Blooming Brilliant News: Issue 10

Blooming Brilliant News: Issue 10

We're back once again after a short break to settle into the new year. Although January may not have been the fresh start we'd all hoped for, it has been a good time to reflect on the year gone by and a chance to start making new, even if only small, plans for the year to come.

Last year we worked alongside our friends at North West in Bloom to develop Roots of Remembrance, a way of remembering those that we have lost throughout the pandemic by planting trees in their memory. We're delighted to announce that our map is now live so if you have planted a tree, you can add it on there to help us show the roots spreading out across our villages, towns and cities in memory of those we held dear. And do get in touch with us if you've planted a tree and would like to share your story for a future issue.

Also in this issue we have some new advice and content now available on the RHS website including the new Houseplants Hub, some brilliant stories and videos to celebrate International Day of Women and Girls in Science (11th Feb), our top jobs for the month and of course more of your brilliant stories.

Remember, please do keep sharing your stories with us via email for future issues and you can find more content on our Community Gardening Facebook and Twitter pages.

Top news this month

Tree planting
This is a great time of year for tree planting but choosing the right tree for your space is so important, especially when planting a memorial tree that you want to last. Check out our advice here.

Tree advice

New Houseplant Hub
This time last year, houseplants were taking over the Glasshouse at RHS Wisley. Now the team has put together a new hub of advice on keeping indoor plants looking their best.

Houseplants

RHS Podcast
In this episode, RHS gardening advisor, James Lawrence, gives tips on picking the right houseplant for different rooms and garden designer, Lee Burkhill, shares tips on getting to know your plot.

Give it a listen

International Day of Women and Girls in Science: 11th Feb

Meet some of the women that have been making history in science at the RHS...

The first female RHS Scientist
Dr. E. K. Janaki Ammal (pictured 2nd from r.) was the first RHS female scientist, her career at Wisley spanning 1946-1951.
In this fascinating blog post, two of our current female scientists, along with writer Matthew Biggs, uncover the story of her work.

Read her story

A slug hunter on a mission
Imogen Cavadino is a Research Assistant in the RHS Entomology team and writing a PhD that will help people to identify slugs and snails that are responsible for damaging plants. You can contribute to her research too by reporting sightings of the Yellow Cellar Slug.

Take part

Improving wellbeing through plants
Dr Lauriane Chalmin-Pui is a Wellbeing Fellow working in the RHS Science Team and leading on research that will show the influence plants and gardening can have on our wellbeing. Read about her work on how plants in front gardens can reduce stress.

Your stories...

Blooms of Hope
Wonky Garden, an It's Your Neighbourhood group in Cheshire, were featured on The Guardian website last week for their amazing work to help people feel more hopeful. The volunteers who make up Wonky Garden have been creating beautiful bouquets that will be delivered as a surprise gift to people in care homes, cancer patients and people at local hospices to help spread hope and act a reminder that spring is coming.

Read the full article here.

Bonnie Dundee are the bees knees!
Last year, It's Your Neighbourhood group, Bonnie Dundee, won the Keep Scotland Beautiful Pollinator Award for their work making Dundee City Centre a hive of activity for the local insect population.
Working with Dundee City Council, their team of volunteers planted beds to encourage bees and other pollinators into the city, improving biodiversity and the wellbeing of local residents!

Check out this article on bee-friendly winter plants to keep our stripy friends happy during the colder months.

Reclaim the Green
Students at St Vincent's in Liverpool, a specialist school for pupils with sensory impairments, have been working hard to change the world. Their 'Reclaim the Green' project has seen them rewilding their local area and working with the community to protect their local wildlife.
They have also been designing green solutions in the classroom, thinking of ways to reduce emissions and create jobs.

Read more on their work here or click the image to watch their inspiring video.

A greenhouse for all
After successfully applying for lottery funding in 2020, Tadpole Village Garden in Bloom have been busy. Encouraging villagers to take pride in their local area, volunteers have been been growing plants from seed for local charities as well as the wider community. Alongside a thriving allotment, they most recently built a beautiful community greenhouse (pictured) and plan to surround it with cornflowers - the national symbol for Motor Neuron Disease, their associated charity.

Check out TVG in Bloom's progress here.

Do you have a story to share?
We're always looking for more brilliant things going on in communities that will provide inspiration to others or put a smile on people's faces. If you've got a great story to tell, email us at communities@rhs.org.uk.

And finally...

Jobs for February

Spring is on it's way and now is the perfect time for preparing, chitting, pruning, dividing and netting, all to prepare for the season ahead. If you need a few pointers, check out our top 10 jobs for the month to get you started.

Get growing

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