Grass Roots Xxxxxxxxx 1 The RHS Community Update
Issue 29 • Spring 2017 rhs.org.uk/communities
Growing a Green Plan It The students designing the gardens of the future
Wildlife gardening in Scotland Leading the way Top tips for RHS Britain in Bloom UK finalists shady gardens
rhs.org.uk/communities 2 Welcome
2 Welcome 3 News 4–5 RHS Britain in Bloom finalists 6–7 Greening Grey Britain –
wildlife gardening Welcome… RHS / GEORGI MABEE in Scotland …to the spring issue of Grass Roots, the magazine for all community gardening groups, including RHS Britain in Bloom, RHS It’s Your 8–11 RHS Advice Neighbourhood groups and RHS Affiliated Societies. Spring is, of course, well under way and summer wildlife-friendly bulbs by Farmer 12–13 Growing a Green Bloom is off a flying start. The theme for Gracey (rhs.org.uk/communityGGB). Plan It this year is wildlife and biodiversity, tying This is my first issue as the new in with the ongoing RHS Greening Grey Grass Roots editor, and it’s been an 14 From the ground – Britain campaign. absolute treat to get to know some school kitchen garden We are encouraging all groups to do of you and your many inspiring stories. what they can to make their gardens more Please do get in touch if you have one 15 RHS Affiliated Societies attractive to Britain’s wildlife, which is to share, and we always love to hear increasingly losing out on habitat – a from you on social media, on Twitter massive 22,000 hectares of green space at @RHSBloom and Facebook at was lost between 2006 and 2012*. facebook.com/rhscommunitygardening We’d love you to capture and share Best wishes and your grey to green transformations online happy gardening, with the hashtag #GreeningGreyBritain, Emily Braham or by email, for your chance to win from a @RHSBloom selection of thousands of mixed spring and rhscommunitygardening *University of Leicester report, 2015
Cover image: Alison Findlay, Community Your views Outreach Advisor and mentor with school I recently started a new community garden on the students on a tour of University of Bristol Botanic estate I live on in Sidcup, London. Although I Garden at the launch of the RHS Green Plan It Challenge, Bristol (RHS / Guy Harrop) couldn’t get the housing association to support it (and so I have self-funded it), the This magazine is printed on paper using other tenants really love it and I have big plans 100 percent recycled fibre. Please pass it on to transform the area. or recycle it. Children often help with watering and deadheading, and people are talking to each other much more. Grass Roots is published by RHS Community Horticulture I started gardening roughly seven years ago as 80 Vincent Square, London SW1P 2PE part of Bexley in Bloom, where we won both Gold T: 020 7821 3122 and Silver awards. This gave me the push I needed E: [email protected] to pursue a career in gardening, and I ©2017 The Royal Horticultural Society subsequently enrolled on a garden design course Registered Charity no: 222879 / SC038262 at Capel Manor College. I am now even working on a garden for the RHS Hampton Court Palace The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s Flower Show! leading gardening charity, dedicated to advancing horticulture and promoting gardening. Jacqueline Griffith Our community campaigns support more Sidcup than 5,000 groups in creating greener and more interconnected communities. For more JAQUELINE GRIFFITH information about RHS Britain in Bloom, RHS It’s Your Neighbourhood and RHS Affiliated Societies, please visit rhs.org.uk/communities Please send your letters and your community garden stories to [email protected] or to Grass Roots, RHS Community Horticulture, RHS, 80 Vincent Square, London SW1P 2PE. Letters may be edited for publication.
