Linda Phillips earns "well-deserved" Victoria Medal

Linda Phillips (PICTURED), one of the leading pioneers in therapeutic community gardening and the founder and driving force of the award-winning charity Roots and Shoots, was this week presented with the Royal Horticultural Society Victoria Medal of Honour (VMH) at a ceremony in London.

The VMH is the highest distinction in British horticulture, established in 1897 to honour those making outstanding contributions to the field. 

Limited to only 63 holders at any time, symbolising the 63-year reign of Queen Victoria, it represents a prestigious lifetime achievement award for UK horticulturists.

Linda comes from a family of working gardeners and developed a passion for plants from an early age. In a time where there were very few women working in horticulture, at 18 she became a Royal Parks apprentice at Hampton Court Palace. 

Many of the gardeners she worked with would today be considered to be neurodiverse or have learning difficulties but in the gardens, they were accepted as individuals and as part of the team, establishing her view of gardens as places for everyone.

She founded Roots and Shoots in 1982 for young people with complex special educational needs and disabilities to learn practical skills for life and work, including horticulture, complemented with a full educational programme. 

Through hands-on gardening projects students gain a sense of pride, achievement and belonging, while achieving experience and qualifications that are both practical and meaningful.

Roots and Shoots’ Walnut Tree Walk site in Kennington began as a dilapidated and polluted brownfield site used by the Civil Defence in the Second World War. 

Despite no plants on the site and few funds, Linda envisioned a beautiful garden for all. Over 44 years under her direction, staff, students and volunteers have transformed the site into a beloved garden and state-of-the-art environmental charity in the heart of the inner city. 

Many Londoners get their first contact with the natural world and gardening experience at Roots and Shoots. It is a place of hope and joy.

Linda told That's Gardening: “I’m incredibly honoured to receive the Victoria Medal of Honour in recognition of my work in community and therapeutic gardening and its vital importance for transforming people’s lives. 

"Roots and Shoots reaches people from every background and gives them a new perspective on the world. It has been the joy of my life to share my love of the natural world with so many.”

At Roots and Shoots, RBG Kew alumna Linda took her experience as a gardener and applied it to teaching, in effect propagating people in the way that she propagates plants. 

She found if you provide people with kindness and patience, while discovering and encouraging their conditions to thrive, they flourish and grow.

Through her dedication, horticultural skill and remarkable ability to see beauty in everything and potential in everyone, Linda has cultivated a glorious space that nurtures people, the environment and the local community.

Roots and Shoots is a UNESCO award winning organisation. At its heart are beautiful gardens, including the half-acre Wild Garden, tended to encourage wildlife, which provides a vital green lung amidst the urban landscape and a safe learning place.

Linda’s extraordinary horticultural talent has been recognised, including by two Chelsea Gold Medals and a Silver Gilt Medal (in collaboration with Pennard Plants). She is an RHS Associate of Honour and was awarded the MBE in in 2012 “for services to young people”.

Roots and Shoots, Walnut Tree Walk, London SE11 6DN. Tel 0207 587 1131

rootsandshoots.org.uk

Activities at RHS Gardens this Jubilee June

Looking for an inspirational day out for the whole family this Jubilee June, where you can entertain adults and children alike with relaxing walks and a variety of events all in one place? Then families need look no further than their nearest RHS garden for a fantastic day out.

With summer weather now upon us, witness the fabulous plants at last exploding into leaf and flower; with activities from lunches to teas, and gifts from plants to pots, there is something for all the family to enjoy:

Spring Half-term, 2-10 June
Enjoy activities and events at each of the four RHS gardens, where local schools have been busy designing, planting and creating miniature gardens to be on show at the gardens. During the half term you can view and vote for your favourite design. Get your hands dirty and join in trails and fun craft workshops.

Jubilee Bank Holiday Weekend, 2-5 June
Enjoy Diamond Jubilee celebrations at RHS gardens around the country including:

RHS Garden Rosemoor - Diamond Jubilee Tea Party, 5 June, 3pm-5pm Normal Garden entry applies. Come and celebrate our Patron, Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee where there will be live music and family entertainment with tea and cake available in the Winter Garden. Why not bring the whole family and join the celebrations!

