The Future of Gardens

A bold new look at the changes confronting gardening -- including climate change and AI -- by acclaimed horticulturalist, TV host, and disabilities activist Mark Lane . . . .

Gardening is about choices. Which plants to choose for your soil type and conditions? Where to place them to maximise their growth? What to feed them, and when to water them? And how can all of this be done in a sustainable way? In The Future of Gardens, broadcaster and designer Mark Lane examines present-day considerations alongside those gardeners will need to make in the future.

As Earth heats up and populations soar, water will become scarcer on many parts of the planet, and efficient management of it will be key: drought-tolerant planting and smart irrigation systems will likely become commonplace, as will vertical and otherwise space-restricted gardening. And as our world faces stressed or collapsing ecosystems, gardens will be crucial in improving wildlife populations - but only if we let them.

Tech will play its part, too. AI-powered apps already provide tips to the green-fingered, but its dominance is a concern. How might we find a happy coexistence? Lane also imagines the potential for gardening in space: what challenges will interstellar travellers face as they cultivate plants on spacecrafts, or even on distant worlds?

The Future of Gardens looks at this evergreen discipline with a bold, vibrant and inquisitive eye. Lane’s own vision for inclusivity, sustainable practice and forward-looking design shines throughout this extraordinary addition to the FUTURES series.

Mark Lane is a TV broadcaster appearing frequently on the BBC’s Morning Live and their coverage of the Royal Horticultural Society’s Flower Shows. A prolific writer, his work has appeared in The Guardian, The Daily Mail, The Sunday Telegraph and many more. He is the author of Royal Gardens of the World.