That's Christmas: Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

That's Christmas: Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!: Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from the team behind the That's Team of online magazines! We hope that you are able to get and to giv...

The National Trust reveals The Angel Garden at Mottisfont

The National Trust, the organisation dedicated to preserving the cultural and environmental treasures of the UK, has announced that a host of angels have taken up residence in the historic gardens of Mottisfont in Hampshire, as part of a unique Christmas sculpture trail.

The Angel Garden has been inspired by Mottisfont's original human-size mosaic angel, which lives in a leafy corner on the south side of the house. Created by renowned artist Boris Anrep in 1947, the face of the angel is that of the woman he loved - Mottisfont's charismatic owner, Maud Russell.

Now nine more artists have created their own very different angel sculptures to join Anrep's and form a trail around Mottisfont's beautiful grounds. Five of the angel sculptures at Mottisfont are new commissions created especially for the project which opened earlier this month.

Louise Govier, visitor experience and communities manager at Mottisfont said: "Working with the artists and seeing how they have interpreted the angel brief differently has been fascinating.

"Each has been influenced in different ways by the building, landscape and people at Mottisfont.

"Every angel is different in style, colour and size and will bring a special atmosphere to Mottisfont this Christmas. We hope visitors will feel enchanted and uplifted as they explore the gardens discovering these wonderful angels and that it puts them in the Christmas spirit."

Made of different materials, including wood, steel, thatching straw and acrylic, the eight artists have taken their inspiration from the surroundings, the history and the people who work at Mottisfont. One of the artworks to be seen for the first time is Ed Elliott's sculpture Greer (from the Celtic for 'watchful' or 'guardian') which is carved from London Plane timber sourced from the Mottisfont estate. It depicts a crouching human-size muscular bodied angel with a huge 14 ft. wingspan. The wing tips brush the earth as if he has just landed in the grounds behind the North Garden.

Ed Elliott, sculptor said: "This work questions the deeper psychological concept of the angel; the paradox between power and beauty, solidity and weightlessness, and the burden of existing as an immortal being."

Nigel Williams' steel Ferric Messenger angel rises from the waters of the famous River Test to greet visitors as they cross the bridge into the gardens.

The tubular body sports a halo, and wings that are studded with dozens of bolt heads - evidence of the artist's involvement in automotive design.

The finish, now a rich orange/brown sheen, is an important element of the sculpture, which has been partially rusted and will continue to change and develop during the exhibition.

In addition to the nine angels on the sculpture trail, there are also hundreds of tiny angels for children to find around The Angel Garden, and free creative activities designed for families.

FACTFILE::

The National Trust cares for 300 inspiring historic houses, gardens and winter gardens across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. From former workers' cottages to the most iconic stately homes, and from mines and mills to theatres and inns, the stories of people and their heritage are at the heart of everything it does. People of all ages, individuals, schools and communities get involved each year with its projects, events and working holidays and over 62,000 volunteers help to bring the properties alive for the Trust's 4 million members, who enjoy family days out at locations throughout the country. Find out more at: www.nationaltrust.org.uk.

Massive savings on garden sheds: York Timber Products Winter Sale is now on

Now is the time to ensure your garden furniture and tools are put away during the wet winter months, because if you don’t, come spring you will be disappointed to find they have gone mouldy or have been ruined by rust. York Timber Products are offering massive savings on garden sheds in their winter sale at http://www.yorktimberproducts.co.uk/

There’s nothing better than a garden shed for making your outdoor space neat and at York Timber Products garden sheds are currently on offer during the winter sale for as little as £169. There’s a wide choice of garden sheds, playhouses, cabins, dog kennels and even garden offices on offer – all in top grade timber, with clean & stylish designs.

As well as prices of hundreds of products in the main catalogue being reduced, York Timber Products, who are a family-run business, offer to make up custom designs, so you can get the perfect shed, kennel or playhouse to meet your needs.

Sharon Sutcliffe of York Timber Products says: “Garden tools and furniture can be expensive, so it’s important to look after them. We speak to people all the time who have found themselves having to replace garden chairs and rusty tools that have been left out in the elements in the rain and snow.

“As the snow is set to come soon, we want to remind people to find a home for their garden valuables sooner rather than later.”

