Beth Otway (Pumpkin Beth)
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pumpkinbeth.bsky.social
Beth Otway (Pumpkin Beth)
@pumpkinbeth.bsky.social
Horticulturist, Garden Writer, National Collection holder, & nature lover. Gardening for wildlife. Growing vegetables, fruit, herbs, & flowers.
Planting terrariums. Growing orchids, ferns, & houseplants.
Plant conservation.
https://www.pumpkinbeth.com
Don't have time to see all your favourite people over Christmas? Arrange a snowdrop walk together next year.
Here's a link to my Calendar of #SnowdropGarden Openings, Snowdrop Talks & #Snowdrop Plant Sales: www.pumpkinbeth.com/2021/09/snow...

#MerryChristmas #Galanthus #Snowdrops #Family #Friends
A Calendar of Snowdrop Garden Openings, Talks, Events & Open Days for 2026! - Pumpkin Beth
Calendar of Winter, Spring, & Autumn Snowdrop Events for 2026! Welcome to my Autumn & Winter Snowdrop Gardens, Talks, Events, and Open Days Calendar!  I want to help you discover the most beautiful an...
www.pumpkinbeth.com
December 24, 2025 at 9:50 AM
Well done and thank you to all the brilliant volunteers who have been recording data in surveys of the #GreatNorthBog!
#Volunteer #Peatland #PeatBog #ThankYou #MakeADifference
@yorkshirepeat.bsky.social has had an amazing survey year, surveying 5,469 ha of peatland in its Ure Dales project and bubbling dip wells 11,730 times to collect data on peatland water tables. Thanks to all our amazing volunteers for helping record data in the #GreatNorthBog!
December 24, 2025 at 9:43 AM
Reposted by Beth Otway (Pumpkin Beth)
Thinking about a career in peat? Dates announced for our LANTRA accredited Peatland Restoration Practitioner course! Booking opens in January: www.yppartnership.org.uk/peatland-res...
#GreatNorthBog
Peatland Restoration Practitioner LANTRA | Yorkshire Peat Partnership
A LANTRA accredited training course delivered by Yorkshire Peat Partnership, led by Yorkshire Wildlife Trust
www.yppartnership.org.uk
December 18, 2025 at 8:28 AM
Reposted by Beth Otway (Pumpkin Beth)
As our friend Mariah says, if all you want for Christmas is a blanket bog, we’ve got you covered. We’re bringing the bog to you! In collaboration with the Craven College in Skipton, we’ve created a VR experience that makes peatlands accessible to everyone #GreatNorthBog #SphagnumMonday #Christmoss 🎁
December 22, 2025 at 11:01 AM
Reposted by Beth Otway (Pumpkin Beth)
New preprint on pop #genomics of #spittlebug—the main insect vector of Xylella, the bacterium that has ravaged olive groves in southern Italy 🇮🇹 🫒

Take-home: problematic insect vector may be less widespread than initially thought—important implications for disease control 💥

👇
We have a new preprint!
In this study, we use #genomic data to uncover population structure and adaptive potential in the meadow #spittlebug, the main European #vector of #Xylella fastidiosa.
Whole-Genome Population Genomics Reveals Lineage Structure and Adaptive Potential of Philaenus spumarius, the Principal Vector of Xylella fastidiosa in Europe https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2025.12.12.693891v1
December 16, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Reposted by Beth Otway (Pumpkin Beth)
Buying loved ones #houseplants for #Christmas? 🌴🌿💐
Choose carefully: almost all houseplants are grown in #peat. If you're not sure, always ask before buying. Wish you didn't have to worry? Sign our petition to ask govt to make all plants #peatfree actnow.peatfreepartnership.org.uk/end-peat-sal...
Sign the petition to end peat sales!
No more delays: Let's get peat out of gardens once and for all. The time for uncertainty has ended.
actnow.peatfreepartnership.org.uk
December 17, 2025 at 7:00 AM
Reposted by Beth Otway (Pumpkin Beth)
We're asking for one thing that will provide clarity to an industry that's faced constant delays. Legislation is needed to give the #horticulture industry a timeline for phasing out #peat.

Sign the petition for legislation in 2026: https://actnow.peatfreepartnership.org.uk/end-peat-sales/
December 19, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Reposted by Beth Otway (Pumpkin Beth)
We’re joining together to demand an end to peat sales once and for all.
Add your voice to the nationwide call to #EndPeatSales once and for all, to level the playing field and protect our peatlands.
actnow.peatfreepartnership.org.uk/end-peat-sales
#Gardening #Horticulture #Nature
November 19, 2025 at 12:02 PM
Reposted by Beth Otway (Pumpkin Beth)
What would legislation to #EndPeatSales contain? 👇

