can we avoid gluts Preserving food Deadheading and harvesting Crops that people might think have gone past their best but are actually still usable Links: Stephanie's website nodighome.com Stephanie Hafferty on Twitter Stephanie Hafferty on Instagram The Creative Kitchen by Stephanie Hafferty No Dig Organic Home & Garden by Charles Dowding & Stephanie Hafferty Get in touch: Email podcast@rootsandall.co.uk Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram @rootsandallpod Help me keep the podcast free & independent! Support me on Patreon Or donate as much or as little as you like at GoFundMe | |||
| 08 Jul 2024 | Episode 294: Wood Meadows | 00:25:14 | |
Hello and welcome to this week’s episode where I have a returning guest, Jake Rayson. We’re talking about wood meadows, or rather we’re talking around the periphery of wood meadows as a concept. We’re talking about the use of land, gardens, humans and wildlife and generally getting a bit ranty about the absolute state of things. I realise that’s not by much in the way of introduction, but the conversation twists and turns and the best thing to do is just take a listen… Links When culture supports biodiversity: The case of the wooded meadow by Kull, Kukk & Lotman 2003 Other episodes if you liked this one: No Mow May - This episode, my guest is Mark Schofield, Plantlife’s Road Verge Advisor for the UK. Mark has a huge amount of experience when it comes to green space conservation and is currently involved in a number of projects across the country to manage road verges better for wildlife involving biomass harvesting trials and the use of AI in surveys. Meadows with Keith Datchler - Join me for an interview with conservationist and wild meadows expert Keith Datchler. We talk about the state of our wildflower meadows, their importance for biodiversity and where we, as humans, fit as part of the biodiversity that feels at home in meadows.we take a light-hearted look at the power of plants to help you manifest your deepest desires. | |||
| 14 Dec 2020 | Episode 120: Anna Soper on Kate Crooks | 00:32:39 | |
This week, I’m talking to Anna Soper, a Canadian artist, writer, podcaster and master of too many things to mention really about Kate Crooks, a largely forgotten Canadian botanist whose work Anna uncovered for a project she undertook in 2018. Anna’s research into Kate Crooks has unearthed pieces of a historical jigsaw puzzle which leave us wondering how many other botanists and specimens are out there just waiting to be discovered and how many of these important pieces of the botanical record have been lost forever. Dr Ian Bedford’s Bug of the Week: Fleas About Anna Soper “Anna Soper has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from OCAD University, where she won the OCAD University Medal in 2011. She has studied abroad at the Glasgow School of Art, and has a Master of Library and Information Science degree from Western University. Soper has exhibited her work in Toronto, New York, and London, UK. She lives and works in Kingston, Ontario, Canada, where she has created two public art works for the City of Kingston.” https://www.annasoper.ca/about Links Anna Soper’s Article on Kate Crooks in Atlas Obscura Teen People Podcast on Twitter Teen People Podcast on Instagram Botanical Society of Canada - Biodiversity Library https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/london/kate-crooks-botany-collection-lost-1.5249427 https://news.westernu.ca/2019/08/alumna-searches-for-botanists-trailblazing-work/ | |||
| 04 Nov 2024 | Episode 311: Radical Rest | 00:23:34 | |
What if rest could be a radical act of resistance? In this episode, I talk with Evie Muir, author of Radical Rest, who challenges the myth that burnout can be cured by self-care alone. Evie offers a bold vision of rest as a communal, transformative practice grounded in Black Feminist and abolitionist thought. Tune in to explore how rest and time in nature can lead us from exhaustion and grief toward joy and resilience—and what it takes to build a world where we can all thrive. About ‘Radical Rest: Notes on Burnout, Healing and Hopeful Futures’ We’re burnt out—drained, anxious, overworked, and unsupported. The answer cannot lie in occasional self-care practices when our exhaustion points to a much deeper societal problem. Self-improvement cannot truly help us within a system that demands so much while giving so little in return. Instead, we need a full reimagining that prioritises a thriving, abundant life. Through a Black Feminist, abolitionist, and nature-focused perspective, Evie Muir invites us to envision a world rooted in radical rest. Muir explores what genuine rest would feel like and how it would reshape our experiences. They examine burnout’s core emotions—rage, grief, anxiety—and imagine the transformation toward hope, joy, and abundance that meaningful change could bring. Muir speaks with those most affected by and resisting burnout: Black, queer, disabled activists of colour. Through their lived experiences, a vision emerges of a world where radical rest is communal, grounded in connection—with each other, our bodies, and the natural world. Links ‘Radical Rest: Notes on Burnout, Healing and Hopeful Futures’ by Evie Muir Evie Muir on Instagram: @xeviemuir Other episodes if you liked this one: If you liked this week's episode with Christian Douglas, you might also enjoy this one from the archives: 242: Soil: The Story of a Black Mother’s Garden - This week’s guest is poet and scholar Camille Dungy. Camille has documented how she diversified her garden to reflect her heritage in her book ‘Soil: The Story of a Black Mother’s Garden’. We talk about the politics of gardening, planting a nature garden and how nature writing has influenced our gardens in the past and how it can shape the way we do so in the future. 86: Nicole Rose of Solidarity Apothecary - This week I’m talking to anarchist organiser, agroecologist and grassroots herbalist, Nicole Rose. Nicole runs the Solidarity Apothecary, an organisation supporting mainly prisoners and refugees either by supplying herbal remedies or by facilitating the growing and making of these. We talk about Nicole’s work to help prisoners, refugees and other facing state repression by helping them with their physical and mental wellbeing through a connection to nature. | |||
| 20 Nov 2023 | Episode 264: Looking out for Bumblebees | 00:26:07 | |
Hello and welcome to this week’s episode where my guest is Gill Perkins, CEO of the Bumblebee Conservation Trust. We talk about bumblebee populations and habitats, what we can do to encourage and care for bumblebees in our gardens and about the role of bumblebees in tomato pollination, which came as a complete surprise to me! Dr Ian Bedford’s Bug of the Week: Fuchsia Gall Mite What We Talk About Bumblebee concerns Bumblebee identification Honeybees and beekeeping Encouraging and caring for bumblebees Tomato pollination Links Other episodes if you liked this one: Urban Bees with Mark Patterson | |||
| 29 Aug 2022 | Episode 203: Gardening for Your Senses | 00:25:16 | |
This week I’m chatting with writer Kendra Wilson. Kendra has written a vast amount about gardening but I was particularly interested in speaking to her about her book Garden for the Senses. Engaging all your senses can lead to a deeper connection with the landscape and it can be an unusual and transformative experience. I wanted to find out how we can all learn to better use our senses and firstly, what prompted Kendra to write the book. Dr Ian Bedford’s Bug of the Week: The blue butterflies What We Talk About How catering to the senses can lend another dimension to the garden How many senses should we aim to stimulate in a garden? One good plant that will engage with each of our five senses How you can learn to engage your senses more when in the garden About Kendra Wilson Kendra has contributed to The Sunday Times, Gardens Illustrated, Guardian Weekend, Garden Design Journal, RHS The Garden, and Vogue. She is a longstanding correspondent for Gardenista online and contributed a chapter 'The Gardenista 100' to the 2016 book, Gardenista: The Definitive Guide to Stylish Outdoor Spaces. Kendra has worked on numerous projects including a limited-edition book for Mulberry and other books including My Garden is a Car Park and The Book of the Flower. Links Garden for the Senses by Kendra Wilson - Dorling Kindersley, February 2022 | |||
| 21 Oct 2024 | Episode 309: The Seed Hunter | 00:25:03 | |
Mitch McCulloch is redefining how we grow and cook with plants. He’s is a former chef, turned seed hunter and gardener, who applies his culinary knowledge when choosing and cooking with the produce he grows. Not only does he select the most diverse and interesting varieties, he gets creative with how he serves up his produce. His new book The Seed Hunter is properly inspiring if you’re both a cook and grower and you want to get the absolute most out of your edible plants. About Mitch McCulloch Author, seed hunter, and gardener with a passion for promoting and preserving rare heirloom food crops. A former chef from London, Mitch has turned his culinary expertise toward a quest to safeguard the rich, diverse flavours our world has to offer. Currently, he explores the globe in search of unique fruit, vegetable and flower seeds, documenting and preserving them to ensure that future generations can experience the delicious heritage and beauty of our past. Through his work, Mitch aims to champion and protect the biodiversity of our food system, one seed at a time. Links The Seed Hunter: Discover the World's Most Unusual Heirloom Plants by Mitch McCulloch Mitch on Instagram: @mitch_grows Other episodes if you liked this one: If you liked this week's episode with Mitch McCulloch, you might also enjoy this one from the archives: 287: Heirloom Vegetables - This episode my guest is former jewellery designer to the stars, turned social media veg grower, Lucy Hutchings. Along with music festival organiser, Kate Cotterill, Lucy set up SheGrowsVeg, an heirloom seed company which is bringing the most unusual veg, fruit, and edible flowers to veg patches and plates everywhere. 188: Huw Richards on Veg Growing - This week’s guest is veg growing expert Huw Richards. Huw grows a vast range of plants in his garden in mid-West Wales and is always trialling and experimenting with new ways of growing. He has an enormously popular YouTube channel and has authored a number of books, the latest of which is ‘The Vegetable Grower’s Handbook’ which draws on his experience as very much a thoughtful and philosophical gardener. | |||
| 19 Oct 2020 | Episode 112: Heritage Apples with Caroline Ball | 00:36:29 | |
This week’s guest is Caroline Ball, author of a beautiful book called ‘Heritage Apples’. In normal circumstances, this week would have seen lots of events to celebrate Apple Day taking place across the country, but instead, I’m celebrating here on the podcast by delving into some of our lesser known and historic varieties with Caroline, plus there’s a very useful bit at the end where Caroline explains the mysteries of apple tree pollination. Dr Ian Bedford’s Bug of the Week: Leather Jackets About Caroline Ball “Caroline Ball is an editor, copywriter and occasional translator. She has written on subjects from horticulture and travel to antiques and health, and has contributed to books about William Morris and a guide to historical sites. She is a keen gardener and, having been born a 'Kentish Maid’, some of her earliest memories are of apple orchards in blossom.” - https://bodleianshop.co.uk/products/heritage-apples What we talk about: What is a heritage apples? The Herefordshire pomona Why should we grow heritage apples? Some of the varieties described in the book; Beauty of Kent, Catshead & Oslin Where to taste heritage varieties Apple tree pollination Links: | |||
| 16 Jun 2020 | Episode 94: James Basson of Scape Design | 00:30:55 | |
This week I’m speaking to James Basson of Scape Design. James runs his design practice along with wife Helen out of the south of France and their work is synonymous with a naturalistic style, the use of native plants and often, the implementation of matrix or grid planting to populate large areas of landscape. It was this part of James’s practice that initially sparked my interest and we get round to talking about that towards the end of the interview, but first we cover the type of work undertaken by Scape Design and the gardens James designs for some of the most demanding environments. About James Basson: James specialises in dry, sustainable gardens that are inspired by his passion for the natural landscape and is known for using natural materials and local artisans. He has won numerous awards at Garden Shows throughout the world with Gold Medals at the Gardening World Cup in Japan, the Singapore Garden Festival, the Philadelphia Flower Show and the Chelsea Flower Show, where he won best in show in 2017. He has published papers on a generative approach to Garden Design, and is currently developing a database around matrix form planting design, to help designers and gardeners create ecological planting schemes. What We Discuss:
Links: Get in touch: Email podcast@rootsandall.co.uk Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram @rootsandallpod Help me keep the podcast free & independent! Support me on Patreon Or donate as much or as little as you like at GoFundMe | |||
| 15 Apr 2024 | Episode 282: Song of the Garden | 00:28:02 | |
This week my guests are Northern California based musical duo Misner & Smith. Sam, who is Misner, and Megan, who is Smith comprise one of the most acclaimed acts in the Americana world. Blending elements of that genre with bluegrass, traditional folk ballads, and more pop leaning ideas, they’ve been described as making music that is gloriously nonconforming. Aside from their musical chops, Sam & Megan are expert gardeners who focus on pollinators, sustainability and community gardening. Listen on to find out how their connection to nature feeds into their music. What We Talk About Sam & Megan’s gardening backgrounds Gardening sustainably and for the community Gardening as a creative outlet? How gardening factors into their music? The garden soundscape About Misner & Smith Northern California based unclassifiable duo Misner & Smith treasure the unpredictability of The duo first met at a Shakespeare festival as professional actors in California in 2002 but began working as a musical duo two years later when Sam and Megan discovered a Other episodes if you liked this one: Natural Fibres - This week’s guest is multi-media artist Hanna Varga. Hanna incorporates the natural world into her work and her current projects involve foraging for fibres she turns into both useful and beautiful items. The conversation began with Hanna talking about her work past and present and developed into a really important conversation about the value of items at their more than fiscal level. Soundscapes & Landscapes - This week I’m speaking to Dr Mike Edwards, Chief Listening Officer at Sound Matters, a company focussed on using sound and listening to create more sustainable and resilient futures. Sound Matters provided the soundtrack to the Rewilding Britain garden that one best in show at this year’s Chelsea Flower Show. Mike recently spoke passionately about climate change, soundscapes and landscapes at the Beth Chatto Symposium and wowed a lecture theatre full of rapt listeners with his prowess on the didgeridoo. | |||
| 23 Mar 2021 | Introducing Dig In | 00:02:22 | |
Hello. This is a short introduction to a new episode that’s being released on Thursday called Roots and All: Dig In. Dig In is a new series which came about because I’ve been contacted by various companies who would like to come on the podcast and talk about the wonderful products they have to sell. So do drop by on Thursday when I'll be speaking to Rik Sellwood of Harvst about, that amongst other things, a greenhouse you can water and ventilate via an app. Clever stuff! | |||
| 05 Jul 2021 | Episode 146: The Rose in Perfume with Mairi MacKenzie | 00:26:07 | |
Today’s guest is Mairi MacKenzie, fashion historian, writer and curator, whose research looks at the relationship between the clothes that we wear and our culture. Her latest research is into the world of scent and what flower could be more intrinsically linked with perfume than the rose? In the interview, we discuss famous rose-based perfumes, the symbolism behind its use, whether its historically been perceived as a feminine scent, the mysterious workings of the Osmotheque and why that rose perfume you made as a child never worked! Dr Ian Bedford’s Bug of the Week: Hummingbird Hawk Moths This episode is brought to you by the team at LECHUZA, suppliers of self-watering pots and planters. www.lechuza.co.uk What we cover Mairi’s career and her interest in the role of the rose in perfume When roses were first used in fragrance The Osmotheque Roses for symbolism as well as scent Has rose always been perceived as a feminine scent? What does rose scent connote? Scents that are heavily rose based The role of the rose as an ingredient in contemporary perfumes About Mairi MacKenzie Mairi MacKenzie is Research Fellow in Fashion and Textiles at Glasgow School of Art. She is a fashion historian, writer and curator, and her research seeks to understand not just what was worn and by whom, but why it was worn and what the relationship is between the clothes that we wear and our culture. - https://www.gsa.ac.uk/research/design-profiles/m/mackenzie,-mairi/ The London College of Garden Design’s Horti-couture conference takes place in October. The Conference will explore the influence of plants and gardens on the fashion world and features some of the industry’s leading academics and influencers. For more information visit the LCGD website LCGD.org.uk or their Eventbrite page. Tickets start at just £59 and the day will be streamed online as well as in person at Kew Gardens.
