Roots and All - Gardening Podcast

This week, I'm joined by William Rowlandson, writer, academic and environmental campaigner, to explore our complicated relationship with the natural world. We discuss what it really means for something to be wild, how the language we use shapes our understanding of nature, and why even the smallest, overlooked corners of the landscape deserve our attention and protection. Along the way, we question where humans fit within the natural world, and whether the boundaries we draw between ourselves and nature make any sense at all.
Benny's Insect of the Week: Marmalade Hoverfly
Links
Wyld of the Woodling by William Rowlandson 
If you enjoyed this week's episode with William Rowlandson, you might also enjoy these episodes from the archives:
Episode 376: From Rewilding to Renaturing with James Canton
Writer James Canton explores the difference between rewilding and renaturing, drawing on his own experience of transforming a two-acre patch of land in North Essex into a haven for wildlife. It's a thoughtful companion to William's discussion of what it means to be wild, how we interact with the landscape and the importance of recognising the value of the natural world around us.
Episode 370: Remembering Our Nature with Brigit Anna McNeill
Writer, naturalist and herbalist Brigit Anna McNeill explores what it means to reconnect with the natural world and rediscover our place within it. Drawing on plants, folklore, herbalism and her own experiences, Brigit reflects on the relationship between human and natural worlds, making this a particularly fitting companion to William's questioning of the boundaries we place between ourselves and nature.
Please support the podcast on Patreon
And follow Roots and All:
On Instagram @rootsandallpod
On Facebook @rootsandalluk
On LinkedIn @rootsandall

What can one neglected patch of land grow beyond plants? This week, I'm joined by Shereen Chung-Blake, community gardener and programme coordinator at Bankside Open Spaces Trust, to hear how she turned an unused space in Camberwell into a thriving community garden, and why making horticulture accessible can transform both places and people.
Benny's Insect of the Week: Heath Potter Wasp
Links
Shereen's Instagram
LinkedIn
Camberwell Triangle Gardeners
Future Gardeners Course
Incredible Edible
London Right to Grow
SLUG (Community Composting)
Burgess Plant Nursery (Community Plants and Propagation)
Walworth Community Gardening Network (WCGN)
Walworth Road Retail Opportunity (Walworth Corners)
Walworth Neighbourhood Food Model
If you enjoyed this week's episode with Shereen, you might also enjoy these episodes from the archives:
Episode 275: Community Gardening
Vicky Chown, head gardener at OmVed Gardens, talks about the role of community gardens in bringing together food growing, creativity and wellbeing. It's a useful companion to Shereen's story of turning an unused patch of land into a thriving shared space.
Episode 386: Walworth Garden – Rooted in Community
Oliver Hayden of Walworth Garden discusses how a free community garden can support local people, encourage connections with nature and create meaningful social change. Like Shereen's work in Camberwell, it shows how gardens can offer far more than a place to grow plants.
Please support the podcast on Patreon
And follow Roots and All:
On Instagram @rootsandallpod
On Facebook @rootsandalluk
On LinkedIn @rootsandall

What can 450 million years of plant evolution teach us about the world we live in today? This week, I'm joined by horticulturist and author Ben Dark to discuss his latest book, *Green Kingdom*, exploring the stories behind plant evolution, botanical classification and our changing understanding of the natural world.
Benny's Insect of the Week: Field Digger Wasp
Links
Ben's Website
The Garden Collective
Green Kingdom by Ben Dark 



Please support the podcast on Patreon
And follow Roots and All:
On Instagram @rootsandallpod
On Facebook @rootsandalluk
On LinkedIn @rootsandall
If you enjoyed this week's episode with Ben, you might also enjoy these episodes from the archives:
Episode 169: Darwin's Garden with Dr Jude Piesse
Jude Piesse explores the largely forgotten garden of Charles Darwin's childhood home in Shrewsbury, revealing the people, stories and horticultural history that shaped this remarkable place. It's a fascinating companion to Ben's discussion of plant history, bringing together gardens, literature and the people behind our understanding of the natural world.
Episode 164: By Any Other Name with Simon Morley
Artist, art historian and rose gardener Simon Morley explores the cultural history of the rose, from its symbolism and origins to its enduring place in gardens and human society. Like Ben, Simon looks beyond the plants themselves to uncover the stories, ideas and cultural influences that shape how we understand and use them.

What if the answer to seriously undesirable garden wildlife visitors isn't eradicating them, but learning to live alongside them? I'm joined by Kevin Newell, founder of Humane Wildlife Solutions, to explore humane ways to manage conflicts with species such as rats, mice, foxes, squirrels and badgers, and why changing our own behaviour can make all the difference.
Benny's Insect of the Week: Long-winged conehead
Links
Website
Facebook
Instagram
LinkedIn
Please support the podcast on Patreon
And follow Roots and All:
On Instagram @rootsandallpod
On Facebook @rootsandalluk
On LinkedIn @rootsandall
If you enjoyed this week's episode with Kevin, you might also enjoy these episodes from the archives:
Episode 303: Slugs and Snails
Jo Kirby explains why the usual methods of slug and snail control often don't work, what these creatures eat, and importantly, what eats them. It's a great companion to Kevin's advice on understanding wildlife and finding ways to manage garden conflicts without harming other species.
Episode 17: Foxes in the Garden
Animal behaviour expert Terry Woods explores the challenges of sharing our gardens with foxes, from digging up plants to common misconceptions about these often-maligned animals. Like Kevin, Terry offers a practical, humane perspective on living alongside wildlife.

Could feeding the birds in your garden actually be doing them more harm than good? This week I'm joined by Adrian Thomas from the RSPB to unpack the research behind the headlines, from declining greenfinches and chaffinches to bird feeding hygiene, trichomonosis and how we can help garden birds.
Benny's Insect of the Week: Mexican Grass-Carrying Wasp sponsored by Kipos
Kipos makes garden tracking social. We house your entire gardening journey in one spot, you can see your hard work, and you get to share the results with friends—real effort from real people. Use code 'ROOTSFORALL' during sign-up to gain a year of free access to Kipos. 
Use code 'ROOTSFORALL' on Kipos for a year of free access - download the app HERE
Links
RSPB website 
RSPB Instagram
RSPB Facebook 
RSPB X Twitter
RSPB TikTok
RSPB LinkedIn
RSPB YouTube
And follow Roots and All:
On Instagram @rootsandallpod
On Facebook @rootsandalluk
On LinkedIn @rootsandall
If you enjoyed this week's episode with Adrian, you might also enjoy these episodes from the archives:
Episode 290: Saving Song Birds
This episode looks at the pressures facing our songbirds and what we can do to support them, making it a natural companion to Adrian's discussion of declining greenfinches and chaffinches, and the role our gardens can play in helping struggling bird populations.
Episode 244: The Biodiversity Gardener
Paul Sterry explores how we can make our gardens better for wildlife by thinking beyond individual species and creating richer, more diverse habitats. It complements Adrian's advice on planting for birds, providing food and shelter, and making our gardens genuinely useful to wildlife.