Sales items include -

Tool share wooden garden shed – only £169
• Superior 12mm finish shiplap cladding :63x32 mm Heavy Duty Framing
• Double Doors
• Key Lock
• Tongue & Groove Floor & Roof (NOT the cheaper OSB Board)
• Factory Applied Treatment

9 Pane Log Lap Hobby House Garden Shed – only £539
• Attractive 9 Pane Opening Window
• Solid Ledged and Braced Door with Key Lock
• Superior 16mm finish Heavy Duty Log Lap Tongue &
Groove Cladding
• 63x32mm Heavy Duty framing
• Tongue & Groove Floor & Roof (NOT the cheaper OSB Board)
• Strong 40kg Green Mineral felt
• factory applied treatment (red cedar)
• Galvanised Fixings

FACTFILE:
From the Headquarters in York, this family-run company specialises in supplying quality timber buildings, play equipment and garages for customers across the Yorkshire region. Their focus is on providing a friendly, personal service has given York Timber Products a warm relationship with both their customers and other professionals within the trade.

All their summerhouses, playhouses, garden sheds and gazebos are expertly crafted at our on-site workshop using only the highest quality timber.

Being in control of the manufacturing process provides the further benefit of allowing York Timber Products to customise designs to meet individual requirements, so if you can’t find exactly what you're looking for,they can work together with you to develop the ideal solution for your garden.

York Timber Products Show sites can be found in –
Escrick, York, Hull, Harewood (Leeds) and Doncaster

Website: http://www.yorktimberproducts.co.uk/

Zeno Perfetti wins National Trust and London College of Garden Design competition

Zeno Perfetti

The National Trust and the London College of Garden Design are proud to announce the winner of the competition to design the National Trust Garden Collection showcase stand at Hampton Court Palace Flower Show 2012.

Open to 2010 and 2011 graduates of the London College of Garden Design, Zeno Perfetti’s impressive vision for the National Trust Garden Collection stand scooped the top prize.

Turning the design brief on its head, {{Perfetti showcases the National Trust Garden Collection within a garden setting, but adds a sense of drama and mystery}} by displaying the products as surreal sculptures.

“I wanted to create something unexpected” Perfetti explains, “in my design the products have become interesting, sculptural elements displayed on lawn or gravel areas enhanced by decorative, upright and coloured posts.”

On winning the competition, Perfetti said: "To create a garden space for the National Trust- a great British institution at Hampton Court Palace Flower Show-the largest flower show in the world is a dream project for me. I'm thrilled to be a part of the team."

Phillippa Green, Brand Licensing Manager at the National Trust said, “This garden is really exciting. By re-imagining the products in the National Trust Garden Collection range Perfetti makes us look again at everyday garden tools and showcases their design and craftsmanship.”

The garden – which includes products from Alitex Greenhouses, Gaze Burvill outdoor furniture, Oak Leaf Gates, Scotts of Thrapston Summerhouses and Westminster Stone - will be on display at Hampton Court Palace Flower Show in July.

FACTFILE:
Nine British companies came together in 2010 to form the National Trust Garden Collection, offering a range of gardening items from summerhouses to spades, sales of which generate income for the Trust’s conservation work including that of its gardens.

Each item in the Garden collection takes inspiration from the extensive gardens, buildings, collections and land in the National Trust’s care and all are produced using traditional crafts and techniques. Examples include Scotts of Thrapston Summerhouses who base its licensed designs on outdoor structures cared for by the Trust, including the converted garden building used by George Bernard Shaw to create many of his masterpieces; and Gaze Burvill who concentrate on traditional wood crafts seen at many National Trust places to design and produce garden furniture.
Find out more at http://www.nationaltrustgardencollection.co.uk/

The London College of Garden Design aims to offer the best professional garden design courses available in the UK. Launched in 2008 by three of the UK’s leading garden professionals, the London College of Garden Design one-year Garden Design Diploma classes take place in the Orangery conference facilities at the world famous Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Find out more at http://www.lcgd.org.uk/

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Great Christmas gift idea for the gardener in your life

A Christmas gift of a gardening course with some of the world’s best gardeners is just a click away as MyGardenSchool launches a unique online gift certificate

MyGardenSchool, the world’s first online gardening school, has today launched gift certificates for each of its 23 online gardening courses, just in time for Christmas. This makes it possible for people to buy an online gardening course as a gift right up until the moment they see their loved ones on Christmas Day.

