Steve Whalley
@whalleysteve.bsky.social
Love to visit the far corners of Britain (Spain, Italy, France) in search of good food, wine, pubs & countryside: It's all geographical, often meteorological and sometimes political.
Exactly one week from the Autumn Budget and spending on education as a share of GDP is the lowest it’s been in 25 years
November 19, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Exactly one week from the Autumn Budget and spending on education as a share of GDP is the lowest it’s been in 25 years
I enjoyed some fine food and drink in a mostly fine #Edinburgh last week. Accommodation was at the friendly & comfortable #Malmaison on St Andrew Sq. #CafeMarlayne, #SixByNico, the #BowBar, #TheBlackMedicineCoffeeCompany, and #BertiesProperFish&Chips all impressed.
November 2, 2025 at 3:40 PM
I enjoyed some fine food and drink in a mostly fine #Edinburgh last week. Accommodation was at the friendly & comfortable #Malmaison on St Andrew Sq. #CafeMarlayne, #SixByNico, the #BowBar, #TheBlackMedicineCoffeeCompany, and #BertiesProperFish&Chips all impressed.
I thought the most striking garden on tonight's #GardenersWorld was Eleanor Cochrane's beautiful non-yellow creation in Cranbrook, Kent. No yellow, but the rich purple, pink, and blue drifts of flowers were majestic. Back at Longmeadow, it was reassuring to hear Monty making big plans for the Copse.
October 24, 2025 at 8:33 PM
I thought the most striking garden on tonight's #GardenersWorld was Eleanor Cochrane's beautiful non-yellow creation in Cranbrook, Kent. No yellow, but the rich purple, pink, and blue drifts of flowers were majestic. Back at Longmeadow, it was reassuring to hear Monty making big plans for the Copse.
My favourite garden on tonight's #GardenersWorld was Sally Morgan's brilliantly conceived climate resilient garden in Somerset. It seems very experimental but the dry garden, exotic plant wall and rill all looked fabulous. The importance of mulching in drier months was stressed.
October 17, 2025 at 8:33 PM
My favourite garden on tonight's #GardenersWorld was Sally Morgan's brilliantly conceived climate resilient garden in Somerset. It seems very experimental but the dry garden, exotic plant wall and rill all looked fabulous. The importance of mulching in drier months was stressed.
Just caught up with last night's #GardenersWorld &, in particular, Corsley House where magic does indeed run deep #TobyBuckland. Hard to believe that this glorious garden, beneath Cley Hill, has been created over just 8 years.
September 13, 2025 at 1:17 PM
Just caught up with last night's #GardenersWorld &, in particular, Corsley House where magic does indeed run deep #TobyBuckland. Hard to believe that this glorious garden, beneath Cley Hill, has been created over just 8 years.
I thought the most interesting item on tonight's #GardenersWorld was Steve Buckley & Liz Robert's Mediterranean garden in Crouch End, where drainage is more important than position and gardening is fun, but definitely not low maintenance.
August 29, 2025 at 8:20 PM
I thought the most interesting item on tonight's #GardenersWorld was Steve Buckley & Liz Robert's Mediterranean garden in Crouch End, where drainage is more important than position and gardening is fun, but definitely not low maintenance.
I recently had a very pleasant stay in the beautiful city of Lyon. It was snifling, yet the friendly locals, gorgeous parks, and cheap and coherent public transport made it all agréable. I can also confirm that the Lyonnaise reputation for fine food is well deserved. Vive Lyon!
August 28, 2025 at 11:10 PM
I recently had a very pleasant stay in the beautiful city of Lyon. It was snifling, yet the friendly locals, gorgeous parks, and cheap and coherent public transport made it all agréable. I can also confirm that the Lyonnaise reputation for fine food is well deserved. Vive Lyon!
Much evidence of prairie planting on tonight's #GardenersWorld. My top garden this week was Stephen Medley's creation in Mirfield, West Yorks. The well judged balance between grasses and other plants, and the seven plants to a square metre doctrine approach perfection.
August 22, 2025 at 7:48 PM
Much evidence of prairie planting on tonight's #GardenersWorld. My top garden this week was Stephen Medley's creation in Mirfield, West Yorks. The well judged balance between grasses and other plants, and the seven plants to a square metre doctrine approach perfection.
My highlight of tonight's #GardenersWorld was the remarkable rescue of Bagthorpe Gardens in Nottingham by Paul Saxton. The 200 year old allotments almost became a housing estate before Mr Saxton began their revival in 1997. 28 of the original 65 plots still need your help good Nottinghamians.
