Welcome to the HortWeek Podcast where we bring you news and views on the most important topics of the day for UK horticulture professionals. For more visit https://www.hortweek.co.uk/podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Our guest on this week's HortWeek Podcast is CEO of one of the biggest players across both ornamentals and fruit production in the UK. Matt Jarrett, the group CEO at Greosn unpacks the group's rapid expansion, from his roots in the ornamental sector (Newey) and ethical labour (Proforce) to running a £400m powerhouse in the UK fruit and ornamental markets. Jarrett details Greosn’s recent…
Richard Lawton and Neville Stein are celebrating a combined 100 years in horticulture this year and both are trustees of horticulture charity Perennial. They talk about changes in horticulture, challenges facing horticulturists now and the services Perennial offers horticulture in this moving podcast. Lawton, ex-Hillier, speaks about the challenges of seasonal work, physical injury, isolation and…
In the latest HortWeek podcast, editor Matt Appleby speaks with Andy Mills, head gardener at Blenheim Palace. Since August 2022, Mills has led a 10-year restoration of Blenheim’s 90-acre gardens. He reveals how his team is balancing 300 years of horticultural heritage with the realities of a changing climate. The renovation has also thrown up unexpected surprises and discoveries. Partly due to a…
In this week's episode Sue Payne, MD of Q&S Commercial Landscaping, and Alison Benjamin of Urban Bees explore the shift toward chemical-free landscaping and the vital role of sustainable, pollinator-friendly habitats in urban spaces, such as Battersea Power Station. Rather than viewing natural landscapes as "messy," they argue for a cultural shift toward embracing naturalistic designs. This…
HortWeek editor Matt Appleby, A-Level student William Appleby and technical editor Sally Drury report on the essential horticulture stories of the week. Topics this week: Peat-free hits the national press Are garden centres pricing themselves into slower plant sales? Matt's week on the road with word from Fruit Focus, Ball Colegrave's Summer Showcase, Floral Fantasia at Hyde Hall and the Green…
In this episode of the HortWeek Podcast , Matt Appleby speaks to Sara Blair-Manning to discuss the ambitious Growing Our Green Heritage project at the Birmingham Botanic Gardens. Facing the dual challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss, Blair-Manning outlines the transformative £25 million “Growing Our Green Heritage” project, aimed at restoring the historic venue while ensuring…
HortWeek editor Matt Appleby, prospective horticulturist Douglas Newbery and technical editor Sally Drury report on the essential horticulture stories of the week. Topics for this week: National Plant Show product highlights including pre and post-biotics for soil health, a marvellous mulch and a child-size garden centre trolley. Promising news from Aeroplas pot and tray company An early look at…
This week the tables are turned on Matt Appleby as he guests on The Plant Based Podcast where he fields probing questions from HortWeek columnist and horticulture influencer Michael Perry (aka Mr Plant Geek) and horticulturist, floral designer, broadcaster and author Ellen Mary. Topics up for discussion Has RHS Chelsea Flower Show become too much about spectacle and not enough about gardening?…
Lord Heseltine tells the story of the birth of the European Space Agency. Why post-Apollo, when the US was spending £1.2 billion a year on space, the whole of Europe was spending just £200 million. Why the birth of ESA was driven by the self-interest of three major countries. Why the US general with a $29 billion budget for the Star Wars project wanted to invest in Heriot-Watt University in…
HortWeek editor Matthew Appleby discusses the 2026 salaries report on the HortWeek Podcast with Fresh Horticultural Careers director Viki Halkett and Haymarket Recruitment marketing manager Vishnu Kannan. Higher-paid roles are becoming more common across the horticulture sector, as employers respond to rising costs and changing demand. New HortWeek research, drawing on internal sample data from…
