Roots and All - Gardening Podcast

This week I'm speaking to nationally acclaimed entomologist and author of the book 'Wasp', Richard Bugman Jones, about a species of wildlife that may not spring to mind as one of your immediate favourites. Wasps, yellow jackets, jaspers, stripy bastards…whatever you call these members of the insect world and whether you love them or loathe them, you will certainly learn lots about them as Richard explains their life cycles and the role they play in ecosystems. If you're not convinced to become a full-blown wasp lover by the end of the episode, I suspect you will at least have a grudging respect for these resilient creatures. (FYI This episode was recorded a while ago, so it may sound as if we're talking in late winter.) About Richard Jones: Richard writes about insects, wildlife and the environment for a number of publications such as Gardener's World and BBC Wildlife magazines, The Guardian and The Sunday times. He guests on programmes such as Radio 4's Home Planet and Natural Histories, plus is the author of many books, full list below. He is a fellow of the Royal Entomological Society and of the Linneaen Society of London. He's past president of the British Entomological and Natural History Society. What we talk about: The number of species of wasps plus which wasps you're most likely to find in your garden The life cycle of a wasp A look at a typical nest What stings worse, a wasp, bee or hornet? Invasive species Links: Richard Jones's website: www.bugmanjones.com Books by Richard Jones Wasp - Reaktion Books, 2019 Beetles - Collins New Naturalists Series, 2018 Call of Nature: The Secret Life of Dung - Pelagic Publishing, 2017 House Guests, House Pests - Bloomsbury Publishing, 2016 Nano Nature - Collins, 2008 Mosquito - Reaktion Books, 2012 The Little Book of Nits - A & C Black Publishers, 2012 Extreme Insects - HarperCollins, 2010 Get in touch: Email podcast@rootsandall.co.uk Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram rootsandallpod Patreon Link: Help me keep the podcast free & independent! Donate as much or as little as you like at https://www.patreon.com/rootsandall

This episode is somewhat of a follow-up to my interview with Jeff Lowenfels in Episode 51. Following that interview, I found myself asking a few more questions, particularly about how we're progressing with research into mycorrhizal fungi here in the UK. So here I am talking to Petra Guy, who's based at Reading University. Petra looks mainly at woodland health from the perspective of mycorrhizal fungi but we cover a lot of garden territory too including proprietary fungi mixes, composts and replant disease. Dr Ian Bedford's Bug of the Week: Crab Spider About Petra Guy: Petra is a postgraduate researcher at the University of Reading modelling the responses of trees to climate, land-use soils and mycorrhizal symbioses. Currently exploring game theory as a means of understanding different ectomycorrhizal/plant relationships and responses. What We Discuss: How long mycorrhizal fungi can persist in the soil without a host The efficacy of proprietary mixes Saving soil over the winter to inoculate next year's crop Replant disease Should we be building 'soil bridges'? Susan Simard's concept of mother trees in forests Links: Episode 51: Mycorrhizal Fungi with Jeff Lowenfels Suzanne Simard TED Talk Paul Stamets - Host Defence Mushropoms Get in touch: Email podcast@rootsandall.co.uk Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram @rootsandallpod Help me keep the podcast free & independent! Support me on Patreon Or donate as much or as little as you like at GoFundMe

This week I'm talking to Vicki Cooke of Plant Heritage. Plant Heritage is a UK charity that works to conserve cultivated garden plants, predominantly through the National Plant Collection scheme and their Plant Guardians initiative. Think National Plant Collections are the preserve of stately homes with huge gardens or horticultural institutions? Not at all! In fact, you could start you own on an allotment, in your greenhouse or porch, you could choose a genera with a 1000 species or just one and choose anything from trees to houseplants. All you need is a passion for a particular group of plants and you can join the ranks of experts and plant fans helping to look after our cultivated plants for future generations. Dr Ian Bedford's Bug of the Week: Gooseberry Sawfly About Vicki Cooke: Vicki Cooke is the Conservation Manager at Plant Heritage, and has spent much of her career delving into plants and their history. From Garden Organic's Heritage Seed Library, growing and saving seed from heirloom vegetables, to the Hampton Court Palace kitchen garden and now at Plant Heritage, Vicki has always been passionate about growing and conserving our garden plants. What We Discuss: What is Plant Heritage National Collections and why they are important The Missing Genera project Some of the genera that don't already have a home What is involved in becoming a National Collection holder? How you can take part Links: www.plantheritage.org.uk Missing Genera top 10 for 2020, plus a link to the long list of all genera without a National Plant Collection How to start a National Plant Collection Join and support the National Plant Collections Get in touch: Email podcast@rootsandall.co.uk Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram @rootsandallpod Help me keep the podcast free & independent! Support me on Patreon Or donate as much or as little as you like at GoFundMe

