The popular presenter of ITV’s The Wales Show, Matt Johnson readily admits to being a fair-weather gardener.  “I enjoy spending time in the garden in summer with a big glass of wine.  My gardening experience is slim and I’m unlucky at the moment to be living in an apartment with just a balcony and a couple of pots but I do like the idea of having a nice garden one day.  A rustic, natural looking one,” he adds, “Not one that takes a lot of looking after and looks well groomed like my grandparents garden.  They spend so much time looking after theirs, their lawn looks like the Millenium Stadium with the stripes, there are roses around the edge and they’ve got cute little bird baths.  It looks lovely but it’s not for me, it’s too much like hard work,” he laughs.
My granddad, ‘Foxy’, used to let me cut the grass to earn a bit of extra cash but I was always really nervous of messing it up and if I’d gone on the lawn in my football boots I’d have been thrown into next doors garden.” 
The likeable TV presenter continues, “I’d love to grow and cook my own veg like my grandparents though, we used to eat organically all the time, a long time before it was the cool thing to do.  I made Cawl last week,” he adds, “and cooking up the veg reminded me of them and wanting to grow my own.  It seems a ridiculous aim at the moment because I’m so busy,” he admits, “it’ll probably be when I retire.”
“I like seeing the daffodils out now,” Matt continues, “they look great and are uplifting and their cheap to buy,” he adds.  “I don’t like flowers like lilies, the pollen gets on your clothes, and they seem fussy and on their high horse; daffodils are more like working men’s flowers, no nonsense and do the job.”
Still in financial mode, he adds, “I also resent paying £1.75 for 6 tomatoes, which is another reason I want to grow my own veg.”  When I suggest he grow his own on the balcony he agrees,  “Maybe I will this year, I like the idea of doing that.    I like fruit and veg and I try to eat healthily,” he confesses, “I love spinach and put it in everything; Popeye is my inspiration.”  He laughs, adding, “I can remember my Great grandparents drinking the juice they cooked the spinach in, it’s brilliant, really good for you.” 
Hopefully, Matt’s spinach dishes will give him the strength needed to complete the London Marathon in April.  He is raising money for Mind Cymru, the leading mental health charity in England and Wales and you can sponsor him at  http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/MATTJOHNSONS

Written by Lynne Allbutt for Green Scene in Western Mail (Media Wales) 6th March 2010

   World renowned Welsh winger, Shane Williams recalls fond childhood memories of the time spent with his grandparents.  “My Grandfather Emyrs, is a very keen gardener,” he explains,  “he is really good with his hands and used to build his own garden furniture,  bird tables and bird houses.  I used to love helping him and I could build a mean bird house myself,” he laughs, “though I haven’t built one since I was 18, so I’d be a bit slower now.”
Better known for his side-stepping than his sawing skills, the BBC Welsh Sports Personality of 2008, continues to talk about his granddad with obvious respect and reverence.  “He always had a lovely garden, he built paths and a pond and had a little allotment and I always wanted my own garden to be the same as his. To be honest I was gutted when he moved; he’s in his 70’s now but still potters about and builds quirky things in his shed.  I envy him a bit,” Shane admits, “it’s like he has his own little special World.” 
“I love gardening,” he continues, “Whenever I’ve bought a house I’ve made sure I’ve got a nice big garden. We’ve got a big front garden where we are now which takes a lot of work to keep it nice.  I maintain the grass and cut back the shrubs myself; I take my time with the mower and I’m not very good at getting straight lines,” he laughs “but at least I keep it tidy.  I’d love to grow veg at sometime but it would be difficult in this garden; the front gardens all show and the backs a bit small.” he explains.
Shane’s garden might not be ideal for veg but sounds perfect for children. “The kids love playing out in the garden, especially Georgie (3), she’s always busy; like a spinning top, I can’t keep up with her.” Adds the ‘wing-footed’ winger modestly.  “She loves fresh veg too, raw or cooked, and we want her brother Carter (7 months) to be the same.  I’ve never been a big fan of eating veg,” he admits with a familiar grin,  “but I remember always eating what Granddad grew and Nan cooked.  They had a great old fashioned relationship.  Granddad always working outside and Nan cooking whatever he grew and picking flowers for the house,” he recalls appreciatively. 
“I was lucky growing up in the Amman Valley; we were surrounded by woodland and fields and I had a football and rugby park just 4 or 500 yards from the house.  I was always outdoors, always on the go and always had a rugby or football with me.  Next door had horses and I remember kicking a ball around the paddock dodging the horses and horse muck.  I used to go home stinking!”
The first Welshman to be named the International Rugby Board’s World Player of the Year in 2008, concludes with a confession, “the plan is to go back to my grandparents lifestyle once the kids have grown up a bit.  We’ve got a big house on a nice estate at the moment and it’s easier whilst the kids are small.  But I have still got a house with 5 acres in the Amman Valley, with woodland and a stream running through it.   Mum is there at the moment but in a couple of years we’ll move back in and have my perfect home and garden.  I’ll be able to have my allotment and build bird houses in my own shed.”
Shane Williams launched the Shane Williams Rugby Academy in partnership with The Co-operative. For information or a place: Activate Sport 08003457480 or www.shanewilliamsrugbyacademy.co.uk

