A part of last nights episode which I didn’t comment on in my monologue was the stumpery piece. Biodiversity got a rudimentary mention but of all the things featured this was the one which is genuinely hugely impactful. Partially buried deadwood supports diverse communities of animals, plants and fungi. Not necessarily the sexy stuff so I was delighted to see them covered just a shame that other features were sold as nature friendly and not the one that really was.
Dont get me started in artificial bug hotels. That’s a hill I will happily die on.
The clue's in the title - 'show'. It's showing what can be done - for all sorts of situations, but it doesn't mean it necessarily relates to a standard garden in a town, or even in a rural area. That balcony garden was a classic example - grow sunflowers etc to feed the birds instead of buying food. How many days were those few plants going to feed even a small amount of visiting birds! Not realistic in any way, but if people think - 'I've got room to grow a dozen sunflowers', well that's fine, but you have to be sensible, and understand that it isn't necessarily 'the solution'. You'd need a whole field of them to make it worthwhile. It's the same with all gardens. Many of the very artificial, stylised ones shown in the past are no different in that sense, but it's what people take from it that matters. Adapting ideas. I usually love Andy Sturgeon's work, but I felt his design was a bit too claustrophobic, and that's simply because I don't like being too closed in. However, in any size of garden, you could adapt that to suit your personal taste. Using ideas and applying them appropriately for your location, and your circumstances is the key IMO, and the little debate between Monty and Joe highlighted that well. It wouldn't have been my choice for the overall prize, but I can appreciate the ideas, just as I can appreciate the other gardens and their ideas
Thanks for your contribution @AnguisFragilis it's always good to hear other perspectives, particularly when they are well presented.
My own bugbear at the moment is that of turning productive farmland over to trees. It would be OKish if they were growing native species and creating a diverse woodland but most seem to be turned over to the production of conifers. Most conifer woodlands seem to have very little wildlife (comparatively), and as it's effectively a cash crop I fail to see how it is really any better than using the land to feed people.
I think Monty and Joe had a difficult job yesterday, they were speaking to a big audience fully aware that they must not affect voting for The People's Award today.
People visit Chelsea for various reasons, some celebs like to be caught on camera to explain how much they love gardening, when it is obvious they often don't have a clue. Other people try to hide from the cameras because they have the same frock on as Angelica Bell!
As a gardener you can look at a planting scheme and you know that it is impossible for those plants to grow together as they are either forced or held back. Most visitors are looking for plant or garden design ideas, some just want a Pimm's an ice cream or even a pair of shoes. They have been waiting for their exciting day out and it is time to use the credit card.
Your comments are very real and very important and you may find these thoughts flippant, but sadly they are true. Chelsea must not be taken too seriously.
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
Actually @GardenerSuze, Chelsea must be taken very seriously. Overall, millions are spent on installing the show gardens big and small, setting up the floral marquee and all its stands, the smaller marquees with floral art and all the trade stands, restaurants, refreshment stalls and even the toilets.
It generates billions of pounds' worth of trade for growers and manufacturers as well as prestige and future work for the designers, growers and stand builders who go on to work at national and international level to supply demand for other shows and projects.
I'm very pleased to have @AnguisFragilis' opinions and information cogently and clearly presented and yes, re-wilding is a dreadful term to describe what we need to be doing in our gardens to help wildlife in all its various sizes and forms.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
A part of last nights episode which I didn’t comment on in my monologue was the stumpery piece. Biodiversity got a rudimentary mention but of all the things featured this was the one which is genuinely hugely impactful. Partially buried deadwood supports diverse communities of animals, plants and fungi. Not necessarily the sexy stuff so I was delighted to see them covered just a shame that other features were sold as nature friendly and not the one that really was.
Dont get me started in artificial bug hotels. That’s a hill I will happily die on.
Well I'm glad I'm doing something right! Pruned branches that are too thick to go through my shredder and get composted get cut into manageable lengths and shoved in the back of the borders or under the hedge where they gradually decay. It doesn't have to be visible or a feature to be good for the bugs etc. Artificial bug hotels, not for me. I occasionally come across things living in broken old canes and suchlike that I've left lying about..
Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
I was interested in what Monty and Joe had to say, l was quite surprised as it felt that they'd been let off the leash as it were (even if only up to a certain point).
I have been watching most of the Chelsea coverage and as @GardenerSuze says, there are people there for all sorts of reasons, not necessarily garden related. I think it was Alistair McGowan who basically said he left it to the gardener, and another celebrity whose name escapes me who candidly admitted they knew nothing about gardening. It's all about "being seen", Chelsea has been part of what was known as The Season for years.
"Rewilding" has been around for a few years now, l remember hearing it mentioned on The Archers back in the days when l used to listen. To me, it meant cutting back even further on the use of pesticides etc and farming organically, to put it simply. When it started being used in a gardening context, l took it to mean the same thing, also encouraging wildlife such as birds and hedgehogs into the garden and trying to strike a balance.
I was particularly struck by one of the designers of the "beaver garden" saying that he wanted to extend the hedges on his land to a depth of 10 metres. I do remember thinking that's fine if you have that amount of space, but in terms of farming, how much loss of income would that translate to ?