The beauty of a course from MyGardenSchool is that the world’s most acclaimed gardeners teach students how to absolutely everything in the garden, from keeping bees or hens; landscaping and design; growing vegetables, herbs and the perfect roses; building treehouses and ponds; taking beautiful photographs, and everything in between. This makes is possible to find a gift for everyone, from the most discerning gardener to the keen gardening, design or photography enthusiast to someone simply looking for a great new hobby.

Those wishing to buy a gift certificate for loved ones simply need to choose the online gardening course they would like from the MyGardenSchool website and click through to the individual course page. In addition to a course overview, details about the course tutor and a taster video, visitors will find a ‘Gift this Course’ button. The button leads buyers through the very simple ordering and payment process, and provides a printable certificate with an online code that enables recipients to book any course to begin at a time that suits them.

All MyGardenSchool courses cost £120, last four weeks and begin on the first Saturday of every month. The beauty of the course being online is that students learn at their own pace, and in the comfort of their own home. Each course includes step by step video tutorials, downloadable course notes, and the facility to chat with tutors and fellow classmates online, in a ‘virtual classroom’. The classroom may be ‘virtual’ but the camaraderie is real, and the technology is very intuitive and easy to use.

All of the MyGardenSchool tutors are outstanding in their field (and gardens), being accomplished gardeners and acclaimed gardening writers. MyGardenSchool tutors include multi-gold medal winner at RHS Chelsea Flower Show, Andy McIndoe with courses in bulbs, shrubs and trees; Stephanie Donaldson, author and Gardens Editor of Country Living magazine with a course on organic gardening; leading garden designer and author, Hilary Thomas with a courses in planting design; photographer and author Sue Bishop with a course on flower photography; and John Brookes, prolific author who is often described as the world's most influential garden designer, with a course on garden and landscape design. The details of tutors, together with courses, can be found on the MyGardenSchool online gardening course pages.

FACTFILE:

MyGardenSchool Ltd is a unique global online horticultural classroom. Whether you want to grow organic veg, create enviable flower borders, nurture that perfect lawn, or simply give a good home to an egg laying chicken – MyGardenSchool offers a high quality range of gardening courses taught by some of the world’s top tutors and delivered right to your green fingertips. For more information, please go to the MyGardenSchool website

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Create Your Garden Vision at Tatton Park 2012

The RHS is calling on garden designers, landscapers, artists and architects to create an exclusive Visionary Garden for RHS Flower Show Tatton Park 2012. This category offers the chance to break the mould and go beyond commercial garden design by pushing boundaries and using horticulture as a medium of expression, installation and art.

Show Manager, Kris Hulewicz says: “The Visionary Gardens category encourages designers to have a strong creative imagination and the foresight to deliver gardens that provide both eye-catching beauty and intellectual inspiration.”

The designers chosen by the RHS Garden Selection Panel will receive financial support of £6,000. This can be used to pay for the garden or as a contribution towards the total cost. The gardens will then be judged at the show against RHS garden criteria and will be eligible for an RHS medal.

With extensive media coverage reaching millions of people, the RHS Flower Show Tatton Park is an ideal forum at which designers can showcase and promote their portfolio.

The deadline for the return of applications is 2nd December 2011 and successful applicants will be informed by mid-January 2012.

For more information on the Visionary Gardens category, please contact the RHS Flower Show Tatton Park Manager, Kris Hulewicz on 020 7821 3335 or email krishulewicz@rhs.org.uk If you would like an application form please email exhibitorapplications@rhs.org.uk

FACTFILE:

The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s foremost gardening charity, helping and inspiring millions of people to garden. We do this at our gardens and shows and through our scientific research, publications, libraries and our education and community programmes. We are entirely funded by our members, visitors and supporters.

RHS membership is for anyone with an interest in gardening. Support the RHS and secure a healthy future for gardening. For more information call: 0845 130 4646, or visit www.rhs.org.uk

RHS Registered Charity No. 222879/SC038262

New Garden and Landscape Design Work for cgd landscape design ltd. in Moscow Region

Having recently completed their first private garden in Rubliovka, Moscow, cgd landscape design ltd have been awarded a new contract for a 1 acre naturalistic woodland garden in the same region.

Sally Court and Helen Billetop, the designers, have gained considerable experience over the past five years in working in this inclement climate and have built up a vast knowledge of plants that will not only survive the extremes of heat and cold but will also provide a stunning display of colour over a long period.