RHS Garden Hyde Hall - Music for the Diamond Jubilee, Tuesday 5 June 2012, 2pm-4pm, enjoy music and cream teas to celebrate the Queen’s Jubilee. Normal garden admission applies. Booking not required

RHS Garden Harlow Carr - Jubilee Celebrations, 5 June, local group the Harrogate Brass Band will be playing live music in the garden to celebrate the Queens Jubilee. Normal Garden Admission applies.

Father’s Day Weekend: Great Garden Swap, June 16-17
RHS Great Garden Swap is a chance to turn out your sheds and bring in your unwanted tools, gardening sundries and excess produce to swap for something new. Visitors can swap gardening books, magazines, seeds, equipment, or any kind of herbaceous plant material. Experts will be on hand to help identify plants and give advice to swappers. Normal garden admission applies. Booking not required.

RHS Garden Rosemoor - 16-17 June, 10am-2pm

RHS Garden Hyde Hall - 16-17 June, 10am-2pm

RHS Garden Harlow Carr - 16-17 June, 10am-4pm

RHS Garden Wisley, Surrey

Garden Party, 9 -10 June
Bring the family and join RHS Garden Wisley for their biggest party of the year, celebrating all that is British. Head to Seven Acres to watch Punch and Judy shows, join in the garden games or sit back and relax to toe tapping live music. There are even classic Ballroom Dancing lessons and demonstrations as well as being able to get your hair and make-up styled in the 1940's fashion. The rose garden and country garden will be looking their best in June.

Film Nights, 8-10 June - coming soon, check the website for prices and further information.

The RHS flagship property, RHS Garden Wisley is one of the finest gardens in the world. For more than 100 years it has been a showcase for horticultural excellence, world class plant collections and outstanding large scale gardening displays. With over 200 acres of land, for families, the sheer size of Wisley gives great scope for fun and discovery. There are family trails with ideas of the best spots to explore, things to look out for and fun activities in the garden.

There is even a dedicated RHS Garden Wisley I-Spy book to keep younger visitors on track. Would-be jungle explorers can venture into the Tropical Zone of the Glasshouse, whilst bird lovers can visit the bird hide, or see the ducks on the lake. The arboretum and pinetum are great for spotting pine cones, there is a fascinating ‘plants for bugs’ area and seasonal bug-collecting and insect- identification activities, whilst children of all ages will love the outdoor play area with its naturally created climbing and balancing equipment.

For more information please visit www.rhs.org.uk/wisley

Prices: RHS members plus one guest: free

Adult: 10.50, Child (5-16): £4.50, Children 4 and under: free; Family: (2 adults/2 children) £27.00

RHS Garden Harlow Carr, Harrogate
Located on the outskirts of Harrogate, Harlow Carr captures the essence of Yorkshire within a beautiful garden setting. The garden design replicates the natural spirit of the region, with features evoking the surrounding landscapes, including water features, dry stone walling, wooded areas and also some ornamental aspects redolent of Harrogate itself. For families, the garden offers a combination of wilderness and sense of adventure in a landscaped, self-contained setting, with a log maze, family trails, children’s play area and woodland dens.

For more information, please visit www.rhs.org.uk/harlowcarr

Prices: RHS members plus 1 family guest: free
Adult: £7.50; Child (5-16): £3.75; Children under 5: free; Family: (2 adults/2 children) £20.25 Normal garden admission applies.

RHS Garden Hyde Hall, Essex

Unseen Forces, sculpture exhibition by David Watkinson, opens 28 April
An exhibition by David Watkinson of large organic forms and kinetic sculpture. Taking inspiration from the natural world the exhibits depict seed heads, leaves and fruit amongst others and will be made from a variety of materials such as steel, aluminium and cold cast bronze. (running for six months)

With wide open skies and far reaching views, RHS Garden Hyde Hall is the perfect place for families to discover the great outdoors, with plenty to keep children occupied. Located just outside Chelmsford in Essex, it consists of an 8 acre, intensely cultivated hilltop area, with numerous features, including a colour themed herbaceous border, two ponds, a rose garden, farmhouse garden and woodland garden. This more formal area is surrounded by vast open countryside, with vast swathes of grasses and perennials on Clover Hill, and an estate beyond comprising of developing woodland, hedgerows, bee hives, meadows and pasture. It is a haven for wildlife with multitudes of songbirds and brown hares running across the meadows.