Thanks for your input @AnguisFragilis, l found it very enlightening
A part of last nights episode which I didn’t comment on in my monologue was the stumpery piece. Biodiversity got a rudimentary mention but of all the things featured this was the one which is genuinely hugely impactful. Partially buried deadwood supports diverse communities of animals, plants and fungi. Not necessarily the sexy stuff so I was delighted to see them covered just a shame that other features were sold as nature friendly and not the one that really was.
Dont get me started in artificial bug hotels. That’s a hill I will happily die on.
Well I'm glad I'm doing something right! Pruned branches that are too thick to go through my shredder and get composted get cut into manageable lengths and shoved in the back of the borders or under the hedge where they gradually decay. It doesn't have to be visible or a feature to be good for the bugs etc. Artificial bug hotels, not for me. I occasionally come across things living in broken old canes and suchlike that I've left lying about..
Dead hedging is another option for off cuts. I try to stick to the mantra of if it comes down in my garden it stays in the garden, not always to 100% success. My dead hedge is used heavily by cover loving birds, wren, dunnock etc. and voles. Slow worms seem to use it as cover as well. I’ve now got honeysuckle growing through it which looks nice.
I was particularly struck by one of the designers of the "beaver
garden" saying that he wanted to extend the hedges on his land to a
depth of 10 metres. I do remember thinking that's fine if you have that
amount of space, but in terms of farming, how much loss of income would
that translate to ?
If you are interested in this @AnniD have a look at the new enviromental/Defera funding schemes that are launching at the moment. In tis case I imagine the designer was talking about his own, personal situation. Certainly at Knepp in Sussex, it is the growing out hedgehows that are the game changer on that land. The deep hedging is a god send to birds, even more than scrub.
Posts
Dont get me started in artificial bug hotels. That’s a hill I will happily die on.
It's showing what can be done - for all sorts of situations, but it doesn't mean it necessarily relates to a standard garden in a town, or even in a rural area. That balcony garden was a classic example - grow sunflowers etc to feed the birds instead of buying food. How many days were those few plants going to feed even a small amount of visiting birds! Not realistic in any way, but if people think - 'I've got room to grow a dozen sunflowers', well that's fine, but you have to be sensible, and understand that it isn't necessarily 'the solution'. You'd need a whole field of them to make it worthwhile.
It's the same with all gardens. Many of the very artificial, stylised ones shown in the past are no different in that sense, but it's what people take from it that matters. Adapting ideas. I usually love Andy Sturgeon's work, but I felt his design was a bit too claustrophobic, and that's simply because I don't like being too closed in. However, in any size of garden, you could adapt that to suit your personal taste.
Using ideas and applying them appropriately for your location, and your circumstances is the key IMO, and the little debate between Monty and Joe highlighted that well.
It wouldn't have been my choice for the overall prize, but I can appreciate the ideas, just as I can appreciate the other gardens and their ideas
Enjoyed your piece @AnguisFragilis
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
People visit Chelsea for various reasons, some celebs like to be caught on camera to explain how much they love gardening, when it is obvious they often don't have a clue.
Other people try to hide from the cameras because they have the same frock on as Angelica Bell!
As a gardener you can look at a planting scheme and you know that it is impossible for those plants to grow together as they are either forced or held back. Most visitors are looking for plant or garden design ideas, some just want a Pimm's an ice cream or even a pair of shoes. They have been waiting for their exciting day out and it is time to use the credit card.
Your comments are very real and very important and you may find these thoughts flippant, but sadly they are true. Chelsea must not be taken too seriously.
It generates billions of pounds' worth of trade for growers and manufacturers as well as prestige and future work for the designers, growers and stand builders who go on to work at national and international level to supply demand for other shows and projects.
I'm very pleased to have @AnguisFragilis' opinions and information cogently and clearly presented and yes, re-wilding is a dreadful term to describe what we need to be doing in our gardens to help wildlife in all its various sizes and forms.
Well I'm glad I'm doing something right! Pruned branches that are too thick to go through my shredder and get composted get cut into manageable lengths and shoved in the back of the borders or under the hedge where they gradually decay. It doesn't have to be visible or a feature to be good for the bugs etc. Artificial bug hotels, not for me. I occasionally come across things living in broken old canes and suchlike that I've left lying about..
I have been watching most of the Chelsea coverage and as @GardenerSuze says, there are people there for all sorts of reasons, not necessarily garden related. I think it was Alistair McGowan who basically said he left it to the gardener, and another celebrity whose name escapes me who candidly admitted they knew nothing about gardening. It's all about "being seen", Chelsea has been part of what was known as The Season for years.
"Rewilding" has been around for a few years now, l remember hearing it mentioned on The Archers back in the days when l used to listen. To me, it meant cutting back even further on the use of pesticides etc and farming organically, to put it simply.
When it started being used in a gardening context, l took it to mean the same thing, also encouraging wildlife such as birds and hedgehogs into the garden and trying to strike a balance.
I was particularly struck by one of the designers of the "beaver garden" saying that he wanted to extend the hedges on his land to a depth of 10 metres. I do remember thinking that's fine if you have that amount of space, but in terms of farming, how much loss of income would that translate to ?
Thanks for your input @AnguisFragilis, l found it very enlightening
If you are interested in this @AnniD have a look at the new enviromental/Defera funding schemes that are launching at the moment. In tis case I imagine the designer was talking about his own, personal situation. Certainly at Knepp in Sussex, it is the growing out hedgehows that are the game changer on that land. The deep hedging is a god send to birds, even more than scrub.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mP3-TsRRSys&t=1s