| |||
| 03 Oct 2022 | Episode 208: Ecological Gardens with Sid Hill | 00:30:09 | |
| 22 Jul 2024 | Episode 296: Regenerative Design | 00:29:21 | |
This episode, my guest is Erik Ohlsen, a US based regenerative designer, permaculturist, landscape contractor, author, farmer, herbalist, storyteller and practitioner of Nordic folk traditions. His approach to regenerative landscaping is rooted in decades of practical experience and a humbleness that allows Erik to be led by what the land has to tell him. Links The Regenerative Landscaper: Design and Build Landscapes That Repair the Environment by Erik Ohlsen Other episodes if you liked this one: Ecological Gardens with Sid Hill - This week’s guest is eco gardener, landscape designer, permaculturist, horticultural thinker and garden experimenter, Sid Hill.Sid is concerned with building gardens that can sustain people and wildlife and he’s talking to me today about his particular brand of gardening, what we can do differently to improve our gardens and the whole discipline of horticulture in the UK. Ecologically Integrated Gardens - My guest this week is Shawn Maestretti of Studio Petrichor, a design studio working out of California. Shawn’s personal mission is to reconnect with the natural world, tread lightly on the land, nurture biodiversity, protect water, and bring people together. We speak about how Studio Petrichor designs with these values in mind and the systems and techniques that are used to achieve these goals. I as we wend our way through eco-gardening. | |||
| 28 Nov 2022 | Episode 216: Korean Natural Farming | 00:28:53 | |
This week, my guest is David O’Carroll. David runs an 11 acre agroforestry learning centre in Totnes, Devon where he teaches natural farming methods, based on the techniques around Indigenous Microorganisms (IMO) and Korean Natural Farming (KNF). He focuses on building healthy soil to produce healthy plants and is both generous with his time and knowledge as he aims to share the details of his techniques to help other growers. What We Talk About What is Korean Natural Farming? What is IMO? How do you make it? Why do you need it? What is LAB? How does it help plants? Is KNF as useful for ornamental plants as it is for edibles? Do you need a lot of space to make the KNF preparations? Preparations for home gardeners to try Links Other episodes if you liked this one: Mycorrhizal Fungi with Jeff Lowenfels | |||
| 13 Mar 2023 | Episode 228: The Chelsea Fringe | 00:35:00 | |
This week my guest is Tim Richardson, who, amongst many other things, is a garden writer, historian and founder of the Chelsea Fringe. The Fringe is an annual event which is a collection of all things horticultural, the quirkier the better, and it runs concurrent to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show each May. Events are held around the world and are an opportunity to celebrate horticulture in an alternative way. Dr Ian Bedford’s Bug of the Week: Cabbage Bomb Aphids About the Chelsea Fringe The Chelsea Fringe – the alternative garden festival and established highlight of the horticultural calendar – will take place for a 12th year with nine days of festivities confirmed from 20 - 28 May 2023. After two years in which participants responded creatively to the restrictions of the pandemic, the festival returned to the real world with a bang in 2022. A programme brimming with stimulating and diverse events took place with contributions from Cranbrook to Perth, and from Naples to Seattle. Fringe organisers are now encouraging everyone to start thinking about the imaginative, quirky, and unusual ideas they might bring to the 2023 Fringe to help create another bumper celebration of horticulture and grassroots gardening. Fringe founder and director Tim Richardson said: “We are a ‘true Fringe’ in that we don’t commission or curate. We accept everything that our participants suggest – if an event is on-topic, legal and interesting, it’s in! That means everything from community-garden events, art projects and performances to walks and talks, craft demos, and workshops – just a few of the categories we end up with. We are always surprised – and delighted – by what pops up each year, fresh from the imagination of our horticultural comrades in the UK and around the world.” Thousands of events have taken place in more than 20 different countries since the first Fringe was held in 2012. What started as a back-of-a-postcard idea has grown over a decade into an international event which is an established — if unorthodox — fixture of the gardening calendar. It remains an unfunded, unsponsored and volunteer-run Community Interest Company (CIC), powered by a small but dedicated group, with many events in the festival free to attend. Contributors and venues over the years have included community gardening groups, public parks, artists, poets, chefs, galleries, schools, and major institutions such as Kew, the Inner Temple, the Natural History Museum, and Covent Garden Flower Market, among many others. Despite its name, the festival reaches well beyond Chelsea; not just to every quarter of London, but also to the far corners of the UK and around the world. Events have taken place on the Isle of Mull, in Monmouth, Margate, Leeds, Bristol and Henley-on-Thames, and the Fringe’s global appeal has been underlined by enthusiastic participants signing up in Canada, Sweden, Poland, Italy, Australia, and Japan. Events usually begin to appear on the Fringe website from February, while registration remains open right up until the very last day of the festival. Potential event organisers are encouraged to make contact as soon as possible in order to make the most of the promotional potential that taking part brings. Anyone with an idea – however unformed – is encouraged to get in touch now. Our team of volunteers will do everything we can to turn germs of ideas into flourishing blooms by May 2023. The Chelsea Fringe is now inviting individuals and organisations, first-timers and Fringe veterans, to contact us at info@chelseafringe.com outlining what they propose to do as part of the 2023 festival programme. Links Other episodes if you liked this one: | |||
| 24 Mar 2020 | Episode 82: Irreplaceable with Julian Hoffman | 00:33:02 | |
This week’s guest is writer Julian Hoffman and we’re talking about his book Irreplaceable. I read the book a few months back and as you might expect from reading the blurb, it’s about those irreplaceable wild environments and the species we’re in danger of losing. But it’s also about the people who are so deeply connected to the landscapes and the animals they’re battling to save. Julian speaks about why it’s imperative that we stop the destruction of precious landscapes, how we can help at the individual level and why it’s vital to maintain the connection between people and place. About Julian Hoffman: Julian is a writer living in the northwest of Greece, next to the Prespa Lakes. This area is home to a particularly diverse range of people, wildflowers, animals and habitats, making it a rich environment in which to learn about the connections between people the natural world. Julian’s previous book, ‘The Small Heart of Things: Being at Home in a Beckoning World’; won the 2012 AWP Series for Creative Nonfiction. His fiction and nonfiction work has been widely published; you can find some links below and more on his website. What We Discuss:
Links: Julian’s Blog - Notes from Near and Far Irreplaceable : The fight to save our wild places by Julian Hoffman - Penguin Books, 2019 The Small Heart of Things: Being at Home in a Beckoning World by Julian Hoffman - Georgia Press, 2014 Get in touch: Email podcast@rootsandall.co.uk Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram @rootsandallpod Patreon Link - Help me keep the podcast free & independent! Or donate as much or as little as you like at GoFundMe | |||
| 17 Jan 2022 | Episode 171: Grow Easy with Anna Greenland | 00:28:27 | |
This year’s first guest is organic vegetable grower Anna Greenland. Anna has supplied produce to some of the UK’s top chefs, including Raymond Blanc and Jamie Oliver, has created gardens at Soho Farmhouse, Kew Gardens and the Huntington Botanical Gardens in LA. She is currently establishing a market garden and gardening school in Suffolk and has just released a book called ‘Grow Easy’. Anna talks about working with the best chefs in the best kitchens and catering to their clientele, about producing pristine veg organically, about growing food in different climates and the fundamentals of veg garden success. Dr Ian Bedford’s Bug of the Week: Overwintering fruit & vegetable bugs What we cover Anna’s background How Anna begins to plan a veg garden from scratch What makes a good site The chefs Anna has worked with Growing food for a professional kitchen Keeping a veg garden in a public space looking good all year round The biggest challenges for new veg gardeners and how they can be overcome About Anna Greenland Anna was working as a model when she moved to Cornwall and began working at Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen Cornwall. Bitten by the veg growing bug, she took on a job at The Lost Gardens of Heligan and began supplying produce to Jamie’s restaurant. From there, she moved to LA to study Ecological Horticulture and set up a food growing garden at Huntington Botanical Gardens. After moving back to the UK, she worked at Soho Farmhouse, Le Manoir Aux Quat’Saisons for Raymond Blanc and has set up a productive area at Kew Gardens. She won gold and Best in Show for her ‘Herbs and Preserves’ garden at RHS Hampton Court Flower Show in 2018 and has just released a book, ‘Grow Easy’. She now lives in Suffolk where she is setting up a market garden and gardening school. Links Grow Easy: Organic crops for pots and small plots - October 2021, Octopus Publishing | |||
| 12 Apr 2021 | Episode 134: The Love Lives of Birds with Laura Erickson | 00:36:56 | |
This week’s guest is Laura Erickson, talking about her brilliant book the Love Lives of Birds. Find out why some birds mate for life whilst others play the field, why some value age and experience, which birds lay their eggs in other bird’s nests and which stash their young in riverbanks and why there’s so much dancing involved! Dr Ian Bedford’s Bug of the Week: Bee Flies This episode is brought to you The Seed Sistas, who have been community herbalists for over 20 years. Their work took a turn last March and they converted their passion for plants, people and the planet into an online course called the Pathway to Peace. It is an engaging Seven-day immersive journey with lots of wonderful content. If you suffer from stress or anxiety this course may well be able to offer you connection to herbs and tools for stress management, better sleep and nourishment for your nervous system. The next course starts again on April 28th. What we talk about: Why bird courtships so varied and whether there’s any correlation between courtship patterns and life span/size/habitat Why there’s so much dancing involved The issue of age and its relevance when finding a partner Nest parasites and why they steal other birds’ nests Kingfishers and where they nest The need for privacy when mating Why some birds mate for life whilst others can have multiple mates in a breeding season About Laura Erickson “Laura Erickson, 2014 recipient of the American Birding Association’s prestigious Roger Tory Peterson Award and the 2020 Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union’s Thomas Sadler Roberts Memorial Award, has been a scientist, teacher, writer, wildlife rehabilitator, professional blogger, public speaker, photographer, American Robin and Whooping Crane Expert for the popular Journey North educational website, and Science Editor at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. She’s written twelve books about birds including, in 2020, The Love Lives of Birds. (also the ABA Field Guide to the Birds of Minnesota, National Geographic Pocket Guide to Birds of North America, the best-selling Into the Nest: Intimate Views of the Courting, Parenting, and Family Lives of Familiar Birds (co-authored by photographer Marie Read); the National Outdoor Book Award-winning Sharing the Wonder of Birds with Kids; 101 Ways to Help Birds; and The Bird Watching Answer Book for the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. She’s currently a columnist and contributing editor for BirdWatching magazine. Since 1986 she has been producing the long-running “For the Birds” radio program for many public radio stations; the program is podcast on iTunes. She lives in Duluth, Minnesota.” - https://www.lauraerickson.com/about-laura/ Links The Love Lives of Birds: Courtship and Mating Rituals by Laura Erickson - Storey Publishing, 2020 Pathway to Peace course - starts 28th April - more details. Episode 67 with Karen Lawton of Sensory Solutions
| |||
| 25 Mar 2024 | Episode 279: Garlic | 00:18:59 | |
My guest this week is Kumud Gandhi, a food scientist, author and founder of The Cooking Academy. Kumud has written a book called The Garlic Story, a look at the history of garlic and its culinary uses. We talk about how garlic has been celebrated and revered throughout history, the different types and uses and how you can incorporate more of it into your life. 'The Garlic Story' is a celebration of all things garlic with over 50 delectable recipes, promising a flavourful journey that showcases the diverse and irresistible facets of this humble ingredient. The Garlic Story by Kumud Gandhi Other episodes if you liked this one: Unusual Edible Plants - This episode I’m speaking with Kevin Hobbs & Artur Cesar-Erlach, authors of EDIBLE: 70 Sustainable Plants That Are Changing How We Eat which looks at edible plants from around the world that are revolutionising how we grow, eat and appreciate food. It tackles important questions like what do we eat when our usual diets are no longer sustainable, how do we future proof food and how can we be more mindful about what we eat and considers what the future of global food production might look like. Climate Cuisine with Clarissa Wei - this episode of the podcast, I’m speaking to journalist and host of the Climate Cuisine podcast, Clarissa Wei. On her podcast, Clarissa shares the stories of the crops grown sustainably around the world. The goal is to highlight climate-centric conversations about crops and the food we eat as they become increasingly important to the resiliency and survival of our food systems. | |||
| 31 May 2021 | Episode 141: Swapcast: Plants Grow Here Podcast | 00:46:13 | |
This week’s episode is a little bit different as it’s a recording of me chatting to Daniel Fuller on the brilliant Plants Grow Here podcast. Although we may be geographically antipodean, there are a lot of similarities between Roots and All and Plants Grow Here, as Daniel and I both cover a wide range of horticultural topics, including those on the fringe and we both love a bit of geeking out! Join us as we dive into the world of podcasting and gardening. Dr Ian Bedford’s Bug of the Week: Garden snails This episode is brought to you by new green-tech company Harvst. The company's recently launched smart web-connected ‘mini greenhouses’ are designed to help people grow more at home, with less effort and minimal space. Choose between The Yard and The Terrace; both are simply popped directly on the ground or patio, they’re self-watering, climate controlled, space efficient and enable you to grow your own produce without the need to tend every day. So whether you’re a budding beginner or a seasoned pro, visit www.harvst.co.uk and take advantage of a 5% discount on all 4 seasons and eco Mini Greenhouse orders from now until the end of July. Simply use the code mentioned in the episode. About Daniel Fuller Daniel is the primary host on the Plants Grow Here Podcast and content writer. Currently based in St. Kilda, Melbourne, he has been working in the horticultural maintenance field for 8 years, leading crews for most of this time. The idea of Plants Grow Here was born from his desire to learn more from people who have specialised knowledge and a passion for what they do. Links | |||
| 19 Feb 2024 | Episode 274: Natural Swimming Ponds | 00:24:12 | |
Caroline & Jon have created the most amazing swimming pond in their back garden and have documented their journey on social media, posting videos of year-round swimming adventures and pond-life. If you need inspiration to tackle a garden project you’ve always thought was just a pipe-dream, listen in as Caroline & Jon offer their refreshingly optimistic and can-do approach. What we talk about What made Caroline & Jon install a pool in their garden? Planning permission Filling the pond Cleaning the pond Swimming year round Bringing in wildlife The planting scheme - aesthetic or functional? Build cost Other episodes if you liked this one: | |||
| 03 Aug 2020 | Episode 101: Saving Our Plants with Vicki Cooke of Plant Heritage | 00:27:00 | |
This week I’m talking to Vicki Cooke of Plant Heritage. Plant Heritage is a UK charity that works to conserve cultivated garden plants, predominantly through the National Plant Collection scheme and their Plant Guardians initiative. Think National Plant Collections are the preserve of stately homes with huge gardens or horticultural institutions? Not at all! In fact, you could start you own on an allotment, in your greenhouse or porch, you could choose a genera with a 1000 species or just one and choose anything from trees to houseplants. All you need is a passion for a particular group of plants and you can join the ranks of experts and plant fans helping to look after our cultivated plants for future generations. Dr Ian Bedford’s Bug of the Week: Gooseberry Sawfly About Vicki Cooke: Vicki Cooke is the Conservation Manager at Plant Heritage, and has spent much of her career delving into plants and their history. From Garden Organic's Heritage Seed Library, growing and saving seed from heirloom vegetables, to the Hampton Court Palace kitchen garden and now at Plant Heritage, Vicki has always been passionate about growing and conserving our garden plants. What We Discuss: What is Plant Heritage National Collections and why they are important The Missing Genera project Some of the genera that don’t already have a home What is involved in becoming a National Collection holder? How you can take part Links: Missing Genera top 10 for 2020, plus a link to the long list of all genera without a National Plant Collection How to start a National Plant Collection Join and support the National Plant Collections Get in touch: Email podcast@rootsandall.co.uk Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram @rootsandallpod Help me keep the podcast free & independent! Support me on Patreon Or donate as much or as little as you like at GoFundMe | |||
| 12 Dec 2022 | Episode 218: Creating Natural Habitats in the Garden | 00:24:00 | |
| 16 May 2022 | Episode 188: Huw Richards on Veg Growing | 00:27:46 | |
This week’s guest is veg growing expert Huw Richards. Huw grows a vast range of plants in his garden in mid-West Wales and is always trialling and experimenting with new ways of growing. He has an enormously popular YouTube channel and has authored a number of books, the latest of which is ‘The Vegetable Grower’s Handbook’ which draws on his experience as very much a thoughtful and philosophical gardener. Dr Ian Bedford’s Bug of the Week: Flower Crab Spiders What we cover Gardening with a mission statement Being organised in the garden; keeping checklists, batching jobs, planning Some of the most surprising things Huw’s discovered on his gardening journey Poly culture Intercropping Having an odds and ends bed Harvesting water in the garden The method of multisowing New veg Huw’s trialling in 2022 On being a philosophical gardener Links The Veg Grower’s Handbook by Huw Richards - Dorling Kindersley Ltd, March 2022 | |||
| 21 Aug 2018 | Episode 8: Terrariums and Tulips | 00:09:22 | |
Beth Otway AKA Pumpkin Beth has turned terrarium gardening into a perfectly balanced combination of science and art. Sarah reads excerpts from her interview with Beth and also talks about when to order your tulips and offers some suggestions for ones to look out for.
