HortWeek Podcast

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.

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 TaylorPodcast presenter: HortWeek senior reporter, Rachael ForsythMake 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 ForsythPodcast 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.

Apprenticeship Week for 2026 starts 9 February so HortWeek has brought together two specialists in horticultural apprenticeships to explain how they work, the various options available and the vast array of benefits for employers and employees alike.Speaking to Rachael Forsyth in this episode are:Christa McDermot from BCA (Berkshire College of Agriculture) runs a range of land-based courses including horticulture.Helena Bassop from Euphorbia gardens and vice chair of the Chartered Institute of Horticulture Education and has a background as a lecturer, course manager and is an apprenticeship endpoint assessor. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bruce Harnett of Kernock Park Plants, Megan Green of Hayloft Plants and Yvonne Marquenie of Plants & Flowers Foundation Holland joined <i>HortWeek</i> new plants writer Mr Plant Geek Michael Perry on a panel at IPM Essen to discuss how the horticulture industry should understand today’s plant consumer.They discussed: 1. The peat-free and sustainability dilemmaThe transition to peat-free media remains the industry’s most "hot-button" issue, particularly in the UK.Kernock Park Plants (KPP) went 100% peat-free in 2024 and Bruce Harnett says that sustainability (biomass, water self-sufficiency) is a moral choice, even if the "commercial advantage" is currently unclear.Panellists agreed that, for consumers to fully switch, peat-free media must be equal to or better than peat. Currently, some "staunch" growers still believe peat performs superiorly.But while sustainability is a growing concern many consumers still "turn a blind eye" when price is a factor.2. Innovation vs. "Trust Erosion"Should the industry stop introducing new plants? The consensus: Innovation must have purpose.KPP uses a rigorous trials process to ensure only "the best of the best" hit the market. Introducing novelty without value leads to "trust erosion."Plants like Salvia ‘Hot Lips’, Lavender ‘Hidcote’, and standard Rosemary remain dominant because they are reliable. Consumers value the "tried and tested" for mail-order success."TikTok Plants": Novelties like the TomTato or "family" apple trees resonate with younger, online audiences, but the industry must distinguish between viral aesthetics and long-term garden performance.3. Multi-platform marketingThe panel discuss approaches and strenghts of different platforms:YouTube: ideal for practical "how-to" guides.Instagram/Pinterest: use aspirational/inspirational imagery.Facebook: focus on community and storytellingMeanwhile Matthew Perry raises concerns about influencers who focus on garden aesthetics rather than plant health. The panel stresses the need for authentic voices over "unattainable" glossy imagery.And Megan Green says that, for Hayloft, 75% of business is now online, though the physical catalogue remains a valued tactile experience for a core demographic.4. The "Holy Grail" of 'engagement'Green highlights the power of visual merchandising—linking the plant, compost, and pot in one display to remove customer friction.QR codes on labels and improved storytelling are seen as the "Holy Grail" for garden centres to provide info at the point of purchase.Research shows search behavior is often driven by nostalgia (especially in herbs) and the desire to care for others (gifting).5. Reaching the Next GenerationYounger consumers represent the future but are the hardest to recruit due to a lack of gardening space and lower spending power. Engaging them requires shifting from a "critical" focus to a "positive attitude" shift, making gardening feel attainable rather than a luxury chore.In summary, the industry must balance the marketing "pull" of new varieties with the "push" of sustainable production, ensuring that every new introduction builds consumer trust through reliability and climate resilience. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In an era of AI fakery and fake news, star of the CutCrew YouTube channel, Jack Churchman has built his grounds maintenance business through authenticity and it has served him well. Eschewing the 'easy' money of kit sponsorship, he has won respect, credibility and work by sticking to his principles and maintaining standards.Inspired by his mum and grandad who were keen gardeners, he got his first job at a golf course at the tender age of 9. After a spell in the military he used his spare time to work for free on gardens and golf courses during the pandemic and gradually turned it into a business. Blessed with a ferocious work ethic, tenacity, resilience and a restlessness, he now at least partly attributes to ADHD, Churchman built his landscape maintenance business from the ground up and he is candid about the challenges of finding finance to grow his company with "no mummy and daddy to lend me £100k or whatever".  As much as YouTube has served Churchman, it has drawn some unwanted attention, tipping off burglars looking to move expensive machinery to competitors trying to sabotage CutCrew by trolling, misrepresenting and even stalking him. Despite the dramas, however, he maintains "the benefits far outweigh the negatives".But interspersed with laughs and self-deprecation that have made Churchman such a YouTube phenomenon, is frank discussion of the challenges of running a business, negotiating competition, issues with late payment, spreading of risk, pricing, cost pressures and being responsible for people's livelihoods. The podcast is also littered with tips and hard-won wisdom on how to win clients. And his advice to prospective entrepreneurs?: "Chase the thing you like, know and love from the beginning".Find the CUTCREW LTD | Grounds Maintenance & Tractor Action YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@cutcrewltd Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

