Simply the Bao-Best! The African Chef at the 20th West Dean Chilli Fiesta

We profile Malcolm Riley the African Chef ahead of his appearance at the 20th West Dean Chilli Fiesta. A true chilli lover and champion of sustainability…not to mention he whips up a pretty mean marmalade. Continue reading →

Getting To The ‘Root’ Of It: Levi Roots On ‘Putting Some Music In Your Cooking’

Ahead of the 20th anniversary West Dean Chilli Fiesta this August, we caught up with one of the visiting stars of our upcoming festival, Levi Roots. In this latest blog, Levi talks cooking, family, music, chillies and just what he’ll be bringing to Chilli Fiesta this year… Continue reading →

20 Things You Didn’t Know About Chillies: Part 1

With the West Dean Chilli Fiesta just around the corner and celebrating it’s 20th Birthday this year, it’s all things Chilli! We run through 20 weird and wonderful facts (that you probably didn’t know) about chillies, across 3 installments. Enjoy!… Continue reading →

IT’S A FAMILY AFFAIR: ENTERTAINMENT FOR ALL AGES AT CHILLI 2015

In the 2nd installment of our series building up to the 20th West Dean Chilli Fiesta in August, we take a look at the family entertainment in store… Continue reading →

SUMMER IS HERE AS WE GO “WILD” AT WEST DEAN 2015

I’m going to start with an invitation, well more of plea really to come along to West Dean soon to admire the wild flowers in the gardens and arboretum – it really is a delightful show and like all good things will come to an end soon. Although managing wildflower meadows can be a challenge, the rewards are … Continue reading →

Dahlias – the Barbara Windsor’s of the Flower World!

When I started my horticultural career as a jobbing gardener at Haringey Council in North London, much of the work was mundane and pretty unrewarding. However every day during the late summer and until the first frosts, my heart was lifted by the technicolor blooms of an astonishing collection of dahlia plants. Their serried military … Continue reading →

Heating up in August

Wow! What a difference warm weather makes to a garden! So far this summer the flower display in the cutting garden and on the borders in the Walled Garden is looking fantastic with the rudbeckia trial taking pride of place. Beneficial insects and butterflies are having a field day too. However lots of sun means … Continue reading →

West Dean Gardens – July 2014

June was a wonderful month for a garden visit to West Dean and July looks set to be the same. Plenty of sun filled days after the relentless winter rain have put a skip into the visitors step as they come along to enjoy all aspects of the gardens and there is certainly plenty here … Continue reading →

The Chelsea ‘Chop’

Chelsea week is the one time of the year that gardening dominates the airwaves and takes centre stage in the public’s mind which is slightly curious because as any “real” gardener knows gardens are an all year round obsession that occupies one’s thoughts and efforts for 52 weeks of the year . It is that … Continue reading →

Magnolia Madness

People often talk about good blossom years when the combination of prolific flower production and perfect climatic conditions at the time of flowering i.e. still, no hard frosts nor torrential rain or even worse sleet or hail, all come together to produce a display which is mind blowing in its intensity and over the top … Continue reading →