Peter Seabrook dies at the age of 86<\/h3>\n ![\"""\"]( "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div> Outdoor portrait of gardening writer and television broadcaster Peter Seabrook, May 10th 1983. (Photo by Don Smith\/Radio Times\/Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\nThe year kicked off on a rather sad note with news of the death of Peter Seabrook MBE<\/a>, aged 86. He was a very influential figure in the industry, having studied at Writtle College in Essex before joining the BBC as a broadcaster in 1965. He made regular television appearances, was a well-known face at industry events and continued working as a gardening columnist up until his death.<\/p>\nA snowdrop sells for a record-breaking price<\/h3>\n
In February, we saw a record-breaking sale<\/a> in the world of galanthophiles (snowdrop obsessives). A bulb of the new snowdrop Galanthus plicatus<\/em> \u2018Golden Tears\u2019, sold for an eye-watering \u00a31,850 at auction. The new plant was bred by Joe Sharman of Monksilver Nursery<\/a>, who previously broke records in 2015 with another of his introductions, \u2018Golden Fleece\u2019, which sold for \u00a31,390 and was bred over the course of a decade.<\/p>\nThe RHS appoints a new Director General<\/h3>\n ![\"""\"]( "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\nIn the autumn of 2021 it was announced that Sue Biggs CBE would retire<\/a> from her role as Director General of the RHS in 2022. In March of this year, the RHS announced the appointment of Clare Matterson CBE as the new Director General<\/a>, coming from the Natural History Museum where she was the executive director.<\/p>\nThe change in leadership wasn\u2019t the only shift at the RHS this year. The organisation has been moving focus to more sustainable practices for the last few years and appointed a new role of Senior Ecologist<\/a> this autumn.<\/p>\nBan on metaldehyde enforced<\/h3>\n
As of March this year, the RHS stopped classing slugs as a pest and now list them under \u2018biodiversity\u2019 on their website. This is indicative of a wider trend in the horticulture industry of working with rather than against nature. A big win for the environment this year was the enforcement in the ban of the slug killer metaldehyde in April.<\/p>\n
The pellets cause significant harm to wildlife and although the ban was announced in 2019, it has only just been enforced and it is now illegal to sell metaldehyde products.<\/p>\n
For those of you still struggling with slugs, Poppy Okocha<\/a> provided us with some tips on organic slug controls<\/p>\nRewilding garden wins Best in Show at Chelsea<\/h3>\n ![\"""\"]( "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div> A Rewilding Britain Landscape. Designed by Lulu Urquhart and Adam Hunt at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2022.<\/span><\/figcaption> \u00a9 RHS\/ Neil Hepworth<\/i><\/span><\/div>\nA Rewilding Britain Landscape won Best in Show at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show<\/a> this May. Designed by Urquhart and Hunt, the garden celebrated the transformation of land through the reintroduction of beavers.<\/p>\nJames Alexander Sinclair, the Chair of Judges, said \u201cIn the end, all the judges were captivated by the skill, endeavour and charm of A Rewilding Britain Landscape \u2013 every step is exquisite\u201d. The win is indicative of the trend within the industry to care for the natural world.<\/p>\n
The People\u2019s Choice Award<\/a> was won by the Perennial Garden \u2018With Love\u2019 by Richard Miers, and the full list of medals can be found here<\/a>.<\/p>\nThe Tower of London is surrounded by \u2018Superbloom\u2019<\/h3>\n ![\"""\"]( "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div> \u00a9\u00a0Historic Royal Palaces<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\nMarking Queen Elizabeth II\u2019s Platinum Jubilee, June saw the moat around the Tower of London transformed into a floral display and wildlife haven in the form of \u2018Superbloom<\/a>\u2018, with flowers selected by Nigel Dunnett<\/a> to provide a rich source of nectar for pollinators<\/a>.<\/p>\nEarlier in the year, over 20 million seeds were sown in the moat, designed to develop sweeping waves of colour throughout the summer. Wildflowers including red poppies<\/a> and blue cornflowers appeared alongside sunflowers, cosmos<\/a> and rudbekias.<\/p>\nSky-high temperatures test UK gardens<\/h3>\n
