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 Award winning garden designer and broadcaster Joe Swift will be designing the Homebase Teenage Cancer Trust garden, for this year’s Chelsea Flower Show.
The garden, which is the first Joe has designed for Chelsea Flower Show, draws cultural inspiration from Joe’s local area of Hackney in London. He has designed the garden to capture the power of plants and natural forms within urban and suburban environments.
Joe Swift said: “I am thrilled to be designing my first garden, for Homebase, at Chelsea. Inspiration has been drawn from the contrast and juxtaposition of the different areas I pass in and around the city, leading me to develop the garden with an urban oasis feel.”
The aim of the garden is to connect visitors through a series of ‘views’, with four large cedar wood frames creating snapshots. These views vary as you move around the garden and draw the eye through the long vistas of the garden, as well as playing a key role in dividing up the space into distinct ‘rooms’. The combination of natural materials, water and plants invite the visitor to get close to and connect directly with the garden in an energising and original way.
 Stone and wood will provide texture and contrast, appealing in stylised forms. Oversized horizontally sliced boulders and wooden sculptures decorate and punctuate the space, as well as provide seating to relax and enjoy the garden from. The stone has all been sourced from a single quarry in Yorkshire, with many of the plants also coming from the UK.
The sustainable garden will consist of trees such as stemmed Cornus Mas and Prunus ‘Amber Beauty’, alongside a London Plane tree which have all been selected for their sculptural forms and the interesting colour and texture of their bark. Evergreen shrubby plants add solidity and a hint of the Mediterranean to the dry planting palette, while textural foliage and perennials inject shots of colour throughout.
The warm tones of gold, orange, acid yellow and splashes of burgundy will bring the dark and mid greens of the gardens base foliage to life. Combined with the yellow stone, the garden will infuse a feeling of freshness and originality.
In honour of the garden, Homebase is introducing a range of plants that have been influenced by the planting scheme for the Homebase Teenage Cancer Trust garden. The Chelsea Collection will be available from March 2012 and aims to inspire gardeners of all levels to re-create a bit of Chelsea magic, inspired by Joe’s design and themes. All of the plants within the Chelsea Collection are covered by Homebase’s five-year plant guarantee on hardy plants.
Amy Whidburn, Head of Corporate Responsibility comments: “We are delighted to have Joe on board designing the garden this year. His vision and creativity, both in the design of the garden and Chelsea Collection planting plans, will inspire even the most novice of gardeners to grow some Chelsea magic in their own garden.”
Teenage Cancer Trust is Homebase’s official charity partner and is the only UK charity dedicated to improving the quality of life and chances of survival for young people with cancer aged 13 to 24. Teenage Cancer Trust fund and build specialist units within NHS hospitals where young people treated together by teenage cancer experts in a place designed just for them.
Simon Davies, Chief Executive of Teenage Cancer Trust commented: “This is the first time that Teenage Cancer Trust has ever been part of the Chelsea Flower Show and we are very proud that Homebase have invited us to be involved. The garden promises to be an inspiring and stimulating space, a vision we also have when we build our specialist cancer units.”
During press day, Joe Swift will be available to talk about his garden design, planting and inspiration. Homebase representatives will also be available, including members of the gardening team.
RHS Chelsea Flower Show will take place between 22 and 26 May 2012. Homebase colleagues have so far raised over £1.3 million for Teenage Cancer Trust.
 Beverley Garden Centre, at Woodmansey, Hull, Humberside, has been acquired by the Klondyke/Strikes Garden Centre Group.
Commenting on the acquisition, Bob Hewitt, Chief Executive said ‘We are very pleased to acquire Beverley Garden Centre and are excited about the prospects for the future. It is a relatively new, purpose built centre in a good location and we have secured a much improved planning consent regarding the product range. The centre ceased trading at Christmas following a ‘closing down’ sale by The Garden Centre Group and will be fully refurbished prior to re-launch at the beginning of March. We look forward to welcoming all customers back to the garden centre.