This week I'm talking to Dr Lionel Smith, horticulture lecturer and author of the book Tapestry Lawns: Freed from Grass and Full of Flowers. As the title suggests, a tapestry lawn replaces grass with flowering dicots, increasing biodiversity, lowering maintenance needs and seriously upping the aesthetic value of a lawn. Living with a tapestry lawns involves a little bit of self-education around how you treat plants and I start by asking how to overcome one of my own biggest worries about having one… Dr Ian Bedford's Bug of the Week: Painted Lady Butterfly About Dr Lionel Smith: Dr Lionel Smith received his PhD in Biological Sciences from the University of Reading in 2014. He is currently Lecturer in Horticulture at Myerscough College, Lancashire, and lives in St. Anne's-on-Sea. What We Discuss: The history of lawns What is a Tapestry lawn? Tapestry lawn maintenance Height convergence and why it's relevant to Tapestry lawns Tapestry lawns and wildlife Tapestry lawns over winter Sourcing plants for a Tapestry lawns What does the future hold for Tapestry lawns? Links: www.grassfreelawns.co.uk Tapestry Lawns : Freed from Grass and Full of Flowers by Lionel Smith - Taylor & Francis, 2019 Get in touch: Email podcast@rootsandall.co.uk Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram @rootsandallpod Help me keep the podcast free & independent! Support me on Patreon Or donate as much or as little as you like at GoFundMe

This week I'm chatting with Stephanie Hafferty. Amongst other things, Stephanie is a writer, speaker, long-time champion of No-Dig gardening, a food growing expert, a talented chef she shares some brilliant tips with us this week. The knowledge comes thick and fast in this episode, so you may want to grab a pen and paper before you begin listening! Dr Ian Bedford's Bug of the Week: Asian Hornets About Stephanie Hafferty: "I'm an organic no dig kitchen gardener, plant based cook, award winning food & gardening writer, small scale homesteader and mum of three. I live in Bruton, a small market town in rural Somerset where I grow delicious vegetables, fruit, flowers and herbs in my garden and allotment using no dig methods. I love reading (I studied Literature and Art History at university and worked as an English teacher), crafting, visiting interesting places, exploring the countryside, trying out new recipes and food, making potions and learning new skills." https://nodighome.com/about/ What We Discuss: Avoiding bolting crops The best way to pick leafy crops to prevent bolting When to sow to stop bolting Eat crops like rocket and mustard greens when they've flowered Quick fillers for gaps Gluts of crops How can we avoid gluts Preserving food Deadheading and harvesting Crops that people might think have gone past their best but are actually still usable Links: Stephanie's website nodighome.com Stephanie Hafferty on Twitter Stephanie Hafferty on Instagram The Creative Kitchen by Stephanie Hafferty No Dig Organic Home & Garden by Charles Dowding & Stephanie Hafferty Get in touch: Email podcast@rootsandall.co.uk Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram @rootsandallpod Help me keep the podcast free & independent! Support me on Patreon Or donate as much or as little as you like at GoFundMe

