In February, Bloom was still reeling from some significant plant losses after a long wet winter. His recommendation is Taxodium distichum (Swamp Cypress) from America which "will survive with its roots in water".

"Every 10 years or roughly you have to redo the garden. It's all very well planting a garden for the future but the future is about 10 years". 

Being situated in East Anglia, the climate trend is generally getting drier, however, and Bloom says they are struggling to keep Astilbes alive and have given up on Meconopsis "because we don't have the right humidity to grow them". 

He discusses the plant breeding market, lamenting some launches: "There's so much breeding going on now, people are throwing out plants almost with a minor change and I think there's not enough of a difference between some of them...but they're for a bedding market really and we are losing some really good plants."

But there are good new plants coming in too and he names a few of his personal highlights.

The discussion touches on the US garden market where Bloom spent some time living and working - he is still a member of "a thriving" American Conifer Society but he admits in the UK conifers, and heathers are going out of fashion: "I think they have a place, but I think largely they won't be in fashion...Leylandii didn't help."

Bloom reflects on his live in horticulture, much of it spent overseas, the USA, Norway and Denmark and Switzerland: "I wanted to do something different to my father, I wanted to go into things that offered a longer term aspect".

His latest book Garden Odyssey is published this spring and is "an attempt to encourage everybody into gardening", a topic he returns to during the podcast. Bloom is also planning a children's book, part of a campaign he has embarked on to try and encourage children to appreciate plants and gardening. 

One of the topics of discussion in HortWeek's Parks & Gardens Week was about income sources and ways parks and gardens managers and owners can generate funding. Bloom, who runs a railway attraction at Bressingham Gardens, discusses how it is done in his garden and how challenging it can be. 

"One of the answers is, promoting plants and gardens, promoting many garden centres have almost forgotten about; they react to things, they're not proactive on the plants.

"There was a time when we were more interested in plants. Now, with wages going up, with no training, it's rather a depressing picture."

HortWeek editor Matthew Appleby raises whether the idea of an autumn planting season might be revived and Bloom says he thinks it is unlikely but adds: "There are so many mistakes made, people planting something that is not suitable [for their own garden] ... people often plant what is looking good rather than what is right for their own garden.

"We need to try and promote more reality, and more success through gardens, and that's something that only the nurserymen, the garden centre and the trade can do."

Make sure you never miss a HortWeek podcast! Subscribe to or Follow HortWeek podcasts via Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your preferred podcast platform.

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Join Alice as she talks to Will Whitehorn, chair of giant space tech investor Seraphim and former president of Virgin Galactic, and they discuss the implications of “The Elon Musk show” and its legacy, “the beginnings of a competitive space industry of scale”.

Contributors:

Alice Bunn, President of UKspace 

Dr Alice Bunn OBE FIMechE FRAeS CEng | LinkedIn

UKspace: Overview | LinkedIn

Will Whitehorn OBE, Seraphim Space Investment Trust

Will Whitehorn OBE | LinkedIn

Key topics covered:

• UK satellite manufacture
• UK universities
• SpaceX valuation
• Reuseable rockets
• Agricultural management
• Population pressure
• Climate crisis
• Solar power
• Data centres in space
• Industrialising in space

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BASIS qualified, Chapman has many years of experience advising growers on how to keep this pest at bay. Vine weevil are highly topical because spring is a key time to target the larval or grub stage before they hatch in to adults.  

Chapman was previously a production manager on a large Kent nursery. He controlled vine weevil back then with products such as Exemptor that are now off the market. He recommends options such as Lalguard (formerly Met52) now. Lalguard can be mixed into growing media.

He says understanding the lifecycle of this pest is important, from egg stage to larvae and pupation into adults, and how important it is to target at the right time.

Chapman recommends starting planning when it is quiet, then to apply Seeka beneficial nematodes in March and April. He also recommends using bait plants such as heuchera to attract vine weevil.

Beneficial nematodes play a central role in controlling vine weevil. Chapman says timing and monitoring are important. His three top tips are: 

• Know the pest's lifecycle.
• Plan ahead.
• Use a wetting agent such as Transporter.

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As part of HortWeek's Parks & Gardens Week held 23 - 29 March 2026, Rachael Forsyth held a Horticulture Question Time session to answer reader questions with a truly expert panel which featured:

Jane Moore - award-winning writer and author and a head gardener for more than 30 years

Joe Whitehead - head gardener at Burghley House and new Professional Gardeners Guild chair, with more than 20 years of expertise in garden design, plant care, and landscape management

FIND MORE PARKS & GARDENS WEEK CONTENT HERE

The Questions

00:02:24 What are the biggest issues you are seeing from drought and excess rain and how can this be managed?

00:11:35 What can I do about brown lawns?

00:14:04 How can I communicate what we are doing to mitigate climate change in my park or garden?

00:19:19 How can I bring nature back into the garden when I need to maintain a formal, tidy or neat-looking garden?

00:28:55 What is the one piece of tech that has made your life easier?

00:31:14 How can I work my way up to a head gardener position?

00:33:58 What kind of park/garden events have you found to be most successful?

00:36:12 What plants can you suggest for adding winter interest into a garden?

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Join Alice and Jonners as they reflect on the UK space sector’s largest trade event and the “energy, diversity and …sheer scope of what this industry has to offer”.

Contributors:

Alice Bunn, President of UKspace 

Dr Alice Bunn OBE FIMechE FRAeS CEng | LinkedIn

UKspace: Overview | LinkedIn

Jonathan Daves, The Karman Line

Jonathan Daves | LinkedIn

Subscribe to The Karman Line

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-k%C3%A1rm%C3%A1n-line/id1876605462

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3qED4CgdRDxfKKzYNKZCIH?si=lZ-I4a19SPGLAJL-dHi4DQ

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheKármánLineUK

Key topics covered:

Space-Comm Expo, London, March 2026

Conference overview

Sector integration

Insurance

Customer utility

Government role

Future outlook

Technological advancements

· Telecoms

· Manufacturing

Defence and security

· Satellite capabilities

· Current threats

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GIMA's annual big day conference event on 26 March is about future of the supply chain and will include panels on sales agents versus employed staff, logistics, marketplace and Yorkshire Garden Centres' Mark Farnsworth.

Talking to Matt Appleby on the HortWeek Podcast, Nuttall says the biggest changes at GIMA since she started there 12 years ago include GIMA taking on the Garden Press Event in 2016 and Nuttall says she was really pleased to add the event, alongside the HTA, to its offer.

Covid in 2020 saw trade associations "come to the fore" and GIMA joining the CBI in 2019 proved to be a good decision as they were close to Government. Bringing trade associations closer together and growing the membership, helped by Tony Kersey (ex-Homebase), has helped that.

She says she seeks influencers online, and "they find us" and they generate content from the Garden Press Event. She added that GIMA manages who comes through the door so only people who are trying to make a living get in.

GIMA has taken on some members from the defunct Gardenex export organisation and will manage their international lounge at Glee in September.

There's uncertainty about the weather so far in 2026 from retailers, after a good Christmas, Nuttall observes: "Everything is in place for a good 2026 season. But the most important factor is the weather." 

She adds: "It's tough out there for some of the smaller businesses...that might be a reflection of what some of the more established brands are doing."

The biggest challenges looking ahead include increased employment taxes, regulations such as EPR packaging bills eat away at margins and some smaller garden centres are coming to the point where they think they canlt be boithered and we are seeing consildiation, as well as some in the supply side. She advises using professionals to monitor reporting of EPR.

"It's tough for smaller or single product suppliers to get a "foot in the door". There are fewer buying points and buying groups and chains are getting stronger and some bigger suppliers are getting "more dominant".

Marketplace retailing gives more opportunity but has a knock-on effect for the retail landscape, especially for DIY and High Street stores.

In terms of trends, "accessible and easy" wellness and well-being hobbies than gardening are getting more popular, she says.

Nuttall says the organisation is well-placed placed for the future.

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Adlam explains the significance of this document to horticulture and raises concerns because "there's no real mention of how [horticulture is] going to be participating in the new vision" and "still does not consider irrigation to be an 'essential use'".

He talks about how horticulture has fared in recent months with extremes of drought and "a deluge" in different parts of the country affecting water harvesting, stores and growth.

Adlam talks about the measures available to horticulturists to mitigate the risk associated with extreme weather that is becoming more "normal" with every year that passes. Whereas in the past, water was "a minor part of growers' annual costs". 

But "today the biggest concern is not so much the costs of water as to the availability of water" he says, with high capital costs often associated with maintaining supply.

Growing media is as important as the water itself and peat-free is presenting growers with fresh challenges and watering has become a highly technical skill he says:

"People are becoming more fastidious in the way they irrigate."

He talks about water testing and the need to monitor water quality, pH, conductivity and more.

Like many HortWeek Podcast guests, Adlam was born into horticulture and grew up in his family's plant nursery and landscaping business: "I was nearly born in a glasshouse. Mum came in to labour as she was de-leafing tomatoes."

He talks about narrow escape from a career playing trumpet which he still plays as part of his church work. As an ordained Anglican vicar, Adlam connects his day work in horticulture to his pastoral church work - "in fact my parish was the nursery industry of England".

Adlam reflects on his lifelong connection to and career in horticulture and the huge changes in pest and disease treatments over the years: "Many of the products have less efficacy than they did in the olden days but they are much safer".

Although we have lost a lot of "actives" - active chemical herbicides, fungicides, acaricides and pesticides - we are better off than some countries Adlam says: "Last year Denmark [for example] had only 93 actives; [the UK] has got something like 400 or 500 actives". But being out of the EU, or potentially getting more closely aligned again via the SPS agreement in 2027 is a "swings and roundabouts" situation Adlam says, where we are able to continue using some chemicals the EU has restricted, but we miss out on products registered in the EU but not in the UK.

Biological plant health products are in the ascendency but Adlam believes that while we expect "blemish-free plants and at the moment it's very hard to do that entirely biologically".

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He talks about harnessing the experience of 850 members via webinars and members' workshops.

The PGG turns 50 in 2027 and has a new website and membership system. Celebrations are planned. Founder Brian Hutchinson died in late 2025 and Whitehead wants to commemorate his legacy. Hutchinson retired in 1998 as Castle Howard head gardener, where he had been for 25 years (having previously been at Chatsworth) and from where he founded the PGG in 1977.

Whitehead began as a tree surgeon, during which I attained a National Diploma in Horticulture at Riseholme. After five years, he took a position at Burghley House. Then, after a two-year Wisley Diploma in Practical Horticulture, his first head gardener role was at Salle Park in Norfolk. Eight years as head gardener at Raveningham Hall followed and before his return to Burghley House as head gardener in 2018.

There are 140,000 visitors annually and a five-person marketing team. He said if visitors love a garden they will return, so he has created layers of interest for year-round interest, plus 'experiences' to make the garden a 'natural classroom', as well as secondary spend places such as cafes. Engagement with visitors is important too.

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But this is just the tip of the iceberg. For the space industry to fully realise its potential it needs more of the right people to understand what’s happening and get involved. People like policy makers, investors, regulators, planners, communicators, lawyers and consultants.

Dr Alice Bunn, the president of UK Space, and her panel of guests, Sam Alden co-CEO of Space Solar, Nick Shave managing director of Astroscale and Anushka Sharma founder of Naaut, discuss the surprising, awe inspiring business of space and make the compelling case for why more companies and investors should get involved. 

Contributors:

Host:

Alice Bunn, President of UKspace 

Dr Alice Bunn OBE FIMechE FRAeS CEng | LinkedIn

UKspace: Overview | LinkedIn

Guests:

Nick Shave, Managing Director of Astroscale

Nick Shave FRAeS | LinkedIn

Astroscale: Overview | LinkedIn

Sam Adlen, CEO of Space Solar

Sam Adlen | LinkedIn

Space Solar: Overview | LinkedIn

Anushka Sharma, founder of Naaut

Anushka Sharma | LinkedIn

Naaut: About | LinkedIn

Key topics covered:

Impact of Space on Everyday Life

• Practical Applications
• Environmental Monitoring
• Global Security

Sustainability and Innovation in Orbit

• Space Debris
• Manufacturing in Microgravity
• Space-Based Solar Power

Economic and Regulatory Landscape

• Cost Reduction
• Investment and Finance
• Regulation and Policy

The Future of Space Exploration

• New Platforms
• Academic Contribution

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A small scale flower farm and educator, the farm, established in Somerset in 2010, grows up to 100,000 stems annually without the use of chemicals,

Newbery is set to feature at RHS Chelsea Flower Show this May in the Great Pavilion where she will present the first representation of a flower farm at the show, showcasing Ranunculus, also for the first time.

She hopes the display will "advocate for flower farmers" and inspire them to perhaps start growing flowers themselves. 

One of her Chelsea funders is peat-free compost supplier Sustain - and Newbery, as a peat-free flower farm from the start, says there is no excuse for using peat "just because it makes life easier for me". She also believes she can "demonstrate that it's easy to grow peat-free".

While she fully understands the difficulty and cost for larger commercial growers of switching their nurseries to peat-free systems, she says "everything we do, we make a choice... we choose to learn how to use other kinds of compost, because it's possible, and it's not breaking the planet".

Newbery talks about the operation she runs at the farm, how she manages to grow successfully without chemicals, and her experience with peat-free compost, products, techniques and adaptations. 

She revels in the idea of the flower farm as a reservoir of life and biodiversity that will act as "innoculation stations" that, come the end of the world, could seed the desert green landscapes surrounding them.

As well as growing flowers Newbery runs workshops and demonstrations on propagation and seed-saving, such as how to design a cut flower patch. Weddings and funerals account for most of her cut flower sales. Customers there usually come through word of mouth, she says, often "because they want something that has come from a garden".

Newbery has a distinctive philosophy of business and in mentoring small businesses. She encourages "the stepping away from the 'more for the sake of more' model. The key, she says, is to work out "what your 'enough' is". If you work out what your minimum need is, modest or luxurious, "whatever it is...then work out how to build a business that will pay for it". And she is fierce in her support of other small business owners who want to make a good living supplying a high quality product without endlessly having to expand. 

Asked about her "flowers of the future" she says "seed sovereignty" should be the focus, with locally-grown seed, adapted to UK conditions more likely to provide "bigger, stronger" plants compared to imported options.

• A new edition of her book "The Flower Farmers's Year" is out in May 2026.

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• Greenyer is director of Paul Greenyer Consultancy and carries out design and build landscape work as well as being an RICS-accredited expert witness and mediator.
• Wilson is an independent expert witness, hard landscaping expert and garden consultant and is known for his Chelsea gardens.
• And Nester is a design and build specialist with his firm Habitat Landscapes.

While their routes into the industry are different, they share a hurdle over which they have all had to jump - having ADHD (attention deficit/ hyperactivity disorder).

In the discussion with Rachael Forsyth, the three offer disarmingly frank accounts of the ways ADHD has affected their lives and the people the love, live with and work with.

They explain some "symptoms" of the condition and share some of the strategies they have employed and evolved that have helped them first "cope" and ultimately "thrive" and excel in their chosen professions.

Podcast producer: HortWeek digital content manager, Christina Taylor

Podcast presenter: HortWeek senior reporter, Rachael Forsyth

Make sure you never miss a HortWeek podcast! Subscribe to or Follow HortWeek podcasts via Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your preferred podcast platform.

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HortWeek editor Matthew Appleby and Rachael talk about:

• Ruxley Manor Garden Centre takes on organised crime by installing extensive security and anti-theft measures 
• Marketing tips from IPM Essen where the watchword was 'innovation'
• Pros and cons of influencers for horticulture marketing
• Peat panel at the BOA Conference gauges the direction of travel, sentiment, quality and the EU on going peat-free
• Society of Garden and Landscape Designers award winners
• RBG Kew's Orchid Festival + climate resilience, visitor numbers, engagement and plans to improve it
• HortWeek's plans for Parks & Gardens Week - taking place 23-30 March 2026 - details TBC
• 
  

Do check out our huge archive of HortWeek Podcast interviews with an unrivalled selection of prominent and fascinating figures from all corners of the horticulture sector.

Podcast presenters: Matthew Appleby and Rachael Forsyth

Podcast producer: Christina Taylor

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Panellists were Chris Reid, Westland head of technical – growing media,, David Denny of the HTA, Robin Squance, ex-Brookhouse Nurseries and BOA technical committee chairman, Michael Smith – W D Smith & Son, and Steve Carter – Responsible Sourcing Scheme and Fleurie Nursery.

Find out more HERE

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Speaking to Rachael Forsyth in this episode are:

• Christa McDermot from BCA (Berkshire College of Agriculture) runs a range of land-based courses including horticulture.

• Helena Bassop from Euphorbia gardens and vice chair of the Chartered Institute of Horticulture Education and has a background as a lecturer, course manager and is an apprenticeship endpoint assessor.

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They discussed:

1. The peat-free and sustainability dilemma

• The transition to peat-free media remains the industry’s most "hot-button" issue, particularly in the UK.
• Kernock Park Plants (KPP) went 100% peat-free in 2024 and Bruce Harnett says that sustainability (biomass, water self-sufficiency) is a moral choice, even if the "commercial advantage" is currently unclear.
• Panellists agreed that, for consumers to fully switch, peat-free media must be equal to or better than peat. Currently, some "staunch" growers still believe peat performs superiorly.
• But while sustainability is a growing concern many consumers still "turn a blind eye" when price is a factor.

2. Innovation vs. "Trust Erosion"

• Should the industry stop introducing new plants? The consensus: Innovation must have purpose.
• KPP uses a rigorous trials process to ensure only "the best of the best" hit the market. Introducing novelty without value leads to "trust erosion."
• Plants like Salvia ‘Hot Lips’, Lavender ‘Hidcote’, and standard Rosemary remain dominant because they are reliable. Consumers value the "tried and tested" for mail-order success.
• "TikTok Plants": Novelties like the TomTato or "family" apple trees resonate with younger, online audiences, but the industry must distinguish between viral aesthetics and long-term garden performance.

3. Multi-platform marketing

The panel discuss approaches and strenghts of different platforms:

• YouTube: ideal for practical "how-to" guides.
• Instagram/Pinterest: use aspirational/inspirational imagery.
• Facebook: focus on community and storytelling

Meanwhile Matthew Perry raises concerns about influencers who focus on garden aesthetics rather than plant health. The panel stresses the need for authentic voices over "unattainable" glossy imagery.

