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Marina Christopher at plant society lecture

Post date: Tue, 19/09/2017 - 12:31

The first meeting of the autumn for Dorset Hardy Plant Society starts with one of their favourite speakers - Marina Christopher of Phoenix Plants from Alton in Hampshire. The title of her lecture is ‘Gardening with Gravel’ and takes place on Saturday, 30th September at Colehill Memorial Hall 2pm for 2.30pm. There will be a member’s plant stall and a raffle, plus home made cakes and teas. Visitors are welcome.

For further information please contact Debbie Steel on 01202 877390 or on www.dorsethps.org.uk

How wild is your garden?

Post date: Thu, 14/09/2017 - 14:51

Devon Wildlife Trust is offering gardeners in Exeter the chance to have their patches honoured as a wildlife friendly garden. The Trust’s  formal Wildlife Gardening Awards are aimed at encouraging Exeter people to help with the city’s varied and important wildlife. The scheme is free to enter and open to members of the public, schools, housing associations, community groups and businesses based in Exeter. The charity plans to present Wildlife Gardening Award plaques to gardens which are able to achieve six nature friendly criteria from a list of 25 which have been drawn up.

Is there an elm tree near you?

Post date: Thu, 14/09/2017 - 14:50

The Conservation Foundation is searching again- and people throughout the country can help.

Ever since the 1970s when a wave of Dutch elm disease swept across the UK and millions of trees were lost, most people assumed that all elms had been infected.

In 2007 The Conservation Foundation began searching for healthy, mature elms which had survived. Had they had the disease and recovered? Were they resistant to it? Or had they simply avoided the disease somehow?

Plant fair returns to Athelhampton this weekend

Post date: Wed, 06/09/2017 - 14:42

The popular plant fair  returns to the picturesque grounds of Athelhampton House  on Sunday, 10th September.

More than 20 independent nurseries and specialist growers offering a wide range of plants as well as local craft and produce stalls all in a beautiful setting. The event is organised by Plant Heritage Dorset Group. There’s light refreshment and full dining facilities available.

Government must ban bee-harming pesticides

Post date: Fri, 01/09/2017 - 19:45

The Government must act to permanently ban bee-harming pesticides says Friends of the Earth as new research from Royal Holloway University released suggests that pesticides are a risk to bumblebee extinction.

The research showed that queen bees exposed to neonicotinoid pesticides were 26per-cent less likely to be able to start a new colony.

Friends of the Earth is urging the UK government to back moves in the EU to permanently extend current neonicotinoid restrictions to all crops – and commit to keeping any ban post-Brexit.

Is there an elm tree near you?

Post date: Thu, 31/08/2017 - 09:43

The Conservation Foundation is searching again - and people throughout Somerset can help.

Ever since the 1970s when a wave of Dutch elm disease swept across the UK and millions of trees were lost, most people assumed that all elms had been infected. 

In 2007 The Conservation Foundation began searching for healthy, mature elms which had survived. Had they had the disease and recovered? Were they resistant to it? Or had they simply avoided the disease somehow?

Garden visits come out tops

Post date: Thu, 31/08/2017 - 09:20

Visiting gardens is now the most popular attraction in England, according to the results of VisitEngland’s Annual Attractions Survey.

The survey, which gathered information from more than 1,500 English attractions, found that outdoor attractions performed particularly well, with gardens showing growth of eight per-cent.

First ‘hedgehog housing census’

Post date: Thu, 24/08/2017 - 14:16

The first national Hedgehog Housing Census has been launched by Hedgehog Street, a nationwide campaign set up by wildlife charities the British Hedgehog Preservation Society and People’s Trust for Endangered Species to help combat the ongoing decline in native hedgehog population numbers. This survey is in partnership with the University of Reading and Warwickshire Wildlife Trust.
 

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