Episode 402: The Art of Cottage Gardening
Roots and All - Gardening Podcast
In this episode, gardening expert and The English Garden editor Clare Foggett joins us to explore what truly defines a cottage garden. We discuss why these spaces are defined by generous planting rather than rigid design, the magic of self-seeding plants, and how this traditional style fits into modern, sustainable, and biodiverse gardening. Includes: Planted, Not Designed: Discover how cottage gardens evolve naturally through a passion for plants rather than a master plan. The Power of Self-Seeders: Learn why plants like foxgloves and valerian are essential for a relaxed, charming...
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Episode 401: Seeing Plants Differently
Roots and All - Gardening Podcast
We tend to think of plants as static things: rooted to the spot, quietly getting on with being plants. But what if, beneath our feet, there’s a much more dynamic world of movement, adaptation and decision-making going on? In this episode I’m talking to plant ecologist and artist Curtis Lubbe about roots, bulbs and rhizomes, plant ‘animacy’ and why changing the way we think and talk about plants might change the way we treat them too. Benny’s Insect of the Week: Fig-Leaf Skeltoniser Links Blog Please support the podcast on And follow Roots and All: On Instagram On Facebook ...
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Episode 400: Growing a Living Pharmacy
Roots and All - Gardening Podcast
What if your garden could double as a living pharmacy? In this episode, I’m talking to gardener, chef and herbalism practitioner Vanessa Minton about growing medicinal herbs, using them in everyday life, and understanding both the benefits and limitations of herbal remedies. Benny’s Insect of the Week: Toadflax Brocade Moth Links Please support the podcast on As featured in the Horticulture Podcasts And follow Roots and All: On Instagram On Facebook On LinkedIn If you enjoyed this week’s episode with Vanessa, you might also enjoy these episodes from the archives: This...
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Episode 399: Nature Restoration
Roots and All - Gardening Podcast
Can we save nature by putting a quantifiable value on it? Tim Christophersen is a forester, former UN environmentalist and a leading voice in the global ecosystem restoration movement, championing regenerative agriculture and nature-based solutions. With the UK sweltering through multiple heatwaves, we discuss whether investment can really deliver the restoration we need — and what happens when living ecosystems become part of the financial system. Benny’s Insect of the Week: Toadflax Brocade Moth About Tim Christopherson Tim Christophersen joined Salesforce as VP, Climate Action in May...
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Episode 398: Rewilding Childhood
Roots and All - Gardening Podcast
Blending storytelling with facts can encourage children to see the wildlife on their doorstep in a completely different way. In this episode, I’m talking to children’s author and wildlife expert Sonia Copeland Bloom about storytelling, wildlife and getting children curious about the natural world. Benny’s Insect of the Week: Rock Rose Prickly Leaf Beetle Links by Sonia Copeland Bloom, with illustrations by Nick Page First edition ISBN 978-917673-54-9. Available on Amazon, to order from all good bookshops, including Amazon Kindle and on along with Sonia's six smaller books. For...
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Episode 397: Britain's Gardening Questions
Roots and All - Gardening Podcast
Have you ever wondered who answers all those gardening questions that stump the rest of us? This week I'm chatting to Leigh Hunt, Principal Horticultural Advisor at the RHS, about what really goes on behind the scenes of the Society's advice service, the questions gardeners ask most often, and what those thousands of enquiries reveal about the way we're gardening in a changing climate. Benny’s Insect of the Week: Mexican Grass-Carrying Wasp Links Please support the podcast on And follow Roots and All: On Instagram On Facebook On LinkedIn If you enjoyed this week’s episode with Leigh,...
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Episode 396: Fermenting the Seasons
Roots and All - Gardening Podcast
Could the secret to better health be sitting in a simple jar on your kitchen counter? Today I'm joined by food writer and fermentation expert Rachel de Thample to explore how fermentation can rewild the gut microbiome, preserve the seasons, and prove that making your own fermented foods is much easier than most of us think. Benny’s Insect of the Week: The Bee Wolf Links Rachel on Instagram - Please support the podcast on And follow Roots and All: On Instagram On Facebook On LinkedIn If you enjoyed this week’s episode with Rachel, you might also enjoy these episodes from the archives:...
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Episode 395: Small Actions, Big Change
Roots and All - Gardening Podcast
The biggest changes in how we care for nature might start just outside our front door. This episode, I'm joined by adventurer and author Alastair Humphreys to discuss his latest book, Unwilding, and explore why reconnecting with the natural world is less about escaping to the wilderness and more about noticing what's already around us—from litter picking to climate handprints, and the power of small, everyday actions. Benny’s Insect of the Week: The Weld Bee Links Please support the podcast on And follow Roots and All: On Instagram On Facebook On LinkedIn If you enjoyed this...
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Episode 394: Keeping Plant Stories Alive
Roots and All - Gardening Podcast
What if the plants around us are carrying stories we've forgotten? This week, I'm joined once again by Amanda Edmiston of Botanica Fabula to explore her latest book, a rich blend of folklore, social history and the enduring stories of plants. We talk about how this knowledge is passed down through generations, and why now is the perfect time to start asking the people around us about the plants and traditions they remember. Benny’s Insect of the Week: The Sieve-winged Snailkiller Links Please support the podcast on And follow Roots and All: On Instagram On Facebook On LinkedIn If you...
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Episode 393: My Body is a Meadow
Roots and All - Gardening Podcast
What if the biggest barriers to experiencing nature aren't natural at all? Today, I'm joined by author, poet and disability activist Bethany Handley to explore accessibility, belonging, and how redesigning our landscapes could create richer places for both people and wildlife. Benny’s Insect of the Week: The Cinnabar Moth Links The Book Please support the podcast on And follow Roots and All: On Instagram On Facebook On LinkedIn If you enjoyed this week’s episode with Bethany, you might also enjoy these episodes from the archives: In this episode, Sarah talks to Sandra Schwarz about...
info_outlineWhat happens when you follow a decades-long love affair with a place all the way to its shores? Victoria Bennett did exactly that, uprooting her life in Cumbria to start afresh on the windswept islands of Orkney — new garden, new climate, and an inspiring vision for a community apothecary space rooted in creativity, care, and the land itself.
Benny’s Insect of the Week: Orange-tip Butterly
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Links
Author Website Victoria Bennett — Official Author Site
Books
The Apothecary by the Sea — Waterstones
All My Wild Mothers — Amazon author page
Instagram — @beewyld
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If you enjoyed this week's episode with Victoria, you might also like these conversations from the archives:
Episode 370: Remembering Our Nature Brigit Anna McNeill explores healing through plants, herbalism, folklore and ancestral connection — a beautiful companion to today's conversation about finding yourself through the natural world and the restorative power of putting down new roots.
Episode 368: Rooted In Purpose Robin Singh's journey from corporate life to growing his own food and living more intentionally echoes Victoria's themes of caregiving, community and choosing a life shaped by purpose rather than habit.