Plants
Kew horticulturists predict the trends for 2024 from drought-resistant planting, increased urban trees, grow-your-own mushrooms, all year round interest winter plants to becoming more resilient by growing ‘future’ foods.
Business
The Dutch Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality, Piet Adema increased available subsidies by €12 million for greenhouse horticulture.
Environment
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is launching a competition to create a new Forest for the Nation in England.
Local Heroes
Greenfingers Charity supporter, Kate Ebbens has vowed to spend 2024 running daily to raise much needed funds for the children’s hospice garden charity.
Business
Around one in seven of all houseplants sold in UK garden centres are purchased in December.
Business
Fran Barnes, Chief Executive of the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) shares insights on trading during the festive season.
Worth a read
The Managing Director of Nicholsons, Liz Nicholson on what to look for in a garden when buying a home.
Worth a listen
Raoul Curtis-Machin, Director of Horticulture and Visitor Experience at Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh talks to Neville Stein on the Cultivate Your Future Podcast.
Charity
In association with Starbucks, Hubbub is offering around 50 groups up to £6,000 of funding to develop green space initiatives to provide much needed access to nature.
Plants
Gardening expert and author, Sarah Raven thinks hedging is an overlooked element of the garden.
Regulation
Companies who pollute the environment can be hit with unlimited financial penalties from the Environment Agency.
Business
The Industrial Energy Transformation (IETF) Fund is now accessible to horticulture businesses with high energy use to cut their energy bills.
In a nutshell
The Westmorland Red Squirrel Society reported a case of squirrel pox virus at Neaum Crag in the Lake District, a reminder of the importance of bird feeder hygiene.
Local Heroes
Hermès Heir plans to leave half of his $12billion fortune to his gardener.
Environment
Stating a commitment to eliminating all avoidable plastic waste by 2042 and acknowledgement that artificial grass has no wildlife value, Defra has no plans to instigate a ban on plastic grass.
Artisan
British lifestyle brand TOAST and the Garden Museum have collaborated with artist Rosie Harbottle on a series of original artworks.
Local Heroes
Westland Horticulture has announced a New Horizon Fund aimed to support community garden projects across the UK and Ireland in 2024.
Charity
Perennial’s helpline will close at 4.30pm on Wednesday 20 December and reopen at 10.00am on Wednesday 3 January 2024.
Job
The rewilding pioneers are recruiting for an ambitious and passionate Assistant Ecologist to help co-ordinate and conduct field surveys.
Job
London’s oldest garden centre is looking to recruit a retail leader to take management responsibility for the outdoor retail areas and shops at Clifton Nurseries in Little Venice, London.