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AI talking trees feature at Chelsea Flower Show

AI talking trees feature at Chelsea Flower Show

France 2419-05-2025

Over five days starting Tuesday, more than 140,000 visitors are expected to view what the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) bills as "the pinnacle of horticultural excellence".
There are stunning gardens, 30 competing for top awards, and more than 400 exhibitors showcasing their gardening knowledge and carefully-cultivated plants to the public and champagne-sipping VIPs.
King Charles III was to visit Monday with Queen Camilla, with an eye on the show's first ever dog garden, designed by celebrity gardener Monty Don.
The head of state was also expected to visit the Wildlife Trusts' British Rainforests garden where the main attraction is a 50-year-old fern that once thrived in the Great Park of Windsor.
The garden was "inspired by the enchanted forests of Arthurian legend" and it "rekindles the wild and wet woodlands that once swathed vast landscapes along the west coast".
Intelligent Garden
In the Intelligent Garden, plant-lovers can truly talk to the trees thanks to artificial intelligence.
Pioneering AI sensors called Treetalk have been installed to give updates on the trees' needs in urban environments, whether they are under stress and how to care for them.
"Urban trees filter air pollution, cool the air, support wildlife, and boost community wellbeing. Yet, they face immense challenges," the RHS said about the garden designed by Tom Massey and architect Je Ahn.
About 50 percent of urban trees do not survive beyond 10 years and up to 30 percent die in their first year, it added.
"The use of AI is not going to replace a human being, our intuition and our labour. It's still the core and heart of this garden," said Je Ahn.
But data could give "a clearer picture of what's going on around us".
'Challenging conditions'
The plants on display in the Garden of the Future "have the ability to survive in a range of challenging conditions," the designers told the RHS.
Growing among the more common hawthorn bushes, are sweet potatoes which have "fantastic nutritional value and are drought resistant," sorghum a popular cereal from Africa, rock roses and chickpeas that are "more resilient to warmer climates", they said.
Those are all crops that "can grow right here in the UK", said Ana Maria Loboguerrero, the Gates Foundation's director of adaptive and equitable food systems.
It is the first time the foundation has sponsored a garden at the show.
Designers Matthew Butler and Josh Parker said the show was a chance to reflect on "the future of crops, food and livelihoods in the face of climate change".
The theme of sustainability is echoed across the show, including in the Seawilding garden inspired by the landscape around Loch Craignish, on the west coast of Scotland.
It includes a saltwater pool, planted with seagrass -- the first time that it has ever been displayed at the show and the UK's "only native flowering plant in the ocean," the RHS says.
Designer Ryan McMahon said he "always assumed seagrass grew in warmer climates" so was intrigued when he discovered it in Scotland.
There is also a garden called "Songbird Survival" amid reports bird numbers have fallen in UK gardens by 50 percent in the past two generations.
Or visitors can discover the "Making Life Better with Bees" garden, with insects key to pollination.
The annual horticultural show is organised in the grounds of the Royal Chelsea Hospital, and has long championed environmental issues.
In 2021, the RHS it said it would ban the use of peat, a natural captor of CO2 one of the main greenhouse gases blamed for global warming, from the end of 2025.
But growers will be able until 2028 to continue using peat, an organic material made over thousands of years from decaying vegetation in the UK's dwindling wetlands.
The RHS decided to push back the peat ban for growers "due to a complex horticultural supply chain where 60 percent of young plants, many grown in peat, are sourced from abroad".

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Beloved UK gardener's dog lends a paw at top flower show
Beloved UK gardener's dog lends a paw at top flower show