Our legislative asks are now up on our website. See the full description of what we're campaigning for:

peatfreepartnership.org.uk/who-we-are/o...
Our Legislative Asks - Peat Free Partnership
Read more about what legislation to end the sale of peat means in our campaign, and the time-based exemptions included.
peatfreepartnership.org.uk
November 12, 2025 at 11:04 AM
We must #EndPeatSales @peatfree.bsky.social
Peat extraction releases CO2 & destroys nature.
One of our most important habitats is being destroyed, please help! Ancient peatlands are nature’s heroes. Tell Government to protect them. Add your name 👇
actnow.peatfreepartnership.org.uk/end-peat-sales
Sign the petition to end peat sales!
No more delays: Let's get peat out of gardens once and for all. The time for uncertainty has ended.
actnow.peatfreepartnership.org.uk
November 21, 2025 at 7:25 AM
Reposted by Beth Otway (Pumpkin Beth)
Lots of chat at the moment about lack of new allotment sites, our charity Green Allotments is buying land for new allotment sites in England and has also launched The New Allotment Site Fund ⬇️
🍓🐝🌻 Launching THE NEW ALLOTMENT SITE FUND!! 🌻 🍅🦔
From today, you can ask our charity to fund and help create a new allotment site in your area. You must be passionate about allotments and willing to collaborate with us to get a new site👇
#🇬🇧🌱 #AllotmentLife #communities
September 3, 2025 at 6:33 AM
Reposted by Beth Otway (Pumpkin Beth)
Pick the last of the Allotment tomatoes and start thinking about #SeedSwap events early in 2026. Help biodiversity!
I’m helping out at this one, they’re a lovely bunch of folk.
The fabulous @pumpkinbeth.bsky.social keeps a calendar, please follow Beth for your local events.
October 11, 2025 at 9:27 AM
🌳 Dame Judi Dench is calling for the return of ancient woodlands. Will you sign the petition to help restore the Ghost Woods and protect our green spaces for future generations? you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/br...
Bring back the ancient woodlands smothered beneath your timber plantations
Ancient woodlands are vanishing – and with them, some of our most loved and endangered wildlife. Forestry England manages over 100,000 acres of land that used to be ancient woodland - that’s bigger th...
you.38degrees.org.uk
July 4, 2025 at 9:23 AM
April 11, 2025 at 11:57 AM
Reposted by Beth Otway (Pumpkin Beth)
April 10, 2025 at 4:06 PM
🌱 Here's a link to my Calendar of UK Bluebell gardens, bluebell woods, & bluebell-themed events.
Click a heading at the top of the page to show only events near you. Remember to scroll down to see woods & #UKGardens open every day: www.pumpkinbeth.com/2022/04/magn...

#UKGardening #Bluebells #Nature
Magnificent Bluebell Woods & Bluebell Gardens to Visit - Pumpkin Beth
Magnificent Bluebell Woods and Bluebell Gardens Bluebell woods are such relaxing and uplifting places to visit.  I hope you can enjoy time walking in amongst the bluebells this spring, so you can enve...
www.pumpkinbeth.com
April 8, 2025 at 8:29 AM
Reposted by Beth Otway (Pumpkin Beth)
This weekend we are set up at Cornwall horticultural show with our family grown peatfree herbs
Also we have over 120 varieties online

#peatfree #cornwall #ukgardening #gardening #online #herbs #nurserylife
April 5, 2025 at 6:23 AM
Reposted by Beth Otway (Pumpkin Beth)
April 5, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Reposted by Beth Otway (Pumpkin Beth)
It’s a good year for blossom - let’s hope we don’t get frost.

This is the ‘Pershore Yellow Egg’ plum. It produces big plums that are terrible raw but cooked produce fruit with a great flavour and clear, golden juice. Pershore isn’t far from me so almost a local variety.
#UKGardening 🌱 #cotswolds
April 8, 2025 at 7:15 AM
Tadpole update! #Nature #UKGardening
April 4, 2025 at 10:00 AM
🌱 If you live in the UK and love daffodils - I hope my Calendar of Daffodil Garden Openings, Daffodil Shows & Events helps you find stunning gardens and lovely days out - here's a link:
www.pumpkinbeth.com/2022/01/daff...

#UKGardening #Daffodil #Narcissus #Daffodils #Spring #Springtime
Daffodil Garden Openings, Daffodil Shows, & Daffodil Events Calendar 2025 - Pumpkin Beth
2025 Calendar of Daffodil Garden Openings, Daffodil Shows, & Daffodil Events Daffodils are full of spring cheer!  I want to brighten up your spring and so I’ve created this calendar of daffodil events...
www.pumpkinbeth.com
March 28, 2025 at 8:18 AM
Reposted by Beth Otway (Pumpkin Beth)
Our tunnels are always filling up with fresh herbs all grown in peat free compost by us, a small family farm in Gloucestershire today we have 114 varieties of herbs to ok choose from on our website
Kitchengardenplantcentre.co.uk

#ukgardening #herbs #peatfree #familyfarm #nurserylife #pesticidefree
March 27, 2025 at 7:10 AM
Reposted by Beth Otway (Pumpkin Beth)
Good morning!
The narcissus continues, the historic varieties are tricky as they colour morph as they age but here's Stella with elegance and the one I thought was mrs langtry
At the front Thalia and pueblo have joined in
Have a great Monday
#ukgardening #Narcissus 🌱
March 24, 2025 at 6:29 AM
Reposted by Beth Otway (Pumpkin Beth)
When things get tough, I head outside, usually into my own garden. Yesterday, it was Painswick Rococo Garden where I found escape from the stress of world news and life in general.

This is for anyone who wants a moment of natural calm.

#daffodils #gloucestershire #UKGardening 🌱 #greenheart
March 20, 2025 at 8:02 AM
Tadpoles = much excitement!
#UKGardening #Nature #NatureLover #Pond #Garden
March 22, 2025 at 11:27 AM