Thousands of botanists from the Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland (BSBI)1 have spent the last twenty years collecting data on changes in the British and Irish flora. The results have now been published in Plant Atlas 2020 and four main trends have emerged since the 1950s:

53% of our native plants2 such as Heather and Harebell have declined in Britain due to human impacts such as agricultural intensification and climate change

non-native plants now outnumber native plants in the wild – this startling discovery has huge implications for the insects and other species that depend on our native plants

many non-native species are benign but some such as New Zealand Pigmyweed and Sitka Spruce have become invasive, disrupting ecosystem function and outcompeting native species

many montane plants have declined due to climate change whereas some southern species such as Bee Orchid have benefited and spread further north

At the start of lockdown I didn’t know if I’d be allowed to work, so I took time off while I waited for the government to announce what would and wouldn’t be permitted.

“To raise the spirits and cheer the heart”. According to Bartram’s Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine, that is what rose was traditionally used for in the context of herbs for health.

At the start of the year I was contacted by a company called Highland Titles – they aim to manage, improve and conserve areas of Scotland through land management, strategic partnerships and education at their nature reserves.

Establishing a wild flower meadow is something I am asked about regularly. The first thing I usually tell people who are interested in this type of garden is that it will require a lot of hard work and perseverance – it’s not just as simple as scattering a few seeds.

The positive link between gardening and health is being celebrated by Scotland’s Garden Scheme as it unveils hundreds of private gardens opening to the public during 2019 to raise money for charity.

I’ve always been intrigued by Feng Shui – the idea that we can use energy forces to harmonise ourselves with our surrounding environment.

Anyone who knows me is well aware of how badly I feel the cold. Winter is obviously the worst season but even a cold and wet day in late Spring or early Summer is enough to make my fingers and toes turn white and a bit numb!

Fresh herbs are a great way to add flavour to meals and they are easy to grow from seed at home. Now is the time to sow seeds of lots of culinary herbs including basil, rosemary and thyme.

Gardening is a fantastic past time and spending time outdoors is a great way to keep mind, body and soul in great shape. Planting from scratch is incredibly rewarding and you’ll be treated to a riot of colour in your garden come summer.

Plantaholics, wildlife lovers and grow-your-own newbies are in for a treat this year as over 450 gardens open to the public for Scotland’s Gardens Scheme to help raise money for charity.