Business
Shoplifting offences at highest level for 20 years
New ONS data shows that the number of shoplifting offences recorded by police in England and Wales has risen to a new 20-year high.
People
Sarah Raven on Desert Island Discs
Gardener and author, Sarah Raven will be sharing her music, book and luxury choices if cast away to a desert island on the popular BBC 4 Radio programme.
Business
HTA’s new Environmental Horticulture Growth Strategy – a vision for Wales
The Horticultural Trades Association launched its new Environmental Horticulture Growth Strategy —a vision for Wales at the Royal Welsh Show this week.
Regulation
Environmental rules set to change to boost housebuilding
UK ministers have signalled intent to overhaul ‘nutrient neutrality’ regulations to enable new housing development.
Environment
Pioneering mushroom farm at Blenheim estate
Work has begun on a pioneering mushroom farm on the Blenheim Estate to grow gourmet mushrooms on spawn-inoculated substrate created from organic waste from Blenheim Palace.
Regulation
Key BNG lessons for Local Planning Authorities
The Planning Advisory Service and Natural England have listed key BNG lessons for Local Planning Authorities.
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.
Charity
Greenfingers Sensory Garden at Derian House officially opened
A significant milestone for both the Greenfingers Charity and the team at Derian House Children’s Hospice as the all-new Sensory Garden was officially opened.
Awards
RHS Flower Show Tatton Park 2024 Award Winners
Congratulations to all of the 2024 RHS Flower Show Tatton Park medal and award winners.
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.
Business
Challenging June trading for garden centres
According to the July Market Update by the Horticultural Trades Association, garden centres experienced continued challenging trading conditions in June 2024.
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’.
Business
Sarah Raven nursery Rookery Farm is Planet Mark certified
Sarah Raven announced that their plant nursery, Rookery Farm is now Planet Mark certified.
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.
Business
Blenheim Palace seeks partner for wine production
Blenheim Palace is looking to collaborate with an established winery to produce co-branded wines on the estate.
Charity
Greenfingers 25th anniversary celebrations
Marking their 25th anniversary, the Greenfingers Charity’s Floral Ball is set to take place, June 2025 in the historic Coombe Abbey Hotel in Warwickshire.
Worth a peek
Documentary: Designing Seven Small Space Gardens
Interesting short documentary film, featuring Jason Williams in his preparations for the centrepiece show gardens for the 2024 RHS Urban Show in Manchester.
Business
2023 visits to attractions across England recover but remain down on pre-pandemic levels
The 2023 Visit England Annual Survey of visits to visitor attractions showed that while visits across England continued to recover last year, they were still significantly down on pre-pandemic levels.
Collaboration
Kim Murray and Sarah Raven launch new tulip collection
Kim Murray has launched a tulip collection in collaboration with the gardener and author, Sarah Raven.
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.