Grass Roots • Spring 2017 Order your bulbs for wildlife News Towns and villages around the UK were aglow with a purple haze earlier this spring thanks to your hard work last Nigel Dunnett with his 2015 autumn, planting six million crocus bulb RHS Hampton alongside Rotary groups. This year we Court Palace are aiming for 10 million bulbs, for even Flower Show design more pollen-rich displays next year. Groups should put in their orders before 31 July, at the special price of £95 per 5,000 corms. Download the form at rotarygbi.org/purple4polio-competition The photo competition from last year’s plantings and displays is still open. Enter pictures of your planting event or crocus display before 30 April for your chance to win £700 worth of gardening vouchers. For further information, email [email protected]
Grants to improve your patch
RHS / ADAM DAVIES RHS / ADAM Your next community gardening idea could become a reality through local grants raised through The Chelsea garden up for grabs Health Lottery. The People’s Health Trust One lucky community garden could benefit from a long-lasting is looking for small projects, designed and wildlife-friendly makeover thanks to an RHS and BBC’s and run by local people – think a group The One Show competition. of residents on an estate, or a collection The RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2017 how this garden – designed to be adaptable of people over neighbouring streets. Greening Grey Britain garden, designed by to even the smallest spaces – could make They are also looking for ideas from Chelsea Gold medal winner Professor Nigel a difference to your local environment and ‘communities of interest’ – groups of Dunnett, could be adopted by a group community, under your group’s guidance. people who are keen to address an issue following the show. Judging will be carried out by BBC and they care about. The garden will be transferred to the RHS gardening experts, led by Professor Applications are open in different winner’s plot (up to 250 sq m), with the help Dunnett. The winner will be announced parts of the UK at different times. of a leading landscaping firm, where it on 28 April 2017. Visit peopleshealthtrust.org.uk or call could have maximum ‘greening’ benefit To find out more, visit the RHS website 020 7749 9100 for more information. for years after the show. We want to know or email [email protected] New RHS Community team member Get creative for bees in Sam Outing recently joined the team the garden as our Programmes Coordinator. He is The Wildlife Trusts and RHS are joining joining us from the together to call for groups to ‘bee creative RHS fundraising for wild bees in the garden’ this year, as team, and is looking part of our ongoing Wild About Gardens forward to getting campaign. With honeybees often stealing to know more of the show, we wanted to draw attention to you and helping the plight of the many solitary bees and your Bloom year bumblebees that also need our help, with run smoothly. many in decline due to diminishing habitat. Events will be taking place throughout the growing seasons this year, culminating in a week of celebration and activity in October for Wild About Gardens Week.
PENNY FRITH wildaboutgardensweek.org.uk
rhs.org.uk/communities 4 Britain in Bloom Finalists Congratulations Bloom 2017 Finalists! This year 79 communities have made it through to the UK Finals of RHS Britain in Bloom – the nation’s most prestigious community gardening awards.
Ten of the finalists have never competed at a national level before, including Otley in Yorkshire and Kilconquhar in Scotland. Uttoxeter, Staffordshire and Sark, Guernsey are competing in the finals again after a break of more than 10 years. The finalists will lead RHS Britain in Bloom judges on a tour of their areas in August, ahead of the award ceremony in Llandudno on 27 October.
VILLAGE SMALL TOWN Entry Name Region / Nation Entry Name Region / Nation Donaghmore Ulster Bothwell Scotland Filby Anglia Ponteland Northumbria Pebworth Heart of England Randalstown Ulster
St Aubin Jersey Uppingham East Midlands Sark Guernsey Wareham South
LARGE VILLAGE TOWN Entry Name Region / Nation Entry Name Region / Nation
Cannington South West Barnoldswick North West Coupar Angus Scotland Forres Scotland Croston North West Halstead Anglia Cullybackey Ulster Otley Yorkshire Dalston Cumbria Pembrey and Wales Hutton Cranswick Yorkshire Burry Port Market Bosworth East Midlands St Saviour Jersey Usk Wales Sherborne South West Uttoxeter Heart of England SMALL VILLAGE Entry Name Region / Nation Bray Thames and LARGE TOWN Chilterns Entry Name Region / Nation Kilconquhar Scotland Altrincham North West Stanghow Northumbria Ballymena Ulster Belper East Midlands Hutton Cranswick Chesham Thames and Chilterns Farnham South East Kendal Cumbria Truro South West
Grass Roots • Spring 2017 5
SMALL CITY URBAN COMMUNITY Entry Name Region / Nation Entry Name Region / Nation Bury North West Aldridge Heart of England Canterbury South East Clifton South West Colchester Anglia Didsbury North West Derry City Ulster Littleover East Midlands Kirkcaldy Scotland Starbeck Yorkshire Newcastle- Heart of England Uddingston Pride Scotland under-Lyme Walthamstow London Oadby & Wigston East Midlands Village
CITY BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT (BID) Crocus planting at Entry Name Region / Nation Entry Name Region / Nation Coupar Angus London Borough London Blackburn Town North West of Islington Centre London Borough London London Bridge London of Richmond upon Mansfield BID East Midlands Thames London Borough London Norwich Anglia of Tower Hamlets Penrith BID Cumbria
LARGE CITY CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS Entry Name Region / Nation Entry Name Region / Nation
Belfast City Ulster Aberdeen Scotland London Borough London Elswick North West of Ealing London Borough London Harrogate Yorkshire of Hillingdon Hillsborough Ulster Oldham North West COASTAL UP TO 12K Portishead South West Entry Name Region / Nation St Peter Port Guernsey Hunstanton Anglia Newcastle Ulster North Berwick Scotland London Bridge Sidmouth South West North Berwick
TEAM LONDON BRIDGE TEAM LONDON Silloth on Solway Cumbria Whitby Yorkshire
COASTAL OVER 12K Entry Name Region / Nation Deal South East Llandudno Wales Newquay South West St Helier Jersey
Giggles and Wiggles nursery, Newcastle Under Lyme ROSEMARY OBERLANDER ROSEMARY
rhs.org.uk/communities 6 Greening Grey Britain ➤ Recycling Wildlife ➤ East Haven Together Particular attention has volunteers with their been paid to attracting pioneering growing pollinators, such as secret – biosolids this early bumblebee, dried to 110ºC and seen here feeding on used as slow release pollen-rich eryngium fertiliser. flowers.