View slides and Vodcast edition at https://www.hortweek.com/article/1944940In this edition of the HortWeek Podcast, Matt Appleby spoke to Dries Jansen of Garden Center Advice talking about how to optimise garden centre operations for profit through layout, assortment, and realisation.Jansen began his career as an analyst at Intratuin in the Netherlands, working with 56 stores and €250 million turnover. He used trends and data back then to identify predictable patterns.But now, working alongside leading garden centre architect Fred de Rijcke, Jansen has combined data from HortWeek's exclusive annual Top 250 Garden Centres with insight from the garden centre markets in the Netherlands, Germany, France, and Belgium, to create a comprehensive decision-making model for the UK market. The data analysis system maps annual turnovers against store area, various variables and individual store offerings, proximity to population centres and other key metrics. Combining these data sets he finds an 'average' yield per sqm that all garden centres can be measured against. Individual stores can be indexed to understand how they are performing and whether they may benefit from further investigation to find ways to improve that performance. Stores identified with 'potential' to improve are profiled individually to assess their performance in various metrics, eg. ambience, service, price etc. and action points can be generated to help boost turnover.Jansen refers to slides and images during the podcast - to view these or see the video version of this podcast, CLICK HERE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

HortWeek editor Matthew Appleby, senior reporter Rachael Forsyth and technical editor Sally Drury make their predictions for horticulture in 2026.JUMP TO00:02:16 - weather00:06:24 - cost pressures00:14:20 - volunteers00:15:27 - imports/exports/SPS agreement and UK plant production00:17:15 - pests & disease00:19:08 - climate change and innovation00:20:17 - Turf - turfgrass breeding and appreciation of grass and grass eating! 00:23:02 - readiness for spring and an early Easter and how to monetise the 'fallow' post Christmas period00:27:43 - sharing of knowledge and raising of professionalism in the horticulture industryCheck 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.

Studies such as that of McCance and Widdowson have revealed dramatic drops in fruit and vegetable mineral content since the 1940s. This week's guest on the HortWeek Podcast Jennifer Brodie believes that 'rock dust', a by-product of volcanic rock mined for road construction and rich in minerals trapped since the pre-dinosaur era, could help reverse this by remineralizing the soil and feeding microbes that will re-fortify plants.Brodie has come full circle in her career and is now returning to her passion project 12 years after she founded REMIN (Scotland), which pioneered the use of rock dust as a top dressing for soil, compost mixer and activator.Now leading the Pro-Grow rock dust division for resource management company Veolia, she explains the geology behind basalt rock dust, its dual benefits for plant health and carbon capture, and how the industry is shifting toward "ecological transformation".She details how some of the 400,000 tonnes of green waste they process annually is integrated with rock dust to create a PAS 100-certified compost for the garden retail market. Her goal now is to expand rock dust's use into the organic farming sector.Quoting Soil Association founder Lady Eve Balfour, Brodie says: "Everything begins to matter when the rate of soil erosion exceeds the rate at which life can invade the mineral rock underlying the soil and convert it into soil." Brodie believes that rock dust has an "unrecognised" role in rectifying the mistakes of the past and helping renew soils for the benefit of all.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 Matthew Appleby, senior reporter Rachael Forsyth and technical editor Sally Drury share their top horticulture stories of 2025.JUMP TO...00:00:43 - horticulture and peat-free00:04:10 - developments in Biodiversity Net Gain00:07:26 - remote mowers, new technology and implications00:13:13 - loss of horticulture colleges and new learning options00:17:54 - the impact of drought in 2025 going into 202600:21:30 - how horticulture is turning to battery-powered kit00:26:20 - diversity, inclustion and equity in horticulture00:30:34 - border inspections - imports, exports and an SPS agreement for 202600:36:42 - what are the team looking forward to in 2026?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.Podcast presenters: Matthew Appleby, Rachael Forsyth and Sally DruryPodcast producer: Christina TaylorMake 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.

