The Plant Based Podcast

After disease wiped out the greenfinches in Dick Woods garden, Dick decided to create a high quality, easy clean bird feeder, manufactured in the UK. Dick, along with Andrew, are on the podcast to talk about how to prevent the spread of diseases in the garden and keep birds safe, plus why their products at Finches Friend will help to do this.   Check out Finches Friend at: www.finchesfriend.com fo...

This weeks episode is all about biosecurity and why should it matter. @ellenmarygardening and @mr_plantgeek chat with Dario Spagniolo The RHS Shows Biosecurity Specialist. Learn about how we can safeguard our gardens, and the UK, from invasive plants, why sneaking back cuttings from your holidays might not be the best souvenir, and other important subjects which safeguard our horticultural landsca...

Kim O'Brien also known as @dahliafarmarama designed a showcase garden at BBC Gardeners World Live 2024. So straight after returning home with a Silver Merit @ellenmarygardening chats with Kim about her experience. What was the design inspiration? How was the build process? And what's coming up in the future? Ellen Mary asks the questions in this episode of the podcast.    Proud to have Hydria as t...

Gardening shows are in full swing and gardens are coming to life (mostly despite the rain)! So we thought it would be nice to bring some joy in the wet weather by releasing an old episode about how gardening is filled with joy! And with BBC Gardeners World Live show on at this time of year, it is great timing to hear from BBC Gardeners World presenter Arit Anderson. Hear about Arit's route into ho...

Ever wondered where the plants on film and TV sets come from? In this episode @mr_plantgeek and @ellenmarygardening chat with Justin and Gabor from Greens Team. Based in Pinewood Studios, they provide natural set dressing for many TV shows and films that you're probablty enjoying right now - from Star Wars to Barbie and many more. Hear how things come together on set, how accuracy is important but...

Have you ever wondered what happens behind the scenes of a garden open to the public? Do visitors get caught taking cuttings? What other aspects of the business are there to consider other than the plants looking great? Gardener, author, lecturer Tamsin Westhorpe chats with @mr_plantgeek and @ellenmarygardening about behind the scenes at Stockton Bury Gardens.   Afterwards, Michael and Ellen chat...

In this weeks episode, Michael speaks to Riz Reyes of Heronswood Garden in the USA, and they find they have a lot in common. We think you're really enjoy this conversation, as Michael is very honest about his upbringing, and insecurities. Michael and Riz compare notes on all aspects of growing up as a bit of a misfit, but with the comfort of a passion for plants! They both grew up hiding amongst t...

Kate Turner is a skilled horticulturist who has been working on compost formulations and providing customer advice on all things compost for many years. Find out what exactly compost is, what the biggest changes are including peat free compost and what the future is for compost on the market for gardeners.    Afterwards, @mr_plantgeek and @ellenmarygardening chat with @shegrowsveg Lucy and Kate ab...

In this weeks episode, Ellen and Michael are up the hill, looking down on the RHS Malvern Spring festival, as they review this excellent show. You can expect plenty of gossip, plant reveals, and the usual japes!   Proud to announce Hydria as the series 15 sponsors! Hydria™ is the world's first all-in-one water fountain kit that fits any planter or pot. Perfect for patios, balconies and even indoor...

The Garden Folk Magazine Takeover Episode  A free gardening community magazine we hear?! Yes! The Garden Folk Magazine is a free online magazine for anyone looking for gardening inspiration, advice and encouragement.  In this episode hear from the team plus some of the regular contributors as well with some snippets of wisdom!  If you'd like to read the magazine head to www.gardenfolkmag.com To ke...

Back in 2020, Ellen and Michael took a trip to South London to visit TV presenter and entrepreneur Liz Earle in her wellbeing studio. With over 25 years of experience in the beauty, health and wellbeing industry, Liz now heads up one of the most progressive and successful magazines on the subject, not to mention a popular podcast and YouTube channel. This is a listener favourite so it's a re relea...

In this weeks episode, Michael chooses one of his most memorable episodes, as he and Ellen spoke to the Caley Brothers, who are actually sisters… these wonderful ladies are mushroom farmers, and are really going places, fresh from their amazing display at Chelsea Flower Show, they are at the urban show this weekend, and causing quite a stir. We think you'll love this episode, and hope it inspires...