Garden designer Karen Laing created a low- maintenance and wildlife-friendly bed for the centre of the village, which recognises the town’s rich history.
STEPH WILKIE
EAST HAVEN TOGETHER Walking on the wild side
For one group on the east coast Wendy Murray, a trustee of East Haven’s Creating a lasting legacy of Scotland, a momentous Beautiful Scotland group, agrees that Helpfully, key themes emerged. Protecting anniversary was the catalyst for gardening is often a natural portal into the natural environment, celebrating East a renewed community purpose conservation, but she laughs as she tells me Haven’s identity as an ancient fishing focusing on sustainability. The that three years ago she had no particular village, and improving the experience local environment has benefited, interest in either. for visitors were common threads. but the group’s influence has In 2013, the town was gearing up for The group set a cracking pace, and went been felt much further afield too, its 800th anniversary the following year. on to take home a Silver Gilt Bloom award as Emily Braham finds out. Residents wanted to celebrate, but were in recognition of their tireless work. A new unsure where to begin. East Haven was, in community garden was commissioned Wendy’s words, “Looking awful. It was quite to reconnect the village, which had been run down and people kept saying to me physically divided by a railway line since that we have to do something.” 1838. Landscape designer Karen Laing And so she made it her job (one that made use of a disused fishing boat as remains almost full-time) to gather the a central feature, while a series of ‘wave aspirations of the town and weave beds’ and dry-stone walls framed hundreds them into a programme of action. “My of native coastal plants and grasses – a background is in social work and health, low-maintenance garden that reflected so I guess I have the experience of working the region’s long history. with people,” she explains. It was clear by now that the natural Rather than selecting just a few of the environment was an important part of more popular ideas, the group ambitiously East Haven and people wanted to see set about addressing them all, entering it protected, but thus far, Wendy says, Beautiful Scotland – the Scottish extension their efforts had been ad hoc. Aware that of RHS Britain in Bloom – at the same time. wildflower meadows were in decline, they
Grass Roots • Spring 2017
7 ➤ Conservation Volunteers cut grass along East Haven’s Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in order to support rare greater yellow rattle and other priority species. ➤ Education East Haven Together’s efforts in conservation culminated in a two- day ‘BioBlitz’ in 2016, with children taking part in monitoring and creating habitats for wildlife. EAST HAVEN TOGETHER EAST HAVEN
EAST HAVEN TOGETHER considered ‘seed bombing’ the coastline. anecdotally seen an increase in hedgehog Wendy now describes this as wake-up call, numbers following the creation of specialist as they realised that interfering with corridors. This year, they plan on planting natural ecosystems could inadvertently native sea pea (Lathyrus japonicus) along cause more harm than good. the dunes.