This is an exciting time for the company. In addition to the acquisition of Beverley we are currently progressing substantial redevelopment and refurbishment projects at High Legh and Inverness, both of which will be completed prior to spring trading. This follows the successful redevelopment of Northallerton which was completed in 2011 and is in line with our on-going strategic aim to invest and upgrade key centres in the current estate. Finally the garden centre at Wilmslow will be rebuilt following the fire in 2011. We anticipate that the new centre will open late summer 2012.’
 The HTA Bedding Plant Group has announced a list of red, white and blue (and gold) bedding plants that they are recommending for planting in celebration of the Diamond Jubilee and the Olympics. The plants, which are all grown in volume by the trade, will be readily accessible to garden retailers and customers.
The HTA Bedding Plant Group (which includes all the main UK bedding producers) have developed the list with a view to promoting to garden centres – so that they in turn can inspire consumers to get behind some colourful and themed bedding plant displays this year.
A number of recipes for containers and hanging baskets are being developed to provide further inspiration to help illustrate which plants go together – and to give consumers an idea of which groups of plants to buy to make an effective display. These will again be promoted through garden centres, RHS and the media. The HTA Bedding Plant Group is also working closely with the RHS to promote these plants with a view to them planting up containers within RHS gardens.
 Charmay Ball Charmay Ball, Chair of the HTA Bedding Plant group comments, “2012 provides a great opportunity for the bedding plant industry and by working closely with the RHS and retailers we can enthuse consumers about themed celebration displays.”
HTA National Account Manager Martin Simmons adds, “There has never been such a great time for gardeners to get involved in a national planting campaign. This spring and summer is going to be a fantastic time for people to celebrate and show their support for the Jubilee and Team GB at the Olympics.
He adds, “We want to encourage everyone to celebrate these two fantastic events whether they have a doorstep and a window ledge, a balcony or a patio or garden by making it easy to buy, plant and grow a range of red, white and blue plants that can be relied upon to flower well whatever the weather.”
The list of red, white and blue plants can be downloaded from www.the-hta.org.uk/2012planting
 The Horticultural Trades Association (HTA), RHS and members of the All Party Parliamentary Gardening and Horticulture Group (APPGHG) met on Monday (30 January) with the Defra Secretary of State, Caroline Spelman MP, to discuss key issues affecting the horticultural industry.
Key topics discussed included:
- R&D – the Secretary of State acknowledged the importance of applied R&D for the UK production industry and encouraged us to work with Defra and BIS officials to try and unlock Technology Strategy Board (TSB) funding for ornamentals
- Hosepipe bans – Defra is keen to ensure that water restrictions are imposed with minimal impact on all stakeholders. The HTA hopes to present the proposal for phased restrictions at the next Water Summit on 20 February.
- Training – the Secretary of State agreed to consult the department for Education and Skills about industry concerns over lack of funding for training and apprenticeships in the sector.
- Pesticides – the Secretary of State acknowledged the problems that the removal of pesticide products causes the industry and indicated that Defra proposals on this subject would be published in their response to the Red Tape Challenge.
- Urban greening – the Secretary of State noted our concerns about the inadequate mention on the importance of green infrastructure in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and hoped to see this addressed in the next version.
- Peat – the Secretary of Statenoted the wider sustainability agenda that the Sustainable Growing Media Task Force had adopted and which had enabled the industry to engage in the process.
HTA Director of Business Development, Tim Briercliffe, who represented growers, retailers and landscapers at the meeting, comments, “This was a positive meeting which provided an invaluable opportunity to discuss the key issues impacting on the garden and landscape industry enabling us to ensure that they are on the Government’s agenda. It is important that the garden industry has its voice heard at this level in Government and we look forward to working with Defra to follow through on the many points discussed.”
 One of Britain’s most popular gardening broadcasters will be hitting the road later this spring to promote the values of growing your own.
Grow your own specialist and broadcaster, Pippa Greenwood, has teamed up with Stewart to embark on an ambitious tour to eight locations around the country encouraging gardeners to make the most of home produce.
With money getting tighter, an increasing number of people are saving cash and staying healthy by using their gardens, greenhouses and even their windowsills to cultivate food.
There has been a massive rise in the popularity of grow your own horticulture lately, with the National Trust reporting the huge potential in the UK with around 600 acres of unused windowsills which could be used to grow fruit and vegetables under glass by those who do not have space for a greenhouse.
