Isabella was forced to stop working as a gardener on an estate when her health deteriorated significantly. As a member of the Professional Gardeners Guild, she was aware of Perennial and contacted us directly. Our caseworker was able to help her claim sickness benefits and went on to represent her
Read more →In 1979, Cambridge University Botanic Garden was the first botanic garden in the UK to dedicate an area solely to plants offering ornamental winter interest. In 2019 we celebrate the 40th birthday of our Winter Garden – a vibrant, colourful and fragrant space of brightly coloured stems, winter flowering shrubs,
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The new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) comes into force on May 25th, 2018. In line with these new regulations, we have updated the PGG Privacy Policy to explain how we collect, store and use your personal data. The Privacy Policy explains that the Professional Gardeners’ Guild only holds information
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For 2018 the PGG recommends a 2.5% increase across the range, taking into account a 3-4% rise in the RPI, a 2.7% rise in the CPI, and a 4% rise in the National Living Wage. These rises reflect the uncertain economic climate and a general level of pay settlements across
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The visit to Canterbury Cathedral on 21st July has sadly had to be postponed until 2019.
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The Horticulture Week Custodian Awards, now in their third year, celebrate excellence in parks, gardens, grounds and tree management. Run by Horticulture Week, they reward the unsung heroes who ensure we can continue to enjoy our life-enhancing green spaces, from our urban and national parks to our historic and botanic gardens and arboreta, woodlands and grounds.
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Although in Japan the national tree is sakura (Prunus serrulata, cherry blossom), the fundamental garden tree is kuro-matsu (Pinus thunbergii, Japanese black pine) and the official fruiting tree is kaki (Diospyros kaki), one can safely say that the most planted tree is sugi (Cryptomeria japonica, Japanese red-cedar). Regardless of the
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We’ve recently had a request from one of our members: Does anyone know where I can get a few small panes of green tinted thin greenhouse glass – old, not a modern replica. Many thanks. Joan (Cornwall) If you can help please contact Joan Farmer at joan@gardenroom.plus.com
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For 2017 the PGG recommends a 2.5% increase across the range, reflecting the uncertain economic climate, higher than expected levels of inflation a general level of pay settlements across the private sector of between 2 and 3%, together with the continued need to attract young people to a career in
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A great PGG presence at the show this year by PGG members: Iris Lynch with the RHS Schools campaign. A wonderful exhibit and on Sunday Jussi can play with his buses again!!!!!!!! and Iris will be over the excitement. Philip Oosenbrink for his display displaying Hakonechloa and a Silver medal –
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A small but enthusiastic group helped out with the PGG stand at Arley Hall Garden Festival on 24 and 25th June 2017. A great weekend and hopefully our advice at the gardeners question time stand was all correct as it was certainly well received.
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The inaugural Parks & Gardens Live showcase event is taking place at Woburn Abbey & Gardens on 28 June.
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This useful group of roses, often dismissed as hedging roses, doesn’t always receive the respect it deserves. Very hardy, disease resistant, repeat flowering, tolerant of poor soils and exposed sites and with an exceptionally good ‘old rose’ scent, rugosas will also do well in richer soils and perform well in
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What a remarkable year for wildlife 2016 was. The long summer provided for the needs of multiple broods in many of our indigenous and resident species, vertebrate and invertebrate alike. Dragonfly Sympetrum striolatum It was pleasant to see the ongoing work in the RHS gardens at Hyde Hall in Essex
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The Professional Gardeners’ Guild has become the first horticultural organisation to endorse the Horticulture Week Custodian Awards and sign up as a partner. This year, there are five more categories in the Custodian Awards: Best Gardens or Arboretum 1 – 5 staff Best Gardens or Arboretum 6+ staff Best Heritage
Read more →Mediterranean Gardening Association Portugal International Spring Conference 2016 Wildflower walk at Cape St. Vincent In April I had the opportunity to attend a spring conference in the Algarve, organised by the Mediterranean Gardening Association Portugal. I was one of two other professional horticulturists who were sponsored to attend the weekend-long
Read more →Back in 2011, I wrote a short article (The Professional Gardener issue No. 130) promoting the National Collection scheme organised by Plant Heritage, based on the experience of attaining the National Collection of Libertia. The more vigorous Libertia in our collection are incredibly useful in a zoo situation, mainly because
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Trainee expedition to Parques de Sintra On the 12th of March, six lucky PGG trainees boarded a plane for Portugal. We were not entirely sure what to expect or what exactly we would be doing however, as the week went on we became more enlightened. The places that we visited
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Thank you to all the members who have donated seed for the 2017 PGG Seed Exchange. There is quite a variety, especially as some of our members who live in France, the west coast of Scotland and the Republic of Ireland have sent some that may be on the tender
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Now that autumn is here, we are taking stock of the garden and the seeds we have collected over the summer. Last year 28 members donated seed out of a membership of 950. So thank you to my regular contributors, and if you haven’t donated before can I encourage you
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