Podcast
Roots and All - Gardening Podcast
Hosted by Sarah Wilson · EN
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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24episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Episode 387: Lessons from Keyhole Gardens
1w ago00:24:02Tap to summarizeCould a simple circular garden help solve food insecurity in some of the world's harshest climates? In this episode of Roots and All, I'm joined by Sam Evans, whose dissertation took him to Lesotho to explore keyhole gardens — ingenious compost-fed growing systems that help communities grow food sustainably in extreme conditions. We discuss how they work, the wider benefits they bring, and what they could teach us about growing food in a changing climate. Benny's Insect of the Week: Harlequin Ladybird 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 Sam Evans, you might also like these conversations from the archives: Episode 23: Esiah Levy's SeedsShare Project A fascinating discussion about seed sovereignty, food growing and empowering communities through accessible, sustainable gardening initiatives — themes that closely connect with today's conversation about keyhole gardens and food security. Episode 185: Food Forests for Plant Lovers This episode explores resilient growing systems, biodiversity and regenerative planting approaches, making it a perfect companion to today's discussion on sustainable food production and climate-smart gardening.
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Episode 386: Walworth Garden - Rooted in Community
2w ago00:30:48Tap to summarizeWhat happens when a community garden becomes a lifeline for people, wildlife and an entire neighbourhood? In this episode, I'm chatting with Oliver Hayden from Walworth Garden about running a free community space in the heart of London, why gardening can drive real social change, and how reconnecting with nature can quietly transform lives. It's funny, thought-provoking and full of big questions about the way we live and garden. Benny's Insect of the Week: Four Banded Flower Bee Links You can find Walworth Garden online here: Official website: Walworth Garden Instagram: @walworthgarden on Instagram You can also visit the garden in person at 206 Manor Place, London SE17 3BN. 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 Oliver Hayden, you might also like these conversations from the archives: Episode 323: Wildflowers, Community & Urban Nature A conversation exploring the importance of urban green spaces, biodiversity and the role community projects can Episode 275: Community Gardening This episode looks at the social value of community gardening projects and the ways shared green spaces can support wellbeing, learning and local connection, making it a natural companion to today's discussion.
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Episode 385: Growing Older, Growing Gardens
3w ago00:31:00Tap to summarizeWhat happens when the garden you love starts demanding more than you can give? In today's episode of Roots and All, I'm joined by garden writer Rhonda Fleming Hayes to explore how gardening changes as we age — from adapting high-maintenance spaces to embracing balcony gardens, community plots and slower, more meaningful ways of connecting with nature. Benny's Insect of the Week: Rose Chafer Beetle Links Garden for Life: Strategies for Easier, Greener, More Joyful Gardening as We Age by Rhonda Fleming Hayes 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 Rhonda, you might also like these conversations from the archives: Episode 366: Universal Qualities of Healing Gardens Benjamin Vogt explores the restorative power of gardens and the ways thoughtfully designed spaces can support wellbeing, connection and healing throughout our lives — a fitting companion to today's discussion on gardening as we age. Episode 325: Growing in the Garden Emma O'Neill reflects on personal growth through gardening and the many ways our outdoor spaces evolve alongside us, echoing today's conversation about adapting gardens to changing needs and lifestyles.
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Episode 384: Sustainable Eating for Planet Health
4w ago00:31:23Tap to summarizeThis episode might just change the way you grow, shop, cook, and eat. Today I'm joined by returning guest Dave Goulson to talk about his new book, Eat the Planet Well, a practical guide to eating in a way that's healthy, affordable, and better for the planet. Even if you think you know the basics — and are wondering about Dave's shift from his usual nature writing — there's plenty here that will surprise you. Benny's Insect of the Week: Dark-edged Bee-fly With thanks to our sponsor - roastinghouse.co.uk. get 25% extra free if you mention Roots and All or the insect of the week in the comments box at checkout. Links Dave Goulson on instagram Eat the Planet Well by Dave Goulson 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 Dave, you might also like these conversations from the archives: Episode 334: Food Farming Revolutionary Joshua Sparkes shares a regenerative, soil-first approach to growing food that challenges conventional farming — a natural companion to today's discussion on rethinking how we produce and consume what we eat. Episode 328: Soil, Health & Nutrition Sam Hamrebtan explores the vital link between soil health and the nutritional value of our food, reinforcing the idea that what's good for the planet is also good for us.
