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HortWeek editor Matt Appleby and technical editor Sally Drury report on the essential horticulture stories of the week. Topics for this week: After a slow start the garden season finally kicks off!The implications for horticulture of the conflict in the Middle EastHow can horticulture combat our vulnerability to global food shocks? Plastic pot recycling in councils rises to historic levels!Is there a place for artificial turf? If not, what are the alternatives for high footfall areas? And if you do, Sally warns, beware of the unspeakable things you might find when you clean them! Do check out our huge archive of HortWeek Podcast interviews with an unrivalled selection of prominent and fascinating figures from all corners of the horticulture sector. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week the HortWeek Podcast welcomes Helen Waddington from Perennial and Creepers' head of horticulture, Michael Buck. As the first port of call for horticulturists needing extra support, horticulture charity Perennial is on the front line when it comes to gauging the mental health of the sector as a whole. With an estimated one in five people suffering from a common mental health disorder, Helen Waddington says the most common issue they hear on the Perennial helpline is related to the "cost of living". Ostensibly a financial issue, this in itself will cause stress, but it can have a knock-on effect on relationships (queries for this a have shot up by 93% she says), causing further stress, poor sleep, all of which can impact on work. "The longer this goes on without seeking help it impacts so much more on people". Michael Buck received a diagnoses of depression in 2021, "one of the hardest things" he has had to confront. He describes his experience of depression which had been building in him for many years, and the difficult decision he made, at a time of feeling great vulnerability, to seek help - "that was really tough, but that has really opened my mind to bettering yourself, understanding yourself as well". He talks about the professional stresses that have contributed to poor mental health including damage to plant imports at the border, the huge extra work generated by resulting mixed loads, negotiating with other nurseries to disentangle complex problems that can take hours or days to resolve. They talk about the importance of paying attention to the symptoms, not diminishing them, and the benefit of seeking help in good time, before more serious mental health problems can take hold. For some "pushing through" is seen as a "badge of honour" and often it feels an impossible to take time off work. For self-employed workers where "if you don't work you don't get paid" Waddington says Perennial can offer advice and support, sometimes financial. "For somebody who's employed... you are better to say something to your manager about how you are feeling and they will probably give you a 'welfare day' or a 'sofa day'. For those who feel vulnerable in their role, Waddington's advice is "talk to your GP, get signed off - but you can take a signed off week without even going to the doctor's, people sometimes forget that - and get that support." Addressing the issue from the other side, Buck gives advice to employers on how to engender a "culture" within your business that can support employees: "You are only as good as the culture you foster". He says: "I've been in horticulture 20 years now, I've seen a lot and in the early days people would just [say] 'man up'...you didn't want to say anything because if anything goes wrong I'm the first to go because I'm seen as the weak link. "Where that shift has gone to the positive people will see through that and see the talent and everything that you bring." He talks about the "open door" approach and culture of trust at Creepers that is not just helpful to staff, but is good for staff retention. For those interested in improving their understanding and handling of mental health issues in the workplace, Perennial has a Mental Health First Aiders programme with ambassdors network meetings where they share "top tips". Waddington shares some of the tips and initiatives that have worked for different businesses. Waddington outlines the signs to look for that someone you work with might be struggling with their mental health. And she talks about Perennial's presence at peak-stress events like RHS Chelsea Flower Show where they are on hand to offer support "when they're spinning the whole John Lewis crockery department!" Finally the group discuss how to handle another major source of stress, social media, and share they ways they manage stress in their own lives. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Adrian Bloom makes a welcome return to the HortWeek Podcast to talk about his new book and discuss the ongoing state of horticulture, garden industry and his own Norfolk garden, Foggy Bottom. In February, Bloom was still reeling from some significant plant losses after a long wet winter. His recommendation is Taxodium distichum (Swamp Cypress) from America which "will survive with its roots in water". "Every 10 years or roughly you have to redo the garden. It's all very well planting a garden for the future but the future is about 10 years".  Being situated in East Anglia, the climate trend is generally getting drier, however, and Bloom says they are struggling to keep Astilbes alive and have given up on Meconopsis "because we don't have the right humidity to grow them".  