August 15, 2025 at 10:09 PM
My highlight of tonight's #GardenersWorld was the remarkable rescue of Bagthorpe Gardens in Nottingham by Paul Saxton. The 200 year old allotments almost became a housing estate before Mr Saxton began their revival in 1997. 28 of the original 65 plots still need your help good Nottinghamians.
Turns out that today is #InternationalRelaxationDay. One of the most relaxing places I have visited recently was the sublime gardens of the #Abbeywood Estate near Northwich. Even in the rain, or perhaps because of it, there was a sublimely tranquil ambience to this corner of Cheshire.
August 15, 2025 at 7:07 PM
Turns out that today is #InternationalRelaxationDay. One of the most relaxing places I have visited recently was the sublime gardens of the #Abbeywood Estate near Northwich. Even in the rain, or perhaps because of it, there was a sublimely tranquil ambience to this corner of Cheshire.
It was great to see #RHSBridgewater on Friday's #GardenersWorld, not least because I was there last week. The scale is slightly overwhelming, and some parts feel unfinished but there's much to enjoy.
August 10, 2025 at 2:18 PM
It was great to see #RHSBridgewater on Friday's #GardenersWorld, not least because I was there last week. The scale is slightly overwhelming, and some parts feel unfinished but there's much to enjoy.
A fine episode of #GardenersWorld tonight with #AdamFrost at the helm. Matt Evans terraced house garden in Bath grabbed most of my appreciation. It's an amazing 4 by 20 metres space crafted over just 5 years, containing a stunning Foxglove tree (Paulownia).
August 1, 2025 at 8:10 PM
A fine episode of #GardenersWorld tonight with #AdamFrost at the helm. Matt Evans terraced house garden in Bath grabbed most of my appreciation. It's an amazing 4 by 20 metres space crafted over just 5 years, containing a stunning Foxglove tree (Paulownia).
My favourite garden on tonight's #GardenersWorld was Suzie's overflowing corner of Watford, where a "boring" lawn has been usurped by ten charming rooms over a 58 year conversion. With vivacity and passion Suzie made gardening look easy.
June 20, 2025 at 8:20 PM
My favourite garden on tonight's #GardenersWorld was Suzie's overflowing corner of Watford, where a "boring" lawn has been usurped by ten charming rooms over a 58 year conversion. With vivacity and passion Suzie made gardening look easy.
I enjoyed a great meal with family at the White Bull in Oswaldtwistle last night. This seemingly workaday pub is listed by Michelin and run by Sean Forshaw, an excellent chef. The wine list is also surprisingly long and interesting. It's worth a journey.
June 15, 2025 at 9:29 AM
I enjoyed a great meal with family at the White Bull in Oswaldtwistle last night. This seemingly workaday pub is listed by Michelin and run by Sean Forshaw, an excellent chef. The wine list is also surprisingly long and interesting. It's worth a journey.
I thought the most interesting garden on tonight's #GardenersWorld was Andrew Jackson's pièce de résistance in Beverley. From compacted builders' rubble to a garden that looks like it's been there forever, with a fabulous pond and more biodiversity than the arable fields that preceded it.
June 6, 2025 at 8:25 PM
I thought the most interesting garden on tonight's #GardenersWorld was Andrew Jackson's pièce de résistance in Beverley. From compacted builders' rubble to a garden that looks like it's been there forever, with a fabulous pond and more biodiversity than the arable fields that preceded it.
#GardenersWorld has been distracted by flower shows of late but got round to the The Old Rectory Garden at Warbleton, E. Sussex tonight. Notable for Sharnee Gates, a young but gifted head gardener, & its romantic mix of formality & informality between a lovely knot garden & streamside wild flowers.
May 30, 2025 at 8:29 PM
#GardenersWorld has been distracted by flower shows of late but got round to the The Old Rectory Garden at Warbleton, E. Sussex tonight. Notable for Sharnee Gates, a young but gifted head gardener, & its romantic mix of formality & informality between a lovely knot garden & streamside wild flowers.
My favourite garden on tonight's (Monty-less) #GardenersWorld was Will Thompson's naturalistic patch somewhere in Sheffield. Just the right balance of nature and nurture surrounding a glorious pond.
May 2, 2025 at 8:14 PM
My favourite garden on tonight's (Monty-less) #GardenersWorld was Will Thompson's naturalistic patch somewhere in Sheffield. Just the right balance of nature and nurture surrounding a glorious pond.