For more information, please visit www.rhs.org.uk/hydehall.

Prices: RHS members plus 1 family guest: free

Adult: £7.00; Child (5-16): £3.50; Children under 5: free; Family: (2 adults/2 children) £18.9

RHS Garden Rosemoor, Devon
Peter Buckley Learning Centre Garden, opens Wednesday 9 May

The new Peter Buckley Learning Centre garden is set to open on Friday 9 May at, helping thousands more school children in the region learn about sustainability, the environment, wildlife and plants.

Quentin Blake Exhibition, 26 May - 27 August, every day
Quentin Blake is one of Britain’s best-loved and most successful illustrators and children’s authors. His first drawings were published in Punch when he was 16. He has illustrated over 300 books with writers such as Michael Rosen, Joan Aiken, and most famously of all, Roald Dahl. Quentin Blake writes and illustrates his own books as well and has also illustrated classic books for adults. For many years he taught at the Royal College of Art, where he was head of the Illustration Department from 1978 to 1986.

He has won many awards and prizes, was appointed the first Children’s Laureate in 1999, and was made a CBE in 2005. In the past ten years he has produced pictures specifically for a number of hospitals both in England and France. This summer, Rosemoor is giving you the chance to come and delight in the art of the man who brought some of your favourite book characters to life from Mister Magnolia to the BFG and Matilda. There will be five groups of pictures on display including the Green Ship and You’re Only Young Twice as well as other Quentin Blake themed items.

Rosemoor’s garden team is recreating Quentin Blake’s Green Ship in the garden. Why not come along and explore! Normal Garden entry.11am-4pm

Nestled in the Torridge Valley in north Devon, just south of the north Devon coast and west of Exmoor National Park, RHS Garden Rosemoor is spread across 65 acres. Within a dramatic backdrop of steep wooded valley sides, it consists of sculptured gardens intercepted by cool restful areas of parkland, meadows and trees. It is a wonderful place for children to explore, with its winding paths and different areas to discover.

The Brash is the family picnic and play area, a natural hideaway in the woods for children (and adults) of all ages to enjoy. With log stepping stones, dens that are perfect for hide and seek, giant bugs to spot and bird feeding there’s plenty to keep everyone busy. For more information, please visit www.rhs.org.uk/rosemoor.

Prices: RHS members plus one guest: free
Adult: £7.50, Child (5 -16): £3.75, Children under 5: free; Family: (2 adults/2 children): £20.25

RHS Gifts:
RHS shows - treat your father to a day out he will remember for a long time with tickets to an RHS show. Choose from Hampton Court Palace Flower Show in July and the relaxed RHS Flower Show Tatton Park in Cheshire, also in July. www.rhs.org.uk

RHS Gift Membership - give your Dad a gift he'll thank you for every single day this Fathers' Day – RHS Gift Membership. You’ll be giving him a year of free days out a glorious gardens; The Garden magazine monthly (worth £51 alone), and personalised one-to-one gardening advice from our experts. So nothing need get in the way of indulging his passion for gardening. Plus, you can choose to wrap it up yourself or we’ll send it for you with a personalised message, so he’ll have something to open on the day - all for just £51.

15,000 Schools Sign Up to RHS Campaign that's backed by Alan Titchmarsh

15,000 schools have signed up to the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Campaign for School Gardening, backed by the nation's favourite gardener, Alan Titchmarsh, meaning the charity is helping nearly half of all UK schools to garden, engaging some 3,000,000 3 million children.

Set up only four-and-a-half years ago to encourage and support schools to use gardening as a teaching resource, the campaign has gone from strength to strength and Berryhill Primary School, in Wishaw, North Lanarkshire, Scotland, has become the 15,000th school to register.

