grow, cook, eat, arrange with Sarah Raven & friends

We’ve covered the joys of looking after feathered friends on the podcast before, but what’s lovely about this week’s guest is that she’s shined a light on adopting ex-commercial hens as our coop-companions. Founding the British Hen Welfare Trust in 2005, Jane Howorth has earned an MBE of her services to hens, and joins us to share the inspiring initiatives the trust has created, why former battery...

Milli Proust's gorgeous cut flower arrangements are testament to her artistic eye and passion for sustainable growing, something you can see more of in her marvellous upcoming book, ‘ From Seed To Bloom ’. Bestowed with hands-on creativity and the inspirational stoicism of her grandmother, she now shares her delightful flowers with the world.  It’s a pleasure for Arthur to chat to Milli on ‘g...

As the clocks leap forward, so too does our focus for the year’s flowers. It’s a wonderful time now to think about your summer garden, whether you’re looking for scent from cut flowers or the most exhilarating colour in your flower bed. On ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’ this week, Sarah & Arthur pick out their favourite flowers from our summer and late-summer catalogue, from the exciting, brand ne...

As we bring this beginner gardening miniseries to a close, it’d be remiss of us not to cover containers, for the more urban gardeners looking to jazz up a windowsill or tabletop with a marvellous centrepiece. From piecing together a stage-like display with tiers to sizing up the largest pot your windowsill will take, Sarah & Arthur share the most vivacious plants for those of us looking to mak...

Colour is an element of gardening that has captured both Sarah and Arthur’s eyes since their youngest years, and can be far more invigorating than structure or arrangement alone. In this episode of our miniseries, we take a look at the main colour palettes from which to paint your garden space with colour cohesion, whether you prefer sleek but muted collections, or bold, dazzling ensembles. In thi...

It can be daunting considering which flowers you might want adorning your space, but understanding your space and letting your imagination run wild will help turn the garden into the dreamlike haven it can become. On episode 3 of our Beginner’s Guide miniseries, Sarah & Arthur take a look at how you can become better acquainted with your space, what you might love to make of it, and most impor...

To create the beautiful settings we’re delighted to share from our own garden at Perch Hill takes vigorous annual sowing, so episode 2 of our miniseries focuses on bringing your seeds to life. It’s time to get started on sowing; which seeds are ideal for the garden or a windowsill pot, how to treat them like gold dust as you plant them, top sowing techniques, and the perfect seeds to start out wit...

Much of the terminology used in gardening can be somewhat intimidating, so before we dive into the flowers we thought it’d be essential to start with the common phrases you’ll need to know to understand the wonderful world of gardening. This episode of the ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’ Beginner’s Guide to Gardening will have you comfortable telling your annuals and your perennials apart, and we run t...

Welcome to your Beginner’s Guide to Gardening - a mini series created to help demystify the sometimes-complicated world of creating your own magnificent arrangements in gardens and pots. Join hosts Sarah Raven & Arthur Parkinson in this introductory episode to find out what you'll learn across the next 5 easy-listening episodes of ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’, from what to sow & how to...

Whether it’s concern for climate or the convenience of lower maintenance, drought tolerant plants are a way to create a thriving, colourful garden in heat without the constant need for watering. This week on ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’ Sarah & Arthur share the perfect drought tolerant plants for containers, how best to tend to them, and offer a recipe for a refreshing rhubarb cordial.  In this...

Josie Lewis is a thread of continuum at Perch Hill, frequently referenced on the podcast, so it’s high time that she finally joins Sarah on ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’ to share her love of Roses. Whether you’re looking for a variety with a particular colour to combine with the beauty of your existing garden, or you’re more pressed by scent and structure, we hear which are the absolute best Roses to...

It’s for very good reason that Lilies sell out so quickly at garden centres - they’re such versatile, reliable and exotic perennials for bombastic shape, colour and scent. From the towering Tiger Lily’s warm brilliance to Muscadet’s staggeringly broad saucers and powerful scent, we hear from Sarah & Arthur how to pick out the most vivacious varieties, protect them from lily beetle, and use the...

