On 14th January 2026 the Grayshott Gardeners were joined by Jonathan Newell who is the RHS Public Engagement Officer based at Wisley.
Jonathan started work as a teenager on a dairy farm, since then has owned a snail farm, worked in different countries, including Greece looking after turtles, in South Africa where he met Winnie and Nelson Mandela and Kuwait. He worked as a teacher for 25 years and is now the Public Engagement Officer at Wisley where he manages the digital screens and schedules, gives daily talks, demonstrations and interactive sessions in the Hilltop Building at Wisley. In 2023, these talks attracted more than 16,000 attendees and often included seasonal props and content.
In his spare time, Jonathan runs a YouTube channel called EcoGeeko, the topic of which is trees.
Jonathan told the audience that there are 74,000 known species of trees of which 17,000 are threatened. He described how trees were a benefit, and how they can be a disservice as in allergies, the maintenance of them and falling leaves and making them safe (there are 4 ½ deaths per year by falling trees).
Jonathan gave a brief description of some of the many trees known to us.
Olive – Food, culture and more: They are slow growing and can be over a thousand years old. They bear fruit, beautiful little flowers as well as being felled for their wood. Known as ‘Food of the Gods’.
Theobrama Cacao: The Cocoa Beans from this tree are known for their bitter taste. When ground and mixed with sugar and milk they turn into the tasty chocolate we eat. The last Aztec emperor received taxes paid in cocoa beans. 3 beans would buy turkey eggs, 10 a rabbit and 100 a slave.
Rowan, Sorbus Aucuparia also known as Mountain Ash, Lady of the Mountain and Witch Wiggin Tree: The old saying is that a Rowan should be planted high up in the border in the garden to ward off evil spirits. The trees are good for birds and pollinators.
Catkins – Ament also known as Lambs Tails: These are wind pollinated and are popular with bees.
Douglas Fir – Pseudotsuga: This is the world’s largest and the most important tree. It was recorded as being 68.4m
Pinus Coulterii from North California also known as the Widowmaker as its cones can weigh 4.75kg should one fall on you it would kill you, hence its name. (Pictured here with Jonathan and Graham).
Pinus x holfordiana: Himalayan Pine. This tree has lovely scent.
Pinus Ayachuite first arose at the Westonbirt Arboretum owned and planted by the Holford Family in 1904. It has a sticky banana shaped cone.
King of the Forest is the Quercus known as the English Oak. The Boscobel Royal gets its name as King Charles II hid in the Oak at Boscobel to escape from the Roundheads. One of its descendants resides at Wisley.
Drimys Winterii : Bush Pepper, has a high level of vitamin C and was discovered by Drake in his travels in South America. His second captain Winter’s boat was stuck in the ice, and the crew were suffering from scurvy, the indigenous people told him to treat them with this tree. The peppers are very hot. The bark and leaves have an aromatic herbal quality.
Thuja Plicata: Western Red Cedar. This has a wonderful fruity smell and is high in vitamin C. Jacque Cartier was the first European to explore the Atlantic coast of Canada and is credited with naming Canada.
Hamamelis. Witch Hazel. Its name derives from the Greek hamas and melis. It flowers, fruit and next year leaf buds at once.
Jonathan concluded the evening by announcing that he will be running in The London Marathon on 26 April for his charity MND. He will donate the fee given to him this evening to the charity. The audience wished him well on his run.
The evening ended with Jonathan answering questions and the video of this evening will be online soon.
