Gardens
Create, captivate, cultivate: 2026 RHS Flower Shows applications now open
Garden designers are invited to submit their applications to design a show garden for the 2026 RHS Flower Shows at Malvern, Badminton, and Sandringham.
Awards
Cultivating excellence: Record Entries for 2025 HTA Grower of the Year Awards
The HTA has received the highest number of entries for this year’s Grower of the Year Awards, which recognise excellence in UK nursery production.
Economy
Bank of England cuts interests rates to 4% amid rising unemployment
The Bank of England has cut interest rates to 4%, the lowest level in more than two years.
Economy
UK retail footfall stumbles again in July
Data from the British Retail consortium showed disappointing shopping footfall across the UK, decreasing by 0.4% in July (YoY), up from -1.8% in June.
Education
A year to grow: The Adam Greathead Horticultural Award
The application process for the 2025 programme, which offers a unique opportunity for aspiring horticulturists to work with John Massey and Fergus Garrett for a year, is now open.
Products
Form Meets Function: Niwaki Launches Engei workwear
The Japanese lifestyle brand unveils a new range of unisex workwear, comprising the Engei jacket and trousers.
Exhibitions
Echoes in the Chalk: Art and the ancient Landscape
Wiltshire’s landscape and ancient history has inspired a new exhibition, curated by the archaeologist and broadcaster, Dr. Rose Ferraby.
Book Releases
Gardens
Sold down the plot: Allotments at risk?
Last weekend’s news reported a concerning story that the Deputy Prime Minister granted councils the authority to sell allotments to finance spending.
Gardens
Blueprint for flood resilience: Flood Re opens Howbery Park garden
Flood Re launches their permanent, free public access, flood resilient garden at Howbery Park in Oxfordshire, helping to develop resilient approaches to flooding.
People
John Hillier dies aged 90
Sir Harold Hillier’s eldest son, John Hillier, the esteemed plantsman who played a pivotal role in the success of Hillier Nurseries, passed away last week.
Books
Designs of Nature: May Morris and the Art of Embroidery
New book celebrates the work of the leading figure in the Arts and Crafts movement, May Morris, who elevated embroidery from domestic craft to art form.
Charity
Bumblebee charity issues urgent plea for support
Amidst an unprecedented crisis for bumblebees, the Bumblebee Conservation Trust faces substantial financial constraints, impeding the provision of essential support for the pollinators.
Media
Google’s new AI Mode: No links, no credit
Google’s search engine overhaul and AI overviews will fundamentally change how users interact on searches, posing a major threat to (content rich) websites reliant on organic search traffic.
People
British Garden Centres appoints Amy Stubbs, as Managing Director
British Garden Centres announced the appointment of eldest daughter, Amy Stubbs, as Managing Director alongside her father, Charles Stubbs and uncle, Robert.
Wildlife
Less rain, fewer blooms: The push for more drought resistant plants for pollinators
On account of the reduced blooms on summer flowers, the Royal Horticultural Society has said that drought resistant plants have never been more important for pollinators
Products
Sealstop: Full watering can, no waste
Novel, British-designed, automatic shut-off valve designed to eliminate water wastage and save gardeners time.
People
Population of England and Wales increased to 61.8mn, says ONS
Latest ONS dat indicated that the population of England and Wales continued to grow in the year to mid-2024, reaching 61,806,682 people.
Regulation
Gardener arrested for ‘knife’ possession
Armed police arrested a gardener returning from his Manchester allotment on account of his gardening tools, which were mistaken for weapons.
