Category Archives: Gardens

Why February feels special in the garden

After a long, frosty winter when most of the jobs in the garden are about tidying up and putting things to rest for a couple of months, February brings a sense of anticipation. Spring hasn’t yet emerged, but signs, in the form of snowdrops, crocus, hellebores and primroses give us the sense that it’s just around the corner waiting to happen. Here are a few of the things you can be doing in February that will make a difference for the rest of the year. 
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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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The Outdoor Room : How to increase your property value!

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

‘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

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…

Sleek and contemporary design for outdoor living

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

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!

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

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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