Roots and All - Gardening Podcast

Do you want to know how to grow plants and get the best out of your outdoor space? Do you find traditional gardening media baffling and/or boring? Then you’re in the right place, because the Roots and All podcast is here to dig deep into how to create a successful garden. If you want honest information and insider knowledge about how to get results, join irreverent horticulturist Sarah Wilson as she chats to the best people from the world of plants and gardens. Sarah is on a mission to help you create your own beautiful green environment, with a focus on saving resources and working with nature. Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast to make sure you don’t miss an episode.

Episode 407: Living Alongside Garden Wildlife 10/19/2026

Episode 406: Should We Stop Feeding Birds? 10/12/2026

Episode 405: Reimagining City Spaces 10/07/2026

Episode 405: Reimagining City Spaces Jon Davies and Steve Williams of Wild City Studio discuss their fresh, unconventional approach to urban horticulture, their collaborative design journey, their experimental playground at Markfield Park, and how embracing a lighter touch can transform rigid cityscapes into thriving ecological havens. Benny’s Insect of the Week: The Small Copper Butterfly What You'll Learn Redefining Urban Wildness: How nature-connection and human culture intertwine to make modern cities far wilder than traditional notions suggest. Markfield Park Experiments: Insights into using crushed waste substrates, food forestry, and self-seeded corridors for resilient urban landscaping. Community-Led Design: Moving away from rigid, sterile design templates to allow local communities and natural processes to shape public spaces. Horticultural Rebellion: Why creative outsiders and designers find a new vehicle for expression and disruption through plants and landscape architecture. : This deep-dive archive episode looks closely at how natural ecological processes and spontaneous vegetation interact with modern design choices, matching Jon and Steve's focus on stepping back from rigid control and letting urban spaces breathe. : An extensive look into building resilient, nature-led garden systems, directly echoing the punk horticulture ethos and practical structural approaches discussed in this episode. Key Topics & Discussion Points What Does Wild Look Like in a City? Jon and Steve discuss the challenge of finding the right vocabulary to talk about nature connection when humans are inherently part of the ecosystem. Rather than viewing cities as static, controlled environments, they advocate for a light-touch approach that embraces dynamic ecological processes, like weeds breaking through concrete. Markfield Park: An Experimental Playground As a legacy project originating from the Chelsea Flower Show, Markfield Park serves as an ongoing test bed for substrate design and food forestry. The duo explains how stepping back from rigid control allowed self-seeders and the local community to collaboratively shape a more vibrant, dynamic landscape. Letting Go of Design Control Community engagement is rarely neat or predictable. Jon and Steve share how unexpected interactions with local residents and school groups transformed their original vision into something far more holistic and meaningful. They draw inspiration from international projects like the Groningen project and Paris's Jardin de Joyo, where self-sufficient natural spaces thrive with minimal human intervention. Horticultural Rebels and Changemakers Reflecting on their paths into horticulture from creative backgrounds like art and photography, Jon and Steve explore why landscape design attracts people looking to disrupt traditional systems. Rather than following strict red tape, they encourage gardeners to bring authenticity, passion, and their own unique perspectives to public spaces. Links & Resources Mentioned You can find more details and purchase the book via the . Learn more about Markfield Park Community Garden: Explore the Roots and All website and archive: Support the podcast via Patreon: Connect with Roots and All on Instagram: Connect with Roots and All on Twitter/X: Connect with Roots and All on LinkedIn: /episode/index/show/rootsandall/id/43205313

Episode 404: Uncovering the Biodiversity of Gardens with Johnnie Johnson 09/28/2026