One of their great successes was to seed a large area with a pictorial meadow mix of seeds developed by de Jager, the bulb specialists and the experts at the University of Sheffield. This display of flowers started in June and is still flowering in October, a longevity not known in this part of Russia.

It is a direct result of the creation of their first garden that this new project has been awarded. Their client is looking for a classic woodland retreat with glades, walks, naturalistic planting, wild flowers and views into the wider landscape. Both the designers, Sally and Helen are excited about this commission and are looking forward to the installation which will start in spring 2012.

A new landscape architecture and design practice brings together the creativity, expertise and experience of two of the UK's top garden designers, Helen Billetop and Sally Court, based in London, England

The practice specialises in providing a comprehensive and personalised landscape design service for private individuals and corporate clients in the UK and overseas.

With expertise in planting design across all climate zones and working with locally sourced materials and quality contractors, they are currently commissioned on several prestigious projects in the UK, Moscow, Russia and in New York State, USA.

"Our philosophy combines the functional with the artistic to create inspired and sustainable gardens and landscapes. We embrace local characteristics and conditions to develop landscape design solutions which are sympathetic and can be surprising in their simplicity," they told That's Gardening.

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Blue Peter Gardener, Chris Collins, joins MyGardenSchool to Create a Gardening Course for Children

Chris Collins becomes the latest gardening expert to join MyGardenSchool bringing outstanding expertise in horticulture for children

Perhaps the most famous face in children’s gardening, Blue Peter gardener Chris Collins, is working with MyGardenSchool to create a course on gardening for kids.

Aimed at parents and grandparents, teachers and youth workers, the course is designed to encourage the next generation of gardeners. Included in the four week online gardening course will be top gardening projects, how to grow vegetables, and top ten tips for gardening with children. The course will be available at the New Year, but it is possible to register your interest on the MyGardenSchool website now.

Chris Collins said: “There is something spiritual about our relationship with the garden, it’s a switch inside us that automatically turns on as soon as our fingers touch the soil. This is nowhere more apparent than when children nurture and grow plants. I have been working with children in the garden for six years, and I can honestly say that there isn’t a single child that’s not enjoyed it.”

As you might expect with Chris Collins at the helm, the course will be packed with engaging activity, exciting projects and practical approaches to gardening with children. “I’m really keen to get the message out about how easy it is to get kids involved in the garden, and perhaps more importantly, how very enjoyable it is – for both adults and children. That’s why I am so excited to be working with MyGardenSchool. As the courses are online it is possible for people everywhere to be able to access this information, and then get straight out in the garden with the kids and get their hands dirty.”

Gardening is increasingly being recognised as an activity of great educational and social value, and Chris is currently serving on a government committee, ‘The Growing Food in Schools Task Force’ which explores the growing importance of gardening in schools, and its academic influence.

Perhaps more than any other subject, gardening has an ability to draw together the threads of many different subjects across the curriculum. Take the example of creating a small garden for children. Children need to measure and survey the area (mathematics), identify the current flora and fauna (biology), draw the plan (art), prepare the ground (PE), work with others to realise the plan (PHSE) and finally nurture the plants (a key life skill) and witness first-hand the life cycle of plants (biology).

Duncan Heather, the Associate Director, MyGardenSchool and Principal, The Oxford College of Garden Design commented: “It is great to be working with Chris as he has so much energy and enthusiasm for gardening with kids. With over eight years’ experience of working with children, he really brings a unique blend of expertise and experience to the table – and this really makes for an excellent and compelling course. We are really proud to welcome him to MyGardenSchool, where we only have the best garden specialists on staff.”

Chris is not the only star tutor at MyGardenSchool. All of our tutors are outstanding in their field (and gardens), being accomplished gardeners and acclaimed gardening writers.

For example, we have multi-gold medal winner at RHS Chelsea Flower Show, Andy McIndoe with courses in bulbs, shrubs and trees; Stephanie Donaldson, author and Gardens Editor of Country Living magazine with a course on organic gardening; leading garden designer and author, Hilary Thomas with a courses in planting design; photographer and author Sue Bishop with a course on flower photography; and John Brookes, prolific author who is often described as the world's most influential garden designer, with a course on garden and landscape design. But that’s not all. Take a look at our course pages to see our other tutors.

