Plants
Gertrude Jekyll® Named World’s Favourite Rose 2025
The World Federation of Rose Societies has named Rosa Gertrude Jekyll® (Ausbord) as the 2025 World’s Favourite Rose.
Plants
Plant theft on the rise
As the news continues to reverberate regarding the brazen theft of the significant bronze statues at Iford Manor last month, Allianz UK reports of a worrying epidemic of plant theft.
Gardens
Innovative Vertical Garden at 2025 RHS Hampton Court Palace Festival
Designed by Adolfo Harrison and built by Life on Walls, the vertical garden is one of the standout exhibits at this year’s RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival.
Business
Easton Walled Gardens launch Griffin of Easton Artists’ Materials
Combining art and heritage, Easton Walled Gardens announced the launch of a new artists’ materials shop, serving the East Midlands.
Gardens
Arrests made in connection with thefts at Iford Manor
Wiltshire Police have arrested two people after several statues were stolen from Iford Manor, near Bradford on Avon.
Gardens
Inspired by the Eden Project, China unveils ‘Oriental Eden’
Modelled on Cornwall’s Eden Project, the Eden Project Qingdao in China has officially opened.
Plants
Rose of the Year 2026: Coral Gardens®
Bred by Kordes Rosen, the floribunda, Rosa Coral Gardens® is the Rose of the Year, a competition run on behalf of the British Association of Rose Breeders.
Design
Foster + Partners win contest for national memorial to Elizabeth II
Lord Norman Foster’s design team won the competition to design the new Queen Elizabeth II memorial, beating a shortlist which included Tom Stuart-Smith.
Trees & Shrubs
Robin Hood Oak receives emergency watering
Threatened by lack of rain and current heatwave, the 1,000-year-old Robin Hood Oak in Sherwood Forest has received 3,000 litres of emergency watering.
Gardens
RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival: Healer’s Hollow
Delving into the history of our connection with plants, the RHS Feature Garden at the upcoming RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival, celebrates the tradition of plants for purpose and benefits for health and wellbeing.
Gardens
Statues stolen from the Iford Manor Estate
Four bronze statues have been reported stolen from the grounds of historic Iford Manor and garden, near Bradford upon Avon.
Trees & Shrubs
Baobab tree in bloom at the Eden Project
Believed to be a UK first, a baobab tree in the Rainforest Biome at the Eden Project in Cornwall is in flower.
Awards
Frank P Matthews wins HTA New Plants Award
At the 2025 HTA National Plant Show, the tree nursery won the HTA New Plants Award and was also awarded the Visitor Vote.
Trees & Shrubs
Frank P Matthews launch Cercis ‘Zig Zag®’ and Prunus ‘Japanese Lantern™’
Tree nursery, Frank P Matthews launch two unique new cultivars for the UK market; Prunus ‘Japanese Lantern™’ and Cercis ‘Zig Zag®’
Careers
Royal Forestry Society joins ‘Forests With Impact’ to drive social and environmental change
Forests With Impact partners with the Royal Forestry Society to support environmental restoration, sustainable workforce development and resilient UK forestry sector.
Plants
Dahlia Gardinetta® Velvet Crush named Best New Plant at BBC Gardeners’ World Live
Grown by Ball Horticulture and Allensmore Nurseriers, Dahlia Gardinetta® Velvet Crush wins the Peter Seabrook Award for Best New Plant at BBC Gardeners’ World Live.
Gardens
New National Centre of Music Gardens awarded £2.85m by Julia Rausing Trust
The Royal High School Preservation Trust is continuing its fundraising efforts with a £2.85m award from The Julia Rausing Trust towards the East Gardens, designed by Tom Stuart Smith.
Health
Horticulture unites to push for removal of VAT on sunscreen
A coalition of horticulture and landscape industry organisations submit a joint letter to the Government, calling for the removal of VAT on SPF 30+ sunscreen.
Plants
Frank P Matthews launches new ‘Apple Rainbow’
Set to be unveiled at BBC Gardeners’ World Live, Frank P Matthews launch an unusual, new apple called ‘Apple Rainbow’.
Gardens
Europa Nostra to aid Victoria Tower Gardens impasse
London Parks and Gardens welcomes assistance from Europe’s largest civil society heritage network to resolve the Victoria Tower Gardens deadlock.