Episode 404: Uncovering the Biodiversity of Gardens with Johnnie Johnson In this episode of Roots and All, I chat with ecology consultant Johnnie Johnson about his journey into the natural world, his detailed multi-visit garden surveys, and the incredible discoveries he makes in unexpected places. From tracking scarce insects to working with prominent public spaces like the Horniman Museum and John Little's garden, Johnnie Johnson shares how anyone can boost wildlife by embracing structural complexity and natural variation. Benny’s Insect of the Week: The Southern Green Shieldbug What You'll Learn: How garden biodiversity audits work, spanning multiple visits across the spring and summer seasons. Why urban gardens serve as crucial ecological stepping stones for wildlife in an increasingly paved-over landscape. The importance of starting at the bottom of the food chain by focusing on native plants and structural micro-habitats. Practical, low-cost ways to invite wildlife in—from small water sources and log piles to areas of bare ground and varied vegetation heights. The Reality of Ecology Consulting and Garden Surveys Johnnie Johnson shares how he transitioned into ecology later in life, moving from the planning side of the profession—which deals heavily with development and mitigation—into hands-on garden surveys that actually focus on finding and celebrating life. He discusses his detailed reports, which often span 80 to 100 pages and combine scientific data with custom artwork and portraits of notable insects found on site. Why Gardens Matter More Than You Think Reflecting on his survey work across Essex, Suffolk, and London, Johnnie Johnson highlights that private and public gardens often possess a remarkable variety of micro-habitats. Because traditional rural landscapes can sometimes be impoverished, these green spaces act as vital urban refuges. He also touches on his baseline surveys at the Horniman Museum, tracking how strategic changes to cutting regimes over several years can drastically improve species richness. Practical Principles for Gardeners and Designers When translating ecological data into day-to-day garden care, Johnnie Johnson emphasizes simplicity over rigid science: Embrace structural diversity: Incorporate varied plant heights, log piles, soil patches, and a water source to instantly boost habitat value. Champion native species: Move toward utilizing native plants to support a fully functioning local food web. Collaborate with designers: Bridge the gap between rigorous ecology and aesthetic design so that native-heavy planting schemes look and feel fantastic in a domestic setting. Links & Resources : Explore their public spaces and long-term ecological projects. Support the podcast on Follow Roots and All: On Instagram On Facebook On LinkedIn - Recommended Archive Episodes: This deep-dive archive episode looks closely at how insect populations interact with garden planting choices, matching Johnnie's focus on starting from the bottom of the food chain and supporting local pollinators. An extensive look into building foundational garden elements like bare ground, log piles, and soil health, directly echoing Johnnie's practical advice on structural complexity and micro-habitats. /episode/index/show/rootsandall/id/43040368