Taken from Lynne Allbutt's Green Scene Column for the Western Mail (Media Wales) 27.02.10

A UK supermarket recently announced that will be selling the first new vegetable for nearly ten years and the good news is that you can grow your own.  Described as a flower-like Brussel sprout, the Petit Posy brassica seed is available from www.thompson-morgan.com (online or from their 2010 seed catalogue) at just £2.99 per packet.  The brand new vegetable looks like a cross between Brussels sprouts and kale but tastes more like spring greens.  The loose buttons are easily picked of the stems and are delicious and nutritious, perfect in stir fries or as a steamed veg.   Extremely winter hardy, Petit Posy can be sown from late March through until early June providing delicious crops from mid November through until the New Year.

By Lynne Allbutt for the Western Mail 13.02.10 

Owners and founders of the Woolly Pocket planting system, Miguel and Rodney  Nelson  cheerfully admit to having no knowledge of plants before inventing their innovative products.  “I am an artist and my brother is a manufacturing expert,” explains Miguel, “we work well together, like Yin and Yang,” laughs the laid back Californian. “We are surrounded by people who do know their plants now though,” he continues, “gardeners have gravitated towards us, they love the product.”
“As an artist, I wanted to be able to decorate walls with plants but the only way was to grow a plant up a piece of wood or wire, so we invented our own breathable system.  We started with ‘Wally’, a big, soft sided, lined pocket that you hang on a wall, (indoors as well as outside) fill with soil and add your plants.   You can use a single pocket so you have a piece of living art, instead of a picture or a photo or you can group the pockets together to make a living wall that grows and breathes.   The pockets are made from recycled plastic bottles and are constructed so that the wall stays completely dry; even if you were to fill the pocket with water the wall wouldn’t get wet,” Miguel reassures me, “people were a bit nervous of that at first.  I believe everyone has a greener thumb than they think,” he adds, “and you don’t have to have a lot of knowledge to take care of plants in this system.  They are easier to look after than a cat, do or a child,” he grins. 
“We have created living walls for restaurants, Hotels and retail outlets as well as individuals,” he explains.  “And we are now supplying schools too.  Here in California, we have an ‘Edible School Yard’ programme where schools use an outside garden area as a classroom.  The problem is that there often isn’t much land available and there’s all the red tape and building codes to get through to build a garden in a yard.  With the Wallys, you just hang them on the wall or on the chain-link fence.  You can create a whole garden in an afternoon and with little cost.  Kids are encouraged to have their own Wally or pocket and different grades use them for different projects, from art to science or environmental.”
Miguel continues, in his soft Southern drawl, “We also offer free standing modules and even a living handbag.  We are into thinking about plants as friends or pets so we want the whole system to be fun and not hard work.  We have created a gardening container that is actually better for the plants than normal containers, the plants love them.  We have new products coming out next month and we’ve called them after people; so we have Steve, Brain and Tina. Plants are all around us, why wouldn’t we see them as friends?”
To find out more about the products and planting ideas pop into www.woollypocket.com  You can purchase your Wally from www.gardenbeet.co.uk   as they have paid the Duty and Tax.

