SARAH RAVEN JOINS JOHNSONS TO AID BEES & BUTTERFLIES

Wildlife broadcaster, cut flower guru and gardening writer Sarah Raven has launched two flower seed ranges for the 2013 season in conjunction with Johnsons. Sarah's ‘Brilliant for Bees and Butterflies' and ‘Cut Flowers and Gorgeous Gardens' selections both feature 47 varieties which she has chosen and many of which she grows in her renowned garden at Perch Hill Farm in Sussex, where she also runs courses on gardening and cookery.

 The launch reflects Sarah's great love of wildlife and of growing flowers specially for cutting and adorning the home. Her latest book and television series looks at the vital rôle wild flowers play in the British countryside. Like many gardeners, she is concerned about the decline of Britain's bee and butterfly species, and believes growing the right flowers can help to halt their decline.

Sarah Raven's ranges of large format seed packets are displayed on attractive stands in her distinctive livery. Cut flowers include Bells of Ireland (rrp £1.95 for 200 seeds), Gaura The Bride (rrp £2.50/30 seeds) and Nigella Moody Blues (rrp £2.50/300 seeds), while the Bees and Butterflies range includes Achillea Summer Berries (rrp £2.95/50 seeds), Knautia macedonica (rrp £2.25/50 seeds) and Penstemon Esprit (rrp £2.50/500 seeds).