Get in touch; Email podcast@rootsandall.co.uk Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram rootsandallpod
Patreon Link; Help us keep the podcast free & independent! Donate as much or as little as you like at https://www.patreon.com/rootsandall | |||
| 23 Aug 2021 | Episode 153: Hydrangeas | 00:24:06 | |
This week, I visited Golden Hill Nurseries to interview Roger Butler, Find out about the different species in cultivation, the best way to prune hydrangeas, what and when to feed them and of course, the all important information about whether your flowers will be pink or blue and what, if anything, you can do about it! Dr Ian Bedford’s Bug of the Week: Horse Chestnut moth Thanks to Betakut for sponsoring this episode - visit https://www.betakut.co.uk/shop to find out more - enter the code ROOTS20 to get 20% off until the end of August. What we cover Where hydrangeas originate from Their preferred growing conditions The main species in cultivation Why are some hydrangeas blue and some pink? Can blue hydrangeas turn pink and what can we do if we want blue hydrangeas but can only seem to grow pink ones? The colour range of hydrangea flowers How and when should to prune hydrangeas How many months off the year can we expect hydrangeas to bloom? Particularly good species Pests and diseases, or lack thereof! About Roger Butler Roger is the owner of Golden Hill Nurseries, a plant centre based in Kent, specialising in hydrangeas, hedging plants, Japanese maples and larger shrubs. Roger has made many appearances in the media sharing his expertise about hydrangeas and regularly gives talks on the subject. The nursery has won multiple medals at RHS shows for their plant displays and you can catch up with them at one of the RHS shows this year, or order from them online. Links | |||
| 05 Aug 2024 | Episode 298: Why not use the garden? | 00:30:54 | |
Why have gardens been underused in care home settings in the past, even when they're designed to be used? This episode, my guest is Debbie Carroll. Debbie is a Southampton based garden designer with experience in designing for care homes and other health settings for residents with dementia. Her work in these surroundings prompted her to question why these gardens were not more actively used even when they were designed to the latest design guidance. Along with her fellow designer Mark Rendell they researched what hindered engagement with the garden, in particular for people living with dementia. About Debbie Carroll Debbie Carroll is a Southampton based garden designer celebrating 20 years as a designer. She is passionate about gardens being well used and well-loved long after she has left. Her experience in designing for care homes and other health settings for residents with dementia prompted the question of why gardens were not more actively used even when designed to the latest design guidance. Along with her fellow designer Mark Rendell they researched what hindered engagement with the garden, in particular for people living with dementia. Step Change Design Ltd was formed 10 years ago to share the findings of this study and has since published their ‘Why don’t we go into the garden?’ series of books and tools. These support both the care sector towards more person-centred care and designers in working effectively alongside them. Their ultimate aim is to enable residents to continue to step outside as and when they choose and for gardens to be well-used and much loved long after the designer has left. Links
Webinars:
Other episodes if you liked this one: Sensory Gardens & Autism - Hello and welcome to this week’s episode, where in recognition of World Autism Acceptance Week, I’m speaking about Sensory Gardens, with a focus on design for people with autism. I have three guests; Camellia Taylor who’s designed The Natural Affinity Garden, which will be at the Chelsea Flower Show in May, after which time it will be relocated to Kent, to the charity Aspens where it will be used by residents of and visitors to the site. Next, I speak with Meraud Davis who’s overseeing the project at Aspens and finally, to Alexis Selby a foraging obsessed, nature-loving, all-round amazing person who’s giving us her take on using outdoor spaces with her son, Jared. Making Gardening Accessible - Hello and welcome to this week’s episode of Roots and All, where my guest is garden designer, TV personality and Trustee of the Gardening with Disabilities Trust Mark Lane. Mark talks about the various types of challenges people can face that might impede their activity in the garden, and how gardens and gardening can be adapted to enable people to carry on with these activities. He gives some excellent, practical advice for anyone who may need to adapt horticulture to suit their own needs or those of others. | |||
| 09 Apr 2019 | Episode 37: Container Planting with Harriet Rycroft | 00:31:38 | |
This week, I’m honoured to be joined by the Queen of Containers, Harriet Rycroft. Harriet worked for many years at Whichford Pottery in Warwickshire, where she became renowned for producing season after season of the most spectacular planting and colour combinations. Oh, and Harriet had the door open to her garden, so enjoy the birdsong!
Harriet Rycroft switched careers to horticulture while her children were small and spent 14 years working for Whichford Pottery. As Head Gardener she was responsible for planning, planting and maintaining large displays of planted flowerpots of every conceivable shape and size and was careful always to provide plenty of planting inspiration for visitors all year round. With up to 500 plantings on display at any time the garden attracted many visitors and much praise from some of the UK’s leading horticulturists. While at Whichford Harriet also planned and planted container displays for events and shows, including Chelsea Flower Show, and gave lectures and demonstrations both in the UK and abroad. She now divides her time between writing about gardening and container planting, giving talks and demonstrations, and teaching container gardening online at LearningWith Experts.com. She still gardens at the Cotswold Wildlife Park and Gardens and at home, where she usually has at least 200 planted containers on display. She’s a keen photographer, using her camera to record her own workbut also as a way to celebrate gardens and the natural world generally and to share inspiration for the creative use of plants. When she has a bit of spare time she writes a blog called “A Parrot’s Nest’ at https://harrietrycroft.com/ and can also be found chatting about plants and gardening and sharing photos on Twitter and Instagram @HarrietRycroft Harriet gives talks and planting demonstrations to garden clubs and groups, so if you would like a talk about container gardening for your society please contact her at harrietrycroft@btinternet.com for more details. She recently wrote (and took most of the photographs for) a book about the amazing gardens at the Cotswold Wildlife Park with their Head Gardener, Tim Miles. A Celebration of The Gardens is available from the Park’s website.
Links: Cotswold Wildlife Park Website https://www.cotswoldwildlifepark.co.uk
Get in touch; Email podcast@rootsandall.co.uk Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram rootsandallpod
Patreon Link; Help us keep the podcast free & independent! Donate as much or as little as you like at https://www.patreon.com/rootsandall | |||
| 11 Jun 2019 | Episode 45: Iain Tolhurst Stock-Free Farming Pt. 2 | 00:34:36 | |
What happens to all the cows if everyone turns vegan? In Part 2 of Iain’s talk, recorded at VegFest 2019, Iain addresses issues surrounding current farming practices. He describes how he believes stock-free is better in terms of carbon emissions and soil health and answers that common question; “what happens to all the cows if we all go vegan?” If you’re interested in gardening, many of Iain’s practices are also applicable to small-scale and ornamental sites, as well as farms. Plus, if you’re concerned about the impact of your food shopping habits, he presents some fascinating facts and figures. With thanks to the Vegan Organic Network for inviting me along to record the session. http://veganorganic. Get in touch; Email podcast@rootsandall.co.uk Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram rootsandallpod
Patreon Link; Help us keep the podcast free & independent! Donate as much or as little as you like at https://www.patreon.com/rootsandall | |||
| 29 Jan 2024 | Episode 271: Japanese Maples | 00:26:02 | |
Miles Hayward is a dendrophile and keen plantsman, who discovered a passion for Japanese Maples and soon began to accumulate a wide variety of different cultivars. He started Miles Japanese Maples in 2016 specialising in Japanese Maples, after becoming frustrated by the lack of good quality trees in garden centres and local nurseries. He now grows high-quality trees in relatively small numbers, focussing on quality over quantity. What we talk about What is a Japanese Maple? The different species Preferred growing conditions Should you feed your Japanese maple? Where to site them Growing maples in containers Pruning maples Miles’ favourites About Miles Hayward Miles Hayward is a dendrophile and keen plantsman, having studied Botany at Reading University in the late 1990s before going on to work at a hardy exotic plant nursery for ten years where his love of trees flourished. While exhibiting at various flower shows around the country, he discovered a passion for Japanese Maples and soon began to accumulate a wide variety of different cultivars. Miles decided to start a small nursery in 2016 specialising in Japanese Maples, frustrated by the lack of good quality trees in garden centres and local nurseries. We like to think of ourselves as ‘small batch growers’, producing high-quality trees but in relatively small numbers, due to lack of space! Each tree receives a lot of care and won’t be sold to a customer until Miles is completely satisfied that it is the best it can be (or he really likes it and wants to hang on to it!) Miles Japanese Maples has been peat and pesticide free since inception, although there is always experimenting and tinkering to find the perfect compost mix. The trees have been grown in Air-Pots for the last 5 years or so, to ensure that they have the best possible root systems. The nursery is open to visitors by appointment or we are at various plant fairs around the south-east at some lovely venues. We were delighted to exhibit for the first time at Chelsea Flower Show last year and will be returning in 2024. Miles is a member of The Maple Society of Britain and Ireland, The International Dendrology Society and various others too numerous to mention! Links Miles Japanese Maples on Instagram Green Heart Horticultural Services on Facebook Other episodes if you liked this one: | |||
| 18 Mar 2024 | Episode 278: Sustainability Matters | 00:23:34 | |
My guest this week is Nadine Charlton. Through her business Home Spring Gardens, Nadine provides specialist services to the horticultural and landscape construction industry, advising on sustainable best practice and creating beautiful gardens and landscapes with an environmental conscience. We talk about the importance of sourcing sustainable garden products, how you can tell whether what you’re buying is sustainable and whether enough is being done on this front. About Nadine Charlton & Home Spring Gardens Nadine provides specialist services to the horticultural and landscape construction industry She has exhibited personally at RHS shows, and has project managed and advised on multi award winning gardens at RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Nadine has an ability to see a vision and make it happen, connecting people and bringing A passionate lover of outdoor living, Nadine is committed to innovation and education; Nadine is currently working with Landscape Architect Michael Lote on his debut show garden ‘It doesn’t have to cost the Earth’ which will be featured at RHS Malvern Spring Festival 9-12 th May 2024 showcasing innovative sustainable construction products and methods. The garden will be repurposed to Woodoaks Farm which is owned by the Soil Association Land Trust to create a permanent training and educational space to facilitate learning for school children and adults, growing together with the horticultural and agricultural industry. Other episodes if you liked this one: | |||
| 29 Apr 2024 | Episode 284: The Organic Nursery | 00:21:02 | |
This episode, my guest is Sam Frings who founded The Organic Plant Nursery. Sam explains in his own words how he got started and how things have been along the way. It’s not easy being a pioneer, but listen on to find out how Sam and his family have battled against the odds to do it right. Links Other episodes if you liked this one: Running a Green Nursery with Chris Williams of Edible Culture - This week I’m speaking to Chris Williams, co-founder of Edibleculture, an inspirational nursery based in Faversham in Kent. From the day the nursery was established 5 years ago, ethically and ecologically sounds principles have been employed to create the brilliant business that exists today. We talk about how the nursery succeeds where so many others are failing to make changes; using peat-free compost, gardening organically without chemicals, eliminating single use plastics from their sales output and many other initiatives that make this nursery truly revolutionary. School Gardening - This episode I’m joined by 3 guests; Louise Moreton who heads up the horticultural programme at Wicor Primary School and 2 of the MiniHorts themselves, Rebecca and Kieran. Louise set up a horticultural programme at the school 11 years ago, initially in a voluntary capacity. The programme became such a success she’s now employed by the school and works 4 days a week to deliver what has become a vital part of the curriculum. Rebecca and Kieran are Year 6 pupils who are members of the after school gardening club and leads in the MiniHorts programme, passing on their knowledge and enthusiasm to younger pupils. The MiniHorts have been in the media quite a bit, including featuring in an episode of Gardeners’ World in 2017, so they’re seasoned pros at this sort of thing! If you don’t have children or children of school age, I think you’ll still find this episode interesting and inspiring, it’s well worth a listen. | |||
| 23 Nov 2020 | Episode 117: Biochar with Lottie & Connor of Earthly Biochar | 00:33:09 | |
This interview features two guests instead of the usual one and those guests are Lottie and Connor, founders of Earthly Biochar. Maybe you already use Biochar in the garden, maybe you’ve heard of it but aren’t quite sure what it does or how it works, or maybe you’re completely new to it as a concept. In any case, I’m sure you’ll learn such a lot from this interview. Dr Ian Bedford’s Bug of the Week: Spiders and their Webs What we talk about: The origins of Earthly Biochar What is biochar Biochar in the home & garden The history of biochar and its uses around the world ‘Charging’ biochar About Earthly Biochar Website: www.earthlybiochar.com Twitter: @earthlybiochar Instagram: @earthly.biochar Email: lottie@earthlybiochar.com and connor@earthlybiochar.com "We'd love to offer the audience 10% off their order with the code ROOTSANDALL - simply place an order on our website and enter this code at checkout. All our orders come with free shipping! We're based in North Devon in Appledore and if anyone wants to meet up, talk biochar, have a go with our kiln, please reach out to us on Instagram or via email. We're currently offering a special price for our biochar makers for the first 10 orders, if anyone would like to be a raving fan and get one of our first kilns, then please email connor@earthlybiochar.com ***The special price is not listed on our website so if you're interested please email us*** We sell only high quality, EBC certified, organic and professionally tested biochar which has been made in a carbon negative process – aka it's capturing carbon not emitting it! You can learn more about this process in our free guide and webinar, which you can sign up to receive on our website here. Lottie is doing her PhD on biochar at Reading University, working with growers across the UK, and she is recruiting farms (of all sizes and all crops), nurseries and orchards – basically anyone growing plants on a commercial scale – who would like to take part and try biochar out. If you want to take part, please email us! We're a growing company with great friends and partners in soil health, horticulture, agriculture and wood management but we're always looking to meet new people. We have an exciting project coming up, working with tree planting projects in the UK, and we are starting trials with the RHS. Please get in touch if you want to learn more about us, our plans and opportunities to collaborate. | |||
| 06 Mar 2023 | Episode 227: Seed Balls | 00:27:29 | |
