Gardening with the RHS

This week, we're coming to you from the stunning RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival 2025; the UK’s most spectacular summer celebration of all things green, growing, and gloriously garden-inspired! Join us as we dive into the cutting-edge sustainability solutions, and thought-provoking exhibits that reveal how gardening connects us to nature, to each other, and to ourselves. We explore the Healer’s Hollow, where ancient plant-based healing traditions are brought back to life, and visit Surrey County Council’s visionary garden, which imagines a greener, more sustainable urban future. Along the way, we hear from passionate exhibitors and garden designers about how we can support endangered garden wildlife—and they share their top tips for keeping your garden thriving, even in this summer’s scorching heat.   Hosts: Guy Barter, Mellissa Mabbitt, Tom Howard   Contributors: Jude Yeo, Emily Grayshaw, Lilly Gomm, Coralie Thomas, Adrian Thomas, Alan Partridge, Helen Currie, Tom Pilgrim, Laura Strand, Sam Stark-Kemp, Henry T Pope   Links: Visit RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival  [https://www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events/rhs-hampton-court-palace-garden-festival/ticket-options] RHS Healers Hollow Garden [https://www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events/rhs-hampton-court-palace-garden-festival/gardens/2025/rhs-healers-hollow] RSPB and RHS Swift Garden [https://www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events/rhs-hampton-court-palace-garden-festival/gardens/2025/rspb-and-rhs-swift-garden] Surrey County Council: Reclaiming spaces, creating healthy streets garden [https://www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events/rhs-hampton-court-palace-garden-festival/gardens/2025/reclaiming-spaces-creating-healthy-streets] Hot Pocket, City Pocket Planting Garden [https://www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events/rhs-hampton-court-palace-garden-festival/gardens/2025/hot-pocket] Teucer Wilson: Green the Gap Garden, City Pocket Planting [https://www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events/rhs-hampton-court-palace-garden-festival/gardens/2025/green-the-gap] Welcoming Wildlife, City Pocket Planting Garden [https://www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events/rhs-hampton-court-palace-garden-festival/gardens/2025/welcoming-wildlife]

This week we’re diving head-first into the long grass, under the flowerpots, and behind the compost bin to celebrate National Insect Week! The Wildlife Trusts’ collaborator and garden designer Zoe Claymore shares her top tips on wildlife friendly gardening. RHS Principal Entomologist Dr Hayley Jones will be busting some myths around one critter which has been dominating our gardens this year – aphids! And another RHS entomologist – Josie Stuart – explains why earwigs are excellent insect predators to encourage into your plot.   Host: Gareth Richards   Contributors: Zoe Claymore [https://www.zoeclaymore.com/], Dr Hayley Jones, Josie Stuart   Links: Buddleja aphids [https://www.rhs.org.uk/biodiversity/aphids-on-buddleja] Buddleja aphid survey [https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/57f3ebaaa8a84504bee58a86f1383701] Aphids [https://www.rhs.org.uk/biodiversity/aphids] Earwigs [https://www.rhs.org.uk/biodiversity/earwigs]

As the UK bursts into bloom, we celebrate British Flowers Week with flower farmer Georgie Newbery, who shares how to create stunning, sustainable bouquets from your own garden. At RHS Garden Wisley, Liz Mooney guides us through successional sowing for a summer full of salad crops, and at RHS Bridgewater, Carolyne Jones reveals how to turn your garden into a haven for nesting birds. From vibrant wildflowers to fledgling robins, it’s a glorious season of growth – and there’s still time to get involved. Host: Jenny Laville Contributors: Georgie Newbery [https://www.instagram.com/commonfarmflowers/], Liz Mooney, Carolyne Jones Links: Common Farm Flowers [https://www.commonfarmflowers.com/] The carbon footprint of flowers [https://www.flowersfromthefarm.co.uk/learning-resources/the-carbon-footprint-of-flowers/] Say it with British flowers study [https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/sci-tech/about-us/news/archive/2018/feb/say-it-with-british-flowers/]

This week, we journey into one of Britain’s rarest and most magical landscapes — the temperate rainforest. Designer Zoe Claymore joins us to reveal how she captured the enchanted atmosphere of these ancient woodlands at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, and how you can recreate that wild, mossy magic at home. Then, we turn our attention to a true British garden staple: the hedge. Photographer Gareth Gardner shares what he discovered after receiving over 500 submissions from around the world for his new exhibition On The Hedge, now opening at RHS Garden Wisley. Plus, Gareth Richards is here with practical advice on planning ahead with tips on sowing biennials, and Guy Barter shares what he’s been up to in his own garden. A lush, leafy episode not to be missed. Host: Guy Barter Contributors: Zoe Claymore [https://www.zoeclaymore.com/], Gareth Gardner [https://garethgardner.com/], Gareth Richards [https://www.instagram.com/thegrrdener/] Links: British Temperate Rainforest - British Wildlife Trusts [https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/habitats/woodland/temperate-rainforest] British Rainforest - How to Guide [https://www.zoeclaymore.com/how-to-guides/p/the-british-rainforest-garden-how-to-guide] Lindley Late - Urban Gardening Club: Balconies, Pots and Patios [https://www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events/viewevent?EFID=5017&ESRC=CMS] On The Hedge exhibition at RHS Wisley [https://www.rhs.org.uk/gardens/wisley/whats-on/on-the-hedge]

This week, we’re stepping off the garden path and into the wild. James Armitage, editor of The Plant Review, joins Gareth Richards to reflect on how a little wilderness can bring balance, biodiversity, and unexpected beauty, to even the most cultivated spaces. We begin with a tribute to the intrepid botanist John Watson, whose plant-hunting adventures in South America unearthed a treasure trove of wild flora. Plantsman Robert Rolfe shares stories of Watson’s passion and the remarkable plants he helped bring into cultivation. Then, it’s over to the Garry oak meadows of Vancouver Island, where nurserywoman Amy Sanderson and writer Eric Hsu are rethinking everything we thought we knew about camassias – revealing their surprising resilience in dry climates. Finally, we ascend to the Himalayas with botanist Richard Moore to meet the hardy Roscoea – a plant both wild and wonderful, whose taxonomic tale is as twisty as its mountain roots. All this, plus a call to action: find out how you can help protect community growing spaces by supporting the RHS-backed Space to Grow amendment in Parliament. Hosts: Gareth Richards & James Armitage Contributors: Robert Rolfe, Amy Sanderson, Eric Hsu, Richard Moore Links: RHS Horticultural bursaries [https://www.rhs.org.uk/education-learning/bursaries-grants] Subscribe to The Plant Review [https://www.rhs.org.uk/about-us/what-we-do/publications/the-plant-review] Space to Grow amendment for the government’s Planning and Infrastructure Bill [https://www.sarahchampionmp.com/news/2025/5/22/sarah-champion-mp-joins-forces-with-horticultural-experts-to-campaign-for-more-allotments-and-community-gardens] Use this template to send to your MP [https://emails.rhs.org.uk/c/AQi-_hQQwaEbGK3JrBkgz4jCBcsj-7Vdwr9Wn2LXWhc2uxKL088FqUP6FJYh7PVEt8Ae] find your MP’s email address here [https://members.parliament.uk/FindYourMP?utm_campaign=446657_Communities%20newsletter%20-%20June%202025&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Specific%20B2B%3A%20Non-MS%20Dynamics%20%28Ability%20to%20unsubscribe%29%20&dm_i=7DBY,9KN5,VNDT9,18AWZ,1] Saving allotments and community gardens [https://www.rhs.org.uk/get-involved/community-gardening/save-allotments-community-gardens]