The Plant Based Podcast

This is a special episode with sponsors of series 18 of the podcast - it's British Garden Centres! Eve Kerrigan spills the beans on the business of selling plants, some best selling plants and changes in the garden centre business over the past few years. Followed by a car based gossip with @mr_plantgeek and @ellenmarygardening chatting Tulips, slow eating and RHS Malvern. Series 18 is sponsored by British Garden Centres.

British Garden Centres are the largest family owned, and family run garden centre group in the UK, with over 70 garden centres.

"We aim to provide you with great plants and gardening products at affordable prices, with a first-class service delivered by a passionate team." – The Stubbs Family.

With garden centres offering plants, food and gift areas, outdoor living, Christmas departments, restaurants, homeware and so much more. All garden centres are pet friendly, and many welcome coach parties. The business also boasts a variety of retail partners across the group inside each garden centre.

www.britishgardencentres.com

In this weeks episode, Michael is joined by two good friends, Meg and Gemma, as they have a really lovely gossip. These fab ladies have very interesting jobs in the industry, so make sure to listen and find out all about that, as they all put the world to rights, which is rather fun to listen to. Please excuse the bad quality sound, technology was working against us that evening, and Michael was also laying down across two armchairs trying to get the signal out of the window on the Isle of Wight! Enjoy!

Series 18 is sponsored by British Garden Centres.

British Garden Centres are the largest family owned, and family run garden centre group in the UK, with over 70 garden centres.

"We aim to provide you with great plants and gardening products at affordable prices, with a first-class service delivered by a passionate team." – The Stubbs Family.

With garden centres offering plants, food and gift areas, outdoor living, Christmas departments, restaurants, homeware and so much more. All garden centres are pet friendly, and many welcome coach parties. The business also boasts a variety of retail partners across the group inside each garden centre.

www.britishgardencentres.com

If you've heard the word permaculture used in horticulture but unsure what it means, this episode will answer some of your questions. Jack is a permaculture designer discussing with @mr_plantgeek and @ellenmarygardening how we can grow realistically in a sustainable and self-sufficient way, with permaculture principles. Afterwards, Michael and Ellen gossip about whatever springs to mind, from the Isle of Wight to Norfolk. Series 18 is sponsored by British Garden Centres.

British Garden Centres are the largest family owned, and family run garden centre group in the UK, with over 70 garden centres.

"We aim to provide you with great plants and gardening products at affordable prices, with a first-class service delivered by a passionate team." – The Stubbs Family.

With garden centres offering plants, food and gift areas, outdoor living, Christmas departments, restaurants, homeware and so much more. All garden centres are pet friendly, and many welcome coach parties. The business also boasts a variety of retail partners across the group inside each garden centre.

www.britishgardencentres.com

In this weeks episode, Michael travels to Boston, in the UK, not the US, to find out about the last commercial conifer nursery in the UK, Golden Grove. He talks to Zoe and Karolina about their love of conifers, and why it's time to look at them through a different lens. We think you're gonna love this episode and we dare you to go and buy a conifer ASAP. The ideal place to pick up your conifer is one of British Garden Centres locations, and they are the sponsor of the season of the podcast! Plants mentioned in today's show include: Hedging: Thuja plicata Gelderland, Thuja plicata Goldy, Thuja plicata Little Boy, Taxus baccata Thuja plicata Whipcord, Chanaecyparis pilifera Filifera Nana, Thuja accidentalis Teddy, Thuja accidentalis Anniek, Cryptomeria japonica Tenzan Our favourites: Thuja accidentalis Anniek, Cryptomeria japonica Serama, Pinus mugo Carsten Series 18 is sponsored by British Garden Centres.

British Garden Centres are the largest family owned, and family run garden centre group in the UK, with over 70 garden centres.

"We aim to provide you with great plants and gardening products at affordable prices, with a first-class service delivered by a passionate team." – The Stubbs Family.