In July, Britain was swept by a heatwave<\/a> of unprecedented levels. The 19 July saw some of the highest temperatures in gardens, with Kew recording 34.6C. That same day, temperatures of 40.2C were recorded at Heathrow, the highest temperature in the UK since records began.<\/p>\nThis led to increasing concerns over our changing climate<\/a> and what this would mean for gardeners in years to come. Water saving<\/a> methods will become even more vital with hotter summers, as will the use of drought tolerant plants<\/a>.<\/p>\nBoom in Large blue butterflies despite worrying decline of other species<\/h3>\n ![\"""\"]( "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div> \u00a9 David Simcox<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\nFollowing conservation efforts, Large blue butterflies<\/a> were recorded breeding at the highest levels for 150 years this August. Declared extinct in the UK in 1979, this was a huge milestone for David Simcox and Sarah Meredith from the Royal Entomological Society who have overseen the restoration project of areas of their natural habitat.<\/p>\nResults from data collected during 2021\u2019s No Mow May campaign showed that a less managed approach to lawns was beneficial to biodiversity. However, although more people than ever took part in No Mow May, butterflies<\/a> in Britain are still in an overall decline.<\/p>\nThe Big Butterfly Count<\/a>, which takes place between July and August every year, received 100,000 counts this year and on average only 9 butterflies were spotted per entry<\/a>. This was an all-time low in the 13 years the project has been running.<\/p>\nA gardener King at Britain\u2019s helm<\/h3>\n ![\"""\"]( "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div> LONDON, ENGLAND \u2013 MAY 17: Prince Charles, Prince of Wales amongst the Alliums during a visit to Kew Gardens on May 17, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Chris Jackson\/Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\nAs we headed towards autumn, the UK was central to international news with the announcement of the death of Queen Elizabeth II<\/a> on 8 September. The Queen was a great lover of gardens<\/a>, and she was a regular attendee of the Chelsea Flower Show, visiting over 50 times in her lifetime.<\/p>\nWith her death, we saw the ascension to the throne of King Charles III. King Charles is famed for his interest in gardens<\/a> and the environment, so among the horticulture world there has been an air of interest as to what our new leader will mean for the industry.<\/p>\nFlockdown<\/h3>\n
From 7 November, the government announced that all poultry and captive birds needed to be kept indoors to stop the spread of avian flu, a move that was dubbed \u2018flockdown\u2019.<\/p>\n
This had a big impact on people keeping chickens and other domestic birds, so we spoke to Arthur Parkinson about the rules and how to keep chickens happy<\/a> when under house arrest.<\/p>\n\u2018Savannah\u2019 planned for North Devon coast<\/h3>\n ![\"""\"]( "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div> Devon grasslands. Photograph by John Miller.<\/span><\/figcaption> \u00a9 National Trust_John Miller<\/i><\/span><\/div>\nThe National Trust announced their largest ever wildflower grassland project in November. In an effort to boost biodiversity and tackle the climate crisis, the conservation charity are creating a vast species-rich grassland \u2018savannah\u2019<\/a> habitat along the North Devon coast.<\/p>\nThe climate crisis has been a central part of the conversation for gardeners and environmental groups this year. The sale of peat is still set to be banned in the UK from 2024<\/a>; a move which is welcomed but will have potentially unknown consequences for the horticulture industry.<\/p>\nDreaming of a white Christmas?<\/h3>\n pic.twitter.com\/bKgcAEvJY4<\/a><\/p>\u2014 Stewart Irvine (@stewart_irvine) December 12, 2022<\/a><\/blockquote>