But help is now at hand from Pippa Greenwood who will be demonstrating on the tour how easy it is to grow your own. She will explain and demonstrate growing seeds and propagation. She will also show how to pot a plant easily using different sized pots as well as giving a master class on making small and versatile growing beds from large pots, troughs and hanging baskets.
 The tour will begin on March 1st at Stewarts in Christchurch, Dorset and then to mark gardening’s own version of Comic Relief, Garden Re-Leaf Day on March 13th, Pippa will be bound for Cadbury Garden & Leisure Centre in Congresbury, North Somerset.
Garden Re-Leaf Day is part of a nationwide programme of fund-raising events aimed at gardeners of all levels of expertise. All proceeds will be donated to Greenfingers, the garden industry charity which creates gardens at children’s hospices.
Pippa will visit Scotsdale Nursery & Garden Centre in Great Shelford, Cambridgeshire on March 24th, Barton Grange Garden Centre in Brock Preston, Lancashire on March 28th, as well as Gordale Nurseries in Burton, South Wirral, Cheshire on March 29th.
She will then head to Webbs near Droitwich, Worcestershire on April 5th, followed by attending the Exeter Food Festival, Northernhay Gardens, Exeter on April 13th and the tour will be rounded off by a visit to the Garden Pride Garden Centre in Ditchling, West Sussex on May 13th.
The tour comes on the back of a recent three-year partnership deal signed last year between Stewart and Pippa Greenwood who will be working together to help consumers improve their understanding of growing fruit and vegetables at home and support retailers in this increasingly popular market sector.
The BBC Gardeners’ Question Time panellist and BBC Gardeners’ World columnist said she was very excited to be working with Stewart, taking part in a very hands-on tour where there will be eight comprehensive information sheets available to visitors explaining everything from propagation to when to use a cloche. These, along with a ‘grow your own calendar’, will be available in garden centres and DIY stores across the country, located next to Stewart products labelled with Pippa’s ‘grow your own’ branding.
“I’m looking forward to chatting about grow your own with people, and using some of Stewart’s wonderful products. Stewart’s product range demonstrates a real and long-term commitment to the grow your own movement – something that everyone knows I am passionate about.
“I believe that, together, we can help gardeners everywhere get the most from their grow your own efforts.”
Pippa will have her own blog on the Stewart website at: www.stewart-garden.com/pippa and she will be selling a wide range of Stewart products with the ‘grow your own’ branding on her own website at www.pippagreenwood.com
 This year the GCA introduced an additional opportunity to win the coveted title of GCA Garden Centre of the Year. Recognising that the excellent standards of the smaller garden centre were in danger of not receiving the same credit as their larger counterparts a new award was added to the top spot. So at the GCA’s annual Conference held in January, the two winners were announced for Destination Garden Centre of the Year and Garden Centre of the Year.
The GCA awards are based purely on quality standards which are measured by the strict annual audits held at all member garden centres throughout the year. Centres are judged not only on quality of products and departments, but also people, service and surroundings.
The Garden Centre of the Year awards are extremely important within the industry. Centres do not pay to enter, put themselves forward or submit a written entry; all our members are visited by our inspectors with no prior knowledge of the exact date so we can ensure standards remain high at all times.
FIRST TIME WIN FOR COWELLS Garden Centre of the Year 2011
Cowell’s Garden Centre in Woolsington just outside Newcastle upon Tyne is the first to take the new title of Garden Centre of the Year. It is a small garden centre with a big heart; their plant retailing is second to none and over the years they have been consistently improving their offer.
Martin Cowell said “We’re ecstatic – imagine our surprise at winning this award. This has given our staff an amazing boost; it’s great to know that all the hard work and effort that everyone puts into the garden centre not only in the spring but all year round, has been recognised. What a wonderful way to start the new year.”
HAT TRICK FOR BENTS Destination Garden Centre of the Year 2011
Bents Garden & Home is celebrating another significant first for the hugely competitive garden centre industry, having been presented with the title of GCA Destination Garden Centre of the year for a record third year in a row.
Overall it is the fourth time the Glazebury based business has held the award with the last three titles coming in three consecutive years; an achievement which surpasses all previous records set by the country’s leading garden centres.