My guest this week is Dr Ana Attlee, co-founder of the company Seedball. The idea for Seedball started to germinate in 2010 when Ana and her fellow PhD student Emily Lambert were looking into ways to successful start wildflowers from seed in order to encourage pollinators. 13 years later, Seedballs are stocked in respectable horticultural establishments all over the country and their range continues to grow with new and exciting seed packages being added all the time. Dr Ian Bedford’s Bug of the Week: Preparing for Spring What We Talk About What is a Seedball? What different types can you get? How many seeds are in a ball and what’s the germination rate like? How many seedballs do you need? Can you throw them anywhere? Do you need to water them? How long are they viable? How might you reuse the tins? Links Other episodes if you liked this one: | |||
| 21 Nov 2022 | Episode 215: Deer Resilient Gardens | 00:31:39 | |
This week, my guest is renowned horticulturist Andrew Bunting. Andrew is the Vice President of Horticulture at the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, where he leads the utilization of planting and design to promote environmentally sound gardening practices across the organization. Andrew's extensive experience informs the work of PHS' Public Gardens and Landscapes team which maintains a network of public gardens and landscapes across the Pennsylvania region, contributes to creating vital greenspace and encourages all to see the impact of horticulture in their own lives and I must say, it sounds a really wonderful organisation. Andrew’s expertise extends to many subjects but given his experience of gardening large landscapes in an area where deer are prevalent, and given that at this time of the year in the UK, our gardens are becoming tasty prospects when the wider landscape is offering slim pickings, I thought it would be very useful to get Andrew’s take on managing deer. What We Talk About The species of deer Andrew deals with in the US Can you exclude deer from a garden? How can you do this? Deer deterrents Plants that can cope with predation Is it just eating plants that’s the problem? Do deer trample on plants too? The times of the year are they most active Deer welfare About Andrew Bunting Andrew Bunting, Vice President of Horticulture at PHS, leads the utilization of planting and design to promote environmentally sound gardening practices across the organization. As a renowned horticultural expert, Andrew's extensive experience informs the work of PHS' Public Gardens and Landscapes team which maintains a network of public gardens and landscapes across the Philadelphia region, contributes to creating vital greenspace and encourages all to see the impact of horticulture in their own lives. Links Pennsylvania Horticultural Society Other episodes if you liked this one: | |||
| 21 Jun 2021 | Episode 144: The State of Horticulture | 00:28:59 | |
This week I thought it would be good to get an overview of the horticultural industry - so I’m speaking to the person with their finger on the pulse, Matthew Appleby, Editor of Horticulture Week and host of the Horticulture Week podcast. We cover the effect of Brexit, plant passports and the pandemic on plant supplies and how this has affected consumers. Find out how the industry is faring given supply issues and the uptick in interest in gardening. Matthew talks about whether consumers need to adjust their expectations and their way of gardening and we end on how has the push to go peat-free is affecting gardeners and the trade too. Dr Ian Bedford’s Bug of the Week: Aphids and Ecosystems This episode is brought to you by the team at LECHUZA, suppliers of self-watering pots and planters. LECHUZA brings decades of experience in state-of-the-art, precision manufacturing to bear on its stylish high-functionality range of planters. All LECHUZA products are designed in-house and manufactured in the same factory as the iconic Playmobil toys. The complete collection comes in a wide variety of traditional and trend-led colours and shapes and are highly reliable for use both indoors and outdoors. The integrated soil irrigation system ensures that the plant receives the perfect amount of water for optimal growth. Thanks to a reservoir that always holds enough water and is controlled by a water level indicator, dried out or overwatered root bales are a thing of the past. Find out more by visiting www.lechuza.co.uk Whether a gardener or working in the horticultural trade, this episode is relevant, covering Brexit, the pandemic, plant supplies, the popularity of gardening and how the push to go peat-free is affecting gardeners and the trade too. Matthew, Editor of Horticulture Week & host of the Horticulture Week podcast, gives an overview. Dr Ian Bedford’s Bug of the Week: Aphids and Ecosystems This episode is brought to you by the team at LECHUZA, suppliers of self-watering pots and planters. www.lechuza.co.uk Links | |||
| 02 Nov 2020 | Episode 114: An Economic History of the English Garden with Sir Roderick Floud | 00:39:30 | |
This week I’m speaking with Sir Roderick Floud, author of ‘An Economic History of the English Garden’. The book charts the economics surrounding English gardens since the seventeenth century and talks about private gardens, public spaces, professions related to gardening and the often eye-watering amounts of money spent on achieving a bigger and better gardens. Sir Roderick calculates the cost of yesteryears’ gardens in today’s money and it’s worth reading the book alone to find out how much the likes of Capability Brown earned or the amounts spent on the gardens of Versailles! Dr Ian Bedford’s Bug of the Week: Cluster Flies About Roderick Floud “Roderick Floud has been a pioneer of two new kinds of history: using statistics to study the past and the history of human height and health. The economic history of gardens is his third innovation. He has taught at the universities of Cambridge, London and Stanford, has written or edited over 70 books and articles and is the long-standing editor of the Cambridge Economic History of Modern Britain. He has also led London Metropolitan University and Gresham College London and undertaken many other roles in the university world, such as President of Universities UK, receiving a knighthood for services to higher education.” - https://www.penguin.co.uk/authors/123901/roderick-floud.html?tab=penguin-biography What we talk about: Public parks Charles II and his popularisation of garden making. Why were extravagant gardens built? Were these gardens worth the huge sums spent on them? Technological advances that were later applied outside the world of horticulture Trends around people growing their own fruit and vegetables Trends in the numbers of people employed as gardeners How gardeners wages over the centuries compare with those today Economic trends on the horizon related to gardening Links: An Economic History of the English Garden - Roderick Floud Paperback out 5th Nov 2020. Pre-order here. | |||
| 18 Nov 2024 | Episode 313: Plants for Shade | 00:23:48 | |
Your garden’s shadows can actually be stunning, vibrant spaces! In this episode, I chat with Susanna Grant, author of Shade and founder of the London-based shady plant shop, LINDA. Susanna joins me to discuss shade-loving plants and how to bring life and vibrancy to those darker corners of our gardens. About Susanna Grant Susanna Grant is founder of Linda, a garden designer, planting specialist and writer, author of Shade (Quarto). She organises the Spring Plant Fair at The Garden Museum, and The Autumn Plant Fair at Arnold Circus where she is a volunteer and a trustee. Links Susanna Grant on Instagram @hellotherelinda Shade: Work with the light, grow the right plants, bring dark corners to life by Susanna Grant Other episodes if you liked this one: 236: Mosses - This week, my guest is Dr Neil Bell, bryologist at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and author of The Hidden World of Mosses, which takes a look into the minute and fascinating world of bryophytes. If you’ve ever wanted to know how these plants live and reproduce, whether you can cultivate moss indoors or outdoors, what that green stuff is you find on the surface of potted plant’s compost and whether you should take it off, the environmental and habitat value of mosses and how they are affected by the moon, listen on… 23: Ivy With Fibrex Nurseries - Key talking points covered are; Growing ivy as a houseplant, Ideal growing conditions for ivy indoors, Ideal growing conditions for ivy outdoors, Different growth habits and the suitability of certain species for certain garden situations, Fast and slow growing varieties, Pruning, Benefits to wildlife, Unsuitable situations for ivy,
Please support the podcast on Patreon | |||
| 08 Apr 2024 | Episode 281: Shrouded in Light | 00:25:56 | |
This week my guests are Kevin Philip Williams and Michael Guidi, authors of a new book ‘Shrouded in Light: Naturalistic Planting Inspired by Wild Shrublands’. I’ll let Kevin and Michael say more about the idea behind it but a book about horticulture that compares natural landscapes to graffiti and branch frameworks to sigils catches my attention immediately… What We Talk About The premise behind the book What is a shrub? Why have shrubs fallen out of fashion? Which of the global shrublands most inspires and informs their planting design at the garden level Good examples of designed shrublands The future of innovative garden design Shrouded in Light: Naturalistic Planting Inspired by Wild Shrublands by Kevin Philip Williams and Michael Guidi Other episodes if you liked this one: The View From Federal Twist - This episode features James Golden, talking about the naturalistic garden he’s built around his home in New Jersey. James’s garden has been created intuitively over time and sits perfectly within the landscape, in fact is a landscape in its own right. Sometimes baffling, sometimes threatening and without utilitarian purpose, the garden is nonetheless life-affirming, vital and dramatically beautiful in different ways from one moment to the next. Gardening in a Changing World - My guest this episode is garden and landscape designer and writer, Darryl Moore. Darryl is one of the most, if not in my opinion, the most informed voice on gardens and design in the UK and his new book Gardening in A Changing World: People, Plants and the Climate Crisis presents an overarching perspective of the complexity of plant life, and the ways that we can begin to appreciate and work together with plants, rather than against them, in addressing the rapidly changing conditions affecting the planet. | |||
| 24 May 2021 | Episode 140: Companion Planting | 00:31:16 | |
Today’s intro comes to you from by back garden, courtesy of the local birds! This week I’m speaking to Jessica Walliser, author of ‘Plant Partners: Science-Based Companion Planting Strategies for the Vegetable Garden’ which as it says, is a scientific look at companion plant to find out if it works, and if it does, in what way and why. Jessica’s unique book is essential reading if you like to uncover some of the secrets behind the received horticultural wisdom that’s passed down from one gardener to the next. Dr Ian Bedford’s Bug of the Week: Red lily beetle This episode is brought to you by So & Mo. Launched this year, So & Mo is a new lawn care brand bringing the right products and expertise to give everyone the confidence to be a lawn expert. They have developed the perfect 12 month plan, through 6 liquid feeds to give your lawn all the nutrients needed for complete plant health and professional results. Packaged into a one size fits all box lasting 6, 12 or 24 months based on the lawn size, ensures the ability to cater for all lawns with no waste. As a special offer for listeners, So & Mo is offering 15% off your first box. Simply visit soandmo.com and enter the code mentioned in the episode at checkout. What we talk about: What we know now about companion planting that wasn't known previously Why companion planting works Why we should be interested in nitrogen fixing plants Cover crops How companion plants help with weed control Busting the myth that it's the scent of the companion plants that deters pests Beetle bumps Companion planting and plant diseases About Jessica Walliser Jessica is the co-founder of SavvyGardening.com and was co-host of the award winning radio show ‘The Organic Gardeners’ for 15 years. Jessica is a journalist, editor and Acquisitions Editor for Cool Springs Press. Jessica takes an organic and wildlife-friendly approach to gardening and is the former owner of a 25 acre market farm. She also teaches horticulture and has a degree in ornamental horticulture from the Pennsylvania State University. She’s the author of ‘Good Bug, Bad Bug: Who’s Who, What They Do, and How to Manage Them Organically’, ‘Attracting Beneficial Bugs to Your Garden: A Natural Approach to Pest Control, ‘Container Gardening Complete: Creative Projects for Growing Vegetables and Flowers in Small Spaces’, ‘A Gardener’s Journal: Life With My Garden' as well as ‘Plant Partners: Science-Based Companion Planting Strategies for the Vegetable Garden'. Links Plant Partners: Science-Based Companion Planting Strategies for the Vegetable Garden | |||
| 16 Aug 2024 | Episode 300: Best of the Best | 00:27:59 | |
Welcome to the 300th episode! Join me as I take a look back at some of my favourite episodes, some of your favourites and take a bit of time to reflect on the sheer enormity and yeah, I’ll say it, the sheer excellence of the back catalogue of the podcast! Find out; The Top 3 episodes of all time as ranked by downloads How I choose guests to be on the podcast What guest had me in tears The ones that got away… The episode that was a load of shit And listeners’ pick their favourites Links Episode 168: Cottage Gardens with Andrew Sankey Episode 204: No Dig with Charles Dowding Episode 188: Huw Richards on Veg Growing Episode 23: Esiah Levy’s SeedsShare project Episode 136: In Search of Mycotopia with Doug Bierend Episode 44: Creating An Ark with Mary Reynolds Episode 281: Shrouded in Light with Kevin Philip Williams and Michael Guidi Episode 297: Soil and Soul with Ella Malt Episode 294: Wood Meadows with Jake Rayson Wildlife: Jeff Ollerton, Dave Goulson, Kate Bradbury, Terry Woods, Doug Tallamy, Richard Jones, Benjamin Vogt, Ian Bedford, Val Bourne, Paul Sterry, Hugh Warwick and Kate Risely Episode 178: Feeding your Soil with Humanure Episode 247: Botanical Education Epsiode 66: Beth Chatto: A Life with Plants with Catherine Horwood | |||
| 28 Jan 2020 | Episode 74: Documenting the Natural World | 00:58:47 | |
This episode is a double-bill, featuring two interviewees speaking about two historical figures who led lives with many parallels, although they were working almost two centuries apart. The first interview is with Teri Sayers-Copper and we discuss the life and work of Marianne North. Marianne was a biologist and botanical artist who journeyed across the world during the Victorian era, documenting the flora and fauna of the countries throughout which she travelled. Marianne explored and painted in every continent except Antartica and was responsible for documenting landscapes that were rapidly changing and disappearing in the wake of a developing world. The second part of the interview is with Tanya Latty, Associate Professor of Entomology at the University of Sydney. Tanya talks about Maria Sibylla Merian, a naturalist and scientific illustrator who was born in Germany in 1647. Merian also travelled the globe, meticulously observing and documenting insects and plants. In fact, she was the first to document caterpillar metamorphosis in an age where her contemporaries believed they came about by “spontaneous generation”! Links: Teri Sayers-Cooper www.creativeforce.org.uk
The Marianne North Gallery - Royal Botanic Gardens Kew Marianne North : The Kew Collection - RBG Kew, 2018 Recollections of a Happy Life: Being the Autobiography of Marianne North Hidden women of history: Maria Sibylla Merian, 17th-century entomologist and scientific adventurer - Dr Tanya Latty, The Conversation, February 20 2019 The Woman Who Made Science Beautiful - Andrea Wulf, The Atlantic, January 19 2016. Video of a talk given at the Linnean Society - A Curious Performance: Maria Sibylla Merian and the Art of Natural History by Kate Heard, Senior Curator of Prints and Drawings at Royal Collection Trust Get in touch: Email podcast@rootsandall.co.uk Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram rootsandallpod Patreon Link: Help me keep the podcast free & independent! Donate as much or as little as you like at https://www.patreon.com/rootsandall
| |||
| 16 Oct 2018 | Episode 16: Listener Questions | 00:11:04 | |
Sarah fields listener questions about herbaceous border maintenance in October and when to prune pieris. She reports back on her visit to the Great Dixter Plant Fair and there's a little bit of housekeeping too.