Finding focus Beginning with people TOGETHER EAST HAVEN In order to find some direction, the group While East Haven Together has grown into created its own sustainability strategy. something much larger than first imagined, Wendy drew on her own experience in for Wendy, it all began with people. “While Share your Greening management to partner with relevant the high-level strategies are always there programmes such as Tayside Biodiversity to guide us, our day-to-day activities are Grey Britain Partnership, while linking to Scottish driven by a grass roots approach from all transformations government priorities, such as the 2020 our volunteers,” she says. To help inspire your wildlife-friendly Challenge for Scotland’s Biodiversity. Wendy says that though the community- projects this year, we are inviting In 2015, the group became a new wide transformation has required many groups to share the progress of their independent charity, East Haven Together. hands and a central driving force, grey-to-green transformations on The three pillars of Bloom – environmental communication – especially face to face – social media. Hundreds of summer responsibility, community and horticulture – has been key. “If you sit and talk to people, and spring bulbs are up for grabs. provided the overarching focus. build those relationships, they’re much See rhs.org.uk/communityGGB The region’s rich natural environment more likely to commit.” for more information. also made conservation a logical focus. East Of course it helps that the town has Want to help support bees in your Haven is the last known natural growing only around 100 residents, but at least garden? Along with the Wildlife site for priority plant species, greater yellow 30 of them are regularly involved. “I feel Trusts, we are calling on people to get rattle (Rhinanthus angustifolius), while very proud of that”, says Wendy. “I have ‘creative for bees in the garden’ this kidney vetch (Anthyllis vulneraria) has been so inspired by the contribution that year. You can help by surveying bees been planted in denoted Sites of Special everyone has made. Originally it was in your garden before and after your Scientific Interest, as the sole food source about beautifying the village, but we’ve all planting efforts, adding the results to for the endangered small blue butterfly. developed – even when they’re gardening citizen science portal Polli:Nation. Early signs show their work in habitat now, people don’t say that this will look creation is paying off. Last year, they beautiful – they tell us this will be great wildaboutgardensweek.org.uk recorded the peacock, small tortoiseshell for the bees or we might get the peacocks opalexplorenature.org/polli-nation and painted lady butterflies, all of which (butterflies) this year.” are in serious decline. They have also
rhs.org.uk/communities 8 RHS Advice
RHS Advice Shady gardens for wildlife Join the campaign to turn grey spaces into beautiful green places for people and wildlife. We will share ideas throughout the year to inspire your group’s Greening Grey Britain activities. A garden without any shade would make life more difficult for gardeners and wildlife alike; variation in habitat is key to promoting biodiversity, and shade brings a tranquillity and shelter to our gardens. Naturally, plants won’t grow as fast in lower light levels or where tree roots rob them of moisture and water. It’s also true that plants in shade are generally less prolific flowerers. Shade ranges from dappled light shade to profound gloom under evergreen trees or overhanging balconies. In truth, your options in the latter cases are limited, and perhaps such places are best suited to compost bins, sheds, water butts or giving way entirely to wildlife – think a neat stack of logs to provide shelter. Fungi will enjoy such conditions too, and in turn will become food for insects and other creatures. For an attractive and wildlife-friendly shady garden, bold use of leaf shapes and colours may be the best approach.
RHS / FIONA McLEOD
Pick of the shade-loving plants
✿ While all hydrangeas tolerate ✿ Periwinkles (Vinca) are not ✿ Fatsia japonica, Japanese aralia, shade, the ones that have most notably good for wildlife, has large ivy-like flowers relished value for pollinators are but in those difficult by insects, and is especially H. paniculata – with its places – under striking in shade with its large, pyramidal flower spikes that evergreen trees and hand-shaped, evergreen leaves. age well, remaining shrubs for example attractive even – they clothe and ✿ Hardy geraniums (4) are a D D R R PA A in winter – and climbing P protect the soil and PP mainstay of shade gardening 1 HE 3 E L S SH ARO ROL Hydrangea anomala RHS / C their cheerful early flowers RHS / CA and their flowers prized by insects. subsp. petiolaris. The latter can be (1) will please gardeners. Geranium phaeum ‘Album’ for example induced to scale tall trees although initial is reliable in dry shade and is widely sold. growth rate might ✿ Mahonia puts out its insect- be slow. friendly flowers (3) early, ✿ Hellebores, like mahonia, at a time when other flowers when other insect- ✿ Deadnettles are good for flowers are scarce. friendly sources are scarce. pollinators; Lamium Its sculptural leaves RHS Plant Finder lists nearly maculatum (2) spreads well look good all year, 700 cultivars but for the
and is often called on for while its berries H helping wildlife, the M T IU Y R L A B sites where little else will grow 2 B support birds in 4 IZ economical seed-raised strains ER L / H S / due to depth of shade and RHS summer. Mahonia x media RH such as of Helleborus x hybridus dryness of soil. ‘Winter Sun’ is particularly desirable. are a good choice.
