21 Oct 2010

Hedgerow Survey Needs Your Help by RHS UK

Hedgerow survey needs your help

21 October 2010

The hedgerow is home to much wildlife

The hedge in your back garden may hold crucial information for scientists assessing the country's biodiversity as the latest 'citizen science' survey by the Open Air Laboratories Project (OPAL) gets under way.

The OPAL team is inviting members of the public to collect as much information as possible about the hedges in back gardens, parks and open spaces all over the country, particularly in urban locations.

'We know quite a lot about hedges in the countryside and how important they are, but how much biodiversity do they contain in cities?' said Jonathan Silvertown, head of the OPAL Biodiversity Observatory. 'They might be even more important in urban areas where natural habitats are more scarce.'

How you can take part

Hedges are already known to support a wide range of life, but the survey hopes to find out which hedges best support insects and small mammals. Participants select a three-metre stretch of hedge and record information about the appearance of the hedge, how many flowers, fruits and nuts it contains, which insects they find there and other evidence of animals using the hedge, such as holes and burrows.

Once results arrive, they are placed on an online map and the survey team rates each hedge according to its importance for wildlife, building up a picture of the state of hedgerows around the country.

Other surveys

The biodiversity survey is the fifth in a series of surveys carried out under the five-year OPAL project, set up in 2007 with a grant from the Big Lottery Fund. Other projects already under way that you can join in with include:

  • Assessing earthworm populations
  • Air quality
  • The health of ponds, rivers and streams.
Thousands of results have already been collected and a final report bringing together conclusions from all the projects is to be published in late 2012.((tag: HortiNews, horticulture, fresh produce, news, trends, Ireland, ))

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7 Sep 2010

New RHS Qualifications go Live

Latest Horticulture & Fresh Produce News for Ireland

New RHS qualifications go live

7 September 2010



Anyone with an interest in plants and gardening, can now study for a new range of qualifications from the RHS.

These new qualifications are open to anyone from a beginner wanting to gain the basic skills, a keen gardener wishing to acquire additional knowledge, or even at a professional level to enhance a career.

They have been designed for part-time study, and may be offered as part-time day courses or in the evening by approved colleges and other centres throughout the UK and Ireland. It is also possible to study theory courses by distance learning.

The qualifications cover a wide range of horticultural topics including theory-based certificates at Level 2 in Garden Planning, Establishment and Maintenance and also the Principles of Plant Growth, Propagation and Development.

For those wishing to acquire horticultural skills, the RHS has introduced a series of practical skills qualifications starting at Level 1. These focus on developing the essential skills required in the garden, be it for growing vegetables or establishing a border.

There are no formal entry requirements for taking the RHS qualifications at Level 1 and 2 - all that is needed is an enthusiasm for plants and gardening and a desire to learn more.

 

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17 Aug 2010

Plants chosen for 2011 RHS trials

Plants chosen for 2011 RHS trials

Delphinium trial at Wisley

The RHS has just announced its 2011 plant trials which will cover 14 new, and 21 current plant groups.

'We have been looking very carefully at the needs of our members and other gardening enthusiasts and have produced, we believe, an exciting and useful programme of trials,' says Kylie Balmain, RHS Head of Horticultural Trials & Relations.

'Each year we receive extensive support to deliver our trials programme especially from our plant committee and panel members. They spend a lot of time assessing and monitoring each trial to ensure the RHS can recommend plants of very high quality for the Award of General Merit (AGM).'

An AGM is a valuable award and key to helping people make informed plant selection. By choosing an AGM plant, gardeners can be sure that it meets exacting criteria including: ‘outstanding excellence for ordinary garden decoration; not requiring highly specialised growing conditions or care; not particularly susceptible to any pests or diseases'.

The majority of trials are conducted at RHS Garden Wisley with additional trials managed off-site with partner gardens and members of the trade.

Horticulture & Landscape News.

 

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