![\"""\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/18\/2022\/01\/Peter-Seabrook-2-6fd2471.jpg?quality=90&crop=4px%2C42px%2C1016px%2C677px&resize=620%2C413"\" "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>The year kicked off on a rather sad note with news of the death of Peter Seabrook MBE<\/a>, aged 86. He was a very influential figure in the industry, having studied at Writtle College in Essex before joining the BBC as a broadcaster in 1965. He made regular television appearances, was a well-known face at industry events and continued working as a gardening columnist up until his death.<\/p>\n In February, we saw a record-breaking sale<\/a> in the world of galanthophiles (snowdrop obsessives). A bulb of the new snowdrop Galanthus plicatus<\/em> \u2018Golden Tears\u2019, sold for an eye-watering \u00a31,850 at auction. The new plant was bred by Joe Sharman of Monksilver Nursery<\/a>, who previously broke records in 2015 with another of his introductions, \u2018Golden Fleece\u2019, which sold for \u00a31,390 and was bred over the course of a decade.<\/p>\n In the autumn of 2021 it was announced that Sue Biggs CBE would retire<\/a> from her role as Director General of the RHS in 2022. In March of this year, the RHS announced the appointment of Clare Matterson CBE as the new Director General<\/a>, coming from the Natural History Museum where she was the executive director.<\/p>\n The change in leadership wasn\u2019t the only shift at the RHS this year. The organisation has been moving focus to more sustainable practices for the last few years and appointed a new role of Senior Ecologist<\/a> this autumn.<\/p>\n As of March this year, the RHS stopped classing slugs as a pest and now list them under \u2018biodiversity\u2019 on their website. This is indicative of a wider trend in the horticulture industry of working with rather than against nature. A big win for the environment this year was the enforcement in the ban of the slug killer metaldehyde in April.<\/p>\n The pellets cause significant harm to wildlife and although the ban was announced in 2019, it has only just been enforced and it is now illegal to sell metaldehyde products.<\/p>\n For those of you still struggling with slugs, Poppy Okocha<\/a> provided us with some tips on organic slug controls<\/p>\n A Rewilding Britain Landscape won Best in Show at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show<\/a> this May. Designed by Urquhart and Hunt, the garden celebrated the transformation of land through the reintroduction of beavers.<\/p>\n James Alexander Sinclair, the Chair of Judges, said \u201cIn the end, all the judges were captivated by the skill, endeavour and charm of A Rewilding Britain Landscape \u2013 every step is exquisite\u201d. The win is indicative of the trend within the industry to care for the natural world.<\/p>\n The People\u2019s Choice Award<\/a> was won by the Perennial Garden \u2018With Love\u2019 by Richard Miers, and the full list of medals can be found here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Marking Queen Elizabeth II\u2019s Platinum Jubilee, June saw the moat around the Tower of London transformed into a floral display and wildlife haven in the form of \u2018Superbloom<\/a>\u2018, with flowers selected by Nigel Dunnett<\/a> to provide a rich source of nectar for pollinators<\/a>.<\/p>\n Earlier in the year, over 20 million seeds were sown in the moat, designed to develop sweeping waves of colour throughout the summer. Wildflowers including red poppies<\/a> and blue cornflowers appeared alongside sunflowers, cosmos<\/a> and rudbekias.<\/p>\n In July, Britain was swept by a heatwave<\/a> of unprecedented levels. The 19 July saw some of the highest temperatures in gardens, with Kew recording 34.6C. That same day, temperatures of 40.2C were recorded at Heathrow, the highest temperature in the UK since records began.<\/p>\n This led to increasing concerns over our changing climate<\/a> and what this would mean for gardeners in years to come. Water saving<\/a> methods will become even more vital with hotter summers, as will the use of drought tolerant plants<\/a>.<\/p>\n Following conservation efforts, Large blue butterflies<\/a> were recorded breeding at the highest levels for 150 years this August. Declared extinct in the UK in 1979, this was a huge milestone for David Simcox and Sarah Meredith from the Royal Entomological Society who have overseen the restoration project of areas of their natural habitat.