Through new initiatives like RHS Young School Gardener of the Year, which is being launched during the first National Gardening Week (16-22 April), the RHS will continue to shout about the importance of gardening in school in the hope of signing up, by the campaign's fifth birthday this September, more than half of all schools in the UK.

Alan Titchmarsh said: "We know the impact gardening at school has on children's development and wellbeing. As well as learning about the environment, it teaches them important life skills and makes them happy and healthy. Luckily for me, I stumbled on the magical world of gardening when I was young - watching how plants grew and getting my hands dirty brought fun and learning together - so it is my heartfelt belief that gardening at school brings many benefits every child should get the chance to enjoy. I know the RHS won't rest until all the schools in the UK are gardening!"

As demonstrated by RHS research, gardening boosts a child's development, teaches life skills and makes them healthier and happier. The most recent RHS report explores how gardening helps children with Special Educational Needs (SEN).

Sue Biggs, Director General, for the RHS, added: "We were the first organisation to recognise the huge importance of gardening in schools and the wonderful impact it has on children, and the RHS has led the way in encouraging children to get gardening ever since. I am both proud and delighted twe have reached this milestone figure and would like to encourage all schools to register now and help us create future generations of skilled individuals who appreciate the importance gardening has on the environment."

Berryhill Primary School will be presented with a plaque and a tree to celebrate this important milestone.

Head Teacher of Berryhill Primary School, Mrs Carrie Nicol, responded by saying: "We're delighted to be part of the Campaign for School Gardening and what a bonus that we're the 15,000th school to sign up! We have a Peace Garden at the front of our school for use all year round and are currently building an Eco Green House from plastic bottles, and we would like to make a small area for growing vegetables that we can eventually sell to our local community.

"We would also like to have more plants growing all year round to keep it looking smart. We can't wait to start developing these projects further and finding out how we can use the garden as an outdoor classroom, with the help from the RHS."

The RHS Campaign for School Gardening, which is also backed by Blue Peter gardener Chris Collins, has been running since 2007 and is free to join. Schools that register receive access to training courses and a whole host of online resources, including lesson plans, case studies and gardening advice. Each school is also sent a free starter pack; comprising of seeds, soil pH testing kits, posters and more.


FACTFILE:
The RHS has actively involved 15,000 schools across the UK in growing and gardening through its Campaign for School Gardening, which is supported by Waitrose. Children are taught about plants and gardening and their environment. Through gardening they learn about healthy fruit and vegetables, wildlife and important life skills such as teamwork, social skills and co-operation.

Huge benefits are to be had from using an outdoor classroom where children can learn in a fun, engaging way. Information, lesson plans and advice for schools is provided online and is backed up by support from the RHS education team and Campaign for School Gardening Regional Advisors. Schools work their way up from Level 1 to 5 and have the chance of winning the Alan Titchmarsh Award, between Levels 3 and 4. www.rhs.org.uk/schoolgardening

Create Your Garden Vision at Tatton Park 2012

The RHS is calling on garden designers, landscapers, artists and architects to create an exclusive Visionary Garden for RHS Flower Show Tatton Park 2012. This category offers the chance to break the mould and go beyond commercial garden design by pushing boundaries and using horticulture as a medium of expression, installation and art.

Show Manager, Kris Hulewicz says: “The Visionary Gardens category encourages designers to have a strong creative imagination and the foresight to deliver gardens that provide both eye-catching beauty and intellectual inspiration.”

The designers chosen by the RHS Garden Selection Panel will receive financial support of £6,000. This can be used to pay for the garden or as a contribution towards the total cost. The gardens will then be judged at the show against RHS garden criteria and will be eligible for an RHS medal.

With extensive media coverage reaching millions of people, the RHS Flower Show Tatton Park is an ideal forum at which designers can showcase and promote their portfolio.

The deadline for the return of applications is 2nd December 2011 and successful applicants will be informed by mid-January 2012.

For more information on the Visionary Gardens category, please contact the RHS Flower Show Tatton Park Manager, Kris Hulewicz on 020 7821 3335 or email krishulewicz@rhs.org.uk If you would like an application form please email exhibitorapplications@rhs.org.uk

FACTFILE:

The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s foremost gardening charity, helping and inspiring millions of people to garden. We do this at our gardens and shows and through our scientific research, publications, libraries and our education and community programmes. We are entirely funded by our members, visitors and supporters.