And Megan Green says that, for Hayloft, 75% of business is now online, though the physical catalogue remains a valued tactile experience for a core demographic.

4. The "Holy Grail" of 'engagement'

• Green highlights the power of visual merchandising—linking the plant, compost, and pot in one display to remove customer friction.
• QR codes on labels and improved storytelling are seen as the "Holy Grail" for garden centres to provide info at the point of purchase.
• Research shows search behavior is often driven by nostalgia (especially in herbs) and the desire to care for others (gifting).

5. Reaching the Next Generation

• Younger consumers represent the future but are the hardest to recruit due to a lack of gardening space and lower spending power. Engaging them requires shifting from a "critical" focus to a "positive attitude" shift, making gardening feel attainable rather than a luxury chore.
• In summary, the industry must balance the marketing "pull" of new varieties with the "push" of sustainable production, ensuring that every new introduction builds consumer trust through reliability and climate resilience.

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Inspired by his mum and grandad who were keen gardeners, he got his first job at a golf course at the tender age of 9. After a spell in the military he used his spare time to work for free on gardens and golf courses during the pandemic and gradually turned it into a business. 

Blessed with a ferocious work ethic, tenacity, resilience and a restlessness, he now at least partly attributes to ADHD, Churchman built his landscape maintenance business from the ground up and he is candid about the challenges of finding finance to grow his company with "no mummy and daddy to lend me £100k or whatever".  

As much as YouTube has served Churchman, it has drawn some unwanted attention, tipping off burglars looking to move expensive machinery to competitors trying to sabotage CutCrew by trolling, misrepresenting and even stalking him. Despite the dramas, however, he maintains "the benefits far outweigh the negatives".

But interspersed with laughs and self-deprecation that have made Churchman such a YouTube phenomenon, is frank discussion of the challenges of running a business, negotiating competition, issues with late payment, spreading of risk, pricing, cost pressures and being responsible for people's livelihoods.

The podcast is also littered with tips and hard-won wisdom on how to win clients. And his advice to prospective entrepreneurs?: "Chase the thing you like, know and love from the beginning".

Find the CUTCREW LTD | Grounds Maintenance & Tractor Action YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@cutcrewltd

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In this edition of the HortWeek Podcast, Matt Appleby spoke to Dries Jansen of Garden Center Advice talking about how to optimise garden centre operations for profit through layout, assortment, and realisation.

Jansen began his career as an analyst at Intratuin in the Netherlands, working with 56 stores and €250 million turnover. He used trends and data back then to identify predictable patterns.

But now, working alongside leading garden centre architect Fred de Rijcke, Jansen has combined data from HortWeek's exclusive annual Top 250 Garden Centres with insight from the garden centre markets in the Netherlands, Germany, France, and Belgium, to create a comprehensive decision-making model for the UK market. 

The data analysis system maps annual turnovers against store area, various variables and individual store offerings, proximity to population centres and other key metrics. Combining these data sets he finds an 'average' yield per sqm that all garden centres can be measured against. Individual stores can be indexed to understand how they are performing and whether they may benefit from further investigation to find ways to improve that performance. 

Stores identified with 'potential' to improve are profiled individually to assess their performance in various metrics, eg. ambience, service, price etc. and action points can be generated to help boost turnover.

Jansen refers to slides and images during the podcast - to view these or see the video version of this podcast, CLICK HERE

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JUMP TO

00:02:16 - weather

00:06:24 - cost pressures

00:14:20 - volunteers

00:15:27 - imports/exports/SPS agreement and UK plant production

00:17:15 - pests & disease

00:19:08 - climate change and innovation

00:20:17 - Turf - turfgrass breeding and appreciation of grass and grass eating! 

00:23:02 - readiness for spring and an early Easter and how to monetise the 'fallow' post Christmas period

00:27:43 - sharing of knowledge and raising of professionalism in the horticulture industry

Check out our huge archive of HortWeek Podcast interviews with an unrivalled selection of prominent and fascinating figures from all corners of the horticulture sector.

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This week's guest on the HortWeek Podcast Jennifer Brodie believes that 'rock dust', a by-product of volcanic rock mined for road construction and rich in minerals trapped since the pre-dinosaur era, could help reverse this by remineralizing the soil and feeding microbes that will re-fortify plants.

Brodie has come full circle in her career and is now returning to her passion project 12 years after she founded REMIN (Scotland), which pioneered the use of rock dust as a top dressing for soil, compost mixer and activator.

Now leading the Pro-Grow rock dust division for resource management company Veolia, she explains the geology behind basalt rock dust, its dual benefits for plant health and carbon capture, and how the industry is shifting toward "ecological transformation".

She details how some of the 400,000 tonnes of green waste they process annually is integrated with rock dust to create a PAS 100-certified compost for the garden retail market. Her goal now is to expand rock dust's use into the organic farming sector.

Quoting Soil Association founder Lady Eve Balfour, Brodie says: "Everything begins to matter when the rate of soil erosion exceeds the rate at which life can invade the mineral rock underlying the soil and convert it into soil." Brodie believes that rock dust has an "unrecognised" role in rectifying the mistakes of the past and helping renew soils for the benefit of all.

Make sure you never miss a HortWeek podcast! Subscribe to or Follow HortWeek podcasts via Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your preferred podcast platform. 

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JUMP TO...

00:00:43 - horticulture and peat-free

00:04:10 - developments in Biodiversity Net Gain

00:07:26 - remote mowers, new technology and implications

00:13:13 - loss of horticulture colleges and new learning options

00:17:54 - the impact of drought in 2025 going into 2026

00:21:30 - how horticulture is turning to battery-powered kit

00:26:20 - diversity, inclustion and equity in horticulture

00:30:34 - border inspections - imports, exports and an SPS agreement for 2026

00:36:42 - what are the team looking forward to in 2026?

Do check out our huge archive of HortWeek Podcast interviews with an unrivalled selection of prominent and fascinating figures from all corners of the horticulture sector.

Podcast presenters: Matthew Appleby, Rachael Forsyth and Sally Drury

Podcast producer: Christina Taylor

Make sure you never miss a HortWeek podcast! Subscribe to or Follow HortWeek podcasts via Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your preferred podcast platform. 

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She robustly contests the proposal to remove the statutory consultee role and disagrees that it would improve the planning system. Instead, precious parks and gardens, hard won over many centuries, would be lost to communities both now and in future.

“We are passionate about the role that the UK’s world-famous historic parks and gardens can play in supporting positive economic growth and healthy cohesive societies, and eager to continue helping this in our role as statutory consultee. We encourage supporters to respond to the consultation and will publish our response as soon as possible.”

In March, the Government decided to ditch planning consultancy from bodies including The Gardens Trust, to speed up the planning system. “We are seeking views on reforming the role of statutory consultees in the planning system in England,” it said. The consultation closes at 11:59pm on 13 January 2026.

• The consultation can be accessed here.

Make sure you never miss a HortWeek podcast! Subscribe to or Follow HortWeek podcasts via Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your preferred podcast platform. 

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The former Kew arboretum head says: "Our success rate of establishing trees isn't good in this country... I'd sooner see less trees planted and established rather than planting big numbers that fail to establish." 

In his conversation with HortWeek editor Matthew Appleby, Kirkham gives his thoughts on the "exotics" versus "natives" debate and reveals his "top future trees" which include his favourite "hard-working trees".

On pest and disease threats to trees, Kirkham issues a stark warning. Experts say it is a case of "not if but when" Xylella enters the UK, and Kirkham says, with more than 400 host plants identified so far: "I think every woody plant is vulnerable. We really need to crank up our biosecurity."

Other than Xylella, his the top concern is plane wilt, which "is spread by arborists" via tools, machinery, PPE and clothing, and which is "coming towards us pretty quick...we need to keep that out at ALL costs".

He also talks about how arborists can handle the rising frequency and intensity of storms, recalling how he got Kew back up and running in the wake of the storm of 1987 that brought down so many trees that he considered "old friends".

But despite the devastation that took three years to clear, he now says it is "the best thing that could have happened" - getting rid of unsafe trees, giving the Kew team a chance to replant and refresh the arboretum, revolutionising tree-planting practice. 

Make sure you never miss a HortWeek podcast! Subscribe to or Follow HortWeek podcasts via Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your preferred podcast platform. 

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• Listen to Jeremy Barrell on how 'Failing clients deserve failing trees', plus tree growing, procurement, planting and establishment

This week's guests bring their distinct perspectives on the arb sector - but also bring a holistic perspective having worked together for many years on fascinating and crucial research projects.

Kevin Martin, head of tree collections at RBG Kew and Adam Dunnett, production and amenity director for Hillier Nurseries are thought leaders in their fields and bring fascinating insights and forthright opinions to their discussion with Rachael Forsyth.

They discuss tree planting and establishment, ground breaking research with "remarkable" results that is transforming tree selection and understanding of how to grow and in particular, water, trees.

Skip to...

00:00:49 How Kevin and Adam began their careers in horticulture

00:05:45 Kevin Martin on his research into resiliant trees sourced from around the world

00:09:53 Trees we should be planting to weather the future

00:14:40 Hillier's 'Streetwise' range of trees for urban environments

00:17.39 Peat-free growing and trees

00:20:48 Groundbreaking research into irrigation for trees at Hillier

00:30:13 The importance of grants, continuity in Government support and business certainty

00:40:39 Adam Dunnett on seeing changes in the school curriculum making a difference to hort

00:50:40 The latest on Resistor elms

00:52:43 Kevin and Adam's 'dream' pieces of research topics

On the topic of encouraging young people into horticulture, Adam Dunnett relates a "chink of light" following a visit to a secondary school where as part of their work on the "2050 project" they are looking at what trees will be thriving in 25 year's time. 

"That's just one school, but actually that could be really quite transformational if that's happening in other schools!"

Kevin says: "Horticulture and growing plants is an applied science, and it's one fo the most important applied sciences we do and it's so overlooked...it's always been seen as suitable for someone who's not academic, and that's not the case.

"We need some of the brightest people to solve some of the biggest questions...we need to work on that narrative."

In this episode the Victorians get a couple of name-checks and we also get some top tips on which tree to go to to get unbeatable conkers.

Podcast presenter: Rachael Forsyth

Podcast producer: Christina Taylor

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She talks about what bedding growers should be doing in the lead-up to the spring season and gives advice about watering, nutrition and storage regimes for peat-reduced and peat-free growing media.

On nutrition, she talks about using controlled release fertiliser and water solubles, as well as which biocontrol, biopesticide and biostimulant products are at the grower’s disposal and, as a BASIS qualified adviser, what she recommends.

Before joining ICL, Whiteside spent 10 years in horticultural research at ADAS, delivering research projects on a wide range of ornamental and edible crops. She managed the AHDB funded Bedding and Pot Plant Centre trials, as well as the AHDB, Defra and industry-funded project on Transition to Responsibly Sourced Growing

Media Use in UK Horticulture. The project ran for five years and covered all sectors of horticulture, from bedding propagation right through to container grown trees and soft fruit production.

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A influential figure in the tree care landscape (and HortWeek columnist) Jeremy Barrell is one of the leading authorities on tree care.

A passionate campaigner on street trees in the wake of a number of controversial local authority fellings, in this week's podcast HortWeek editor Matthew Appleby hears Jeremy's uncompromising views on tree safety, tree planting, tree production and local authority procurement.

Barrell says: "The standard of training on some of the people that are planting [trees] - it's not surprising the trees don't survive...if you don't have a specification that is up to scratch, then of course contractors are going circles around you and you deserve to have a load of failures". 

"I deal with more tree failure cases that result in harm than any other expert in Britain...the harsh reality is there are many large duty holders...that don't do anything like the standard of tree checking that should be done".

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HortWeek editor Matthew Appleby and Rachael talk about:

• The "outrageous" ongoing delays and reports of damaged to imported plants
• The latest on the prospective peat ban
• What the garden centre of the future might look like
• 
  

Do check out our huge archive of HortWeek Podcast interviews with an unrivalled selection of prominent and fascinating figures from all corners of the horticulture sector.

Podcast presenters: Matthew Appleby and Rachael Forsyth

Podcast producer: Christina Taylor

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In the podcast he talks about how the book came about and what impact he hopes it will have, what he thinks of Chelsea designs this year, his views on international garden design versus that of the UK, on horticulture education, trends for 2026, AI and what his favourite plant is.

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Founder of the World's End Garden Centre in 1970 with Len Bone, Rosie puts her success in garden retail down a focus on customer service, looking after your staff and above all "value for money". She argues if you get those three right, other considerations such as location are almost irrelevant.

She discusses her passion, which is sustainable garden retailing.

"Profit isn't a dirty word... but I think in this day and age we have to start to recognise that there is an environmental cost to everything any of us do".

She says that imports from China cannot be avoided in many product areas, but that carbon footprint could be offset by focusing on plant-based options in the restaurant:

"It's not about telling customers what they should and shouldn't eat, but presenting [food] in a way that encourages customers to make [a plant-based] choice for themselves but that can be done with clever marketing, clever menus."

After a period away from the industry Rosie reveals the garden business that revived her interest in and passion for it and what they do so well.

And she reveals some significant gaps in the market that garden centres, with their large footprints and nature-oriented client base, could capitalise on.

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They discuss Val's journey in horticulture, her dedication to organic gardening, and the challenges facing plant societies today. Val shares her experiences and insights on the importance of preserving plant diversity and supporting local nurseries and the challenges around going peat-free.

Skip to...

• 00:01:27 Val's role in the hardy plant society
• 00:02:11 The importance of plant diversity
• 00:03:57 Challenges facing nurseries
• 00:10:59 Val's journey into horticulture
• 00:14:17 The significance of organic gardening
• 00:20:57 Promoting plant societies
• 00:25:42 Val's future plans

Podcast presenter: Matthew Appleby

Podcast producer: Christina Taylor

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HortWeek editor Matthew Appleby and Rachael talk about:

• Inspection regimes and paperwork both sides of the border, and how it is affecting European traders
• The latest round of delays and reports of damaged plants at BCP Sevington
• How 'experiences' could transform the fortunes of garden centres and horticulture shows
• How new analysis of horticulture company results is showing who is doing well
• 
  

Do check out our huge archive of HortWeek Podcast interviews with an unrivalled selection of prominent and fascinating figures from all corners of the horticulture sector.

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In this week's HortWeek Podcast Rachael Forsyth speaks to head of sales and services Emma Hindle and head of business development Brian Smith at Ground Control, which provides ready-to-buy BNG units as part of a habitat bank.

They discuss how the market is developing, the drivers of demand, and shifting balance of supply and demand.

Although Government targets and policy for house building is driving construction projects, Brian explains that Ground Control is "not betting the farm on housebuilders" and is keeping it's client base deliberately broad, including utility companies, transport companies as well as corporate clients such as supermarkets. Interestingly, a burgeoning "voluntary market" is also part of the picture, he says, 

But while developers might, understandably, focus on the immediate costs when deciding on how to approach BNG requirements, a 30-year maintenance lifespan means a "whole life" cost approach is more appropriate, he argues. 

The market has come on leaps and bounds since 2021, Emma adds, insisting the focus should always come back to nature recovery and the "benefits for the country". Many that had reservations initially are now "taking it seriously", she says, and the prospects for BNG over the next five years are "amazing".  

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• the eagerly awaited Top 250 Garden Centres 2025

• some of the garden product highlights from GLEE

• How YouTube is 'where it's at' for gardening content

• Prospects and stresses for the garden retail sector after a busy 2025

• How changes in peat and coir supply are causing price fluctuations and how division in the industry over the prospective peat ban is hurting horticulture

Do check out our huge archive of HortWeek Podcast interviews - an unrivalled selection of prominent and fascinating figures from all corners of the horticulture sector.

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Topics this week:

• The trio, who judged the Groundsfest awards, hosted and guested on panels, enthuse about the depth and breadth of the show, which caters for grounds maintenance, landscape contracting, arb and turf contractors. 

• Highlights among the award-winning products and kit, and some of the machines they think should have entered for awards, but didn't.

• How Groundsfest is driving innovation, healthy competition, and is the perfect showcase for product manufacturers and practitioners across the whole of the landscape maintenance sector and beyond.
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See all HortWeek's Groundsfest coverage including exclusive videos or products and industry panels at https://www.hortweek.com/groundsfest

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Topics this week:

• the latest cabinet and Defra reshuffle and what it might mean for horticulturists.
• Four Oaks Trade Show judges Sally and Howard give their expert insight into award-winning products and plants from this year's show. 

Do check out our huge archive of HortWeek Podcast interviews with an unrivalled selection of prominent and fascinating figures from all corners of the horticulture sector.

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Issues this week:

• the new and improved HortWeek Power List which celebrates the top 100 most impactful horticulturists.
• the issues driving a churn in horticulture businesses - see our Mergers, closures and acqusitions LIVE MAP to stay up-to-date with the latest.
• the results of a HortWeek survey on the top businesses concerns - including inflation, peat, legislation and changes to imports/exports rules.
• The team discuss highlights of discussion panels and awards featuring at Four Oaks Trade Show and Groundsfest this September

Do check out our huge archive of HortWeek Podcast interviews with an unrivalled selection of prominent and fascinating figures from all corners of the horticulture sector.

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He discusses his path into horticulture and the "life-changing" impact of some of the articles written for for HortWeek over the years.

Neville's regular features for HortWeek include:

Whatever Happened To... - a series exploring the history of much-loved nurseries that are no longer in business

Business Planning - a long-running series of business advice articles on topics ranging from how to make the best of trade shows to succession planning.

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Topics covered include garden sector shows. Bunny wonders if there are too many that are struggling commercially. She expresses particular concern over RHS Chelsea Flower Show gardens and the lack of commercial sponsorship which she says is helping drive down design standards as well as the chilling effect that banning peat for RHS shows might be having on exhibitors.

A full YouTube convert and broadcaster, Bunny discusses why she thinks it is the best place for gardening content, a view given some weight by Alan Titchmarsh's recent migration to the platform.

And she talks about her path into horticulture and why she believes a 'landscape architect' career path offers more and better opportunities than that of a 'garden

designer'.