Nobody captures the essence of a season’s most gorgeous cut flowers with the same poise and prowess as Becky Crowley, whose work on the cut flower garden at Chatsworth balances productivity with beauty effortlessly. Becky joins Sarah on ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’ to talk us through her seasonal approach to cut flower photography, which plants and shrubs assemble to craft a beautiful, layered garde...

As winter drifts further into our rear view mirrors, it’s a perfect time to take a look at which of our wonderful range of seeds are superlative additions to your garden throughout the coming months. Whether it’s the reliable scent and beauty of Dianthus 'Benigna White Striped' and the beautifully bicolour Sweet Pea ‘Matucana’, or perhaps a colourful splash from the perfect tomato compan...

Tattie Rose and her team are botanical set designers with an eye for splendour, crafting uniquely magical compositions for events with a penchant for arbourial excellence. Joining Arthur on the podcast this week to share the inspirations behind her design ethos, Tattie walks through how she chooses & reuses vintage adornments, and why she loves to lean into woodland foliage for her showstoppin...

The year is well underway, and with it comes the delightful prospect of spring’s imminent arrival. Longer, warmer, brighter days bring a perfect opportunity to populate your space with some of our favourite, outstanding floral highlights from the Spring Range. Sarah & Arthur sit down together with their brand new catalogue and let their imagination run wild with their top picks. Learn how you...

When most people think of hens, the image of a typical brown egg-layer springs immediately to mind without any consideration for the bold blues, lavenders, partridge colours and intricate lacing found in rarer breeds. Feather & Egg’s Sabina Richardson is a fellow poultry fancier with a commitment to sharing the joy and wonder of pure and rare hen breeds. Sabina joins Arthur this week as we exp...

As we settle into 2022 and begin to plan for the year’s most delightful flowers, it’s the perfect time to share how to grow from seeds, a process that’s incredibly rewarding and yields beautiful pots full of healthy plants. To create a complete cutting garden you’ll need to sow some seeds yourself. This episode of ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’ is the A-Z of all we know about sowing systems; you’ll le...

As we get 2022 well underway, we’ll see a showering of Snowdrops begin to brighten the garden with their brave, early bloom. Not only do they provide a gorgeous lift to grass, but their scent is so delightfully sweet. You’d be hard pressed to find a greater advocate for the Galanthus than Graham Gough, an old horticultural friend of Sarah’s who joins her on ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’ to share his...

We often discuss desert island flowers on ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’, and the focus of this week’s episode should hold a spot in everyone’s list - Sweet Peas. The anthemic ensemble of colours within this family of flowers is huge, from rich, saturated blues and purples, to pastel shades and luscious bi-colours. Sweet Peas are the epitome of cut-and-come-again, which means you’ll be graced with the...

We’re seldom shown or taught the wonders of wildlife that’s smaller than a fingernail, yet there’s a vast and vibrant insect ecosystem that’s in need of our protection from the effects of environmental issues. There are few authors who share the same degree of passion for the insect world as Dave Goulson. A Professor of Biology at Sussex University & author of the Sunday Times Bestselling book...

The cosiness of Christmas can be gloriously accentuated by a beautiful cut flower arrangement, and with this episode of ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’ releasing on Christmas Eve it’s the perfect time to share how to make these flowers last as long as possible. Right from the picking, through to conditioning and arranging your flowers, Sarah & Arthur’s tips will help you to make the most of your cu...

Shane Connolly’s vision for timeless arrangements and his dedicated, tight-knit team are a combination that bring an artisanal class to any event they’re involved in - most publicised of which being the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's magnificent wedding celebration in 2011. He’s also a firm advocate for sustainable floristry; for those of us looking to shift away from floral foam, this week’...

The joys of gardening extend far beyond the three dimensions, with evolution over time being an aspect that inspires Dan Pearson to create magnificent spaces and document them so eloquently. A prolific and multi-talented horticultural icon, Dan joins Sarah on this week’s ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’ to discuss his exciting upcoming series which promises to offer a fresh and exciting approach to lear...

We’re just weeks away from what promises to be a magical Christmas period, and what better way to welcome the seasonal spirit into your home than creating a gorgeous wreath to adorn your door. Whether you’re planning for a more natural look, or picking more exuberant decorations, Sarah & Arthur walk through the festive foliage to keep an eye out for when foraging this winter, from the warm, fi...