RHS membership is for anyone with an interest in gardening. Support the RHS and secure a healthy future for gardening. For more information call: 0845 130 4646, or visit www.rhs.org.uk

RHS Registered Charity No. 222879/SC038262

Young Offenders Triumph in Prison Garden Competition

Green-fingered prisoners from Young Offender Institution (YOI) Thorn Cross, in Cheshire, are celebrating having been selected by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) as winners of the Windlesham Trophy 2011, for best kept prison garden in England and Wales. It is only the second male young offender institution to win the award.

RHS President, Elizabeth Banks, presented the Windlesham Trophy, a redundant ‘Green Goddess’ Fire Engine bell, at an Award Ceremony held at the prison last Wednesday (24 August). Participating prisoners were also given a certificate acknowledging their assistance.

Thirty young male prisoners look after the gardens at YOI Thorn Cross. This includes a large conservation area which is a haven for butterflies and numerous insects and birds, a main pond that is shared by newts and ducks and an animal shelter. They also manage bedding displays and a range of poly tunnels where a variety of fruit and vegetables are grown for internal use within the main kitchens, thus reducing the cost of buying food and products.

John Platt, Head of Learning and Skills for Thorn Cross, says: “Winning Windlesham is a real achievement both for staff and prisoners, the gardens are a delight to walk around and have improved the life of the whole prison.  The importance of wellbeingness is enhanced by the many different gardens throughout, adding to a safer and more positive environment for all in the prison.

“The work done over the past year by the gardens team has benefited everyone in the prison, from creating a more positive environment, better sports fields, to the homegrown produce that is used within the prison and staff kitchens, adding to healthier and more cost-effective diet.”

RHS Judge, Michael Hickson, says: “The prison garden at Thorn Cross really stood out for us this year for a number of reasons.   The first impression was the bedding displays which were utterly stunning. The ‘young adults’ also manage the trees and shrubs very skilfully; pruning, thinning and shaping under guidance and there is a splendid wildflower meadow and pond, home for amphibians, butterflies, insects and mammals.

“They’re a great bunch of lads who regularly help local charities and schools.  For example, the prison is often given old garden tools, sometimes handle-less, and as part of their training the ‘young adults’ clean them, put new handles on and make them look like new.   They then donate them to local charities and schools so if you ever see a garden tool with a label saying ‘Renovated by Thorn Cross’ you will know where it has come from!”

At the ceremony, Elizabeth Banks also met up with Yvette Blake, Head Mistress of The Cobbs Infant and Nursery School, which works in partnership with Thorn Cross.

Horticulture forms an important part of the resettlement agenda at Thorn Cross, giving prisoners the opportunity to obtain industry-recognised qualifications (National Proficiency Tests Council) not only in gardening skills but also in the use and care of horticultural machinery. 

Christmas present ideas from the RHS

From beginners and experts, to people who love wildlife and people who love being pampered; the RHS has the perfect Christmas gift for gardeners of all ages and interests.

For the new gardener…

• RHS Complete Gardener’s Manual: A definitive, practical guide to gardening, containing all of the techniques, inspirational ideas and problem-solving advice you need to create and maintain your garden. £20.00 (ISBN 9781405365833)

• Gold Leaf Winter Touch Gloves: Endorsed by the RHS, these gloves are designed to keep your hands warm and dry, with a Thinsulate ¾ thermal lining and an innovative, waterproof, breathable Ski-Dri lining. £21.99

• RHS Membership: Free days out at more than 80 gardens, special access or discounted tickets to RHS flower shows, personal gardening advice from the RHS experts and a monthly magazine subscription all offer you a wealth of inspiration and expertise to get any garden blooming. RRP £49.00 (www.rhs.org.uk/gift)

For the experienced gardener…

• RHS Encyclopedia of Perennials: The definitive, practical guide to choosing, planting and combining herbaceous perennials, and an essential tool for all gardeners. £22.00 (ISBN 9781405334310)