Get in touch; Email podcast@rootsandall.co.uk Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram rootsandallpod
Patreon Link; Help us keep the podcast free & independent! Donate as much or as little as you like at https://www.patreon.com/rootsandall | |||
| 28 Sep 2020 | Episode 109: Hedgerow Foraging with Joff Curtoys | 00:28:05 | |
This week I’m speaking to Joff Curtoys, conservationist, ecologist and founder of Sloemotion Distillery. Saturday just gone saw the launch of National Hedgerow Day, an annual event launched by Joff to inspire people to undertake their own foraging missions to spot what’s growing and living in their local hedgerows. Hedgerows are historically important, biodiverse and fascinating, as Joff explains. Dr Ian Bedford’s Bug of the Week: Fruit Flies About Joff Curtoys Joff is the founder of Sloemotion Distillery, a family-run Yorkshire business producing small batch spirits and liqueurs, and a passionate advocate of wildlife conservation. He has a background working for the RSPB and his respect for the environment and protection of the countryside is deeply embedded into how Sloemotion operates. The brand has its roots firmly in the Yorkshire countryside and this is a huge influence on the premium spirits they produce providing not only a source of sloes and hedgerow fruits, but also inspiration on their doorstep. What we talk about: The history of hedgerows Hedgerows and biodiversity When and what to forage from hedgerows Managing hedgerows for foraging Links: | |||
| 26 Oct 2020 | Episode 113: Permaculture with Graham Burnett | 00:42:43 | |
This week I’m speaking with permaculturist, teacher, speaker and author, Graham Burnett. Through his organisation Spiralseed, Graham has been involved with both public and private projects across the globe and has accumulated a huge portfolio of work. We talk about the principles which underpin permaculture and how to implement these in your own garden. Dr Ian Bedford’s Bug of the Week: Earwigs About Graham Burnett “In addition to cultivating his own garden and allotments in Southend in Essex, where he lives with his family, Graham nowadays teaches permaculture and writes extensively on the subject. Graham founded Spiralseed in 2001, and he has worked with projects and organisations including Comic Relief, Naturewise, Green Adventure, the Vegan Organic Network, Ars Terra (Los Angeles), NuArc Health and Wellbeing Centre (Puglia, Italy), Wild Earth Farm and Sanctuary (Kentucky, USA) and Ekosense Ecovillage (Croatia), as well as a number of Transition Town initiatives. He has also over the years written a number of books and booklets (including The Vegan Book of Permaculture, Permaculture a Beginners Guide, Well Fed Not An Animal Dead, and Earth Writings). Earlier this year Graham taught a permaculture course in Italy, and in summer 2015 he was one of the instructors in the first ever vegan permaculture course in the USA. He continues to teach and organise courses both at home and abroad.” - https://spiralseed.co.uk/graham-burnett-‒-path-permaculture/ What we talk about: How Graham became involved in permaculture The theory behind a permaculture garden How much work is involved in establishing a permaculture garden from scratch, or from an existing garden? Can permaculture gardens incorporate ornamental areas? Permaculture gardens; are they completely dedicated to production? Vegan permaculture gardens Can we feed ourselves without harming animals in some way? For example, how do you successfully grow brassicas without excluding birds and butterflies? Links: | |||
| 28 Apr 2020 | Episode 87: Chasing the Ghost with Peter Marren | 00:31:03 | |
I’m speaking to Peter Marren, author of Chasing the Ghost: My Search for all the Wild Flowers of Britain. Peter travelled the length and breadth of Britain to track down those native species he’d never seen growing in the wild. Like all the best hero’s journeys, the path must be littered with challenges, disappointments, interesting characters, in this case both plants and people and the drama of the journey travelled surpasses the quest. This episode is perfect for those of us lucky enough to still have access to nature and my hope is that by the end of it at least one or two of you will have a new hobby/obsession! About Peter Marren: Peter Marren is an all-rounder naturalist, nature writer and conservationist. Peter is the author of many books, including volumes on nature conservation, mushrooms and butterflies. His writing has appeared in every issue of British Wildlife since 1990, where he writes a satirical column ‘Twitcher in the Swamp’. What We Discuss:
Links: Chasing the Ghost: My Search for all the Wild Flowers of Britain - Peter Marren Vintage Publishing, 2019 Harrap’s Wild Flowers by Simon Harrap - Bloomsbury Publishing, 2018 Wild Flowers of Britain and Ireland by Marjorie Blamey, Richard Fitter, Alastair H. Flitter - Bloomsbury Publishing, 2013 The New Concise British Flora by Rev. W Keble Martin - Sphere Books Ltd, 1972 Get in touch: Email podcast@rootsandall.co.uk Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram @rootsandallpod Help me keep the podcast free & independent! Patreon Link Or donate as much or as little as you like at GoFundMe | |||
| 06 Jun 2022 | Episode 191: Connecting with Plants | 00:24:45 | |
Hello and welcome to this week’s episode where I’m speaking to Marion Whitehead from the Blue Mountains Botanic Garden in New South Wales, Australia, part of the Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney. I talk with Marion about one of her areas of speciality; the intersection of plants and human feelings, particularly in the context of 3 books as recommended by Marion; Enid Blyton’s ‘The Magic Faraway Tree’, Frances Hodgson Burnett’s ‘The Secret Garden’ and ‘The Overstory’ by Richard Powers. Dr Ian Bedford’s Bug of the Week: Venom What we cover Enid Blyton’s ‘The Magic Faraway Tree’: the tree is the central character, but actually seems pretty inanimate. How does the magic faraway tree provoke emotion? Is there a suggestion in Blyton’s book that wild plants are more emotionally provocative than cultivated plants? ‘The Secret Garden’: the garden heals but it seems to be healing physically as much as emotionally, is this the case? Is the garden responding to individuals’ needs? Do people instinctively find or seek out what they need, emotionally, in a garden? Do we have the language to describe our relationship to plants? Richard Powers’ ‘The Overstory’: are plants losing their power to connect with us emotionally, or vice versa, given our detachment from nature? About Marion Whitehead Marion is Senior Horticulturalist at the Blue Mountains Botanic Garden. She has an extensive background in cool climate plant species, with a specific interest in ephemeral and heathland plants. Marion has many horticultural topics of interest from Australian plant history, to managing plant nurseries, to the emotional connection between human and fellow flowers. Links www.bluemountainsbotanicgarden.com The Overstory by Richard Powers | |||
| 17 Feb 2025 | Episode 323: Wildflowers, Community and Urban Nature | 00:18:32 | |
I’m joined by Richard Scott and Polly Moseley from the Scouse Flowerhouse to explore the transformative power of community gardens. They share insights on using wildflowers to create vibrant, biodiverse spaces that benefit both people and wildlife, as well as the challenges and rewards of managing community green spaces. Listen on to discover how their work is weaving nature into urban communities. Links Other episodes if you liked this one: If you liked this week's episode with Richard Scott & Polly Moseley you might also enjoy this one from the archives: 1. Episode 275: Community Gardening Synopsis: This episode delves into the world of community gardening, exploring how shared green spaces can foster community spirit, provide fresh produce, and promote environmental stewardship. The discussion highlights the benefits and challenges of managing communal gardens and offers insights into starting and sustaining such projects. 2. Episode 173: Sharing and Borrowing Gardens Synopsis: In this episode, host Sarah Wilson speaks with Joyce Veheary, founder of Lend and Tend, an initiative that connects garden owners with individuals who lack their own gardening space. They discuss how this platform facilitates the sharing and borrowing of gardens, promoting community engagement and making gardening more accessible to everyone. Please support the podcast on Patreon | |||
| 25 Jun 2019 | Episode 47: Going Peat Free with John Walker | 00:38:53 | |
Sarah speaks to the Earth Friendly Gardener, John Walker about the use of peat in our gardens. We all know it's bad, but how bad is it and what's being done to prevent the use of peat in horticultural products? Is it realistic to think we can eradicate our use of peat? John is one of the foremost experts on this topic and it's fascinating to hear his thoughts. Sobering stuff indeed... About John: “As well as being a lifelong gardener and allotmenteer, I’m also an award-winning British gardening and environment writer with over 30 years combined experience in professional gardening, horticultural teaching and the garden media. I trained as a student gardener at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens & Glasshouses, Cambridge University Botanic Garden, and at the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, England, where I was awarded the Kew Diploma in Horticulture in 1986. I gained a Permaculture Design Certificate in 1997. While in publishing, I’ve been both features and deputy editor of Garden Answers magazine, contributing editor of Kitchen Garden magazine, and have been technical editor of The Organic Way. My long-running ‘digging deeper’ column, exploring the connections between gardening and our wider environment first appeared in Organic Gardening (later Organic Garden & Home) magazine in 2006. I write and blog about greener, earth-friendly gardening for national newspapers, magazines and websites. My work has been published in NFU Countryside, Garden Answers, Garden News, Grow It!, Kew magazine, Organic Gardening (later Organic Garden & Home), the Telegraph, The Garden, The Organic Way and Kitchen Garden, and online at the Guardian and Hartley Botanic. I’m the author of the new and updated Weeds: An Organic, Earth-Friendly Guide to Their Identification, Use and Control and The Bed & Border Planner, the editor of A Gardeners’ Guide to Annuals, and a major contributor to the Garden Organic Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening.” John’s website is a treasure trove of articles and information, please do check it out: http://earthfriendlygardener.net You can buy a signed copy of John's latest book, Weeds: An Organic, Earth-friendly Guide to Their Identification, Use and Control' here
Get in touch; Email podcast@rootsandall.co.uk Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram rootsandallpod
Patreon Link; Help us keep the podcast free & independent! Donate as much or as little as you like at https://www.patreon.com/rootsandall | |||
| 05 May 2022 | Episode 187: Irises with Clare Keller | 00:30:53 | |
This week’s guest is Clare Keller, a fashion designer and stylist who’s previously work at Ralph Lauren, Gucci, Pringle, Chloe and Givenchy. Clare is currently a Trustee and spokesperson for the British Iris Society, a society dedicated to promoting and preserving UK irises and providing resources to iris growers. We talk about these picturesque, perpetually popular flowers. Dr Ian Bedford’s Bug of the Week: Organic recyclers What we cover How Clare became involved with the British Iris Society and interested in irises Species of iris Ideal iris growing conditions Iris hardiness Propagation of irises Easy irises to grow Links | |||
| 05 Feb 2019 | Episode 27: Open Source Seeds | 00:09:30 | |
An episode dedicated to Esiah Levy. A short intro to seed sharing and open pollinated varieities. Sadly, Esiah Levy who you may have heard interviewed in Episode 12 of the Podcast, passed away on the 22nd January. This episode is dedicated to sharing his passion for seed sharing and open pollinated seeds, and will hopefully inspire you to add some of these varieties to your patch this year. Please check out the GoFundMe set up to help Esiah's young family: https://www.gofundme.com/esiah-levy
Get in touch; Email podcast@rootsandall.co.uk Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram rootsandallpod
Patreon Link; Help us keep the podcast free & independent! Donate as much or as little as you like at https://www.patreon.com/rootsandall | |||
| 09 Nov 2020 | Episode 115: Herbs with Barbara Wilkinson of The Herb Society | 00:44:22 | |
This week I’m speaking to Barbara Wilkinson, a Trustee of The Herb Society, which was founded in 1927 in order to promote the use and understanding of herbs and to provide a worldwide forum for the exchange of ideas and information pertaining to these plants. We talk about growing herbs in different garden situations, unusual herbs to grow, why humans seem drawn to them, what Barbara refers to as “generous” herbs and why we seem to enjoy abusing them by cramming them in unsuitable containers and most importantly, what even is a herb? Dr Ian Bedford’s Bug of the Week: Box Tree Moths About Barbara Wilkinson Following a lifelong passion for health and nutrition, Barbara qualified as a Consultant Medical Herbalist in 2012. She is a member of the College of Medicine and Integrated Health, and runs The Springfield Clinic of Natural Healing in Cheshire. Barbara is an advocate of cultivating the use of plants in everyday life and keen to empower people with the confidence to embrace food as medicine. As well as running her own practice, Barbara is a Trustee for The Herb Society and has appeared as a guest speaker at numerous events and conferences. She has an allotment, where she grows produce that is used for medicines within the practice, and has worked with The Herb Society on designing gardens for the RHS Flower Show Tatton Park. In 2018, she appeared in the BBC’s coverage of the RHS Flower Show, as part of a special segment looking at fermented foods. She recently supported Horticulturist Alys Fowler in producing her new book A Modern Herbal. What we talk about: What is The Herb Society? The definition of a herb Humans’ affinity with herbs Herbs for shade Herbs for dry, sunny spots Unusual herbs to grow Links: The Herb Society on Instagram : @theherbsocietyuk Evolutionary Herbalism: Science, Spirituality, and Medicine from the Heart of Nature by Sajah Popham
| |||
| 23 May 2022 | Episode 189: Crevice Gardens | 00:30:03 | |
This week’s guests are Kenton Seth and Paul Spriggs, co-authors of a book that’s just been released called ‘The Crevice Garden: How to Make the Perfect Home for Plants from Rocky Places.’ This book is immensely detailed and if you’ve ever had an interest in crevice aka rock gardens, or indeed have not but are curious, this book provides a comprehensive overview of the types of plants suited to growing in this style of garden (there are many), the different looks you can create, how to build and maintain them, famous and successful examples and why they are good from an environmental perspective. Dr Ian Bedford’s Bug of the Week: Flower Crab Spiders What we cover What is a crevice garden? Advantages to putting plants in crevices The sort of plants suited to growing in crevices Installing a crevice garden Sourcing stone you might need? Planting into a crevice garden Are they a purely aesthetic addition to a garden or can they be useable too? Maintenance About Kenton & Paul Kenton J. Seth began his career in public horticulture and the nursery trade and is now a garden designer who specializes in crevice gardens, drought-tolerant natives, and meadows. He writes for a variety of local, national and international magazines and lectures to rock garden clubs at home in Colorado and overseas. Paul Spriggs has been rock gardening for 23 years and building crevice gardens for the last 16. He is a professional gardener and landscaper, and an avid plant explorer. He has a passion for all wild plants, especially miniatures, collecting and cultivating them at home in Victoria, British Columbia. Links The Crevice Garden: How to Make the Perfect Home for Plants from Rocky Places by Kenton Seth & Paul Spriggs - Filbert Press, April 2022 | |||
| 07 Aug 2018 | Episode 6: Allotments Part 1 | 00:28:33 | |
Lacking the space but certainly not the enthusiasm? Taking on an allotment has fast become a popular solution to keeping those green fingers satisfied and the benefits are endless. Not only is it environmentally friendly, working an allotment can be seen as therapeutic, sociable and an all round healthy discipline, which can promote a healthier lifestyle. In the first part of this episode, Sarah chats to Louise Bell, an accomplished writer and editor and co founder of Sunny Creative. Louise also happens to be a sympathetic gardener and was on the committee for the Marina Allotment and Horticulture Association in Hastings. Having worked on her own allotment for 10 years, Louise is armed with knowledge to enlighten us on how best to go about finding an allotment. Whether it’s run by the local council or independently managed, she presents a number of key pointers to take into account before committing to a plot and those you will need to consider once you are the proud owner. With first hand practical advice on various topics, from restrictions on what you are allowed to grow, to how to clear a plot previously owned, there’s enough to get the ball rolling if you are thinking of investing your time and energy into growing your own produce. Nevertheless don’t forget to follow up soon with part 2 of this episode to discover more about allotments and how to manage expectations on what you grow. Alongside self sowing plants, difficult crops and suggestions on plot structure, you can be sure to pick up many more helpful tips to ensure you have a productive plot. Please take the time to rate this podcast and you could be in with a chance to win a copy of the Great Dixter cookbook (2017) which contains a delightful concoction of seasonal recipes and is a book Louise was involved with creating.
