S5 Ep12: December - Caring for garden bats with Jo Ferguson - Bat Conservation Trust

This month, Chris chats with Jo Ferguson, Built Environment Manager at The Bat Conservation Trust. Jo has been involved in Bat conservation for over 15 years, and specialises in urban ecology and enhancing the built environment for bats. She shares why bats are important to the ecosystem, and how you can look after bats in urban gardens. Also in this episode... We’re reflecting on the triumphs of the 2025 gardening year. Fiona and Chris share their successes, and maybe a few fails as they prepare for a new year of sowing and growing.  In the postbag, Fiona, Chris and Anton answer your questions on growing asparagus, sowing garlic and shallots, and our favourite topic, composting!  

This month, we’re celebrating the slow beauty of autumn, from the changing of the leaves to creating colourful bulb trifles. There’s still so much joy you can get out of your garden, as we prepare for shorter days and longer nights.    In this episode, Fiona chats with Helena Dove, Kitchen Gardener at Royal Botanic Gardens Kew. Helena has a wealth of knowledge surrounding the physiology of vegetables, and teaches us how we can better understand the makeup of plant life.   In the postbag, Fiona, Chris and Emma answer your questions on using black plastic on the compost heap, how to help overwintering larvae, and how to prevent your apples from developing bitter pit.

In this month’s episode, we're joined by Raymond Blanc OBE from his kitchen garden at Le Manoir aux Quat Saisons. We toured the garden, which is home to over 100 heritage vegetable varieties. Raymond talks about his own gardening heritage, and how growing with his mother and father in France influenced the direction he's taken with Le Manoir's kitchen garden. We also hear from August Bernstein, head of the Raymond Blanc Gardening School, who chats with us about the relationship Le Manoir have with our Heritage Seed Library.  Also in this episode:  Fiona and Chris catch up in the potting shed to talk about their gardening tasks for October, and Lead Horticulturalist for the Heritage Seed Library, Marcin Salnikov joins the podcast this month to answer your questions on seed saving and heritage varieties. 

In this month’s episode, we’re diving deep in to the world of Green Manures, as Dr Anton Rosenfeld, Research Manager at Garden Organic explains how sowing these plants can be central to looking after your soil.  Also in this episode:  Fiona and Chris catch up to see how their harvests are going this year, and we answer your questions on what type of sand you can use in the garden, when not to harvest rhubarb and what to do when your potato plants result in no yield whatsoever.   For more advice on Green Manures visit our website: https://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/expert-advice/garden-management/soil/green-manures

In this month's podcast, we're joined by garden designer, broadcaster, and author Juliet Sargeant. Juliet has just released her first book, Start with Soil, in collaboration with the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. She discusses the global impact of soil degradation and shares how gardeners can take control of their own soil health with simple at-home testing. Also in this episode... Fiona and Chris celebrate a summer of gardening successes (despite a few heatwaves), and Anton joins to answer your questions on banana peel water, no-dig gardening in raised beds, and whether it’s safe to use washing-up liquid in the garden.

In this month’s Organic Gardening Podcast, Fiona welcomes back seed guardian and writer Adam Alexander. Adam has travelled the world gathering heritage and land race vegetable seeds and in his latest book, tells the story of our “accidental seed heroes.” The backyard growers that are doing something extraordinary, championing old varieties, and also creating new generations of fruit and vegetables.  Also in this episode... Fiona and Chris reflect on their visit to BBC Gardeners’ World Live, What they learned from our rooted in nature show garden and what inspired them. They also share tips for coping with a potential hosepipe ban, from watering priorities to keeping your compost moist. In the postbag, the team answers your questions on how to manage aphids, the causes behind tomato leaf curl and solve a common problem with spinach and chard plants.

In this month's Organic Gardening Podcast, Fiona visits Huw Richards, in his experimental permaculture garden in Mid-West Wales. Huw gives us an insight in to the the principles of permaculture through his 7 acre garden, as we explore his linear food forest, syntropic planting, and how permaculture fits in with the organic principles.  Also in this episode...  Fiona and Chris are catching up on their planting progress after an incredibly dry spring. In the postbag, Anton Fiona and Chris answer your questions on pernicious weeds, grafted fruit trees and how to reuse your grey water.  

This month, Fiona visits trained ecologist and author Becky Searle. Becky has been showing the world how to garden organically via her Instagram account (@sowmuchmore) since 2018. This year, Becky embarked on a new journey with the release of her first book “Grow a new Garden.” Fiona and Becky spoke about what ignited her passion for gardening, the role ecology plays in her garden and the importance of seed saving.   Also in this episode...    Chris is away this month, so Fiona is joined by Jules Duncan, one of our expert organic gardeners at Ryton. They reflect on the beauty of May, and Fiona gets some germination troubleshooting! In the postbag, Jules, Fiona and Anton answer your gardening conundrums. Tackling what to grow underneath fruit trees, how to successfully grow Chayote, and we go back to basics with the do’s and don’ts of organic growing. 

This month, Fiona visits author and garden writer Kate Bradbury, at her garden in Brighton. Kate shared her passion for wildlife-friendly gardening and the power of small actions to create meaningful change. Fiona and Kate discussed how connecting with nature, whether by planting pollinator-friendly flowers, creating habitats, or simply observing the life in our gardens, can combat eco-anxiety and create a community.   Also in this episode...    It's sowing time at Chris’s Allotment, and Fiona discusses the 5 vegetables she’s growing this year. Chris, Fiona, Anton and special guest Pauline Pears answer your questions in the Postbag, sharing advice on if you should be cleaning your water butt, how to look after a pond, and vegan organic substitutes for bone meal. 

If you enjoyed our previous podcast with Åsa Gregars-Warg from Beth Chatto’s Plants and Gardens, this extended version is well worth a listen. Join Fiona and head gardener Åsa Gregers-Warg as we take a deeper dive into Beth Chatto's pioneering approach to gardening in harmony with nature. From plant choices and soil care to adapting to climate change, this full-length conversation is packed with extra insights and inspiration for gardeners of all kinds.