Trowels and Tribulations

In this episode we talk about The RHS Tatton flower show. 

https://www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events/rhs-flower-show-tatton-park A fabulous day out bursting with colourful gardening inspiration, fun family activities, have-a-go workshops and boutique shopping

Faith talked about her time at Tatton with Cherry Graham https://cherrycarmen.co.uk/ and meeting photographer Charlotte Graham  https://www.charlottegraham.photography/

Sarah is building a showgarden with Richard Easton https://richardeastongardens.com/ and Rob Hardy https://robhardy.co.uk/ and they are building the show garden for https://www.macmillan.org.uk/

In this episode we all go round to Faiths garden for a natter, a chat, a chinwag.... and a brew (tea). Gardens are just a extension to any house. If you are lucky enough to have a garden and if the weather is nice, you must to go out and breath in that fresh air. The fresh air is good for your body and the chat with friends makes you feel good.

Faith also does Tree of the pod. Pinus Sylvestris 

Scots pine is an evergreen conifer native to northern Europe. Mature trees grow to 35m and can live for up to 700 years. The bark is a scaly orange-brown, which develops plates and fissures with age. Scots Pine is Scotland's national tree. It is a native of the once extensive Caledonian pine forests and is the only timber-producing conifer native to Scotland. It's known as a pioneer species, due to its ability to regenerate and thrive in poor soils.

Enjoy

Jessica Herbert is a lecturer in arboriculture, arborist and former competitive tree climber. In this episode, she talks about the world of tree climbing championships and the career opportunities for tree lovers.

In this episode we walk through the gardens and woodlands of Thorp Perrow in North Yorkshire. We enter the fairy trail and see what we can see. Follow the trail through the enchanted wood, home to fairies, pixies and a host of other magical creatures. However its more of a "lets see what we can make Phil do" rather than a gardening podcast but we loved it and hope you do to. https://thorpperrow.com/blog-post-title-3-2/

In the episode we are set free at the Harrogate flower show. It was a wonderful 4 days. https://www.flowershow.org.uk/

Our sponsor for this episode is https://www.colouritin.co.uk/ "An alternative creative company". please give them a visit.

We got to see so many people like.....

https://www.martinfish.com/

https://wackswickedplants.co.uk/

https://www.alchemyferns.co.uk/

https://www.jonathan-moseley.com/

Enjoy

In this episode we bring you a behinds the scene tour of the the show gardens at the wonderful Harrogate flower show 2021

https://www.flowershow.org.uk/

http://nicholasedwardgardens.com/

https://harrogategardendesign.co.uk/

https://www.loweslandscapes.co.uk/

https://www.riponlandscapes.co.uk/

https://www.faithdouglas.co.uk/about/

https://www.horticap.org/

"Mental health awareness week special"

In this episode We talk to Emz Finch 

Emz is a contemporary artist, living and working from her home studio in South West London. Her work is strongly influenced by nature and the great outdoors, having grown up on a National Trust farm on the Stourhead estate. She has a particular interest in impressionism and likes to make paintings that focus on bold colour and a striking marks.  Emz has painted all her life, and after a successful career in the city and then in TV, she took it up professionally after having her daughter in 2017.  Since then, Emz has completed a foundation at the London Fine Art Studios, won a scholarship to the Creative Visionary Programme 2019 and sells work online and through First View Gallery in Wiltshire.

Emz has been disabled all her adult life following a failed hip replacement when she was just 18. Painting is has played a huge part in her mental health and acceptance of the disability.  It allows her the space to feel herself again and has helped a huge deal to come to terms with life with reduced mobility.

I’ve had two miscarriages during lockdown.  Both at 12 weeks.  Both ending in operations, the first one an emergency op after hours of trauma in hospital alone. I came away from this with no indication that my mental health might be effected, and absolutely no follow up or support when I reached out to the hospital to tell them about the debilitating flashbacks I’d be having.  I was diagnosed with PTSD and waited 6 months for CBT therapy, then sadly had another miscarriage at the end of Feb this year.  I had an experience in my local woods one day when I saw a pebble in a tree that said ‘be happy’, the trees compelled me to lay under the tree and within seconds I was breathing deeply.  I started to feel better, started to see colour again and the only way I could describe what had happened was to paint it.  That was the first tree, nearly 10 weeks ago.  And I now have over 80 trees in my studio.  You can see a few of them on my instagram feed.  I’ll need several hundred to realise my dream of creating this space - a space for everyone to come and lay down and reflect on what they may have lost during lockdown.

In the short term, I need some money to buy more paint and canvasses, so I’ll be selling art prints of two of the trees for one week 10th - 16th May (mental health awareness week - which this year has the theme of nature).  Anything you can do to share my project during this week would be so amazing.

In the medium to long term I need to find a venue and a sponsor/philanthropist/grants/gallery/charity to be able to put this on.  I’m trying to speak to as many people as I can at the moment to see what leads I can generate.

