If you’re a gardener you’ve probably seen or heard of No Mow May. The organisation Plantlife promotes the scheme, which encourages gardeners or any lawn-custodians such as local councils, to put the mower in the shed for the whole month. This is to help the natural grasses and flowers flourish, and is also vitally important …
No Mow May – Give the mower a miss – your garden will thank you Read More »
One of the signals of summer that nature affords me every year is the arrival of Swifts after their admirable migration efforts from their winter holidays in Africa. They arrive in late Spring, exhausted and in need of a little recovery before they create their nests, raise their young and then depart with the waning …
This week, the weather is feeling warmer and more spring-like, and I certainly welcome the signs of new life in the garden. The bluetits are choosing their favourite nest box (they are a regular and welcome visitor to my garden) and sparrows have been spotted gathering nesting materials. There’s a great sense of anticipation, as …
When the Weather is so cold, it’s difficult to imagine Spring arriving with its green shoots and blossom. However it will return,so it is time to start garden planning for the year ahead. I’m going to divide this guide into three sections: flowers, fruit and veg, and wildlife. Flowers: Having a wide variety of flowering …
The RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch is held every January. With over 38 million birds lost since 1970, it’s vitally important that everybody plays a part in helping bird life to thrive in our gardens. Most people love to watch birds gather in their garden; but for many this means hanging fat balls or peanut feeders to …
The festive season would be somewhat soulless without the traditional plants of the season. Flowers, herbs, foliage, and spices which recall memories of Yuletides past, through sights, tastes and smells. The origins, history, and folklore of some of these traditional plants, though, might surprise you. Mistletoe (Viscum album) has long been revered as a symbol …
There are few sounds more peaceful than the sound of water, and when planning your garden, it is likely that you’ll want to consider ways of including water in your design. There are various benefits to adding water to your garden; some of which I’ll cover here. 1: The sensory appeal Water, whether running or …
Working with Water – How to incorporate water in your garden design. Read More »
“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose By any other name would smell as sweet” William Shakespeare Indeed, it would. But if you were to ask for ‘daisies’ at the garden centre, you could be after Mexican fleabane, Shasta daisies, Marguerites, Common daisies, Ox-eye daisies, or a host of other daisy-like plants. …
What’s In A Name – Binomials and why they matter to every gardener. Read More »
Since the creation of AstroTurf in the early 60’s for purely sports purposes, fake grass has unfortunately crept its way into many urban gardens. Offering apparent convenience and low maintenance, it’s purported by its manufacturers to be the ideal garden solution – however, as we are about to discover, the (fake) grass is not always …
Time For Turf – the (fake) grass isn’t always greener! Read More »
Being outdoors is one of the most suggested ways of alleviating stress; and for a very good reason – it works! Whether that be going for a walk in nature, growing your own food, or simply sitting and watching the world go by, being outdoors is possibly the easiest, most accessible and enjoyable way to …
Stress Free in Worcestershire – why there’s more to this county than sauce! Read More »
