In which I chat with Fiona Duncan, who travels the length and breadth of the UK, visiting and writing about hotels and B & Bs for her regular column in the Telegraph. Although she's always enjoyed visiting gardens, and felt inspired by them, the garden attached to the thatched cottage where her husband grew up, and in which she now lives after a recent move from London, was a source of dismay and disapppointment. As is the case for many garden owners it felt intimidating and she...

Jane Perrone, is the host of the popular ‘On the Ledge’ podcast about houseplants. She is also a journalist, a member of the RHS Advisory Board for House Plants and Cut Flowers and grower of weird, mainly perennial veg. Our conversation ranged from compost, the fleeting nature of life, through houseplants and perennial veg to asking her family to compost her at the end. Well worth a listen!

Today my guest is Emily Wheeler who is passionate about harnessing the power of Biophilia, the innate human instinct to connect with nature and natural processes, for enhancing wellbeing in our homes and workplaces by designing beautiful comfortable spaces.  She is a Social Worker and Interiors Stylist and Founder of Furnishing Futures, a social enterprise through which she creates homes for women and children in social housing that is otherwise provided completely empty of homely comfort. ...

Simon Lycett is known for his sensational floral designs having spent his career designing floral installations ranging from the flowers for the film, Four Weddings and a Funeral, to displays at royal weddings and other high-profile events.   Simon joined me soon after the worst of Lockdown was over, for what became a very moving conversation, from Lycett Towers, his headquarters underneath the arches in South London. We discussed the challenges of the past eighteen months as the events...

In which I chat I with Sue Biggs earlier in the year just after the opening of the new RHS Bridgewater garden in Salford which she was, understandably, very excited about - especially the impact it is having on the local community. Our conversation covered so much - everything from Sue’s relationship with her own garden and the ways it has supported her at the most difficult times in her life, to her role at the RHS and how she has developed her ability to run such a large...

In which I chat with Laetitia Maklouf, writer, journalist, mother and gardener who writes about managing her garden in 5 minute chunks whilst being a Mum and working. I find her writing moving, funny and very inspiring, full of useful gardening tips and ideas, and I love the way she tells it as it is. Our conversation, which took place, in early September, was wide-ranging across the subjects of Lockdown parenting, finding time for yourself (she was getting up at 5.30am to get things done...

A fascinating, rich and reflective conversation with Grace Alexander, a seed merchant and Consultant Clinical Psychologist working in Child Protection who lives, and grows, in Somerset. Grace and I met through Instagram and its been a joy getting to know her a little through our conversations. In this one we talk about effort-ing, perfectionism and high achievement (Grace wrote two psychology books during Lockdown 1) and about the difficulty of being consistently authentic on Instagram given...

I first encountered Marchelle through Instagram (her handle is @afroliage) where I was struck by her poetic and expressive use of the garden/life metaphor and her Bio which read ‘Gardening as a subversive act. These are the things my garden told me.’ We connected over a post in which she said she was ‘her ancestor’s wildest dream’ which particularly touched something in me as I imagine I am too, as the descendent of 2 young jewish men who made their way to England from Eastern Europe in the...

In this episode, recorded during Lockdown, Sue reads a chapter from her book, we discuss the concept of Garden Time, the extraordinary Arnap Rehabilitation Garden in Sweden and the amazing Microglial Cells, known as gardeners of the mind for the way in which they are able to prune and tidy debris in the mind whilst we sleep.

In this epiosde, recorded in May, during Lockdown, i have a lovely conversation with Bex that journeyed through gardening, postatal depression and mothering, the importance of creating structure in our gardens, and how to use pressed flowers in a way that your granny wouldn’t recognise! If was a delight and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Recorded in May 2020 during Lockdown we began our conversation with a reading by Alice from her book, Rootbound, and discuss the way in which gardening can start as a a thought 'I'll just do that...' and become a whole day activity, and that it's quite possible to undertake this activity whilst in PJs. From there we move on to discussing the way in which gardening her balcony, despite being an unfashionable activity among those of her generation, soothed and supported her through a personal...

With a history of low confidence, anxiety and panic attacks, Annabelle Padwick (who lives on a narrow-boat on the canal near Oxford) came back to gardening and Growing her Own veg in her 20s as a way of supporting herself to get well. At age 27, having experienced the difference that gardening had made to how she felt, and what she was able to achieve day to day, she formed Life at no 27, a social enterprise that supports children in school, and adults through gardening. We had a lovely...

Sarah Layton, of Growthfully and Claire Branigan of In Tune Wellbeing talk about forest bathing, women’s wellbeing in the middle years, Claire's relationship with her garden and what it was like working with Sarah to create a new design layout, as well as about garden vintage. There is also a GIVEAWAY this week - win a copy of 'Your Guide to Forest Bathing' by Amos Clifford.

Sarah Layton, of Growthfully, and Sara Venn discuss how Sara uses gardening to help those living in challenging circumstances to improve their lives, what inspires her about her work, who influenced her and how, her own garden and it’s wildlife and much more.

Sarah Layton, of Growthfully, and Elizabeth Cairns, The Empowered Entrepreneur, discuss the connection between nature and wellbeing, Elizabeth’s relationship with her own garden, how her buddhist practice informs it and the ways in which we can harness nature to nurture us day to day. Elizabeth’s statement that ‘nature is always resilient and we are not separate from that’ seems particularly resonant at this lockdown time.

Melissa Jolly is an award-willing garden designer who specialises in, and is passionate about, creating beautiful, functional and ecological spaces where people and nature can both thrive.

Things we discuss this episode: Fiona's allotment and how her relationship with it supports her mental health, reducing her experience of panic attacks and depression. Fiona's solo travel. How she learns to live in tune with her wellbeing and more.

Clare Yarwood- White is a writer who uses her ability to weave words and tell stories to help her clients tell their brand story elegantly and well.

A quick introduction to this podcast by Sarah Layton of Growthfully which features nspiring conversations with interesting garden loving women.