Best wishes

Emz x

07770398205

www.emzfinchart.co.uk

https://www.instagram.com/emzfinchart

In the episode we talk and the benefits of Forests and nature and how this will help with your mental wellbeing.

Faith talks about Forest bathing. https://www.faithdouglas.co.uk/

'Connect with nature in nature', 'connect with yourself in nature' and 'connect with others in nature'.

Being in a natural environment improves the health of our bodies and minds and can improve our overall quality of life.

At Forest Bathing UK we offer organised mindful connections within a natural environment to benefit all.

In this episode we talk to Michelle Hayes from Resurrected Bites food bank in Harrogate. https://resurrectedbites.co.uk/

They say through the love for creation and in the knowledge that 30% of the UK’s food goes to waste, we felt challenged to change things in our district. We want to fill bellies not bins, to ensure good quality food is not going to waste.

Resurrected Bites is partnered with Fareshare, Neighbourly and Harrogate Waste Not Want Not. With the help of these organisations, we ‘intercept’ good quality ingredients that were destined for landfill. Our chefs then create delicious dishes from hearty breakfasts to lovely lunches and divine desserts! All are served in a welcoming environment and when it comes to the bill you ‘pay as you feel’ – there’s no set charge.

Any donations you give help to cover the minimum £290 which it costs to run each cafe and we love to raise money for charity too. Thank you for supporting us and giving with your heart.

In the Episode we talk about a project to turn a car park into a the best beer garden in the world. Bringing the Yorkshire dales to The Yorkshire Hotel. 

We talk to Nick Fryer http://nicholasedwardgardens.com/ and Simon Cotton https://www.the-yorkshire.co.uk/ and husband and wife team Jason and Tracey Potter from https://www.livingstonewalling.co.uk/

Living Stone are passionate about the craft of dry stone walling and what a fabulous job they did.

The Yorkshire Hotel is located in the heart of historic Harrogate, on the edge of the Yorkshire dales.

Centrally located and with traditional features, the hotel offers everything you might need for a great break in Harrogate, including a choice of bedroom styles, bar and restaurant.

In this episode we talk to Rudding Park Kitchen Gardener, Fiona Slight. She has the enviable task of growing a fantastic array of produce for the team to use in the Kitchens and also create a haven for guests to explore and reconnect with nature.  At Rudding Park her focus is to produce the freshest, tastiest fruit and vegetables to the highest quality for the hotel chefs.  She follows organic principles and grows as sustainably as possible. Fiona tries to ensure there is produce every month of the year and that the kitchen garden is not only productive but is also a feast for the eyes too”.

https://www.ruddingpark.co.uk/

In this episode we talk about Easter and all the joys of spring. 

Sarah talks to Phil Airey (co host) about his gardening life

Thought of the pod - Easter 

In the episode is about the hedgerow. 

Phil interviews John Hulbert @johnhulbert.drystonewalling about the art of hedge Laying. https://www.facebook.com/johnhulbert.drystonewalling 

Tree of the Pod - Weeping Willow (Salix Babylonica)

Plant of the pod - Sarah explains how wonderful the hedging favorite Blackthorn is (Prunus Spinosa)

and thought of the pod - Faith talks about the simple daffodil (Narcissus)

In this episode we were honoured to speak to Joanne and Robyn from the Friends of Christopher Columbus Park, Boston, Massachusetts. 

https://www.foccp.org/about

The purpose of FOCCP shall be to encourage, promote, enhance, and coordinate efforts of residents, neighbours, area businesses and institutions, and the Department of Parks and Recreation of the City of Boston (Park Landlord) in promoting, improving, maintaining, and utilizing Boston's Christopher Columbus Park.

I hidden gem for those visiting Boston. With a beautiful vista of the harbour, its a great relaxing park for everyone. 

Have you missed us. After our winter break we are back

In this episode its just Phil and Sarah talking about spring and life. With parts of the world starting to look forward to some normality, our gardens are doing what they always do.... Springing into life. Get into your gardens and enjoy the sights and smells of spring.... Enjoy

P.s Faith will be back in our next outing 

This is our festive podcast , We talk about Christmas and of course "moss balls". ... again 

Plant of the Pod - Hedera helix, Ivy is an evergreen, woody climber.

Tree of the pod - The Christmas tree of choice.... The Nordmann Fir is the king of the trees, its needles will stay attached throughout the festive season. No more needles in your feet

Plant of the pod - Mistletoe is an evergreen plant with distinctive forked branches and pairs of symmetrical evergreen leaves. In winter it produces clusters of pearlescent white berries which are favourites with hungry birds such as thrushes

Thought of the Pod - Winter wellness

We will return next year. 2021... Until then... Merry Christmas and a happy new year

P.s Keep it green