Roots and All - Gardening Podcast

In this episode of Roots and All, I chat with ecology consultant Johnnie Johnson about his journey into the natural world, his detailed multi-visit garden surveys, and the incredible discoveries he makes in unexpected places. From tracking scarce insects to working with prominent public spaces like the Horniman Museum and John Little's garden, Johnnie Johnson shares how anyone can boost wildlife by embracing structural complexity and natural variation.
Benny's Insect of the Week: The Southern Green Shieldbug
What You'll Learn:
How garden biodiversity audits work, spanning multiple visits across the spring and summer seasons.
Why urban gardens serve as crucial ecological stepping stones for wildlife in an increasingly paved-over landscape.
The importance of starting at the bottom of the food chain by focusing on native plants and structural micro-habitats.
Practical, low-cost ways to invite wildlife in—from small water sources and log piles to areas of bare ground and varied vegetation heights.
The Reality of Ecology Consulting and Garden Surveys
Johnnie Johnson shares how he transitioned into ecology later in life, moving from the planning side of the profession—which deals heavily with development and mitigation—into hands-on garden surveys that actually focus on finding and celebrating life. He discusses his detailed reports, which often span 80 to 100 pages and combine scientific data with custom artwork and portraits of notable insects found on site.
Why Gardens Matter More Than You Think
Reflecting on his survey work across Essex, Suffolk, and London, Johnnie Johnson highlights that private and public gardens often possess a remarkable variety of micro-habitats. Because traditional rural landscapes can sometimes be impoverished, these green spaces act as vital urban refuges. He also touches on his baseline surveys at the Horniman Museum, tracking how strategic changes to cutting regimes over several years can drastically improve species richness.
Practical Principles for Gardeners and Designers
When translating ecological data into day-to-day garden care, Johnnie Johnson emphasizes simplicity over rigid science:
Embrace structural diversity: Incorporate varied plant heights, log piles, soil patches, and a water source to instantly boost habitat value.
Champion native species: Move toward utilizing native plants to support a fully functioning local food web.
Collaborate with designers: Bridge the gap between rigorous ecology and aesthetic design so that native-heavy planting schemes look and feel fantastic in a domestic setting.
Links & Resources
Johnnie Johnson on Instagram
The Horniman Museum & Gardens: Explore their public spaces and long-term ecological projects. 
Support the podcast on Patreon
Follow Roots and All:
On Instagram @rootsandallpod
On Facebook @rootsandalluk
On LinkedIn - Sarah Wilson
Recommended Archive Episodes:
Episode 287: Designing for Biodiversity with Professor Dave Goulson This deep-dive archive episode looks closely at how insect populations interact with garden planting choices, matching Johnnie's focus on starting from the bottom of the food chain and supporting local pollinators.
Episode 245: The Living Soil and Micro-Habitats An extensive look into building foundational garden elements like bare ground, log piles, and soil health, directly echoing Johnnie's practical advice on structural complexity and micro-habitats.

In this episode of Roots and All, I chat with designer, researcher, and filmmaker Eliza about the intersection of design, ecology, and the fast-paced realities of plant evolution. Coming straight from her extensive research fields—including tracking wildflowers in the Rocky Mountains with Dr. Diane Campbell and exploring alpine meadow systems in Italy—Eliza shares how climate change is reshaping landscapes, why plants are shifting behaviours, and how gardeners can embrace a more observational, resilient approach.
Benny's Insect of the Week: The European Firebug
What You'll Learn:
How extreme weather, drought, and low snowpacks are accelerating plant evolution and altering seasonal lifecycles in the Rocky Mountains.
What assisted migration, natural hybridisation, and resilient "Hybridising Scentscapes" mean for future planting schemes and garden biodiversity.
How traditional practices, like alpine cattle transhumance festivals, can inspire creative seed dispersal solutions.
Practical takeaways for gardeners and designers looking to relinquish rigid control and embrace natural resilience.
Understanding the Future Through Design and Research
Eliza explains her unique multidisciplinary practice, which blends design research, ecology, and filmmaking to simulate and speculate on future environments. Moving beyond traditional interior or product design, her work explores how humans can collaborate with scientists and natural ecosystems to address climate pressures.
Climate Realities in the Rocky Mountains and the Alps
Reflecting on her recent field observations in Colorado—where she spends every summer at a field station working alongside scientists—Eliza highlights how extreme drought, a lack of reliable afternoon rain showers, low snowpacks, and early melting have severe domino effects on plant health, pollinator survival, and local marmot populations. She also dives into her work in the Italian Alps, examining ancient meadow systems and how nomadic animal migration (transhumance) plays a crucial role in species distribution.
Resilient Gardens and Hybridising Scentscapes
Eliza discusses her ongoing collaboration with artist/farmers Atteraterra (ATT) on Hybridising Scentscapes—gardens designed specifically for resilience and evolution. Featuring installations such as the one at the Design Museum, this long-term research explores how planting varieties in close proximity allows nature and pollinators to drive evolutionary adaptations against higher temperatures and water scarcity.
Practical Principles for Gardeners and Designers
When translating high-level scientific research into everyday horticulture, Eliza suggests stepping back from rigid maintenance practices. Gardeners and designers can benefit greatly from:
Embracing natural surprises: Allowing unexpected plant hybrids or "weeds" to persist rather than immediately pulling them out, as they may hold vital climate resilience traits.
Loosening control: Moving away from overly sterile aesthetic expectations toward a more dynamic, biodiverse, and observational approach to garden maintenance.
Links & Resources
TUFF Group: Eliza's new group focusing on the aftermath of historical weather events and major disturbances, featuring a monthly book club exploring historical events from each month and their lasting impacts.
Design Museum & Future Observatory: Eliza has an upcoming show opening at the Design Museum with Future Observatory in November, displaying new work on how migratory species can assist struggling plants facing extreme weather. You can read more via the Future Observatory website.
Featured Book: On the Necessity of Gardening: An ABC of Art, Botany and Cultivation
Please support the podcast on Patreon
And follow Roots and All:
On Instagram @rootsandallpod
On Facebook @rootsandalluk
On LinkedIn @rootsandall
If you enjoyed this week's episode with Eliza, you might also enjoy these episodes from the archives:
Episode 181: Gardening in a Changing World
This episode explores the overarching perspective of the climate crisis, looking at how ecological shifts and evolution will change the way we manage our green spaces. It serves as a great companion piece to Eliza's insights on climate adaptation.
Episode 137: Water-wise Gardening with Janet Manning
Janet Manning looks deep into drought-tolerant plants and practical water management strategies for gardens facing increasing temperature and weather pressures.