He discusses the plant breeding market, lamenting some launches: "There's so much breeding going on now, people are throwing out plants almost with a minor change and I think there's not enough of a difference between some of them...but they're for a bedding market really and we are losing some really good plants." But there are good new plants coming in too and he names a few of his personal highlights. The discussion touches on the US garden market where Bloom spent some time living and working - he is still a member of "a thriving" American Conifer Society but he admits in the UK conifers, and heathers are going out of fashion: "I think they have a place, but I think largely they won't be in fashion...Leylandii didn't help." Bloom reflects on his live in horticulture, much of it spent overseas, the USA, Norway and Denmark and Switzerland: "I wanted to do something different to my father, I wanted to go into things that offered a longer term aspect". His latest book Garden Odyssey is published this spring and is "an attempt to encourage everybody into gardening", a topic he returns to during the podcast. Bloom is also planning a children's book, part of a campaign he has embarked on to try and encourage children to appreciate plants and gardening.  One of the topics of discussion in HortWeek's Parks & Gardens Week was about income sources and ways parks and gardens managers and owners can generate funding. Bloom, who runs a railway attraction at Bressingham Gardens, discusses how it is done in his garden and how challenging it can be.  "One of the answers is, promoting plants and gardens, promoting many garden centres have almost forgotten about; they react to things, they're not proactive on the plants. "There was a time when we were more interested in plants. Now, with wages going up, with no training, it's rather a depressing picture." HortWeek editor Matthew Appleby raises whether the idea of an autumn planting season might be revived and Bloom says he thinks it is unlikely but adds: "There are so many mistakes made, people planting something that is not suitable [for their own garden] ... people often plant what is looking good rather than what is right for their own garden. "We need to try and promote more reality, and more success through gardens, and that's something that only the nurserymen, the garden centre and the trade can do." Make sure you never miss a HortWeek podcast! Subscribe to or Follow HortWeek podcasts via Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your preferred podcast platform. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do we solve population pressure and climate crisis in space? How has GPS allowed us to provide 12% more food globally? How did the UK become a global leader in small satellite manufacture after the British Government said, “there’s no future for the UK satellite industry”? How did Elon Musk turn reusable rockets from science fiction to science fact in less than 20 years? What else are “Elon and Jeff” going to allow us to do? And why is SpaceX still “the elephant in the room”?   Join Alice as she talks to Will Whitehorn, chair of giant space tech investor Seraphim and former president of Virgin Galactic, and they discuss the implications of “The Elon Musk show” and its legacy, “the beginnings of a competitive space industry of scale”.   Contributors: Alice Bunn, President of UKspace  Dr Alice Bunn OBE FIMechE FRAeS CEng | LinkedIn UKspace: Overview | LinkedIn   Will Whitehorn OBE, Seraphim Space Investment Trust Will Whitehorn OBE | LinkedIn Key topics covered: UK satellite manufactureUK universitiesSpaceX valuationReuseable rocketsAgricultural managementPopulation pressureClimate crisisSolar powerData centres in spaceIndustrialising in space Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Steve Chapman, an experienced ex-grower and ICL technical area sales manager, turns his attention to vine weevil — often cited as the number one pest on nurseries in the UK and Ireland.  BASIS qualified, Chapman has many years of experience advising growers on how to keep this pest at bay. Vine weevil are highly topical because spring is a key time to target the larval or grub stage before they hatch in to adults.   Chapman was previously a production manager on a large Kent nursery. He controlled vine weevil back then with products such as Exemptor that are now off the market. He recommends options such as Lalguard (formerly Met52) now. Lalguard can be mixed into growing media. He says understanding the lifecycle of this pest is important, from egg stage to larvae and pupation into adults, and how important it is to target at the right time. Chapman recommends starting planning when it is quiet, then to apply Seeka beneficial nematodes in March and April. He also recommends using bait plants such as heuchera to attract vine weevil. Beneficial nematodes play a central role in controlling vine weevil. Chapman says timing and monitoring are important. His three top tips are:  Know the pest's lifecycle.Plan ahead.Use a wetting agent such as Transporter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As part of HortWeek's Parks & Gardens Week held 23 - 29 March 2026, Rachael Forsyth held a Horticulture Question Time session to answer reader questions with a truly expert panel which featured: Jane Moore - award-winning writer and author and a head gardener for more than 30 years Joe Whitehead - head gardener at Burghley House and new Professional Gardeners Guild chair, with more than 20 years of expertise in garden design, plant care, and landscape management FIND MORE PARKS & GARDENS WEEK CONTENT HERE The Questions00:02:24 What are the biggest issues you are seeing from drought and excess rain and how can this be managed? 