Grass Roots • Spring 2017 Xxxxxxxxx 9 Making a mini fernery Ferns will generally grow well mixed into any planting where the sun is not direct or the soil very dry, but are especially valued in shady areas, on the north-facing MEET THE side of walls or beneath trees. While moist soil is best, by careful choice and occasional summer watering in dry regions, ferns can be grown in a wide range POLLINATORS of conditions. Adding a bucketful of garden compost per square metre is all that is needed to prepare the growing space. Here are a few to consider in your patch.
✿ Asplenium scolopendrium agm ✿ Polypodium vulgare: common (RHS Award of Garden Merit): polypody is a robust, 30cm-high Hart’s tongue fern; native growing up evergreen native that can withstand
D
A to 60cm high. Common in woods, difficult conditions. In fact, E T S L A banks and the side of ditches, it is a adventurous gardeners could even try H W RE good choice where the ground slopes. wiring small plants to mossy crannies ND / A Remains green in winter. on trees. Related Polypodium RHS x mantoniae ‘Cornubiense’ (50cm) HAWK MOTHS ✿ Dryopteris filix-mas agm: male fern, has an RHS agm and is a dense, native. This large deciduous fern (up varied fern. These are the largest moths in to 1.2m) will often spread and is a Europe; the convolvulus hawk moth good choice where larger areas need ✿ Polystichum aculeatum agm: has a wingspan of up to 12 cm. to be covered, especially as young hard shield fern. Evergreen, native The caterpillars are also large and ferns unfurl attractively as ‘croziers’. shuttlecock fern up to 60cm high. It often striking. Worldwide, this group is a particularly good option beneath contains the most well-known deciduous trees. moth pollinators ✿ Name: Sphingidae family. There ✿ Polystichum setiferum agm: are 17 species that can be found soft shield fern. A tall (1.2m) vigorous regularly in the UK, eight of which evergreen native fern often used are immigrants; they visit from beneath deciduous trees. Polystichum Europe in the summer and don’t setiferum Plumosomultilobum Group usually overwinter in the UK. is similar, but is dense and mossy. ✿ Spot them: They are characterised
ISTOCKPHOTO.COM / ANURAKPONG by their thick bodies and held-back wings, which give them an ‘arrow’ appearance when resting. Most fly at night, although bee hawk moths and hummingbird varieties are day-fliers. The caterpillars can ✿ Camellia (5) are spectacular but not ✿ Gardeners tend to love or loathe be found feeding on leaves, but of especial merit for wildlife. ivy. Loathe because it can be a are often well camouflaged. Nonetheless, like other ericaceous ‘spreader’ damaging fences ✿ Food: The adults that feed do so shrubs (Pieris and rhododendron and disfiguring masonry. from tubular flowers, reaching the for example), they are valuable But where it has room to nectar with their long proboscises where soil conditions are acidic grow, its autumn flowers and (straw-shaped mouth parts). and can also be grown in pots in winter berries are valuable ✿ Life cycle: Caterpillars eat until fully D R the shade. 5 PA for insects and birds. Common grown then pupate before emerging EP SH ROL RHS / CA ivy is the most resilient. as an adult moth. Most species ✿ Fuchsia are famously awash with bees overwinter in the pupa stage in summer and, except when in ✿ Bulbs are a mainstay of shade, underground or in leaf litter. The deep shade, will flower freely into especially under deciduous trees. adults live for a few months. early autumn. Fuchsia ‘Mrs The bulbs are in leaf when ✿ Who knew?: The narrow-bordered Popple’ is an old cultivar, is trees are leafless, and then bee hawk moth and the broad- widely sold and has the single disappear under the ground bordered bee hawk moth mimic flowers favoured by insects. for the summer. Good bees, having yellow stripy bodies choices for wildlife include and transparent wings.
W ✿ Sweet box, Sarcococca E crocus (6), grape hyacinth ✿ How to help: You can provide R D 6 UE confusa, has richly scented, little / S and snowdrops. larval food plant and by letting RHS white flowers in late winter, followed some areas of your garden grow by berries – both good for wildlife. One the wild. Some species of hawk moth most valuable shrubs for shady gardens. specialise on particular trees, such as the pine hawk moth.
