The Underground

Alan Roper is a renowned charismatic leader within the garden centre sector. This week he joins us to share his thoughts on building a successful business, the challenges faced and opportunities available. He tells us about the factors that he believes are destroying viable garden centre businesses and his vision for the future of the industry.

Blue Diamond: https://www.bluediamond.gg

Discover more about our hosts:

Kate Turner: www.gardenerguru.co.uk

Phil Wright: www.wrightobara.com

Megan is the social media manager for the YPHA (Young People in Horticulture Association), she's a digital marketing assistant for a commercial grower as well as running her own business Forest Interior as a freelance-content producer. In short she's a person in demand. And having spoken with her, it's easy to see why. Megan's innate passion and inquisitiveness for plants (especially house plants) is incredibly inspiring.

Megan Warren-Davis: https://forestinterior.co.uk

YPHA: https://www.ypha.org.uk

Discover more about our hosts:

Kate Turner: www.gardenerguru.co.uk

Phil Wright: www.wrightobara.com

Glee is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year and we get a glimpse behind the scenes to understand what goes into putting on the exhibition with event director Matthew Mein. We gain an insight into the innovations coming in 2024 and the importance Glee has within the garden sector calendar as well as understanding the show's decision to move the event back to September.

Glee: https://www.gleebirmingham.com

Discover more about our hosts:

Kate Turner: www.gardenerguru.co.uk

Phil Wright: www.wrightobara.com

Kate Ebbens is the UK representative for Capi Europe, a manufacturer of garden products that has gone to great lengths to ensure they are as sustainable and environmentally friendly as possible. Kate is also the Vice President of GIMA and an ambassador for the Greenfingers Charity. We caught up with Kate to discuss her thoughts on the sector and discover more about the incredible challenge she's taken on to raise money for Greenfingers.

Kate's Just Giving page: https://www.justgiving.com/page/kate-ebbens-1701443565987

Capi Europe: https://www.capi-europe.com/en/

GIMA: https://gima.org.uk

Greenfingers Charity: https://www.greenfingerscharity.org.uk

Discover more about our hosts:

Kate Turner: www.gardenerguru.co.uk

Phil Wright: www.wrightobara.com

For over 450 million years mycorrhizal fungi have lived in a symbiotic relationship with plants developing a lifelong bond of mutual benefit. Science is only now identifying the secrets of these relationships and discovering how they can be harnessed to naturally improve plant health, encouraging them to thrive. On this week's show we chat with Simon Taylor, the business development director at Plantworks, the company behind Rootgrow, and discuss the future of plant food.

Empathy / Rootgrow: https://rootgrow.co.uk

Discover more about our hosts:

Kate Turner: www.gardenerguru.co.uk

Phil Wright: www.wrightobara.com

We're delighted this week to have caught up with Jane Hartley, Brand Portfolio Manager, Growing Categories at Evergreen Garden Care. She shares her insights into the sustainability journey that Evergreen Garden Care has been on, as well as her passion and enthusiasm for the industry.

Evergreen Garden Care: www.lovethegarden.com

Discover more about our hosts:

Kate Turner: www.gardenerguru.co.uk

Phil Wright: www.wrightobara.com

Toby Thomas, the Co-Founder and Managing Director of RocketGro joins us this week to share the origins story of the RocketGro brand. We get a glimpse behind the scenes of the company and hear of the industry challenges faced by new entrants and established businesses alike. We also learn what on earth digestate is, how it's produced and how it's being used as a peat alternative.

RocketGro: www.rocketgro.co.uk

Discover more about our hosts:

Kate Turner: www.gardenerguru.co.uk

Phil Wright: www.wrightobara.com

This week we caught up with possibly the busiest man in horticulture, Michael Perry AKA Mr Plant Geek to get his thoughts on a range of subjects.  With years of experience and a perspective that spans across the industry we quiz Michael over gardening tips for renters, how to help new homeowners get started in the garden and what can be done to attract new gardeners into the sector.

Michael Perry: http://mrplantgeek.com/

Discover more about our hosts:

Kate Turner: www.gardenerguru.co.uk

Phil Wright: www.wrightobara.com

The Greenfingers Charity does amazing work emotionally supporting life-limited children, their families and carers through beautiful outdoor spaces within children's hospices.We caught up with the lovely Linda Petrons, director of fundraising and communications at Greenfingers, to hear more about the incredible work the charity does. We also discover how businesses and in particular the garden sector have got behind the charity to support the invaluable work they do.

Greenfingers Charity: www.greenfingerscharity.org.uk

Garden Re-Leaf Day 15th March 2024: www.greenfingerscharity.org.uk/activities/29/garden-re-leaf-day-2024

Discover more about our hosts:

Kate Turner: www.gardenerguru.co.uk

Phil Wright: www.wrightobara.com

Join us for a special episode live from The Garden Press Event 2024.

In a change to our usual episodes, Phil and Kate paid a visit to The Garden Press Event and caught up with industry professionals - some of whom you may just recognise! Take a listen now and join us over on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn to share your highlights from The Garden Press Event.

instagram.com/underground.pod

facebook.com/theunderground.fm

www.linkedin.com/showcase/the-underground-podcast/

https://theunderground.fm/