00:11:35 What can I do about brown lawns? 00:14:04 How can I communicate what we are doing to mitigate climate change in my park or garden? 00:19:19 How can I bring nature back into the garden when I need to maintain a formal, tidy or neat-looking garden? 00:28:55 What is the one piece of tech that has made your life easier? 00:31:14 How can I work my way up to a head gardener position? 00:33:58 What kind of park/garden events have you found to be most successful? 00:36:12 What plants can you suggest for adding winter interest into a garden? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What did the Space-Comm Expo conference and exhibition tell us about connecting space and wider business? How does this manifest as tech connectivity in telecoms and why do farmers care about that? What did we learn about the benefits of extreme cold in manufacturing laboratories and why do pharmas care about that? How vulnerable are global logistics to the spoofing of navigation signals? And why is the UK government centralising space strategy in the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology?   Join Alice and Jonners as they reflect on the UK space sector’s largest trade event and the “energy, diversity and …sheer scope of what this industry has to offer”.   Contributors: Alice Bunn, President of UKspace  Dr Alice Bunn OBE FIMechE FRAeS CEng | LinkedIn UKspace: Overview | LinkedIn   Jonathan Daves, The Karman Line Jonathan Daves | LinkedIn   Subscribe to The Karman Line Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-k%C3%A1rm%C3%A1n-line/id1876605462 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3qED4CgdRDxfKKzYNKZCIH?si=lZ-I4a19SPGLAJL-dHi4DQ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheKármánLineUK Key topics covered: Space-Comm Expo, London, March 2026 Conference overview Sector integration Insurance Customer utility Government role Future outlook   Technological advancements · Telecoms · Manufacturing   Defence and security · Satellite capabilities · Current threats Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

GIMA director Vicky Nuttall retires from the role this spring after 12 years in the role. GIMA's annual big day conference event on 26 March is about future of the supply chain and will include panels on sales agents versus employed staff, logistics, marketplace and Yorkshire Garden Centres' Mark Farnsworth. Talking to Matt Appleby on the HortWeek Podcast, Nuttall says the biggest changes at GIMA since she started there 12 years ago include GIMA taking on the Garden Press Event in 2016 and Nuttall says she was really pleased to add the event, alongside the HTA, to its offer. Covid in 2020 saw trade associations "come to the fore" and GIMA joining the CBI in 2019 proved to be a good decision as they were close to Government. Bringing trade associations closer together and growing the membership, helped by Tony Kersey (ex-Homebase), has helped that. She says she seeks influencers online, and "they find us" and they generate content from the Garden Press Event. She added that GIMA manages who comes through the door so only people who are trying to make a living get in. GIMA has taken on some members from the defunct Gardenex export organisation and will manage their international lounge at Glee in September. There's uncertainty about the weather so far in 2026 from retailers, after a good Christmas, Nuttall observes: "Everything is in place for a good 2026 season. But the most important factor is the weather."  She adds: "It's tough out there for some of the smaller businesses...that might be a reflection of what some of the more established brands are doing." The biggest challenges looking ahead include increased employment taxes, regulations such as EPR packaging bills eat away at margins and some smaller garden centres are coming to the point where they think they canlt be boithered and we are seeing consildiation, as well as some in the supply side. She advises using professionals to monitor reporting of EPR. "It's tough for smaller or single product suppliers to get a "foot in the door". There are fewer buying points and buying groups and chains are getting stronger and some bigger suppliers are getting "more dominant". Marketplace retailing gives more opportunity but has a knock-on effect for the retail landscape, especially for DIY and High Street stores. In terms of trends, "accessible and easy" wellness and well-being hobbies than gardening are getting more popular, she says. Nuttall says the organisation is well-placed placed for the future. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Long-time HortWeek columnist and nursery business consultant John Adlam of Dove Associates joins the HortWeek Podcast to talk about the latest Government document "A New Vision for Water". Adlam explains the significance of this document to horticulture and raises concerns because "there's no real mention of how [horticulture is] going to be participating in the new vision" and "still does not consider irrigation to be an 'essential use'". He talks about how horticulture has fared in recent months with extremes of drought and "a deluge" in different parts of the country affecting water harvesting, stores and growth. Adlam talks about the measures available to horticulturists to mitigate the risk associated with extreme weather that is becoming more "normal" with every year that passes. Whereas in the past, water was "a minor part of growers' annual costs".  