
Jo Whiley: ‘I've given up on growing veg – you cannot beat the slugs'
'Last year, the vegetables were a disaster. The slugs had the time of their lives,' says Jo Whiley, recalling every gardener's worst nightmare. 'Everything I planted got eaten. Snails went on the rampage, too. I'd come home from work and go out into the veg patch and see this black, oozy sea of mess.
'It was a particularly wet year, but I thought, 'I'm not giving in, I'll plant more runner beans, more peas, more lettuces, more strawberries, more of everything'. But I'd come back and find they'd decimated the place all over again. I never get stressed in the garden, but this really stressed me out.'
The slimy little creatures clearly got under Whiley's skin. 'I had to find a solution,' she continues. 'I read books, did endless internet searches, quizzed gardeners. I even asked Monty Don! In the end, this is what I have learnt about slugs: you cannot beat them. There is nothing you can do. Nothing. They will always win, so you might as well just give in.
'After last year, I knew I had to make a change. There are a few veg that I will optimistically carry on growing, like potatoes and beetroot, plus a few herbs – hopefully the ones the slugs hate, like rosemary, thyme and mint. But my bigger plan of action is to turn over a lot of the veg patches to growing more cutting flowers instead. In the last few years, I started cutting a few roses to bring into the kitchen, but now I'm hoping to grow enough flowers to fill the whole house.'
It's late afternoon and 59-year-old Whiley has been busy in the garden of her Northamptonshire home, digging, planting and watering all day. She is now relaxing on a large Oak & Rope bench she bought for the family earlier in the year. It hangs right beside the treehouse that she and her husband, Steve, built for their four children when they were small.
'The seat was a surprise,' explains Whiley. 'As soon as I saw it, I fell in love with it. I had all the children's names engraved on it, plus something that Steve says to us all the time: 'Live the Life You Love and Love the Life You Live.' It's become the family motto.'
Having made her peace with the slugs, she's now in the middle of deciding which flowers she will grow, but it will definitely include the ones that never fail to make her happy. And first on her list is the sweet pea. 'They're one of my all-time favourites, particularly the brightest ones… those iridescent blues, dazzling pinks, mad oranges. I love that clash of colours,' she says. 'But more than that, it's a flower I'm very nostalgic about, because my grandad used to grow them. Whenever I see them, it brings back all these wonderful memories of being in the garden with him. He was such a big influence on me; it's where my love of gardening first started. Mum, too, has always had a passion for gardening, no doubt inherited from him. She used to run a village post office, and every year she'd grow sweet peas and dahlias to sell in it. It must have looked amazing.'
Whiley admits she doesn't grow her sweet peas from seed; she goes to Coton Manor, near Guilsborough, where she buys quite a lot of her plants. 'It's an amazing house and garden, and they grow these spectacular sweet peas. There's a particular weekend when they bring them all out and you've got to get down there quickly, otherwise they'll all go.'
She then uses large frames from Agriframes, which come complete with jute netting. 'Once I've got the sweet peas in the soil, I'm even tempted to plant a few fruit bushes around the edges; maybe I'll sneak in some raspberry plants.'
One part of the garden she constantly keeps her eye on is the huge lawn. 'I'm quite a neat and tidy person, so I can't bear it when the lawn looks overgrown or patchy – quite hard when you've got two dogs and a cat,' she says. 'Not only that, but I'm also the sort of person who walks around the garden barefoot – I do my radio show barefoot – because I love feeling of the tiny blades of grass between my toes. With a house full of teenagers and twentysomethings, we're also a very loungey family, so once the summer arrives, the lawn is where we all socialise.
'Thankfully, we finally got round to installing a Gardena water system for the lawn. We also got one of those robot lawn mowers,' she adds with glee. 'It's a Kress model and it's fantastic. When we first bought it, I got home from work and Steve, who's obsessed with the lawn, said, 'You've got to come into the garden, I want to show you something'. There in front of us was a beautifully cut, stripey lawn. We'd never had that before. The only problem is that the robot has a habit of getting stuck in certain corners, so I'm always in and out, trying to disentangle it.'
Having decided to spend less time growing veg, Whiley has also had the chance to focus on something else that has been bugging her for years: her deep borders. They run all the way down one side of the garden to a stream and a massive weeping willow. She's determined to get them right in time for summer.
