Highlights from Towns, Gardens and Britain in Bloom
Read more information about the show
Britain in Bloom
Harrogate Britain in Bloom have a great track record when it comes to Britain in Bloom, but for traditional Victorian bedding, which often isn’t much use to pollinators.
Large double blooms burst forth with colour but their nectar and pollen counts are low and pollinating insects can’t easily access them.
Sarah Raven went on a mission to try and persuade the people of this Yorkshire town to ditch the doubles and instead grow beds with pollen and nectar rich plants that will knock the socks off any bee AND any passing human!
Expert - Jeff Ollerton, of Northampton University
"Just as flowering plants depend on their pollinators, many birds, insects, and bats rely on plants for energy and nutrients. This plant-pollinator relationship is essential to the survival of natural and agricultural ecosystems." A quote from the opening lines of one of Dr Jeff’s papers.
Dr Jeff spells out whats actually happening in our insect world: 67% down on the number of moth species, 25% less hoverfly species and 3 bumblebee species extinct. It’s not looking good but by planting the right plants we can help turn some of those numbers around.
Jeff used a sugar refractometer., also known as a Brix refractometer to measure the amount of sugar in pollen to find what flowers are best for, and most attractive to, insect pollinators.
RHS headquarters at Wisley
Sarah visited Helen Bostock to ask advice on what gardeners should look for at the garden centre when buying pollinator-friendly plants.
Helen’s 3 simple tips are to go for a variety of flower shapes, succession of flowering seasons & single blooms.
RHS Chelsea Flower Show
Sarah talks to young garden designer Paul Hervey-Brooks about what he considers vital to creating a bio-diversity garden for the world famous flower show.
Expert - Steve Head of the Wildlife Gardening Forum
Natural England is a leading member of the forum, which includes over 150 conservation organisations, agencies, horticultural organisations and media with an interest in wildlife gardening. Individual gardeners are welcome to join too.
Steve was impressed with Sarah’s garden and the amount of habitat, nectar and pollen it had on offer including, dahlias, sedums, bamboo and long grasses but he suggested the addition of water and asters to further increase Sarah’s garden’s attractiveness.
Water is essential especially to bees who will use several litres just to cool a hive, it takes a bee 40,000 trips just to get enough water for one litre so having it at close proximity to a hive is vital.
Expert - Jennifer Owen, Author and keen wildlife watcher
Jennifer, author of Wildlife of a Garden: A Thirty-Year Study was the first person to really highlight what insect life there is in a normal back garden. She has been carrying out a study of her very own garden for decades and knows plenty about the wildlife we can find in ours and how to attract more.
Perfect for Pollinators
Sarah Raven has inspired the country’s largest gardening charity, the Royal Horticultural Society, who along with the Horticultural Trade Association have agreed to back a marketing scheme making it easier to buy pollinator plants. You can find the ‘perfect for pollinators’ stickers on plants in garden centres or go to the link below for a summarised list.
Music used in the show
Making Waves – Tom Howe/Mike Reed/Matthew J Robinson (West One Music)
The Writer (Instrumental) – Ellie Goulding (Polydor)
Daylight Robbery – Imogen Heap (Columbia)
Howl – Florence & the Machine (Island)
Nothing Can Stop Us – Saint Etienne (Heavenly)
K+D+B – The Chemical Brothers (Parlophone)
Northern Skies – I Am Kloot (The Echo Label)
Cosmic Love – Florence & the Machine (Island)
59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin’ Groovy) – Simon & Garfunkel (Columbia Legacy)
Chemeleon – Maps (Mute)
No Brakes – Little Boots (679)
Modern Drift – Efterklang (4AD)
She’s In Fashion – Suede (Mute)
Between Two Lungs (Instrumental) – Florence & the Machine (Island)
Brian Eno – MGMT (Columbia)
Happiness – Goldfrapp (Mute)
Moneybox – Eliza Doolittle (Parlophone)
Brothers – Hot Chip (Parlophone)
Skinny Genes – Eliza Doolittle (Parlophone)
I Gave You All – Mumford & Sons (Universal)
Monster Love – Goldfrapp (Mute)
Proof – I Am Kloot (The Echo Label)
Spring/Evening Light – Ben Vella/Barney Freeman (In-spired Music)
All The Lovers – Kylie Minogue (Parlophone)
Lights – Ellie Goulding (Polydor)
Everything Will Flow – Suede (Nude)