Podcast presenter: Matthew Appleby

Podcast producer: Christina Taylor

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Issues this week:

• The thorny question of whether dogs should be allowed into gardens, an issue that dominated the recent RHS AGM

• the pressures affecting gardens after the news Hestercombe House and Gardens went into administration

• after a flurry of closures, mergers, sales and acquisitions in the horticulture sector, the HortWeek team discuss what is behind it and how it can be a good thing

• The team discuss highlights of discussion panels and awards featuring at Four Oaks Trade Show and Groundsfest this September

Do also check out our huge archive of HortWeek Podcast interviews with an unrivalled selection of prominent and fascinating figures from all corners of the horticulture sector.

Podcast presenters: Matthew Appleby, Rachael Forsyth and Sally Drury

Podcast producer: Christina Taylor

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Richard Higgins became involved in 1995 after a formative trip to India and inspired by Howard, developed the HH-2 (Howard-Higgins Agricultural and Horticultural System) Waste Management and Horticultural System.

The HH-2 equipment reproduces specific fungi and bacteria that creates a sustainable habitat to enable the colonisation of the root hairs of plants giving them huge boots of previously unattainable nutrients. It claims, along with a unique, manure-based feedstock, to be able to renew degraded soils in one season. 

Adoping a no-dig appoach complements this as keeping the soil intact protects the "mycorrhizae, and that is the network that feeds the nutrients from soil into the root hairs of plants. So if you don't dig, that's preserved."

Higgins explains: "[HH-2 is] a composting system that breeds fungi, specific fungi and bacteria. Now, ordinary compost doesn't do that; this system does, and it's this fungi and bacteria that makes plants so resistant to disease. I mean, we already cured slug snails and caterpillars 30 years ago!"

Initially marketed and sold to amateur gardeners, "it's so popular and farming today is in such a problem with soil depletion and pollution in rivers, etc., that we've blast into farming. It applies to farmers as well as gardeners".

He says a focus on 'new varieties' has stymied research into how soil conditions can impact plant health. GGI has a demonstration farm where, he says, "we've got universities, colleges, agricultural colleges queuing up to come and see it, because people don't seem to know how to stop these common agricultural pests. We don't use any supplementary feeds like comfrey or rhubarb leaves in... no nets for the black fly, white fly, carrot fly, you know. We don't use any nets at all and we have none of these problems."

Higgins discusses startling claims for treatments that could reverse the effects of ash dieback and says he is in the process of liaising with scientific institutions, agricultural research stations and soil scientists with a view to carrying out trials and scaling up production for wider distribution to amateur, and professional growers.

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After a successful debut at RHS Chelsea Flower Show, Guy talks about Architectural Plants' apprenticeship scheme Home Grown which he hopes will encourage new talent into the industry.

The nursery grows and sells a huge variety of unusual and exotic plants, and in line with the nursery's aims to reduce plant movements within and without the UK, Guy talks about the nursery's innovative 'lab' which allows the nursery to propagate and grow plants that require more specialist conditions.

On biosecurity risks Guy has strong views: "Our evidence is that they are as likely to come from within the UK as they are from outside of it". And despite bans on chemicals increasing biosecurity risks, he reveals how the nursery has been largely chemical-free for some 20 years which has mitigated some of those biosecurity challenges. He outlines some of the systems and strategies he uses to monitor pests and diseases, some of the non-chemical treatments they use and how staff are involved in the process.

Guy also talks frankly about his perspective on going peat-free; the nursery is running trials and has reduced peat use, but Guy expresses doubts about talks of the RHS imposing "blanket ban" and he questions whether the alternatives are environmentally sound: "it needs to be the right decision commercially and it needs to be right for the environment".

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Drawing on the immense industry expertise of editor Matthew Appleby, technical editor Sally Drury and senior reporter Rachael Forsyth the podcast will give listeners a digested and analytical view with added perspective and insight.

Stories tackled this week:

• the admission by the RHS that it expects to lose sales as a result of banning peat in its gardens and retail outlets by the end of 2025.
• 
  
• the story behind Sarah Raven Kitchen & Garden which went into administration, was bought back by Raven but which now is looking to make redundancies
• 
  
• why hosepipe bans are bad for garden retailers

Do check out our huge archive of HortWeek Podcast interviews with an unrivalled selection of prominent and fascinating figures from all corners of the horticulture sector.

Make sure you never miss a HortWeek podcast! Subscribe to or Follow HortWeek podcasts via Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your preferred podcast platform. 

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Speaking on changes at Cliveden in Buckinghamshire – where The Long Garden redesign focussed on long-term resilience, moving away from bedding being changed twice a year – Das explains that the Trust won’t “eradicate” the presence of bedding but it might be done slightly differently. They will also evaluate where the plants come from, how they’re grown, the resources required to grow them, and the financial cost.

Climate change is being felt within gardens across the UK and Das said each garden within the National Trust will have to work to understand its own individual challenges, which will be done through workshops. On the specific challenge of water – both scarcity and abundance – Das says it’s important to be “mindful of the pressures we’re putting on our local environment through having a garden.” 

A particular challenge the National Trust has, she says, is that certain sites are working to create an atmosphere and a particular type of plant might be doing that that isn’t going to work in the future climate. Working out how to keep the spirit going, cherishing the site's heritage, without depleting natural resources is going to mean “delicate decisions” balancing being “a good descendent as well as a good ancestor”. 

The National Trust is 100% peat free in its gardens, but Das says “there’s no denying it’s a challenge” with gardeners unable to get all of the species they would like. She adds that the range and diversity of plants feels “fragile”. Suppliers are doing “a really good job” Das says, they just might not be able to move as quickly as everyone wants. 

National Trust, in common with gardens and attractions across the UK, faces the challenge of falling visitor numbers and she addresses the various causes of this and outlines how the Trust's new strategy is looking at ways to “end unequal access” and “inspire millions of people”.

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Rebecca comes fresh from publishing her new book, the National Trust Book of Nature Friendly Gardening, which "looks at gardening in a way that's good for people and good for the planet" and is full of ideas and tips for amateur gardeners.

"I was given fair amount of freedom about what to include, but it made sense really to cover creating wildlife habitats and gardens ... making sustainable choices about what you buy in the garden, what materials to use ... a bit about well-being ... growing your own and also what to grow that you're really actually going to eat that's going to keep you out of the supermarket a little bit."

The book chimes with a shift at NT by head of gardens and parks, Sheila Das, who introduced the World Food Garden to NT along with an ethos of sustainable planting with a 21st century aesthetic. 

Rebecca says it's "really encouraging people to think about, to learn about their soils and their situations and choose plants that will last and trying to slightly get away from the impulse buying that many people do and the heavy use of bedding, which is not as sustainable as choosing perennials that are really suited to your garden are going to last a long time."

"I've come to realise that actually, with farming as it is, really quite intensive, our gardens are quite an important refuge...they might be only place that is providing habitat." She has applied this to her own garden - with help from her late partner ornithologist Rich Hearn - where she has focused on enhancing it for the local birds.

Her diverse career includes a period working with the fruit team at RHS Garden Wisley followed by a stint as a researcher on BBC Gardeners' World in Monty Don's garden.

"It's fun, it's fun, you learn a lot, you get to meet some great growers." she admits, adding "it's not always easy being the person during filming that has to listen in and question whether things are exactly right and stop filming so things can get looked up."

Despite the ecological downsides of bedding plants, NT is still using them and she explains it's policy on this and sourcing plants in general where. The charity has lead on peat-free plants with a relatively early commitment to peat-free growing and selling of plants.

"Certainly, for us, when places like Kernock [Park Plants] have gone over to providing peat-free plugs, then that's making life much easier for us and for some of our suppliers as well."

Part of Rebecca's remit is pests and diseases and she talks how she's made peace with slugs and snails: "I hope that lots of people over time will start to see their gardens as part of the ecosystem and accept that if there's something nibbling their plant, that's because their plant is providing something to the ecosystem. Our gardens shouldn't really be bereft of plant-eating insects and slugs and snails are just a part of that." 

Looking further afield, she says Xylella is the biggest threat to UK biosecurity and has the potential to exceed ash dieback in terms of impacts on our national landscape.

"One of the things we try to do within the National Trust is to encourage our gardeners to buy plants that have actually been grown in the UK. Because that obviously really minimises the risk.

She adds that we need to be producing more peat-free plants, particularly trees: "Meeting our tree targets is absolutely crucial. I think that we [must] increase our capacity to produce what we need within the UK because it is mad to be meeting our own tree planting targets with imported trees that are at the same time increasing our risk of importing diseases."

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HortWeek wanted to lend it's voice to its campaign and invited the CIH's Jason Daff, Susanna Daniels from Melanoma Focus and Andrew Poole, farmer and agronomist and skin cancer survivor, to talk about the findings of the report, and how employers can support workers within the horticulture sector to take simple precautions to protect themselves from sun damage and prevent skin cancer.

Jason gives an overview of the reports findings, one of the most striking of which was that men are almost twice as likely to have been diagnosed with skin cancer compared to women, perhaps due to the presence of sun protection in some women's skincare products, but also perhaps, Andrew speculates, due to a more 'macho' attitude and a reticence among men when it comes to looking after their skin. As Andrew says:

"When I was a lot younger, it was a cavalier attitude to go out and it was almost a badge of honour to be burnt.

"I had the attitude, well I work outside...my life is outside, I'm gonna be protected, my skin has built up a resistance, I'll be fine.

"But clearly not, it's caught up with me later in life."

Susanna outlines best practice on choosing and applying suncream - crucially not forgetting the tops of the ears - and explains how each incidence of sun burn can drastically increase the probability of a person developing skin cancer in their lifetime.

She also highlights the responsibility employers have to provide suncream, argues that it should be regarded as PPE for outdoor workers, and to that end, CIH is lobbying the UK Government to make it exempt from VAT.

For more information on melanoma in the workplace, how employers can help educate and protect employees resources and much more, visit https://melanomafocus.org/.

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With a background in biotech, Valeria saw an opportunity in the market to bring the knowledge from the medical space to agriculture. Meeting with friends of friends who were tomato producers, Valeria learnt about the problems they face, and how they deal with them, and knew there was knowledge from the medical space which could lend itself to agriculture.

Valeria was recognized as one of Forbes' “30 Under 30” in 2022 but she says “it doesn’t feel like an incredible achievement” because it sets a threshold for when you have to achieve something, or figure everything out. Instead, Valeria says the focus should be on the work and not when it’s achieved.

Fermata recently won an innovation award at Fruit Logistica for Croptimus™ and its advanced image analysis, which works to transform greenhouse pest and disease detection. The technology automatically detects pests and diseases, aiming to reduce scouting time and crop losses. Valeria explains growers install the cameras and then can “forget about them”.

Valeria explains that they often come across those who are sceptical because the technology is “replacing the eyes” and so they have to prove themselves. But she explains that the proof is in the results, with the technology often identifying diseases either before the growers do, or identifying diseases the growers miss. 

Looking at the future and how the technology might be used, Valeria says they think it could help distinguishing between other insects in the glasshouse to track the pollinator population, as well as utilising environmental data to better analyse the data they are currently receiving.

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Madalena works for part of the Forestry Commission's research division, and as you’ll hear, a lot of her work revolves around the role that plants and trees can play in combating climate change. She also explains a little about the part of the Forestry Commission that she works for, the Urban Forest Research Group.

For more information about Forest Research visit www.forestresearch.gov.uk and to find out how the Colegrave Seabrook Foundation can support your career in horticulture visit https://colegrave seabrook foundation.org.uk/

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After record attendances for the BBC Gardeners' World Live May Spring Fair show held at Beaulieu, Tremlett is looking forward to some 90,000 visitors over the four days. 

The main stage will feature BBC Gardeners' World lead presenter Monty Don, fellow presenters Adam Frost, Rachel de Thame, Frances Tophill, Sue Kent and Nick Bailey with a headline garden. Show designer Pip Probert and Plant Geek Michael Perry will also appear.

Hot Off the Potting Bench is a new plants awards feature with up to 100 launches vying for the Peter Seabrook Award.

Last year's winner was a hydrangea from Allensmore. Judges include David Hurrion, Boyd Douglas-Davies and HortWeek editor Matthew Appleby.

There is also a garden for the 30th anniversary of the APL (Association of Professional Landscapers) and a stand for Plant Healthy to remind "visitors, the general public, gardeners should watch out for in their gardens about bringing plant material into the country".

Central to this year's show is the Make A Metre Matter campaign "encouraging our audience to turn a metre of their space, whether it's their garden, whether it's a windowsill, whether it's balcony, and turn it into something that does something good for the planet. So thinking about encouraging a bit of biodiversity into the garden, or it's thinking about growing some edibles and reducing your food miles. It's just encouraging everybody to have a go".

Tremlett says: "We aim through our show gardens here and through our exhibits to relate very much to take home ideas, what's achievable, and the things that people really can grow, do and grow in their own gardens...the whole show and its background going back a long, long time is about the fundamentals of gardening and we very proudly stick to those principles."

Sweet brings a long pedigree in garden shows having run events with the RHS Chelsea, Hampton Court, Tatton Park, Cardiff and Scotland's National Gardening Show. 

After enjoying the 2025 Chelsea Flower Show earlier this year, he said: "it certainly warms the cockles of your heart when you see the expertise of some of the growers and what they've been able to achieve". On the podcast he reminisces about the impact he had on Chelsea during his tenure.

"There's so many aspects of Chelsea that I feel there's a little Bob Sweet stamp on when I go around...there's lots of little hints of my career left behind there which I'm very proud of" from the names of the various routes through the show to fundamental changes to the way awards were judged. 

He also lifts the lid on some of the more light-hearted aspects of the show and the mischief-makers he has had to contend with over the years.

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After a car crash in 2000, a horticultural therapist and his husband suggested a new horticulture career as a designer and in the media. 

His new book, The Future of Gardens, published this May, is part of a series of imaginative future visions on a wide range of subjects, written by experts, academics, journalists and leading pop-culture figures. For his installment, Mark takes a "positive look at gardening with regards to the future of gardens. And of course, it has to cover everything from the climate crisis to being, you know, an adaptable and resilient gardener.

He sees AI as limited to "being a great assistant. I don't think it will take over with regards to gardening or garden design" but with great potential to help with plant selection and speed up processes.

With an eye on climate resilience, Mark has been exploring and implementing xeriscaping concepts into his garden:

"By having a mixture and increasing that biodiversity of plants you're...more likely to have a garden that's going to flourish because while some will do well when it's really hot, others will do better when it's a bit wetter and a bit warmer."

His book considers permaculture, regenerative agriculture and biophilia in the context of a broad definition of "Horticulture with a capital 'H'" that includes "floristry, agriculture, the perfume industry, anything you could possibly think of when it comes to plants." 

He reveals how apps and a drone means he is "able to go around areas in gardens, especially large gardens where I can't get my wheelchair, so I can still have my eyes and I can still go and see those places. So it's about again using this sort of future tech, which a lot of it is already here."

Mark and Matt discuss the ultimate in futuristic horticulture, growing in space, which Mark says, is not just a matter of overcoming a technical challenge and the benefits of eating fresh produce:

"[Astronauts are] going to be away for a long period of time and being able to undertake a task such as gardening reconnects them to Earth. So it actually reconnects them back to where they came from and that's really going to be very important for their for their mindset more than anything else.

As a wheelchair user, Mark shares his perspective on how landowners can and should make access to parks, gardens and the countryside easier for all:

He adds: " I do strongly believe that it doesn't matter whether you have a physical impairment or not, you can enjoy gardening. And you just have to really think a little bit outside the box. You have to be very, very honest with yourself and sort of assess yourself and see what it is that you can and you cannot do...and then try and adapt your gardening because of that."

And as an owner of dogs, Mark gives us his take on the controversial topic of dogs, gardens and garden centres.

Finally he gives an update on his plans with his ongoing presence on Morning Live keeping him busy, appearances at flower shows such as RHS Hampton Court Flower Festival, another book due "on cost-wise gardening" to come out in May 2026, as well as his garden design practice.

"I'm still designing the gardens, but I'm now having to limit the number of gardens that I do...here I used to do on average between 8 or 10 projects a year, I now do anywhere between 2 and 3, just because I just don't really have the time now, because I'm just constantly doing stuff."

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While Christmas may seem a long way off, in June UK growers will be starting to produce Poinsettias to adorn our homes in December. The poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima) is a fascinating blend of Aztec heritage, Mexican tradition, and American commercialisation—all blended into vibrant red plant that is now inseparable from the Christmas season.

Carl speaks about how easy a crop poinsettia is to grow, while Andrew discusses market trends we are seeing with the UK's most popular winter indoor plant.

Andrew details the nutritional requirements of the crop while Carl outlines advises on the growing media that suit poinsettias best.

Carl also explains what goes into ICL’s special Poinsettia mix to ensure plants thrive and they both offer their top tips for successful poinsettia growing.

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As part of his ambassadorial role, he will lead the 2025 UK School Gardening Tour, sponsored by National Garden Gift Card. He will visit selected schools across the country, bringing hands-on gardening experiences to 10,000 children.

He talks about his 'pukka' mate Jamie Oliver and his plans for a children's gardening coaching book as well as his life on the road.

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BBC Gardeners' World television programme and has been a regular panellist on Gardeners' Question Time on BBC Radio 4 since 1994. She also was the gardening consultant on the ITV series Rosemary and Thyme in 2003–2006. Greenwood was awarded an honorary doctorate by Durham University.

A big part of Pippa's role at the HTA is advising on plant health and biosecurity, "translating" plant health information for the grower members, where, she says, "my heart really lies". And Greenwood has great sympathy for the issues confronting growers at the border: "I always think when you look at what happens at the border...I can feel and really empathize with the frustration of the grower who's imported some plants or a garden centre who's imported some plants that then get held and inspected, sometimes taking longer than they might feel is necessary. But there is a good reason behind it."

Reflecting on the recent costly destruction of plants due to a - some suspect faulty - risk assessment for Pochazia, she says: "So obviously every loss is, in my mind, of extreme significance. But what can be done? We as the HTA are regularly and currently in communication with Defra and others about trying to increase not only reporting, but also increase the chances of someone feeling that it's safe to report or if they find something on their nursery or that if something does come in

"If you've imported some plants and they've got a pest on it and they're impounded, then in theory, you should be able to claim back from the nursery that they originated from. I'm not saying that's easy. I'm not saying that you get all your money back, but you often can get quite a bit of it back. But the HTA is very aware of the fact that money and time and morale actually sometimes as well is lost over situations like this."

Pippa discusses how growers cannot claim compensation for plants impounded or destroyed during border checks, while animal importers can.

