‘This week I’m diving into the RHS’s first State of Gardening Report and it’s a fascinating, slightly muddy picture of who we are as gardeners. From fake grass to thriving birdbaths, it shows just how much potential there is to grow greener, wilder, and more connected gardens across the UK.’

‘This week’s Minute of Mud is a reminder to give yourself a break. Among strawberry runners and woodlice hunts, mushrooms appeared a sign of healthy, living soil. From fungi friendships to India’s new Miyawaki forest, it’s all about growth in unexpected places and learning that rest is part of the process.’

‘This week I returned to where it all began for me, Maidstone, Kent in the Garden of England. I visited Five Acre Wood School, where nature, learning and wellbeing go hand in hand. I’m thrilled to be partnering with them to create a reflection garden that will help students grow, connect and thrive outdoors.’

‘This week in ‘A Minute of Mud’ I explore how our senses ground us, from the smell of woodsmoke to a simple “Grounding Five” reset using sight, sound, touch, smell and taste. Plus, MIT’s soil innovation shows how even mud can shape a more sustainable future.’

‘Chilly mornings, darker nights and the first sweep of autumn leaves, this week I’ve been thinking about SAD lamps, turning leaves into gardener’s gold, and an incredible story of ‘ghost ponds’ hiding 1,000-year-old seeds. A little light, mud and magic to ease into autumn.’

“Life is messy, and so is mud — but both are where growth begins. A Minute of Mud is my small attempt at an antidote: sixty seconds a week to stand in the soil, talk about gardening, wellbeing, and whatever else is on my mind, and maybe reconnect with a community that helped me through the hardest times.”