'We've been living here for 16 years now, and I've never been completely happy with the way the plants in these borders were flowing into each other. So, this year, I've been doing lots of finessing, to make them what I've always dreamt they could be. I want to get the heights right, add structure and create some lovely drifts of colour,' she says, reeling off the names of some of her latest purchases – among them, Cephalaria gigantea, Verbena ' Lavender Spires', Achillea millefolium 'Salmon Beauty', Thalictrum ' Black Stockings', and Hydrangea aspera 'Hot Chocolate'.
With so many garden projects on the go, Whiley knew she might need a bit of help, so she has called on her eldest son, Cassius.
'All the children have been incredibly reluctant to do anything in the garden,' she sighs, 'but Cassius, who's 24 and works in the music industry, needed some extra money, so earlier this year, I paid him to give me a hand weeding and mulching to get the ground ready. He was brilliant, and at the end of it he said to me: 'You know, Mum, I finally can see why people garden.' But the icing on the cake was on Mother's Day, when he handed me a card. In it, he'd written: 'Thanks, Mum, for teaching me how to garden.'
'I guess we're all starting to realise that being outside, putting our hands in soil, touching plants, watching things grow… even walking barefoot across the grass, is good for us,' she says. 'Life can be hectic at times, which is why the garden is somewhere I go to forget about it for a while.
'Only last week, I got home and automatically started moaning to Steve about something. Then I paused for a few moments and said… 'And this is why I garden'.'

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


BBC News
29-05-2025
- BBC News
Neighbours 'in shock' over Liverpool parade suspect living nearby
Neighbours have described their shock and disbelief after discovering the suspect in the Liverpool parade investigation lives close by.A 53-year-old man arrested on suspicion of attempted murder remains in custody for questioning after a car ploughed into football fans during Liverpool's Premier League victory parade in the city centre on Monday.A nine-year-old girl was the youngest victim from a total of 79 casualties struck by the Ford Galaxy on Water Street shortly after 18:00 neighbour, who asked to remain anonymous, said everyone was "in shock" while a mechanic, who works in the area, described the suspect as a "family man". The neighbour said he first realised the suspect lived close by in the West Derby area of Liverpool when he noticed police officers on shift outside a property."I knew something was going on," he said."That's when I thought this is the guy."He said everyone was "in shock" and "can't believe it"."It's such a quiet estate," he added."Everyone keeps themselves to themselves as he did, so no-one really knows much about him." Steve, who works as mechanic, said he had met the suspect when he brought the family car in for a service – most recently three months said he recognised the vehicle straightaway on the news from the registration plate."I thought 'Oh my god. I can't believe it – surely not'," he said the suspect was a "softly spoken family man" who seemed "sensible"."I can't see how this has happened. It's crazy," he added. Another neighbour said she had enjoyed watching the parade with her family before discovering what had happened."Everyone was saddened by the end of the day while watching the news – and to think that [the suspect] lives on my street is just really shocking," she added that it was a "lovely" and "peaceful" place to live."I don't know him but all the neighbours down both sides of the street – we've all been friends, we all have barbecues, we've been on holidays together."It's a close knit community." Merseyside Police said the force had been given more time to question the suspect, who was also detained on suspicion of dangerous driving and driving while unfit through drugs, until Thursday laws around the detention of suspects, police forces can keep a person in custody for 24 hours without charge, while a senior officer of at least superintendent rank can sign off on an initial 12-hour that, an application can be made to a magistrates' court for further 12-hour extensions to a maximum of 96 hours - or 14 days if the offence is terrorism force previously confirmed the incident was not being treated as terror of thousands of jubilant Liverpool fans packed the city centre on Bank Holiday Monday and lined the 10-mile (16km) parade route as the Reds celebrated winning their second Premier League crown and 20th top-flight league a press conference on Tuesday, police said it was believed the car had followed an ambulance through a road block, which had been lifted to allow medics to reach someone having a suspected heart attack.A fundraising campaign set up for those affected by the incident has raised more than £30,000, including a £10,000 donation from ex-player Jamie Carragher's charity foundation. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.


