Environment
B&Q’s plant pot recycling stations
The DIY and home improvement retailing company, B&Q have recently launched plastic plant pot recycling stations in over 100 of their stores across the UK.
People
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Trustees appointed
Defra has newly appointed Fay Cooke as Trustee and Sir Paul Nurse, Judith Batchelar and David Richardson have been reappointed, and Professor Christopher Gilligan has been reappointed as King’s Trustee.
RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival
RHS Feature Garden for RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival will be entirely peat-free
Designed by Arit Anderson, the RHS Feature Garden will be peat-free, from plug to show plot, showcasing what can be achieved using sustainable alternatives.
Artisan
GPS tree art by Richard Geraint Evans
By means of his detailed, ink and graphite drawings of trees, professional artist Richard Geraint Evans seeks to create emotional bonds with trees and inspire efforts to conserve them.
Worth a read
Redressing the lack of collective nouns for trees
With his debut book, Ewan Fenelon, a 22-year old ecologist invents colourful collective nouns for trees, which he hopes will become part our everyday vernacular
Charity
Horatio’s Garden is the official charity for Belgravia in Bloom
Back for it’s ninth year, the floral festival in London’s Belgravia names Horatio’s Garden as their official charity partner for 2024.
Business
Gaze Burvill opens London showroom
Luxury garden furniture maker, Gaze Burvill has taken up residence in the heart of Chelsea London, having opened a new showroom in the Chelsea Barracks development.
Research
Modern roses at risk from lack of genetic diversity
Intensive, 19th century breeding of roses has led to a reduction in genetic diversity that makes them more vulnerable to diseases and climate change
Exhibitions
Sketch in Bloom in commemoration of the National Gallery bicentenary
To commemorate 200 years of the National Gallery’s, Sketch presents the tenth edition of their innovative floral exhibition ‘Sketch in Bloom’.
Gardens
Great Comp Garden’s Azaleas
The unnamed azaleas gifted to Great Comp Garden in Platt, near Sevenoaks have erupted in thousands of blooms throughout the historic woodland garden.
Wildlife
Hedgehog conservation initiaves
To mark the upcoming Hedgehog Awareness Week (5th – 11th May), thedirt.news sheds light on the various conservation campaigns and initiatives working to halt their decline.
Awards
Award winners BBC Gardeners’ World Spring Fair
BBC Gardeners’ World presenter, Frances Tophill presented awards to designers, landscaping teams & horticulture students for their 2024 BBC Gardeners’ World Spring Fair show gardens.
Plants
Beth Chatto’s new urban plant collections
Synonymous with the philosophy of right plant right place, Beth Chatto Plants & Gardens introduce a new plant collection for urban gardens for creating a, wildlife friendly space in urban locations.
Environment
The Lego Flood House: from vulnerable to flood resilient
Designed by Dr. Edward Barsley and Blue Heart, the Lego Flood House aims to help highlight the impacts of flooding and benefits of adaptation and resilience.
Media
Amateur Gardening celebrates 140th anniversary
The world’s oldest gardening magazine is positively blooming in its refreshed, fortnightly format.
Charity
Dobbies supports the Retail Trust’s renovation of the Hugh Fraser Retirement Estate
The garden centre retailer, Dobbies is partnering with retail industry charity, the Retail Trust, in support of the residents of the Glasgow based, retirement estate.
Health
Gardens and Health Week: The uplifting impact of gardens
To mark Gardens and Health Week (4th-12th May), the National Garden Scheme brings together all that is good about gardens.
Education
The Newt & RHS: Growing a new generation of gardeners
2024 marks The Newt in Somerset’s third year as headline sponsor of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, supporting the RHS in their mission to encourage and improve the practice of horticulture.
RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2024
Highgrove heads to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show
The Highgrove Shop will be exhibiting at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show this year, featuring a display created by sculptor Emma Stothard which will honour the Queen’s two terriers.
Environment
An estimated £2.9million spent on UK gardens, is wasted due to flood risk, says Flood Re
New data from Flood Re suggests that due to low awareness and understanding of flood risks, people in the UK are wasting £2.9 million per year on their gardens.