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Episode 383: Roots in Orkney
May 400:33:41Tap to summarizeWhat happens when you follow a decades-long love affair with a place all the way to its shores? Victoria Bennett did exactly that, uprooting her life in Cumbria to start afresh on the windswept islands of Orkney — new garden, new climate, and an inspiring vision for a community apothecary space rooted in creativity, care, and the land itself. Benny's Insect of the Week: Orange-tip Butterly With thanks to our sponsor - roastinghouse.co.uk. get 25% extra free if you mention Roots and All or the insect of the week in the comments box at checkout. Links Author Website Victoria Bennett — Official Author Site Books The Apothecary by the Sea — Waterstones All My Wild Mothers — Amazon author page Instagram — @beewyld 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 Victoria, you might also like these conversations from the archives: Episode 370: Remembering Our Nature Brigit Anna McNeill explores healing through plants, herbalism, folklore and ancestral connection — a beautiful companion to today's conversation about finding yourself through the natural world and the restorative power of putting down new roots. Episode 368: Rooted In Purpose Robin Singh's journey from corporate life to growing his own food and living more intentionally echoes Victoria's themes of caregiving, community and choosing a life shaped by purpose rather than habit.
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Episode 382: When Gardening Doesn't Make You Happy
Apr 2700:30:10Tap to summarizeWhat if gardening doesn't make you happy? Gardening isn't always the simple "cure-all" it's often made out to be. We get into the realities behind the wellbeing narrative — from overwhelm and pressure to the deeper emotional connections we form with our outdoor spaces. It's a thoughtful, honest conversation about what gardens really give us… and what they sometimes don't. Benny's Insect of the Week: Gooden's Nomad Bee With thanks to our sponsor - roastinghouse.co.uk. get 25% extra free if you mention Roots and All or the insect of the week in the comments box at checkout. Links The Psychology of Gardening (The Psychology of Everything) - Harriet Gross Garden Lovers Reading Retreat 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 Harriet, you might also like these conversations from the archives: Episode 314: Nurturing Growth, Inside and Out In this episode, Sarah looks at the emotional side of gardening and how our outdoor spaces can shape identity, wellbeing, and resilience — a thoughtful companion to today's discussion about the psychological weight and reward of tending a garden. Episode 286: Natural Happiness This episode explores the relationship between nature and wellbeing, questioning what we really mean when we say gardens make us "happy," and how that experience varies from person to person — closely linked to today's reflections on the limits of gardening as a cure-all.
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Episode 381: Ecology, Art and Memory
Apr 2000:31:46Tap to summarizeRebecca Wynn Kelly works at the intersection of sculpture, ecology, and myth as a "species architect" exploring how we might reimagine our relationship with the land. Rooted in West Wales, her work blends habitat creation with storytelling and folklore to ask who—and what—we build the landscape for. Benny's Insect of the Week: The Batman Overfly Please support our sponsors - roastinghouse.co.uk. get 25% extra free if you mention Roots and All or the insect of the week in the comments box at checkout. Links Rebecca Wynn Kelly – Artist Instagram – Rebecca Wynn Kelly Please support the podcast on Patreon And follow Roots and All: On Instagram @rootsandallpod On Facebook @rootsandalluk On LinkedIn @rootsandall If you liked this week's episode with Rebecca Wynn Kelly, you might also enjoy this episode from the archives: Episode 53: Garden Design for Every Species In this episode, John Little explores how gardens can be designed with wildlife at the centre, creating layered habitats that support a wide range of species. It's a natural companion to today's conversation about building for more than just human needs and thinking like a "species architect." Episode 301: The Wheel of the Year In this episode, Rebecca Beattie discusses seasonal cycles, folklore and ritual, and how reconnecting with the rhythms of the year can deepen our relationship with the land. It offers a thoughtful extension of today's themes around story, place and ecological connection.
