23 episodes
The Underground The Underground Pod
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- Business
Exploring the future of garden care.
The underground podcast is a place where the disparate worlds of horticulture and marketing collide. Kate Turner, the Gardener Guru and Phil Wright, co-founder of creative agency WrightObara, team up to discover the trailblazers and innovators shaping the future of garden care in the UK.
With content that’s as relevant to start-ups as it would be to established players, we look to cover the hottest topics and trends you need to know. From plants to products, environmental concerns to legislation, we’ll dig deep to bring you the inside story.
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For Peat's Sake - Sally Nex, Peat-free Partnership
Sally Nex is a horticulturalist, journalist and environmental campaigner with the Peat-free Partnership, we caught up with her to learn more about the mission of this organisation. Despite the widely recognised environmental damage caused by the use of peat in horticulture, the trade in peat is still ongoing. The Peat-Free Partnership brings together the RHS, the Wildlife Trusts, the RSPB, the National Trust, Garden Organic, Plantlife and many others forming a broad coalition to persuade the industry to adopt peat alternatives.
Peat-free Partnership: https://peatfreepartnership.org.uk
Plantlife: https://www.plantlife.org.uk
Discover more about our hosts:
Kate Turner: www.gardenerguru.co.ukPhil Wright: www.wrightobara.com -
I Fought the Lawn - Guy Jenkins, DLF Seeds
A good lawn is a staple for most gardens, but have you ever considered the R&D that goes into creating the latest generation of lawn seed? Guy Jenkins has been working with DLF seeds, the company behind Johnsons lawn seed, for 28 years, so he knows a thing or two about what goes into the perfect lawn. DLF supply grass seeds for a host of prestigious sports pitches, and it's this know-how that's distilled into their consumer products.
Johnsons Lawn Seed: http://johnsonslawnseed.com
DLF Seeds: https://www.dlf.co.uk
GIMA: http://gima.org.uk
Discover more about our hosts:
Kate Turner: www.gardenerguru.co.uk
Phil Wright: www.wrightobara.com -
Understanding Responsible Sourcing - Steve Harper, Chairman, Responsible Sourcing Scheme
The Responsible Sourcing Scheme has been developed to assess the impact of each raw material ingredient that goes into a bag of Peat Free compost. We caught up with Steve Harper, the chairman of the RSS and also CEO of Southern Trident, to understand the scope of the RSS, how it works, and what difference it will make to retailers and consumers. We also discuss the environmental impact of one of the more contentious ingredients too.
Responsible Sourcing Scheme:
https://www.responsiblesourcing.org.uk
Southern Trident:
https://southerntrident.com
Discover more about our hosts:
Kate Turner: www.gardenerguru.co.uk
Phil Wright: www.wrightobara.com -
The Magic of Television - Scott Smith, Head Gardener, Mayen Estate
Scott Smith is a trained horticulturist and has been consistently recognised by HortWeek as one of the nation's Top Head Gardeners since 2022. Until recently Scott was the Head Gardener and presenter on Beechgrove Garden for the BBC. He's also an advocate for mental health awareness within the industry.
Discover more about our hosts:
Kate Turner: www.gardenerguru.co.uk
Phil Wright: www.wrightobara.com -
Searching for Peat Alternatives - Elaine Gotts, R&D Scientist, Levington Research Station
Elaine Gotts has been researching alternative growing-media ingredients for over 20 years. To say that she's an expert in the subject would be an understatement. That's why we were intrigued to discover more about the science behind the latest generation of peat-free composts.
Levington Research Station:
https://www.lovethegarden.com/uk-en/article/evergreen-research-station-where-miracles-are-born
Discover more about our hosts:
Kate Turner: www.gardenerguru.co.ukPhil Wright: www.wrightobara.com -
Endless Opportunities - Boyd Douglas-Davies, The Boyd Partnership
Boyd Douglas-Davies needs little introduction, previously the CEO of Hillview Garden Centres, a Director at British Garden Centres and a past President of the HTA, he now runs his own consulting business The Boyd Partnership, while also being an Ambassador for the YPHA and Greenfingers Charity. We caught up with Boyd to discuss the challenges and opportunities for Garden Centres and so much more!
The Boyd Partnership: http://theboydpartnership.co.uk
YPHA: http://ypha.org.uk/
Greenfingers Charity: http://greenfingerscharity.org.uk/
Discover more about our hosts:
Kate Turner: www.gardenerguru.co.uk
Phil Wright: www.wrightobara.com