• RHS Chelsea Flower Show: Be inspired by the world’s best garden designers, nurseries, florists and garden product companies at the catwalk of the gardening world. 22 – 26 May 2011. Tickets on sale from early October (www.rhs.org.uk/flowershows)

• RHS Mini Colour Chart: An indispensible reference for anyone wanting to identify and communicate plant colours. This chart, containing 244 colours chosen to represent the broad spectrum of colour, allows for easy planning and standardisation of plant collections and colour schemes. £26.00

For the wildlife lover…

• Wildlife Gardening for Everyone: Full of expert advice from the RHS and the Wildlife Trusts, discover the many benefits of gardening for wildlife, both for your garden and for you. £12.99 (ISBN 9781845250904)

• RHS Wild in the Garden Diary 2012: Beautifully illustrated with photographs of birds, mammals, amphibians and insects that may be found in gardens, plus tips on how to manage your garden to enhance the wildlife potential and thereby add interest and enjoyment. £12.99

• Sarcococca hookeriana var. digyna ‘Purple Stem’: One of the RHS Perfect for Pollinators collection of plants, this shrub has sweetly scented, creamy white flowers in winter, followed by rounded, blue-black berries. £12.99 (2 litre pot).

For the kids…

• RHS Garden Bugs Ultimate Sticker Book Find all kinds of creepy-crawlies that live in your garden with this informative and fun sticker book. Choose from more than 60 reusable, easy-peel stickers to create your own busy garden bugs scene. £3.99 (ISBN 9781405314787)

• RHS Chelsea Flower Show jigsaw puzzle: 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle featuring a collage of the best and most beautiful gardens from the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. £14.99

• RHS How Does My Garden Grow?: Learn to grow plants for food and be inspired by other fun-packed projects, like turning tomatoes into pizza toppings or growing your own loofah. £9.99 (ISBN 9781405362627)

For the Grow Your Own-er…

• RHS Allotment Journal: The Expert Guide to a Productive Plot: Find out how to get the most from your plot, then cook up the produce. With storage advice and timely recipes for abundance and gluts, this book will keep you on top of an active plot. £12.99 (ISBN 9781845335595

• RHS Root Vegetables Metal Wall Sign: Handmade in the UK, this enamelled metal wall sign will brighten up any wall in your house with an image taken from the RHS Lindley Library collection. Measures 40 x 30cm. £10.99

• Hampton Court Palace Flower Show: Packed with ideas for fruit and veg lovers, this show is a must for gardeners who grow their own. See spectacular plants and produce in the Growing Tastes Marquee, and a wealth of inspiration from the productive gardens on show. Tickets on sale from early October. www.rhs.org.uk/flowershows

For the glamorous gardener…

• RHS Cotton Shawl: This beautifully soft, 100% cotton shawl is printed with original forget-me-not artwork by Caroline Maria Applebee (c1800 – 1850). £21.00

• RHS Flower Show Tatton Park: As the North’s greatest garden party, this show is perfect for gardeners who want a little pampering. Flowers, floristry and tea at Fortnum & Mason make for a full day of indulgence. Tickets on sale from early October www.rhs.org.uk/flowershows

• RHS Natural Gardener's Therapy Relaxing Bath Soak: Part of the new, luxurious range of RHS Gardener’s Therapy products, this soothing fragranced bath soak is enriched with extracts of cucumber and almond protein, to help cleanse, tone and moisturise the skin. £12.99

• Hunter RHS Wellington Boot: Made with the gardener in mind, these boots were designed especially for the RHS, using original artwork from the RHS Lindley Library. The upper is of vulcanised natural rubber construction, built on an orthopaedic last for the legendary Hunter fit. £65.00

Visit www.rhs.org.uk/shopping for full details about these products and many more, and find a great gift for the gardener in your life.

CATS get the cream, thanks to artist and RHS Chelsea Flower Show

Bluebell Woodland a photograph displayed as part of an urban garden at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show, by contemporary landscape artist David Anthony Hall, has raised over £12,820 for the London charity, Children’s Acute Transport Service (CATS).

