'The Moveable Feast Garden' – Let's Roll With It Baby!

by Michael Smith (Veshengro)

Bringing a touch of portable gardening to the brand new RHS Chatsworth House Flower Show

Tanya Batkin's 'Moveable Feast Garden', which will be on display at the RHS Chatsworth House Flower Show in June, will be showcasing the best in fruits, plants and well...wheels!

This garden will provide all the knowledge that 'generation renters' will need to produce edibles for seasonal recipes, a beautiful outside area to simply enjoy and all safe in the knowledge that even if they move property, they will be able to simply take their garden with them!

A stunning array of flowering plants, including Anemones, Brunnera and Geraniums will be provided by Hawkesmill Nurseries, and edibles such as DeliDahlias and Tiger Nuts will be supplied by Lubera.

'The Moveable Feast Garden' can be specifically reconfigured for moving and adapting to a new area. Natural materials such as the wood fencing which will be supplied by Zest For Leisure and the stone which has been supplied by Digby Stone, can be updated with paint finishes and semi permanent transfer colour, to ensure your garden keeps up with your fashion desires.

In keeping with the natural feel of the garden design, the shed and pergola will be topped with a green roof from Green Roofs Direct. 'The Moveable Feast Garden' planters will be handmade with wood from Gibbs & Dandy and the wheels ....finally lets talk about wheels, because every 'Moveable Feast Garden's' gotta have 'em and the bright blue beauties, which will be attached to the specially designed planters, have come from Castors Online.

So let the good times (and our garden) roll baby.

Tanya is the director of Vergette Ltd, Garden Design. Vergette Ltd – Garden Design can be found on the border of Hereford and Worcester in the fabulous Teme Valley. She design gardens in and around the UK as well as Internationally.

So, here ends the text from the press release. Now let's talk tacheles about this.

The problem, as with so many of the RHS show gardens, is, once again also with this one, that anyone wishing to replicate one would have to take out a second or third mortgage. We can see this once again with regards to the winning garden at the 2017 RHS Chelsea Flower Show; a garden that now one could financially be able to reproduce and, to be honest, I also don't think anyone would want to.

As to the “moveable feast garden on the other hand, if one does not want to be that ambitious and totally replicate a garden such as this then it can be done “on the cheap” without a problem though maybe not looking as beautiful but nevertheless, and that's what counts also and especially, functional.

Castors, of the right kind, can be put on (almost) any container and even shopping carts can be used for a moveable vegetable garden. And, while the latter definitely don't look very beautiful they make a statement of a different kind. No, they don't scream I am a cheapskate but more like “here is someone who cares about the environment and thinks laterally”.

© 2017

Horticulture Matters

'Urgent action needed to rescue horticulture' - RHS calls for government action

by Michael Smith (Veshengro)

The RHS on May 14, 2013 presented a report to the House of Commons calling for government action to urgently address the skills gap in the horticultural industry.

A survey of 200 horticultural businesses conducted by the Society has demonstrated that more than 70% of horticultural businesses cannot fill skilled vacancies, nearly 20% are forced to recruit overseas and almost 70% claim that career entrants are inadequately prepared for work. This gloomy picture is outlined in the report, Horticulture Matters.

The report, commissioned by Britain’s leading horticultural organizations, including the Institute of Horticulture, British Growers Association, HTA (Horticultural Trades Association) and Lantra, concludes that a commitment to bridging the green skills gap is not only necessary but urgent.

The survey of 200 horticultural businesses confirmed an alarming shortage of skilled professionals in UK horticulture. The Horticulture Matters report, which will be presented to Government at the House of Commons, demonstrates exactly how this skills gap is threatening Britain’s economy, environment and food security.

Dwindling numbers of people with horticultural skills simply means that the industry cannot meet the growing demands placed on it. Horticulture contributes £9 billion to the British economy each year as an industry. It employs 300,000 people including crop growers, gardeners, scientists and turf specialists.

The survey also found that 10% of vacancies take at least one year to fill. More than 80% of the survey respondents cited a poor perception of horticulture in schools and colleges as the issue, and 90% said it was because horticulture lacks career appeal.

