Great British Garden Revival

The nation's gardeners await with anticipation. I hope it's worth it!

Starts tonight on BBC2 at 7.00pm - every weekday evening this week + week beginning 6th January 2014 for another week. Full episode synopsis here.

Thought for the day: Interesting to see a TV trailer also published on YouTube...

Let's Kickstart Incredible Edible Todmorden

I'm delighted Joanna Dobson from Incredible Edible Todmorden is writing a guest post for Veg Plotting. You may remember I've mentioned this amazing project before, especially when I've written about public planting. I've enthused so much about what's happening in Yorkshire, even NAH knows what I'm talking about! *

So I'm thrilled Joanna has offered to write a blog post, which will appear here in the New Year; it'll be great to have an injection of inspiration in the post Yuletide slump ;)

So why am I telling you this now?

I noticed from the links Joanna sent me that she's written a book about the project (along with her partner Julian), called Incredible! Plant Veg, Grow a Revolution and is seeking funds via Kickstarter in order to get it published. It needs £10,000 for them to do a 'proper job' of the publishing process and to finance the first print run. When I last looked (on December 5th), they'd raised £7,843.

The fund raising period closes on December 12th (next Thursday), so time is of the essence and that's why I've written today's post. I hope you'll join me in helping with the final push to get Incredible Edible's story out there. There aren't that many projects which have international inspiration as a claim to fame.

The pictures for this post are courtesy and copyright Joanna Dobson. They illustrate a post called Hope: an update on Joanna's own blog. The wonderful plaques shown at the top of this post were made by Linda Reith.

* = though seeing Michael Portillo visit it on one of his Great British Railway Journeys in 2010 may have helped a smidgen ;)

GMG Awards Sees a Fresh Perspective on Gardens

If the embedded video above doesn't work, click on this link instead.

There's been much comment this week on the viability of Amazon using drones for delivery purposes. If and when that happens is still some time away.

Last week I had the privilege of seeing the results of a drone actually in action at the GMG Awards. It introduces the romantic gardens at the fairytale Château du Rivau* in the Loire region of France.

Sit back and enjoy both a birds-eye and visitor level view of this garden; it gives such a different perspective on the provision of garden information. Later on at the Awards, Dr Hessayon** spoke about the need for conventional garden media to become more inventive; to be something which can't be found via Google. I think the bar has just been set particularly high for those writing about or photographing gardens.

My thanks to garden owner and designer Patricia Laigneau for letting me use this video. She simply showed me this on her iPad last week and I was blown away by what I saw. What a wonderful way to introduce me to her chateau and garden.

Drones are relatively inexpensive and used for a wide variety of interesting applications such as aerial surveys of archaeological sites and historic monuments. I sense there's a great business opportunity here, not only for garden owners, but also for garden and landscape designers to add this perspective to their design portfolios. Also, the RHS have already made 360 degree views available for the show gardens at Chelsea, how about using this for the entire show?

* = Click on the EN in the top right hand corner if you need an English translation

** = yes, THE Dr Hessayon :)

I Love December For...

... Carols

I've missed my last two choir sessions, so tonight I'll be singing Christmas carols for the first time this year. I particularly look forward to these, because they were the first thing I tackled when I joined up 6 years ago. They also mark my transition from "Bah humbug Christmas always starts too early" to "Awwww, peace and goodwill, everyone" ;)

To help celebrate the season we're embarking on our traditional tour of local hostelries in Corsham and Bradford on Avon (BOA) this week, starting with the Christmas lights switch on in Corsham. Here are the details:

• Friday 6th Dec, 6.20pm singing outside the Town Hall in Corsham
• Sunday 8th Dec, 3pm carols in Dandy Lion BOA
• Monday 9th Dec, 7.30 - 8.30pm in Pound Arts Centre, then to the Flemish Weaver pub for singing, beer & mince pies!
• Sunday 15th Dec, 3pm carols in George BOA
• Monday 16th Dec, 7.30 - 9.30pm singing, mulled cider & mince pies in the Pound Arts Centre (to be pre-ordered).
• Sunday 22nd Dec, 3pm carols in Canal Tavern BOA

If you're in the area, come along and join the fun! Here's our set list - note that the familiar ones won't sound familiar as our choir master loves finding the more obscure versions.

• Hark the Herald Angels Sing
• Malpas Wassail
• Diadem
• While Shepherds Watched *
• Ding Dong Merrily on High
• I Hear Along Our Street (The Dunster Carol)
• Awake & Join the Cheerful Choir (Britford) - a local Wiltshire carol
• We might also do The Holly & The Ivy as a quick warm-up (it's v easy) and Hail Smiling Morn (only two parts and you'll be carried along with it).

* = for those of you familiar with I'm Sorry I haven't a Clue, this is our version of "one song to the tune of another". NB If you take the link and don't want the sound, the off button is in the top right hand corner.