She recently took charge of the HTA's New Plant and Grower of the Year awards and she urges members to put themselves forward, or nominate others, to be "noted, celebrated and allowed to blow their own trumpet". Innovations she has introduced includes blind judging to ensure winners are selected "on the basis of quality".

The deadline for entering Grower of the Year Awards is 25 July 2025.

The closing date for the New Plant Awards is 17 May 2025 and amid controversies over 'remote' judging of plants at the Chelsea Flower Show, Greenwood is insisting that judges examine the plants in person at the National Plant Show (18-19 June, Stoneleigh).

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After four years as a headline sponsor at the Chelsea Flower Show, it is The Newt's 'finale' year and it is set to showcase tropical plants sourced from nurseries in the UK, South Africa, and from its own collection in its Karoo Succulent show garden, a collaboration with The Newt's South African sister farm, Babylonstoren.

As Katie says: "There will be plants in the garden that probably many will not have seen before, as well as some quite recognizable plants that people might have as houseplants. But they'll be able to see them set in what we're trying to evoke as their natural setting, so we're hoping that that's going to be quite inspiring and exciting for people."

But The Newt's relationship with the RHS will not end completely, Katie explains: "So we'll continue to be a partner garden and we'll continue to support the RHS."

Harry talks though some of the attractions and features on The Newt Estate, aka the Hadspen Garden. He explains the way the 40-strong specialist staff work - which includes dedicated garden and woodland teams.

New to the team is entomologist Tom Oliver who is instrumental to work The Newt is undertaking to understand, audit and improve its biodiversity. Tom's data will also be used to help The Newt experiment with new cutting regimes for the wildflower meadows to try and maximise the invertebrate life throughout the year.

Harry says: "We have a really rich biodiversity across the estate. I guess we're also quite lucky here because we've got different types of landscapes...we've got the woodlands, we've got pasture, we've got our formal gardens, and we've got quite a big range, which no doubt helps with the biodiversity."

The Newt is set to host a Head Gardeners Conference in October 2025 which will gather 100 head gardeners to discuss trees for the future.

Like all gardens The Newt faces challenges with pests and diseases and climate change and trees are central to these topics.

Harry explains: "native plants are important because our invertebrates have adapted ... to our native plants and our native landscapes. But it's obviously important that we do start to bring in some non-natives. For example, we've got one area ... where we've had to sadly remove a number of large ash trees because of ash dieback...So there

I'm hoping to planting native trees but also looking slightly out the box where we can planting, for example, we can plant a Caucasian hornbeam ...which is still going to service our woodland but it might have the added diversity of being able to be slightly more drought tolerant perhaps."

In keeping with it's lightly unorthodox approach, The Newt allows visitors to pick vegetables and fruit from its kitchen garden:

"The ethos of the kitchen garden is that for people to try - everything in there is completely edible and there is almost no boundaries... We want people to be immersed into our landscape, into our fruit and sort vegetable heritage."

And with her design hat on, Katie is keen to extend the spirit of experimentation and innovation at The Newt:

"I think there's ways that we can champion plants more, champion seasonality more, offer more to our guest experience in various ways. 

"I want to really showcase plants that aren't necessarily purchased from your local garden center...I've had the opportunity to work with some really great, wonderful and unusual plants from various temperate regions of the world. And I really want to bring that to The Newt."

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After developing a successful hardy fern production line, he decided to pivot away from the stresses of growing plants towards garden retail, installed a garden centre within the nursery site and built a garden visitors centre. Two years ago Batsford added a restaurant.

The arboretum houses collections of birch, maple, oak, ash, lime, magnolia, mountain ash, pine, fir, spruce and many other rare trees.

Priest discusses the origins of the arboretum through to current challenges including dealing with extreme weather events as well as strategies to attract visitors throughout the year.

A series of droughts prompted a decision to build a three million litre lake, which has also become an "absolute magnet" for wildlife.

He says extreme weather events have become more common but his reaction to losses is now more philosophical - as there are also gains.

In high winds "some of the veteran trees are dropping boughs, going over and it used to be really upsetting...now we've just assured ourselves that one big tree goes, it opens up a massive planting place.

"We're able to grow a vast amount of plants, different sorts of species now that 20-odd years ago we wouldn't dreamt of trying". 

Batsford has invested hundreds of thousands of pounds in an extensive solar panel network in which generated £10,000 "in a dull year" to help offset Batsford's £60,000 electric bill. And he hopes to generate more when further solar panels set to adorn a new workshop facility and tractor shed are added to the network.

A passionate horticulturist, Priest ends the podcast with a heartfelt plea: "The comradeship is brilliant in horticulture and we've got to encourage the youngsters to come into it." 

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James Gadd is a director of Gadd Brothers Trees and Landscape and as an arboricultural professional he works with amenity trees – those found in private gardens, public parks and open spaces, schools, churchyards, playgrounds, urban woodlands and nature reserves and alongside roads, railway lines and routes for utilities like electricity pylons. It is a role which sees him mix heavy machinery, heights, problem solving and things that sound like they could be from a Mission Impossible movie, as well as conservation and planting of trees.  

As someone running a business, James tells us a little about what he is looking for when he hires staff, how to get started in the industry, and reveals some of the things that some people do not realise are part of the job.

For more information about Gadd Brothers Trees and Landscapes visit https://gaddbrothers.co.uk/ and to find out how the Colegrave Seabrook Foundation can support your career in horticulture visit https://colegrave seabrook foundation.org.uk/

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John and Alistair are collaborators on significant natural capital scheme at Keyhaven near Milford-on-Sea converting degraded arable farming land into a "high value wildlife site".

Kingwell bought the farm in 2020 and is working with Hampshire Wildlife Trusts to create meadows and grassland, enriching the biodiversity as large-scale BNG habitat.

The land will be transformed in five or six phases which will be offered to developers as BNG credits - "we thought was probably what the market would absorb" Alistair says.

Working alongside local authorities and the Environment Agency in a form of public-private partnership HWT will provide technical support on habitat creation and ongoing management of the land over the next 20 or 30 years. As John says, "frankly if we're going to turn around the sort of fate of wildlife in the UK I think every single sector is really going to have to do its bit."

Alistair talks about the benefits from a land owner's point of view and how it can benefit rural business and community as well as the environment: "Farmers are under a lot of pressure to look at how they can diversify and commercialize their farms, particularly with BPS falling away. It's looking at what are the opportunities that can keep farms going. Environmental schemes such as this are going to play a part in enabling farmers to continue."

They outline the carbon sequestration benefits of soil restoration and way the "nascent" BNG credits market will interact with local construction schemes and planning departments.

Alistair says: "Our planning system is broken. And it's not broken because of things like BNG. It's it's other factors that are driving that.

"Also in the planning system, developers are finding ways to get around BNG, finding exemptions so that they don't have to deliver it onsite or even offsite.

"I think things will change. It's a very new thing. It was only February last year that it became statutory and small developments in April. It takes a long time to get these schemes approved and over the line and supply."

John says: "What I always find frustrating is when the Government infer that lack of supply or BNG or protection for the environment is the thing that's stopping house building. And frankly, that's risible when... if you speak to most developers, they'll admit that it's high interest rates, lack of planning officers, lack of capacity... [and] things like lack of labour. 

They discuss the teething troubles with BNG, issues with planning and posit options on how system might be adapted to allow the various agencies to work together more effectively, which means, John insists, public and private partnerships.

They also make the case for larger schemes. Alistair says: "If you have on-site mitigation where you've got fragmented patches of areas within developments that are completely unconnected and going back to the resource problem of the local authorities, then being able to monitor and enforce to ensure that the biodiversity is actually being delivered in those areas, it just doesn't work. It will only work properly if we can do it strategically on large areas of land like what we've got in Keyhaven.

John adds: "Small areas suffer from this thing called edge effect where the edges, problems come in from the edge and the edges tend to be degraded to a certain extent....mitigating at scale strategically is a really, really good model. "

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At a time when horticulture needs to encourage a new wave of young people to come into the industry, this podcast is designed to highlight the multiple and varied career opportunities available.

Hear from people who have found their way into their chosen career through different paths, what their job involves and what it means to them.

In this episode Neville Stein catches up with students from Sparsholt College to discuss their recent experience of exhibiting at RHS Chelsea Flower Show and how they felt about it.

As the Colegave Seabrook Foundation supports students studying horticulture, we were very proud to be sponsors of their exhibit and are thrilled at their success.

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Blakedown just won the contract for the Queen Elizabeth garden scheme for The Royal Parks as part of their landscape construction framework. Chris outlines work being done using "environmentally sensitive construction methods" and Steve discusses some of the highlights of their work with The Royal Parks which goes back some 35 years, including the Greenwich Park Revealed scheme which won them a National BALI Award. 

The Outdolf Landscape project at RHS Garden Wisley won the firm another BALI Award that year and Chris talks about the pleasure of a free-flowing collaboration made possible by working with the hands-on and knowledgeable Wisley team.

The pair also discuss some of the challenges faced in the landscape sector, including increased and unpredictable lead-in times for materials and plants.

Chris says: "By the time we get to see it it's got a specification it's got planning permission based on a certain set of materials so for us to have much input is difficult", adding "where we are involved at earlier points we do have these discussions about 'where are you purchasing from, is it ethical, is it sustainable, is there a UK alternative?'.  

On plans for growth, Chris talks about how contractor design work is now part of every contract they undertake, so the firm took on Ruth Miller as a design manager to manage those design elements efficiently without disrupting the progress of the project. Andy Harris also joined as an operations manager to bolster the management team. Steve adds they are aiming for "organic growth" while looking expand activities outside their traditional territories in the South of England. Nigel Payne has also come on board to help develop Blakedown's grounds maintenance offering.

Among the varied and numerous challenges thrown up in 2024, Steve says the "continually wet period" from autumn 2023 to spring 2024 was one of the hardest.

And a new challenge faced by all landscape contractors is in the planning department. On the one hand, a change in pre-commencement conditions means Blakedown is being involved in signing those off after starting the contract causing delays of several weeks to commencement of works. This is exacerbated by a lack of and high turnover of overstretched planning officers, all adding to delays. "[A project] we were due to start last September, we are only getting on board now [early March]... it has a real effect on your sales forecast and your planning."

Another area of growth is public realm and infrastructure improvements set in motion by the last Government's 'Levelling Up" agenda and Blakedown is embarking on a major project in to transform Canterbury's open spaces including a 'green link' to provide a safe way for pedestrians to walk around the city. Chris is inspired by how it is finding ways to "improve accessiblity but not a the cost of nature".

"For the next five years it is about organic growth...We're not looking to grow hugely; we want to do what we do really well, and keep doing that."

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He explains how to apply them through a diluter, overhead irrigation or drip irrigation. WSF’s are usually applied as a supplementary feed in combination with a Controlled Release Fertiliser such as Osmocote 5. They are typically used to give a growth boost to outdoor crops after a prolonged high rainfall period during the growing season.

Wilson talks about different types of water soluble fertilisers to suit your water type and ratios of NPK in the product, as well as conductivity (EC) of the fertiliser.

He explains how AngelaWeb 3.0 software takes many nursery specific factors into account such as water quality, growing media and Osmocote levels and says how WSF’s can be used in peat-free growing with care and tells us about frequency of feeding 

Lots of advice can be found on the ICL website and many practical videos on our Youtube channel ICL UK/Ire Professional Horticulture.

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Roisin Wilson is business development director at HSK Gardening and Leisure, which is a specialist importer of 'Jurassic' plants from the Antipodes, specifically Dicksonia antarctica tree ferns from Australia.

It is a tightly regulated activity, but Roisin explains that the tree ferns it imports from Tasmania are 'rescue' tree ferns that might be otherwise cast aside by loggers.

Big plans are afoot at HSK and Roisin talks about the recent rebrand of the company and a shift towards "concept gardens" which takes inspiration from IKEA's approach to retail providing a "garden in a box" providing "instant impact, instant garden".

These 'Jurassic' concepts will be retailed through independent garden centres and bigger chains, with a focus on educating them on the concept, how it works and how to sell it. Roisin feels it is an "untapped market" and the ideal way to reach reluctant and perhaps younger customers - "the gardeners of the future". 

She also believes there are opportunities to access new markets in Europe "and what was really interesting when I was at [IPM] Essen [in January 2025], there were no tree ferns, no big trees. There was one stand that had two tree ferns, but other than that, there were no tree ferns anywhere. And that was really, for me, that was quite

striking."

HSK is also adding more species and took in its first shipment of Dicksonia squarrosa from New Zealand in Janaury 2025: "We are currently growing them on and probably will do a release of those in the summer once we know that they are all you know very very happy and growing beautifully in this country."

As a relative newcomer to horticulture, Roisin gives her perspective on the sector. Upsides include the people-focus of the sector. But she highlights the need to promote women and encourage and develop young people and she celebrates the work of the YPHA in doing just that.

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He talks about his teaching career and how, as director of garden design studies at London College of Garden Design, he is seeing more students come in from other professions and is curious about what’s causing them to deflect from their initial interest in horticulture. He also touches upon the mergers and closures of horticulture colleges and whether it is a trend likely to continue.

As a former RHS judge, Wilson says he often gets asked for his advice on whether show gardens are good things. With his garden designer hat on, he says they are, especially for nurturing students. He says:

"Andy Sturgeon probably wouldn't be where he is today, or Tom Stuart-Smith, without the Chelsea gardens that they have produced. So from my student-nurturing point of view, they’re undeniably a good thing.”

Wilson also talks about his concern around sustainable gardens all looking similar: “I am totally supportive of gardens with sustainability running through everything. But it can potentially produce similar results in terms of where materials come from, how materials are used, and how our planting works.”

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Head of operations and forestry at The Parks Trust, Frank Gill, talks about how climate change is affecting Milton Keynes, with issues such as flooding and the rise in pests and diseases, and how they are managing these.

Gill also reveals that litter is one of the biggest challenges, with the team removing over 100 tonnes from the parks every year. Bodley adds that caring for green spaces with multiple users – including livestock – can come with its difficulties. 

And with Milton Keynes set to grow, Bodley explains how The Parks Trust plans to grow with it.

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Speakers in order are:

1: 20 - Simon Blackhurst with Durston's, Treasure Gardening and the Growing Media Association

5: 03 - Colin Stephens of Evergreen Garden Care

10: 15 - Stuart Staples of Westland

13: 35 - Catherine Dawson of Melcourt Industries

14: 10 - Steve Harper of Southern Trident and the Responsible Sourcing Scheme

The industry leaders told HortWeek editor Matthew Appleby a standard could be introduced by as early as 2026 to show consistency, sourcing and quality of peat-free consumer growing media.

But speakers acknowledged the hard work required over decades it has taken to get here and that there is work to do in the future to educate gardeners towards success.

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Jason Booth, chief operating officer of the GMA and Jennifer Carter, director of communications & marketing at the GMA also explore some of the challenges facing the turf sector with a recent GMA survey showing 68% of head grounds managers think climate change is their main challenge.

Booth argues that the football pitch is often the least invested in, despite footballers spending 90-95% of their working week on one. He explains how the GMA is trying to change perceptions.

Carter explores the common challenge of the skills shortage and how GMA NextGen is looking to help this, launched to inspire the next generation of grounds professionals.

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Andy Jeanes of Guernsey Clematis says planning, procedure and relationships with customs and shipping agents and phyto inspectors are the keys to successful exporting.

The USA could become an issue. Soiless plants are air freighted to the US but there are concerns about 25% Trump import levies, as there has been for Canada and Mexico.

Commercial Horticulture Association's Susan Fairley says research the target market, establish demand, identify market trend data, plan a strategy, find the right country, identify channels, get staff trained and ready, build relationships, use Department of Business and Trade webinars, be patient, consider costs and make sure you know your IP, customs paperwork, credit check customers and get the right logistics in place. Cenrral Asian countries are places of growth.

Tim Briercliffe of AIPH adds that understanding your target market and how easy it is to reach it are important. Systems such as Floriday can be a way in. The UK has not been strong at exporting as businesses concentrate on the home market. You need something new, special and different. He says potential levies are challenges, while exchange rate problems can be huge. Plant health issues like false codling moth are becoming bigger threats to international trade. Green cities are the areas to look for growth.

David Austin's head of international partner networks Kate Porter said selling licences rather than plants is the rose grower's way forward, post-Brexit. There is US growing base so it is the brand that is exported. Australia is a growing market.

Air-Pot's Suzie and Jamie Single say there is a team of partners around the world, in Europe distributors and otherwise consultants working on commission. Taiwan is a growing market, as is Switzerland and the US. The CHA help Air-Pot with exports, particularly via IPM Essen. The Scottish Government is helpful, she said, while a new Air-Pot 7 product, endorsed by ex-Kew arboretum head Tony Kirkham, has created a wave of publicity for the company.

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As well as explaining what it is like at Fulham in the lead up to matches, Mackley relates what the team get up to in the off season which he says is “our busiest period…the most important”.

The weather a significant impact on football matches and the condition of pitches – with high rainfall, high winds, extreme heat, and intense cold; Mackley explains what Fulham has in place to try and mitigate these challenges and how it has changed the way they work. Mackley also talks through some of the new systems he is keeping an eye on.

Sustainability is of high importance at Fulham Football Club, but Mackley explains its not just a case of replacing all the petrol equipment with battery powered - and that it cannot happen overnight. Mackley talks about the challenges of retrofitting the club as it stands which Mackley hopes can be brought in when a new training ground is built.

Mackley also talks through some of the new technology he has got his eye on, how he got into the industry and learnt everything from “arguably one of the best grounds people we’ve had in the industry”, Steve Braddock, as well as how Fulham attracts new talent.

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Everest said at RHS shows you compete for medals and not against other growers as you would at a sweet pea show. But the public "want to see perfection" and not "leaves that have been eaten by slugs". Getting the balance right between best practice and what the public wants to view is the key.

Sheppard disagreed, saying the public "don't want plant perfection at any cost" and rust-free hollyhocks would need a lot of chemical use, so he will not exhibit them. If he did the judges would mark them down for having any rust on them. What's more, perfection gives the public an unrealistic idea of what plants will look like at home.

Everest argued that plants that do not look their best will not sell.

Sheppard recently proposed in HortWeekthat there should be a 'Green Medal' for growers. He said we have seen some movement with awards for show gardens, but nothing as yet for growers.