rhs.org.uk/communities rhs.org.uk/communities 10 RHS Advice
How to... Sow seeds outdoors
Because seedlings are vulnerable to competing vegetation and weather, it is usually worth preparing the soil well. Remove weeds and debris, and add organic matter such as rotted manure or compost at up to two bucketfuls per square metre, along with 50g of general fertiliser per square metre. This is best forked or dug into the soil, before the seedbed is prepared. Exceptions include ‘seed balls’ (small balls of clay holding seeds that are scattered whole) and no-dig gardening, where the ground is sown undisturbed. These methods can work but, with less control over the crucial establishment phase, repeat sowing is more likely to be necessary. Seeds need air, moisture and warmth to germinate. Typically hardy plants, like lettuce and peas, require about 7°C, while tender plants such as courgettes and runner beans need about 12°C for Remove weeds and excessive good germination. This occurs from compaction, usually by digging, March and mid-May, depending on 1 before sowing starts. Before where you are in the UK. Soil must also sowing, the ground can be pressed by be reasonably dry, as wet soil contains treading if it seems too loose. The little air. Moisture is assured by sowing ideal to aim for is very loose soil on beneath the soil, but not too deep as top but 30mm down, it should be firm. seeds have limited resources to send shoots to the surface. RHS / NEIL HEPWORTH RHS Advisors’ Corner I am based in Wanstead, east London and RHS Chief Horticulturist have just taken on responsibility for two Guy Barter says: small spaces in my local area, working with While the west-facing site will get much Wanstead Community Gardeners. sun at certain times of day, the shade of One of the gardens is west-facing, is on the tree will limit what can be grown, as the corner of a road, has a large tree and will the tree roots, which will rob the soil of gets a lot of sun (pictured right). The south- nutrients and moisture. facing space gets sun in the morning but is In such conditions, real toughies are shady in the afternoon. called for. From the pictures I’m able to maintain the spaces once you sent, it looks like per week, and ideally would like something you already have two which looks attractive throughout the such bushes; Berberis summer and neat and tidy in the winter. thunbergii, possibly Could you recommend what I could plant the purple-leafed
L L as we move into spring/summer? form with yellow A D N A Dan Slipper, spring flowers and red S IM / T Wanstead Community Gardeners autumn berries. RHS
Grass Roots • Spring 2017 11
RHS / NEIL HEPWORTH RHS / NEIL HEPWORTH RHS
Draw a groove or drill deep enough The seed can now placed in the drill – Cover the seeds by raking a little soil to cover the seeds, ranging from the finger and thumb method is often back over them. Once covered, the 2 10mm deep for small seeds such 3 easiest for beginners. 4 soil should be firmed to make sure the as onions, to 50mm for large bean seeds. In dry weather, water can be dribbled seed and soil are in good contact, without The easiest way to make shallow drills is down the drill to make sure the seed has too much pressure. to press a broom handle or lath into the enough to drink, but it is better to have Labelling helps to keep track of sowings, soil. This firms the soil at the base of the watered the area the previous day. while a covering of fleece will exclude pests, drill which enhances water uptake by prevent cats from frequenting the seedbed germinating seed. and warms the soil. Some brushwood on top can help deter foxes from digging up the seedbed.
Covering the soil is a good practice, and Other interesting plant options to In a relatively warm and dry area such as lesser periwinkle (Vinca minor – it has violet consider include Phlomis russeliana (which London, they also need no water flowers in spring, pictured left) and Liriope does well at RHS Garden Wisley in Surrey) once established. muscari, mauve flowers in summer, are two with grey-green, textured leaves all year The wall at the back would support robust plants that will do this well. and mustard flowers in summer. Sedum wall shrubs such as Pyracantha, which Covering walls with climbers is a cheap (Herbstfreude Group) ‘Herbstfreude’ is a has yellow or orange-red autumn berries and effective way of adding greenery. robust sun-lover that tolerates some shade, (below) after white spring flowers and Ivy is a good climber for stressful producing abundant pink flowers (below a bold evergreen habit, and Jasminum situations and will clothe walls and left) relished by pollinators, in nudiflorum which has yellow flowers also provide ground cover. Your later summer. Bear’s in early spring. other site appears also to have breech (Acanthus In both cases, you can add bulbs a tree in the middle, covered mollis) is a for extra colour and interest. with ivy, which is great cover perennial plant for wildlife. However, it can with handsome Does your group have indicate poor tree health and if summer leaves a question for the RHS Y D E L R so, you may need to replace S and two-lipped A E PP advice team? Email W E Y SH END OL it at some stage. RHS / W purple and white flowers. RHS / CAR [email protected]
rhs.org.uk/communities 12 XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxGrowing a Green Plan It
Growing a Green Plan It The RHS Green Plan It Challenge is inspiring teenagers to rethink green space and the role of horticulture