Says Matthew Bent, MD of Bents Garden & Home: “This is huge! The GCA title really is the big one and to be acknowledged as the best in our industry for the third successive year is a huge honour and fantastic acknowledgement of the hard work and commitment put in by each and every one of our 200 plus colleagues.”
The Top 13 GCA Garden Centres of Excellence 2011 (all with scores of 86% and above)
All In One Garden Centre, Middleton, Greater Manchester www.allinone.co.uk
Barton Grange Garden Centre, Preston, Lancashire www.bartongrange.co.uk
Bents Garden & Home, Glazebury, Cheshire www.bents.co.uk
Cowell’s Garden Centre, Woolsington, Tyne & Wear www.cowellsgc.co.uk
Frosts at Woburn Sands, Bedfordshire www.frostsgroup.com
Grosvenor Garden Centre, Nr Chester, Cheshire www.grosvenorgardencentre.co.uk
Haskins Ferndown, Dorset www.haskins.co.uk
Planters Garden Centre, Freasley, Tamworth, Staffordshire www.plantersgc.com
Poplars Nursery Garden Centre, Toddington, Bedfordshire www.poplars.co.uk
Van Hage Garden Company, Great Amwell, Hertfordshire www.vanhages.co.uk
Van Hage Garden Company, Peterborough. Cambridgeshire www.vanhages.co.uk
Webbs of Wychbold Nr Droitwich Spa, Worcestershire www.webbsdirect.co.uk
Woodlands Nurseries Stapleton, Leicestershire www.woodlandsnurseries.co.uk
 Slugs and snails have taken the top RHS pest enquiry slot for 2011 after having been toppled from the first place by viburnum beetle in 2010. Usually they are the number one problem in most years with 2010 being a slight variation. Nearly all gardens suffer from slugs and snails and since they damage a wide range of plants it is not surprising that they often generate most enquiries.
This year’s RHS list has two pests that are in the top ten for the first time. Fuchsia gall mite, at number six, was unknown in the UK before 2007. It was discovered when a sample from a Hampshire garden was sent to the RHS Members’ Advisory Service for identification. Since then it has become widely established along the south coast and is moving northwards.
These microscopic mites are having a major impact on the growth of fuchsias. Their feeding at the shoot tips and in the flower buds causes severely distorted growth. Affected plants are unable to produce normal leaves and flowers. “This is a devastating pest of fuchsias that will probably eventually spread throughout Britain,” says RHS Principal Entomologist Andrew Halstead. “Unfortunately there are no effective pesticides for garden use. Because the damage cannot be controlled, it may lead to a decline in the popularity of this valuable garden plant.”
The other new entry, at number eight, is leek moth. Although mainly a problem on leeks, it also affects onions and shallots. The moth produces two generations of caterpillars during summer. The second generation in late July–August is particularly troublesome. The young caterpillars mine the leaves but later they bore into the stems of leeks and the bulbs of onions and shallots. Infested leeks often become infected with secondary rots and die.
Leek moth is mainly found in the south of England and South Wales but, like fuchsia gall mite, is also spreading northwards. Another pest affecting leeks and allied vegetables is allium leaf miner. This small fly was first discovered in the Wolverhampton area in 2003 and is now widespread in the Midlands and is also present in northeast Surrey.
Although currently not a top-20 pest, enquiries about allium leaf miner are increasing. “These two pests will make the cultivation of leeks, onions and shallots difficult,” says Andrew Halstead. “There are currently no suitable pesticides for use on these plants in gardens and allotments. Growing the plants under fine insect-proof mesh to prevent egg-laying moths and flies alighting on the foliage is the only remedy.”
The Top Ten Pests in 2011 and 2010 were:
2011 2010
1 Slugs/snails 1 Viburnum beetle
2 Cushion scale 2 Slugs/snails
3 Vine weevil =3 Cushion scale
4 Ants =3 Chafer grubs
5 Viburnum beetle 5 Harlequin ladybird
=6 Fuchsia gall mite 6 Vine weevil
=6 Cypress aphid 7 Lily beetle
=8 Leek moth 8 Horse chestnut scale
=8 Chafer grubs =9 Glasshouse red spider mite
=8 Mealybugs =9 Ants
=8 Brown scale
1. Slugs and snails (various species). As in most years, slugs and snails were the number-one problem in gardens and on allotments. Most damage occurs during spring to autumn, affecting seedlings, many ornamental plants and vegetables, especially potato tubers, hostas and narcissus flowers.
