Chances are it is genuine-but it always wise to show a bit of caution-especially where a site involving children is concerned you have no idea who is behind a cyber-identity.
At least the website at the top of this thread is run by someone's mum, so is unlikely to be a front for a paedophile ring.
But there's certainly need for caution.
Sadly not true
And yes, caution is needed.
And how do we know it's 'someone's mum'?
And why should children's queries be fenced off in a ghetto all of their own? Where are they going to get the answers to their questions from if not from those of us who have years of experience? If they want somewhere to show off their gardening pictures to their friends they're probably doing that on Facebook or Youtube or something already, but if they want to know how to grow something or why their plant doesn't look healthy etc we should be just as willing to help them as anyone else.
I'll hold my hand up here - I remember some posts from Cody and I think originally I was a little 'terse' with him about something - when he pointed out that he was a youngster I remember apologising and going into more detail and trying to be encouraging - he appreciated it . Hopefully he'll be back with some more queries when the growing season starts again.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Sadly not true ... how do we know it's 'someone's mum'?
The website at the top of this thread is owned by Erica Ward. The website purports to be owned by 'Harry'. The very first item on the website is a video where Harry interviews Erica Ward. It seemed to me that they were mother and son, or at least have some close relationship. I could be wrong.
I'll hold my hand up here - I remember some posts from Cody and I think originally I was a little 'terse' with him about something ..
You were not the only person, Dove. There were several others.
Harry's new website seems to me to be entirely fake. I don't believe that a child could build a website as professional as that.
On the other hand, there was another child who posted on this forum (it may have been Cody) whose 'website' was obviously the work of an amateur. You could tell it was genuine, and all his own work. He was a clever kid, and had gone to a lot of trouble.
My impression was that some of the 'experts' on here thought that the child was getting above himself. There are very few adults on this forum who have the ability, or would be able, to build their own websites. This child was innovative and enterprising, both in the use of his computer, and his gardening.
Sadly, many adults dislike, or fear, kids who are smarter than they are. But that is where innovation, and the future of horticulture lies.
Sorry, I wasn't clear - my comment "Sadly not true" referred to the statement that because it was run by 'someone's mum' meant that it was unlikely to be the front for a paedophile ring. My line of work provides evidence that women, and even mothers, may be involved in child abuse.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
My impression was that website is 'safe' in that respect.
But my main observation was the difference between that website, and Cody's efforts. Children are the future of horticulture. There is a growing world that needs to be fed and we need bright kids to get involved, to become interested in plants, botany, and molecular biology, and to experiment.
But I feel that on this Forum, where the main focus is to ask for and offer advice, all gardeners are equal and to point them in the direction of a Junior Version wouldn't be helpful.
Although it might be useful if there was a space in the Personal Details bit where people could put either their age (if they dare!) or how long they'd been gardening (in some cases the number would be similar) to give us a bit of a clue about how much basic information to give without appearing patronising.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I agree Dove, if kids had their own threads who would snswer their questions. We should make them welcome and treat them with the same respect as all forum members.
Hello, just to make it clear that I am Erica Ward and I DO help my son run this website...it is perfectly legitimate - Harry loves gardening and has just achieved an RHS Silver medals so he is not misleading anyone at all. We are a familt who do things together and there is no intention to mislead. We have never ignored posts on the site and try to engage as many people as possible - we also have a Facebook page which we both run. Hope that this helps to clear up any confusion
Posts
Chances are it is genuine-but it always wise to show a bit of caution-especially where a site involving children is concerned you have no idea who is behind a cyber-identity.
i know stongeoff oi just think lets get them intreasted like my dad did thats al l(ps this bloody keeyboard _)
Sadly not true
And yes, caution is needed.
And how do we know it's 'someone's mum'?
And why should children's queries be fenced off in a ghetto all of their own? Where are they going to get the answers to their questions from if not from those of us who have years of experience? If they want somewhere to show off their gardening pictures to their friends they're probably doing that on Facebook or Youtube or something already, but if they want to know how to grow something or why their plant doesn't look healthy etc we should be just as willing to help them as anyone else.
I'll hold my hand up here - I remember some posts from Cody and I think originally I was a little 'terse' with him about something - when he pointed out that he was a youngster I remember apologising and going into more detail and trying to be encouraging - he appreciated it . Hopefully he'll be back with some more queries when the growing season starts again.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
The website at the top of this thread is owned by Erica Ward. The website purports to be owned by 'Harry'. The very first item on the website is a video where Harry interviews Erica Ward. It seemed to me that they were mother and son, or at least have some close relationship. I could be wrong.
You were not the only person, Dove. There were several others.
Harry's new website seems to me to be entirely fake. I don't believe that a child could build a website as professional as that.
On the other hand, there was another child who posted on this forum (it may have been Cody) whose 'website' was obviously the work of an amateur. You could tell it was genuine, and all his own work. He was a clever kid, and had gone to a lot of trouble.
My impression was that some of the 'experts' on here thought that the child was getting above himself. There are very few adults on this forum who have the ability, or would be able, to build their own websites. This child was innovative and enterprising, both in the use of his computer, and his gardening.
Sadly, many adults dislike, or fear, kids who are smarter than they are. But that is where innovation, and the future of horticulture lies.
Sorry, I wasn't clear - my comment "Sadly not true" referred to the statement that because it was run by 'someone's mum' meant that it was unlikely to be the front for a paedophile ring. My line of work provides evidence that women, and even mothers, may be involved in child abuse.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Understood!
My impression was that website is 'safe' in that respect.
But my main observation was the difference between that website, and Cody's efforts. Children are the future of horticulture. There is a growing world that needs to be fed and we need bright kids to get involved, to become interested in plants, botany, and molecular biology, and to experiment.
Absolutely agree!
But I feel that on this Forum, where the main focus is to ask for and offer advice, all gardeners are equal and to point them in the direction of a Junior Version wouldn't be helpful.
Although it might be useful if there was a space in the Personal Details bit where people could put either their age (if they dare!) or how long they'd been gardening (in some cases the number would be similar) to give us a bit of a clue about how much basic information to give without appearing patronising.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I agree Dove, if kids had their own threads who would snswer their questions. We should make them welcome and treat them with the same respect as all forum members.
In the sticks near Peterborough
...I absolutely agree too...,ThaiGer
Hello, just to make it clear that I am Erica Ward and I DO help my son run this website...it is perfectly legitimate - Harry loves gardening and has just achieved an RHS Silver medals so he is not misleading anyone at all. We are a familt who do things together and there is no intention to mislead. We have never ignored posts on the site and try to engage as many people as possible - we also have a Facebook page which we both run. Hope that this helps to clear up any confusion