France 24

time20-05-2025

  • France 24

Beloved UK gardener's dog lends a paw at top flower show

Don has designed a unique garden for the show to delight both man's best friend and his master (or mistress). The lawn is for dogs to run and play, and roll and rest, set with a wooden bench and comfortable cushions. Even before some 140,000 visitors were expected at the five-day show organised by the Royal Horticultural Society, there was due to be a special visit from the country's top canine-lovers, King Charles III and Queen Camilla, on Monday. The green-fingered Monty Don, 69, has become a national celebrity, beguiling television audiences for the past 22 years presenting the popular BBC programme "Gardeners' World". Each week the self-taught horticulturist shares his knowledge, gentle words of wisdom and tips and tricks to keep UK gardens blooming through each season. Padding faithfully at his side have been his dogs, including golden retriever Ned, delighting audiences with his antics as Don walks the 8,000 square metres (two acres) of his garden in Longmeadow, close to the Welsh border. Simple And since he has always gardened with a dog by his side, Don said it was natural that he would lean on Ned for inspiration when he was asked to design a dog-friendly garden for the Chelsea Flower Show. Ned was let loose a few weeks ago at a plot packed with plants so the designers could copy the routes he took as he followed his nose and tracked interesting smells. "We had imagined that Ned would create sweeps and curves through the planting. However, every time he ran off, he returned to Monty via the same route, and as such we have changed the design accordingly," said landscape gardener Jamie Butterworth. At the Chelsea garden, there's a frisbee on the lawn, and a little stream where dogs can wade to cool off after a boisterous game of fetch. They can flop on the bench, or head for some calm in a little house. "I wanted it to be a very simple garden," Don said. "There's no message, there's no hidden back story. It is what it is. What you see is what you get." On Sunday, a fox even snuck in for a snooze. It is the first time Don has been asked to design a garden for the prestigious show, run by the Royal Horticulture Society since 1913. Tousled lawn The lawn is replete with dandelions, daisies and clover - a far cry from the neatly cropped grass usually favoured by the Brits. Don aimed to keep things simple with hazelnut trees, hyacinths and spring flowers. Brick pathways inspired by his garden at Longmeadow are inscribed with the names of dogs, including Camilla's beloved terriers Bluebell and Beth, who were adopted from a dog shelter. Beth died from a tumour in November, and the royal family announced the passing on social media. Camilla even had the dogs' silhouettes embroidered in gold thread on her coronation dress in May 2023. Monty Don's garden won't be judged among 30 others as part of the competition at the Chelsea Flower Show. But he knows he will be judged by public opinion, and confessed to feeling nervous. After the show, Ned's garden will be donated to London's Battersea Dogs and Cats Home to continue delighting four-legged friends.

AI talking trees feature at Chelsea Flower Show
AI talking trees feature at Chelsea Flower Show

France 24

time19-05-2025

  • France 24

AI talking trees feature at Chelsea Flower Show

Over five days starting Tuesday, more than 140,000 visitors are expected to view what the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) bills as "the pinnacle of horticultural excellence". There are stunning gardens, 30 competing for top awards, and more than 400 exhibitors showcasing their gardening knowledge and carefully-cultivated plants to the public and champagne-sipping VIPs. King Charles III was to visit Monday with Queen Camilla, with an eye on the show's first ever dog garden, designed by celebrity gardener Monty Don. The head of state was also expected to visit the Wildlife Trusts' British Rainforests garden where the main attraction is a 50-year-old fern that once thrived in the Great Park of Windsor. The garden was "inspired by the enchanted forests of Arthurian legend" and it "rekindles the wild and wet woodlands that once swathed vast landscapes along the west coast". Intelligent Garden In the Intelligent Garden, plant-lovers can truly talk to the trees thanks to artificial intelligence. Pioneering AI sensors called Treetalk have been installed to give updates on the trees' needs in urban environments, whether they are under stress and how to care for them. "Urban trees filter air pollution, cool the air, support wildlife, and boost community wellbeing. Yet, they face immense challenges," the RHS said about the garden designed by Tom Massey and architect Je Ahn. About 50 percent of urban trees do not survive beyond 10 years and up to 30 percent die in their first year, it added. "The use of AI is not going to replace a human being, our intuition and our labour. It's still the core and heart of this garden," said Je Ahn. But data could give "a clearer picture of what's going on around us". 'Challenging conditions' The plants on display in the Garden of the Future "have the ability to survive in a range of challenging conditions," the designers told the RHS. Growing among the more common hawthorn bushes, are sweet potatoes which have "fantastic nutritional value and are drought resistant," sorghum a popular cereal from Africa, rock roses and chickpeas that are "more resilient to warmer climates", they said. Those are all crops that "can grow right here in the UK", said Ana Maria Loboguerrero, the Gates Foundation's director of adaptive and equitable food systems. It is the first time the foundation has sponsored a garden at the show. Designers Matthew Butler and Josh Parker said the show was a chance to reflect on "the future of crops, food and livelihoods in the face of climate change". The theme of sustainability is echoed across the show, including in the Seawilding garden inspired by the landscape around Loch Craignish, on the west coast of Scotland. It includes a saltwater pool, planted with seagrass -- the first time that it has ever been displayed at the show and the UK's "only native flowering plant in the ocean," the RHS says. Designer Ryan McMahon said he "always assumed seagrass grew in warmer climates" so was intrigued when he discovered it in Scotland. There is also a garden called "Songbird Survival" amid reports bird numbers have fallen in UK gardens by 50 percent in the past two generations. Or visitors can discover the "Making Life Better with Bees" garden, with insects key to pollination. The annual horticultural show is organised in the grounds of the Royal Chelsea Hospital, and has long championed environmental issues. In 2021, the RHS it said it would ban the use of peat, a natural captor of CO2 one of the main greenhouse gases blamed for global warming, from the end of 2025. But growers will be able until 2028 to continue using peat, an organic material made over thousands of years from decaying vegetation in the UK's dwindling wetlands. The RHS decided to push back the peat ban for growers "due to a complex horticultural supply chain where 60 percent of young plants, many grown in peat, are sourced from abroad".