Karl Suchy's Bristolian homage to Great Dixter got my attention on tonight's #GardenersWorld. The borders cultivated by Mr Suchy are a match for those in Kent and pretty much anywhere else.
April 25, 2025 at 8:19 PM
Karl Suchy's Bristolian homage to Great Dixter got my attention on tonight's #GardenersWorld. The borders cultivated by Mr Suchy are a match for those in Kent and pretty much anywhere else.
Tonight's #GardenersWorld was packed with Monty & Carol (Nothing wrong there) but my favourite was Julian Wormald's Welsh #daffodil wonderland. I'm still recovering from learning that it takes 5-6 years to get from a daff seed to a viable bulb... & that Mr Wormald relies on sheep to do this.
April 18, 2025 at 9:01 PM
Tonight's #GardenersWorld was packed with Monty & Carol (Nothing wrong there) but my favourite was Julian Wormald's Welsh #daffodil wonderland. I'm still recovering from learning that it takes 5-6 years to get from a daff seed to a viable bulb... & that Mr Wormald relies on sheep to do this.
Tonight's tipple is 2022 Cirò Rosso, Santa Venere from #TheWineSociety. A #wine crafted from the Little seen Gaglioppo grape in Calabria. Deep purple-red, spirity cassis on the nose, with blackberries and soft tannins on the palate. If it came from Tuscany, I think it would have cost thrice as much.
April 12, 2025 at 8:17 PM
Tonight's tipple is 2022 Cirò Rosso, Santa Venere from #TheWineSociety. A #wine crafted from the Little seen Gaglioppo grape in Calabria. Deep purple-red, spirity cassis on the nose, with blackberries and soft tannins on the palate. If it came from Tuscany, I think it would have cost thrice as much.
I was particularly struck by Joe & Linda's "mini rainforest" on tonight's #GardenersWorld. They have fashioned a water #garden of the first order somewhere in the most tropical part of Northampton. Their transformation of the dumping ground that existed before is astounding.
April 11, 2025 at 8:15 PM
I was particularly struck by Joe & Linda's "mini rainforest" on tonight's #GardenersWorld. They have fashioned a water #garden of the first order somewhere in the most tropical part of Northampton. Their transformation of the dumping ground that existed before is astounding.
Tonight's wine was a lovely accompaniment to lamb cutlets: 2021 Nerofino Rosso Vigneti delle Dolomiti, Castel Firmian. A perfectly balanced blend of Teroldego and Lagrein in a medium bodied yet dark garnet red #wine with a sweet plummy palate and just a hint of oak.
April 5, 2025 at 7:59 PM
Tonight's wine was a lovely accompaniment to lamb cutlets: 2021 Nerofino Rosso Vigneti delle Dolomiti, Castel Firmian. A perfectly balanced blend of Teroldego and Lagrein in a medium bodied yet dark garnet red #wine with a sweet plummy palate and just a hint of oak.
One of the most interesting recent threads on #GardenersWorld has been Rekha Mistry's migration from London to the Peak District. Tonight she visited the garden of the ebullient Melanie Moore, high up on the edge of the national park. The place is a masterclass of brassicas, soft fruit & flowers.
April 4, 2025 at 8:48 PM
One of the most interesting recent threads on #GardenersWorld has been Rekha Mistry's migration from London to the Peak District. Tonight she visited the garden of the ebullient Melanie Moore, high up on the edge of the national park. The place is a masterclass of brassicas, soft fruit & flowers.
2018 La Petite Lune Rouge, Bordeaux with my sirloin steak tonight. Made by the good folk at Domaine de Chevalier. It has some of that #wine's intense fruit and long finish for one sixth (or less) of its price. Highly recommended.
March 29, 2025 at 9:03 PM
2018 La Petite Lune Rouge, Bordeaux with my sirloin steak tonight. Made by the good folk at Domaine de Chevalier. It has some of that #wine's intense fruit and long finish for one sixth (or less) of its price. Highly recommended.
It was almost the Wibsey Community Garden, but my favourite on tonight's #GardenersWorld was Nick Phillip's tree rich patch near Cambridge. He's made fascinating use of pillar fruit trees, dwarf cultivars and planting trees in threes to make his "Mini forest garden" in just three years.
March 28, 2025 at 9:56 PM
It was almost the Wibsey Community Garden, but my favourite on tonight's #GardenersWorld was Nick Phillip's tree rich patch near Cambridge. He's made fascinating use of pillar fruit trees, dwarf cultivars and planting trees in threes to make his "Mini forest garden" in just three years.