Shoot Gardening is a great site for exploring plants, garden design ideas, events, ideas on how to combat pests and diseases and can be used to help plan and design the garden or even help sell a garden – along with your property! There is a subscription fee for this service

I am a street representative for Food Up Front, and recommend this as a good organisation to join for information and community links regarding growing food at home, especially if you’ve never done it before and would like to have access to local groups and individuals starting to do the same. FUF organise workshops, visits to places of interest, have a Street Representative Web Log with Google Groups and do many other things besides. FUF also have a discussion group on the very fabulous Project Dirt which is a an excellent place to find out about and get involved in eco. projects in your local vicinity. This is currently being trialled in South London; but is open to all. A really great community information sharing facility.

I am also a member of Spa Hill Allotment Society, which, through Spa Hill Organic gardening Group run local training courses regarding sowing seeds and planting out. If you’d like to know the next course dates, cost etc. please contact via email

If you like good food from all corners of the planet and want some inspiration, here is a fab recipe book organised by Arts Development, Croydon. Funded by Heritage Lottery, photographed, researched and written by the local community including pupils of Cotelands and designed by Jake Tilson Studio download or request a copy here. Spa Hill Allotments gets a mention too, as do some of the allotment holders... A local book for local people...

I recommend aboriculturalists Prestigious Trees for tree work, be it crown thinning or felling. They are very experienced, helpful, friendly, fully qualified and insured.

Fine Naturals, by Sally Kennedy have a new-to-the-UK organic slug control mulch. It looks and smells great, is full if trace elements including copper and interestingly enough is a by-product from the making of Rooibos tea. I am currently trialling with willing client participants! Watch out slugs!

Soil Association are the 'UK's leading environmental charity promoting sustainable, organic farming and championing human health'. A great Association to be involved with on any level. Lots of information for everyone regarding food, where it comes from, organic farms you can visit, organic suppliers, education, campaigns, buying groups, standards. There's even local groups to join, a magazine and more! I am a member and a firm supporter.

South London Botanical Institute 1910. A great resource local to South London; hence the name! Membership helps facilitate plant illustrative classes, seaweed and wild plant identification trips and there's a garden and herbarium to enjoy and volunteer for.

Garden Organic 'The UK's leading organic growing charity, has been at the forefront of the organic horticulture movement for 50 years and is dedicated to researching and promoting organic gardening, farming and food. Membership includes free entry to Audley End, Ryton and Yalding Organic Gardens, RHS gardens at Wisley, Harlow Carr, Rosemoor and Hyde Hall, plus over 20 other gardens across the UK'.

R.H.S. 'The Royal Horticultural Society is now the UK's leading gardening charity dedicated to advancing horticulture and promoting good gardening. The goal is to help people share a passion for plants, to encourage excellence in horticulture and inspire all those with an interest in gardening.' Membership includes free entry with a guest to RHS gardens at Wisley in Surrey, Harlow Carr in North Yorkshire, Hyde Hall in Essex and Rosemoor in Devon. Open all seasons, and free access to more than 140 RHS Recommended Gardens either throughout their opening season or at selected periods, a monthly magazine and reduced privileged entry and reduced-rate tickets to their world famous flower shows', and more.

B.B.K.A. The British Beekeepers Association. Supporting Bees and Beekeepers. A great place to start if you want to find out more about bees, courses, exams, local associations, suppliers, events, publications and other enthusiasts. Membership includes basic insurance for a specific number of hives.training to be a bee keeper, equipment and latest information regarding disease control etc. There are many other sources of info from governmental to more locally specific, so ask around and get researching. There are also many current ways of approaching bee keeping in this country, some of which are more organic and less aggressive than what is perceived by the majority as good practice, but certainly no less diligent. Get informed, net networked, get talking and get busy!

Modern bee keeping Is a fabulous company providing a range of quality beekeeping clothing and the latest in bee hive technology. Check out their bee suits! Highly recommended.

Wiggly Wigglers Catalogue has tonnes of great ideas for inspiring any budding gardener. Bokashi composting, wormeries and wildlife food to wildflower turf and indigenous, locally grown flower bouquets...

Chelsea Physic Garden 1673 is an absolute gem of the Thames. A fabulous and historic collection of herbs. The garden is organised in inventive ways to help teach the context of the plants. The fair in the summer is excellent, and the compost workshops run by the education department are very helpful. They also run other courses and days for children and teachers; click here is you want to get in touch with them: contact via email

If you want to treat yourself to a fruit tree, learn more and support Heritage Fruit tree growing, There can only be one place to go; Brogdale Farm, 'Home of the National Fruit Collection'. You'll find fruit in here that have not been exploited by modern supermarket culture, that are wonderful in their own right, and deserve attention.

Heirloom vegetable seed experts guaranteed to delight and surprise are The Real Seed Catalogue. Al sorts of weird and wonderful seeds and tubers. From original and almost forgotten Yorkshire Crofters Kale, to strange and beautiful South American Tubers such as Yakon.

Wisdom, workshops, wonderful gifts and Courses of a Sustainable, Ecological, Renewable or Environmental Nature lead directly to Centre For Alternative Technology. Positive and practical solutions for everyone. Membership also allows access to forums, the 'Clean Slate' magazine and more.....

London Wildlife Trust is a fantastic resource for finding out how to build spaces into your garden that accommodate the surprisingly abundant wildlife, explore nature reserves, campaigns, projects, habitats and species. We can all do something to help wildlife. Why not pledge to be a climate friendly gardener, or visit the Centre for Wildlife Gardening for some ideas. Wildweb facility can help you find the closest wild habitat by type near you!

L.E.E.F 'Organises workshops and seminars to enhance members skills, spread best practice and provide networking opportunities. We advertise job vacancies and promote events linked with Environmental Education delivery. Membership is open to individuals and organisations interested or actively involved in E.E. in the Greater London area.'

London Wildcare Trust 'Provides professional wildlife care and treatment, helping thousands of sick, injured and orphaned wild animals found in the capital’s streets, parks and gardens every year.' They have a 24hour animal help hotline, treatment through 3 centres and education outreach to children and adults. They are run by committed volunteers and funded by donations. Get involved!

Deen City Farm 'Is a unique, educational resource in SW London, open free of charge, six days a week (it is CLOSED on Mondays) from 10am to 4.30pm. The aim is to give people the opportunity to learn from their visit or contribution to a Working Farm.' There is a garden, regular workshops, tours, riding and lots of opportunities for volunteering.

Timebanking UK 'Time Banking UK is the national umbrella charity linking and supporting time banks across the country by providing inspiration, guidance and mutual help. Time banks link people locally to share their time and skills. Everyone's time is equal: one hour of your time earns you one time credit to spend when you need'.

TED ' Stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design. It started out (in 1984) as a conference bringing together people from those three worlds. Since then its scope has become ever broader. The annual conference now brings together the world's most fascinating thinkers and doers, who are challenged to give the talk of their lives (in 18 minutes). This site makes the best talks and performances from TED available to the public, for free. More than 200 talks from our archive are now available, with more added each week. These videos are released under a Creative Commons license, so they can be freely shared and reposted.'