This week I'm speaking to Andrew Hesser, the man behind Bryan's Quest, a website and YouTube channel dedicated to exploring the natural world from the perspective of Bryan, a blind person. Andrew is also blind and draws on his personal experiences of gardening, volunteering for the National Trust and getting out and about in nature to produce videos and a library of resources for gardeners, in order to highlight how the natural world can be experienced without sight. Dr Ian Bedford's Bug of the Week: Grasshoppers About Andrew Hesser: "I've been blind for many years and I've enjoyed the challenge of study, work and family life. There have, of course, been difficult times when I've struggled to keep positive as I've 'battled' hard to get information made accessible to me. It is, for example frustrating to find shops full of cookery and gardening books totally inaccessible to me. Then there are the significant challenges of getting around using buses, trains, taxis and on foot, especially in new locations. It is only in the past five years, or so that I have started to discover new ways of engaging with and enjoying nature and this naturally leads to wanting to learn more about the wonderful wildlife we are all surrounded by. However, much of the natural world is presented in a visual way, with colourful photos in books and amazing television documentaries. In fact it's easy for all of us to think of nature being predominantly a visual experience, with all those beautiful views across gardens, countryside landscapes and hill-top vistas. However, I continue to explore the opportunities to appreciate nature using hearing, touch, smell and taste. There is a lot of work to be done to arrange facilities and services to fully exploit the use of all five senses to appreciate the natural world. Gardening is one readily available pastime that brings me very close to nature. Without sight all of the non-visual senses can be applied to get success in the garden and a feeling of achievement. However, this can only be obtained by developing discipline to be methodical, patient and resourceful to get truly meaningful pleasures from sowing, growing and caring for plants." What We Discuss: Some of the biggest challenges faced by partially sighted or blind gardeners Navigating around the garden and other outdoor spaces What we're missing out on in gardens if we just focus on the visual Playing to the other senses - including particularly good plants or garden features Methods and processes that help when working in the garden Gardening as an activity for those visually impaired people who may not have already tried it What do visually impaired people need more (or less of) of in public gardens? Helpful resources Links: www.bryansquest.org Bryan's Quest on Twitter Bryan's Quest YouTube Channel www.look-uk.org www.sensing-nature.com Mr Plant Geek Carry On Gardening Candide App Get in touch: Email podcast@rootsandall.co.uk Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram @rootsandallpod Help me keep the podcast free & independent! Support me on Patreon

This week I'm speaking to Professor Doug Tallamy, author of amongst other things, the internationally influential wildlife gardening books Bringing Nature Home and Nature's Best Hope. Prof. Tallamy calls for an urgent rethink of gardening methods and backs up these calls with an illustrious career's worth of research, facts and figures This interview is a must-listen for wildlife gardeners everywhere! Dr Ian Bedford's Bug of the Week: Rosemary Leaf Beetle About Prof. Douglas W. Tallamy: "Doug Tallamy is a professor in the Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware, where he has authored 95 research publications and has taught insect related courses for 40 years. Chief among his research goals is to better understand the many ways insects interact with plants and how such interactions determine the diversity of animal communities. His book Bringing Nature Home: How Native Plants Sustain Wildlife in Our Gardens was published by Timber Press in 2007 and was awarded the 2008 Silver Medal by the Garden Writers' Association. The Living Landscape, co-authored with Rick Darke, was published in 2014. Doug's new book 'Nature's Best Hope' was published by Timber Press in February 2020. Among his awards are the Garden Club of America Margaret Douglas Medal for Conservation and the Tom Dodd, Jr. Award of Excellence, the 2018 AHS B.Y. Morrison Communication Award and the 2019 Cynthia Westcott Scientific Writing Award." - http://www.bringingnaturehome.net What We Discuss: The problem with thinking that nature is somewhere else, that it's outside our garden fences The most compelling reasons to choose natives over non-native plants in gardens Carrying capacity and why it's important to humans The problem with losing species that have evolved as specialist feeders Are our native trees disease prone and do non-natives provide us with a healthier alternative? Key research that needs to be done and what people can do in order for us to keep moving in the right direction Links: www.bringingnaturehome.net Nature's Best Hope: A New Approach to Conservation that Starts in Your Yard by Douglas W. Tallamy - Timber Press, 2020 Get in touch: Email podcast@rootsandall.co.uk Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram @rootsandallpod Help me keep the podcast free & independent! Support me on Patreon Or donate as much or as little as you like at GoFundMe

This week, I'm speaking to Karen Lawton, co-author of the book 'The Sensory Herbal Handbook'. The book isn't just about herbalism, it's about developing a connection to plants and yes, this can include talking to them! 'The Sensory Herbal Handbook' is a manual for learning not just to look at plants but to really see them. If you want to take your appreciation of plants to a deeper level, this episode is a good place to start. Dr Ian Bedford's Bug of the Week: Summer Snowflake About Karen Lawton & Fiona Heckels: Karen and Fiona are the Seed SistAs, authors of The Sensory Herbal Handbook and founders of herbal education group Sensory Solutions Herbal Evolution. Combining medical training and years of clinical practice with a passion for plants and creativity, their teaching gives people more autonomy in their health by connecting them with their local medicinal plants and the magical nature of the green world. What We Discuss: What is sensory herbalism? The benefits of starting a herbal journal Some good exercises to do if you would like to start one Making a connection with a plant and using intentions when making remedies An easily recognised herb that can be harvested now (July) and what could it can be used for The importance of communities having medicinal gardens Links: www.sensorysolutions.co.uk Facebook - Sensory Solutions Herbal Evolution Get in touch: Email podcast@rootsandall.co.uk Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram @rootsandallpod Help me keep the podcast free & independent! Support me on Patreon Or donate as much or as little as you like at GoFundMe