Sheppard added that some exhibitors have perfect plants but "the reality is you can purchase your flowers" for exhibiting and have "nothing to do with the growing of them whatsoever, have them flown in, have them grown using pesticides and preservatives, arriving in a plethora of single-use plastic, and because you arrange them nicely, walk away with a gold medal".

Everest agreed that you should grow your own at shows.

Further listening:

• In October 2024 Jonathan and Darren discussed whether we should we ban peat in horticulture.

Presenter: HortWeek editor Matthew Appleby

Producer: Digital content manager Christina Taylor

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Raskin is head of horticulture and agroforestry for the Soil Association and Dibben is head grower at Abbey Home Farms in Gloucestershire.

They say interactions between trees and crops is an under-investigated area and that trees can offer many benefits for food growers.

The foreword is by Stockfree Organic farmer Iain Tolhurst who calls this "agroforestry at its finest" and says which trees to choose is "no longer an act of faith".

There are negative impacts from planting the trees in the shade, but many crops do not actually need full sun all day.

Abbey Home Farms in Cirencester is a 650ha acre mixed organic farm, intercropping into 6ha of veg production with mixed top fruit tree, coppice species for wood chip, as well as peach trees in the glasshouses. 

Also featured in the book are:

• Eastbrook Farm in Wiltshire – 200 acre silvopastural system (trialing almonds, apricots, berries and other fruits into a 25year business plan)
• Shillingford Farm in Devon – 420 acre fruit and veg farm using alley cropping systems 
• Troed-y-Rhiw Farm in Wales – 23 acre mixed organic farm growing top fruit and bush fruit, but outside and in tunnels 

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On this week’s HortWeek Podcast Sargent takes us through some real life questions produced by himself for a recent interview for a head gardener. Beginning with advice on what to wear and bring to an interview Sargent examines interview questions, breaking down why they are being asked and how best to respond. 

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In this HortWeek Podcast he discusses his path growing peat-free plants which grow in peat in the wild,and the future of the houseplant market.

After the bounce delived by the John Lewis 2023 Christmas venus flytrap advert he relates how that has continued to make the plant dominant in the market, the challenges of fulfilling demand with UK one-stop houseplant shop HortiHouse and how CITES rules have affected imports.

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He was chair of the Garden Centre Association from 2014 to 2016 and says the big difference between now and then are the costs of employing people, which have risen 10% again he believes thanks to the Autumn Budget's changes to National Living Wage and employers' National Insurance Contributions. This means the industry will struggle to grow and could mean price rises, he says.

Armitage has been on both sides of the fence, with supplier Mulch and running garden centres. His former Pennine centre has since been owned by Wyevale and now Dobbies has it for sale and Armitage says the private equity sale and leaseback model is proving to be unsustainable.

He looks forward to a better weather year, with high hopes for 2025 helped by more industry Business Improvement Schemes and increased lobbying at Westminster.

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He got his first gardening job was when he was 15 at a country house hotel in Devon, and studied at Duchy College and for a garden design degree at Sparsholt College. 

Hull believes schools' thinking about horticulture as a trade is moving on from being somewhere where students are funnelled when they're "not doing so well" into being seen as a worthwhile career which generates billions of pounds for the country. He sees clear pathways through diploma or a degree or RHS courses for everyone.

The Garden Rescue job came about through an advert at the Society of Garden Designers "and I thought why not?" He's just finished filming season 10 for broadcast in May 2025.

He says long-time presenter Charlie Dimmock is "really, really amazing because she's just really fun and just knows everything". He's also been filming with her former Groundforce co-star Alan Titchmarsh on Love Your Weekend but can't choose who he prefers, joking: "I'll have one of them hitting me over the head with a shovel!"

His inspiration for TV designs comes from the strong briefs he is given, for instance for someone with a disability who has not got great access into the garden: "We're making gardens on a real budget, and you've got to be creative with a way that you use very cheap materials to still deliver like quite interesting and bespoke design. So it's hard, but it's good fun, and hopefully it teaches people at home different ideas and how they can use materials."

Hull recognises the show "can get a bit of hate from the landscapers in the industry because they believe it's misleading, which I understand. But the client's budget paid for by the BBC is £6,000 for materials only, with labour not included. There's a disclaimer, which he recognises is sometimes missed.

He worked with Sid Hill and won a gold at Chelsea in 2024 on a garden, having been friends since they were about 14. Managing budgets with London logistics was tough but the experience was "really, really fun overall".

Hull has no plans for another show garden but if he does another he'd like to make a mental health-themed garden because his father is a paranoid schizophrenic and an ambassador for the Rethink Mental Illness charity which works to break down the stigma around mental illness. 

Other industry experience includes working with JPL Landscape Architects and also Agrumi, on the nursery, and helping at 2021 Chelsea Flower Show when the Hampshire business exhibited with a New Forest theme.

Looking ahead, with primetime garden makeover shows such as Love Your Garden no longer on, "there's probably a gap in the market. Garden Rescue remains well liked because everybody adores Charlie and it shows people how to do projects on a budget...and also it's quite lighthearted.

"What's really good about garden makeover shows generally, like a lot of the home 'reno' shows, is that they're quite repeatable. So I think they're always going to be picked up and kept on TV. I think there should be more to come. Any newer ones might move in more of a direction of maybe they're recycled gardens or upcycling or more sustainability-focused."

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He left school at 14 and worked in various jobs before moving to Webbs Garden Centres and becoming a horticulture industry lover.

To get Get Children Growing off the ground, to bring sunflower grow kits to children in schools across the UK, Dyke has worked with Amy Stubbs from British Garden Centres and Skinny Jean gardener Lee Connolly and with help from Mr Fothergill's, Westland, New Leaf Plants and Webbs Garden Centres.

He said: "I believe every school should have a garden and it should teach children where food comes from and even where cut flowers come from. Because you go into these garden centres, you see the flowers in the pots and if you're a child, you don't know where they've come from, you don't know how they've been grown, you don't know how they've been nurtured. So I just want to educate the younger generation and you never know, it might inspire some to say, do know what, I want to do that for a living."

For more Get Children Growing details, see www.theplantpod.co.uk

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This week's guest is Kevin Martin, head of tree collections at Royal Botanic Gardens Kew and he joined the HortWeek Podcast to relate the research Kew has done that led it to such a stark conclusion.

"What we started to look at first was mortality data, but we soon realized that that's a really unstable data set. can't always know why a tree or a plant has died in the landscape. It's not always due to environmental factors.

"We then started looking at climate modeling...and using species observation data to start building a better picture of the impact of climate change on the living landscape here at Kew.

Perhaps surprisingly, the focus was not on identifying vulnerable species, but "the provenance of the seed".

Kew studied its own environment, located as it is in "an urban heat island" on the edge of Greater London with relatively thin and poor soil, "so the effect of climate change is always exaggerated". 

To understand the plants that suited this environment, they found themselves in the Romanian steppe which proved a good match.

His next trip will take him to Georgia to find more species that might thrive at Kew.

Rather than building more and more glasshouses to create the right condition for plant collections, with their huge energy bills, botanic gardens must play to their strengths and grow the plants that fit their ecosystem and climate profile.

"And the native, the English native one is a really interesting question. 

"You've got Quercus robur, they all have a large distribution range. So we're now looking at their dryest range to understand how those trees have adapted...they will grow right up to the edge of Azerbaijan, right on the dryest edge of their range. So we're selecting seed from those areas to bring them back to Kew to understand how they've adapted."

And the change needs to translate to all green spaces and gardens, large and public as well as domestic and small.

"A lot of the plants that we all go to the garden centre to put in our own private gardens, those trees have been selected for us realistically by the Victorians. A lot of those plants are available in commercial nurseries, they're all from the original plant collectors from the Victorian era especially, and they're the same cloned material that's just passed round.

"So it's really not just changing the planting palette within Botanic Gardens...This is a change of planting palette... and that does need support and investment in further research from government in order to support the commercial nurseries as well.

"I do think it's going to be the biggest shift we've seen since the start of the organisation back in the 1840s". 

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On this week's HortWeek Podcast she recounts some of the best changes she has seen during her tenure - "the greater awareness of the importance of open spaces for the public and the greater awareness among the public of the importance to them of open spaces, paths, getting out there, enjoying the countryside and green spaces in towns.

And the worst... "After 40 years, open spaces, commons and paths are still very much under threat. We haven't made that step change, which means that governments, local authorities recognise that actually open spaces and paths are so important that we need to invest in them fully. They may say they're important, but they don't actually put the money and the resources in."

Current focuses include closing the "green space gap" in the current National Planning Policy Framework:

"We don't see in the consultation, governments giving prime importance to green spaces. We think they should be at the core of all planning policies, thinking about the wider public and what people need and then framing the development around that... we shall be making suggestions of how government can give greater priority to green spaces." 

Rachael and Kate also discuss biodiversity net gain and how that interacts with the society's goals and wider issues.

With a new Government in place she talks about her hopes for policy change and support for offering greater access to land and protection of common land that has always been at the core of the OSS's mission.

She outlines the Open Spaces Society's long history - from its foundation in 1965 - which is bound up with the creation of the National Trust. And she recounts some of her own, fascinating career path and what motivates her.

"I really want to help people to campaign. 50 years ago, I got into campaigning because I met a wonderful person called Sylvia Sayre on Dartmoor and she was 50 years [older than me] and ]encouraged me and helped me and gave me opportunities. And I am thinking, well, I'm now the age that she was when I met her and it's my turn to kind of pass the baton to the younger generation. And I'm out there looking for people to talk to and to learn from and to help."

Find out more at https://www.oss.org.uk/

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Over the four episodes, Christina Taylor explores the story of the UK peat ban, how the horticulture industry is facing up to the challenge, and how it might shape the future of the sector.

In Episode 4 we hear from growers who have successfully made the leap to peat-free. Christina asks whether growers are ready for legislation and industry figures voice how it could work without destroying the horticulture industry in the process.

Written, produced and presented by Christina Taylor

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Over the four episodes, Christina Taylor explores the story of the UK peat ban, how the horticulture industry is facing up to the challenge, and how it might shape the future of the sector.

In Episode 3: The cost of trial and error, Christina explores the two particular challenges faced by UK horticultural growers.

Where peat-free might cause an amateur gardener to lose a batch of lettuce seedlings, professional growers face the loss of entire crops as many attempt to trial new, and quite alien, growing media mixes.

Professional growers tell us their stories of trial and error, what they have learned in the process and discuss the fears that some plants and specialist nurseries will be lost to the UK for good.

Series writer, producer and presenter is Christina Taylor

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Peat is one of the most popular and reliable types of growing media for plants, but peatlands are also a valuable store for carbon and as the UK Government tries to meet net zero targets, a peat ban is on the agenda.

Over the four episodes, Christina Taylor explores the story of the UK peat ban, how the horticulture industry is facing up to the challenge, and how it might shape the future of the sector.

Christina asks:

• Do we need a peat ban?
• Why is the transition to peat-free causing so much division and proving so difficult?
• And as the sector navigates the numerous challenges, she asks what is needed for the sector to survive, if and when peat ban legislation actually comes into effect.
• 
  

In Episode 2: From multi-purpose to pick 'n' mix, Christina explores the two particular challenges faced by garden centres. 

The first is the transition from selling peat-based compost to peat-free mixes. Challenges here include the variable quality of peat-free compost mixes, fears over supply of new ingredients, the higher price of these mixes and how they can help educate amateur gardeners learn to grow their plants. 

Many have found difficulties in germinating seeds prompting fears that thousands of customers, particularly those trying to Grow-Your-Own fruit and veg, may give up, costing garden centres valuable customers in the process.

We hear about the initiatives from thought leaders in the industry on how these challenges can and should be addressed.

The second challenge relates to the sourcing of plants that have been grown in peat-free compost. This is where the interests of retailers intersect with the growers as peat-free adds to cost pressures. Ways to grow so-called tricky plants continue to be elusive prompting fears that we may lose the ability to buy whole categories of plants in the UK.

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Peat is one of the most popular and reliable types of growing media for plants, but peatlands are also a valuable store for carbon and as the UK Government tries to meet net zero targets, a peat ban is on the agenda.

Over the four episodes, Christina Taylor explores the story of the UK peat ban, how the horticulture industry is facing up to the challenge, and how it might shape the future of the sector.

Christina asks:

• Do we need a peat ban?
• Why is the transition to peat-free causing so much division and proving so difficult?
• And as the sector navigates the numerous challenges, she asks what is needed for the sector to survive, if and when peat ban legislation actually comes into effect.

In Episode 1: Do we need a peat ban? Christina unearths why a peat ban is being proposed and outlines some of the arguments for and against. 

It examines the history of peat use in the UK, the properties of peat and peat-free growing media, and begins to unearth why the topic has so bitterly divided the horticulture industry. 

The End of Peat was written, produced and presented by HortWeek digital content manager Christina Taylor

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Here he names his top three tree genera for gardens, three underused tree genera and top five skinny trees for small gardens.

He believes the reliance of nurseries and garden centres on too few ornamental tree cultivars is a bad thing and is critical of overuse of Betula utilis var. jacquemontii and Crataegus Paul's Scarlet, and offers alternatives to them.

Askew also names three awful crab apple cultivars and five brilliant ones for gardens, as well as five brilliant but below-the-radar flowering cherries.

He delves into the pros and cons of growing trees in solid pots, versus airpots, or slotted pots.

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In her article for HortWeek 'Despite CITES, not all doom and gloom for houseplant sales' Imogen reflects on how the reinterpretation of CITES "meant practically a third of my stock became unavailable overnight". 

One of the "Brexit benefits" often quoted was the possibility that more friction across the borders would encourage clients to buy British and boost British-grown plants. As tightening border controls cause unprecedented chaos at BCPs Imogen might be feeling a degree of relief that she took the decision to switch to British houseplant nurseries months ago.

"Cacti, carnivorous plants, the majority of orchids... it's almost impossible to import, which is obviously quite a large part of most houseplant departments.

"Luckily, I was already having looking into UK growers after Brexit - just in case anything got super difficult to import. And at the same time a lot of UK nurseries then opened up to garden centres - Oppenman's plants, Double H, Hills Brothers all opened up to garden centres about the same time.I was already ordering from them so I just got to order in much higher volume.

The only plants she's struggled with are more unusual orchids, she says, but initiatives such as Horti House which allows nurseries to trade as one unit is helping.

"You get some great nurseries in there like Dibley's who do Streptocarpus and Begonia.. and where before you would have to order either half a trolley or a whole trolley, you can now just order by the tray which means you can get a good range of more unusual things without having to kind of put all your eggs in one basket with a specific supplier."

She talks about the challenge of competing with supermarkets with their economies of scale, "but on the other hand, I think if you look at any supermarket at their house plant department, it is all half-dead... where garden centers and other plant shops really stand out is the level of knowledge and customer service they can offer".

At Thomson's she has added labels showing the air miles for plants on sale: "I'd like to introduce UK suppliers and just extend that so you can say this orchid or Monstera or whatever has come from 40 miles away and it's come from this nursery and it's a family -run business. I think it just adds to the value of the plant to be able to give it that origin."

It surprises her that, given the huge rise in popularity of houseplants in recent years, many garden centres fail to put on a good display.

New trends she is seeing include Marimo moss balls. They grow like a couple of millimetres a year. But for some reason they were flying off the shelves." The appeal for many customers she says, are plants that "thrive off neglect".

On peat-free, Imogen says customers are asking for it and garden centres are moving in that direction, ban or no ban. "Horti House is peat-free and again out of necessity I guess the other ones will come into line" she says.

On peat-free composts, she says: "I've noticed more and more people are mixing their own soils. So instead of just getting a packet off the shelf, they're buying a base and then they're buying perlite or coir or coco husk and then blending it for the specific plant".

And will the houseplant boom continue?

"I'm not sure we'll quite get the sky high sales we had during the lockdowns...They've plateaued since, but the interest is consistent. I don't think house plants will go away."

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At a time when horticulture needs to encourage a new wave of young people to come into the industry, this podcast is designed to highlight the multiple and varied career opportunities available.

Hear from people who have found their way into their chosen career through different paths, what their job involves and what it means to them.

In this episode Neville Stein catches up with students from Sparsholt College to discuss their recent experience of exhibiting at RHS Chelsea Flower Show and how they felt about it.

As the Colegave Seabrook Foundation supports students studying horticulture, we were very proud to be sponsors of their exhibit and are thrilled at their success.

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"Other speakers include people from MHCLG, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Heritage Lottery Fund, and also some experience from out in the real world, such as Islington Borough Council" Angela explains and she outlines workshops also to be run at the event.

James addresses the "perennial problem" of parks budget cuts. "Despite there being quite a clear return on any investment in parks, local authority officers are still struggling to protect what they've got, let alone improve the funding for green spaces.

"Our chair of trustees Liz Stuffins attended the previous Government's DEFRA inquiry into urban parks, and they found that both the quality and the quantity of urban parks are in quite serious decline.

This exacerbates the skills shortages suffered by the parks sector but The Midlands Park Forum aims to help overcome this by offering learning events, the conference and webinars "focused on the skills and competencies in a framework that aligns with the Landscape Institute's framework on competencies identifying over 60 skills in six categories, which we've identified as being important for a good park manager. And it's not just about cutting grass. This is people skills, environmental stewardship, income and finance, future visioning and planning, and all the competencies that go with being a professional."

The lack and loss of expertise in the sector combined with budget cuts means some parks "are already losing their green flag awards because the authorities can just no longer attain the quality that's needed to keep those award...some councils now can't even afford the cost of the application, let alone the quality".

With a new Government installed, James acknowledges parks will have to "join the queue" when asking for more state funding but top of his list of asks is "a national urban parks strategy and it needs to be integrated into public health because the benefits of that are both obvious." Close behind is a wish that the Green Jobs Task Force be expanded to include the green spaces sector.

They discuss best practice in the sector and for Angela it means "local spaces that can become the hub of the local community and making sure that people do look at different collaborations locally, whether that's with local charities providing physical activity and exercise or local charities that provide volunteers to look after the green spaces and just making sure that all those things are considered in terms of local people having that space that they've got within 15 minutes of home".

For the future, the Forum wants to "continue to deliver quality service to members" including CPD offerings, via learning events and knowledge sharing.

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In the 'for' corner is cosmos and hollyhocks national collection holder and lobbyist Jonathan Sheppard.