As written by Lynne Allbutt for Green Scene in the Western Mail (Media Wales) 13th Jan 2010

“As the spring bulbs start to emerge and bloom, if you didn’t plant any in your garden last autumn, you’ll probably wish you had.  But don’t go without.  Garden Centres will be selling a varity of spring bulbs that will flower in pots and they are perfect for just sinking in the ground or tubs and window boxes, pots and all.  Instant colour and no one will ever know,” she laughs.

Did You Know?
A couple of Valerie’s garden favourite are Lonicera fragrantissima (Winter Honeysuckle) and snowdrops as she feels they both signify the end of the winter and are full of spring hope.  “And did you know that the leaves of snowdrops are actually pre-strengthened to enable them to push up through frozen ground, like little ice picks,” she adds. “They are equipped to get through the most hostile of grounds.”

Writer, broadcaster and Garden Agony Aunt,  Valerie McBride-Munro admits to having had the affectionate title of Auntie Planty bestowed upon her by grateful gardeners.  “Men always laugh,” she adds “but I have the last laugh as it’s a name everyone remembers.”  Valerie is a fabulous mix of good old fashioned, hands on ethics as well as being well organized and focussed.  “My first husband was in the Army,” she explains “and I spent most of my adult life in the Far East.  I had a daily three hour radio show which was very popular and I loved doing it.  When I came back to the UK  I decided to qualify in Broadcast Journalism.  After a disappointing stint in the News Room at Pebble Mill,  I realised I had the communication skills but now I needed a speciality.  I had always loved plants and aged just ten years old spent all my pocket money on plants for a tiny little inner city garden in Belfast.  I was up against rough boys and dogs,” she recalls, “but I loved it; so it seemed natural to do a degree course in Horticulture at Pershore College.” 
“Army life teaches you to reinvent yourself every couple of years,” she adds, “it’s as though someone blows a whistle and says ‘right, everyone move’.  Wherever you settle,  you have to make another life.  I have been continually reinventing myself ever since.”
 It’s this down to earth approach that makes Valerie much sought after for her talks and tuition.   “I helped people solve their gardening problems on the radio, TV and in magazines and whilst it’s a great way to impart advice it’s always general and not dealing specifically with what one has in their own garden.  My aim is to get gardeners to create a garden as a place of pleasure for themselves and to establish ownership of their space.  People get daunted by perfect pictures of perfect gardens.  If people know ‘Why’ they’re doing something the ‘How to’ is far easier to learn. Under my tutelage, people wouldn’t prune roses at the wrong time of year because they would understand why they are doing it.   There could be 101 reasons why a plant looks miserable or dies and people tend to think it’s their fault.  It seldom is;  it’s usually down to the soil or a bug or even the weather.  If you have  yellowing leaves, where the yellow patches are on the plant will tell you what nutrient is missing.  With a bit of knowledge and understanding you can put most things right.” 
Valerie’s combined passion for plants and people also proves a great success at Kew Gardens where she is a guide.  “I enjoy sharing knowledge and I want to bring what people perceive as a complicated subject down to every day speak.  We have enormous fun, I love leaving happy people behind me.”
Be inspired and find out more about Auntie Planty at www.auntieplanty.com

Written by Lynne Allbutt for Green Scene, Western Mail, (Media Wales) 6th February 2010