Points of interest; Associate members. Generic allotment rules and regulations. Choosing your allotment plot. Practical issues, such as water, electricity and toilet. Visitors allowed onto the premises. Time restrictions. Recommended tools. Taking over someone else’s allotment patch.
FAQs answered; Are all allotments run by the local council? Do I specifically need to choose an allotment near to where I live? Do allotments have waiting lists? Will I have to pay for my allotment? How do I know if having an allotment is the right thing for me? Do I need planning permission for a shed? Will I be allowed bonfires? Who is responsible for any waste? Are there restrictions on what I can grow in an allotment?
Further useful research; www.greatdixtershop.co.uk The Great Dixter Cookbook 2017
Get in touch; Email podcast@rootsandall.co.uk Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram rootsandallpod
Patreon Link; | |||
| 15 Jul 2024 | Episode 295: Picture Perfect Gardens | 00:17:58 | |
Hello and welcome to this week’s episode where my guest is freelance photographer Mark Bolton. Mark photographs gardens and interiors for editorial and commercial clients and after purchasing a house in Devon, he decided to create his own picture perfect garden. He chose the cottage style of gardening to fit the bill, so listen on to find out how he created his perfect space and tips for how to create your own picturesque paradise. Links A New Cottage Garden: A practical guide to creating a picture-perfect cottage garden by Mark Bolton About Mark Bolton Mark Bolton (@markboltonphoto) is a freelance photographer who photographs gardens and interiors for editorial and commercial clients throughout the UK and Europe. He lives in Devon. Other episodes if you liked this one: Cottage Gardens - This episode features garden designer, grower, speaker and writer Andrew Sankey. Andrew specialises in English cottage gardens and has meticulously researched the subject for decades, becoming an expert on this style of gardening. He’s recently released a book called The English Cottage Garden and in the interview, we talk about what defines a cottage garden, both in the past and now, the plants and features most commonly found in one and tips if you’re looking to create your own. | |||
| 03 Mar 2020 | Episode 79: Sacred Woodlands with Simon Leadbeater | 00:40:53 | |
Hello and welcome to this episode of the podcast. In this episode, I’m talking to ecologist and woodland owner Simon Leadbeater. We talk specifically about whether trees are sacred; spoiler alert, Simon thinks they are and he explains eloquently and convincingly why. He touches on books by authors you may well have already read; The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben and Thus Spoke the Plant by Monica Gagliano. However, if you believe trees are sacred and sentient, a problem arises, namely do you have any right to move them, to prune them or even to move amongst them. And it’s questions like these that we touch on in the episode. About Simon Leadbeater: Simon has a background in local government and the third sector. He and his wife bought Rector’s Wood in 1999 and have lived there ever since. Simon has published work around the themes or ecology, rewinding and forestry. In his own words, Simon sums up his feelings on woodlands and the right to roam therein; “I think my essential philosophy is that we lack empathy for nature and particularly her animals, and we no longer venerate nature, in particular we no longer consider trees (and other plants) as sacred. If you have empathy, and wish to act as animals’ proxy, then obviously you will give them space; if you consider trees sacred, then you will wish to look after them with reverent care. The latter would include behaving in a woodland as if you were in a temple or church – our behaviour would be appropriate for such sacred settings.” What We Discuss:
Links: Simon’s Work: Leadbeater, S.R.B. (2019), ‘Ancient Roots to Untruths; Unlearning the past and seeing the world anew,’ Quarterly Journal of Forestry,’ January 2019 Vol 113 No.1 Leadbeater S (2019) ‘In defence of tears,’ The Ecological Citizen 3(Suppl A): 101–3 Leadbeater, S.R.B., (2018) ‘Meat: the Alpha and Omega of Extinction,’ ECOS, 39(3) Books Simon mentions in the interview: Wohlleben, P., (2016) The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate, Discoveries from a Secret World (2016), Greystone Books Gagliano, M., (2018) Thus Spoke the Plant: A Remarkable Journey of Groundbreaking Scientific Discoveries and Personal Encounters with Plants, North Atlantic Books: Berkeley, California Mathew Hall (2011), Plants as Persons: a Philosophical Botany, State University of New York Press The Imagination of Plants: A Book of Botanical Mythology (out this year, not yet read – but probably excellent) Safina, C., (2015), Beyond Words: What Animals Think and Feel, Henry Holt and Co. Taylor, B., (2010), Dark Green Religion: Nature Spirituality and the Planetary Future, University of California Press Powers, R., (2018) The Overstory, William Heinemann: London Hill, J., Butterfly, (2000) The Legacy of Luna: the story of a tree, a woman, and the struggle to save the redwoods, HarperCollins Publishers Inc Get in touch: Email podcast@rootsandall.co.uk Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram @rootsandallpod Patreon Link Help me keep the podcast free & independent! Or onate as much or as little as you like at GoFundMe
| |||
| 26 Sep 2022 | Episode 207: Alternative Allotments | 00:24:39 | |
This week, I’m speaking to co-founder of Roots Allotments Ed Morrison. Along with Christian, Will & Josh, Ed set up Roots Allotments on a site in Bath as an alternative to traditional allotments with their long waiting lists, large and often difficult to manage plots and set up a low carbon footprint, no dig and wildlife-friendly site where people could lease some space and join the grow your own food movement. Dr Ian Bedford’s Bug of the Week: Harvestmen What We Talk About How Roots Allotments came about How they are different to conventional allotments The costs of a plot, waiting lists, term of lease, facilities and support offered What can be grown on a Roots Allotment? Why no dig? Links Other episodes if you liked this one: Sharing & Borrowing Gardens with Joyce Veheary of Lend and Tend | |||
| 07 Feb 2022 | Episode 174: Painting the Georgian Garden | 00:31:13 | |
I’m speaking to Dr Cathryn Spence this week, about Thomas Robins, a painter who documented the country estates of the Georgian gentry in all their Rococo splendour. Robins captured images of this flamboyant age of outdoor design where gardens were laden with symbolism and crammed full of Chinoiserie, follies ruins and the latest imports of exotic animals and plants. Follow the story of Robins as he moves from jobbing fan painter to star of his own paintings, the development of the floral borders around his canvases, for which he’s famed, and the evolution of the Georgian garden and what remains of this style today. Dr Ian Bedford’s Bug of the Week: Fig wasps What we cover The artist Thomas Robins and when and where he worked What gardens looked like at the time Robins was painting What is a Rococo garden? Why Robins painted floral borders around his paintings How exotic species came to be included in these frames In the book, Cathryn references “the Rococo’s requirement of asymmetry”. How did this manifest in Robins’ artworks and in gardens? Political themes in Georgian gardens Robins’ botanical art How contemporary painters painted entire estates on one canvas Remaining examples of rococo gardens About ‘Nature’s Favourite Child – Thomas Robins and the Art of the Georgian Garden’ Thomas Robins the Elder (1716–1770) recorded the country estates of the Georgian gentry—their orchards, Rococo gardens, and potagers—like no other, with both topographical accuracy and delightful artistry, often bordering his gouaches with entrancing tendrils, shells, leaves, and birds. Robins's skill was honed by the delicacy required for his early career as a fan painter and is shown too in his exquisite paintings of butterflies, flowers, and birds. This ravishing and scholarly study emerges from many years’ research by Dr Cathryn Spence, the curator and archivist at Bowood House who has also worked for the V&A, the Bath Preservation Trust, and the National Trust. This is the first full study of Thomas Robins since John Harris’s Gardens of Delight, published in two volumes in 1978; Harris, in fact, made over all his research notes to Spence in 2005 when she embarked on her work. Chinoiserie is everywhere—a wooden bridge over the Thames, delicious kiosks in a garden, a view of Bath with sampans, and Chinese fishermen on the river. There are also fascinating views of Sudeley Castle and other great houses that incorporated more or less ruined monastic structures, destroyed in the Dissolution of the Monasteries. Spence has tracked down many previously unknown paintings by Robins and sets his elusive life and work in the framework of his patrons. More detective story than art historical monograph, this lavish study delights in Robins’s astonishing proficiency as a topographical, botanical, entomological and naturalist artist. About Cathryn Spence Dr Cathryn Spence is a museum professional, lecturer and historic gardens and buildings consultant. After a career in London and Bath museums, including the Victoria & Albert Museum and the Building of Bath Museum, she is now Lord Lansdowne’s consultant Archivist and Curator at Bowood House, Wiltshire. She has published several books on the architectural and social history of Bath, most recently The Story of Bath (2016). Her study of Thomas Robins is the culmination of over fifteen years research. Cathryn has worked with the team at Painswick Rococo Garden, a site restored using Robins’s paintings from 1984, for the last 5 years advising on the continuing heritage and conservation of the garden. Links Nature’s Favourite Child – Thomas Robins and the Art of the Georgian Garden by Cathryn Spence is available from John Sandoe Books or directly from the author. Email thomasrobinselder@gmail.com (£45 to include p&p to a UK address, for RoW postage contact Cathryn on the above email for quote). | |||
| 04 Feb 2020 | Episode 75: Introduction to Forest Gardening | 00:28:49 | |
This episode I’m speaking to Jake Rayson. Jake lives in rural Wales on a 2 acre smallholding, which is set up as a working forest garden. In addition to managing his own plot, he also teaches about and designs forest gardens in the UK and beyond. For a long time, forest gardening was one of those terms I’d heard but I’m not sure I fully understood the principles behind it, partly because the term always struck me as a bit if a misnomer. Essentially, it’s a common-sense and ecologically respectful way of organising a productive garden. Jake is here to explain exactly what it entails and how you can apply the principles in your own garden. About Jake Rayson: Jake moved to a West Wales farmhouse in 2015 to pursue his vocation as a forest gardener. In a time of climate emergency, he passionately believes that a productive garden can be sustainable, wildlife-friendly *and* ornamental. He divides his time between forest garden design and teaching, the relentless planting of 3 acres of hillside and his relentless young family. What We Discuss:
Links: email hello@forestgarden.wales Twitter @ForestGdnWales Facebook @ForestGardenWales Free mini-course 'Make a Forest Garden Plan' Further Reading Creating a Forest Garden by Martin Crawford Plants For A Future, online database of useful plants RHS Plant Finder (with native filter) Database of Insects and their Food Backyard Larder and Incredible Vegetables for perennial vegetables Get in touch: Email podcast@rootsandall.co.uk Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram rootsandallpod Patreon Link: Help me keep the podcast free & independent! Donate as much or as little as you like at https://www.patreon.com/rootsandall GoFundMe gf.me/u/w7sy4c | |||
| 09 Dec 2024 | Episode 316: The Dry Exotic Garden | 00:20:34 | |
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. | |||
| 30 Nov 2020 | Episode 118: Tokachi Millennium Forest with Dan Pearson & Midori Shintani | 00:43:48 | |