<\/p>\n Results from data collected during 2021\u2019s No Mow May campaign showed that a less managed approach to lawns was beneficial to biodiversity. However, although more people than ever took part in No Mow May, butterflies<\/a> in Britain are still in an overall decline.<\/p>\n The Big Butterfly Count<\/a>, which takes place between July and August every year, received 100,000 counts this year and on average only 9 butterflies were spotted per entry<\/a>. This was an all-time low in the 13 years the project has been running.<\/p>\n As we headed towards autumn, the UK was central to international news with the announcement of the death of Queen Elizabeth II<\/a> on 8 September. The Queen was a great lover of gardens<\/a>, and she was a regular attendee of the Chelsea Flower Show, visiting over 50 times in her lifetime.<\/p>\n With her death, we saw the ascension to the throne of King Charles III. King Charles is famed for his interest in gardens<\/a> and the environment, so among the horticulture world there has been an air of interest as to what our new leader will mean for the industry.<\/p>\n From 7 November, the government announced that all poultry and captive birds needed to be kept indoors to stop the spread of avian flu, a move that was dubbed \u2018flockdown\u2019.<\/p>\n This had a big impact on people keeping chickens and other domestic birds, so we spoke to Arthur Parkinson about the rules and how to keep chickens happy<\/a> when under house arrest.<\/p>\n The National Trust announced their largest ever wildflower grassland project in November. In an effort to boost biodiversity and tackle the climate crisis, the conservation charity are creating a vast species-rich grassland \u2018savannah\u2019<\/a> habitat along the North Devon coast.<\/p>\n The climate crisis has been a central part of the conversation for gardeners and environmental groups this year. The sale of peat is still set to be banned in the UK from 2024<\/a>; a move which is welcomed but will have potentially unknown consequences for the horticulture industry.<\/p>\n pic.twitter.com\/bKgcAEvJY4<\/a><\/p>\u2014 Stewart Irvine (@stewart_irvine) December 12, 2022<\/a><\/blockquote>A snowdrop sells for a record-breaking price<\/h3>\n
The RHS appoints a new Director General<\/h3>\n
![\"""\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/18\/2022\/03\/RHS_DG_8thMarch2022-6eae601.jpg?quality=90&crop=7px%2C971px%2C3700px%2C2465px&resize=620%2C413"\" "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\nBan on metaldehyde enforced<\/h3>\n
Rewilding garden wins Best in Show at Chelsea<\/h3>\n
![\"""\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/18\/2022\/05\/Chelsea2022MGL0403May-22-2022-05ea679.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413"\" "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>The Tower of London is surrounded by \u2018Superbloom\u2019<\/h3>\n
![\"""\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/18\/2022\/06\/Superbloom-at-Tower-of-London-May-22-11c-Historic-Royal-Palaces-2366bbc-e1654597314178.jpg?quality=90&resize=619%2C413"\" "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div> Sky-high temperatures test UK gardens<\/h3>\n
Boom in Large blue butterflies despite worrying decline of other species<\/h3>\n
![\"""\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/18\/2022\/08\/Rodborough-Common-Large-blue-3c227aa.jpg?quality=90&crop=6px%2C197px%2C1971px%2C1313px&resize=620%2C413"\" "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div> A gardener King at Britain\u2019s helm<\/h3>\n
![\"""\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/18\/2022\/09\/GettyImages-684176484-fc231d9.jpg?quality=90&crop=3px%2C7px%2C588px%2C392px&resize=588%2C392"\" "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>Flockdown<\/h3>\n
\u2018Savannah\u2019 planned for North Devon coast<\/h3>\n
![\"""\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/18\/2022\/11\/National-Trust-hand-sowing-seed-including-kidney-vetch-and-vipers-bugloss-to-create-species-rich-grasslands-near-Woolacombe-in-north-Devon-Credit-National-Trust-Images-John-Miller-1c69b93.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413"\" "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>Dreaming of a white Christmas?<\/h3>\n