Growing Together

It was a beautiful morning at the Adhurst Estate Allotment for Petersfield's inaugural Tree Festival.  

Claire and Steve met Ian Turner and Phil Paulo from The Tree Council, who were offering tree care advice and workshops throughout the day.

They discover plans for community tree planting with charity Fitzroy's Rural Skills Project, how to create fairies and stick men from nature and talk to visitors to the festival who are looking forward to future crumbles from their newly purchased fruit trees!

Representatives from PeCAN and East Hampshire District Council explain how the festival began, the success of the day and future plans to bring the growing community together.

Growing Together is Shine Radio's gardening magazine podcast with a new episode twice a month. Listen at www.shineradio.uk on your favourite podcast app.

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The Growing Together gardening magazine podcast

It's still very squelchy at the Adhurst Estate Allotment! In this episode, Claire and Steve discuss how to dig up and store dahlia tubers, cutting back autumn raspberries, plans for community composting and the benefits of being outside no matter what the weather.

Tony Kirkham, former Head of Kew Gardens Arboretum, joins Claire at Dorset's Sculpture By The Lakes to talk about his fabulous career and Head Gardener Ben Pope has advice for how to look after your garden this time of year, what you can be doing in the garden and how to stay warm while you're in the garden!

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The Growing Together gardening magazine podcast

It's a bit squelchy outside, and on a chilly Autumnal morning Claire and Steve are back at the Adhurst Estate Allotment. In this episode, there's advice for planting garlic, shallots and tulip bulbs, adding water butts and trees to your gardening space and bringing the outside in for gorgeous autumnal displays.

Joining them is Laura Bower from the People's Trust for Endangered Species with advice for looking after wildlife this time of year and expert basket maker and willow weaver Mollie McMillen from her East Hampshire workshop.

For gardening advice and expert interviews twice a month, listen to Growing Together with Claire Vennis and Steve Amos, the gardening magazine podcast from Shine Radio.

Growing Together is sponsored by De Mellow and Co - financial advice for you, your family and your future.

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Claire and Steve enjoy the mid-October evening colour at the Adhurst Estate Allotment and it's a magical place to be.

It's also the time of year to think about what worked this year in the garden, what didn't and how you're going to plan your growing areas for next year. The autumn months can be very productive in preparing for the following years growing.

Helen McAra from Wild Seasons Foraging takes Claire foraging in the Hampshire countryside and explains the dos and don'ts of wild food hunting and Ben Pope is back with a second instalment of The Working Garden Diary - collecting seeds, drying hydrangea flowers, lawn care and enticing offers of cake!

Join Claire Vennis and Steve Amos twice a month for gardening tips, advice and expert interviews in Growing Together.

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It's early October at the Adhurst Estate Allotment. The flowers are still bright and enjoying the sun, as are Claire and Steve!

There's a lot to do in the garden this time of year including pruning rambling and climbing roses, tidying plots, sowing hardy annuals and seeds for wildflower meadows. Pumpkins are nearly ready for weighing too - have you grown some this year? 

Joining Claire and Steve are Lucy Lee from Ramshackle Flowers, who sows, grows and dries flowers throughout the year and Jon Munday from the Blackmoor Estate, who is surrounded by fruit trees as the Apple Tasting Day approaches.

Listen to Growing Together, twice a month, with Claire Vennis and Steve Amos.  Recorded at the Adhust Estate Allotment in Hampshire and supported by Alitex.

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It's Hay Day at the Adhurst Estate Allotment and time to cut back the meadow in the orchard.  

While looking forward to the orchard fruit, Claire and Steve discuss bulbs - spring and garlic - local apple tasting and some garden 'housekeeping' for this time of year.  

Featuring in this episode is the first instalment of the Working Garden Diary with Head Gardener Ben Pope and designers of an award-winning showcase garden from the BBC Gardeners' World Autumn Fair.

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Early September at the allotment and there's a lot going on.  Harvesting, clearing and tidying plots, collecting seeds... and partaking in giant vegetable competitions.

How do you protect your plot over winter? Are you going to create a dead hedge? Have you thought about what your Spring garden will look like?  And what on earth is pumpkin rowing?

Claire and Steve discuss all the above and more in the latest episode.  

They're also looking forward to Hay Day in the orchard and another flower show for Steve to showcase this year's produce at.

Joining them is Jan Knowlson from the South Downs National Park with an update on the ReNature initiative and Peter from Petersfield's Men's Shed has advice on how to make a wooden planter. 

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Sitting in the middle of the Miyawake Forest, planted at the allotment last year, Claire and Steve discuss the gardening year so far - and what weather we've had!

There's excitement for expanding pumpkins, advice on how to cut back wildflower areas and meadows, dahlia staking ideas and upcoming hedgerow delights.

Joining them are cut flower growing expert Helier Bowling with autumn sowing inspiration and Lynette Clarke from the Steep Flower Show with news of this year's 102nd village show.

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Back at the Adhurst Estate Allotment, Claire and Steve catch up on what's new at the plot, including some uninvited guests!

Steve has started showing some of his produce at local shows and Claire is planning to order spring bulbs soon. 

Joining them in this edition is Eddie from the Traditional Garden Growers, who reveals how sheep wool can enrich soil, and Petersfield Physic Garden volunteer Mike lovingly talks about this hidden gem in the heart of the town.

Join Claire Vennis and Steve Amos, twice a month, for gardening advice, interviews and chat. Sponsored by Alitex Glasshouses, modern Victoria glasshouses, based in South Harting.

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Dodging the rain and fuelled by delicious ice cream from Hackney Gelato, Claire and Steve spent a busy day at the world's largest flower show, which was also celebrating it's 30th anniversary.

And talking of anniversaries, Plant Heritage celebrated their 45th anniversary in the Floral Marquee and Business Manager Gill Groombridge explains more about the conservation work of this important charity.

Leigh Johnston, otherwise known as the Beardy Gardener, introduces his pioneering Giving Garden.  A direct result of his own struggles with mental health, Leigh shares his own story and how he hopes his garden will provide support and inspiration.

Also featured are specialist growers of cosmos, eucalyptus and dahlias.

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