Wem, Shropshire: Henry Eckford and the humble Sweet Pea - July 16, 2008 -

Lathyrus Odoratus is the latin name for the flower we know as the Sweet Pea. This pretty name perfectly describes the beautiful flowers and the deadly(if ingested) pods that contain the pea-like seeds. It is thought the name was first used by the poet Keats in the early 1800s, although it is not known whether he created the name or it was something he had heard.

Henry Eckford spent his early life working in several nurseries. He soon moved on to other careers in the horticultural industry. His first recognition came whilst working with pelargoniums and dahlias as head gardener for the Earl of Radnor.

By 1882, Eckford had worked on his new varieties and he introduced the “Bronze Prince” sweet pea. This lead to him being awarded the First Class Certificate from the Royal Horticultural Society. This was the highest award that could be awarded to the members of the society.

For the full article about Henry Eckford and Wem please see the Wem Guide: http://www.wemguide.com/pages/sweet-peas.html

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Padstow on the North Cornish coast - July 9, 2008 -

On approaching the town of Padstow, upon driving down the hill to the harbour itself, one of the first sights you will be greeted with will be the National Lobster Hatchery. Their vision is to actively promote and contribute to responsible management of our coastal marine resources and to act as resource for education, conservation and research.

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