Tourism
Galloway confirmed preferred location for Scotland’s next National Park
Galloway has been confirmed as the proposed location for Scotland’s third National Park.
Gardens
Fulham Palace Trust’s Bishop Compton collection granted National Plant Collection status
Plant Heritage granted Fulham Palace Trust’s Bishop Compton collection, National Plant Collection status recognising the comprehensive range of plants first cultivated at the Palace during the tenure of Bishop Henry Compton.
Gardens
The history of the Earth brought to life in the new gardens at the Natural History Museum
Complete with new dinosaur, the Natural History Museum has transformed their five-acre gardens for big and small explorers in the heart of London, as part of its Urban Nature Project.
Charity
The Stroke Association launches digital garden
In a charity first, the Stroke Association has launched a digital garden called ‘Strength in Bloom’ to raise vital funds for the charity and support stroke survivors.
Awards
Mayfield Park wins coveted Green Flag Award
The Green Flag Award has been granted to Mayfield Park in Manchester with the judges declaring that they had ‘never seen such an outstanding urban park in 20+ years of judging’.
Case Study
Alitex case study: Happy employees is good business
Staff are a company’s most important asset but even though many businesses sing to this mantra, there are often cases where employees fall into the lesser valued categories of company stakeholders.
Design
Max Fordham House & Garden
The environmental engineering firm and its eponymous late founder designed Max Fordham House, the UK’s first net zero residential home in Camden, north London.
Research
The more sustainable one’s gardening, the better for you & planet
Scientists at the Royal Horticultural Society have found that gardening sustainably the higher the perceived levels of wellbeing as well as being better for the planet
Health
Proximity to local heritage boosts life satisfaction & wellbeing, worth £29billion annually
Research by Historic England showed that the overall wellbeing value for people’s day-to-day encounters with heritage is estimated to be worth £29 billion annually, providing an average individual benefit of £515.
Gardens
Great Comp Garden 2024 Summer Show
Two-day summer show held to help safeguard the historic Great Comp Garden in Kent with its rich history of suffragists and female sporting endeavours.
Business
Semple Begg celebrate 10th anniversary with a touch of Dior & RHS Chelsea garden relocation in Scotland
Designers Susan Begg and Nicola Semple, based in Scotland and Switzerland celebrate their 10th anniversary, relocating their RHS Chelsea garden and prestigious Dior Cruise ’25 at Drummond Castle.
Gardens
Over 200 volunteers assisted in the rehoming of the 2024 RHS Chelsea Pulp Friction garden
People’s Choice winner, the 2024 RHS Chelsea Pulp Friction Growing Skills garden, which celebrated the Pulp Friction community has been relocated to its final destination in Nottingham.
Worth a listen
‘The Garden Design Confessional’ podcast series hosted by Darren Hawkes for Maggie’s
New ‘Garden Design Confessional’ podcast series, hosted by the award-winning landscape designer Darren Hawkes, featuring fellow Maggie’s garden designers.
Wildlife
Corporate biodiversity in Henley
Global asset management firm Invesco provides an update on the progress made with their climate mitigation strategies at their EMEA head office in Henley on Thames.
Gardens
The value of a garden…
A new survey conducted by YouGov for STIGA, reveals that people would rather have smaller house if it came with a garden than a large house with no outside space.
Health
Thrive’s new campaign ‘Plants not Pressure’ puts the spotlight on men’s mental health & wellbeing
The new campaign by Thrive advocates gardens and green space as a place for men to grow their mental and physical strength.
People
Susan Raikes is the new Director of Wakehurst at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Susan Raikes has been appointed as Director of Wakehurst, Kew’s wild botanic garden in Sussex to engage the wider public in the beauty and scientific value of the Wakehurst site.
Research
Gardens and local green space leads to lower incidence of antidepressant use
New research paper reveals strong link between living near green space and decreases in antidepressant prescription refills, highlighting the importance of nature for health & wellbeing and urban planning.
Charity
Blue Diamond Garden Centres launch Community Garden Competition
Prompted by their Octavia Hill inspired, 2024 RHS Chelsea Flower Show garden, Blue Diamond are offering financial support to five UK community garden projects.
Education
Great Bradfords School renovated garden opened by Jamie Oliver
Chef and author Jamie Oliver, opened the newly renovated garden at Great Bradfords Junior School in Braintree, Essex.