With garden centres offering plants, food and gift areas, outdoor living, Christmas departments, restaurants, homeware and so much more. All garden centres are pet friendly, and many welcome coach parties. The business also boasts a variety of retail partners across the group inside each garden centre.

www.britishgardencentres.com

Stephen Flynn, one half of The Happy Pear joins @mr_plantgeek and @ellenmarygardening for this everything plant based episode. Twins Stephen and David are best selling authors, cafe and bakery owners, recipe club creators with a 4 acre regenerative organic farm. From the emerald Isle Stephen chats about plant based eating, growing and overall health.

Afterwards Michael and Ellen gossip from Coal Yard Drops about plants, getting too close and men…

Series 18 is sponsored by British Garden Centres.

British Garden Centres are the largest family owned, and family run garden centre group in the UK, with over 70 garden centres.

"We aim to provide you with great plants and gardening products at affordable prices, with a first-class service delivered by a passionate team." – The Stubbs Family.

With garden centres offering plants, food and gift areas, outdoor living, Christmas departments, restaurants, homeware and so much more. All garden centres are pet friendly, and many welcome coach parties. The business also boasts a variety of retail partners across the group inside each garden centre.

www.britishgardencentres.com

As we kick off series 18, we are beginning with a gardening legend, and good friend of the podcast. He started his working life as an electrician and now, via the Blue Peter garden, he is a government recognised ambassador for children's gardening in the UK. It's the gold sequinned wearing, SKINNY JEAN GARDENER. The first gossip of series 18 comes after the guest interview, with @mr_plantgeek and @ellenmarygardening chatting about anything that 'springs' to mind, April fools and plant life. Series 18 is sponsored by British Garden Centres.

British Garden Centres are the largest family owned, and family run garden centre group in the UK, with over 70 garden centres.

"We aim to provide you with great plants and gardening products at affordable prices, with a first-class service delivered by a passionate team." – The Stubbs Family.

With garden centres offering plants, food and gift areas, outdoor living, Christmas departments, restaurants, homeware and so much more. All garden centres are pet friendly, and many welcome coach parties. The business also boasts a variety of retail partners across the group inside each garden centre.

wwwbritishgardencentres.com

Andrew Jackson is a man with a mission. After working in social housing for more than 10 years, he had a yearning to make outdoor spaces better for residents. Upon buying his own new build home, he realised how daunting it can be to suddenly have a blank canvas, full of promise, yet not have a clue what to do with it.

Years later, after finding his feet with that new garden, Andrew has put together a rather fantastic New Build Manifesto, which makes some strong suggestions for how housing developers can better prepare residents for their new outdoor space. He believes his manifesto is in harmony with the housing developer world, whilst also having firm environmental benefits.

Hear all about it in this episode of the podcast. As ever, @ellenmarygardening and @mr_plantgeek gossip about anything that comes to mind but especially about Spring!

Sponsors of series 17 are Lava-Lite - Naturally The Best

Effortlessly nourish and protect your plants with a collection of totally non-toxic, environmentally friendly, sustainable, pH neutral, lightweight and 100% natural products.

Derived from volcanic deposits, LAVA-LITE was formed by nature over 10,000 years ago.

The collection is made up of eight different horticultural growing/potting media and pest control products, with each continually offering the same natural benefits: thermal protection, moisture retention and control, soil conditioning and providing a nutrient boost; as well as being completely child, pet and environmentally safe.

LAVA-LITE is chemically inert, zero-harm and does not kill pests. It acts as a natural barrier and deterrent, providing an opportunity for them to simply move on.

All the products can be used anywhere in the home and garden without worry and any predators eating prey that have come in to contact with LAVA-LITE will not be harmed, keeping eco-systems balanced, maintained and sustainable.

The LAVA-LITE collection is available in handy 1 litre and 3 litre resealable pouches. They are easy to use, provide great results and don't require careful handling, making them perfect for the novice gardener and specialist grower.

Learn more at www.lava-lite.co.uk

By now you have probably heard of social prescribing and perhaps even social and therapeutic horticulture and as gardeners we know that gardening makes us feel good, but what about everyone else? What about people with no access to green space, people with mental and physical health issues and what about those tasked with giving advice, support and suggestions to help - such as a medical professional. In this episode guest Dr. Richard Claxton -a champion of promoting positive health and wellness through plants and gardens - tells us what and how gardening truly helps people stay well. Sponsors of series 17 are Lava-Lite - Naturally The Best

Effortlessly nourish and protect your plants with a collection of totally non-toxic, environmentally friendly, sustainable, pH neutral, lightweight and 100% natural products.