This episode is a listeners favourite! We picked from the top downloaded episodes to start series 15 of the podcast. We couldn't be happier to re-release  @augusts_garden  chatting about her huge career switch into gardening from high up in the sky.  @mrplantgeek  and  @ellenmarygardening talk with the ever smiling, floral dressing, passionate gardener August - known as Augusts Garden to her over...

We've decided to re release our first ever podcast episode. This episode has been one of the most popular episodes we've recorded and no wonder why! It's all about bees. Find out all about the Cambridge botanic garden research into the fascinating life of bees. What colours do they prefer? What surfaces do they prefer? We found out with Director of the gardens Professor Glover. Proud to announce H...

Dr. Neil Buttery is the award winning author of The Dark History of Sugar'. He is also a podcaster and cook of British food from the past - and his specialist subject is PUDDINGS! @mr_plantgeek and @ellenmarygardening delve into the history of food including sugar - and it may surprise you! In the Horti Hangout this week meet @mike_thegardener who steps in for @mr_plantgeek this week and chats wit...

The 'Muscular Dystrophy UK Forest Bathing Garden' is being designed by Ula Maria. Ula is a renowned garden and landscape designer based in London who specialises in creating distinctive outdoor spaces for private and commercial clients in the UK and overseas. After winning RHS 'Young Designer of the Year' in 2017, Ula Maria set up her studio with a focus on creating emotive garden spaces and has p...

From postman to worldwide known Terrarium expert, Ben Newell otherwise known as @WorcesterTerrariums started his journey only a few years ago as a content creator. Now his content has had millions of views, he has worked with Marvel, LadBible and some of the most well known faces on social media. Ben joins @mr_plantgeek and @ellenmarygardening on the podcast for this episode about content creation...

Michael is delivering a solo episode this week, as he chats to Ed Morrison about the unique Roots Allotment project - geared towards the modern allotmenteer, where equipment is shared, plots are smaller, and a no-dig method of growing is encouraged.  Listen to Michael chat to Ed about the project in great detail! We think you'll feel very inspired that we can all grow, wherever we live!   Proud to...

Manoj Malde joins @mr_plantgeek and @ellenmarygardening in this weeks episode to talk about the joys of gardening, designing for RHS Chelsea Flower Show and getting married there along with his brand new book called Your Outdoor Room: How to design a garden you can live in which is due to be released soon. Afterwards, Michael and Ellen gossip from opposite sides of the Atlantic, being sleepless in...

In this episode @ellenmarygardening talks to RHS Chelsea newcomer Giulio Giorgi all about the design process and why this garden is so important. The World Child Cancer's Nurturing Garden is a sensory haven designed for children with cancer and their families to bring joy, hope and escapism through experiences with nature. After the show, it will be relocated permanently to one of the Young Lives...

In this weeks episode meet Joel Web from Hydria Life, who help to bring nature inside and tranquility outside with their clever water fountains. Biophilia is about loving nature and being immersed in the joy of the natural world and can bring great health benefits. In this episode Joel tells us more about it and how Hydria fountains can help bring an extra something special to any garden of any si...

This week, we have a very special treat, as Michael broadcasts from inside an actual greenhouse, in the centre of international trade event, IPM Essen!! Michael chats to Nat Porter from YPHA and Porters Nurseries about what they've spotted at the show, if trends actually exist, why some are snobby about what people grow, and tonnes more. A whole hour of two gardening minds chewing horti cud, what...

This weeks episode is with Sound Matters. The team who create sound and listening experiences that can help you change the world. Most recently, they recorded sounds around the Newt estate in Somerset, and the fabulous Great Dixter. The sound recordings are not always as you may expect, yes there's bird song- but they also document sounds in the border, amongst log piles, deep in the raised beds,...

Ever wondered what it's like to pull together an RHS show? In this weeks episode Ellen Mary chats with Show Lead Kate Dufton about the behind the scenes work to make sure everything comes together and what's coming up for the 2024 show. Find out more about the show and get your tickets including a new type of ticket which Kate tells us all about on the podcast. https://www.rhsmalvern.co.uk   Proud...

Series 14 kicks off with an incredible guest! We always ask guests on the podcast where their gardening journey started, the majority will say from their parents or grandparents who are of course all legends! But imagine if your gardening inspiration was non other than the late Geoff Hamilton! Yes on todays show we have the owner of Barnsdale Gardens, horticulturalist, writer, radio and television...