Sue Biggs, Director General of the RHS, has stated that growing concern across the industry about the skills crisis has galvanized this unified call for Government action. "We’ve brought together Britain’s leading horticultural organizations to create this report.

"We are unanimous in the belief that there must now be urgent action to save British horticulture and it must happen now. Our report calls on the Government, employers and those in the education system to take action to safeguard the critical role that horticulture plays in Britain today.

"Within the report there are solutions that both the horticultural industry and Government could embrace to safeguard the critical role that horticulture plays in Britain today and must continue to play in the future. We must act now to safeguard the critical role horticulture plays in Britain today and must continue to play in the future."

The report asks Government to prioritize horticulture within Research Council and other government research funding areas to equip Britain with the high level of skilled professionals the UK needs to tackle threats posed by pests and diseases and climate change.

The biggest problem does lie with the school system and that of targets for school in that, instead of allowing students their choice of careers, schools and career advisers withing them – led by targets – channel students towards more academic pursuits telling that the must go to university and discourage them to take up a path in the land-based industries.

It goes equally for horticulture as well as for silviculture, that is to say forestry where there is also a dire need for new blood in order for the industry, especially at roots (pardon the pun) level to continue.

Farming equally sufferers from this lack of new blood even though there are young people interested to take it up, in the same way as there are youngsters who want to go into horticulture and forestry. The problem, however, lies, as already indicated, with the schools and primarily with government not recognizing, despite all the great talk, vocational careers in the land-based sector.

The report can be downloaded from: http://www.rhs.org.uk/Media/PDFs/News/1016-RHS-Hort-Careers-Brochure-AW-low-res-spreads

© 2013

Get Your Garden Buzzing

Britain's beleaguered bees and other pollinating insects are set to benefit from a new Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) campaign. The charity is launching the “RHS Perfect for Pollinators” list to help gardeners select plants that will play a role in addressing the decline of certain insects. The RHS will be working with the trade to provide point-of-sale material and make the logo available for the trade to use.

The ‘RHS Perfect for Pollinators’ label was developed when writer and broadcaster Sarah Raven approached the charity with the innovative idea of flagging up to gardeners plants most suitable for pollinators. The RHS had been working on a research project looking at plants for bugs and was excited by Sarah’s idea that a label might get the public and trade more involved.

“Gardens are vital havens for pollinators because they tend to include a much great diversity of pollen and nectar sources available over a longer period than commercially managed agricultural land,” says Roger Williams, Head of Science RHS. “As the UK’s leading gardening charity this is the sort of initiative we should be involved in to help gardeners be more environmentally friendly. The list and the logo, we hope, will be a practical way to help gardeners really focus in on plants that are best for pollinating insects. We are really pleased to have the support of the Horticultural Trades Association and a real interest from garden centres across the country.”

Over the last 50 years a decline in many groups of insects has been noticed. These include some of the common butterflies, moths, hoverflies and bees. The reason for this is complex but part of the problem may be the reduction in the abundance of wild flowers in the countryside. Gardens with their variety of flowers are increasingly being seen as an important habitat where insects can find sources of nectar and pollen.

“The days of punnets of strawberries costing £50 is fast upon us,” says Sarah Raven. “Without insects busying themselves on our behalf pollinating fruit and vegetables, a healthy diet of ‘five a day’ will soon be gone.”

The RHS advises that there are a number of things gardeners can do to help insects. They suggest;

• Gardeners should consult the RHS Perfect for Pollinator list www.rhs.org.uk/plants when selecting plants
• Look out for the RHS Perfect for Pollinator logo in garden centres and nurseries
• Avoid plants with double or multi-petal flowers
• Aim to have plants in flower from early spring to late autumn
• Think about using British wild flowers as additions to planting schemes
• Observe the plants in your garden and plant more of those that attract insects

Source: Royal Horticultural Society

Grow your own 5-a-day – from just 10sq meters

by Michael Smith (Veshengro)

The Royal Horticultural Society together with Burgon & Ball, renowned manufacturer of garden tools and equipment, have devised a plan to grow enough fruit & veg to meet the “5 a day” guidelines for two people, or 2 a day for a family of five...from just 10m² of raised bed planters.

