Good stuff
The Chatsworth playground is a marvel… if only I was still a kid
With towers, rope bridges, zip lines, slides and all round adventure, the children’s woodland playground at Chatsworth is an example to all.
Health
New compulsory bird registration rules
Regardless of the size of the flock, Defra has announced compulsory registration requirements for all bird keepers to combat avian influenza outbreaks.
Gardens
RHS National Gardening Week celebrations aim to demystify gardening
For National Gardening Week, the Royal Horticultural Society is celebrating the theme of ‘Knowledge is Flower’ to debunk the biggest gardening myths and celebrating UK’s green fingers.
Gardens
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh seeks support to save the Palm Houses
The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh needs to raise £250,000 towards completion of the Palm Houses restoration to ensure their ongoing to legacy inspire and educate.
Plants
Native plant consumption in the US
Fuelled by consumer demand and mandated by legislation, native plant consumption in the US is growing but it’s a protracted process.
Research
Urban trees reduce heat-related mortality rates
Study found that London’s urban forest helped avoid 153 heat attributable deaths, representing around 16% of Urban Heat Island related mortality.
Gardens
Horatio’s Garden launches private tours of their gardens
The spinal injury charity Horatio’s Garden, has launched a new series of tours offering the public the chance to visit their award-winning, fully accessible gardens.
Health
Dr Michael Mosley on the benefits of gardening
On his BBC Radio 4 podcast ‘Just One Thing’, Dr. Michael Mosley explains that gardening is not only good for physical fitness but benefits the brain, mood and gut microbiome.
Health
Policymakers urged to provide sustained funding for therapeutic horticulture initiatives
Members of the Scottish Gardening and Horticulture Cross-Party Group (CPG) have written to Ministers advocating for the health benefits of horticulture and gardening in healthcare.
Events
RHS Family Gardening Festival
Celebrating budding gardens, all five RHS gardens will be hosting a range of activities for families to get involved in gardening during the upcoming garden festival.
Gardens
RHS Chelsea’s Flood Resilient Garden is heading to Howbery Business Park
The Flood Resistant garden, designed by Naomi Slade and Dr Ed Barsley to drive awareness of flood risk is destined for Howbery Business Park in Oxfordshire.
Gardens
Ballot open to visit 10 Downing Street garden
Part of the 2024 London Open Gardens, the garden at Number 10 Downing Street will be opening via a public ballot.
Research
Horticultural engagement is effective for stress & mental fatigue recovery in children
Conducted by researchers in China, research into the stress recovery benefits for children participating in horticultural activities demonstrated greatly reduced physiological fatigue.
Gardens
Mayfield Park historical botanical prints exhibition
Running alongside the RHS Urban Show, Mayfield Park hosts an exhibition charting its history from 18th century industrial site, to its current transformation as a world-class park.
Gardens
Sculpture by the Lakes bolsters gardening team with two new horticultural talents
Bob Burstow from the Eden Project is the park’s new Senior Horticulturist, supported by Alex Peel, currently an apprentice at Kingston Maurward College.
Gardens
RHS Wisley pays homage to Ellen Willmott, Sir Thomas Hanbury and George Fergusson Wilson
A new Pavilion in Oakwood was officially opened in the historic heart of RHS Garden Wisley, paying homage to the trio responsible for its establishment.
Charity
Ben Thomas is the new Thrive CEO
Former Head of Operations at Thrive, Ben Thomas has been appointed as CEO, replacing Kathryn Rossiter who stepped down in March.
Gardens
Tom Stuart-Smith to revive Trentham’s Italian Garden as part of the 20th Anniversary plans
The unique, 186-acre historic parkland garden will undergo a further series of ambitious garden development plans, part of a programme of events marking the 20th anniversary of the Gardens’ re-opening.
RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival
The Climate-Forward Garden
Designed by Melanie Hick, the Climate-Forward Garden is a front garden re-imagined with sustainability and style front and centre.
Research
Research into garden influences on health & wellbeing seek participants
Researchers are looking for people to take part in a psychological intervention to explore how spending time in the garden influences health and wellbeing