The landscape artist David Anthony Hall’s donation of his photograph 'Bluebell Woodland' has raised £12,820 for the Children’s Acute Transport Service, CATS.

Andy Petros, director of CATS said, ‘We are enormously grateful to David for this extremely generous donation.

“It is humbling to realise other people value us enough to support us to this extent. With this donation we will buy more equipment and run educational courses to further improve the care of critically ill children.”

What does CATS do?

CATS provides emergency transport for critically ill children and it covers over 50 hospitals in the North Thames and East Anglia regions. It is one of the few international services accredited by the Commission for Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems (CAMTS) and is also one of the largest specialist services of its type in Europe.

Hall, who each year offers at least one of his images as a donation to a charity close to his heart, was especially touched by CATs after he and his wife watched a BBC programme about the service.

“With two small children of our own we were so taken with the passion and dedication of the CATS team.” said David.

“As parents it is something we could relate to despite, thankfully, never having had any direct need of their assistance. There is nothing greater than the gift of life passed to us by our parents and yet as parents ourselves, what could be more overwhelming than the fear and helplessness felt when dealing with a sick child.

“It’s impossible to comprehend the pain a mother must feel at the loss of a child. CATs can make that lifesaving difference and we wanted to support it.”

The image ‘Bluebell Woodland’ was part of a body of work that formed the inspiration behind a concept garden at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Thompson’s Gallery, who devised the garden at RHS Chelsea and are currently displaying Hall’s solo show at their New Cavendish Street Gallery in London, generously waived their usual fee as their way ofhelping the charity erven further.

Other suppliers were keen to help, so they waived their fees, too! These include Genesis and Canon large format printer distributors Velmex, who printed the image. The new owner has also agreed to gift aid her donation enabling the charity to benefit from the extra Gift Aid, too!

David's solo show runs for the next month at Thompson’s New Cavendish Street Gallery in London and is showcasing 20 images from his latest works. David's work is always of nature and represents the strong emotional connection he feels to a place.

He added: “In a society battling with over civilisation, it is easy to lose touch with nature and each other in its simplest sense. My work constantly reminds me of how fleeting our presence actually is on the planet and how precious our relationships with loved ones are in this context.’”

Hall dedicates this donation in memory of his natural mother Maura O’Connor, who lost her battle with cancer on 18th May 2011.

FACTFILE:

David Anthony Hall was born in Dublin in 1969. Hall has been exhibited at top art fairs including; London Art, Art London, 20/21 International Art Fair and The Affordable Art Fairs, London, New York, Paris, Singapore & Amsterdam. His landscape photography was first published in 1989. Over the past five years his work has been exhibited in eight countries, with over twenty group shows and two solo shows. David’s work has raised over £25,000 for charities, he is also supporting Marie Curie Cancer Care with an auction to be held at The Royal Academy of Arts in July 2011.

For David his art is about more than just a beautiful image, his interest lies in capturing the natural environment that exudes a presence of a powerful past. Intent on connecting an anthropological and geographical history to expose a sense of mystery and wonder, his work envelops and compels.

To find out more about CATS visit http://portal.cats.nhs.uk

To find out more about the gallery and the show visit www.thompsonsgallery.co.uk

Research shows that our gardens are vital

A report, released today -Sunday- by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), confirms the vital role that gardens play in reducing city warming.

Gardening Matter: Urban gardens brings together, for the first time, UK and international research into how gardens affect the air temperatures of towns and cities. The report not only shows how important urban gardens are at reducing temperatures but also that they provide a range of other benefits.

Results quoted in the report prove that plants bring down energy consumption in winter by providing shelter and insulation; cool the air in towns and cities in the summer; help reduce the risk of flooding by absorbing rain water through soil and support increased biodiversity.

“Gardens are important for reducing city warming,” says Dr Roger Williams, Head of RHS Science. “We are concerned that with current trends for building apartment blocks with limited green space and houses with much smaller gardens the benefits from private gardens will decrease to the detriment of people living in cities. We hope this report will highlight the need to keep green spaces and that even they may even be increased for the benefit of the environment and future generations.”

