Garden Organic

We're excited to launch a unique #SeedSearch project, which aims to find, share and preserve heritage vegetable seeds in the Midlands. We're asking gardeners to contact us if they have intriguing heritage seeds that have been passed down the generations, or little-known vegetable varieties that can’t be bought in the shops. The #SeedSearch is part of a two-year project - ‘Sowing your Seeds: Heritage Crops for a Resilient Future’ – supported with a £174,291 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, and made possible thanks to National Lottery players. Learn more about the project at https://lnkd.in/dbeTFzXU. And, if you have an interesting variety to share, get in touch via our short online survey at https://lnkd.in/dQgWaFaR. #NationalLotteryHeritageFund #SeedSearch #seeds #SeedSovereignty #HeirloomVeg #SeedsForTheFuture #HeritageSeedLibrary #HeritageSeeds #HeirloomSeeds #GardenOrganic #HeritageVegetables

If you’re a keen gardener or professional grower we’d love to hear your thoughts on training and development via our short survey: https://lnkd.in/eQefyPwg. Please feel free to share this among your networks. #GardenOrganic #OrganicGardening #OrganicGarden #GardenTraining #Training #horticulture #gardener #grower

Do you have a passion for recycling, composting, repairing and reusing? You could get free training to help Buckinghamshire residents be greener. In collaboration with Buckinghamshire Council, Buckinghamshire Waste Busters aim to help people reduce their waste - and is recruiting volunteers for its next training day on Friday 14 March in Aylesbury. It's looking for people with a passion for the environment to share their skills and knowledge with others in the local area. For more information visit https://lnkd.in/eu7G6vPa or fill in the application form at https://lnkd.in/e9MadpjZ. #OrganicGardening #ClimateAction #environmental #sustainable #plastic #PlasticWaste #recycling #FoodWaste #Waste #Buckinghamshire #BucksWasteBusters

Did you know that biodiversity is essential for food security and nutrition? From the genetic diversity in crops varieties and livestock breeds that are the basis of people’s diets, to the wild species that contribute to the supply of food, and the ecosystems that provide services essential to agrifood production – there would be no food without biodiversity! Swipe through this carousel to discover 5 reasons why biodiversity matters for our agrifood systems and why we must act now to protect it. #COP16Resumed #PeaceWithNature #COP16Colombia via FAO

It’s official, 2024 was the worst year for bumblebees since records began 🚨 The latest findings from BeeWalk, our national bumblebee monitoring scheme, have revealed bumblebee numbers declined by almost a quarter (22.5%) last year across Great Britain 💔 Two common bumblebee species were the hardest hit: ⬇️ The Red-tailed bumblebee fell by 74%. ⬇️ The White-tailed bumblebee fell by 60%. Many other bumblebee species were also affected 📉 Find out why 2024 was such a devastating year for our bumblebees in our latest BeeWalk Annual Report: https://lnkd.in/edYGhFyG

The Seventh Carbon Budget is out - with no mention of extraction. Here's our take ⬇️ ✅ The recommendation for large-scale peatland restoration is welcome! The report suggests that more than half of land use emissions reductions by 2040 will come from restoring peatlands. To do so, it suggests that the area of peatland rewetted or restored to natural conditions must be increased from 26% to at least 55%. 📈 Recognising the importance of lowland peat for its high rate of emissions is key. Although they are smaller, they should be more of a focus in our conversations about peat, as agricultural sites and areas of deep extraction for horticulture. Currently only 9% of lowland peat is in natural or rewetted condition, compared to 30% of upland peat. 🙁 Although peatlands are a huge issue in agriculture, extraction for horticulture is still happening. We can't allow that to continue without undermining peat restoration efforts. So while a focus on restoration is good, it must be delivered alongside legislation to end peat sales to take peat extraction off the table. We're disappointed to see this go unsaid. Read the full report: https://lnkd.in/eriyVFBg

We want more people to buy and enjoy using peat-free compost - to help preserve precious peatlands. We've joined a coalition of retailers, growing media manufacturers, growers, conservation charities and trade bodies to create clear guidance on how to grow successfully using peat-free compost. Download and share the guide via https://lnkd.in/epYG4Rew. #GardenOrganic #OrganicGardening #gyo #gardening #OrganicGrowing #biodiversity #wildlife #nature #ClimateAction #SaveOurSoil #ProtectTheEnvironment #peat #PeatFree #peatlands #ForPeatsSake Peat-Free Partnership Sizzle

This loamstack, stacked in late spring has really produced some wonderful stuff. Produced by stacking turf upside down and letting nature do its thing, it is full of earthworms and is beautifully crumbly, my little red breasted friend was having a ball

🦋🪲 With a new campaign, we pay special attention to the major role #pesticides play in Europe’s catastrophic collapse of insect populations. The chemicals decimate the broad family of arthropods - including insects, spiders, centipedes and crustaceans. In some regions, insect biomass has declined by an alarming 75% over 25 years. This is not only about nature and biodiversity. We and our food production depend on healthy and biodiverse ecosystems for pollination and fertile soil. While the EU pesticide law says biodiversity should be protected, in practice this is not the case. Our report ‘Licence to Kill’ analysed the causes of the problem. In this campaign, we will interview scientists, review new scientific research and highlight the importance of lesser-known arthropods. Our aim is to stimulate the discussion to achieve the urgent protection of the natural abundance on which our lives depend. 🐞🕷️ https://lnkd.in/gEYEMRjp

Slugs have a bad rep 😢 But the truth is, they bring so many benefits to our wild world. Did you know having them in your garden can be a good thing? So lift that leaf, pick up that plant pot, and see which ones you can find! 🔍