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Episode 380: Following a Drop of Water
Apr 1300:37:25Tap to summarizeThis week, we dive into the hidden world of water with author Stephen Rutt, exploring the landscapes we so often overlook. From chalk streams to peat bogs, we trace water's strange and vital journey through our environment—and why it deserves far more of our attention. Benny's Insect of the Week: The Yellow-Legged Mining Bee Please support our sponsors - roastinghouse.co.uk. get 25% extra free if you mention Roots and All or the insect of the week in the comments box at checkout. Links The Waterlands - Stephen Rutt Stephen Rutt on Instagram https://www.patreon.com/rootsandall And follow Roots and All: On Instagram @rootsandallpod On Facebook @rootsandalluk On LinkedIn @rootsandall If you liked this week's episode with Stephen, you might also enjoy this episode from the archives: Episode 352: Peat, Politics and Horticulture In this episode, Sarah explores the importance of peatlands, from their role in carbon storage to their impact on water systems, making it a natural companion to today's conversation about wetlands and the movement of water through the landscape. Episode 322: Garden Wildlife Ponds This episode looks at how introducing water into the garden can support biodiversity, offering practical insights into creating and maintaining ponds — an ideal follow-on from today's discussion on the value of water in both wild and cultivated spaces.
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Episode 379: Pam Lewis: Ahead of the Curve
Apr 600:37:00Tap to summarizeHorticultural legend Pam Lewis began her garden at Sticky Wicket in Dorset decades ago, and revisiting her early writing shows just how ahead of the curve—and fearless—she was in championing wildlife-friendly, sustainable gardening. We sat down to reflect on her years in the garden and how the horticultural world has changed along the way. Benny's Insect of the Week: Asiraca clavicornis Please support our sponsors - roastinghouse.co.uk. get 25% extra free if you mention Roots and All or the insect of the week in the comments box at checkout. Books Sticky Wicket: Gardening in Tune With Nature - Pam Lewis, 2007 Making a Wildflower Meadow - Pam Lewis, 2015 Please support the podcast on Patreon And follow Roots and All: On Instagram @rootsandallpod On Facebook @rootsandalluk On LinkedIn @rootsandall If you liked this week's episode with Pam, you might also enjoy this episode from the archives: Episode 194: Gardening for Wildlife In this episode, Sarah explores how gardeners can better support biodiversity, sharing practical ways to create spaces that welcome and sustain wildlife — making it a natural companion to today's conversation about gardening in harmony with nature. Episode 285: No Mow May This episode looks at the impact of letting lawns grow wild through May, highlighting how small changes in garden management can have big benefits for pollinators and biodiversity — an ideal follow-on from today's discussion on working with, rather than against, the natural world.
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Episode 378: Growing a Sustainable Nursery
Mar 3000:35:22Tap to summarizeWhat does it really take to run a small, sustainable nursery? This week on Roots and All, I'm joined by nurseryman and designer Ben Preston of Cliff Bank Nursery for an honest conversation about the realities of the job—from growing in sand and selling bare root plants to why local nurseries matter more than ever, and why it's truly a labour of love. Benny's Insect of the Week: The Orange Ladybird Please support our sponsors - roastinghouse.co.uk. get 25% extra free if you mention Roots and All or the insect of the week in the comments box at checkout. Links Cliff Bank Nursery Instagram: @cliff_bank_nursery Please support the podcast on Patreon And follow Roots and All: On Instagram @rootsandallpod On Facebook @rootsandalluk On LinkedIn @rootsandall If you liked this week's episode with Ben, you might also enjoy this episode from the archives: Episode 284: The Organic Nursery In this episode, Sarah speaks with Sam Frings about building and running an organic nursery, exploring the challenges of growing plants sustainably, maintaining ethical practices, and creating a resilient small business — making it a perfect companion to today's discussion on the realities of nursery life. Episode 175: Seeking Rare Plants Nick Macer of Pan Global Plants joins Sarah to share his passion for unusual and hard-to-find plants, discussing plant sourcing, selection, and what it takes to run a specialist nursery — an ideal follow-on from today's conversation about plant choice, diversity, and the role of small growers.
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