Derived from volcanic deposits, LAVA-LITE was formed by nature over 10,000 years ago.

The collection is made up of eight different horticultural growing/potting media and pest control products, with each continually offering the same natural benefits: thermal protection, moisture retention and control, soil conditioning and providing a nutrient boost; as well as being completely child, pet and environmentally safe.

LAVA-LITE is chemically inert, zero-harm and does not kill pests. It acts as a natural barrier and deterrent, providing an opportunity for them to simply move on.

All the products can be used anywhere in the home and garden without worry and any predators eating prey that have come in to contact with LAVA-LITE will not be harmed, keeping eco-systems balanced, maintained and sustainable.

The LAVA-LITE collection is available in handy 1 litre and 3 litre resealable pouches. They are easy to use, provide great results and don't require careful handling, making them perfect for the novice gardener and specialist grower.

Learn more at www.lava-lite.co.uk

On the podcast in this episode is the editor of one of the most popular gardening magazines in the UK, Amateur Gardening. The magazine was founded in 1884, but sadly stopped production back in late 2023… but thankfully resurrected just a few months later, with a whole new look, making a whole nation of gardeners of all ages very happy. Editor and author Kim Stoddart is with @ellenmarygardening and @mr_plantgeek to talk all about editorial deadlines and of course, gardening! Afterwards Michael and Ellen chat random stuff from travels to plants and everything in between. Sponsors of series 17 are Lava-Lite - Naturally The Best

Effortlessly nourish and protect your plants with a collection of totally non-toxic, environmentally friendly, sustainable, pH neutral, lightweight and 100% natural products.

Derived from volcanic deposits, LAVA-LITE was formed by nature over 10,000 years ago.

The collection is made up of eight different horticultural growing/potting media and pest control products, with each continually offering the same natural benefits: thermal protection, moisture retention and control, soil conditioning and providing a nutrient boost; as well as being completely child, pet and environmentally safe.

LAVA-LITE is chemically inert, zero-harm and does not kill pests. It acts as a natural barrier and deterrent, providing an opportunity for them to simply move on.

All the products can be used anywhere in the home and garden without worry and any predators eating prey that have come in to contact with LAVA-LITE will not be harmed, keeping eco-systems balanced, maintained and sustainable.

The LAVA-LITE collection is available in handy 1 litre and 3 litre resealable pouches. They are easy to use, provide great results and don't require careful handling, making them perfect for the novice gardener and specialist grower.

Learn more at www.lava-lite.co.uk

Todays podcast is with Beth Williams, multidisciplinary artist and fashion designer who creates living textiles with incredible designs based around plants and nature. Beth centres around an inaccessible world as well as the relationship between human and environmental sustainability. Afterwards, @ellenmarygardening and @mr_plantgeek gossip separately with news of what they have been up to recently. Sponsors of series 17 are Lava-Lite - Naturally The Best

Effortlessly nourish and protect your plants with a collection of totally non-toxic, environmentally friendly, sustainable, pH neutral, lightweight and 100% natural products.

Derived from volcanic deposits, LAVA-LITE was formed by nature over 10,000 years ago.

The collection is made up of eight different horticultural growing/potting media and pest control products, with each continually offering the same natural benefits: thermal protection, moisture retention and control, soil conditioning and providing a nutrient boost; as well as being completely child, pet and environmentally safe.

LAVA-LITE is chemically inert, zero-harm and does not kill pests. It acts as a natural barrier and deterrent, providing an opportunity for them to simply move on.

All the products can be used anywhere in the home and garden without worry and any predators eating prey that have come in to contact with LAVA-LITE will not be harmed, keeping eco-systems balanced, maintained and sustainable.

The LAVA-LITE collection is available in handy 1 litre and 3 litre resealable pouches. They are easy to use, provide great results and don't require careful handling, making them perfect for the novice gardener and specialist grower.

Learn more at www.lava-lite.co.uk