“A garden is only as good as its soil.”  Clay soil will evoke frustration into the most enthusiastic of gardeners however, with a lot of love, care and commitment, it can actually be extremely productive.  Most gardeners will be familiar with its traits and the recommendation of incorporating sharp sand (not builder’s sand) and organic matter to improve aeration and drainage but there is a bit more to it than that.  With clay conditions, the structure of the subsoil is as important as the structure of the topsoil.   If you remedy the topsoil without rectifying the sub soil (where necessary) you will get water-logging at that lower level which will cause further problems.  Heavy compacted subsoil will need drainage measures implemented, tedious but essential.   The structure and friability (crumbli-ness; think of Cadbury’s Flake) of the topsoil is largely determined by levels of calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium and hydrogen.  This is known as the Cation Balance. The presence or lack of these elements can be revealed by professional soil analysis and is crucial to addressing soil problems of any sort, not just clay.    Invest in a Test - Basic soil testing kits to determine the ph of your soil, can be obtained from most garden centres, however I always recommend a professional soil analysis to be carried out especially if you are growing your own veg.  You can choose from several services at www.mrscrow.com and also buy products to remedy the results from there, (or call 01952 550050).  Each soil sample tested will cost £47.00 but consider it an investment.  It doesn’t matter how much work you put in above the ground, if the soil isn’t happy then you’ll never get a healthy, happy crop.

Taken from Lynne Allbutt's Green Scene column in Western Mail, (Media Wales) 30.01.2010

Used to addressing demands in the Political Arena, Wales’s First Minister, Carwyn  Jones also has a few challenges closer to home, in his garden.  “Our soil is very poor,” he explains, “We have got a large garden and in the 12 years we have lived here, I have planted lots of trees, fruit canes and got a vegetable patch going.  The trouble is,” he confides, is that the veg patch I had at our previous house was really easy digging and a pleasure to look after.  Now I’ve got really heavy clay so it’s hard work.  It doesn’t break down at all, I just about manage to turn it over but getting a tilth is impossible.”
“I have concentrated mainly on fruit and veg and planted a lot of soft fruit, plums, loganberries, pears and a lovely mulberry tree.  It only went in four years ago so it’ll be another 3 years before it fruits.  And as the soil is so alkaline, I’ve put blueberries in pots, in ericaceous compost.  I think the garden needs a bit more colour now so I’ve just bought some heathers but they’ll have to go in pots too,” he adds knowingly.
It appears Carwyn ‘knows his onions’ then?  “I can talk a good garden,” he laughs, adding quickly, “but I can’t grow pumpkins and all my peas died last year, every single one.   I’m still not sure why.  Possible causes sparked a lively debate at the local gardening club,” he adds humorously. “I think I’ll stick to root veg this year because of the soil.”
“And I’m determined to sort the lawn out this year too.  When the house was built they basically put a wall around a field for the garden, so the lawn is just a meadow.  It’s got everything growing in it, even bluebells, so it’s difficult to cut the grass.  I want to get a healthier and stronger lawn.”
 It appears gardening is a family affair, as Carwyn continues, “The kids grow sunflowers every year and have got their own herb garden under an old apple tree.  They do show an interest and certainly know their herbs, though I think turning the soil put them off a bit.  And Lisa, my wife, takes care of the pot plants and helps eat the veg.” He adds affectionately.
“It’s great for children to see where their food comes from, as well as experiencing and understanding the different seasons.  A lot more schools have got gardens now, which is great.  And there are the health benefits of course, not only do they get more exercise but I think they enjoy eating what they grow so that encourages a healthier diet too.”
Passionate about growing his own, the First Minister likes to cook his own too.  “I like cooking, when I have the time.   I think cooking skills are important and there’s nothing nicer than veg from the garden.  My Dad, Caron, does a lot of gardening too, so keeps us well supplied.  He’s got a greenhouse so he grows tomatoes and cucumbers as well as lots of radishes, lettuce, kidney beans and gibbons, or spring onions,” he adds. 
When I mention the advantage of trading with surplus veg,  Carwyn laughs, “Dad’s trading position is far stronger than mine, all I grew last year were potatoes to try to break up the heavy soil.  They were a great success though.  We are still eating our own potatoes.”  he adds proudly.