This week, I'm speaking to esteemed entomologist Dr Ian Bedford about accepting the insects in your garden and learning to accept their vital role in the wider ecosystem. We talk about the how gardens can work alongside public spaces to provide habitats for beleaguered bugs, how we can reconcile growing food with welcoming bugs and whether reports of Insectageddon are justified. About Dr Ian Bedford: "I have been fascinated by insects and other invertebrates for most of my life. Starting out as an Amateur Entomologist, studying and conserving butterflies on the South Downs, I went on to pursue a professional career as a Research Entomologist and ran the Entomology Department at the John Innes Centre in Norwich, until my recent retirement after 42 years. I can now follow my passion for all things Entomological at a more leisurely pace. Following retirement I am continuing to visit Garden and Horticultural Societies to give talks on various insect - related subjects. In addition, I'm attending event days for Garden Centres, giving talks and arranging a Plant Pest Clinic for visitors and customers. I'm also invited to talk at a number of Garden Shows around the country. I also speak on a number of radio shows and currently have the great honour of being the resident 'Go To' Entomologist for BBC Radio Norfolk, Suffolk and Lincolnshire. I also record a bug-related story each week for Toby Buckland's Sunday morning show on BBC Radio Devon 'An Entomologist Entertains'. I've also featured on BBC Gardeners Question Time and appeared on TV shows such as BBC Gardeners' World, Inside Out, Tonight, Horizon, BBC Breakfast, A to Z of TV Gardening, The Great British Garden Revival and even Harry Hill's Alien Fun Capsule!". What We Discuss: The species that most need our help at the moment Some of the best and worst habits us gardeners have that either help or hinder insects Plants that are fairly common but do little or nothing to provide a food source or habitat Public and private landowners collaborating in order to establish a network of habitats The ecosystems of our gardens and our region-specific species Are all pesticides a no-no? How can we reconcile the need for wilder areas in our gardens and landscapes with the desire to grow food plants? Insectageddon - exaggerated or as bad as reported? Links: Dr Ian Bedford's Website Get in touch: Email podcast@rootsandall.co.uk Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram @rootsandallpod Help me keep the podcast free & independent! Support me on Patreon Or donate as much or as little as you like at GoFundMe

This week I'm speaking to James Basson of Scape Design. James runs his design practice along with wife Helen out of the south of France and their work is synonymous with a naturalistic style, the use of native plants and often, the implementation of matrix or grid planting to populate large areas of landscape. It was this part of James's practice that initially sparked my interest and we get round to talking about that towards the end of the interview, but first we cover the type of work undertaken by Scape Design and the gardens James designs for some of the most demanding environments. About James Basson: James specialises in dry, sustainable gardens that are inspired by his passion for the natural landscape and is known for using natural materials and local artisans. He has won numerous awards at Garden Shows throughout the world with Gold Medals at the Gardening World Cup in Japan, the Singapore Garden Festival, the Philadelphia Flower Show and the Chelsea Flower Show, where he won best in show in 2017. He has published papers on a generative approach to Garden Design, and is currently developing a database around matrix form planting design, to help designers and gardeners create ecological planting schemes. What We Discuss: The work of Scape Design The design principles that underpin James's work and how he separates the cultivated from the uncultivated The importance of building in resilience to the gardens James designs, both in the hard landscaping and planting Problems with invasive plants in naturalistic plantings James's matrix form of planting and this works from an ecological point of view His work to develop a database of plants that work together from an ecological point of view Links: www.scapedesign.com Get in touch: Email podcast@rootsandall.co.uk Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram @rootsandallpod Help me keep the podcast free & independent! Support me on Patreon Or donate as much or as little as you like at GoFundMe