Clippings: news for gardeners

C l i ppi n g s Our roundup of the month’s latest gardening news and views Toads living the high life Breaking news: toads live in trees. Volunteers surveying tree cavities and nest boxes looking for hazel dormice and bats have found much wartier Trees ‘will survive’ occupants instead, sometimes as high as 3m above ground. Fifty toads have now been recorded living in trees, ash dieback devastation suggesting as many as one in 100 trees – especially in damp woodlands – may Ten years on from the discover y of the first have toads in their holes. confirmed case of ash dieback in the UK, The findings have stumped the hunt is still on for trees with natural environmentalists as toads don’t have immunity.Ash dieback, caused by the fungus ideal physiques for tree climbing. Hymenoscyphus fraxineus, has spread “Nobody looks for toads in trees,” says to almost ever y area of the UK since it Dr Silviu Petrovan, report author for the was first identified in 2012. Hundreds of People’s Trust for Endangered Species, thousands of ash trees have died: last which supported the research. He year alone, the National Trust felled over thinks the toads may be searching for 30,000 affected ash trees. food or avoiding parasites or predators.

“The devastation here has been almost ■ If you’ve found a toad in a tree, total,” says Mark Ballard, curator at report sightings via Froglife’s Dragon Westonbirt, The National Arboretum in Finder app or email info@froglife.org Gloucestershire. He’s had to fell about 5,000 trees affected by ash dieback in the Arboretum’s ancient Silk Wood, which dates back to the 13th centur y. But Mark says Plants with the he’s seizing the chance to future-proof the woodland by replanting it with trees resilient feel-good factor to climate change, like the small-leaved Healthy, lush houseplants make you lime (Tilia cordata) and the wild service tree happiest, research has found, while (Sorbus torminalis). “We’re keeping one eye neglected, dying plants are best on the future,” he says. moved out of sight. Researchers from

Research suggests up to 5 per cent of native Reading University found houseplants ash trees should have some resistance to the with leafy canopies such as devil’s ivy disease, so conservationists are now pinning and weeping fig give the biggest their hopes on a living ark of trees that made boosts to wellbeing. But unhealthy it through earlier outbreaks and could have plants bring you down. some natural immunity. Saplings propagated Jade Murray, author of The Indoor from these survivors have been growing in Researchers believe that ash trees’ genetic Garden: Get Started No Matter How the National Archive of Tolerant Ash since diversity can help them fight dieback Small Your Space, says houseplants 2018, in what the make you feel good because they government calls, About 40 per cent of did absolutely nothing at change constantly as they grow. “You “a major step towards all ash trees will recover.” build a relationship with them,” she landscape recover y”. the original trees have Work is now under way says. “It’s almost like having pets.”

Three years on, died , but one in five shows to identify a second about 40 per cent of tranche of potentially the original 1,000 no signs of disease resistant trees to add trees have died – but to the collection from about one in five shows no signs of disease, next year. In the meantime, the project while a further 17 per cent have only minor wants woodland owners to keep their eyes symptoms. Project lead Jo Clark says she’s peeled for potential saviour ash trees: those Houseplants also seeing healed lesions on infected trees, still standing tall and leafy while others like this devil’s suggesting that some trees may be fighting growing nearby have succumbed. ivy can help the disease themselves. “Ash is ver y ■ Report potential survivors via lift low spirits genetically diverse,” she says. “Even if we livingashproject.org.uk/reportatree

Dormice head north

Sissinghurst trains ‘gardeners of the future’

Dormice are back in Lancashire for the first time in a century after volunteers released 39 captive-bred mice into ancient woodland near Carnforth. It’s hoped the furry pioneers will head a northern comeback for the endangered species. ■ For more info, go to: ptes.org/campaigns/dormice

Prickly beetle fnds refuge from climate change

A small, spiny Mediterranean beetle that lives on rockroses (Cistus) has turned up in Britain for the first time after a gardener spotted it on a shrub in south-west London. Rockrose prickly beetles do little damage to plants and RHS Principal Entomologist Dr Andrew Salisbury says they’re among a wave of exotic new arrivals as insects flee north to escape climate change. “Gardens act like corridors,” he says. “They’re vitally important.” ■ Report sightings at bit.ly/rockrose-beetle

The rockrose prickly leaf beetle feeds on plants but does not do any significant harm

A new horticultural training programme set to become one of the most prestigious in the country kicks off this month as the National Trust’s first Sissinghurst Scholarship programme takes up the trowel. The 18-month apprenticeship is aimed at nurturing ‘the gardeners and head gardeners of the future’. bit.ly/sissinghurst-scholarship

Councils caught in crossfre over long grass

One in five councils are rewilding verges and parks as they come under pressure to act on boosting biodiversity and tackling climate change. But many are finding themselves caught between residents angry at ‘unkempt’ road verges, and conservationists urging them to do more.

Medway Council, Kent, pulled out of the No Mow May campaign this year after grass-cutting requests by local residents more than doubled. Other people, though, signed a petition to continue rewilding so the council now takes a hybrid approach. “We have continued to do our bit,” says assistant director of frontline services Ruth Du-Lieu. “But in some areas it could be dangerous to leave grass to grow, particularly on roundabouts or busy junctions.”

