Natural by design In a part extract from her Climate Change Garden book, Kim Stoddart explains why mixed planting offers a far more resilient alternative to block planted veg patch produce… What a year it’s been so far. As well as a pandemic lockdown to contend with, we’ve experienced a multifarious succession of weather extremes as the impact of climate …
Nurturing Through Nature
Kim Stoddart explains how a deep connection with the natural world has informed her life and that of those around her… For a period of weeks, nudging into months, I still recall clearly how I retreated during my lunch breaks at secondary school to a clearing nestled within the sanctuary of trees in a nearby park. The stillness, permeated only …
The Self Sufficiency Surge
Kim Stoddart examines the grow your own phenomenon that has emerged as a result of fears around food security since the pandemic lockdown. In the days leading up to the restrictions (and ever since), there has been a sheer frenzy of interest in fruit and vegetable growing as people seek to turn over their back gardens, patios, windowsills (and indeed any available …
KEENO GROWS – taking on a ‘mad’ gardening challenge
Intrepid trainee gardener Luke Keeno writes for us about his rather exciting (and equally slightly terrifying) project to create a beautiful flowerbed for Bristol Victoria Park this year. Do you ever find yourself in a situation where you ask yourself “Oh my god, what have I agreed to do? I’ll never be able to do that, I’m in way …
PARTY PLANNING – keep calm and carry on cooking
Mental health campaigner, Amber (aka Budget Jones) follows up her last blog for us by writing about the trials, tribulations and eventual successes of organising a family get together on a budget… As a Jones, it may not surprise you that I have a rather large family (my dad alone has 29 first cousins). So when one of our lot …
On campaigning for mental health on the Isle of Wight
I campaign for health, mental health in particular on the Isle of Wight (where I live). When I first contacted my local MP in 2014 he replied (along the lines of) he wasn’t aware there was a problem on the island… I replied to him that people with mental health issues are some of the least likely people to contact …