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PhD Research study on pollinators in gardens

I am a PhD student at Royal Holloway, University of London. I work on pollinator conservation and citizen intervention and am looking for volunteers for the second year of the citizen science study called ‘Optimow’. This study will be looking into how you can manage your gardens to help bees, butterflies and other pollinators. In the study you will be given a mowing frequency to follow and then you will count pollinators in your garden each week. The study will take 15-25 minutes a week.

This is the second year of the study. In 2023, we had an amazing 180 participants and saw a 75% increase in pollinator numbers in one of the groups!! We hope to build on this work, so we have robust advice to give members of the public about managing their lawns to help pollinators.

As members of a horticultural society, I hoped the study would interest you and you’d have a good skill set to complete it. Would it be possible to circulate this email to the Wolverhampton horticultural society members? If they are interested in taking part they can sign up and find more information on the google form below (https://forms.gle/scmLF3h1XvoHTkcSA).

Any questions don’t hesitate to drop me an email.
Thanks in advance,
Morgan Morrison

Twitter: @morgsmorrison73

National Garden Scheme

May is one of the main months for gardens to be open in the National Garden Scheme and there is a plethora of gardens opening within relatively easy reach of Wolverhampton. Full details can be found on the NGS website:

National Garden Scheme

Nurseries and Plant fairs

Searching for plants? Worfield Plants is a wholesale nursery providing a wide range of plants to retail outlets but they also now offer an online service to local consumers (minimum order £40).  Their website is:

https://worfieldplants.co.uk/

The Royal Horticultural Society website provides loads of information on RHS gardens, events, education and also has a very extensive plant finder section for help in selecting suitable plants for different locations in your garden.

https://www.rhs.org.uk/

BBC Gardeners World has a detailed website providing advice on tasks to do each month, plants for different places, reviews on gardening products, etc. Users can subscribe to the site to access further information only available to subscribers (free).

https://www.gardenersworld.com/

Each year the Shropshire Historic Churches trust have an open garden scheme to raise money for local churches. Many of these gardens are only open under this scheme and many are  within easy travelling distance of Wolverhampton. The full list can be found on the Trusts website.

Shropshire Historic Churches Trust Open Gardens

Gardeners seeking plants recommended by the RHS website will find an excellent selection at Plant Hunters Fairs. This organisation provide advice to gardeners and the ability to purchase special plants for your garden. The website provides details of their newsletter and calendar of fairs; http://www.shropshirehct.org.uk/OtherActivities/OpenGardens.aspx

2024 Plant Hunters’ Fairs 

Specialist Plant Fairs at Beautiful Gardens and Countryside Locations; full details and dates of fairs on their website at:

http://planthuntersfairs.co.uk/

Details may change due to prevailing circumstances. Keep up to date with their newsletter at at http://www.planthuntersfairs.co.uk/newsletters/index.htm , or follow them on Twitter @plantfairs or Facebook Planthuntersfairs

2024 Rare Plant Fairs
 
Once we get hooked on gardens and gardening, we all become fascinated with new and unusual plants. Whether we specialise in collecting a particular group of plants such as roses, snowdrops, irises, etc., or are just interested in anything that is rare or novel, we’re constantly on the lookout for that special plant. However, finding the plants that we need or want (not always the same thing!) is not always easy. The best sources are the many specialist growers and nurseries around the country, but many are based in remote locations, or may not be open regularly (or at all) to the public at their home sites. So how can these nurseries and the avid gardeners desperate to buy their plants be brought together? The solution lies in Rare Plant Fairs, held throughout the growing season from March to September.
 
 

Some Gardens Open This Spring)

RHS Partner Gardens (many require pre-booking):
Arley Arboretum, DY12 1SQ. Re-opens 12 March. Fri to Sun, 11.00 to 16.00.
Stone House Cottage Garden & Nursery, DY10 4BG. Re-opens 31 March. Wed to Sat, 10.00 to 17.00.
Winterbourne, B15 2RT. Garden open now, house & tearoom closed. Daily, 10.30 to 16.00.
Batsford Arboretum, GL56 9AT. Daily 9.30 to 16.30.
Dorothy Clive Garden, TF9 4EU. Re-opens 12 March. Daily 10.00 to 16.00. Reduced fee £5 until 1 April.
The Trentham Estate, ST4 8JG. Open. Daily 9.00 to 18.00.
Cholmondeley Castle Gardens, SY14 8AH, Re-opens 1 April. Wed, Thurs, Sun, 10.00 to 17.00.
Other:
Martineau Gardens, B5 7UG. Re-opens 29 March. Mon to Fri, 10.00 to 16.00. Free entry.
National Trust Parkland & Gardens generally open in line with normal property times. E.g. Coughton Court B49 5JA, Dudmaston WV15 6QN, Hanbury Hall WR9 7EA. Pre-booking advised.

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