Daily Record
17-05-2025
- Daily Record
Scots war hero left without heating for 10 years before death
Former sailor Michael Board and wife Patricia, from Helensburgh, Argyll and Bute, suffered damp conditions for a decade - sparking calls for better support. A Scots war hero secretly went without heating for ten years before his death, heartbroken relatives have revealed. Former sailor Michael Board and his wife Patricia suffered damp and mouldy conditions for a decade after struggling to get their broken boiler replaced. His son Steve, who lives hundreds of miles away, only made the discovery as he helped his mum sort through his dad's belongings following the 73-year-old's death in September. A leading charity said the tragedy highlights the 'hidden struggles' of the elderly and vulnerable and underlines the need for better protection. Chief petty officer Michael and Particia, 72, lived in Helensburgh, after a 35-year career with the navy which saw him serve throughout the Cold War. Their former soldier and paramedic son Steve, 52, who lives in England, said: 'It has been a nightmare. My parents only ever lived in military housing and were not used to dealing with energy companies. 'When I went through my dad's stuff I found the paperwork. 'An elderly couple have been left without a working boiler for ten years. 'Due to having no heating, my parents' house had a lot of damp problems and issues with mould. 'That did nothing to help my dad's respiratory problems.' Paperwork revealed the couple had made attempts to get a new boiler in 2019 but the work was never completed. Former Royal Engineer corporal Steve, who served in the Army for 24 years, has turned to charity Advice Direct Scotland for support for his mum and has sought answers from his dad's energy provider. The provider told us it had done all it could to assist the couple and offered additional support to Michael's widow going forward. But Steve says more help should be available to avoid further cases like theirs. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. He said: 'It's unacceptable for the elderly and infirm to be left like this. "I have been pushed about from pillar to post when dealing with this as nobody wants to take ownership of the problem. "I only visited in summer so I didn't know how bad it was. "These massive companies have a duty of care. 'I was shocked at the level of callousness when I complained about this.' Andrew Bartlett, chief executive of Advice Direct Scotland, said: 'No one should suffer in silence. Especially not our older generation, who have given so much and deserve dignity, warmth and care in their later years. 'This is a stark reminder of the hidden struggles many elderly people face behind closed doors. 'Too often, older individuals are left navigating complex energy systems alone, unaware of their rights or too proud to ask for help. That's where we step in. 'Whether it's helping to challenge unfair charges or ensuring someone is receiving all the support they're entitled to, we're here to listen, to act and to make a difference. 'We work closely with energy providers, local authorities, and families to ensure no one is left in the cold - literally or figuratively. 'Our advisors can help identify issues like unclaimed benefits or billing errors that might otherwise go unnoticed for years. 'We also offer energy efficiency advice and support for those in crisis. 'If you're worried about a loved one - or yourself - please reach out. We're here to help, without judgment and with compassion. 'Everyone deserves to live in a warm, safe home. Let's make sure no one is forgotten.' Advice Direct Scotland, the country's national advice service, runs which provides free, impartial, practical advice on energy bills for anyone in Scotland. Call 0808 196 8660 for free or visit


BBC News
01-05-2025
- BBC News
Monkey addicted to marshmallows saved from exotic pet trade
Charities have warned of a growing trade in wild animals across Scotland after a monkey was discovered in a bird cage in East Lothian with a marshmallow are calling on the Scottish government to introduce a permitted list of animals that can be legally kept as the Scottish SPCA and Born Free say there are currently very few restrictions, which has led to many creatures suffering in unsuitable young marmoset monkey - called Steve - was taken in by the Scottish SPCA after neighbours spotted him in a living room window in March. The charity said the four-year-old monkey was underweight and "stressed out" from constant had developed an addiction to sugary marshmallows after being repeatedly fed them as a six weeks in the charity's care, Steve made a full recovery and was moved to a permanent home in a monkey sanctuary in England. 'Growing trend' Gilly Mendes Ferreira, the Scottish SPCA's strategic communications director, said people were unaware of the scale of wild animal keeping in Scotland."It's a growing and worrying trend," she said. "Animals like Steve being bought and sold as novelty pets, often on impulse, with little understanding of the complex care they require."She added: "Marmosets are highly intelligent, social primates that need space, stimulation, and the companionship of their own kind."No domestic setting - no matter how well-meaning - can truly meet those needs. "The Scottish government said it was committed to the highest standards of animal welfare and understood public health and conservation concerns around the keeping of exotic by the animal charities for their new Don't Pet Me campaign suggested requests from children may persuade people to acquire novelty pets. External influences like social media, films and games such as Pokémon and Minecraft have also been linked to the trade of wild animals. Researchers from the charities found that over a 16-week period, creatures from more than 300 species were advertised for sale in said the trade was an international business with some animals transported by couriers in inappropriate containers - sometimes without any indication a live animal is inside.A Scottish government spokesperson said: "We welcome the work of groups in dealing with the welfare problems caused by irresponsible owners and the campaign for raising awareness of this important issue."The Scottish Animal Welfare Commission has explored the issues surrounding the keeping of exotic pets and we will continue to consider the steps that could be taken in this area."