Research shows that urban environments are prone to heating when vegetated areas are replaced with dark, impervious surfaces. Pavements and roads absorb more heat and reflect less than planted surfaces, making them warmer. This results in urban air and surface temperatures being significantly hotter than surrounding rural areas.

Gardens also provide valuable flood-reduction benefits. Trees help reduce the flow of rainfall by holding rain in their canopies. In addition water is filtered into the soil which helps ease demands on urban drains. Despite this the area given over to hard paving in gardens is increasing. For example, in Leeds over a 33-year period there was a 13 percent increase in impervious surfaces. This has been linked to a higher frequency and magnitude of flooding in the area.

“Although gardens provide immense benefits we also need to be aware that there are some potential negative impacts on the environment,” says Dr Tijana Blanusa, lead author of the report. “Gardening can contribute indirectly to carbon emissions through the use of powered garden tools and the manufacture and transport of horticultural goods. And the use of water in gardens is predicted to rise over the coming years.”

The report suggests ten tips for gardeners to improve the benefits of gardens to urban areas. The charity is also launching an online survey during RHS Chelsea Flower Show to see how people garden in urban areas. Anyone wanting to participate should visit – www.rhs.org.uk/urbangreening.

(EDITOR: But some experts are of the opinion that the claims on so-called carbon emissions are, to coin an expression, just so much hot air...) 

Blue is the colour. The meconopsis trial at RHS Garden Harlow Carr shows its colours

Harlow Carr is one of several sites across the country that has been chosen to grow 23 cultivars of meconopsis – more commonly known as the blue poppy because of its beautiful, vibrant hue. The trial will run over a three year period, with the first trial assessment on 17th May, when the trials committee was assessing each cultivar. The first meconopsis to flower was Meconopsis grandis ex psw on 22nd April 2011.

All of the plants are derived from the Himalayan form of meconopsis poppy and the cultivars have been developed over a period of time. The plants require a slightly acidic based growing medium that is well drained and a sheltered site out of the wind, in a cool part of the garden that receives filtered and not strong, direct sunlight.

Most of the cultivars are in full bloom at Harlow Carr and with a life expected to extend for another couple of weeks, now is the perfect time for visitors to enjoy the sight of these rare beauties.

Chelsea Flower Show 'sold out'

The nation is in love with gardening, says the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), as tickets to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show sell out earlier than ever, on 5 May 2011, 18 days before the show opens to RHS members on Tuesday 24 May.

“Gardening is so in tune with what’s important to people at the moment” says Sue Biggs, who is the director general of the RHS, “We’re breaking visitor records at our gardens, 19,000 new members joined the RHS in the last three months and more people visited our show at Cardiff in April since it started in 2005.

“And it’s not just the beautiful weather that’s getting people outside - research by the Horticultural Trades Association in March showed over a quarter of people with a garden want to spend more time gardening. Interest in horticulture is also being reflected by media with ITV committing to more gardening coverage in 2011 as well as BBC’s excellent coverage.

“Gardening has always been popular in this country, but I believe this increased interest can largely be attributed to a desire to get back to the simpler pleasures in life and also to benefit from the huge trend to grow your own food, which has been a great boost to reach new audiences and people of all ages.

"Gardening is the perfect way to indulge yourself without any guilt and it’s good for both you and the environment – what more could you ask for? So in these tough times, it’s clear to see that the more people we can lead into this great pastime the better.”

Tickets to the world’s greatest flower show, the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, have sold out the fastest since visitor numbers were capped at 157,000 in 1988. Demand for tickets are also strong for the world’s largest annual gardening event, the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show in Surrey (5 -10 July 2011) and the RHS show at Tatton Park, Cheshire (20 - 24 July 2011).

One last word of advice from Sue, “RHS Chelsea tickets have now sold out, so can I please ask people NOT to spend extortionate money via ticket touts on tickets that may not be authentic and risk being refused entry to the show?

"The best thing to do is visit our other events at Malvern, Hampton and Tatton for gardening inspiration, advice and ideas. Also, everyone can tune into the 12 hours fabulous coverage of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show on the BBC.”

To buy tickets to RHS Shows at Malvern, Hampton and Tatton visit www.rhs.org.uk