The Garden Trust's Linden Groves is campaigning against a proposal to end the organisation's role as a planning statutory consultee.She robustly contests the proposal to remove the statutory consultee role and disagrees that it would improve the planning system. Instead, precious parks and gardens, hard won over many centuries, would be lost to communities both now and in future.“We are passionate about the role that the UK’s world-famous historic parks and gardens can play in supporting positive economic growth and healthy cohesive societies, and eager to continue helping this in our role as statutory consultee. We encourage supporters to respond to the consultation and will publish our response as soon as possible.”In March, the Government decided to ditch planning consultancy from bodies including The Gardens Trust, to speed up the planning system. “We are seeking views on reforming the role of statutory consultees in the planning system in England,” it said. The consultation closes at 11:59pm on 13 January 2026.The consultation can be accessed here.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.

Tony Kirkham has a mission, one that will resonate with many arborists across the UK: "I'd like to get rid of the term 'tree planting'".The former Kew arboretum head says: "Our success rate of establishing trees isn't good in this country... I'd sooner see less trees planted and established rather than planting big numbers that fail to establish." In his conversation with HortWeek editor Matthew Appleby, Kirkham gives his thoughts on the "exotics" versus "natives" debate and reveals his "top future trees" which include his favourite "hard-working trees".On pest and disease threats to trees, Kirkham issues a stark warning. Experts say it is a case of "not if but when" Xylella enters the UK, and Kirkham says, with more than 400 host plants identified so far: "I think every woody plant is vulnerable. We really need to crank up our biosecurity."Other than Xylella, his the top concern is plane wilt, which "is spread by arborists" via tools, machinery, PPE and clothing, and which is "coming towards us pretty quick...we need to keep that out at ALL costs".He also talks about how arborists can handle the rising frequency and intensity of storms, recalling how he got Kew back up and running in the wake of the storm of 1987 that brought down so many trees that he considered "old friends".But despite the devastation that took three years to clear, he now says it is "the best thing that could have happened" - getting rid of unsafe trees, giving the Kew team a chance to replant and refresh the arboretum, revolutionising tree-planting practice. 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.

