Category Archives: Blog

Feeling hot, hot, hot…

Whilst August brought our gardens much needed rain after the longest heat wave on record since 1976, September is proving to be unseasonably warm and dry. As the amount of water our plants need increases, so does the scarcity of water and this is only set to worsen over the coming years. Scientists predict that due to climate change, the risk of extreme heatwaves is increasing across the world.

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A little help for those that need it in their Garden

My grandmother was a huge influence on my passion for gardening. I very fondly recall the long summer days spent alongside her and my parents at their shared allotment. Had you ever had the pleasure of visiting her, you wouldn’t have needed the exact address, you could have identified her front door by it being the one with the most pots and flowers and shrubs (and the odd garden gnome of course).

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Water, water, everywhere, but be sure to do it right!

We’re right in the middle of another Great British Summer so we of course should be expecting high temperatures and dry days. After a long, cold winter and a very late spring this year, the summer heat has been exceptional and even though you and I might be loving sitting out in the sunshine or preparing a steak for the barbeque, our gardens need to be managed at this time of year just as much as at other times.

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Top Garden Tips For May

May signals the start of a really exciting time in the garden. Every day brings new life to celebrate as new colours burst on the scene in our gardens, woodlands, countryside and hedgerow. In particular I love the incredible range and vibrance of the greens that are emerging and the way the vivid limes set off the subtle blues and purples, especially in our woodlands.

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Easter Wildlife

The weather may be trying hard to dampen the spirits, but it can’t hold back the inevitable arrival of spring for much longer. Easter is always an exciting time for the re-emergence of plant and animal life as well as the arrival of summer visiting birds. For those prepared to brave the elements at the weekend, here are some of the things to look out for.

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April in the garden – Carpe Diem

At last we’re starting to see and hear the signs of spring. Now the clocks have changed it seems that spring has finally sprung. Verges are golden with daffodils and the white blossom of the blackthorn is sprinkled along the hedgerow. Some early flowering cherries are starting to show their delicate blossom and the early morning songs of blackbirds, robins and song thrushes are there to greet us at daybreak. It’s enough to make you want to rise early and seize the day.

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Need to release some equity from your home? Know your options.

Having your garden professionally designed and landscaped is a long-term investment, that hopefully will add value to your home as well as improving the quality of your life. If you own your own home you may need to find an additional lump sum to make these improvements and might want to consider using the value of your home to release some money to do this. These days you have several options: a second-charge mortgage, an equity release mortgage or a simple remortgage. All are very different products and each needs to be seen as such.  Continue reading…

Gardening: How it can benefit both us and the environment!

Gardening: How it can benefit both us and the environment!

While the weather permits us there is no excuse not to get out in the garden, however, this still leaves some of us wondering what the benefits really are?

The truth is that the benefits of gardening really are endless and can be enjoyed by people of all ages. Gardening comes in many forms; from working on your own garden, to growing vegetables at school, to tending flower beds in your community. So what are the benefits? Here we list six major benefits to consider.

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