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

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

Lee Miller lived many lives—model, surrealist, war correspondent—but it was in the kitchen and garden at Farleys House that she found a kind of peace after the chaos. In this episode, Lee’s granddaughter Ami Bouhassane discusses her book Lee Miller: A Life with Food, Friends and Recipes, and offers an intimate portrait of her grandmother’s postwar years. We explore how cooking became a creative outlet, the mystery of the unpublished Entertaining Freezer, and the role of the garden in shaping Lee’s later life.

Links

Lee Miller Archives (official site) – Explore her life as a surrealist, model, war correspondent, photographer, and gourmet cook, with access to archives, exhibitions, and images.

Farleys House & Gallery (official site) – Visit the Sussex home and sculpture garden of Lee Miller and Roland Penrose, with information on guided house tours, seasonal exhibitions, and booking details.

Other episodes if you liked this one:

Episode 324: “Kitchen Garden Living” with Bailey Van Tassel — we dig into the art of seasonal, sustainable kitchen gardening, echoing Lee Miller’s own relationship with her garden at Farleys House.

Episode 328: “Soil, Health & Nutrition” featuring Sam Hamrebtan — an exploration of how growing practices shape the nutrient quality of our food, beautifully complementing our discussion of Lee’s experimental cooking.

Please support the podcast on Patreon

Writer and naturalist Julian Hoffman joins me for a dive into his latest book Lifelines, exploring the fragile beauty of threatened landscapes, the deep connections between wildlife and culture, and what it means to belong—to a place, to a species, to a song. From regent honeyeaters losing their voices to the shifting borders that divide both people and animals, Julian shares stories that remind us of what’s at stake, and what still remains.

Links

www.julianhoffman.com

Julian on Instagram

Other episodes if you liked this one:

🎧 Episode 53: “Irreplaceable” with Julian Hoffman

In this earlier visit, Julian explores the imperative of protecting wild landscapes and the deep human-place connections that motivate conservation efforts. We dive into the loss of habitats and the meaning of biodiversity for future generations
🔗 Listen here: https://rootsandall.co.uk/podcast/episode-53-irreplaceable-with-julian-hoffman/

🎧 Episode 197: “Britain’s Birds” with Benedict Macdonald

Naturalist, conservationist and writer Benedict Macdonald. Benedict has recently released a new book ‘Cornerstones’, which talks about how by restoring cornerstone species we can help turn around the current impoverished state of nature in the UK. His previous book ‘Rebirding’ was how I first came to know of his work and I’ve been a great admirer of his work ever since. We talk about the numbers of UK birds, how land management needs to change in order to stop the loss of species in this country and what we can do at a garden level to make changes.

🔗 Listen here: https://rootsandall.co.uk/podcast/episode-168-britains-birds-with-benedict-macdonald/

Please support the podcast on Patreon

I’m joined by Susanna Daniels, CEO of Melanoma Focus, and horticulturists Rachel Reynolds, Paul Kimberley and Jenny Warner, who share their personal experiences with skin cancer. With temperatures on the rise, we explore why sun safety is essential for anyone working outdoors, how to protect yourself effectively, and the serious risks of not taking the sun seriously.

Links

Melanoma Focus is a national charity dedicated to providing help and support to melanoma patients and healthcare professionals as well as raising awareness of melanoma, the 5th most common cancer in the UK. As nearly 9 in 10 melanomas are preventable, awareness and advocacy work is key element of the work. Melanoma awareness posters and a comms toolkit (including a specific farming and horticultural comms toolkit) is available via our melanoma awareness page.

Some other useful pages:

What is melanoma

Sun safety

Signs and symptoms of melanoma

How to check your skin and nails

How a melanoma is diagnosed

The Melanoma Helpline – expert skin cancer nurses are available for anyone with a worry about melanoma from diagnosis to treatment and beyond

Melanoma Stages and Treatment – Patient Guide

Please support the podcast on Patreon

Author Nic Wilson speaks about her memoir, Land Beneath the Waves. We delve into how her relationship with the natural world has provided insight and resilience in the face of chronic illness, and how our surroundings can shape and reflect our inner landscapes.

Links

Official Website

nicwilson.co.uk – The central hub for Nic’s writing, including her memoir Land Beneath the Waves, Guardian Country Diary contributions, newsletter subscription (“Only Connect!”), book tour dates, and the Peat‑Free Nurseries list.

Linktree

A central portal with quick links to her website, book launch, newsletter, and social profiles.

Instagram

@dogwooddaysgardener – Nic’s nature-and-garden-focused Instagram, where she shares updates on her memoir, writing, and everyday natural world reflections.

Bluesky (Alternative Social Platform)

nicwilson.bsky.social – Her profile on Bluesky, with nature musings and updates.

Newsletter

Only Connect! – Nic’s periodic newsletter focusing on nature writing, wild-life interviews, book news, and Peat‑Free gardening resources. Available via her website and Linktree.
🔗 Subscribe here: https://nicwilson.co.uk/

Other episodes if you liked this one:

🍃 Episode 336: Creating an Ark with Mary Reynolds
Summary:
Sarah Wilson speaks with Mary Reynolds, the visionary behind the We Are The Ark movement. They explore how rewilding—even in small spaces like gardens or balconies—can foster biodiversity and emotional reconnection with the natural world. Mary's journey from Chelsea Flower Show gold medalist to ecological activist is both inspiring and practical.
🔗 Listen here

🚶‍♀️ Episode 327: Following in the Footsteps with Kerri Andrews
Summary:
In this insightful episode, Sarah chats with author and academic Kerri Andrews about Pathfinding: On Walking, Motherhood and Freedom. They discuss walking as a form of healing, reflection, and resistance—how movement through landscape can mirror and nurture our emotional journeys. It's a natural companion to Nic Wilson’s themes of inner and outer terrains.
🔗 Listen here

Please support the podcast on Patreon

Lockie Scicluna is part of the crew living and working at Australia’s remote Mawson Station in Antarctica. Lockie is closely involved in the station’s hydroponic growing setup — an ingenious system that allows the team to produce fresh vegetables in one of the most extreme environments on Earth. We talk about the challenges of growing food without soil or sunlight, and why having a growing operation might matter more than you might think.

Links

Australian Antarctic Division Mawson station

Lockie on Instagram @scic.travels

Other episodes if you liked this one:

🌱 Episode 226: Soil Bacteria & Rhizophagy
Summary:
In this episode, I delve into the fascinating world of soil bacteria and their interactions with plants, including discussions on bacteria in monocrops, their presence in seeds, and notably, their role in hydroponic systems. This exploration provides insights into how microbial life adapts and functions in both traditional soil-based and soilless growing environments, offering a deeper understanding relevant to controlled environment agriculture.
🔗 Listen here

🌿 Episode 289: Animal Friendly Fertiliser
Summary:
I chat with Los Angeles-based landscaper and fertiliser expert Erin Riley about her pioneering work in creating vegan, organic fertilisers. We discuss the environmental and ethical implications of traditional animal-based fertilisers and explore plant-based alternatives that are beneficial for plants, people, animals, and the planet. This conversation is particularly pertinent to sustainable practices in controlled environment agriculture, such as hydroponic systems.
🔗 Listen here

Please support the podcast on Patreon