HortWeek Podcast

This week's HortWeek Podcast guest, TV presenter and garden designer Mark Lane, started gardening young although he initially studied art history and worked in publishing for RIBA and Thames & Hudson.After a car crash in 2000, a horticultural therapist and his husband suggested a new horticulture career as a designer and in the media. His new book, The Future of Gardens, published this May, is part of a series of imaginative future visions on a wide range of subjects, written by experts, academics, journalists and leading pop-culture figures. For his installment, Mark takes a "positive look at gardening with regards to the future of gardens. And of course, it has to cover everything from the climate crisis to being, you know, an adaptable and resilient gardener.He sees AI as limited to "being a great assistant. I don't think it will take over with regards to gardening or garden design" but with great potential to help with plant selection and speed up processes.With an eye on climate resilience, Mark has been exploring and implementing xeriscaping concepts into his garden:"By having a mixture and increasing that biodiversity of plants you're...more likely to have a garden that's going to flourish because while some will do well when it's really hot, others will do better when it's a bit wetter and a bit warmer."His book considers permaculture, regenerative agriculture and biophilia in the context of a broad definition of "Horticulture with a capital 'H'" that includes "floristry, agriculture, the perfume industry, anything you could possibly think of when it comes to plants." He reveals how apps and a drone means he is "able to go around areas in gardens, especially large gardens where I can't get my wheelchair, so I can still have my eyes and I can still go and see those places. So it's about again using this sort of future tech, which a lot of it is already here."Mark and Matt discuss the ultimate in futuristic horticulture, growing in space, which Mark says, is not just a matter of overcoming a technical challenge and the benefits of eating fresh produce:"[Astronauts are] going to be away for a long period of time and being able to undertake a task such as gardening reconnects them to Earth. So it actually reconnects them back to where they came from and that's really going to be very important for their for their mindset more than anything else.As a wheelchair user, Mark shares his perspective on how landowners can and should make access to parks, gardens and the countryside easier for all:He adds: " I do strongly believe that it doesn't matter whether you have a physical impairment or not, you can enjoy gardening. And you just have to really think a little bit outside the box. You have to be very, very honest with yourself and sort of assess yourself and see what it is that you can and you cannot do...and then try and adapt your gardening because of that."And as an owner of dogs, Mark gives us his take on the controversial topic of dogs, gardens and garden centres.Finally he gives an update on his plans with his ongoing presence on Morning Live keeping him busy, appearances at flower shows such as RHS Hampton Court Flower Festival, another book due "on cost-wise gardening" to come out in May 2026, as well as his garden design practice."I'm still designing the gardens, but I'm now having to limit the number of gardens that I do...here I used to do on average between 8 or 10 projects a year, I now do anywhere between 2 and 3, just because I just don't really have the time now, because I'm just constantly doing stuff."

In this HortWeek Podcast, Andrew Wilson, technical manager for ICL professional horticulture and Carl Mason, experienced grower and ICL technical area sales manager for the East of England, speak about how to grow the best professional quality poinsettias.While Christmas may seem a long way off, in June UK growers will be starting to produce Poinsettias to adorn our homes in December. The poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima) is a fascinating blend of Aztec heritage, Mexican tradition, and American commercialisation—all blended into vibrant red plant that is now inseparable from the Christmas season.Carl speaks about how easy a crop poinsettia is to grow, while Andrew discusses market trends we are seeing with the UK's most popular winter indoor plant.Andrew details the nutritional requirements of the crop while Carl outlines advises on the growing media that suit poinsettias best. Carl also explains what goes into ICL’s special Poinsettia mix to ensure plants thrive and they both offer their top tips for successful poinsettia growing.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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