By carefully selecting the most productive varieties and using the principles of the ingenious 'Deep Bed' method, plants can be spaced more closely so a planting area can achieve yields up to 400% greater than more traditional methods. Burgon & Ball's Home Allotment® Raised Willow Planters can replicate the deep bed conditions and have many other benefits of growing above ground – such as increasing the amount of light reaching the plants.

Using a series of Burgon & Ball Planters to accommodate almost 50 different varieties of the Nation's favorite fruit and vegetables, the 5-a-day Garden is both attractive and incredibly space-efficient.

To compliment this stunning garden an information packed wall chart is available to help families achieve their goals by becoming self sufficient in fruit and vegetables and living the 'Good Life'.

The 5-a-day Garden provides fresh and nutritious food, with no additives or preservatives, excess food miles or unnecessary packaging! It's simple, fun and immensely rewarding and very, very tasty.

The RHS has be nurturing a half scale version of this unique, edible and healthy '5-a-day garden' at the RHS Plant Center in Wisley and the full sized version can be seen in all it's glory at the RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show 2010.

Visitors to the RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show 2010 and/or RHS Wisley can pick up a FREE '5-a-day Garden' planting guide, full of advice and instructions on how to schedule plan ting to maximize the potential of each planter.

Those that cannot make the show can download the planner from www.5adaygarden.com

© 2010

Hampton Court Palace Flower Show 2010 – Visit Report

by Michael Smith (Veshengro)

On Monday, July 5, 2010 (Press Day) I had the opportunity to visit, for the very first time, I would like to add, the Royal Horticultural Society's Hampton Court Palace Flower Show.

I really should have allowed myself two days for my attendance of this event as it is much larger than what I had anticipated. But this is something to bear in mind for next time.

Having never been to the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show before I cannot judge as to whether it is bigger or better in regards to previous years or worse, or the same. So, you will just have to bear with me on that one.

What caught my immediate attention upon arrival was the fact that many stall holders, amongst which are well-known companies in the field of garden tools – especially cutting tools – could not be bothered, so it would seem, for some were not even ready by 4:30pm, to be ready for visiting members of the media. This, in my opinion, is a very bad way to conduct one's public relations.

On the other hand, other companies, and Rollins-Bulldog, a great British tool maker, comes to mind here as one of them, were ready to talk and show what they have on offer.

The main target of my visit, so to speak, at the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show was for me the “Home Grown” Marquee and display area outside the big tent.

The “Home Grown” displays range from large-scale farming, though rescaled to fit in, over orchards, market gardening, growing cut-flowers to, basically, backyard food production and allotments.

On the other side of this marquee was a growing area, divided into quadrants, showcasing the growing of herbs and other plants for pharmaceutical uses.

The “Home Grown” definitely is worth a visit.

Many of the show gardens also were of interest and especially here the “Combat Stress Garden”, the “Playful Garden” by Southend-on-Sea Borough Council, and the one that stood out for me, the “Bangladeshi Allotment” (B9) in another section.

Some companies are using the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show 2010 as a launchpad for new products, amongst which is the “Upside-Down Patio Garden” by Flambeu. Hopefully I shall be able to review this product soon.

Flambeu also now owns the company that makes the “Cable Buddy”, a great little device to keep those trailing leads of electric lawn mowers, hedge trimmers, and such out of the way.

Burgon & Ball were represented with their range of high quality garden tools promoting especially this year their “Harvest” range of products, from tools used for harvesting produce, including the Potato Harvesting Scoop that I shall be reviewing shortly, to bags, sacks, etc. for storing your produce, including canning jars and everything you will need for that.

Burgon & Ball, together with the Royal Horticultural Society, also bring the visitor to the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show 2010 the “5 A Day” Garden where they showcase that from just 10 square meter lots of food can be gotten. The show garden, and the website that goes with it, should be visited by everyone who is thinking about growing their own food but think they haven't got enough space to do so.

The Hampton Court Palace Flower Show 2010 runs from July 6-11, 2010.

© 2010