Blogging at Daily Telegragh on koi carp, garden centres, allotments. Note Tim Richardson on Telegraph website has written a good piece about changing RHS judging system so it doesn't involve conflicts of interest by using current designers or lecturers. Peter Seabrook has been on about this for years, most recently in Horticulture Week after Chelsea. I'd say: Though it probably deserved to win, the best in show at Hampton Court was for a garden paid for by RHS to fill a gap, as mentioned here.
I think Chelsea should be branded as an international competition for the best show garden of the year. That prize would bring back more sponsors and would lead to international judges being appointed-like a panel of World Cup football referees. Only without whistles.
1. The RHS says it is not going to build a garden at Blenheim but I think they will. RHS has largely pulled out of Fulham Palace show talks. Fulham Palace is getting a £7m revamp with a beach (yawn) etc.
2. Gareth from The Office (Mackenzie Crook-also a one-eyed pirate in Pirates of the Caribbean with Keira Knightley, who is the feature of a HW story next week and I once saw in Hyde Park) is desperate to ape top gear's James May and design a Chelsea Flower Show garden. Mackenzie says he doesn't know anything about it but he knows what he likes. He's been to CFS for four years in a row. Knightley is to blame for some trees being chopped down for the Atonement film in Streatham, where I used to live. They never got replaced. See HW website 20 July. Or Google it.
3. I was at Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board summer bbq at Westminster Abbey this week. Lord Taylor (bulbs) of Holbeach came over at the convivial event. He's keen to get Horticulture Week sent to Tory party campaign hq. Taylor speaking at Fruit Focus on 22 July. A keen Save our Science fan - SOS has rocked the boat at Defra, report levy board insiders.
4. Michael Jack MP in cahoots with ancient hort hack Ray Vale and The Times' Val Elliott. Jack is working on Securing Food Supplies up to 2050 report out on 20 July.
5. Defra secretary of state Hilary Benn spoke at AHDB. Jim Fitzpatrick, his deputy, was there. Both vegetarians. The event was for the beef, lamb and pork boards, with the odd potato and a nod to horticulture. Almost everyone was a member of a quango, except the farming hacks, who are so cosy with the quangos it's not true. And me, who turned up on a bicycle.
6. Also went to South Thames Garden Centre Association awards at Knockholt (near Pratts Bottom) at Coolings garden centre that night. Piers Mummery from Shoots garden centres was vocal about upping margin and criticised lame suppliers. Read about it in Horticulture Week on 24 July. Upsetting traditional garden centre owners?
7. James Alexander Sinclair turns 60 soon I hear.
8. Off to Downing St garden on 21 July.
9. Had Ian Silverton from First Franchise's daughter Kelly for work experience this week. Dis-proved the view that 17 year olds these days are gang members, muggers, ipod touting, Myspace addicted layabouts. She was very good.
10. Went to branding exercise meeting today at Capel Manor College in Regents Park. "Look for opportunities to promote thr cause and standing of horticulture.
