George Fredenham—aka Flavour Fred—chef, forager, fermenter, and former co-owner of The Foragers at The Verulam Arms in St Albans is this episode’s guest. Known for turning hedgerow finds into award-winning dishes and wild cocktails, George now runs foraging walks, woodland feasts, and fermentation workshops, blending deep ecological knowledge with a flair for flavour. We talk about his journey with wild food and how he’s teaching others to find, cook, and preserve the edible abundance all around them. Links www.flavourfred.com Instagram @flavourfred Other episodes if you liked this one: Episode 32: Foraging with Michael Wachter Synopsis: Sarah Wilson speaks with Michael Wachter, a seasoned forager and gardener from East Sussex (formerly at Great Dixter), about living sustainably off the land. Michael shares insights from his remote-island-living experiences in Germany, guiding listeners through foraging in gardens, coastal areas, and wild landscapes—while also cautioning on safety and ecological responsibility. Listen here Episode 184: Forage for Mushrooms Without Dying Synopsis: This episode features Frank Hyman, a certified mushroom forager and educator, who guides listeners through the often-overlooked world of wild fungi. Frank covers essential topics like safe harvesting, identification, cooking uses, and common pitfalls such as soil contamination or misidentification. The episode balances practical tips with engaging anecdotes and humor. Roots and All Listen here Please support the podcast on Patreon And follow Roots and All: On Instagram @rootsandallpod On Facebook @rootsandalluk On LinkedIn @rootsandall
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Episode 348: A Forest Fix
I'm speaking with Olga Evans, co-founder of the Forest Bathing Institute and author of a new book exploring the science behind nature's healing power. We'll discover what forest bathing really means, whether you need an actual forest to benefit, and learn practical techniques you can use wherever you are. Links The Forest Bathing Institute The Healing Power of Trees by Olga Terebenina and Gary Evans Other episodes if you liked this one: Episode 48: Forest Bathing with Stefan Batorijs— Forest Bathing, or Shinrin Yoku, is the practice of immersing yourself in nature as therapy. It’s the perfect antidote for those who feel disconnected from the land and unattached from nature, which is increasingly likely to happen in a world where 55% of us live in urban areas. In this episode, I speak to Stefan Batorijs who founded Nature and Therapy UK in 2017, as a response to a growing need to foster a spiritual and psychological connection to the land. If you’ve always wondered what Forest Bathing, or Shinrin Yoku, entails, this is the episode for you!. Episode 118: The Tokachi Millennium Forest with Dan Pearson & Midori Shintani — In this episode, I am very pleased to have a double interview with Dan Pearson and Midori Shintani, the two key horticultural forces driving the Tokachi Millennium Forest project in Hokaido, Japan and co-authors of the book Tokachi Millennium Forest: Pioneering a New Way of Gardening with Nature. I speak to Midori first, then Dan, about this vast, 1000 year project, their hopes and intentions for now and the future and about their own places with the timeline of the forest. Please support the podcast on Patreon And follow Roots and All: On Instagram @rootsandallpod On Facebook @rootsandalluk On LinkedIn @rootsandall
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Episode 347: Can Plants Help You Find Lost Things?
I’m speaking with Christina Oakley Harrington, founder of the legendary Treadwell’s Bookshop in London and author of The Treadwell’s Book of Plant Magic. We dive into her lifelong work in magic and folklore, explore the rich, earthy history of plant magic, and uncover the stories and secrets behind the herbs and flowers that have enchanted humans for centuries. Whether you're a seasoned practitioner or just plant-curious, listen on to find out what plants can do if you just ask. Links Treadwell’s Book of Plant Magic Treadwells’ Online Other episodes if you liked this one: Episode 243: Magical Plants & Flowers — This week’s episode, my guests are Chris Young and Susan Ottaviano. Chris and Susan are better known as the 2 Green Witches. Chris Young is a lifelong gardener whose acclaimed garden, Tiny Sur is a certified wildlife habitat and Susan is an artist, performer, songwriter, and food stylist. Their new book is The Green Witch’s Guide to Magical Plants & Flowers: Love Spells from Apples to Zinnias and together we take a light-hearted look at the power of plants to help you manifest your deepest desires. Episode 293: The Rewilding of Molly McFlynn — Hello and welcome to this week’s episode where my guest is Sue Reed. Sue’s background is varied and she’s worn a variety of hats, including teacher, museum guide, upcycler of waste wool knitwear and published author. Her most recent creation is the fictional character Molly McFlynn, a quirky and courageous character who comes to terms with the concept of being an outsider against the backdrop of covid and a rugged Northern landscape. Listen on to find out how nature factors into the rewilding of Molly… Please support the podcast on Patreon And follow Roots and All: On Instagram @rootsandallpod On Facebook @rootsandalluk On LinkedIn @rootsandall
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Where will the horti cool kids be in September?