2. Cushion scale (Chloropulvinaria floccifera). This sap-sucking insect occurs on evergreen shrubs, especially camellia, holly, rhododendron, Trachelospermum and Euonymus japonicus. Although long established in Britain, it has become more widespread and troublesome over the last 20 years. It excretes honeydew and infested plants develop a thick black coating of sooty mould on their foliage over the winter months.
3. Vine weevil (Otiorhynchus sulcatus). The adult beetles eat notches in the leaf margins of a wide range of herbaceous plants and shrubs. The larvae feed on plant roots, especially those being grown in pots or other containers, and they are one of the few pests capable of killing plants. Vine weevil is a top-five enquiry in most years.
4. Ants (mostly Myrmica and Lasius species). Ants tend to be most abundant in sunny gardens with well-drained soils. They cause little direct damage to plants but the soil excavated from their nests can be a nuisance in lawns, on patios and in flower beds where low-growing plants may become partly buried. Although there are insecticides for ant control, it is difficult to eliminate nests from gardens and so the presence of ants has to be tolerated.
5. Viburnum beetle (Pyrrhalta viburni). The principal host plants are Viburnum opulus, V. lantana and V. tinus but some other Viburnum species may also be attacked. Most of the damage is done by the larvae, which can reduce the foliage to lacework during late April–May. The adult beetles also eat the leaves in late summer but less extensive damage occurs at that time.
=6. Fuchsia gall mite (Aculops fuchsiae). This destructive pest infests the shoot tips and flower buds of fuchsias, causing gross distortion and preventing the normal development of foliage and flowers. This pest was first detected in the UK in 2007 when a sample of an infested fuchsia was sent to the RHS Members’ Advisory Service from a garden in Hampshire. Since then it has become widespread in counties along the south coast of England and is spreading further north. This is the first time this pest has featured in the top ten.
=6. Cypress aphid (Cinara cupressivora). Die-back of conifer hedges of Leyland cypress, Cupressus, Chamaecyparis and Thuja has various causes, including infestation by cypress aphid. The aphids suck sap from the stems and cause a gradual yellowing and drying up of the shoot tips. This can result in large sections of a hedge becoming mostly brown by late summer.
=8. Leek moth (Acrolepiopsis assectella). Leek moth is another first time entrant to the top ten. It was first detected in the UK in Sussex in 1943. Initially confined to coastal areas in southeast England, it is now widespread in southern England and South Wales, and is spreading northwards. The moth’s caterpillars attack leeks, onions and shallots, at first mining the foliage but later tunnelling into the stems and bulbs. Affected plants are often killed by secondary rots that invade the damaged plants.
=8. Chafer grubs (various species). Chafer grubs are the larvae of several species of chafer beetles. Most of the damage occurs in lawns where the grubs of garden chafer (Phyllopertha horticola) and Welsh chafer (Hoplia philanthus) eat the roots. During autumn to spring other animals, such as foxes, badgers and crows, rip up the loosened turf to feed on the grubs.
=8. Glasshouse mealybugs (Pseudococcus and Planococcus species). Mealybugs are sap-sucking insects that attack many plants grown in houses, glasshouses and conservatories. They frequently infest leaf axils and other relatively inaccessible parts of plants. This habit, together with the covering of white waxy secretions, makes them difficult to control with pesticides.
=8. Brown scale (Parthenolecanium corni) A sap-sucking insect that attacks a wide range of woody ornamental plants and fruit trees and bushes. Heavily infested plants lack vigour and may be affected by sooty mould growing on the scale’s sugary excrement.
A record number of Christmas trees have been donated to the National Trust to help the battle against the erosion of Formby’s internationally important sand dunes. The trees, which are expected to number more than 3,500, have been provided by home enhancement retailer, Homebase, and its staff from up and down the country will be joining local volunteers to plant them.