But "today the biggest concern is not so much the costs of water as to the availability of water" he says, with high capital costs often associated with maintaining supply. Growing media is as important as the water itself and peat-free is presenting growers with fresh challenges and watering has become a highly technical skill he says: "People are becoming more fastidious in the way they irrigate." He talks about water testing and the need to monitor water quality, pH, conductivity and more. Like many HortWeek Podcast guests, Adlam was born into horticulture and grew up in his family's plant nursery and landscaping business: "I was nearly born in a glasshouse. Mum came in to labour as she was de-leafing tomatoes." He talks about narrow escape from a career playing trumpet which he still plays as part of his church work. As an ordained Anglican vicar, Adlam connects his day work in horticulture to his pastoral church work - "in fact my parish was the nursery industry of England". Adlam reflects on his lifelong connection to and career in horticulture and the huge changes in pest and disease treatments over the years: "Many of the products have less efficacy than they did in the olden days but they are much safer". Although we have lost a lot of "actives" - active chemical herbicides, fungicides, acaricides and pesticides - we are better off than some countries Adlam says: "Last year Denmark [for example] had only 93 actives; [the UK] has got something like 400 or 500 actives". But being out of the EU, or potentially getting more closely aligned again via the SPS agreement in 2027 is a "swings and roundabouts" situation Adlam says, where we are able to continue using some chemicals the EU has restricted, but we miss out on products registered in the EU but not in the UK. Biological plant health products are in the ascendency but Adlam believes that while we expect "blemish-free plants and at the moment it's very hard to do that entirely biologically". Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joe Whitehead, head gardener at Burghley House and new Professional Gardeners Guild chair, has over 20 years of expertise in garden design, plant care, and landscape management. He talks about harnessing the experience of 850 members via webinars and members' workshops. The PGG turns 50 in 2027 and has a new website and membership system. Celebrations are planned. Founder Brian Hutchinson died in late 2025 and Whitehead wants to commemorate his legacy. Hutchinson retired in 1998 as Castle Howard head gardener, where he had been for 25 years (having previously been at Chatsworth) and from where he founded the PGG in 1977. Whitehead began as a tree surgeon, during which I attained a National Diploma in Horticulture at Riseholme. After five years, he took a position at Burghley House. Then, after a two-year Wisley Diploma in Practical Horticulture, his first head gardener role was at Salle Park in Norfolk. Eight years as head gardener at Raveningham Hall followed and before his return to Burghley House as head gardener in 2018. There are 140,000 visitors annually and a five-person marketing team. He said if visitors love a garden they will return, so he has created layers of interest for year-round interest, plus 'experiences' to make the garden a 'natural classroom', as well as secondary spend places such as cafes. Engagement with visitors is important too. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As of 2026, the UK space industry is a significant and strategic driver of the national economy, contributing over £19 billion in revenue and supporting tens of thousands of high-skilled jobs. Satellite-based services and data underpin roughly 18% of UK GDP, equivalent to approximately £454 billion of the wider economy. And the sector is growing exponentially. But this is just the tip of the iceberg. For the space industry to fully realise its potential it needs more of the right people to understand what’s happening and get involved. People like policy makers, investors, regulators, planners, communicators, lawyers and consultants. Dr Alice Bunn, the president of UK Space, and her panel of guests, Sam Alden co-CEO of Space Solar, Nick Shave managing director of Astroscale and Anushka Sharma founder of Naaut, discuss the surprising, awe inspiring business of space and make the compelling case for why more companies and investors should get involved.  Contributors: Host: Alice Bunn, President of UKspace  Dr Alice Bunn OBE FIMechE FRAeS CEng | LinkedIn UKspace: Overview | LinkedIn Guests: Nick Shave, Managing Director of Astroscale Nick Shave FRAeS | LinkedIn Astroscale: Overview | LinkedIn Sam Adlen, CEO of Space Solar Sam Adlen | LinkedIn Space Solar: Overview | LinkedIn Anushka Sharma, founder of Naaut Anushka Sharma | LinkedIn Naaut: About | LinkedIn Key topics covered: Impact of Space on Everyday Life Practical ApplicationsEnvironmental MonitoringGlobal Security Sustainability and Innovation in Orbit Space DebrisManufacturing in MicrogravitySpace-Based Solar Power Economic and Regulatory Landscape Cost ReductionInvestment and FinanceRegulation and Policy The Future of Space Exploration New PlatformsAcademic Contribution Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Georgie Newbery is chair of Flowers From The Farm and founder of Common Farm Flowers, one of the first of the new artisan flower farmers to establish in the UK. A small scale flower farm and educator, the farm, established in Somerset in 2010, grows up to 100,000 stems annually without the use of chemicals, Newbery is set to feature at RHS Chelsea Flower Show this May in the Great Pavilion where she will present the first representation of a flower farm at the show, showcasing Ranunculus, also for the first time. She hopes the display will "advocate for flower farmers" and inspire them to perhaps start growing flowers themselves.  