We are all heartbroken by the loss of the nicest man in horticulture. His final appearance on Gardeners' Question Time last week, where Biggsy talked eloquently and movingly of his path through illness, had the biggest response in my 20 year history on the show 😔 www.radiotimes.com/audio/radio/...

BBC News - www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cr... UK weather: Heat warnings upgraded as parts of UK to be hit by bank holiday heatwave - BBC News

Roses bloom ‘weeks early’ as climate change upends flowering patterns The peak blooming of the roses has shifted by the equivalent of one day every two-and-a-half years, as a result of rising temperatures and changing weather patterns, the National Trust said www.standard.co.uk/news/enviro...

Almost unbelievable forecast from tonight’s European model it has trended hotter. We see 32C/90F daily between this Sunday and next Tuesday in London area. Hard to believe we just experienced coolest mid May period in 16 years and now we look to see a historic heatwave. The change is violent.

'Heatwaves are expected to exceed 40C in all parts of the UK by 2050' UK ‘built for climate that no longer exists’ and needs urgent changes to survive global heating, report warns www.theguardian.com/environment/...

It's that time again #RHSChelsea

Just had to pop out to the lawn this week for some #tinyplants for #wildflowerhour Mouse-ear chickweed and lesser trefoil (trifolium dubium), with a not-so-tiny yellow rattle thrown in.

This is probably the most powerful show I've done in my 20 years as host. A moving final appearance from the wonderful plantsman Matt Biggs, who is certainly not going gentle into that good night. www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

Roots of resilience: the experts working to bolster apples against the climate crisis www.theguardian.com/environment/...

The Wild West

Castricum aan Zee, Noord Holland

Reality bites www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...

Got my own personal meteorological watering can overhead 🌧️🤸

Large mass of thundery rain pushing northwards from Brittany to bring drought relief to parts of England and Wales, but the 48hr accumulation map shows that some will be very disappointed - totals ranging from 5 to 45mm!

No Mow May is here! 🌼 The #NoMowMovement can look different for everyone. Here are some of the places you can let it grow! 🏡 Gardens 🪴 Plant pots or window boxes 🛣️ Verges 🏫 Schools 🎓 Campuses 🏘️ Community spaces How are you taking part? Not signed up? Join us! 👉 https://loom.ly/RW0t-fw

It's peony time

🌡️ Europe is the fastest‑warming continent, warming at more than 2× the global average. Changing weather patterns, reduced air pollution, declining snow cover & proximity to the rapidly warming Arctic all play a role. ⬇️

TFW you need to get the Stillsons out to open the new marmalade

Garden romping away in the warm sunshine, despite the deepening drought. Abutilon vitifolium, clematis 'Miss Bateman', Rosa 'Strawberry Hill' and cow parsley. Won't be long before that winter soil moisture runs out though 😕

Utter madness

Wildfire season again in Scotland BBC News - Series of wildfires across Scotland during 'extreme' alert - BBC News www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Looking back at satellite pics of the UK under yesterday's extraordinarily clear skies and noticed a light-coloured line running diagonally from the NW of Greater London up to Birmingham. Then realised it's the HS2 construction swathe, visible from space.

Extraordinarily dry air over southern England today. Reading University weather station showing a dewpoint of minus 10.7C (temperature you need to cool the air to for it to become saturated) and a lowest humidity this afternoon of just 9% - rare for UK! Well predicted by weather models (blue area).

Denmark's coal-to-wind transition is one of the most dramatic energy transformations of the past three decades. In 1990, coal provided 90% of Danish electricity. Today it is under 3%. Wind now covers roughly 60% of electricity generation. The last coal plant is scheduled to close by 2028.

There's been a rise in temperature of 24 degrees Celsius in parts of the UK today 🌡️📈 This is known as diurnal temperature range and these extremes are common in spring months. Nonetheless, a tricky day to know what to wear for some of us! 👕🧣

Took a trip to Northants to visit Coton Manor Gardens. What a treat! A SW-facing sloping site full of surprises, a stunning bluebell wood and a well-stocked nursery at the end. Highly recommended!

A real treat to get another look at the new Queen Elizabeth II garden in Regents Park, London before the hoardings come down and public access begins on Monday. This is a bold, forward-looking project, a sustainable garden future-proofed for a changing climate.

Regents Park

Great to be back on The Naked Scientists podcast this week, chatting to host Chris Smith about the why, what and where of flooding. www.thenakedscientists.com/podcasts/nak...

Interesting. Especially in the context of thousands of empty plastic tree guards across the country.

Just missed the slot for #wildflowerhour with my #brassica Wintercress! Can't resist throwing in newly opened hawthorn, a scary-looking russian comfrey and the irresistible wood sorrell.

Went down to the woods today

Common Reed Warbler giving it big energy by the Kennet & Avon Canal *soundup!!*

Sparrowhawk wos 'ere I suspect

Sunshine on a dull day

Betjeman's 'Cathedral of Middlesex'. The Great Barn of Harmandsworth, pretty special venue for latest recording of Gardeners' Question Time.

Small gaps that make a huge difference: this is a hedgehog highway 🦔 Hedgehogs can walk up to two miles a night looking for food or a mate, but their natural highways are blocked by fences and walls. Creating safe corridors from your garden to the one next door lends hedghogs a huge helping hand.

It's my favourite time of year in our local ancient woodlands, as the jewels of #woodlandplants light up the leaf litter. Bluebells are really hitting their stride, but thought I would go with a supporting cast of Greater stitchwort, garlic mustard, wild garlic and wood spurge for #wildflowerhour

Freshly minted beech leaves

April showers

Tough advice to take, but science suggests it's for the best.

Delighted to see these little beauties back in the garden. Holly Blue butterfly, a real sign of Spring.

More gas = higher prices More wind and solar = lower prices This isn't difficult stuff

I did think the Sun was looking a bit milky

Spiderlings, disperse!

You've heard of Jack-in-the-box: enter drone-in-a-box! This nifty bit of kit has been put through its paces this season to see if it could be used to help researchers study wildlife on this remote and rugged island...

26.5°C at Kew Gardens beats the old date record for 8th April by 2.1°C (24.4°C at Brixton) and is the earliest that 26°C has been exceeded in England so far this century.

For some, today has been exceptionally warm for the time of year🌡️ For context, temperatures above 26°C are very uncommon in early April. Indeed, today has been the second warmest day on record during the first half of any April 📈⚠️

The highest temperatures in the UK have been in northwest Wales today 🌡️ Here we've had the warmest 7th April on record and the highest temperature of 2026 so far. We're very likely to see higher temperatures as we move through the rest of spring and towards summer 📈

Are mandarin ducks real?