This is the second special podcast with an arboriculture focus produced as part of ArbWeek, HortWeek's deep dive into all things arb held from 24 - 30 November.Listen to Jeremy Barrell on how 'Failing clients deserve failing trees', plus tree growing, procurement, planting and establishmentThis week's guests bring their distinct perspectives on the arb sector - but also bring a holistic perspective having worked together for many years on fascinating and crucial research projects.Kevin Martin, head of tree collections at RBG Kew and Adam Dunnett, production and amenity director for Hillier Nurseries are thought leaders in their fields and bring fascinating insights and forthright opinions to their discussion with Rachael Forsyth.They discuss tree planting and establishment, ground breaking research with "remarkable" results that is transforming tree selection and understanding of how to grow and in particular, water, trees.Skip to...00:00:49 How Kevin and Adam began their careers in horticulture00:05:45 Kevin Martin on his research into resiliant trees sourced from around the world00:09:53 Trees we should be planting to weather the future00:14:40 Hillier's 'Streetwise' range of trees for urban environments00:17.39 Peat-free growing and trees00:20:48 Groundbreaking research into irrigation for trees at Hillier00:30:13 The importance of grants, continuity in Government support and business certainty00:40:39 Adam Dunnett on seeing changes in the school curriculum making a difference to hort00:50:40 The latest on Resistor elms00:52:43 Kevin and Adam's 'dream' pieces of research topicsOn the topic of encouraging young people into horticulture, Adam Dunnett relates a "chink of light" following a visit to a secondary school where as part of their work on the "2050 project" they are looking at what trees will be thriving in 25 year's time. "That's just one school, but actually that could be really quite transformational if that's happening in other schools!"Kevin says: "Horticulture and growing plants is an applied science, and it's one fo the most important applied sciences we do and it's so overlooked...it's always been seen as suitable for someone who's not academic, and that's not the case."We need some of the brightest people to solve some of the biggest questions...we need to work on that narrative."In this episode the Victorians get a couple of name-checks and we also get some top tips on which tree to go to to get unbeatable conkers.Podcast presenter: Rachael ForsythPodcast producer: Christina Taylor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chloe Whiteside, ICL’s technical area sales manager covering Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire – has spoken on the HortWeek podcast about the highs and lows of the 2025 spring bedding season and what the strong start and weaker finish mean for the 2026 bedding plant season.She talks about what bedding growers should be doing in the lead-up to the spring season and gives advice about watering, nutrition and storage regimes for peat-reduced and peat-free growing media.On nutrition, she talks about using controlled release fertiliser and water solubles, as well as which biocontrol, biopesticide and biostimulant products are at the grower’s disposal and, as a BASIS qualified adviser, what she recommends.Before joining ICL, Whiteside spent 10 years in horticultural research at ADAS, delivering research projects on a wide range of ornamental and edible crops. She managed the AHDB funded Bedding and Pot Plant Centre trials, as well as the AHDB, Defra and industry-funded project on Transition to Responsibly Sourced Growing Media Use in UK Horticulture. The project ran for five years and covered all sectors of horticulture, from bedding propagation right through to container grown trees and soft fruit production. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The HortWeek Podcast has joined ArbWeek to bring HortWeek readers a series of interviews with leading arborists. The first of these is Jeremy Barrell.A influential figure in the tree care landscape (and HortWeek columnist) Jeremy Barrell is one of the leading authorities on tree care.A passionate campaigner on street trees in the wake of a number of controversial local authority fellings, in this week's podcast HortWeek editor Matthew Appleby hears Jeremy's uncompromising views on tree safety, tree planting, tree production and local authority procurement.Barrell says: "The standard of training on some of the people that are planting [trees] - it's not surprising the trees don't survive...if you don't have a specification that is up to scratch, then of course contractors are going circles around you and you deserve to have a load of failures". "I deal with more tree failure cases that result in harm than any other expert in Britain...the harsh reality is there are many large duty holders...that don't do anything like the standard of tree checking that should be done". 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:The "outrageous" ongoing delays and reports of damaged to imported plantsThe latest on the prospective peat banWhat the garden centre of the future might look likeDo 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 ForsythPodcast producer: Christina Taylor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Andrew Fisher Tomlin, co-founder and director of the London College of Garden Design talks on the HortWeek podcast about his new book, The Modern Professional Planting Designer, was published by Rizzoli New York in October 2025.In the podcast he talks about how the book came about and what impact he hopes it will have, what he thinks of Chelsea designs this year, his views on international garden design versus that of the UK, on horticulture education, trends for 2026, AI and what his favourite plant is. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Garden centre personality Rosie Bone brings her new ideas for garden retail to the HortWeek Podcast this week this week.Founder of the World's End Garden Centre in 1970 with Len Bone, Rosie puts her success in garden retail down a focus on customer service, looking after your staff and above all "value for money". She argues if you get those three right, other considerations such as location are almost irrelevant.She discusses her passion, which is sustainable garden retailing."Profit isn't a dirty word... but I think in this day and age we have to start to recognise that there is an environmental cost to everything any of us do".She says that imports from China cannot be avoided in many product areas, but that carbon footprint could be offset by focusing on plant-based options in the restaurant:"It's not about telling customers what they should and shouldn't eat, but presenting [food] in a way that encourages customers to make [a plant-based] choice for themselves but that can be done with clever marketing, clever menus."After a period away from the industry Rosie reveals the garden business that revived her interest in and passion for it and what they do so well.And she reveals some significant gaps in the market that garden centres, with their large footprints and nature-oriented client base, could capitalise on. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.