I’m joined by designer Will Tomson, whose work blends creativity with a deep commitment to biodiversity and sustainability. We chat about some of his exciting projects involving recycled aggregates, who inspires him, his Talking Plants events which he runs with Amy Langron and Katy Merrington, plus we lift the lid on a new and exciting event happening this September for anyone interested in practical, hands-on gardening tips from the best in the game. Links Talking Plants website www.talkingplantssheffield.co.uk Talking plants instagram @talking_plants_sheffield Symposium tickets Creative Cultivation website Will Tomson/Creative Cultivation instagram @creativecultivation Amy Langron @amy_langron_landscapes Katy Merrington @katymerrington Other episodes if you liked this one: Episode 222: Nature from the Rubble — I’m speaking to landscape architect Sally Bower. Sally has just been awarded the main RHS prize for her Bursary Report titled ‘Nature Rising from the Rubble’ which looks at gravel and recycled aggregate gardens in Essex and London. Specifically, Sally looked at John Little’s Hilldrop garden, RHS Hyde Hall, Beth Chatto’s gravel garden, the Langdon Nature Discovery Car Park and the Horniman Museum Grasslands garden and her findings were invaluable if you’re interested in designing with or growing in these types of media, and Sally had some surprising findings of note too. Listen here Episode 239: Growing Biodiversity with Benny Hawksbee — My guest this week is gardener Benny Hawksbee. Benny has a background in biology and gardens with one eye on biodiversity. His projects include the Eden Nature Garden, a community garden designed to be a haven for people and wildlife, and John Little’s garden in Essex. We talk about how Benny brings biology and ecology into his work, what we can all do to garden for wildlife whilst reducing our input in terms of resources and how we can involve the community in building and using gardens that work for everyone. Listen here Please support the podcast on Patreon And follow Roots and All: On Instagram @rootsandallpod On Facebook @rootsandalluk On LinkedIn @rootsandall
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Episode 345: GMOs in the Garden
Pat Thomas is Director of Beyond GM, and we explore the hidden realities of GMOs, the implications of new "Precision Breeding" legislation, and how these changes could affect gardeners, small-scale growers, and our food future. From campaigns like Stop Hidden GMOs to looking at the global landscape regarding GMO policies, Pat offers essential insights and practical advice on where to learn more and how to take action. Links You can help fund the legal case by donating at CrowdJustice Check out the Stop Hidden GMOs website for more information Read more about GMOs at Beyond GM Other episodes if you liked this one: Episode 338: Real Organic vs Regenerative Farming — I’m joined by Dave Chapman, host of the US chart-topping Real Organic Podcast. We dive into the rise of “regenerative” as the latest industry buzzword, the troubling reality of corporate consolidation in agriculture, and how antitrust issues are threatening the future of truly organic food. We also explore the key differences between organic food markets in the U.S. and the EU—and what they might mean for growers and consumers alike. Listen here. Episode 179: Ecological Gardens with Sid Hill — This week’s guest is eco gardener, landscape designer, permaculturist, horticultural thinker and garden experimenter, Sid Hill.Sid is concerned with building gardens that can sustain people and wildlife and he’s talking to me today about his particular brand of gardening, what we can do differently to improve our gardens and the whole discipline of horticulture in the UK. Listen here. Please support the podcast on Patreon
Do you want to know how to grow plants and get the best out of your outdoor space? Do you find traditional gardening media baffling and/or boring? Then you’re in the right place, because the Roots and All podcast is here to dig deep into how to create a successful garden.
If you want honest information and insider knowledge about how to get results, join irreverent horticulturist Sarah Wilson as she chats to the best people from the world of plants and gardens. Sarah is on a mission to help you create your own beautiful green environment, with a focus on saving resources and working with nature.
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