Grow Cook Inspire Helen Cross

In the next instalment of the Helen’s Heroines of Horticulture mini series, she speaks with Elle Hollingworth who is part of the RHS Shows Development team and is a show judge coordinator. However like so many women that Helen has interviewed a career in the world of horticulture had not always been on the cards for Elle. The global pandemic put the breaks on her travelling overseas and she had to return to her parents. Nevertheless returning home reignited a love for gardening and floral design and one thing led to another. Helen discusses with Elle her journey to the RHS, the women who inspire her and Elle also reveals an exciting new project she is working on in her local community in north London to help combat loneliness amongst the older residents where she lives. www.rhs.org.uk. Supported by Plank Bridge www.plank bridge.com. Be sure to subscribe to Grow Cook Inspire www.growcookinspire.com

Helen continues her summer mini series celebrating the Heroines of Horticulture, with her interview with the dynamic duo behind Caley Bros. Sisters Lorraine and Jodie join Helen on the podcast to discuss their journey to Chelsea, their heroines and how a family bereavement drove them to reassessing their career path. This change has resulted them growing mushrooms for a living and they made their mark at Chelsea this year by taking home a Gold medal. www.Caleybrothers.Co.uk. This special mini series has been supported by Plank Bridge, the pioneers behind the shepherd hut revival. To find out more visit www.plankpridge.com And be sure to subscribe to Grow Cook Inspire on whichever podcast platform you use. www.growcookinspire.com

In the third episode of this special mini series of Grow, Cook, Inspire, Helen is joined by the creative powerhouse Hazel Gardiner, founder of Hazel Gardiner Design, the London based floral design studio. We talk about her transition from the world of fashion journalism and the gruelling schedule of TV production and talent management to the world of floristry, after being diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. Hazel explains her drive and who influences her work as well as the challenges she has faced as being one of only a few black women in the industry. When she came onto the scene she couldn’t see many women who looked like her. This series of the podcast has been supported by Plank Bridge, the pioneers behind the shepherd’s hut revival in the UK. www.plankbridge.com Hazel Gardiner @hazelgardinerdesign & www.hazelgardinerdesign.com. Please do subscribe, share and review the podcast www.growcookinspire.com

Continuing this special Heroines of Horticulture podcast, Helen is joined by one one of her own heroines. In today’s show Helen talks with Jekka McVicar. From the dizzy heights of Glastonbury as part of a rock band, Jekka has been at the helm of the UK’s largest herb farm for almost 40 years, growing over 500 different culinary and medicinal varieties just outside of Bristol. With 62 gold RHS medals under her belt Jekka is not only a wealth of knowledge but a powerhouse for good. Generous with her time and expertise. She talks about her journey to setting up Jekka’s Herb Farm back in 1984, her determination to get ahead and be seen and the struggles so many UK growers are currently facing during these unprecedented times. Plus there is chat of a new book on the horizon. This series of the podcast has been generously supported by Plank Bridge, the pioneers behind the shepherds hut revival built in the UK. (www.plankbridgecom) Jekka’s Herb Fest will take place on the 30 June, 1 July & 2 July 2023. To find out more go to www.Jekkas.com. Please do subscribe to the podcast, review and share visit www.growcookinspire.com

Women have always gardened. However their journey into the professional realm of horticulture was turbulent. However there’s were huge numbers of pioneering women who have have left a lasting legacy. Some of them well known others less so and their stories buried in the fire notes of history. To kick off this special series of the podcast celebrating just some of the remarkable women who are making waves in the world of horticulture, Helen is joined by the author Fiona Davison who is also Head of Libraries & Exhibits at the RHS. Fiona shares a potted history about women and gardening and discusses the revelations she unearthed while writing her new book, An Almost Impossible Thing, The radical lives of Britains pioneering women gardeners. which will be published in September 5 2023 and is available to preorder now. https://tdy.lol/ZwHnL. To find out more about all RHS events & exhibits go to www.rhs.org.uk. Plank Bridge are the pioneers behind the shepherds hut revival, built in the UK www.plankbridge.com. To find out more about Helen’s work and new book go to www.growcookinspire.com