Plants
Rare Ghost Orchid discovered in the UK
Britain’s rarest and most enigmatic plant, the Ghost Orchid (Epipogium aphyllum) has been discovered flowering in England.
Plants
Voting is open for the 2024 Tree of the Year competition
For 2024, the Woodland Trust’s Tree of the Year competition celebrates magnificent oaks across the UK.
Environment
March for Clean Water
Taking place in central London, the March for Clean Water aims to highlight the state of water and demand urgent government action to address the UK’s water pollution crisis.
Worth a read
Golf courses can help boost bees and butterflies
Golf courses across Sussex are trialling a rewilding initiative to help protect rare chalk grassland and encourage the growth of wildflowers.
Wildlife
Pioneering hedgehog monitoring programme
National Hedgehog Monitoring Programme is trialling a world-first combination of trail cameras and artificial intelligence (AI) to gauge robust hedgehog population estimates.
On Instagram
A must follow @kirstyelson
Artist Kirsty Elson transforms driftwood into charmingly, whimsical animal sculptures.
Charity
Perennial’s fiery challenge: Fire Walk
The gardening charity Perennial is inviting participants to take part in their fire walk event at Hever Castle & Gardens to raise much needed funds.
Products
Urban Wyrm: worm cast based product range
Endorsed by the pioneer of modern no-dig gardening, Charles Dowding, Urban Wyrm produce a range of composts, soil improvers, seedling mixes and liquid feeds made from pure worm casts.
Events
Working with Earth, Architecture & Landscape Symposium hosted by Tom Stuart Smith Studio
Inaugural Symposium hosted by the Tom Stuart Smith Studio in the Apple House at Serge Hill in Hertfordshire.
Gardens
Lawns unfairly targeted in environmental debates, says David Hedges-Gower
Despite the UK’s 20 million lawns, they are sidelined at garden shows and retail events on account of the lack of support for sustainable lawn care, says Lawn Association Chairman, David Hedges-Gower.
Worth a read
Fig tree forests from Sheffield’s love of fig biscuits
Intriguing story in the Guardian about the exotic fig trees that thrive in and around the waterways of Sheffield, which originated from the residents’ love of fig biscuits.
Business
Steady July garden centre sales but broader economic environment remains difficult confirms HTA
The August 2024 Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) Market Update revealed steady garden centre sales boosted by the warmer end of July.
Marketing
Dutch campaign encourages reducing paving for greener gardens
Running from June until October, a Dutch campaign was launched to encourage residents with gardens dominated by paving to switch to greener, more permeable gardens.
Business
For sale: Farm Soap Co.
Dorset based, botanical skincare and wellbeing product business the Farm Soap Co. with retail, wholesale and online presence is for sale.
Innovation
Precision robot weeding
In collaboration with Delft University of Technology, Wageningen University and Kubota, Odd.Bot launched the Maverick, a pioneering and sustainable form of autonomous weed recovery.
Business
Challenges and concerns of grower’s peat-free journey shared with Minister
At a tour of McClaren’s Nurseries in Scotland, Agriculture Minister, Jim Fairlie MSP was updated on the complexities and consequences of the use of peat in horticulture for the industry’s present and future outlook.
Business
Encouraging July trading for garden centres
The Garden Centre Association’s July Barometer of Trade figures reveal positive results for July trading.
Environment
Canine wildflower seed dispersal: Wolf-seeding
The Railway Land Wildlife Trust in Lewes has launched an intriguing rewilding project where local dogs spread wildflower seed by means of special seed-filled backpacks.
Environment
Urban ecosystem services: Medellín’s cooling green corridors
To reduce the city’s significant urban heat island effect and improve urban biodiversity, Medellín in Columbia created thirty interconnected green corridors which run throughout the city.
Events
Endellion Lycett Green: Queen of colour, form and imagination
The story of an artist, capturing the wonderment of nature on canvas in a series of beautifully complex, layered compositions for a special solo exhibition.