Written by Lynne Allbutt for Green Scene, Western Mail (Media Wales) 30th January 2010

Seed suppliers Thompson & Morgan are confident that sales of vegetable seeds and seed potatoes will   increase even more this year as the trend for growing your own continues.  They also advice there is a new ‘kid on the block’, or a new challenge for greenfingers.  Sales of mushrooms growing kits have been on the rise as the cold weather sees gardeners ordering from seed catalogues and online in preparation for Spring.  For three weeks T&M’s Gourmet Mushroom Growing Collection has been the best selling product on-line and with these home growing kits providing mushrooms for up to five years they are proving excellent value for money too. Thompson & Morgan’s new product development manager, Michael Perry said it was exciting to see people trying new things in the garden: “We have one of the most diverse mushroom ranges available. It’s not something you need to have an allotment or vegetable plot for – you don’t even need a patio. But the fact that it’s something you have to put some effort into makes it rewarding as well as challenging.”
Choose from specially impregnated dowels that are pushed into a freshly cut log, an Oyster mushroom straw growing kit or traditional spawn for classic White Cap Button mushrooms.  Cropping begins within four to ten months and continues up to five times a year for up to five years. Spring is the ideal time to start growing mushrooms from dowels.  All available from www.thompson-morgan or call  01473 695341 for  a catalogue.

Written by Lynne Allbutt (Green Scene), for the Western Mail (Media Wales) 16.01.10

   Animal-lover and pig breeder, Jane Croft describes pigs as ‘Nature’s rotorvators’.  “They are incredible at clearing overgrown ground,” she enthuses,  “I first kept pigs years and years ago and bred them initially for the meat and to clear rough ground.  They clear brambles, nettles and  also eat all the roots too.  They are perfect to clear land for building or a new plot.”
The trouble was that I would name all the pigs and get really fond of them all so it got harder and harder to send them to the abattoir.  I decided to get two of the little pot bellied pigs just to have as pets but the boar eventually grew so big I could actually ride him like a horse!  The pig thing just came to a stop and I ended up doing loads of different jobs and travelling the World,” she explains cheerfully.   Then a couple of years ago, my Mum was ill and I moved to Essex to look after her.   Whilst there thought I’d like to get back into breeding pigs, just as a hobby and wondered about breeding really small pigs as pets.  I’ve got 60 here now,” she laughs,  “some will leave, some are rescued and I’ve got two that live in the house.” 
Jane and her ‘micro pigs’ have  been regulars in the Media lately , with celebrity owners including David and Victoria  Beckham and our own Gavin and Charlotte, raising the profile of micro pigs as pets.   Despite an overwhelming waiting list of hopeful owners, Jane remains adamant her animals come first, insisting, “I won’t sell them to anyone.  They are not a fashion accessory and they’re not like cats or dog either ,”she continues, “they’re very intelligent, sensitive creatures and loving homes are essential.  They also need to be able to spend time outdoors, Jane continues,  “but I don’t have a garden anymore,” she laughs.  “I used to have a lovely garden but it’s all fenced off for pigs now.  They love to graze and of course it’s natural for them to root around for worms and grubs too.  If you like a manicured lawn and flowerbeds, a pig probably isn’t the best pet,” she warns.
“They also love all fruit and veg,” she continues, “ but you have to be careful not to let them have too much soft fruit as it ferments in their stomach.  I used to keep a couple of pigs in the orchard, there were a few plum trees there that they would shake to get the fruit.  I went out one day and they were all drunk.” She confides cheerfully.  “I would love have the time to grow my own veg for them.    It would be a win-win situation really wouldn’t it?  They would  clear the ground and add the fertilizer, then I’d  grow the veg to feed back to them.” 
As well as numerous TV appearances, media interviews and her pig husbandry, Jane is also writing a couple of books.  “I’ve called the first one “Excuse Me There’s a Pig in your Kitchen?”  as that’s exactly what my Mother’s carer said when I was there one day, and the second book, which will be out in March,  is more of a handbook about How To Care for Your Little Pig.  I have raised the profile of these little pigs and I feel responsible for making sure that they are not exploited and are understood and looked after well; I also want both books to be humorous as well as informative,” she explains passionately and after meeting her and listening to her fabulous stories,  I don’t think that’ll be a problem. 
To find out more about Jane and her micro pigs pop into www.littlepigfarm.co.uk 

Written by Lynne Allbutt (Green Scene), for Western Mail (Media Wales) 16.01.10