One of her Chelsea funders is peat-free compost supplier Sustain - and Newbery, as a peat-free flower farm from the start, says there is no excuse for using peat "just because it makes life easier for me". She also believes she can "demonstrate that it's easy to grow peat-free". While she fully understands the difficulty and cost for larger commercial growers of switching their nurseries to peat-free systems, she says "everything we do, we make a choice... we choose to learn how to use other kinds of compost, because it's possible, and it's not breaking the planet". Newbery talks about the operation she runs at the farm, how she manages to grow successfully without chemicals, and her experience with peat-free compost, products, techniques and adaptations.  She revels in the idea of the flower farm as a reservoir of life and biodiversity that will act as "innoculation stations" that, come the end of the world, could seed the desert green landscapes surrounding them. As well as growing flowers Newbery runs workshops and demonstrations on propagation and seed-saving, such as how to design a cut flower patch. Weddings and funerals account for most of her cut flower sales. Customers there usually come through word of mouth, she says, often "because they want something that has come from a garden". Newbery has a distinctive philosophy of business and in mentoring small businesses. She encourages "the stepping away from the 'more for the sake of more' model. The key, she says, is to work out "what your 'enough' is". If you work out what your minimum need is, modest or luxurious, "whatever it is...then work out how to build a business that will pay for it". And she is fierce in her support of other small business owners who want to make a good living supplying a high quality product without endlessly having to expand.  Asked about her "flowers of the future" she says "seed sovereignty" should be the focus, with locally-grown seed, adapted to UK conditions more likely to provide "bigger, stronger" plants compared to imported options. A new edition of her book "The Flower Farmers's Year" is out in May 2026. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Paul Greenyer, Gareth Wilson and Craig Nester are high flyers in the world of landscape design and contracting.  Greenyer is director of Paul Greenyer Consultancy and carries out design and build landscape work as well as being an RICS-accredited expert witness and mediator.Wilson is an independent expert witness, hard landscaping expert and garden consultant and is known for his Chelsea gardens.And Nester is a design and build specialist with his firm Habitat Landscapes. While their routes into the industry are different, they share a hurdle over which they have all had to jump - having ADHD (attention deficit/ hyperactivity disorder). In the discussion with Rachael Forsyth, the three offer disarmingly frank accounts of the ways ADHD has affected their lives and the people the love, live with and work with. They explain some "symptoms" of the condition and share some of the strategies they have employed and evolved that have helped them first "cope" and ultimately "thrive" and excel in their chosen professions. Podcast producer: HortWeek digital content manager, Christina Taylor Podcast presenter: HortWeek senior reporter, Rachael Forsyth Make sure you never miss a HortWeek podcast! Subscribe to or Follow HortWeek podcasts via Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your preferred podcast platform. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

HortWeek editor Matt Appleby and senior reporter Rachael Forsyth report on the essential horticulture stories of the week. HortWeek editor Matthew Appleby and Rachael talk about: Ruxley Manor Garden Centre takes on organised crime by installing extensive security and anti-theft measures Marketing tips from IPM Essen where the watchword was 'innovation'Pros and cons of influencers for horticulture marketingPeat panel at the BOA Conference gauges the direction of travel, sentiment, quality and the EU on going peat-freeSociety of Garden and Landscape Designers award winnersRBG Kew's Orchid Festival + climate resilience, visitor numbers, engagement and plans to improve itHortWeek's plans for Parks & Gardens Week - taking place 23-30 March 2026 - details TBCDo check out our huge archive of HortWeek Podcast interviews with an unrivalled selection of prominent and fascinating figures from all corners of the horticulture sector. Podcast presenters: Matthew Appleby and Rachael Forsyth Podcast producer: Christina Taylor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

HortWeek's panel at the BOA conference 2026 analysed in-depth how growers and suppliers are working towards peat-free, with the big messages being that retail product needs to be better and that the Government needs to offer clarity to the horticulture industry. Panellists were Chris Reid, Westland head of technical – growing media,, David Denny of the HTA, Robin Squance, ex-Brookhouse Nurseries and BOA technical committee chairman, Michael Smith – W D Smith & Son, and Steve Carter – Responsible Sourcing Scheme and Fleurie Nursery. Find out more HERE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.