Sheppard says: "You only have to look at places like Hampton Court where they have the peat-free garden where the plant list was massive. I've never seen a plant list as long which showed people that you can grow without peat. So I'm just wholly not convinced that you can't be a successful grower. But then I guess it depends on what do we mean by a successful grower. I just don't want to see rewards being given when there's an RHS sustainability strategy when using peat...It must be the wrong thing to do, given the science that we know about how much CO2 digging this cheap product up emits."

And in the 'not so sure' corner we have dahlia and sweet pea grower Darren Everest.

Darren argues: "Just for example in the National Dahlia Society, you try finding me one of the top elite growersn that don't use peat and I think you'll struggle to find any...growing flowers to national level requires a lot of time and years of knowledge and experience growing and I haven't found anybody online yet, certainly in the dahlia world, that has found a suitable non-peat-based product. "

HortWeek editor Matthew Appleby hosts the discussion which focuses on efforts to end peat use by growers and RHS exhibitors.

The pair reflect on their experience of using peat free and debate how significant the carbon emissions cuts achieved by ending peat use in horticulture will be.

The RHS plans to end peat use from 2026 and they ponder how this ban will affect different growers, awards, whether shows will attract fewer exhibitors and crucially, how it can be policed.

For more information on growers and garden retailers going peat free, see https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/peat

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Sam describes what the current situation in the industry is with regards to IPM planning and details the 'hierarchy of control', which includes cultural, biological, physical and chemical methods.

He gives examples of the different types of controls and talks about regulations for biological control.

Sam warns that chemical control is a last option and lists some of the many new restrictions on chemicals that are coming in.

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The podcast was recorded on day 2 of GroundsFest amongst the hustle and bustle of the show. HortWeek senior reporter Rachael Forsyth spoke with Chris Bassett, event director at GroundsFest, Jonathan Snowball head of professional at Husqvarna and David Fisher head of landscape and rural at LANTRA about how the show has been going so far.

Snowball explained that Husqvarna took advantage of the outdoor space making its entire stand a live demo area – one section for chainsaws and another for robotic lawn mowers and ride on machines. Bassett explained that this was a USP when setting up GroundsFest, allowing exhibitors to have that flexibility with their space and offering something different for visitors. 

Fisher said conversations at the show centred around the skills shortage with LANTRA facilitating a “well attended” seminar on the challenges and opportunities in the amenity sector. Questions arose around where the next generation is coming from, keeping people in the industry, and how we can best show off what careers and pathways look like. 

Bassett said the show has had really good feedback so far, and while you will never get 100% positive feedback the team is ready to make tweaks based on feedback for next year. Overall, though, Bassett said visitors are enjoying being able to get their hands on the kit and test it.

See: www.groundsfest.com 

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He studied at Cannington and Pershore College of Horticulture and after a spell working Germany, he developed and managed Hillier Nurseries' container grown and seed propagation nurseries for nine years.

For the following 35 years, Alan built up Cleeve Nursery and Garden Centre, near Bristol and alongside hi wife Felicity, co-presented the long-standing ‘Garden Calendar’ TV programme.

On the podcast Alan talks about his role at the HTA including presiding over changes in structure and strategy.

He discusses his desire to shift the terminology and emphasis of production horticulture from 'ornamental' to 'environmental' horticulture which runs alongside the topics the HTA engages with, including with the Government. These topics include the issues of trade and border checks, "the extra costs [growers] incur... and we continue to apply pressure to try and resolve the issues that are there. We also have huge concern about the few inspections that there are, which means that we are a threat in terms of importing pests and diseases which could be harmful to our industry and indeed to the country as a whole".

He discusses the on-going shift away from peat. In the absence of official figures (since 2022) he estimates garden centre use of peat-based growing media is down to around 10%, but the picture with growers is more complex.

"Some have been growing peat-free for quite some time. Others are still trialling and finding out what medium works for them and how to handle growing plants in peat -free compost and others may not have even started. But we are there to support our members in this transition and we'll continue to do that."

He and HortWeek editor Matt Appleby discuss the Lords Parliamentary horticultural inquiry of 2023 and the impact, if any, it has had since on the sector, which has partly been disrupted by the arrival of a new Government, Alan points out.

But. Alan says, he believes the HTA is well-placed to influence the new administration as an institution which represents growers, landscapers and retailers. He talks about initiatives such as inviting MPs to visit growers on site and the opportunity exhibiting at Chelsea gives the HTA to meet them in a "in a more relaxed mood'.

Matt and Alan talk about the health of horticulture shows including collaborations with GIMA, Alan's enthusiasm for more regional events and the HTA's own conference taking place on September 25 at the International Conference Centre in Birmingham.

And as he celebrates his 50th wedding anniversary, he contemplates life after the HTA and what it might hold as well as his latest Desert Island plant.

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"We're Kew's younger, bigger and wilder sister and very much a botanic garden with a purpose...a site of horticultural and scientific excellence and a living laboratory where groundbreaking science projects are taking place as well. So lots of beautiful gardens, beautiful spots to come and visit, but some really important science and horticultural work going on as well."

After Kew released a report detailing risks to over half of its 11,000 trees, Wakehurst will carry out a similar exercise next year: "it's a different challenge, but absolutely we're thinking about the resilience of the planting".

She talks about the effects of climate change on the garden, with respect not just to plants, but impacts for visitors and scientists working at the centre.

Related to this, Wakehurst has been "championing meadows" via it's Meadowland feature this summer (until September 10) and has a focus on threatened and rare UK habitats which have been combined with newly commissioned pieces of contemporary art to enhance the ecological and educational aspects.

Wakehurst is home to Kew's Millennium Seed Bank, which houses more than 2.4 billion seeds from around the world and which will celebrate its 25th birthday next year.

Among research programs currently live at the garden Sue highlights Nature Unlocked, "which is helping us to use Wakehurst as a living laboratory, looking at it as an ecosystem observatory. We're looking at pollinators and carbon, but also well-being and the different kinds of landscapes and environments that people get the most benefit from". 

The research project will be reflected in features in visitor areas such as the children's garden which will house a bee bank, a rebuilt mud kitchen and edible meadow.

Next year will also see the 60th anniversary of Kew's presence at Wakehurst and the garden plans to bring "to life that story of being a living laboratory so that visitors really know that they are visiting somewhere that is really making a difference in terms of all of the work we need to do around climate change and habitat loss as well."

Previously Sue was director of learning at the Science Museum Group and before that you were head of learning and national partnerships at the British Museum and is familiar with "taking sometimes quite complicated and specialist content and then working with that in a variety of different ways to bring it to as many people as possible" and she plans to bring these skills to bear at Wakehurst.

Wakehurst has enlisted two champions, TV GP Dr. Amir Khan and BBC Springwatch presenter Megan McCubbin to help "amplify our message and spread the word about this incredible wild botanic garden that we have." Local resident and A-list actor Cate Blanchett has made a promotional video for the garden and it is hoped she will have more involvement in the future.

The aim is to build on the 400,000 visitors Wakehurst receives every year and hopes to "reach people who might not know about us" through access schemes and community work. 

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It combines indoor business and education opportunities with outdoor demonstrations and on the evening of the 10 September there is a live music festival for visitors to network and unwind. 

HortWeek senior reporter Rachael Forsyth speaks with Chris Bassett, event director at GroundsFest about what to expect from this year's show, as well as exhibitors Wayne Grills chief executive at BALI, and Ian Graham chairman of Amenity Forum about the benefits of attending and exhibiting. 

2023 was the show’s inaugural year, but its success has meant additional space has been added both indoor and outdoors. Bassett explains that the success also accelerated the goal of reinvesting profits from GroundsFest back into the industry to support education through the GroundsFest Education Fund.

Grills explains that he attended as a seminal panellist and visitor last year which encouraged him to have a BALI presence at the event this year, with the association hosting its AGM at the show. Graham describes why Complete Weed Control was drawn back to the world of exhibitions through GroundsFest, as well as what visitors can expect from Amenity Forum at the event. 

See: www.groundsfest.com 

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This episode was recorded on location at Ball Colegrave where the great and the good from the horticultural industry gathered to celebrate 30 years of the Colegrave Foundation. In this episode Neville Stein talks to seasoned professionals as well as recent recipients of a bursary from the foundation and discusses the sense of community that makes the industry such a great one to work in. 

Make sure you never miss a Horticulture Week podcast! Subscribe to or Follow Horticulture Week podcasts via Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your preferred podcast platform. 

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Angus Soft Fruits sells to the major multiples in UK, food service and wholesale and also exports fruit around the world to Europe, the Middle East and Asia. 

Angus is launching two revolutionary raspberry varieties: AVA™ Monet and AVA™ Dali - so named because they are, “works of art!” Lucy explains how they represent a "significant breakthrough in raspberry cultivation".

With UK growers squeezed between increased challenges for UK growers due to production and labour costs and ever-rising demands from supermarkets, the higher yield and high quality of the new breeds will "enable [Angus's growers] to sell the fruit at a higher price".

She discusses trends in customer tastes and their expectations and how Angus Soft Fruits breeding program is aiming to meet these for strawberries, blackberries, raspberries and blueberries.

Health, wellness and nutrition are big areas of interest as well as environmental impact of food and ethical farming practices, she says, which need to be balanced against demands for cheap, large, tasty fruits available all year round.

She discusses how the season, relative production performance for fruits has gone in 2024.

"We're also looking internationally to see how our varieties can perform in other climates. So we've got trials in Southern Europe and Morocco to sort of see how these varieties could perform in an import perspective, which would obviously allow for year-round production of our Ava berries, which is really exciting and it's a fantastic opportunity for growers around Europe as well as the UK", she says.

This year is Angus Soft Fruits 30th anniversary which will be celebrated in its annual conference held in November in Scotland which will feature talks from people from across the industry sharing their insights, updates and tech and what is driving innovation in the industry. "It's just a fantastic opportunity to get the whole team together, all of our growers and just celebrate 30 fantastic years."

Lucy discusses her route to her current role, why Tayside is so good for soft fruit growing and what Angus is doing on sustainability, coping with climate change and improving disease resistance and tolerance to help reduce pesticide use.

"Our Scottish growers have been working with AgriCalc to measure their carbon footprints on their farms since 2023 and they've already reduced their carbon emissions per kilogram of fruit by 28% which is just fantastic" she says, highlighting changes to lighting, and food waste among other measures towards net zero goals.

As the new Government continues to bed in, Lucy talks about her support for the six priority areas outlined by the British Berry Growers Association which include measures for seasonal labour, planning, exports and hopes for a 'grower charter'.

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Edwin speaks about the role of smartphones in loyalty campaigns as the older generation uses social media more.

Research from KPMG showed that more than 80% of the consumers expect a mobile-based loyalty programme. If you retired aged 65 in 2020, you spent over 20 years with computers.

Edwin says there are a lot of misunderstandings. Some UK customer are mobile-only and that works really well. This is not about who your current customers are, but who your ideal future customer is. The solution is also to integrate iOS and Android wallets to make it mobile-based 

He also gives tip about chasing inactive customers and how to get 40% of them back in-store in two weeks using interaction, inspiration and information.

Edwin also speaks about Green Solutions/Haymarket's acquisition of Garden Connect, what Green Solutions does and what we've seen with shofts from loyalty printed vouchers to emails/apps.

He says personalisation, weather-dependent campaigns and using AI can all help loyalty programmes.

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Four Oaks is the UK’s leading international exhibition for the whole of commercial horticulture. From production to point-of-sale, the breadth of exhibits on display is the show’s strength, attracting a broad visitor base. The event takes place on a 23-acre nursery site in Cheshire UK, close to the Jodrell Bank Radio Telescope, covering an area of 13,000m² under glass with additional outdoor areas. The 52nd show takes place this September 3rd & 4th and organisers urge potential exhibitors to contact them about space ASAP because they expect to sell out.

Bent and Spencer reveal they have both been attending the show for more than 20 years each and find it offers plants and products they can't find anywhere else.

They share top tips for getting the most out of visiting the show and say what makes the event so unique and important to the industry as a whole.

See https://www.fouroaks-tradeshow.com/

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"When football pitches are getting ready for big tournaments, they undergo a lot of work...it could be that some of that weather has either stopped work being able to be done. Or the work that was done had to be redone because maybe it was ruined with the torrential rain that we had."

"It's really difficult because there's such a large expectation on turf managers and there's nothing they can do about the weather...as a turf manager, that's your pride and joy. That's your pitch and you've got it on the world stage...it must be devastating for some of those turf managers to be looking at some of the pitches and getting the comments that are coming back to them."

She discusses the impact of climate change and and extreme weather that is making a the tricky job of turf managers more challenging still with an increase in pest and diseases another side effect.

Time was when turf managers would cure everything with a liberal spray of chemicals but "things have changed" Sally explains and the new way is an "integrated method" to help prevent or mitigate pests and diseases including environmental measures, air regulation, cutting heights and feed programmes.

As with other sectors "the staff levels are getting worrying" as replacing those retiring can prove difficult she says. She echos calls for more discussion of horticulture in schools to help boost the sector's profile.

Sally welcomes new technology as robotic mowers and automated irrigation systems can help free staff up to carry out other tasks.

She also talks through the challenges of those notorious turf foes, chafer grubs and leatherjackets.

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They talk about their key takeaways from a recent visit to the USA including ag-tech, driven in part by scarcity and the high cost of labour, and where "they are definitely ahead of where we are in the UK" but also efficient water use, spearheaded in water-scarce California but also the use of branding and competition between large fruit brands.

Alana explains the aims of fruit farming group NextGen which despite its focus on the next generation of fruit farmers, is "not limited to that because we need the industry experts to come and teach the next generation".

The group unites people from across the various fruit-growing sectors to provide "cross-industry information that can be very, very useful" through networking events and farm visits.

"I think it's also good to solidify that with some proper scientific learning. So I'd like to introduce a few technical days" says Alana, who also has ambitions of creating the UK's first conference for fruit growers.

The group went to California to see how the US growers are coping with labour challenges.

The UK seasonal worker scheme is among the issues Oli and Alana want to see the new Labour Government address as well as industry funding and food and environmental policy.

After a particularly wet growing season in 2024, they reflect on how their crops have fared with blueberries enjoying the conditions in particular, a crop they both agree has significant potential for growth.

On strawberries, Oli says:

"I think, fair to say, prices over the past few years have been challenging, growth returns have been challenging as the industry has regularly reported. It's still challenging but it's a lot more manageable than it has been for the past couple of years. So we need to see continued increase in returns for the industry to be sustainable and get back to where it was a few years ago.

"I think we are going to see shortages of product throughout the season at certain points. And I know some of our customers are importing throughout the season as well. So that is showing a weakening of British supply throughout what has traditionally been a season fully catered for with local production."

Water supply is a major concern, says Oli who began a plan to build a reservoir a year three years ago with two more to go as part of his plan to ensure water security for his business. He is also aiming for Net Zero for 2040:

"As far as on-the-ground changes at the moment, I think we need to build growing structures that are suitable for changing climates. So we need to be ready for more variation in temperature, colder winters, hotter summers, and more set weather patterns."

As for the future, technology and innovation will play a large part, says Alana who has just installed a new grader with AI.

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Mike Berners-Lee wrote about the carbon footprint of 100 things in 2010's How Bad Are Bananas. As many businesses attempt to go carbon neutral, ethical and environmental sourcing is more of an issue than ever.

In her book, Louise interviews banana, potato and avocado experts, adds some history and scientific references plus some personal worries related to her own baby in an attempt to bring clarity to the dilemma many consumers face when choosing what to eat.

Louise discusses the use of avocados, beloved of millenials and vegetarians, and long used by anti-vegetarian campaigners as a stick to tell them they are being bad for the planet. She talks about how much less carbon is produced importing avocados from abroad compared to producing beef in Britain. Avocados are a lot less bad than meat and airfreighted asparagus, but are worse than UK-grown potatoes, she says.

For apples, English Apples and Pears' Ali Capper is the interviewee and Louise discusses how the loss of apple biodiversity is a cause for anxiety.

She concludes that the perfect diet does not exist and that food stories (the growing and selling of plants) are 'complex'. 

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Fast-forward 7 years and he has partnered with The Black Gardener Danny Clarke to take the Hands Off Mangrove garden to Chelsea Flower Show, become and RHS ambassador, appeared on Your Garden Made Perfect (BBC1) and Alan Titchmarsh's Gardening Club (ITVX). 

Talking to senior reporter Rachael Forsyth on the podcast, they first discuss the Peter Rabbit-inspired community garden that Grow to Know worked on in partnership with publisher Penguin Random House that typifies Tayshan's philosophy as a gardener.

"It was otherwise an unused bit of land in the school and now it's one of the most used bits of the school where the kids, at every opportunity, just try to be in that space.

"[It's] just to see how magical that is for the children ... threading in those ideas around kind of food security and growing our own food and biodiversity and the importance of wildlife in, especially in, urban space.

Though Tayshan clearly seeks and finds solace and beauty in plants, the driver behind his career is activism, but he says he's not expecting any Government to respond to lobbying to support horticulture for education, well-being or the environment:

"I'm kind of tired of asking now and I think we just got to do, so, I'd like to think that we're leading by example of what we're doing... I think it's for the people and for the local organisations and grassroots organisations to show the way rather than relying on those who clearly just can't deliver."

He queries why for more than a century RHS Chelsea Flower Show has "existed on the more affluent side of the borough, but has never had any impacts on North Kensington. 

"In North Kensington, you can expect to live on average 20 years less than someone who lives in South Kensington.... that stark bit of data really inspires the need to build that bridge to a place that is filled with resource, filled with beauty, filled with magic, filled with nature, yet there are people who are suffering on the outside of those boundaries.

"It is very political and I think we have to understand that from the very get-go and through that lens...When I tell you that people are living 20 years less and a big influencing factor of that is nature access, then it should be taken seriously.

Tayshan Hayden-Smith's book, Small Space Revolution, Planting Seeds of Change in Your Community, is "an amalgamation of my experiences, my insights, my thoughts, but also the thoughts, experiences and insights of many other people around the world. And so there's case studies in the book, there's ideas and thoughts, there's interviews, there's how-tos. And so hopefully you can open a book at any page and take some inspiration...I guess it will hopefully activate the activism within [readers].

"Our intention is to bring gardening, horticulture, nature, to the fore to the people that could really do with it, the people in survival mode on the 10th floor of tower blocks... For me if we can engage those people then we can engage anyone."

