Author: Steve Ott

Steve Ott is editor of Kitchen Garden magazine and started his career as a professional grower, producing everything from cut flowers to vegetables. He has been growing fruit and veg all his life and spends most of his spare time in his garden in the East Midlands. He loves to experiment with crops and varieties he has never grown before and when he isn’t gardening is to be found out in the countryside bird watching and walking his dog Ted.

From Liverpool to Cornwall – rich harvest for national wildflower centre

News
The National Wildflower Centre is deepening its roots in Liverpool, teaming up with young environmentalists to transform green spaces into vibrant meadows across the city After the centre’s HQ in Knowsley, five miles from Liverpool city centre, closed in January 2017, the Cornwall-based Eden Project stepped in to protect its legacy and continue its vital work restoring wild habitats, species, landscapes and…
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Bedworth Seed Swap takes place on February 13 2021

VISIT THE FIRST BEDWORTH SEED SWAP

Diary Dates
The first Bedworth Seed Swap will take place between 11.00am-2.00pm, on Saturday 13th February 2021, at St Giles Church, Ash Green, Near Coventry. The event will be a dedicated opportunity for local growers and gardening enthusiasts to come together and exchange their unwanted seeds for something more exciting. The organisers hope to promote the saving of home-produced, open-pollinated seed, and…
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The winning lawn by Andrew Wain of Euridge Manor

Fourth-time lucky Allett Creative Lawn Stripes winner

News
The quintessentially British striped lawn is idealised across the world and in celebration of this Allett Mowers opened up their annual Allett Creative Lawn Stripes competition internationally. This year’s stiff competition attracted a truly global set of entries in what has been a tough year for everyone going through the coronavirus pandemic. It has meant, however, homeowners around the world…
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A mixed organic allotment also provides a home for wildlife

Start the journey to organic gardening in five easy steps

News
Gardening without harming the environment is a lot easier than you may think says Garden Organic, one of Britain’s leading organic gardening charities Feeding your soil with homemade organic compost, ditching the use of toxic chemicals such as slug pellets, and attracting more wildlife into your garden are the first easy steps.  An informative guide produced by national charity, Garden…
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Mulberries are harvested at Hardwick Hall

A crop fit for a queen

News
 National Trust staff at one of the greatest surviving Elizabethan houses, Hardwick Hall in Derbyshire, have begun harvesting what they hope will be a ‘bumper’ crop of black mulberries using traditional harvesting methods. Garden staff believe this year’s fine spring helped create ideal conditions for the 10 trees on the Hall’s Mulberry Walk, which are fruiting about a week early…
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The Black Farmer, Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones MBE calls for more allotments to be amde available by the UK's big landowners

The Black Farmer Calls For Land Owners To Make More Allotment Space Available

Features, News
A 45% spike in the interest in obtaining information about urban allotments during the coronavirus outbreak accentuates 6-18 month waiting lists, according to the National Allotment Society (NAS). There are an estimated 330,000 allotment plots today in Britain, the vast majority of which are the responsibility of local councils. The National Trust has also provided many sites. NAS recommends that…
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Threatened plants need you! Charity calls for help saving the UK’s garden plants

News
Plant Heritage’s Missing Genera 2020 campaign highlights 10 plant groups that need saving Horticultural charity Plant Heritage is calling for anyone across the UK who is passionate about plants to help save ten plant groups which could be at risk, as part of its annual ‘Missing Genera’ campaign. The Missing Genera 2020 comprises ten different types of plants, including Aubrieta,…
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The Eden project's iconic biomes

EDEN’S ICONIC BIOMES TO REOPEN

Diary Dates
The Eden Project confirmed today that the Rainforest and Mediterranean Biomes and Core education centre will reopen to visitors on Saturday July 4. Eden’s 30-acre outdoor garden, shop and some food outlets are already open.  The reopening of the Biomes and Core follow the latest Government directives announced today by the Prime Minister. The Eden team has been working hard…
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Thw Walled Garden at Chawton House, Hampshire

Chawton House to re-open its Gardens

Diary Dates
Re-opening plans include timed ticket entry for the Gardens, a takeaway service from the Old Kitchen Tearoom, two new parkland trails, and the Plant Fairs Roadshow, taking place on July 19 For the first time since its closure in March, Chawton House in Hampshire will once again welcome visitors to the Gardens. Entry is by pre-booked advance ticket only, with…
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