Episode 380: Following a Drop of Water
Roots and All - Gardening Podcast
This week, we dive into the hidden world of water with author Stephen Rutt, exploring the landscapes we so often overlook. From chalk streams to peat bogs, we trace water’s strange and vital journey through our environment—and why it deserves far more of our attention. Benny’s Insect of the Week: The Yellow-Legged Mining Bee Please support our sponsors - . get 25% extra free if you mention Roots and All or the insect of the week in the comments box at checkout. Links And follow Roots and All: On Instagram On Facebook On LinkedIn If you liked this week’s episode with...
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Episode 379: Pam Lewis: Ahead of the Curve
Roots and All - Gardening Podcast
Horticultural legend Pam Lewis began her garden at Sticky Wicket in Dorset decades ago, and revisiting her early writing shows just how ahead of the curve—and fearless—she was in championing wildlife-friendly, sustainable gardening. We sat down to reflect on her years in the garden and how the horticultural world has changed along the way. Benny’s Insect of the Week: Asiraca clavicornis Please support our sponsors - . get 25% extra free if you mention Roots and All or the insect of the week in the comments box at checkout. Books Sticky Wicket: Gardening in Tune With Nature - Pam...
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Episode 378: Growing a Sustainable Nursery
Roots and All - Gardening Podcast
What does it really take to run a small, sustainable nursery? This week on Roots and All, I’m joined by nurseryman and designer Ben Preston of Cliff Bank Nursery for an honest conversation about the realities of the job—from growing in sand and selling bare root plants to why local nurseries matter more than ever, and why it’s truly a labour of love. Benny’s Insect of the Week: The Orange Ladybird Please support our sponsors - . get 25% extra free if you mention Roots and All or the insect of the week in the comments box at checkout. Links Instagram: Please support the podcast...
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Episode 377: Britain’s Hidden Psychedelic History
Roots and All - Gardening Podcast
What if Britain’s fields were hiding a secret psychedelic past in plain sight? In this episode of Roots and All, I’m joined by historian and publisher Robert Dickins to explore the surprising story of our native mushrooms—from how they grow to the cultural and legal forces that have shaped our relationship with them. It’s a fascinating glimpse into a little-known side of Britain’s natural and social history. Benny’s Insect of the Week: The Orange Ladybird Please support our sponsors - and get 25% extra free if you mention Roots and All or the insect of the week in the comments box...
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Episode 376: From Rewilding to Renaturing
Roots and All - Gardening Podcast
Small spaces, big wildlife. Writer James Canton joins me to discuss his book Renaturing and his two-acre North Essex project, showing how subtle, thoughtful interventions can revive biodiversity — a great companion episode to Randal Plunkett’s conversation about large-scale “V-wilding.” Benny’s Insect of the Week: European Orchard Bee Links Please support the podcast on And follow Roots and All: On Instagram On Facebook On LinkedIn If you liked this week’s episode with James, you might also enjoy this episode from the archives: Randal Plunkett joins Sarah to explore his...
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Growing with Cloches
Roots and All - Gardening Podcast
In this episode, I’m joined by Beth Gregg, founder of Claverton Cloches, who’s on a mission to revive the beauty and practicality of Victorian cloche gardening. We talk about cloches of all shapes, sizes, and materials, how they can extend the growing season and protect crops, and explore the history, design, and sustainability behind them — and why sometimes the smallest structures can make the biggest difference in the garden. Benny’s Insect of the Week: Daffodil Dung Fly About Beth Gregg is a passionate advocate of cloche gardening and the founder of Claverton Cloches. Her love...
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Episode 374: Smarter Tomato Growing
Roots and All - Gardening Podcast
Tomatoes might be the gateway drug to vegetable gardening — but are we making life harder than it needs to be? In this episode of Roots and All, I’m joined by Frank Hyman to talk about the origins of the tomato, why it struggles in our wet climates, and how small shifts in the way we grow can make a huge difference. From myth-busting pruning advice to clever ways of keeping plants dry and productive, this is a practical, good-humoured deep dive into growing better tomatoes. Benny’s Insect of the Week: Hairy-footed Flower Bee Links Please support the podcast on And follow Roots and All:...
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Episode 373: V-Wilding
Roots and All - Gardening Podcast
What happens when a thousand-year-old estate stops farming and lets nature take the lead? I’m joined by Randal Plunkett, who transformed his ancestral home at Dunsany Nature Reserve into a bold rewilding experiment — removing livestock and embracing a hands-off, vegan approach to restoration. We explore how his model challenges mainstream ideas about deer, biodiversity, woodland succession and the economics of conservation in a time of climate crisis. Benny’s Insect of the Week: The Spotted Thintail Links Please support the podcast on And follow Roots and All: On Instagram On...
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Episode 372: Modular Greening in Cities
Roots and All - Gardening Podcast
Can modular planting reshape our cities? In this episode, the Upper Bloom team explores how modular, plant-filled containers are bringing greenery to dense urban streets, terraces, and retail frontages. A natural follow-up to our Sloane Street episode, we discuss whether these systems enhance biodiversity, serve aesthetic goals, or simply make challenging urban spaces greener, while also diving into sustainability, plant choices, and the practical realities of keeping cities green. Benny’s Bug of the Week: Green fanged tube web spider - sponsored by Cerddwr’s Herbs go to and use the code...
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Episode 371: Wild Edibles
Roots and All - Gardening Podcast
What if the future of our food system is already growing wild beneath our feet? Wendy Russell and Freda Farquharson explore the power of wild edibles — from sorrel seeds and citizen science to health, biodiversity, and climate-friendly farming — and how these overlooked plants could help shape a more resilient future for people, nature, and the land. Benny’s Insect of the Week: The Australian Orange Tip Moth - sponsored by Cerddwr’s Herbs go to and use the code BUGPODS for a listener’s discount. Links The for becoming participants of the project The Wild Edibles logo was...
info_outlineTo book-end the winter break, I’m sort of picking up where we left off by talking about a way to mark the passing of the year and the seasons and to ground yourself and your gardening endeavours in the natural patterns that govern them. My guest is Lia Leendertz, author of the annual The Almanac: A Seasonal Guide and she starts by talking about the origins of her almanac.
Dr Ian Bedford’s Bug of the Week: Winter in the veg garden
What We Talk About
The history of Lia’s Almanac
How Lia intends for people to use the Almanac throughout the year
The importance connecting with traditions, celebrations and rituals
The monthly list of gardening jobs
Gardening by the phases of the moon
Underlying themes of the Almanac; the pond and the zodiac
A discussion of Lia’s line about the month of August, “Your ancestors would be proud to see how far you have come, sipping a glass of cold wine and laughing in the sun.”
About Lia Leendertz
Lia is an award-winning garden and food writer based in Bristol. Her reinvention of the traditional rural almanac has become an annual must-have for readers eager to connect with the seasons, appreciate the outdoors and discover ways to mark and celebrate each month.
Links
The Almanac: A Seasonal Guide to 2023 by Lia Leendertz - Octopus Publishing Group, September 2022
Other episodes if you liked this one:
The Wheel of the Year with Dr Rebecca Beattie