Landscape Juice

Threat to UK gardening from Climate Change

New report from the Royal Horticultural Society highlights the challenges and opportunities of gardening in a changing climate The quintessentially British lush, green lawn could become a thing of the past; gardeners in the north could enjoy a longer growing season and plant pests and diseases not yet established in some areas of the country could become commonplace; these are some of the findings of a new report from the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) and leading academics into the impact of climate change on gardening. Called Gardening in a Changing Climate, the far ranging report looks at both the impact... Read more →

Raccoon, mongoose and cabbage among invasive species banned from UK

The north American raccoon, an Asian hornet and an American cabbage are among 37 invasive species that will be banned from being brought into the UK from Wednesday when a new EU regulation comes into effect. The continent-wide rules now make it illegal to import, keep, breed or grow, transport, sell or use, or release into the environment without a permit the listed invasive, non-native plant and animal species. But the ban will no longer apply when then UK leaves the EU. The 14 plants listed include the American skunk cabbage, which has invaded Scottish marshes and wiped out all... Read more →

Neonicotinoid insecticides linked to wild bee decline across England

Exposure to neonicotinoid seed treated oilseed rape crops has been linked to long-term population decline of wild bee species across the English countryside, according to research published today in Nature Communications. The research, led by the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology using data provided by Fera Science Ltd and the Bees, Wasps and Ants Recording Scheme, examined changes in the occurrence of 62 wild bee species with oilseed rape cropping patterns across England between 1994 and 2011 - the time period spanning the introduction of wide-scale commercial use of neonicotinoids. The scientists found evidence suggesting that neonicotinoid use is linked... Read more →

Natural England issues a licence to kill buzzards

Natural England issued a licence permitting the control of up to 10 buzzards to prevent damage to young pheasants. In a statement on its website, Natural England says: "The licence is time-limited with stringent conditions and is based on the law, policy and best available evidence. It follows rigorous assessment after other methods had been tried unsuccessfully over a 5-year period. It is stipulated that the licence must be used in combination with non-lethal measures and only on buzzards in and immediately around the animal pens - not on passing birds. These conditions are designed to make the licensed activity... Read more →

Harmony of the Seas a floating plant disease risk?

The world's largest passenger liner has just docked in Southampton after sailing in from France in advance of its inaugural voyage to Rotterdam. It is a vast ship boasting a crew of 2,100 crew. It can host 6,780 guests. From a plant lover's perspective, the Harmony of the Seas takes parks and gardens to a new level. On board there is an impressive 10,587 plants, 48 vine plants, and 52 trees. I'm supposing that there are also huge beds and borders with soil and compost deep enough to support the roots of these plants? What a great initiative. Imagine sitting... Read more →

Who is dying for a new Indian sandstone patio this summer?

Are you dying for a new patio this summer? Maybe you're not but literally thousands of Indian quarry workers are due to silicosis in the production of natural stone products. Adults and children, some as young as twelve, are working in unsafe conditions. Rina Chandran reports that in the Indian state of Rajasthan there are up to one million workers suffering from "silicosis or other respiratory diseases". "Although there is no comprehensive data, hundreds, possibly thousands, have died of silicosis, an incurable lung disease caused by long-term exposure to silica dust given off in the mining and processing of sandstone... Read more →

Plant gasses can counteract arctic climate change

Researchers from the University of Copenhagen have found that plant gasses possibly dampen the temperature rise in Greenland. Plants emit compounds to deter pests or attract pollinators, and as a side effect particles are formed when the compounds interact in the air. These particles can contribute to the formation of clouds, which reflect incoming solar radiation, and thus prevent solar heat from reaching the ground and warming it additionally. Researchers studied the effect of the imminent climate changes on the release of so-called “biogenic volatiles” to the atmosphere above Greenland. The study of biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) is in... Read more →

Plas Cadnant Hidden Gardens devastated by floods

(image: flooding at Plas Cadnant Hidden Gardens) Plas Cadnant Hidden Garden Creator, Anthony Tavernor said: "The garden sits down in the valley so a huge amount of water came down from the fields like a tidal wave, devastating everything in its path,". "I'm just devastated. This has been my life's project - my purpose in life - for the last 20 years and I live and dream it, "It's everything. I'm so emotionally involved with the garden. We've had so much support from people since we put the pictures on our Facebook page. It's almost like a bereavement." From the... Read more →

French weatherman taken off air after questioning climate change

A French TV weatherman has been taken off air after writing a book in which he questions climate change. Philippe Verdier, a familiar face on the state-run France 2 channel, said he had been told not to return to work for the foreseeable future. “I received a letter asking me not to come,” Verdier told RTL radio this week. “I don’t know any more than that, I don’t know how long it will last. It’s all to do with my book.” Read the full article: French weatherman taken off air after questioning climate change Comment: I think there are so... Read more →

Thames Central Open Spaces mount legal challenge to Garden Bridge

Thames Central Open Spaces TCOS is "fighting the wasteful and unnecessary £175m Garden Bridge construction across the River Thames in central London: one of the busiest and richest part of the city if not the UK. It's part funded by the taxpayer and will be privately owned and managed with no public right of way." TCSO has set up a fund raiser to mount a legal challenge in order to stop the construction of the Garden Bridge. They have so far raised £17,210.23 (75%) of the proposed £24,000 target. Read more →