Prince Harry v. British tabloids: Why is Prince Harry going to court again against the UK press?
Prince Harry v. British tabloids: Why is Prince Harry going to court again against the UK press?

Euronews

time21-01-2025

  • Euronews

Prince Harry v. British tabloids: Why is Prince Harry going to court again against the UK press?

Prince Harry, King Charles III's youngest son, begins his second major court case against the British tabloid industry today. Harry, 40, has accused News Group Newspapers of hacking into his phones. News Group Newspapers is the publishing company owned by media mogul billionaire Rupert Murdoch. It includes titles like The Sun, The Times and the now-defunct News of the World. Harry is not alone in claiming News Group illegally hacked phones. News Group has settled over 1,300 claims related to a phone hacking scandal that forced them to close News of the World in 2011. In the High Court today, Harry is the last claimant remaining to force this case in front of the UK's legal system. It is the sequel to his tirade against the UK's tabloid media. In response to the way his mother, Princess Diana, was hounded by the press, Harry blames paparazzi interference for her death. Now with his wife, Meghan Markle, regularly attacked by the British tabloids in a similar manner, Harry has started a one-man mission to make the industry accountable. Harry's tirade against the tabloids During the 2000s, News of the World published multiple stories that could only be explained through hacked voicemails. One included a 2005 story that Prince Willian, Harry's older brother, had a knee injury. Glenn Mulcaire, a private investigator working for News of the World was sentenced to six months in prison in 2007 for hacking the phones of members of the royal family. The phone hacking scandal reached its zenith in 2011. After the British police reopened an investigation to the claims and through pressure from investigations in other press outlets, News of the World admitted to hacking phones. News of the World agreed to multiple settlements to compensate people they had spied on. Former editors Andy Coulson and Rebekah Brooks went on trial in 2013. Coulson was sentenced to 18 months in prison. Brooks was acquitted and is now chief executive of Murdoch's British newspaper business. In 2019, Harry began his fight against the tabloids. He launched three lawsuits against the Mirror Group, News Group, and Associated Newspapers. In 2023, after becoming the first British royal in a century to testify in a witness box, Harry won the first of these major court cases. He took the Daily Mirror to the High Court for hacking his phone, winning €165,000. 'Today is a great day for truth, as well as accountability,' Harry said in a statement read by his lawyer outside court. 'I've been told that slaying dragons will get you burned. But in light of today's victory and the importance of doing what is needed for a free and honest press, it is a worthwhile price to pay. The mission continues.' All this litigation hasn't been at no cost to Harry. Taking the tabloids to court was a move at odds with the royal family's reserved approach to public action. Harry revealed in court papers that his father opposed his litigation. He also said his older brother William, Prince of Wales and heir to the throne, had received a 'huge sum' to settle a complaint against News Group. Harry said his tabloid war was central to his fallout with his family. With the 2023 trial against The Mirror won, Harry could move onto the next two against News of the World and The Sun owned by News Group, and against the Daily Mail, owned by Associated Newspapers. Harry v. Murdoch Harry's case against the Murdoch-owned publishing company News Group begins today at the High Court in London. It will likely last around 10 weeks and will see the prince appear in the witness box again for several days in February. He claims News Group journalists and private investigators they hired violated his privacy by using unlawful tactics to dig up dirt on him and his family between 1996 and 2011. His fellow claimant, Tom Watson, a former deputy leader of the Labour Party, said his voicemails were intercepted during a period when he was investigating the hacking scandal. Their lawyer said the newspapers had a widespread practice of using deception to obtain medical, phone and flight records, bugged homes and placed listening devices in cars. They allege that executives concealed the skulduggery through means that included destroying documents. 'This allegation is wrong, unsustainable, and is strongly denied,' News Group said in a statement. Former executives accused of playing a role include Will Lewis, now CEO of the Washington Post, and Brooks, the News UK CEO who was tried for her editorial role at News of the World. They have denied wrongdoing. News Group strongly denies the allegations and it said Harry failed to bring his lawsuit within the required six-year limit. News Group apologized to News of the World phone hacking victims in 2011. The Sun has never accepted liability.

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