In this episode, I am very pleased to have a double interview with Dan Pearson and Midori Shintani, the two key horticultural forces driving the Tokachi Millennium Forest project in Hokaido, Japan and co-authors of the book Tokachi Millennium Forest: Pioneering a New Way of Gardening with Nature. I speak to Midori first, then Dan, about this vast, 1000 year project, their hopes and intentions for now and the future and about their own places with the timeline of the forest. Dr Ian Bedford’s Bug of the Week: Ivy Mining Bees What we talk about: The history of the site of the Tokachi Millennium Forest The idea behind the project The challenges on site, posed by flora and some big fauna! Influences on the design The future of the site About Dan Pearson & Midori Shintani Twenty years ago, Dan Pearson was invited to make a garden at the 240-hectare Tokachi Millennium Forest in Hokkaido, Japan. Part of the intention was to entice city dwellers to reconnect with nature and improve land that had been lost to intensive agriculture and this was achieved along with much more. By tuning into the physical and cultural essence of the place and applying a light touch in terms of cultivation, this world-class designer created a remarkable place which has its heart in Japan's long-held respect for nature and its head in contemporary ecological planting design. The bold, uplifting sweep of the Meadow Garden mixes garden plants with natives while the undulating landforms of the Earth Garden bring sculptural connection with the mountains beyond. Under the skilful custodianship of Midori Shintani, the garden has evolved beautifully to reflect principles that lie at the heart of Japanese culture: observation of seasonal changes, practical tasks carried out with care and an awareness of the interconnectedness of all living things. This beautiful, instructive book allows us all to experience something of the Tokachi effect, gain expert insights into how to plant gardens that feel right for their location, and reconnect with the land and wildlife that surround us. Links Tokachi Millennium Forest: Pioneering a New Way of Gardening by Dan Pearson & Midori Shintani - Filbert Press, 2020 | |||
| 12 May 2020 | Episode 89: Design Experts Part 4 with Xanthe White | 00:27:47 | |
This episode is the fourth and final part of the Design Experts series and this week’s guest is New Zealand-based garden designer Xanthe White who runs Xanthe White Design which has offices in Auckland and Wellington. As with the other episodes in the design experts series, we talk about the practicalities of running a design practice in the region, what the client design relationship looks like and the evolving face of garden design. The interview starts with me asking Xanthe about the beliefs underpinning her practice. This series has very kindly been sponsored by the London College of Garden Design. About Xanthe White: Xanthe is one of New Zealand’s top landscape designers. Her studio works with clients to design gardens that work for them on a personal level, creating gardeners as well as gardens. Her work is fused throughout with concerns for sustainability, ecosystems and the cultural significance of the spaces she builds. She has won medals at the 2006 and 2011 RHS Chelsea Flower Shows and has also won top awards at the Ellerslie International Flower Show and the Gardening World Cup in Japan. What We Discuss:
Links: With thanks to the episode sponsor, the London College of Garden Design. Tel +44 (0) 1483 762955 Email info@lcgd.org.uk Get in touch: Email podcast@rootsandall.co.uk Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram @rootsandallpod Help me keep the podcast free & independent! Support me on Patreon Or donate as much or as little as you like at GoFundMe | |||
| 16 Oct 2023 | Episode 259 - Unusual Edible Plants | 00:31:06 | |
This episode I’m speaking with Kevin Hobbs & Artur Cesar-Erlach, authors of EDIBLE: 70 Sustainable Plants That Are Changing How We Eat which is a beautifully illustrated book looking at edible plants from around the world that are revolutionising how we grow, eat and appreciate food. It tackles important questions like what do we eat when our usual diets are no longer sustainable, how do we future proof food and how can we be more mindful about what we eat and considers what the future of global food production might look like. Dr Ian Bedford’s Bug of the Week: Harvestmen What We Talk About The idea behind the book Traditional staple crops Hopniss Great Burdock Cornelian cherry Ebbing’s Silverberry Sea buckthorn Kevin & Artur’s vote for the most under-utilised crop About the authors Kevin Hobbs is a UK-based professional grower and plantsman with over thirty years’ experience in the horticulture industry. He is the author of The Story of Trees and Herbaceous Perennials, Hillier’s Gardener’s Guide. Artur Cisar-Erlach is an ecologist and food expert based in Vienna, whose work spans the fields of food and ecotourism. He is the author of The Flavor of Wood. Katie Kulla is an illustrator, writer and farmer based in Oregon in the United States. Links Edible: 70 Sustainable Plants That Are Changing How We Eathttps://www.summerfieldbooks.com/product/edible-70-sustainable-plants-that-are-changing-how-we-eat/ Other episodes if you liked this one: Edimentals with Stephen Barstow
| |||
| 26 Feb 2024 | Episode 275: Community Gardening | 00:19:15 | |
Vicky Chown is a Medical Herbalist, foraging instructor and self taught permaculturist. She’s head gardener at Omved Gardens, a fascinating community garden in London which focuses on food, creativity and wellbeing. What we talk about The idea behind Omved Gardens How nature factors in to the garden Where food and creativity fit in The design of the site and how it feeds into the purpose and the overall experience for visitors Who uses the site The activities that take place About Vicky Chown Vicky Chown is a Medical Herbalist (BSc), foraging instructor and self taught permaculturist. She is head gardener at Omved Gardens and Coordinator of their Seed Saving Network. Links Vicky Chown on Instagram @handmade_apothecary The Seed Saving Network @seedsavingnetwork Omved Gardens @omvedgardens Other episodes if you liked this one: Support the podcast on Patreon
| |||
| 30 Jul 2019 | Episode 52: Crops In Tight Spots with Alex Mitchell | 00:27:37 | |
This week I’m speaking to Alex Mitchell, aka the Edible Gardener. Alex is the gardening columnist for the Evening Standard and author of five books on gardening, including her latest ‘Crops in Tight Spots’. I speak to Alex about growing edibles when space in tight and she has some brilliant tips and tricks about how to grow, what to grow and what not to bother with. Alex’s book is based on years of experience and I respect her approach of trialling, experimenting (including catching pupae in jars and observing them as they hatch!) and just giving things a go. As a result of this hands-on experimentation, she’s developed some nifty time, money and space-saving methods and she shares some of those with us in the episode. For the rest, you’ll just have to buy the book!
About Alex Mitchell
“Alex Mitchell is a gardening writer who has been obsessed with growing things she can eat for about 20 years. Before this, she was obsessed with television. On balance, gardening is healthier. Alex is the weekly gardening columnist for The Evening Standard and has written five books about gardening and growing food. Previously she wrote a column for The Sunday Telegraph about growing fruit and vegetables, first in a polytunnel in a muddy field, which often made her cry, then in a little south London garden, which made her happy. She now gardens in a large space in Kent which makes her ecstatic though often overwhelmed. She has written five books, The Girl’s Guide to Growing Your Own – Or How to Grow Fruit and Vegetables Without Getting Your Hands Too Dirty, The Edible Balcony, The Rurbanite: Living in the Country Without Leaving the City, Gardening on a Shoestring and Crops in Tight Spots."
What We Cover:
Links
www.alex-mitchell.co.uk http://alex-mitchell.co.uk Crops in Tight Spots - Alex Mitchell, 2019 https://www.waterstones.com/book/crops-in-tight-spots/alex-mitchell/9780857835925 Alex’s Previously Published Books http://alex-mitchell.co.uk/alex-mitchell-the-edible-gardener/books/ Alex on Instagram @alexmitchelleg https://www.instagram.com/alexmitchelleg/
Get in touch: Email podcast@rootsandall.co.uk Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram rootsandallpod
Patreon Link: Help us keep the podcast free & independent! Donate as much or as little as you like at https://www.patreon.com/rootsandall
| |||
| 17 Mar 2020 | Episode 81: Grow Fruit & Vegetables in Pots with Aaron Bertelsen | 00:29:33 | |
This week I’m talking to Aaron Bertelsen about his new book ‘Grow Fruit & Vegetables in Pots’. Aaron is the resident kitchen gardener at Great Dixter but as with many who work there, he lives and breathes the Great Dixter way of life and works tirelessly to support the house and garden. You may find him harvesting produce in the kitchen garden, serving lunch to guests and students, hosting horticultural royalty in the house or travelling the world to promote Great Dixter. ‘Grow Fruit & Vegetables in Pots’ is both a practical guide to growing food in containers and a recipe book, providing inspiration for what to do with the abundance of produce you’ll have once you’ve mastered the art. Aaron gives tips on the best fruit for containers, how to avoid flea beetle, what to feed your crops, cooking with lettuce, plus loads of other invaluable advice for those growing their own produce in containers. About Aaron Bertelsen: “Aaron studied Social Anthropology at the University of Otago before coming to England in 1996 to volunteer in the garden at Great Dixter. He subsequently studied for a Diploma in Horticulture at Kew Gardens, and spent two years at Jerusalem Botanical Gardens in Israel, where he is still a trustee. Aaron returned to Great Dixter in 2005 and became the vegetable gardener and cook in 2007. Aaron is regularly invited to speak about gardening at events worldwide. His first book The Great Dixter Cookbook is published by Phaidon and has received international acclaim since its publication in March 2017.” - www.greatdixter.co.uk What We Discuss:
Links: Aaron’s Blog https://dixtervegetablegarden.wordpress.com Grow Fruit & Vegetables in Pots by Aaron Bertelsen - Phaidon, 2020 The Great Dixter Cookbook by Aaron Bertelsen - Phaidon, 2017 Get in touch: Email podcast@rootsandall.co.uk Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram @rootsandallpod Patreon Link - Help me keep the podcast free & independent! Or donate as much or as little as you like at GoFundMe | |||
| 09 Oct 2018 | Episode 15: Alliums with Jackie Currie | 00:26:02 | |
Alliums have to be one of our most well-loved, contemporary perennials. They’re relatively pest and disease free, pollinators love them, they look good in flower and also in skeletonised form during the winter. However, if you thought growing alliums was as straightforward as bunging some bulbs in the ground and enjoying them year after year, you may be surprised… After losing some alliums in my own garden, I was determined to find out a bit more about what these plants need to succeed in the garden. Jackie Currie has held the National Collection of Alliums for the past 4 years and I surmised that if anyone could help me on my quest to make my alliums happy, she could. Since she started studying alliums in earnest, Jackie has learned many things that might surprise even the most seasoned grower and it appears she may be re-writing the rule book on alliums as we know it. Listen to the episode to find out which alliums truly act as perennials, coming back year after year. Also find out which alliums to treat as annuals, what to feed them, where to grow them and the answers to many other questions about alliums you didn’t even realise you should be asking!
Points of interest; Ideal soil conditions for alliums Alliums that are easy to grow Alliums that are tricky Potential diseases What to plant them with Feeding How to propagate them
Guest follow up; Jackie Currie has run Euphorbia Design in partnership with Lorraine Cooke for the past 15 years. Jackie and her alliums can often be found exhibiting at RHS Flower Shows Hampton Court & Chelsea, where she is a multiple medal-winner.
Further useful research; There is none! Jackie doesn’t recommend any books or websites as useful resources for information on Alliums and I must say that having a poke around on the internet reveals common advice mainly conflicts with Jackie’s findings. Perhaps if you have any experience of alliums that may be useful you can email them to me podcast@rootsandall.co.uk and I will can pass them on to Jackie and I will find a way to share them online with listeners.