In this episode, gardening expert and The English Garden editor Clare Foggett joins us to explore what truly defines a cottage garden. We discuss why these spaces are defined by generous planting rather than rigid design, the magic of self-seeding plants, and how this traditional style fits into modern, sustainable, and biodiverse gardening.
Includes:
Planted, Not Designed: Discover how cottage gardens evolve naturally through a passion for plants rather than a master plan.

The Power of Self-Seeders: Learn why plants like foxgloves and valerian are essential for a relaxed, charming aesthetic.

Modern Sustainability: Find out why this high-flower, low-lawn approach is the ultimate eco-friendly choice for contemporary gardeners.

Benny's Insect of the Week: Ivy Bee
Links
Beauty & Abundance: British Cottage Gardens by Clare Foggett
Nestboxes Talk - with Ian Rumley-Dawson
Please support the podcast on Patreon
And follow Roots and All:
On Instagram @rootsandallpod
On Facebook @rootsandalluk
On LinkedIn @rootsandall
If you enjoyed this week's episode with Clare, you might also enjoy these episodes from the archives:
Episode 168: Cottage Gardens with Andrew Sankey
Andrew Sankey has spent decades researching English cottage gardens, and this episode explores what defines the style, both historically and today, including the plants, planting techniques, edibles and wildlife-friendly qualities that make cottage gardens so distinctive. It's a particularly useful companion to Claire's exploration of how the cottage garden has evolved and why it remains so relevant to the way we garden today.
Episode 244: The Biodiversity Gardener with Paul Sterry
Paul Sterry explores how gardens can contribute to biodiversity, from the plants we grow and the way we manage them to the habitats we create for insects and other wildlife. Like Claire's conversation, it considers how a more relaxed, abundant approach to gardening can benefit nature as well as creating a beautiful garden.

We tend to think of plants as static things: rooted to the spot, quietly getting on with being plants. But what if, beneath our feet, there's a much more dynamic world of movement, adaptation and decision-making going on? In this episode I'm talking to plant ecologist and artist Curtis Lubbe about roots, bulbs and rhizomes, plant 'animacy' and why changing the way we think and talk about plants might change the way we treat them too.
Benny's Insect of the Week: Fig-Leaf Skeltoniser
Links
Curtis Lubbe Blog
Journal of Ecology profile: Curtis Lubbe 
Please support the podcast on Patreon
And follow Roots and All:
On Instagram @rootsandallpod
On Facebook @rootsandalluk
On LinkedIn @rootsandall
If you enjoyed this week's episode with Curtis, you might also enjoy these episodes from the archives:
Episode 109: The Botanical Mind with Gina Buenfeld
This episode explores the relationship between art and the natural world, including ideas around plant intelligence, symbolism and the ways plants have been understood across different cultures. It's a particularly good companion to Curtis's thoughts on plant perception and the role of art in helping us see plants differently.
Episode 245: The Language of Trees
Artist and activist Katie Holten explores our relationship with trees through art, language, literature and ecology. Like Curtis's work, it asks us to rethink how we perceive plants and to find new ways of communicating their importance and complexity.

What if your garden could double as a living pharmacy? In this episode, I'm talking to gardener, chef and herbalism practitioner Vanessa Minton about growing medicinal herbs, using them in everyday life, and understanding both the benefits and limitations of herbal remedies.
Benny's Insect of the Week: Toadflax Brocade Moth
Links
From The Garden – Linktree 
How to Grow Medicinal Herbs: An Illustrated Beginner's Guide to Growing, Harvesting, and Making Herbal Remedies at Home - Vanessa Minton
Please support the podcast on Patreon
As featured in the Feedspot Top 100 Horticulture Podcasts
And follow Roots and All:
On Instagram @rootsandallpod
On Facebook @rootsandalluk
On LinkedIn @rootsandall
If you enjoyed this week's episode with Vanessa, you might also enjoy these episodes from the archives:
Episode 270: Herbology
This episode explores the long history of using plants to make remedies and therapeutic preparations, and the growing interest in reconnecting with traditional herbal knowledge. It's a natural companion to Vanessa's discussion of medicinal herbs and the garden as a source of plant medicine.
Episode 96: Sensory Herbalism with Karen Lawton
Karen Lawton talks about developing a deeper connection with medicinal plants through observation, sensory awareness and herbal practice. It's a lovely companion to Vanessa's discussion of bringing herbs into everyday life and getting to know the plants we grow.