Page 65 - ALG Issue 2 2019

Horticulture for the future
A bright future for gardens, wildlife and the planet can be encouraged by developing networks between horticulture and science, and the Botanic Garden is ideally placed to connect these two disciplines. The Garden’s ground-breaking research on plant- pollinator interactions - finding out which plants are important for pollinators throughout the year - is a great example of the potential for scientific knowledge to be transferred to our gardens. We will be developing an ‘assurance scheme’ backed up by evidence from our pollinator research so that a wide variety of Wales-grown
and sustainably-produced plants can become official ‘Plants for Pollinators’.
Horticultural courses run at the Garden have included Planting Design for Beginners, Building a Raised Bed, the Sustainable Allotment Calendar Series and much more, with upcoming courses including an Introduction to No-Dig Gardening. The Project’s Ecosystems Trainer and Beekeeper, Lynda Christie, has embarked on a wide range of bee- related courses which include beekeeping taster days, a beekeeper practical series and courses on how to make cosmetics, candles and beeswax flowers using products from the hives.
Giving people confidence to grow plants is an important aim for the project and we’d like to emphasise how easy it is to grow your own healthy food at home by reusing household objects. Growing cress in eggshells was an idea that many visitors and their children loved at our 2017 RHS Cardiff Flower Show ‘Botanical Kitchen Garden’. Returning visitors to the Botanic Garden will be delighted to see the progress in the lovely Growing the Future Garden that was created during the pilot project. Volunteers Alison and Peter, with the guidance of Horticultural Trainer, Susan O’ Brien, have continued to maintain it and the aim is to keep developing it as a place where adults and children, experienced gardeners and beginners, can
all learn about horticulture and pick up some simple tips to get growing at home. There are plenty of ideas which can be copied even in the smallest garden. If you’re interested in attending a Growing the Future course, or would like more information on the Project, please call 01558 667150, email gtf@gardenofwales.org.uk or visit botanicgarden.wales/science/growing-the-future.
This project has received funding through the Welsh Government Rural Communities – Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, which is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the Welsh Government.
Steffan Jones
Giving people confidence to grow plants is an important aim for the project
Starting at the top right and travelling clockwise: ‘GtFWildflower Plots’ images: Steffan Jones, ‘GtFBeekeeping’ images: Mandy Williams, ‘Growing the Future Garden’ images: Aled Llywelyn, ‘GtFEgg Pots’ image: Steffan Jones
Allotment and Leisure Gardener 65