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Category Archives: Blog

The Outdoor Room : How to increase your property value!

by George Smith / on 23rd August 2017 / in Blog, Gardens

The Outdoor Room : How to increase your property value!

A garden that is a genuine outdoor living space, rather than an overgrown jungle or kids’ playground, is not only a great feature to enjoy while you live in your home, it will also attract buyers when you’re ready to sell. It is generally understood that more than half of potential buyers will pay a premium for a home with a dedicated outdoor living space, whether it is in the form of a garden building or is open to the elements. Continue reading…

Going Wild About Flowers

by George Smith / on 21st August 2017 / in Blog, Gardens

‘Going Wild about Flowers!’

Plantlife, Europe’s largest charity dedicated to wild flowers and other flora recently launched the interactive Great British Wild Flower Hunt. This was in response to new research that reveals people across Great Britain are crying out to know more about wildflowers and get closer to nature.

The Hunt, which continues throughout the summer, is the UK’s first large-scale interactive guide to wild flowers. It offers everyone the opportunity to have fun and boost their botanical knowledge like never before. Continue reading…

Invasive Plants and their threat to Land Values

by George Smith / on 17th August 2017 / in Blog, Gardens, Invasive Plants, Tips

The names Japanese Knotweed, Giant Hogweed and Himalayan Balsam may not be too familiar to homeowners in Oxfordshire. Found across Summertown in Oxford, Witney, Banbury and Bicster, they are some of the most invasive and dangerous plants known to man that can wreak havoc, not only with your garden and the environment, but also with your home.  Left uncontrolled, it can push through brick walls, concrete floors, Tarmac and drainage systems. Continue reading…

GreenArt’s Charities of the Year

by Jo Smith / on 19th July 2017 / in Blog
We have teamed up with 2 fantastic charities to create the Kaleidoscope Garden at Oxford’s Helen & Douglas House and another to promote health, educate others & offer support to those suffering with Parkinson’s disease.

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Race to the Stones 2017

by Jo Smith / on 11th July 2017 / in Blog

After months of training and over 1200K covered across Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Wiltshire, we’re all set for Race to the Stones this weekend.

If you’d like to come out to support us, we’d love to see you so here’s where we reckon we’ll be during the course of the two days – give or take 30 minutes either side. Whether it’s a quick wave and shout out or you fancy jogging along or walking with us, it would be great to see you to help us keep going for 100K.

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Sleek and contemporary design for outdoor living

by George Smith / on 6th July 2017 / in Blog, Gardens

Sleek design, contemporary materials and a specific colour palette were used to create a feeling of space that brings this garden into the home.

When Nicola and Trevor moved into their new home, they had a very clear idea of how they wanted their garden to be transformed to allow them to enjoy it with friends and family all year round. With full length windows and glazed doors leading from the main living room, they wanted their new garden to feel like an extension to their beautiful, modern home while creating a dramatic look and a haven for wildlife. The brief was to combine hard and soft landscaping features within a clean and structured design while providing an informal and relaxed feel to the garden.

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Chelsea Flower Show 2017

by Jo Smith / on 13th June 2017 / in Blog, Gardens

Neither George or I could make it to the Chelsea Flower Show this year so we asked our client Nicola, who despite having recently broken her foot and being confined to a wheelchair, braved the crowds to give us her very own report. As a lady who knows what she likes, this is what she said.

“I thoroughly enjoyed my day at Chelsea (Trevor not so much as he had to wheel me around in my wheelchair all day, so he was rather exhausted)! To be quite honest I had hoped to see more inspirational gardens. Perhaps we’ve just been a bit spoilt with what you’ve done as there were a considerable amount of plants and flowers that we could tick off, as you’d already put them in our garden! So, no garden envy for me”. Continue reading…

Gardening: How it can benefit us and the environment!

by George Smith / on 9th May 2017 / in Blog, Gardens

With the 2017 Chelsea Flower Show coming to a close, there’s a lot going on in the media to encourage us to get out in our gardens. This may leave many 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?

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‘Gardening in a Changing Climate’ – what it means to Oxfordshire gardens

by George Smith / on 4th May 2017 / in Blog, Gardens

A new report from the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) highlights both the challenges and opportunities of gardening in a changing climate. The quintessentially British lush, green lawn that we have all grown up with, could become a thing of the past in the south of England if the findings of a new report from the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) becomes reality. There may also be a longer growing season in the north with new plant pests and diseases country becoming commonplace.

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Here comes the sun – where’s the rain?

by George Smith / on 28th April 2017 / in Blog, Gardens, Tips

According to the Met Office, this year has been one of the driest on record, with Oxfordshire and Berkshire seeing only five percent or less of the average rainfall for the whole of April. A new garden is an investment for the future, so it’s important to get it off to the best possible start, but one of the most common reasons for newly planted trees and shrubs to fail is lack of water. By making a commitment of time and attention early on, you can ensure the long-term health and quality of your garden.

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