Is turning compost essential? Is No-Mow May such a good idea? Is it true that pesticides don’t work? What can we really do to boost garden wildlife? Ken Thompson is the ecologist behind the very significant University of Sheffield BUGS project and a writer of several popular science books. This podcast is a taster of a three part series which is only available to Garden Masterclass members, with Ken in conversation with Claire Greenslade.
Members can get access to the first full episode here. Find out about GM membership here. In January we are going to be a launching a 15 part series on garden shrubs recorded by Noel and Caroline Jackson - an easy way to increase your plant knowledge. Again, for members only!
Ken Thompson is a plant ecologist, recently retired from Sheffield University. He has written extensively on gardening and popular science, with articles in magazines, and has published five books to date, including one on Charles Darwin’s botany, one on invasive species, and a collection of his columns from the Daily Telegraph – as The Sceptical Gardener. In 2016 he was awarded the Royal Horticultural Society’s Veitch Memorial Medal for his contribution to horticultural science. He lives, and gardens, in south Devon.
Claire Greenslade began her career in textile design, later moving into stained glass. However, a chance encounter with an organic gardening course ignited a new passion. After a National Trust apprenticeship at Barrington Court, she worked at Ryton Organic Garden before joining Hestercombe. Now Head Gardener, Claire is dedicated to maintaining the gardens’ historical integrity while fostering a forward-thinking approach. Her goal is to keep Hestercombe adaptable and vibrant, blending its rich heritage with progressive ideas for future generations.
Share this post