The team at Formby has been accepting donations of Christmas trees for a number of years from local residents and businesses but this is the first time they have received a contribution on this scale. The trees will be used to create more than a mile of brush fencing, placing the trees in rows where the dunes are most vulnerable. The aim is to slow down and catch sand to help build up the dunes. In the coming months, the trees will gradually be buried, helping to hold the dunes together.
Andrew Brockbank, Countryside Manager for the National Trust at Formby, said: “Formby is part of the beautiful Sefton Coast sand dune system with its typical dune habitats and wildlife of national and European significance.
 “But our dunes are under constant pressure from the forces of wind and tide, and are actively building and moving inland as the coastline retreats at a rate of around four metres a year. We are trying to slow the sand as it blows across the dunes and these trees make an excellent material for building these brush fences to effectively trap sand in the dunes. The mobile dunes are a natural sea defence which help to buffer high tides and storm surges.
Most people are familiar with Formby’s red squirrels but the Formby dunes are also home to a wealth of other rare and endangered wildlife. Two such inhabitants are the Natterjack Toad, whose cacophonous chorus on mild May evenings carries over half a mile and earns it the nickname nearby of Birkdale Nightingale, as well as the Northern Dune Tiger Beetle which can only be found at two sites in the whole of Britain – Formby and the West Cumbrian coast near Drigg.”
Andrew added: “We are delighted that Homebase has decided to give us so many trees – this means that, with the help of our volunteers, we can create over a mile of brush fencing and help slow the erosion’s progress.”
Paul Hilton, Garden World Operations Manager at Homebase says, “This is a fantastic scheme that we are proud to be part of. We at Homebase are constantly committed to being a considerate and ethical retailer and this is a prime example of the work we strive to do.”
Though thousands of trees are coming from Homebase, more are always welcome. Please save your Christmas tree and bring it to Formby in early January. If you would like to stay and help dig in your tree – and perhaps a few others as well – please call us on 01704 878591 or e-mail us at formby@nationaltrust.org.uk
 FORGET all those doomsday predictions about 2012, according to Anthony Tesselaar Plants life will continue to be good next year in the gardening industry.
Unveiling its respected 2012 Garden Trends Survey, the renowned horticulture company predicts that high value, water-wise plants, along with small water features and Mediterranean style gardens, will loom large over the coming 12 months.
Based on the views of several top industry experts, the survey suggests that gardeners will save themselves water, hassles and misspent money.
Parts of the UK experienced drought conditions during 2011, with ground water levels low thanks to a dry Spring. The Environment Agency declared a drought in the UK in June this year.
According to one expert quoted in the survey: “People are making sure they’re watering responsibly, choosing plants that aren’t water hogs and putting rain sensors on their irrigation systems. They’re also making sure the irrigation is monitored so it’s not watering the driveway and sidewalk.”
As a result, the Garden Trends Survey suggests water-wise plants will make Mediterranean style gardens a discernible feature of gardens in 2012.
Mediterranean landscape design often features open and airy courtyards, light-coloured, textured hardscaping, such as mosaic walls and gravel beds or unglazed terra cotta pots. This environmentally-friendly style also features low-growing, drought-tolerant plants, hedges, topiary trees and vines, such as olive, bay and lemon trees, succulents, lavender, palms, roses and grasses.
Rain gardens will also feature strongly in 2012. “Many gardeners are catching their own rainwater in rain barrels and cleaning or recycling grey water – wastewater from domestic activities like laundry, dishwashing and bathing” added Anthony Tesselaar, co-founder and president of Tesselaar International. “In fact, in many municipalities now, saving water is not only ‘in’, but mandatory”.
Other predicted trends for 2012 according to the Garden Trends Survey include:
· Black and amber shades in plants will continue to be a hot colour trend.
· Amber shades, such as ‘amber heucheras’, the amber Flower Carpet roses, and other plants with amber tones will be big in nurseries next year.
· Low risk, high-value plants will grow in popularity as shoppers become smarter, seeking plants which not only look good, but have a tried and true reputation.
· Smaller water features will come into fashion as people move away from large ponds because of the high maintenance.