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The podcast was recorded shortly after the Perennial Quiz in February. HortWeek editor Matt Appleby and Deric, both on the 'Horticulture Geeks' team, discuss how they fared.

Deric talks about his role and about Glendale's current business focus as it seeks to diversify and expand its commercial offering.

He discusses the differences between private and council work in terms of client expectations and time pressure and how much competition Glendale faces in the sector.

As the firm looks to expand its commercial business (it currently accounts for 10% of Glendale's revenue) Deric talks about the challenges of staffing and attracting people into the landscape maintenance and contracting sector.

This brings him to the work Glendale is doing with His Majesty's Prison Service as part of the New Futures Network initiative "which is basically around trying to get together employers and ex-offenders in order to offer employment on release. What is known is that if a prisoner leaves prison and they have accommodation and they have employment, the chances or the likelihood of them re -offending reduces significantly.

"So it seemed fairly straightforward to us at Glendale that it was the right thing to do...It's not our place to judge these people about why they've been in prison. That's been done... They've done their time. They are now out of prison as an ex-offender and just a member of society. And if we want our society to be improved, which is sort of what Glendale's about )you know, we're about improving green spaces that we live in and enjoy) then it's right that we're doing these sorts of things for members of society.

"The other thing, commercially, what was appealing about it is that the prison population is a ready supplier of labour. Most of the people coming out find themselves in need of a job and they actually get really good experience."

He talks about his background and the formative role played by his father who set up Civic Trees in the 1960s which was part of the post-war drive to plant trees and who was an innovator who developed pioneering technology and techniques to enable trees to be moved, rather than cut down.

Deric retains a strong connection to trees to this day. He talks about his ongoing interest in tree nurseries and reveals, as all our podcast guests do, his Desert Island Plant.

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Modiform offers solutions in the field of growing, transport, and packaging systems for the horticultural sector based on recycled raw materials.

As one of the first horti-packaging companies to start looking into the recycling of plastic, Peter and Shaun talk about how and why they started the business

They discuss how the horticulture sector will be affected by plastic taxes such as the 'Plastic Packaging Tax' (PPT), 'Packaging Recovery Notes' (PRNs) and 'Extended Producer Responsibility' (EPR).

They discuss how the sector can go further in making packaging more sustainable and whether the UK could implement a reusable transport trays scheme, as Europe is doing with the European Transport Tray.

Modiform has just entered the online retail sector with your plant delivery packaging and why they have chosen to use moulded fibre only. 

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The retiring Conservative MP believes more can also be done on labour shortages. He supports a needs-based policy so sectors with shortages have sector-specific visas, and a 10-year plus seasonal worker scheme maintained at current worker levels.

After standing down ahead of the July 4 general election, Eustice formed the Penbroath environmental and agricultural consultancy. He discusses his political legacy from his nine-year stint as a Defra minister, including almost three as secretary of state until 2022; they include the Environment, Agriculture and Fishery Acts and the transition from EU subsidies to new schemes. He also reflects on working through a "turbulent time" with Brexit, Covid and Ukraine happening during his tenure.

On plant imports, he argues the UK has been "incredibly generous" to the EU on plant imports and that has not been reciprocated with UK exports to the EU. Importers may find BCPs frustrating, but they should be buying from British nurseries where they know the health status of plants he says. Eustice does admit he would have timed the implementation better (delayed due to Covid, the Ukraine war and having to re-recruit border staff). Despite "teething problems" he maintains BCPs are the most proportionate and risk-based approach to stopping plant pests and diseases entering the UK.

On peat, he expresses frustration that his successor at Defra ,Therese Coffey, brough forward peat ban plans without a legislative vehicle. The consequent "uncertainty" was a "terrible mistake". Eustice wanted to ban garden centre bagged sales but to delay commercial peat bans on growers until 2030, with veg module bans not implemented until 2035-40. He wants to see a return to that approach.

He discusses how the new Government, be it Tory or Labour, could bring elements of the peat ban into force including using secondary regulation to restrict sales under the Environment Act's 'protecting resources' section, though the current the Government did not think that would work. A ban on all retail sales would get round how to make sure imports grown in peat do not undercut the UK market.

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Applications to the Tree Council's small grants fund [under £500] have doubled in the last 12 months. National Tree Week at the end of 2023 reached an estimated 30 million people and a schools programme is helping engage younger people, helping ease their 'eco-anxiety' along the way:

"We even got to deliver a lesson at Number 10 [Downing Street] ...which was a fabulous opportunity for the pupils to see the garden there, the beautiful London plane trees."

Tree Council relies upon a network of volunteer tree wardens around the UK, has a £2m program funding108 different projects with Network Rail.

The organisation encourages community groups to use local or their own nurseries for a supply of "bio-secure trees". And this community activity may have more benefits than one might imagine:

"There is evidence that trees planted with love and care do better. We're five years into a hedge planting trial with Network Rail at Hadley Wood in North London...and five years in, the hedges planted by the volunteers are four meters tall and have 96% survival rate, whereas those planted by the contractors are two meters tall - that's half - and a 64% survival rate," all of which is a boon to the well-documented benefits of trees - pollution mitigation, urban cooling, flood mitigation, well-being uplift and so on. A full report on the findings is to be produced in due course.

But climate change and changes to previously dependable seasonal patterns has led her to wonder whether National Tree Week (which encourages people to plant trees in their communities), shoudl be made later.

"The warmer autumns means the trees become dormant later, the early spring brings them back to life sooner."

As concern grows over the UK's ability to meet Government tree planting targets, Lom says: "They didn't meet their targets, but the good news is that the nation did plant 40% more trees last season than they did the season before. And the aim is that will escalate year on year on year, but it takes time and everyone has to play their part. I know when I've spoken to nursery, they've said, we need time to be able to generate the stock."

As local authorities wrestle with extreme pressure on council budgets Lom insists that having a tree strategy should be a priority:

On plans for 2024 Lom says the schools programme will continue, tree survival studies and work with DEFRA looking at establishing a methodology for tree survival and tree establishment will all figure.

Tree Council is also collaborating with Oxford University on a mistletoe mapping project, a keystone species with complex interactions with trees.

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HortWeek is delighted to present the Cultivate Your Future podcast, in partnership with the Colegrave Seabrook Foundation and sponsors MorePeople.

At a time when horticulture needs to encourage a new wave of young people to come into the industry, this podcast is designed to highlight the multiple and varied career opportunities available.

Hear from people who have found their way into their chosen career through different paths, what their job involves and what it means to them.

Neal Ritson began his career in the music industry but having discovered horticulture he is now a grower of ornamental bedding plants, pots and baskets for a large scale nursery in West Lancashire.

In this podcast Neal talks about his journey in horticulture and provides some wise advice for anyone considering a career change

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At a time when horticulture needs to encourage a new wave of young people to come into the industry, this podcast is designed to highlight the multiple and varied career opportunities available.

Hear from people who have found their way into their chosen career through different paths, what their job involves and what it means to them.

In this episode ex professional cyclist, Connie Hudson describes her journey from cycling to horticulture. 

Connie describes what her life was like in the cycling world and discusses the career change she has to train as a gardener at John Massey's garden at Ashwood Nurseries

Connie's story highlights that anyone, at any age can make a move into the horticultural industry.

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Austin, who owns the only retail nursery that also has a pub on site, in Sarn, mid-Wales, talks about the appeal of peonies, peony growing tips for gardeners and professionals, her favourite peonies, her famous family and how her nursery business coped during lockdown. It saw x6 times mail order growth overnight in April 2020.

She explains why she has retired from shows and is critical of Government policy towards retail nurseries. Austin also tells us what plants she is breeding and what the future is for growers and plant breeders like herself.

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ICL Hort Science Live explore the latest technologies and management practices growers need to produce quality resilient plants in sustainable media.

Wilson will lead the ‘How to rethink plant nutrition’workstation, taking growers through ICL’s 2024 peat-free Osmocote 5 trials, exploring different rates and longevities. He will highlight the specific nutrition challenges of peat-free growing media and explain how the latest generation of water soluble and CRFs can address any issues. 

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At a time when horticulture needs to encourage a new wave of young people to come into the industry, this podcast is designed to highlight the multiple and varied career opportunities available.

Hear from people who have found their way into their chosen career through different paths, what their job involves and what it means to them.

In this podcast from the Colegrave Seabrook Foundation, trustee Neville Stein hosts a discussion with Level 2 Horticulture students from Sparsholt College in Hampshire.

Sparsholt College teamed up with The Colegrave Seabrook Foundation to create Sparsholt’s 2024 RHS Chelsea Flower Show Discovery entry display entitled ‘Plants, Routes & Branches’.

We hear from Chloe, Hayden, Jessica and Joshua as they prepare to build and promote their Chelsea Flower Show exhibit.

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He speaks to HortWeek about how the CWGC will be at the heart of many D-Day events in the UK and France, and is a global leader in commemoration. The

‘Lighting their Legacies’ Torch of Commemoration Roadshow is also being organised by the CWGC, culminating in the lighting of every CWGC grave in Normandy.

A trustee of Kew Gardens, and president of the Chartered Institute of Horticulture, he talks about those roles, as well as the work that’s been done to ensure the CWGC’s grave sites are in top condition for the D-Day 80 commemoration events.

He details how climate change is driving a change in long-term strategy for cemetery maintenance – such as increased use of partial rewilding, reducing irrigation, and careful selection of plants to provide beautiful places of remembrance while also being sustainable.

Richardson discusses the change of perceptions on what is considered “beautiful” being led by sustainable practices – moving away from the English garden green grass and red roses look to more natural and local decision-making.

He also outlines·the need to recruit younger people to be part of maintaining such a vital part of honouring the fallen and leading the way in sustainable remembrance for years to come.

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A trained horticulturist and landscape architect, he spent some years practising and teaching landscape design but has spent most of his career a professional adviser to Government and other bodies including the National Trust, National Grid and energy regulator Ofgem.

Fornerly a presenter of BBC Countryfile, his 1986 film Blue Tits and Bumblebees is often credited with starting the trend towards gardening with nature.

Back in 1979 Baines bucked the trend in a chemical-driven gardening decade and created a "rich habitat garden" for Gardeners World. "At that stage, I just remember vividly...Peter [Seabrook] looking at me and saying..'you really think Britain's gardeners are going to be interested in that?' It was a supreme put down, really. And then they were absolutely avalanched with requests for the leaflet that I'd produced about how to create a rich habitat garden."

With his best-selling book How to Make a Wildlife Garden continuously in print for almost 40 years, a new expanded edition was published in 2023 as an RHS classic, he reflects on where nature gardening and rewilding is today.

His new book RHS Companion to Wildlife Gardening updated edition is out now.

With Biodiversity Net Gain now in legislation, Baines shares his concerns: "If the outcome of the new legislation is that more creative partnership with the Wildlife Trust and others managing the investment that's required from the developers, that would be brilliant...If it finishes up with just little patches of trees planted on, in many cases, landscape, which is rather more valuable without its trees for wildlife than it will be with trees on it, then that will be a wasted opportunity. But I'm eternally optimistic."

He discusses the pros and cons of bird feeding and the prospects for and importance of local parks in this election year.

"It's wonderful to have national parks out in the countryside, but actually most people most of the time need access to green space right where they live and work. And we need to take that much more seriously because neglect and lack of safety in those spaces puts people off going there."

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ICL's Sam Rivers says there is confusion about what biostimulants are: micro-organisms that when applied to plants stimulate natural processes. They are not replacements for nutrition or IPM but can help overcome issues in plant production.

Different types of biostimulants include beneficial bacteria and fungi, seaweed, humic and brewer's yeast-based products and many more; they are described as multivitamins for plants.

Biostimulants work as 'natural elicitors', or by inducing plant growth hormones or other methods.

Benefits to using biostimulants in peat-free growing media include adding microbes to sterilised ingredients to boost growth. 

Driving the use of biostimulants is EU-wide legal moves to chemical pesticide reduction by 50% by 2030. Sustainable Use Directive hierarchy of controls places biostimulants higher than pesticides, helping result in a shift to biostimulants Europe-wide.

Current legislation on biostimulants in the UK is quite relaxed but they must not claim 'control' of pest and diseases or having a fertiliser effect or else they have to be officially registered. Regulations for biostimulants in the EU are stricter with more standards around quantifying claims as a fertiliser. Rivers says this is a good thing as its supports any claims being made and will take "snake oils" off the market as they will need to much work to remain available. The UK could follow suit with the EU at some point.

An example of a product registered under the new standards is ICL's wetting agent H2Pro TriSmart, now the first registered as 'non-microbial biostimulant' under the latest EU Fertilizing Product Regulation (FPR) (1009/2019.

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Fargro's interest in drones is part of a number of projects on data-driven decision-making for protected horticulture "to try and give a holistic view for agronomists and growers so they actually get some actionable insights" to help them prioritise their activities.

Hopkins talks about the shortage of agronomists and how they are trying to attract a new generation of 'digital natives'. But the new technology puts power and information directly into growers' hands.

On robotics, he expresses a sense of "frustration" with the slow progress, especially in robotic harvesting. He talks about the funding struggles for the sector to help them bring new tech to market. He discusses how unlike in agriculture, horticulture still relies on "not cheap" manual labour. He calls for the Government to step up with Innovate UK funding but he anticipates "a long haul".

On sustainability, he advocates first efficiency measures, but also discusses the need to improve plastic reduction and recyclability. "The problem is that [non plastics] nearly always cost more than the plastic alternatives" he says, though he believes often suppliers could absorb some of these extra costs.

Increased use of organic and controlled-release fertilisers are yielding good results and also enjoy a cost advantage, he adds.

With the ascension of King Charles III to the throne, Royal Warrant holders, including Fargro, are having to re-apply and "there's a huge emphasis on sustainability and the whole environmental social governance element of it - ethical trading as well." In the transition away from peat he percieves the change is being led by retailers and consumers, though "it's all about perception as well as the reality of sustainability".

Fargro has put together a consortium of waste operatives and recyclers to work with growers to make collection and recycling of plastics easier. But above all he believes the key question is "Is there an economic benefit to it? and how can we use that to drive the sustainability agenda?"

On fairness in the supply chain, he heard Rishi Sunak promise improvements for fresh produce in a very "uneven playing field", but coming behind dairy, poultry and eggs, he wonders how quickly horticultural growers can expect meaningful change. He expects ornamental growers to "be ignored entirely" and face a battle to protect or improve their margins.

Hopkins talks through business changes, including consolidation in the customer base and signs that glass is being taken up by growers.

Fargro itself is looking to diversify including to improve its amenity offering.

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At a time when horticulture needs to encourage a new wave of young people to come into the industry, this podcast is designed to highlight the multiple and varied career opportunities available.

Hear from people who have found their way into their chosen career through different paths, what their job involves and what it means to them.

Oli Hilbourne is the founder and CEO of Outfield, an agritech company using technology to shape the future of farming. In this podcast Oli talks about the potential for drone technology and explains how his business is helping owners of orchards and vineyards gather data on crop yields. 

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At a time when horticulture needs to encourage a new wave of young people to come into the industry, this podcast is designed to highlight the multiple and varied career opportunities available.

This week Neville Stein speaks to plant pathologist, Laura Bouvet, the Knowledge and Innovation Facilitator for Agr-TechE.

She works with farmers to support the implementation of new technologies. In this podcast Laura considers innovative practices in agriculture and horticulture and explores how to develop a career in agritech.

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He says growers should talk to policymakers using policy asks from the HTA, AIC and NFU. Key issues are peat, plant health, plant protection products and water.

On crop protection he says there is still no National Action Plan and why that is significant. He says he would like CRD to be an "enabler" so the industry can use the full range of plant protection products, but that would require a change of culture from being a regulator.

On peat-free transition, he speaks about how demand is now coming from consumers and retailers. He says he would be more comfortable that reduction is driven by demand rather than legislation, which is unlikely to happen anytime soon anyway. Peat-free should be framed as an opportunity for growers to get on the right side of consumer sentiment. A 'cliff edge risk' exists because there will be a lack of production in the UK and imports could rise.

Target Border Operating Model issues remain because this looks like a bad idea for 'plants for planting' as they are fragile and come in groupage loads. Inspection points could become 'infection points' and actually spread and pests and diseases he argues. Places of Destination inspections are his preferred option.

A further issue is water. Growers need larger reservoirs. We have feast or famine at the moment.

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At a time when horticulture needs to encourage a new wave of young people to come into the industry, this podcast is designed to highlight the multiple and varied career opportunities available.

Hear from people who have found their way into their chosen career through different paths, what their job involves and what it means to them.

This week Neville Stein speaks to Phil Tremayne is the general manager of The Association of Professional Landscapers with more than three decades in the horticultural industry. Trained as a grower, Phil has moved through many aspects of the industry, but has spent the last 10 years with HTA and eight of those managing The Association of Professional Landscapers. In this podcast Phil describes the landscaping industry and discusses what opportunities are available in this exciting sector.

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We discover why water quality is so important and what characteristics you look at to determine water quality.

Sam gives vital information on how you determine your water chemical properties and why is conductivity so important.

He also relays important insight about pH, including the main differences between growing media pH and water pH.

Sam gives us the lowdown on the main considerations when using hard water and any options for people who have it. He also discusses the main considerations when using soft water and options for people using that more preferable type of water.

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At a time when horticulture needs to encourage a new wave of young people to come into the industry, this podcast is designed to highlight the multiple and varied career opportunities available.

Hear from people who have found their way into their chosen career through different paths, what their job involves and what it means to them.

This week Neville Stein speaks to Anna Mcloughlin, a recent graduate from the College of Agriculture Food & Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) in Northern Ireland.

Anna took home the Gold award at APL WorldSkills national finals which took place in November 2023 in Oldham, Greater Manchester. Very recently Anna has also been recognised by the Association of Professional Landscapers as a 'rising star' in the sector.  

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The event takes place on a 23-acre nursery site in Cheshire UK, close to the Jodrell Bank Radio Telescope, covering an area of 13,000m² under glass with additional outdoor areas. The 52nd show takes place this September 3rd & 4th and organisers urge potential exhibitors to contact them about space ASAP because they expect to sell out.

HortWeek editor Matt Appleby talks to Zelari Piante's Stefano Sogni and Wyevale Nurseries' Kyle Ross about the benefits of participating at the Four Oaks Trade Show, what exhibiting entails as an overseas exhibitor and a UK nursery, and their top tips for getting the most out of the show.

