Didn't realise you set the rules for this public forum or when you say "telling us all" you spoke for everyone. My mistake.
Off out to enjoy my garden, which btw is where Ive been all these years. I would heartily recommend it to all who may have never tried gardening before.
Dont mention bunnies - bane of my life. Create huge problems here.
I live in rural Lincolnshire but one of the mayoral candidates happened to run the ecologist magazine, has a history of being pro environmental issues and had never been influenced by the gardening industry. Totally agree re garden vs going to London.
Local authorities often take guidance from national government - hence done lots of work for example on how the national planning policy framework offers no protection to ancient woodland.
So much can be done - but in this instance I would love to start a debate at a parliamentary level to get people thinking horticulture. So often the voice of agriculture is heard far louder. I think gardeners should shout a bit more. Just a view.
Zac Goldsmith.. no Ken is in rather enough trouble due to recent comments.
Not that easy.... though of course the industry could get supportive MPs to go to the backbench business committee to get one. That's what happened on ancient woodland, an issue I know well.
The purpose of keeping it general as in the tabled petition is that it would allow interventions to cover a large range of subjects (You could get a three hour debate) British flower growers would want to raise issues as to why 90% of flowers are imported for e.g. which is shameful. A general title allows for far more interventions. So that way it can cover issues of training people in horticulture. Health benefits of gardening. Threats to green spaces and so on.
LOL - Some of the ghastly politicians could well be great advocates for gardeners. We need to realise that whether we like them or not, government impacts on what gardeners do daily. Be it the tax rate on UK cut flowers vs imported ones from Holland. Be it on what weedkiller we can or can't use. Be it when native hedges can be cut. Not engaging doesnt mean it keeps government and rules away. It means we are more likely to get rules and decisions we had no chance of influencing.
Nothing to do with a jaded view - its about knowing politicians don't know everything and by not engaging you are certain to be ignored. You may also get ignored by engaging - but you may also be listened to. But hey if you see that as a bad thing that's fine. I will know I tried.......
If we are all going to get hot under the collar about gardening, I would like to know why I can grow any number of poisonous plants, castor oil plant, opium poppies and a host of other things but I am not allowed to grow hemp. I'd sign a petition to get that discussed.
I made an attempt with local MP where we used to live, and Housing Association, I have 2 sons with mental health problems, one has a complex bi-polar, so were given housing association flats, the son with the bi-polar, did have a balcony in his previous property, but it was a bedsit, his condition meant he had a very big problem with sleeping in his lounge as it were, he was there some years bid and finally got a 1 bedroom place, but there is no outside place whatsoever. My oldest son is on a second floor, also not so much as a balcony. I said they were making people live like rats (apart from when we had them, they were let out every day to play!) and that people should have a balcony or communial garden, was told it was a cost/space issue. Pack as many dwellings in as possible.
Posts
Didn't realise you set the rules for this public forum or when you say "telling us all" you spoke for everyone. My mistake.
Off out to enjoy my garden, which btw is where Ive been all these years.
I would heartily recommend it to all who may have never tried gardening before.
punkdoc - I'd be interested to know what lobbying victories you think the RHS has achieved and whether more can be done?
Dont mention bunnies
- bane of my life. Create huge problems here.
I live in rural Lincolnshire but one of the mayoral candidates happened to run the ecologist magazine, has a history of being pro environmental issues and had never been influenced by the gardening industry. Totally agree re garden vs going to London.
Local authorities often take guidance from national government - hence done lots of work for example on how the national planning policy framework offers no protection to ancient woodland.
So much can be done - but in this instance I would love to start a debate at a parliamentary level to get people thinking horticulture. So often the voice of agriculture is heard far louder. I think gardeners should shout a bit more.
Just a view.
Must have been
Zac Goldsmith.. no Ken is in rather enough trouble due to recent comments.
Not that easy.... though of course the industry could get supportive MPs to go to the backbench business committee to get one. That's what happened on ancient woodland, an issue I know well.
The purpose of keeping it general as in the tabled petition is that it would allow interventions to cover a large range of subjects (You could get a three hour debate) British flower growers would want to raise issues as to why 90% of flowers are imported for e.g. which is shameful. A general title allows for far more interventions. So that way it can cover issues of training people in horticulture. Health benefits of gardening. Threats to green spaces and so on.
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/129259
LOL - Some of the ghastly politicians could well be great advocates for gardeners. We need to realise that whether we like them or not, government impacts on what gardeners do daily. Be it the tax rate on UK cut flowers vs imported ones from Holland. Be it on what weedkiller we can or can't use. Be it when native hedges can be cut. Not engaging doesnt mean it keeps government and rules away. It means we are more likely to get rules and decisions we had no chance of influencing.
Nothing to do with a jaded view - its about knowing politicians don't know everything and by not engaging you are certain to be ignored. You may also get ignored by engaging - but you may also be listened to. But hey if you see that as a bad thing that's fine. I will know I tried.......
If we are all going to get hot under the collar about gardening, I would like to know why I can grow any number of poisonous plants, castor oil plant, opium poppies and a host of other things but I am not allowed to grow hemp. I'd sign a petition to get that discussed.
I made an attempt with local MP where we used to live, and Housing Association, I have 2 sons with mental health problems, one has a complex bi-polar, so were given housing association flats, the son with the bi-polar, did have a balcony in his previous property, but it was a bedsit, his condition meant he had a very big problem with sleeping in his lounge as it were, he was there some years bid and finally got a 1 bedroom place, but there is no outside place whatsoever. My oldest son is on a second floor, also not so much as a balcony. I said they were making people live like rats (apart from when we had them, they were let out every day to play!) and that people should have a balcony or communial garden, was told it was a cost/space issue. Pack as many dwellings in as possible.
That'll be a first then!
You usuall succeed in offending someone.