Meanwhile, wildlife presenter Chris Packham accused Oxford City Council of “eco-vandalism” for mowing down wild orchids flowering on a roundabout. Councillor Imogen Thomas of Oxford City Council says the roundabout was one of 26 locations trialling different mowing regimes and will now be cut just once, in late summer. “We encourage locals to talk to their neighbours and agree whether or not they want the verges cut,” she says.

We September

My gardening world Emma Bridgewater

Emma Bridgewater’s cottage chic earthenware pottery, with its trademark polka dots and nature-inspired designs, charms tea-drinkers and decorates kitchens around the world. She started the business after she couldn’t find a mug to give her mum as a birthday present: it’s now one of the largest pottery manufacturers in the UK.

Your designs have always shown a huge affection for gardens and gardening – where does that spring from?

I come from a long line of competent gardeners. But I thought gardening was something I’d come to later. Then when I was in my early 30s my mother had an awful riding accident: she lived for some time, but she didn’t ever speak again. So I wasn’t able to do the planned download, ‘All right Mum, tell me about gardens’. I still learned a lot through the back of my head.

How do you use your garden for inspiration?

The garden is a form of meditation rather than a reference librar y. Design inspiration is putting oneself in the way of a feeling of intense recognition and longing. It’s about asking: “How can the world be this wonderful? How can I make something that demonstrates how much you appreciate the loveliness of a garden full of butterflies dancing or larks flying over?”

What do you enjoy growing in your garden at the moment?

Plants are a regular feature on Emma’s work

I live on the north Norfolk coast, which is ver y dr y with thin, sandy soil, so it throws up a lot of ver y nice wildflowers – great clumps of scabious and moon daisies, and a slightly distressing amount of rag wort. I do know it’s rather unjustly hated and it’s a terrific habitat for insects, so I tr y to look kindly on it but there’s something about having had ponies as a child that means it’s still the enemy.

You’ve released a series of specialedition mugs this year for the National Garden Scheme – would you consider opening your own garden to the public?

I don’t think my garden would quite cut the mustard. We did it a lot at Bampton [Emma’s former Oxfordshire home]. There, the garden went from absolutely nothing, to something pretty spectacular. It was more, “I’ve got my roses here and I’ve got my vegetables there” – so it was tick, tick, tick, rather than, “What do I really love? What wants to happen here? And are the birds having a nice time?”

New plants steal the show

In a stellar year for new plant releases, a sweet pea named after the late garden writer Peter Seabrook has won best new plant at BBC Gardeners’ World Live. Breeder Chris Wiley said he named the ‘Peter Seabrook’ sweet pea (left) after watching Peter “fall in love” with it after spotting it in plant trials. GW’s Adam Frost presented a posy of the sweetly scented lavender-blue flowers to Dame Mary Berry at the show. A remarkable 26 new plants were on show on GW Live’s Peter Seabrook Tribute Display. They included a pollen-free lily, ‘Soft Romance’, described as a ‘breeding breakthrough’; a seed-raised black petunia, ‘Experimental Black’; and a new crab apple, ‘Halloween’, which has ribbed fruits resembling mini pumpkins. ■ Sweet pea ‘Peter Seabrook’ will be on sale later this year via Mr Fothergill’s mr-fothergills.co.uk

Hunt for memorabilia

If there’s a giant floating tap in your shed, Glasgow University wants to hear from you. Researchers are trying to trace hundreds of artefacts auctioned off after the 1988 Glasgow Garden Festival. Among lost objects are a statue of Moses, 24 scarecrows, and a miniature railway.

“Culturally it was a big moment for Glasgow – but then it was scattered,” says project leader Lex Lamb. ■ Submit photos of Glasgow Garden Festival objects at glasgowgardenfestival.org

The Glasgow Garden Festival floating tap remains lost

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GIANT HIDES AT KEW Scientists at Kew have discovered a new giant waterlily growing right under their noses. Victoria boliviana was stored in Kew’s herbarium but wrongly labelled; it was identified after experts planted it in the garden’s waterlily house. kew.org

ANCIENT TREES A new map of ancient trees has used computer modelling to suggest there are about two million trees of exceptional age or cultural value in England – ten times as many as are on official records. woodlandtrust.org.uk

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HIDDEN GARDEN REVEALED This summer’s scorching weather has revealed the shadowy outline of a hidden 17th-century garden beneath a lawn at Chatsworth in Derbyshire. The ornate Great Parterre featured scrolled beds and intricate paths but was grassed over in 1729. chatsworth.org

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CONGRATULATIONS DR MARK! GW TV presenter Mark Lane has accepted an honorary doctorate from the University of Kent for his ‘inspirational’ career in garden design and media.

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LONGEST HEDGEHOG STREET? Could gardeners in your street create a ‘hedgehog highway’ and win the title of Britain’s Biggest Hedgehog Street? Send in your bid by 10 Sep to bit.ly/hh-comp