In 2014, it was becoming increasingly clear Personal, Social and Health Education we did anything this big, and it was a bit that horticulture had an image problem. and Citizenship. daunting. But it was amazing because The RHS Horticulture Matters report The students, aged 12 to 13, were all the kids came through and it showed in released in the same year called it a supported by an industry mentor and an their presentation.” ‘crisis in the industry’, with 72 percent of RHS Community Outreach Advisor, to work The school entered a team of five businesses unable to fill vacancies, and in teams of up to six to develop creative students, all aged 12 and part of an a widespread perception among young solutions to a horticultural challenge. alternative, hands-on learning programme people that horticulture jobs were for The final designs were presented and that aims to boost social and the unskilled. displayed at eight regional competitions practical skills. An action plan ensued, with pledges in December 2016, inspiring many of Calling themselves Forest Folk, they from government and business to entice the schools to work towards the practical worked alongside their mentor, garden more young people to horticulture. For the implementation of their visions. designer Christine Liddle, and RHS RHS, the Green Plan It Challenge was a Community Outreach Advisor Christine chance to match real-world scenarios with Outdoor learning in Wright, to design an accessible, wildlife- classroom learning. Students could see Northumberland friendly outdoor learning space for first-hand what a career in the industry Tracey Young, a teacher St Paul’s Middle the school grounds on its underused, could look like through taking part in a 10- School in Alnwick, Northumberland, had leafy boundary. week programme. hoped that Green Plan It would help They zoned the garden, based on Student-led, it allowed 774 young people students tap into their creative sides and soil type and sun/shade conditions. to explore the world of plants for themselves, learn new skills, but she was surprised at just Learning about the wildlife in the area, as well as the needs of their community how much they embraced the challenge. the team set about designing suitable and the environment, connecting with “For us it was very much about giving plants and habitat, including a hedgehog National Curriculum subjects such as children an opportunity that was real,” house and a bug hotel. The design also Science, Design and Technology, she explains. “It was the first year that included learning zones, a tree swing,
Grass Roots • Spring 2017 Growing a Green Plan It 13
FAR LEFT: Students get a tour of Kirkley College’s gardens, Northumberland, at the regional launch of the Green Plan It Challenge LEFT: A model display designed by one of the school teams, Birmingham BELOW: Students on a tour of the
RHS / EDWARD SHAW RHS / EDWARD Beth Chatto Gardens, Colchester. RHS / JOE HIGHAM RHS / S i RA studio privacy screening and a stage for school Growing up: vertical He was surprised at just how absorbed performances. gardens in London the students became in the task, with the The need for accessibility to the garden At Swanlea School in Tower Hamlets, students team consulting residents to find out was key as one of the pupils, Kuba, uses a had a different set of problems to deal what would work for them. The students walking frame and couldn’t get to the site with. While those in rural Northumberland envisioned food planting in upcycled drain easily, so his experiences were worked associated horticulture with tractors and pipes, along with multipurpose furniture into the final design. fields, in urban east London, students were and built-in storage to cater for residents’ As the school is moving towards a two- unlikely to have a garden. mixed use of their small outside spaces. tier system, with the middle school sadly to Aware of the shortage of green space “I couldn’t have expected the positive close later this year, it’s hoped the garden in the area and the potential benefit that effect it had on our students,” the teacher could be adopted by the primary students, more gardens could provide, the pupils set said. “It was a real stepping stone to serving as a legacy for the middle school. their sights on a community-wide solution. understanding how they could contribute Despite the closure, Head Teacher Maria Working with industry mentor landscape to a socio-economically deprived area, Wilson said the programme will have designer Lily Bakratsa, design and while learning about horticulture.” long-lasting benefit for the students, with technology teacher Chris Nairn and RHS The team, Swanleaf, are now exploring the team already signing up for practical Community Outreach Advisor Chris Young, how to make the design a reality, and are lessons in the summer to build their they imagined a series of balcony gardens busy planning a showcase display for RHS gardening knowledge. for a nearby, typical block of flats, which Hampton Court Palace Flower Show. “It really enriched their lives,” she said. could be copied. “I can’t express just how much it helped Mr Nairn sought to guide them towards For all enquiries relating to the Green grow their confidence, and they had so a practical solution to the question they Plan It Challenge 2017, please email much enthusiasm – in their presentation posed as their central theme: “How are we [email protected],uk the teacher had to stop them talking about supposed to design a garden when we all it because they had so much to say!” live in flats and don’t have any?”