Episode 403: Climate Adaptation, Plant Evolution & Design 09/21/2026

Episode 403: Climate Adaptation, Plant Evolution & Design In this episode of Roots and All, I chat with designer, researcher, and filmmaker Eliza about the intersection of design, ecology, and the fast-paced realities of plant evolution. Coming straight from her extensive research fields—including tracking wildflowers in the Rocky Mountains with Dr. Diane Campbell and exploring alpine meadow systems in Italy—Eliza shares how climate change is reshaping landscapes, why plants are shifting behaviours, and how gardeners can embrace a more observational, resilient approach. Benny’s Insect of the Week: The European Firebug What You'll Learn: How extreme weather, drought, and low snowpacks are accelerating plant evolution and altering seasonal lifecycles in the Rocky Mountains. What assisted migration, natural hybridisation, and resilient "Hybridising Scentscapes" mean for future planting schemes and garden biodiversity. How traditional practices, like alpine cattle transhumance festivals, can inspire creative seed dispersal solutions. Practical takeaways for gardeners and designers looking to relinquish rigid control and embrace natural resilience. Understanding the Future Through Design and Research Eliza explains her unique multidisciplinary practice, which blends design research, ecology, and filmmaking to simulate and speculate on future environments. Moving beyond traditional interior or product design, her work explores how humans can collaborate with scientists and natural ecosystems to address climate pressures. Climate Realities in the Rocky Mountains and the Alps Reflecting on her recent field observations in Colorado—where she spends every summer at a field station working alongside scientists—Eliza highlights how extreme drought, a lack of reliable afternoon rain showers, low snowpacks, and early melting have severe domino effects on plant health, pollinator survival, and local marmot populations. She also dives into her work in the Italian Alps, examining ancient meadow systems and how nomadic animal migration (transhumance) plays a crucial role in species distribution. Resilient Gardens and Hybridising Scentscapes Eliza discusses her ongoing collaboration with artist/farmers Atteraterra (ATT) on Hybridising Scentscapes—gardens designed specifically for resilience and evolution. Featuring installations such as the one at the Design Museum, this long-term research explores how planting varieties in close proximity allows nature and pollinators to drive evolutionary adaptations against higher temperatures and water scarcity. Practical Principles for Gardeners and Designers When translating high-level scientific research into everyday horticulture, Eliza suggests stepping back from rigid maintenance practices. Gardeners and designers can benefit greatly from: Embracing natural surprises: Allowing unexpected plant hybrids or "weeds" to persist rather than immediately pulling them out, as they may hold vital climate resilience traits. Loosening control: Moving away from overly sterile aesthetic expectations toward a more dynamic, biodiverse, and observational approach to garden maintenance. Links & Resources TUFF Group: Eliza's focusing on the aftermath of historical weather events and major disturbances, featuring a monthly book club exploring historical events from each month and their lasting impacts. Design Museum & Future Observatory: Eliza has an upcoming show opening at the with Future Observatory in November, displaying new work on how migratory species can assist struggling plants facing extreme weather. You can read more via the Future Observatory website. Featured Book: : An ABC of Art, Botany and Cultivation Please support the podcast on And follow Roots and All: On Instagram @rootsandallpod On Facebook @rootsandalluk On LinkedIn @rootsandall If you enjoyed this week’s episode with Eliza, you might also enjoy these episodes from the archives: This episode explores the overarching perspective of the climate crisis, looking at how ecological shifts and evolution will change the way we manage our green spaces. It serves as a great companion piece to Eliza's insights on climate adaptation. Janet Manning looks deep into drought-tolerant plants and practical water management strategies for gardens facing increasing temperature and weather pressures. /episode/index/show/rootsandall/id/42965653

Episode 402: The Art of Cottage Gardening 09/14/2026

Episode 401: Seeing Plants Differently 09/07/2026

Episode 400: Growing a Living Pharmacy 08/31/2026

Episode 399: Nature Restoration 08/24/2026

Episode 399: Nature Restoration 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 2022. Within the global Impact Team, he leads the work on climate and nature action and investments. Tim is based in Denmark. He is the author of ‘Generation Restoration’, a book about restoring nature at planetary scale. Before joining Salesforce, Tim was Head of the ‘Nature for Climate’ Branch at the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and led a growing global movement backed by all UN Member States and over 300 partner organizations to ‘prevent, halt and reverse the degradation of ecosystems worldwide’: the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration 2021-2030. He holds a degree in Forestry and Forest Conservation Engineering from Dresden University of Technology. He previously worked for the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), where he led the portfolio on the conservation and sustainable use of forest biodiversity. From 2017-2019, he was elected Chair of the Global Partnership on Forest and Landscape Restoration. From 2002-2007 he was Regional Programme Coordinator for Europe, the Caucasus and the Commonwealth of Independent States at the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). He also worked for the Danish Ministry of the Environment, and for the European Commission. Links : How to Fix Our Relationship Crisis with Mother Nature by Tim Christopherson Other restoration projects of interest: Tim’s Please support the podcast on And follow Roots and All: On Instagram On Facebook On LinkedIn If you enjoyed this week’s episode with Tim, you might also enjoy these episodes from the archives: John Little challenges the idea that investing in green spaces is primarily about capital, arguing instead for investment in the people who care for them. It makes an interesting companion to Tim’s discussion of the role money and investment can play in restoring nature. Benjamin Vogt argues for a different relationship with nature, one in which we see ourselves as part of the wider ecological community rather than separate from it. It’s a useful counterpoint to Tim’s much bigger-picture discussion about how we value and restore the natural world. /episode/index/show/rootsandall/id/42520270