HOW TO KEEP THE SHOW ON THE ROAD

Bosses of public gardens are now often bean counters or arts administrators. This means gardens are becoming more events-led in order to attract visitors. Christmas light shows are commonplace, as are concerts, plays and other festivals.

Are head gardeners losing control of their domain? One example is renowned plantsman Wolfgang

Bopp, who left Harold Hillier Gardens in Hampshire this autumn to go to Christchurch Botanic Gardens in New Zealand. His replacement, Clare

Goddard, has a background in cultural events.

CELEBRITY ‘EXPERTS’

Ex-Great British Bake Off producer Paolo Proto made his mark on Gardeners’ World this year by using celebs such as Mary Berry, Alison Steadman, Rev Richard Coles, Rob Brydon and Jo Whiley to fill the role of learned horticulturalists. The holy grail of this trend must be a segment on Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn’s allotment. Watch this space.

PEAT-FREE PLODS ON

Peat use is meant to have been phased out by the horticulture industry by 2020. At present the market is only 17 per cent peat-free – a widely underreported fact – and Defra is concerned about the slow phase-out. The overall market for peat-free products was up between one and two per cent in 2018 and peat-free sales rose by a similar amount. In September, Westland launched a new peat-free compost called Bio3, designed to look and cost the same as peat-based versions.

INDEPENDENT PLOTS