· Fountains made with natural stone or metal will become hotter sellers than features made of man-made materials.
· In colder areas, where the blooms are gone and deciduous leaves have fallen, more gardeners will keep their ornamental grasses instead of cutting them back, so they can provide winter interest.
· Gardeners will also be looking for plants with winter berries, evergreens, barks of different colours and textures, or deciduous trees and shrubs with dramatic forms.
· Front gardens will grow in popularity, as the number of rear gardens has declined. According to the Garden Trends Research Report’s Early Spring 2011 survey, conducted for the Garden Writers’ Association Foundation, the number of front gardens is on a steady rise.
· Vertical gardening will continue to bloom in 2012. The practice of growing plants up from the ground instead of out, or planting them off the ground to start with on trellises, arbors, balconies and walls, has become popular among those with small spaces, landscape eyesores or an awkward “skinny spots” in their garden.
· The phenomenon of greening roofs will gain in popularity. The trend has been noticeable in parts of Canada and the USA where some cities require green roofs on some new buildings. These help save on heating and cooling costs, protecting the roof from the elements.
· Plants bred to withstand attacks from pests and diseases that are also tolerant of climate and soil extremes provide a better value,” says Tesselaar International (developer of the low-maintenance, disease- and drought-resistant Flower Carpet® roses, Festival™ Burgundy cordyline, Storm™agapanthus and Volcano® phlox). “Gardeners are more aware than ever that choosing the right plant for the right situation is imperative if you want to help save the planet — let alone your bank balance.
The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), the UK’s leading gardening charity, is launching National Gardening Week for 16 to 22 April 2012, to get the nation growing.
The RHS is calling on nurseries, plant centres, gardeners, clubs, charities, schools and media to join in and celebrate the week by opening gardens, holding events and providing advice. National Gardening Week wants to encourage everyone to take part and grow flowers, shrubs, trees, fruit, herbs and vegetables.
To join in visit www.rhs.org.uk/NationalGardeningWeek* or email nationalgardeningweek@rhs.org.uk
Over National Gardening Week, the RHS will aim to share its wealth of knowledge with every gardener across the nation. Anyone will be able to use its border-boosting service for advice to brighten and enhance borders, speak to the Compost Clinic for solutions to compost problems, and get in touch to find the perfect climbers and shrubs for walls or fences. There will be a daily Facebook question time where any problem will be answered by the RHS science and garden teams.
The charity will also be offering 20,000 starter packs with seeds, organising a career day at all four of its gardens and holding masterclasses, including a workshop on seed raising. The week will coincide with the launch of the charity’s nationwide RHS Britain in Bloom campaign, when millions of people get together to improve community spaces.
Speaking about the RHS launch of National Gardening Week, RHS Director General Sue Biggs, says: “National Gardening Week will open the doors to gardening and inspire everyone to give it a go.
“We want National Gardening Week to engage fantastic partners to make it a success, so please sign up and join in. We’ll be approaching our own plant committee members and gardening societies to get involved, too. I’m delighted that the Horticultural Trades Association has already agreed to support the initiative and we’re looking forward to working with them to make it a great week for gardeners.
“Gardening is life enhancing, it’s vital for the environment, creates beautiful spaces and best of all is great fun – I hope the week encourages even more people to benefit from this wonderful pastime. We’ve got more plans for the week in the pipeline and are looking forward to speaking to more partners. You can visit the RHS website to find out who is supporting this amazing week.”
RHS Vice President, Alan Titchmarsh, who supports the campaign, adds: “This week is about highlighting the importance of gardeners and gardening. I hope that all areas of the gardening world, from industry and horticultural colleges to charities and gardeners, embrace the opportunity and use it to promote the importance and joy of growing plants.
”It’s also a chance to get the nation to consider just what part growing things can play in society.”
Andrew Maxted, HTA Director of Marketing and Communications, finishes: “HTA has welcomed the RHS initiative in launching National Gardening Week which gives all sectors of the gardening industry an ideal opportunity to highlight the attraction and benefits of gardening at a time when we know that media and public interest in gardens is at its strongest. Gardening is enjoyed by over 20 million Britons and National Gardening Week will help the industry encourage more to join them.”
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