Hazel’s true name is Corylus avellana, it’s one of our best known wild trees all across…
Sustainable gardening
Sustainable plant nurseries
I have always bought my plants from as many independent nurseries as I can, the passionate,…
The importance and benefits of keeping fallen leaves around plants
One of the pieces of advice the gardening world has got wrong over the years is…
Why it’s time to ban non-organic pesticides from sale to the general public
Please take 30 seconds to sign the petition When I first started studying horticulture professionally in…
Horticulture industry bans corporations digging up precious habitats to make compost
The Government has, at long last, banned the home use of compost made from precious peatland…
8 tips for better watering technique
1) Water deeply When it’s hot and sunny it’s tempting to zip around the garden watering…
Jack on lawns: why it’s time to rethink our most sustainable usable surface
I seem to be thinking about lawns more than is healthy, and I’m not the only…
Why I will no longer be drawn into the false narrative on peat free compost
I will no longer be drawn into the false narrative on peat free vs peat compost…
How to multiply snowdrops like a pro – planting and dividing
Snowdrops are one of my favourite flowers in the garden, the regular Galanthus nivalis is about…
Banning peat composts – the facts
The UK Government is planning to ban the sale of peat based composts to gardeners in…
Why the obsession with lawns?
Let’s break this cycle: the UK is brainwashed about lawns. If you use your lawn that’s…
Peat free compost trials 2021
Over the last 7 – 8 years I’ve only used peat free compost after I switched…
Why must nature always come second?
I’m writing this because discussions online this week have kept me up all night thinking about…
10 UK weeds to grow for wildlife
My book Wild about Weeds looks at the wildlife value of many weeds I feel are…
Beware plastic netting in lawn and wildflower turf
One of the biggest problems in designed gardens that I and people I work with come…
17 reasons to avoid fake lawns – how bad is artificial grass for the environment?
I never design gardens with fake grass for aesthetic, experiential and environmental reasons. That said, some…
From plant to seed bank, how Kew Gardens is saving the planet’s flora and us
I’ve been visiting Kew Gardens – like many people I’m sure – since I was a…
11 steps to a wildlife friendly allotment
I love all life and I’m sure if you’re reading this you don’t need any explanation…
This decade let’s not lose sight of protecting wild habitats
Over the last year we’ve seen a wonderful increase in the number of people demanding action…
On the verge of a new way of gardening: do we need to change what we grow?
I’ve always written about our gardens being seen as mini-wildlife reserves, eco systems we protect and…
Pulsatilla vulgaris
Finally, after many years, today I came up close and personal with one of my favourite…
An introduction to wild orchids the alien wonder beings
People tell you that magic isn’t real, that Utopia is impossible. They’re talking bollocks. I know…
Reforesting Yorkshire
Chris and I popped up to Yorkshire this weekend to celebrate my birthday and my mum’s,…