rhs.org.uk/communities 14 From the ground From the ground
EMER DAVIDSON EMER DAVIDSON
Sunny, swaying daffodils and narcissi signal and taste them before they are planted Spring at the the arrival of spring. We can finally press on in March, it’s a chance to teach them with the busy work of creating a colourful and about growing and discover the enjoyment playground bountiful fruit, flower and vegetable garden. that comes from it. The schoolchildren were chomping at the In April we sow a wonderful mix of bee Sharon McMaster started a bit to get back out in the garden by and butterfly-attracting flower seeds – garden at a primary school in February, unable to get their hands dirty these contain around 45 cultivars for a Ballycarrickmaddy, Northern since last October. For some of them – burst of colour in borders in the summer Ireland in 2011. It has since grown students range from four to 10 years old and autumn. This is a great opportunity into a year-round outdoor in age – it was their first time. for the children to observe different seeds programme for all ages, At this time of year the beds are empty, and to teach them some good sowing incorporating cooking lessons that so it’s a great opportunity to give them the techniques. We sow this mix in modules make use of fresh home-grown freedom to dig and explore, which they in a polytunnel using a good organic seed produce. In 2016, Sharon was love. As the season gets going, the beds compost, and plant out the modules into named RHS Campaign for School will fill up, but I always keep one bare so their final location about five weeks later. Gardening Champion of the Year. they can keep exploring the soil. I want The Northern Ireland climate is a cool She gives us the view from them to learn that everything comes from and damp one, so delaying sowing gives the playground this spring. here. Some children are content to look for better results. worms or dig for treasure, others really get Our schools are off all July and August, into the science of it. but it’s lovely to come back in September In spring there’s lots going on in the beds, to the abundance of blooms before the and by April it’s in full swing. We work with children set about gathering the seeds they fast-growing crops that they can eat as a produce to store for the following year. Last reward. It’s hard for the youngsters to wait year they pressed the flowers as an art a long time to see a result. project to preserve their delicate flower We began with pea shoots on the heads and their fond memories of time windowsill in February, so they can pinch spent in the school garden.
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RHS Affiliated Societies
RHS / JASON INGRAM Dig for community Horticulture federations – From the original land of the commons to the current urban food- how could they help you? growing renaissance, the humble allotment has a long history. If your allotment is battling a closure or you need advice on running Provided to returned soldiers at the end of the First World War, an event, horticulture federations may be able to help. then rolled out en masse with the ‘Dig for Victory’ campaign in the Local membership could offer your group access to relevant Second World War, local access to food growing remains a hotly events, judges training, speakers and advice to help you make contested issue in many parts of the UK. a bigger impact in your community. In our cities, allotments are, of course, especially prized, See our website for details of your local federation with increasing demand for green space. And in a mirror to our rhs.org.uk/federations-and-guilds. If you belong to a federation that urban diversity, allotments too are taking different shapes, with is not listed here, please send the details to [email protected] turmeric neighbouring thyme, or Chilean guava next to the more familiar raspberry. In the north London suburb of Enfield, Wendy Wong has introduced a taste of China to the Oakwood North Allotments with dazzling success, including her prized pak choi. She took Share the plot several first-place prizes in the Oakwood Horticultural Society How has your allotment changed over the years? We’d love show, and her lush leafy greens have encouraged others to turn to hear your story. their hands to more exotic alternative crops. Is your local plot still growing strong after generations, and if “I like to grow Chinese vegetables because they are delicious so, how has the way you work changed over the years? in lots of different cooking styles and dishes,” she says. Has your plot has been passed down through the family? Wendy says the ideal conditions for her favourite Chinese greens Perhaps you’ve introduced an unusual fruit or vegetable that are plenty of sunshine, with seeds germinated in high, raised beds is the pride of the allotment, or maybe you’ve gone organic. to prevent attack by slugs and snails and fed with good animal fertiliser, such as chicken or horse manure. Share your allotment story and images with [email protected] or on social media at facebook.com/rhscommunitygardening and @RHS_Bloom
rhs.org.uk/communities 16 Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Win a £200 garden voucher for your group! Help shape the future of Grass Roots Please take 10 minutes to complete our short online survey by 30 April, and you could win a £200 gardening voucher for your group rhs.org.uk/grassroots RHS / S i RA studio Grass Roots • Spring 2017