Allium names, in order of mention; Allium atropurpureum ‘Silver Spring’ ampeloprasum ‘Purple Sensation’ wallichii altissimum christophii sphaerocephalon senescens lusitanicum giganteum ‘Ambassador’ schubertii caeruleum caesium ‘Eros’ ‘Mount Everest’ ‘Mont Blanc’ ‘Globemaster’ nigrum ‘Gladiotor’ paradoxum var. normale siculum litvinovii angulosum fistulosum ‘Early Emperor’
Get in touch; Email podcast@rootsandall.co.uk Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram rootsandallpod
Patreon Link; Help us keep the podcast free & independent! Donate as much or as little as you like at https://www.patreon.com/rootsandall | |||
| 06 May 2024 | Episode 285: No Mow May | 00:26:46 | |
Hello and welcome to this week’s episode where my guest is Mark Schofield, Plantlife’s Road Verge Advisor for the UK. Mark has a huge amount of experience when it comes to green space conservation and is currently involved in a number of projects across the country to manage road verges better for wildlife involving biomass harvesting trials and the use of AI in surveys. He’s also one of Plantlife’s representatives for the #NoMowMay campaign, and in this interview, he talks about how we can maintain both private and public green spaces more sympathetically for wildflowers and the wildlife they support. About Mark Schofield Mark used to work for the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust before he joined Plantlife as their Road Verge Advisor for the UK. He has 15 years of experience of road verge and urban green space conservation and has organised extensive citizen science surveys. He is currently involved in a number of projects across the country to manage road verges better for wildlife involving biomass harvesting trials and the use of AI in surveys. Mark is also one of Plantlife’s representatives for the #NoMowMay campaign, and has written much of the guidance on the Plantlife website for how we can maintain our lawns and public green spaces more sympathetically for wildflowers and the wildlife they support. No Mow May and lawn management guidance: Report from APSE with good news from local authorities for meadows and biodiversity priorities Other episodes if you liked this one: Tapestry Lawns - This episode, I’m talking to Dr Lionel Smith, horticulture lecturer and author of the book Tapestry Lawns: Freed from Grass and Full of Flowers. As the title suggests, a tapestry lawn replaces grass with flowering dicots, increasing biodiversity, lowering maintenance needs and seriously upping the aesthetic value of a lawn. Living with a tapestry lawns involves a little bit of self-education around how you treat plants and I start by asking how to overcome one of my own biggest worries about having one… Gardening for Your Senses - This week I’m chatting with writer Kendra Wilson. Kendra has written a vast amount about gardening but I was particularly interested in speaking to her about her book Garden for the Senses. Engaging all your senses can lead to a deeper connection with the landscape and it can be an unusual and transformative experience. I wanted to find out how we can all learn to better use our senses and firstly, what prompted Kendra to write the book. | |||
| 20 Mar 2023 | Episode 229: Can Women Save the Planet? | 00:30:13 | |
This week I’m speaking to Dr Anne Karpf. Anne is Professor of Life Writing and Culture at London Metropolitan University and is a writer, sociologist and award-winning journalist. In 2021 she released the book ‘How Women Can Save the Planet’, where she looks at how there is gender inequality across the board from how we experience the climate crisis to our ability to effect change. Dr Ian Bedford’s Bug of the Week: Queen Bumblebees What We Talk About Why do we need to distinguish between men and women when it comes to environmentalism? Isn’t it fair to say some women are interested in improving and caring for their environment and some aren’t, and this is the case too with men? The feminisation of responsibility as it relates to climate change Why women are more affected by climate change than men Women and the control of the means of polluting production Why women lack the opportunity to generate a larger climate footprint Women who are making a difference Links How Women Can Save the Planet by Anne Karpf - C Hurst & Co Publishers Ltd, May 2021 Other episodes if you liked this one: | |||
| 06 Nov 2018 | Episode 18: Aesthetic Ecology with Toby Diggens | 00:35:38 | |
Have you ever noticed how natural landscapes always seem to work? The colours, shapes, scale and textures of a natural landscape appear pleasing to the eye despite little or no human input. It’s this sense of innate beauty in nature, speaking to us on an almost subconscious level, that interests today’s guest Toby Diggens. We speak about naturalistic and ecological gardens which incorporate elements of nature that gardeners have traditionally sought to keep out. Key talking points were:
About Toby: Toby Diggens runs Digg & Co., a design studio focussing on ecological landscape design and architecture. His style is one which brings ecological science into the design process, and marries this with the aesthetic and artistic practice of design. Toby studied Landscape Architecture at the University of Gloucestershire and received distinctions in both Post Graduate Diploma and Masters. His masters work, entitled Second Nature explores how wild life can be brought back into our cities and towns through the understanding of ecology as a function rather than only an aesthetic. A great lover of plants, he sees the opportunity of beautiful landscape design, touched by a hint of the wild, as a moving way to rekindle the human passion for the natural world, and hopes that his work, regardless of scale, adds both drama and beauty, but importantly nature back into the gardens and parks of the UK and beyond. To contact Toby his email is below: You can also request a copy of his Masters work. Or Follow his Instagram @diggandco
Further Resources Emorsgate Seeds – www.wildseed.co.uk
Books The Wild Garden – William Robinson The Dynamic Landscape: Design, Ecology and Management of Naturalistic Urban Planting – Dunnett & Hitchmough Meadows – Christopher Lloyd Sowing Beauty – James Hitchmough
Get in touch; Email podcast@rootsandall.co.uk Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram rootsandallpod
Patreon Link; Help us keep the podcast free & independent! Donate as much or as little as you like at https://www.patreon.com/rootsandall | |||
| 24 Mar 2025 | Episode 328: Soil, Health and Nutrition | 00:22:18 | |
Nutritional therapist and sustainable cooking expert Sam Hamrebtan explores the vital connection between soil and the nutrients in our food. As the founder of the Life Larder newsletter and Course Director at CNM’s Natural Chef School, Sam brings a wealth of knowledge on how growing practices impact the quality of what we eat. Sam talks about nourishing both the land and ourselves. Links Other episodes if you liked this one: If you liked this week's episode with Sam Hamrebtan you might also enjoy this one from the archives: This episode, my guest is qualified herbalist Meghan Rhodes. Meghan discusses how we can tap into our gardens for better health, why herbs are good for dealing with conditions that are manifestations of multiple problems, such as stomach issues, the 7 keys tastes you find in herbs and how you can get started on your own journey using herbs for wellbeing. My guest this episode is urban smallholder Sara Ward. Sara runs Hen Corner, a backyard smallholding in London. Her website Hen Corner has a wealth of information on growing and making food, she runs courses, sells products from her bakery and has just published a book ‘Living the Good Life in the City’. I began by asking Sara what prompted her to follow in the wellie-prints of Barbara Good. Please support the podcast on Patreon | |||
| 09 Jun 2020 | Episode 93: Organic Farming in Kenya with Simon Murungi | 00:28:10 | |
This week’s interview is with Kenya-based organic farming champion Simon Murungi. Simon is an organic farming trainer and founded the organization SOFAFRICA (Spreading Organic Farming in Africa). He is passionate about Agro Ecological Regenerative Agriculture and Rural Development and sees organic farming methods as a sustainable approach that can turn around smallholder agriculture from mere subsistence farming to a more commercial enterprise. We talk about why Simon believes organic agriculture is important for Kenya’s farmers, how it can be implemented and the challenges farmers face. About Simon Murungi: Simon is an organic farming trainer who founded the organization SOFAFRICA (Spreading Organic Farming in Africa). He is passionate about Agro Ecological Regenerative Agriculture and Rural Development as a viable and sustainable approach to turn around smallholder agriculture from mere subsistence farming to a more commercial enterprise. He is a promoter and experienced trainer of Agro-ecological techniques towards social, economic and environmental conservation in Africa. Simon is also a change maker on how food is produced and linking the plate with the farm for a more safe and nutritious food to the ever increasing population. He champions and advocates for Organic Market Enterprises and Agribusinesses through value addition, creating employment in the rural areas and reversing the rural to urban migration. SOFAfrica provides training to farmers, youths and schools on climate change mitigation strategies, indigenous seed saving, water and soil conservation, organic agriculture, natural resources conservation, rural development, nutrition, animal welfare, human rights especially for the young, elderly, those with disabilities and related issues based on public policy, the best available research science, and effective management. SOFAfrica has a vision to provide economic opportunity through innovation, helping rural Kenyans to thrive; to promote agriculture production that better nourishes Kenyans/ Africans while also helping feed others throughout the world; and to preserve their Nation's natural resources through conservation, restored forests, improved watersheds, and healthy private working lands in line with the sustainable development goals SDGs. Their strategic goals serve as a roadmap towards helping to ensure they achieve their mission and implement their vision. What We Discuss:
Links: Spreading Organic Farming in Africa Get in touch: Email podcast@rootsandall.co.uk Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram @rootsandallpod Help me keep the podcast free & independent! Support me on Patreon Or donate as much or as little as you like at GoFundMe | |||
| 12 Oct 2020 | Episode 111: Nerines with Nick de Rothschild | 00:27:26 | |
This week I’m speaking to Nick de Rothschild, President of the Nerine and Amaryllid Society and of Exbury Gardens in the New Forest. The gardens play host to a huge range of plants providing interest throughout the year, but one of jewels in the crown of Exbury is the collection of Nerines. There are many types of Nerines planted in the garden and an exhibition is currently underway of one particular species, sarniensis. We talk about the different types, how to grow them successfully and about some of the intricacies and intrigue of plant breeding. (Apologies for sounding muffled, I was wearing a mask!) Dr Ian Bedford’s Bug of the Week: House Spiders About Nick de Rothschild Nick de Rothschild, President of the Nerine and Amaryllid Society and of Exbury Gardens in the New Forest. Now celebrating more than 100 years, Exbury Gardens encompasses a spectacular collection of woodland, herbaceous, contemporary, formal and wildflower gardens. At over 200 acres, these impressive gardens located in Hampshire, were created and are now managed by the Rothschild family. They boast a number of special collections including world-famous rhododendrons and azaleas, unprecedented swathes of hydrangeas and the National Collection of Nyssa trees - https://www.exbury.co.uk/gardens What we talk about: The different nerine species Growing nerines outdoors and under glass The history of Nerine sarniensis cultivars Breeding Nerine sarniensis Pests and diseases Links: | |||
| 19 Dec 2022 | Episode 219: The Wheel of the Year | 00:31:57 | |
My guest this week is Dr Rebecca Beattie. Rebecca has just released a book called ‘The Wheel of the Year’, which is a look at what is happening in nature and in ourselves as the seasons move from one to the other. She suggests tools and rituals to rediscover and appreciate each seasonal festival, giving you a chance to pause, reflect and connect you to the wheel of your own life. As this is the last episode of 2022 and the winter solstice is just 2 days away, I thought this would be a perfect way to wrap up the year and to encourage you to take time to appreciate, well time, as it passes and as things shift from one state of being to another. Christmas can be a frenetic time so I hope you can take half an hour out of your schedule to sit down and listen to Rebecca and to contemplate your place in the wheel of the year. Dr Ian Bedford’s Bug of the Week: Lycaenidae butterflies What We Talk About What is the wheel of the year? The origins of the events and customs you find at the sabbats In our secular society, are we beginning to realise the importance of connecting back to a framework that makes sense of time and our place in the world? Useful hints for people to make sure they remember to mark the passing of seasons at appropriate times Advantages gardeners have in terms of being connected to the wheel of the year Our own annual wheel of the year and how this connect to those that occur in nature How our unsettled seasons might affect how we celebrate the sabbats About Rebecca Beattie Dr Rebecca Beattie is a Wiccan Priestess with a PhD in Creative Writing. Rebecca grew up on Dartmoor, which gave her an early appreciation of the power and joys of nature. She has been practising solitary witchcraft for twenty years and an initiate of the Gardnerian Wiccan tradition for fifteen. She is acclaimed for her highly informed teaching of witchcraft subjects at Treadwell’s Books in Bloomsbury. By day she is a professional in a major charity, with advanced degrees in Literature and Creative writing. Links The Wheel of the Year by Rebecca Beattie - Elliott & Thompson Ltd, October 2022 Catherine Heatherington Designs Other episodes if you liked this one: Sacred Woodlands with Simon Leadbeater | |||
| 05 Jun 2023 | Episode 240: Guerrilla Gardening | 00:29:29 | |
My guest this episode is author and activist Ellen Miles. Ellen is the founder of Nature is a Human Right, she runs Dream Green, a social enterprise that helps people get guerrilla gardening with guides, grants, and workshops and has a book that will be released this Thursday the 8th of June, Get Guerrilla Gardening: A handbook for planting in public places. Dr Ian Bedford’s Bug of the Week: Spider silk What We Talk About What is guerrilla gardening? Does it matter who owns the land you guerrilla garden? Is it illegal? Are you liable if someone trips over your planter, for example? Should we be growing more food in communities? If you’re growing food in an urban location, how can you know the soil isn’t contaminated with anything that will be taken up by your plants? Who decides why a space should be used for? Where is the input from the people that live with and use guerrilla gardened spaces? What are some potentially good sites? What are parklets? Are there spaces (such as wild spaces) that should be left alone? In order for a plant to establish either from seed or as a plant, it needs to have a degree of tenacity. Is it easy to strike a balance between finding plants that are tough enough to survive and persist and avoiding plants which can be invasive? How do you cope with practical hurdles such as no water, nowhere to store your tools, nowhere to sit down…? How do you cope with vandalism? Should you try and communicate with the local authority? If so, who and how can you best get hold of them? How do ensure a garden continues to thrive after it’s established? Other resources and people doing good work in this area About Ellen Miles Ellen Miles is an author and activist rooting for nature in urban neighbourhoods. She founded Nature is a Human Right and edited the acclaimed anthology of essays inspired by the campaign (Nature is a Human Right: Why we're fighting for green in a grey world, DK, 2022). Ellen also runs Dream Green, a social enterprise that helps people get guerrilla gardening with guides, grants, and workshops. Get Guerrilla Gardening is a joyful handbook – packed with illustrated 'how to's, inspiring stories, and photos of vibrant transformations – demystifies the art and science of planting in public places. With no prior gardening knowledge required, Get Guerrilla Gardening guides you through a straightforward, flexible action plan to suit your aims and abilities, covering everything from the legalities of guerrilla gardening, to how to choose the right plants for your patch. Links Get Guerrilla Gardening by Ellen Miles Other episodes if you liked this one: Public Green Spaces with Neil Sinden of CPRE | |||
| 05 Oct 2020 | Episode 110: Probiotics for Your Garden with Sue Allen of Microbz | 00:36:52 | |
This week I’m speaking to Sue Allen of Microbz, which produces and distributes probiotics for gardens. The concept of probiotics in gardens is new to me, but it dovetails nicely with previous episodes looking at soil health and mycorrhizal fungi so I was delighted to speak to Sue and find out more about how probiotics work in gardens and what we can do to encourage them. Dr Ian Bedford’s Bug of the Week: Woodlice About Susan Allen I’m co-founder and co-director of Microbz Ltd, producers and distributors of probiotics for gardens. Most of all I love gardening. I love long summer evenings out on our land nurturing our plants and vegetables, and even cold wet winter days preparing for the next season. Part of the reason I am so passionate about microbes is because I really see the difference that they have made to my garden. They really work. My soil is healthier, my plants are more robust, and the best thing is: it is all natural. I want to share my love of using microbes so that other people feel confident to give it a go. It will benefit their health and the long-term health of soil and plants all over the UK. About Microbz In 2007 my husband was asked to join a philanthropist who travelled the globe looking for solutions to environmental problems. His job was to mediate the potential conflicts of interest between investors and innovators. It was a fascinating time of travel and discovery. When he got home, Jeff described the technology he saw that really excited him: Microbial Balancing Technology. The excitement we both felt for the potential of this ‘solution’ for the planet, was immediate. We committed to learning more and quickly turned one of our outbuildings into a mini-brewery. The first brews in 5-litre jars were trialled by us, and by friends and family. Now we’re up to 100 and 300-litre containers, regular lab tests and a fully functioning business. Our involvement with microbes is all that you would wish a love affair to be, full of enthusiasm to be learning and growing and caring for and nurturing the brews. Our hope is that every person who uses microbes sees a health benefit and is aware that they are contributing to the sustainability of our precious planet. What we talk about: Microorganisms as the fundamental building blocks of life What microbes do in our gardens How do they work Why it’s important to have them in the soil What happens when you don't have a diversity of microbes or you use a lot of chemicals in the garden? How does introducing beneficial microbes back into your garden work? How do microbes impact each stage of the cycle of life e.g. seeds, growth, flowering, death, decay, composting, back to new life? Links: Life at the Edge of Sight by Scott Chimileski, Roberto Kolter | |||
| 26 Aug 2024 | Episode 301: Gardening without Plastic | 00:22:42 | |
My guest this episode is gardener and activist Ed Allnutt. Ed is part of Plastics Rebellion and the @plasticscrisis Instagram account and campaigns to reduce the use of plastics, particularly in a gardening context. We talk about the most common offending items in the gardening world and discuss possible solutions to the current accepted ways of gardening so we can make changes that better the environment. Links Other episodes if you liked this one: If you liked this week's episode with the Ed Allnutt, you might also enjoy this one from the archives: Waterwise Gardening - I’m talking water-wise gardening with Janet Manning. Janet undertook a three year project with the RHS and Cranfield University where she looked at strategies and techniques currently available to gardeners to help them both conserve and manage water in a way that reduces waste and protects the environment. We talk about why there’s a need to be water-wise in wet countries like the UK, what we can do to help and why gardens are an important part of the bigger environmental picture. Running a Green Nursery - This week I’m speaking to Chris Williams, co-founder of Edibleculture, an inspirational nursery based in Faversham in Kent. From the day the nursery was established 5 years ago, ethically and ecologically sounds principles have been employed to create the brilliant business that exists today. We talk about how the nursery succeeds where so many others are failing to make changes; using peat-free compost, gardening organically without chemicals, eliminating single use plastics from their sales output and many other initiatives that make this nursery truly revolutionary. | |||
| 25 Apr 2019 | Episode 39: Iain Tolhurst Vegan Organic Farming | 00:48:22 | |
This episode is produced in association with the Vegan Organic Network. It was recorded at VegFestUK on the 23rd March 2019. Iain Tolhurst is a pioneer of what he terms Stock-free Farming; that is farming which uses no animal inputs. Based in South Oxfordshire, Iain talks about the history of his growing operation plus shares some unique practices he employs to maximise crops whilst making the farm a haven for biodiversity. He also gives figures about produce yields and carbon output of his farm, which are fascinating (and encouraging, for anyone considering this method of farming). With thanks to Iain Tolhurst and The Vegan organic Network for allowing me to part of such a great day. To find out more about Iain, including his courses, veg box scheme and consultancy work, please check out http://www.tolhurstorganic.co.uk The Vegan Organic Network is the only organisation in the UK solely working for food to be grown the veganic way. Please check out their website to find out more about the important work they are involved in: http://veganorganic.net | |||