Health
Safety first: No Falls Week
The No Falls Foundation, the first and only UK-based charity for the work at height sector, is launching the first ever ‘No Falls Week’, a powerful campaign dedicated to promoting safe working at height.
Local Heroes
Sandi Toksvig to open Bramshott village gardens event
The residents of Bramshott in Hampshire, open their gardens to the public every two years to raise money for local charities and to fund improvements in their own village.
Plants
Blue Diamond & National Trust launch Rosa ‘National Trust Beauty’ and RHS Chelsea plant collection
In celebration of the RHS Chelsea Octavia Hill Garden, Blue Diamond Garden Centres launch a new plant collection and a rose.
Health
UK population has low life satisfaction and is more anxious, suggests new ONS data
Exploring UK quality of life, the Office of National Statistics wellbeing report reveals increases in economic inactivity, low life satisfaction with financial pressures contributing to poor wellbeing.
Charity
NGS & Macmillan: 40th anniversary of a very special partnership
As part of Gardens and Health Week, the National Garden Scheme is celebrating a unique, 40-year charitable partnership with one of the most significant beneficiaries, Macmillan Cancer Support.
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.
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
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
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.
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.
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.
Awards
BBC’s The One Show and RHS announce return of the Growing Together Award for 2024
In celebration of community gardening, the BBC’s The One Show and the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) announce the 2024 Growing Together Community Gardening Competition
Good stuff
The Chatsworth playground is a marvel… if only I was still a kid
With towers, rope bridges, zip lines, slides and all round adventure, the children’s woodland playground at Chatsworth is an example to all.
RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2024
UBS sponsors ‘A day on the nursery’ exhibit at RHS Chelsea Flower Show
Partnering with the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), UBS will sponsor an exhibit at the Chelsea Flower Show, providing funding for four nurseries to exhibit.
Health
New compulsory bird registration rules
Regardless of the size of the flock, Defra has announced compulsory registration requirements for all bird keepers to combat avian influenza outbreaks.
Gardens
RHS National Gardening Week celebrations aim to demystify gardening
For National Gardening Week, the Royal Horticultural Society is celebrating the theme of ‘Knowledge is Flower’ to debunk the biggest gardening myths and celebrating UK’s green fingers.
Gardens
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh seeks support to save the Palm Houses
The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh needs to raise £250,000 towards completion of the Palm Houses restoration to ensure their ongoing to legacy inspire and educate.
Research
Scientists reveal vast DNA tree of life for plants
Scientists have sequenced the DNA from of over 9,500 living, endangered, and extinct flowering plants from around the world to produce groundbreaking plant ‘periodic table’.
Environment
Forestry Commission on reducing plastic tree guards usage
The Forestry Commission outlines their move towards more sustainable forestry with plastic usage reduction and recycling programmes.
