Life & Style
The Citizen Gardener: Summer slug fest
Extreme weather has been a boon for the leaf-eating gastropods, so Kate Poland reveals what she’s learned about them, as well as how gardeners are adjusting to the growing effects of climate change
Read MoreThe Citizen Gardener: Strawberries aren’t the only summer fruit
Kate Poland on her favourite berries to grow and eat, and which are the most fun to pick
Read MoreThe Citizen Gardener: Sowing in the wind
Kate Poland on the mobility and life expectancy of plants, and how to support a local secret garden
Read MoreThe Citizen Gardener: No Mow May
Kate Poland on lawns, and why a little bit of chaos is not always a bad thing
Read MoreThe Citizen Gardener: Green corridors
Kate Poland on the importance of travel for plants, insects and animals – and how we can all protect them with a little helping hand
Read MoreThe Citizen Gardener: The Uncompostables
Kate Poland on the ‘little porkie pies wheeled out about biodegradable plastics’
Read MoreThe Citizen Gardener: ‘It’s time to start planning’
Kate Poland on seed-saving and experimentation
Read MoreThe Citizen Gardener: ‘It’s easier to erect a building than plant a tree’
Kate Poland on why we need to tip the scales in favour of nature
Read MoreThe Citizen Gardener: ‘Many of our open spaces would not exist without campaigns or protests’
Kate Poland gives us lemons – how to grow them and put them to use – and a fascinating history of the people who have crusaded for our local parks
Read MoreHackney’s public health director: ‘Let’s make this lockdown count’
Dr Sandra Husbands on how people can help stop the spread of Covid, advances in testing, and whether or not a vaccine will end the pandemic
Read MoreThe Citizen Gardener: ‘Even if pesticides don’t kill a bee, they impede its ability to navigate’
Kate Poland on how to grow garlic, why organic bulbs are best, a ‘weed walk’ in Homerton, and free resources to help growers through winter
Read MoreThe Citizen Gardener: ‘Even looking at a picture of a river or a wood can improve your mood’
Kate Poland on the mental health benefits of plants, efforts to ‘normalise’ gardening for Black and minority ethnic people, and some surprisingly speedy snails
Read MoreThe Citizen Gardener: Contested Spaces
Kate Poland on the battle for land, a planning overhaul and an eye-opening podcast about climate change
Read MoreThe Citizen Gardener: ‘We can do our bit to save water’
Kate Poland on an impending water crisis in the UK, and what gardeners can do to help protect this precious resource
Read MoreHackney artist reveals long-term effects of coronavirus with Instagram diary
Monique Jackson is documenting her experience in a unique way to raise awareness of Covid’s sometimes lingering impact and to push for more support for health workers
Read MoreThe Citizen Gardener: ‘Be radical and grow your own food’
Kate Poland on how we can take advantage of the increased interest in food-growing during lockdown
Read MoreTell us about your health and care experiences of COVID-19
A survey designed for Hackney residents about your experiences of Covid-19
Read MoreJosh Loeb: Is nature healing?
The local journalist and animal lover on critter-spotting during lockdown, pubic lice (not from experience), the R rate for nits, and why rewilding shouldn’t be limited to the remotest parts of the UK
Read MoreThe Citizen Gardener: ‘There are some inspiring online activities for those who love the outdoors’
Award-winning community gardener Kate Poland has put together a comprehensive list of websites and organisations providing a virtual escape during lockdown
Read MoreQuit smoking for Covid
Experts say smokers with Covid-19 are 14 times more likely to develop severe symptoms. Find out how to access support through Smokefree Hackney…
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