They give recommendations for logistics, marketing, restaurants (Stefano reveals he's a big fan of British food) and accommodation. Kyle tells a story about a top footballer he met at the show.

The nurserymen talk about their plans for Four Oaks 2024, to be held at Lower Withington, Cheshire on 3-4 September 2024. https://www.fouroaks-tradeshow.com/

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Dubbed a "green jobs guarantee" for a post-secondary school-age young people. Programme director Billy Knowles explains:

"The Youth Environmental Service is an organisation that we set up with the idea that what would happen if every young person had the opportunity to do a year of paid environmental work.

"It's a great way to give something back, it's a great way to develop skills, and it's a great way to build connections to all of the other young people who are also worrying about the same problems [climate change, nature degradation and biodiversity collapse].

After more than two and half years of campaigning, delegates at a Royal Parks Guild Annual Discovery Day voted 48-6 in favour of the idea of a green jobs guarantee. 

Knowles acknowledged some do not like the idea of national service because they think it would be mandatory, but he said it would be volunteer-based and would pay living wage for a year's work. The first pilot New To Nature pilot helped 97 young people into work and a new pilot will focus on the North West.

One of horticulture's key challenges, Billy says, is improving access and diversity:

"Sometimes we aren't sensitive enough to the variety of different needs and challenges there might be. A great example of this is physical access. If you're a young person who's grown up living in a city, and you might come from a sort of socioeconomically disadvantaged background, parents haven't got a huge amount of money to spend there, you might not have your access to your own form of transport, you might be used to taking public transport. How are you then going to go out and work in a sort of fairly rural role and an opportunity that would be fantastic otherwise, but you just can't physically get to?"

The scheme aims to create "10,000 paid opportunities per year for young people working across nature, net zero and circular economy organisations and the Labour Party has already shown support for the plan. But Billy says "neither party has any real clear idea on how they're going to do that. What we offer is the answer to that question, how you create those green jobs and you start building that workforce.

"The policy isn't to fund every single one of the 10,000 jobs, it's to fund a small number and to create the framework around which other organisations are able to create their own.

"We're not building something that we want to last for two years, we want this to last for 50 years, and so what we need to do is have a really strong base and a strong foundation from which we can do that. And we need champions within parliament. We need champions within the civil service who can help us make that happen."

Find out more at www.youthenvironmentalservice.co.uk. 

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In this podcast, ICL's Sam Rivers explains what vine weevil is, what the pest's life cycle is and what plants they feed on. He highlights their effect on heuchera, primula and Portugese laurel.

Control options start with cultural control. Products available for vine weevil control include nematodes and Lalguard. Rivers explains how these work and gives tips and advice on application.

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Finding "everything was going down the route of being computer aided design and CAD - that sent a cold shiver down my back" he thought "I don't want to do this...which is one of the reasons why I moved into managing parks. Thank God!"

His latest tome, People's Parks: the Design and Development of Victorian Parks in Britain, continues where the late parks historian Hazel Conway's People's Parks left off. It explores parks "beyond the Victorian era, right, through the Garden Cities movement, right up through austerity, Covid" and on.

"I just felt it was timely to bring what she'd done up to date but also kind of reinvigorate...interest in the kind of history and heritage of parks and why we have them, why we enjoy them and why they're so important".

Among the fascinating facts unearthed during the research of the book was the vast difference in staffing of parks, with hundreds of qualified gardeners and park keepers employed in the days of London County Council. He also explores "Parkitecture" over the years, the marked change in the number and design of children's play areas, changes in parks management, tendering, and of course, funding leading to "a decline and eroding of what we do in parks." 

As ever on the Horticulture Week Podcast, the issue of labour shortages arises: "How is it you will attract somebody to work in parks these days? There's no pathway like they used to be. No career pathway at all...We're not getting the applications and where we are getting them, the quality is not very good."

He speaks with characteristic passion about his love for the work he does and the work being done by Parks Management Association, APSE and other organisations to "make parks sexy again!" 

He also discusses severe local authority budget cuts and financial constraints which have forced some, such as Birmingham, into bankrupcy plus the myriad of pressures post Covid and arising from the 'cost of living crisis'. 

The logical consequence of all this is, he says, "there is going to be a greater emphasis on the third sector and on volunteers" and a "greater emphasis on commercialization".

So, times are hard, he says, "but actually there's some really good stuff going on out there. I mean, the number of friends groups that we've got across the country are just incredible.

As a Green Flag awards judge, Paul gets to see the best of parks and sometimes the most curious, like a bear pit "in the middle of the Wirral"

There are plenty of reasons to be cheerful as some local authorities are "really making a difference".

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Although Alexandra Steed was speaking from Vancouver for the podcast recording, her landscape practice is based in London and South East England. Highlights include developing green and blue landscape infrastructure strategies for South Essex Estuary Park and masterplanning a 25% increase of footprint of Canterbury.

The latter is a project that reflects the aims and concerns of BNG:

"It's really looking at how we can improve the landscape while we're bringing about new development. So you know the two can happen hand in hand.

Development doesn't necessarily have to mean that a landscape is harmed in any way or brings about negative consequences. In fact, if we plan in a landscape-led sort of way, then we can actually bring benefits to that landscape."

Now that BNG is here, with the hope it will help reverse a rapid decline in biodiversity in UK landscapes, Alexandra nevertheless has a number of concerns:

"I would say my biggest concern is that biodiversity net gain is being considered on a plot by plot basis. So rather than looking at a landscape in its kind of regional capacity, or you know, at a watershed level, where all of its natural processes and systems are taken into account - instead, we're dividing it up and trying to apply improvements on a plot by plot and piecemeal basis. And nature just doesn't work that way...so right from the start, that brings about a lot of problems"

She explains her fears that measures taken could become a 'box-ticking' exercise, potentially "a homogenisation of habitats that are easy to deliver" and improvements restricted to the plot boundary, leading to disconnected islands of green space and "not getting the benefits of enriching the larger landscape".

Alexandra is also concerned there will be a lack of governance and ongoing management and stewardship exacerbated by a lack of funding for in-house expertise within local authorities.

More broadly, Alexandra is passionate about interconnectedness and people's connection with nature as a necessary means to heal the planet. Her book, "Portrait to Landscape: A Landscape Strategy to Reframe Our Future" explores the role policy makers, developers, landscapers through to individual citizens.

As she says, it is "about how we deal with our landscapes because it expresses everything that we as humans believe about nature and our relationship to nature.

So it's not just important for those of us working in the landscape industries, it's important for everybody to understand this and to understand the power held there and the power for rehabilitation within our landscapes."

Presenter: HortWeek senior reporter: Rachael Forsyth

Producer: HortWeek digital content manager Christina Taylor

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But horticulturist he very much is. The National Plant Collection holder is a veteran of Hampton Court Palace Flower Show in 2022 and 2023 where he won silver gilt for his Cosmos collection display (he also has a hollyhock national collection). In 2024, he makes his exhibiting debut at RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

So with all the work of growing and nurturing some 3,000 Cosmos to select 100 in peak condition in May 2024, what's in it for him?

"Commercially it's a ridiculous decision because doing flower shows, it costs a fair amount of money. 

He is conscious, if a tad sceptical about the need to address sustainability as a grower. He grows in peat-free compost, favours terracotta pots over plastic ones, but he tries not to "over-egg what I do".

But in the run-up to Chelsea, his plant collections are recovering from a severe flooding event which will provide a dramatic narrative backdrop to his exhibit at Chelsea.

He narrates the events of 20 October 2023 in the wake of storm Babette:

"By 4.30 in the morning we heard the upstairs toilet start bubbling, which I think was a sign that all the drains had been overloaded. And we literally packed the car and kind of evacuated...filling the car with my precious seeds for the National Plant Collection."

"I think that part of the flower show is actually focusing on flooding and resilience this year...well what better story to say that a grower that's been flooded out can come back, can come to Chelsea and show award-winning flowers?"

The experience chimes with his interest in water conservation; his two plant collections survive solely on the 20,000 litres of the rainwater he stores over winter. 

It's a far cry from his former life when Jonathan was, he jokes, "one of those nasty lobbyists that people imagine" working for clients such as Royal Mail, Boots and the Woodland Trust - "essentially working in the political arena to either guard against threats that come from Government because all legislation has unintended consequences, or indeed spotting opportunities".

He says he is actually proud of some of the work lobbyists do, "keeping Government in check and ensuring that perhaps some decisions that they take, that can be quite ludicrous and ridiculous because they haven't got all the information, perhaps get amended or changed or influenced".

He contemplates what horticulture should be lobbying for: "If I was the industry, I'd be gearing up for the next election...what are you going to be wanting from whoever forms the next Government? What are your five asks?" He asks for "certainty" on peat and a more joined-up approach.

Despite the recent attention lavished on the industry during the Lords Horticulture Enquiry and subsequent report, the work is not over, he says.

"There has to be a realisation...that once you've had a big piece of work, right, we're there, we're done...but politics doesn't work like that..

"It's following through on that and ensuring that you don't let Government off the hook.

As for the future, as his "hobby" takes an ever greater hold of him, Jonathan is contemplating possibilities, maybe even a third national plant collection. Watch this space.

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Stiles sees energy, labour and prices as the big three problems facing UK tomato and cucumber growers. Until recent years energy and labour were more controllable, he says, but those factors have fallen away and now "price is king", regardless of anything else. Government policies seem to work against each other in areas such as labour, though Defra strives to do the right thing.

With an increasingly high profile in the media, he has not had to pitch a story for two years. The media wants to know what is happening on the ground rather than what the BRC, supermarkets or the Government is saying, so Stiles gets daily calls from around the world.

And on the ground, he predicts there could be more empty shelves this year due to ongoing issues in Europe and North Africa with viruses and market prices. One certainty, he says, is that production volumes from British growers have not increased: "There will be a gap. Retailers will either pay more or have empty shelves."

But he adds that there is a fine line between warning about problems and "spooking" the retailers and the public: "UK growers are stable now after two years of decline and small business closure." He says the is the same as in Europe. Few can invest in new machinery and are just concentrating on keeping their heads above water.

Government help for smaller producers has been too little too late and any help "avoids the underlying problem of low prices". Meanwhile primary producers are not making money he says, intermediaries deal with the retailer, so loyalty and service standards matter less:

"We're 10 years into a supermarket price wa and it seems to be getting worse. There's not enough profit in the supply chain at the moment which means the trend for British producers closing will accelerate, reducing self-sufficiency and food security."

He would like to see loss leader legislation to stop retailers selling at less than the cost of purchase. It is used to protect producers in France, Canada and Germany, for instance.

But regardless, Lee says, whoever comes in next politically, "will inherit quite a mess".

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"I avoided being chairman for as long as possible", he says. " I was vice chairman. I had been treasurer. I had been secretary, but it was never my desire to become chairman. It just happened."

He has enjoyed the support of the "fabulous team" on the committee around him and says "in the last 12 months particularly there have been some very exciting developments. It's a great place to be at the moment."

He talks about the focus for the Guild, which, as with all trade associations, is how to drive up the membership and also how best to serve it. The importance of visiting each others gardens and learning ways to cope with pest and diseases, planting tips and the like from other head gardeners is still key: "There's more information to be gleaned from other head gardeners than there is from Google."

He wanted to be a footballer, but while waiting for his break, began a four-year horticultural apprenticeship and studied with the Institute of Groundsmanship and later Askham Bryan College. "I thought I might become a groundsman. Surely I'll get spotted kicking a football at lunchtime. I'll be playing for England in a fortnight. It never happened."

After completing his studies he landed the job of head gardener at Bramham Park, a French style garden where in some ways, his learning was just beginning:

"I always said I learnt more in the first six months as a head gardener than I had in eight years at college. And that's not meant to be a slur on what they taught me at Askham Bryan. It's just that when you're in position, you have to learn."

Castle Howard's Brian Hutchinson formed the Professional Gardeners Guild around this time and Alan was offered the gardener's manager's job at Harewood House which is where he got his TV break when Yorkshire TV started filming there.

After leaving Harewood in 1987 he set up a garden design business, got a contract in France, bought a 14th century manor house set in eight and a half acres and decided to create a garden there which Yorkshire TV (later on Channel 4) turned into Le Manoir - "and this was 25 years before Escape to the Chateau".

Alan talks about PGG's work with horticultural charity Perennial and how he's looking to make links with other garden organisations including National Trust and Historic Houses.

He's also involved with encouraging people into the industry via traineeships in collaboration with English Heritage, Historic and Botanic Gardens Trainee Programme and the MacRobert Trust. 

"It's so easy just to become an insular little group for head gardeners. And we don't want that at all. We want to be what Brian Hutchinson thought we should be at the very start, great for our own members, learning from each other."

Alan talks about his view on pay grades for gardeners, financial pressures and how, post-Covid, many places have replaced professionals with volunteers.

"What the PGG does is offer a salaries and rates guideline...you can use that guideline to show to your employer...and very often it does help with negotiation.

"It is a negotiating tool, but it will never be perfect. But it is a great assistance. And I know that other professional bodies look to the PGG for our salaries and rates guideline and use it as a good example.

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Her first experience of horticulture was growing on her allotment in 2015. She was having psychotherapy at the time and "hoping that I could learn some new skills, but also [hoping] it might help with my mental health at the same time". 

She soon quit her marketing career and founded her social enterprise CIC organization, Life at No 27 which supports children and adults from as young as five by combining horticulture therapy and counselling and "trying to give people of all ages access to mental health support that works".

The organisation receives referrals from the NHS, works with school children and in schools, and has therapeutic sites in Northamptonshire and Wales. Annabelle is fundraising to try and open more sites and operate in more schools.

A "child-led sort of approach" allows young people to learn how to grow their own food and "connect with the environment and wildlife". It runs after-school clubs and liaises with schools to help children with "challenging behaviour, (as much as I don't like that word)", anxiety, and poor self-esteem and helps them stay in mainstream education.

Her biggest goal, she says, is to gain sponsorship from a horticultural firm on an ongoing basis and to garner more general support from the sector.

Regards mental health support within horticulture, more could be done Annabelle says: "I'd be interested to know... how many organisations in the industry do have a mental health support policy...there's definitely value in companies investing in this area".

A witness at the 2023 Lords horticulture enquiry Annabelle argued "we need to up our game in terms of horticultural therapy", training, defining what is horticultural therapy and of course, funding.

There is an irony, she says, in "the amount of people that are isolated as horticulturists within the industry that are struggling with their mental health" which "doesn't add up either with how much in the media we're saying gardening can help".

Getting horticulture on to the schools National Curriculum would also "massively help kids mental health and just the knowledge of where food comes from" as well as offering time outside the classroom.

Annabelle set up Growing for Wellbeing Week (3 - 9 June 2024) to help with fundraising and "where we can really push our messaging on a bigger scale, but also offer resources to... colleges, secondary schools, universities, care homes."

With access to mental health services for adults and young people severely stretched, she would like to be able to have more qualified professional councellors and offer a "wraparound service".

The project has a partnership with Prince and Princess of Wales' Royal Foundation which she hopes will help, "if anyone's interested in supporting us then them coming forward."

Annabelle admits frustration with the "definite lack of interest [from the horticulture sector so far], which is frustrating on many levels. But I think there's a lot more for industry to do because it makes sense, doesn't it?"

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With a career spanning 5 decades, he reflects on how his stories take readers back to a time pre-internet, pre mobiles, even pre-telephone! So part of the challenge of relating the stories was "trying to describe to somebody how different world was, 50 years ago, in the world of landscaping".

Although the industry is making strides towards being more environmentally friendly, with electric vehicle fleets and sustainably-sourced landscape materials, Alan says he sees a new "butter mountain" on the horizon in the form of ceramic paving as it is not recyclable.

He says: "I probably condemns about 800m a year" of artificial turf, thereby consigning vast amounts of plastic to landfill because of poor installation practices.

Legal hot spots include peat-free alternatives as growers sue growing media producers as their products fail to perform as promised and "wipe out whole batches of plants". He forecasts that it will become "quite an issue".

A prolific self-publisher of books, Alan's next opus, due just in time for Christmas 2023, will be the "A-to-Z of Paving" which will cover all aspects of paving projects.

Alan is of course a HortWeek man through and through having written more than 100 articles for the title over his tenure. Find his impressive and essential catalogue of advice for landscapers and gardeners, his Sargents' Solutions, at HortWeek.com.

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After a part-time RHS garden design course (which he thought of as a passtime), couple of competitions and RHS shows later, his career took off, "like being strapped to a rocket!

"I suppose it has been incredibly rapid compared to people that maybe went to horticultural college or university to study design. But having said that, it really feels to me like it was always my passion."

He advises entrants to horticulture to take maximum advantage of any opportunities to gain knowledge: "If you can volunteer for someone, do it, you'll learn something. If there's a competition, if there's something, something or some way you can get involved, you never know what's going to come of it.

Lee never planned a career in TV, but the opportunity on BBC's Garden Rescue programme (co-starring Charlie Dimmock) came about after Lee had built a profile on YouTube with gardening advice. But gardening TV is not a bed of roses he says:

"It's been a tough year for garden media...The fact there's a cost of living crisis, all of these things impact on a huge level because for a lot of people hort design plants are a luxury. They're not a necessity. So it's the first thing to go. 

"There's Garden Rescue, there's Gardener's World - that's still the two main garden shows that have funding...looking at the viewing figures and the response from the public, it seems to be a show that has a really good feel-good factor."

Lee explains what inspires him to keep coming up with fresh design ideas, the working dynamic with Charlie Dimmock, and what he hopes to add to the show:

"Since I've joined, I've been really pushing for more knowledge. Like, let me explain the 'why' about these plants, the why about the design, so that people can then interpret that to their own gardens rather than just showing them lots of nice things, nice plants, nice layouts.

He is also passionate about the need to improve diversity in horticulture, to get horticulture into schools and address career issues such as wages:

"We should open our doors a bit more, explain things more, help people, welcome them in. You know, there's enough cake for everyone in terms of hort and gardening."

While he's not planning any more shows for now, "when I next do one, I'd like it to be sort of a bit left field, the next level of Garden Ninja",he says. "I'd love to create a garden that looks like Mother Nature's finally got revenge on what we've done to the planet...kind of like scary garden [with] flame and smoke and a crevasse and stuff like that."

And he's got a few ideas for his own show: "not necessarily a makeover show like garden rescue, but something that just gets me really hands deep in design and plants and the why - why does this work?"

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