MyGardenSchool is the world's first online gardening school where students can learn from gardening experts about how to do absolutely everything in the garden from keeping bees or hens, landscaping, design, growing vegetables and herbs, building treehouses or growing the perfect roses. And everything in between. Our courses are four weeks long, and video tutorials are delivered weekly, together with course notes and assignments that will be assessed by your tutor. You also get to chat to your tutor online, as well as your classmates, in the 'virtual classroom'. MyGardenSchool will teach you everything about gardening – virtually.

About Chris Collins

In a career that spans 27 years, Chris Collins has worked in gardens throughout the world, including the Royal Botanical Gardens, Edinburgh, Limbe Botanic Garden (Cameroon), Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and Westminster Abbey, where Chris was head gardener. He also worked as a British horticultural specialist at the Mitsukoshi department store in Tokyo. For the last 10 years, Chris has been involved in a number of TV projects including his on programme on BBC2 The Plantsman, and appearances as a garden expert in many other shows including The Chelsea Flower Show, Hampton Court Flower Show, Gardeners’ World , This Morning, Castle in the Country, Garden invaders, BBC Breakfast, Digging for Victory, GMTV , A Garden for London, Garden Rivals, Secret Gardens, Hard Sell, Garden Challenge, Turf Wars and of course, Blue Peter. In addition to his work with Blue Peter, Chris visits schools and undertakes projects with children up and down the country through his affiliations with charities such as the Royal Horticultural Society and School Food Matters. Chris has been awarded the Duke of Edinburgh medal for his services to horticulture, and in 2008 was part of the team that won a silver medal at Chelsea with 'The Garden That Kids Really Want.’

FACTFILE:
MyGardenSchool Ltd is a unique global online horticultural classroom. Whether you want to grow organic veg, create enviable flower borders, nurture that perfect lawn, or simply give a good home to an egg laying chicken – MyGardenSchool offers a high quality range of gardening courses taught by some of the world’s top tutors and delivered right to your green fingertips. For more information, please go to the MyGardenSchool website, or visit the MyGardenSchool blog.

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LoveTheGarden awards £200 for Tastiest Tomato Recipe

LoveTheGarden.com will give a £200 restaurant voucher to the blogger who comes up with the most ravishing recipe based on fresh tomatoes. To be in a chance to win this appetizing prize or one of three cookbooks by James Ramsden, people must write a blog post about the Taste for Tomatoes competition including their most cherished tomato recipe and email the URL of the post to entries@lovethegarden.com before 19th October 2011.

The judge will be James Ramsden, author of the cookbook Small Adventures in Cooking and the popular food blog www.JamesRamsden.com. He will especially be looking for surprising recipes that bring out the unique flavour of fresh tomatoes.

Fresh tomatoes are extremely versatile – they can be used in salads, salsas, soups, sandwiches and many other dishes. Bloggers are allowed to include all tomato varieties in their recipes, from big beef tomatoes to sweet cherry toms and from the Yellow Roma to the Russian Black. Each type of tomato has its own unique flavour and texture and the aim of the competition is to find a recipe that brings out the best in the tomato of your choice.

The Taste for Tomatoes competition is LoveTheGarden’s third culinary contest this year. They are organizing these competitions in order to make vegetables more popular in the British Kitchen. The Creative with Cabbage competition was won by blogger Karolina with her Cabbage & Mushroom Pasties. David Hall won the Potty for Potatoes competition with his Hot potato, bacon and nasturtium salad.

For more details and terms and conditions of entry, visit the vegetable garden competition page at LoveTheGarden.com.

UK Top Tree Consultant Advises on 1,500 year old Heritage Tree Under Threat in Palestine

An irreplaceable 1,500 year old ancient olive tree is set to become the latest casualty of the ongoing land dispute on the West Bank near Jerusalem. Too many large mature trees are being destroyed around the world so one of the UK’s top tree consultants Jeremy Barrell has created a method of identifying heritage trees that are at risk.

This format was created originally for use by his clients of the Barrell Treecare Consultancy, for identifying specimen trees in New Zealand. This method enables even a relatively inexperienced person to fill in a questionnaire and from the score each answer receives, determines the tree heritage potential, and if so, should it receive special attention to protect it.

The ancient tree 1,500 year-old olive tree, located in the Palestinian village of Al Walaja, is within metres of the proposed route of the West Bank Barrier, a large construction project that is installing a new 8m tall concrete wall. If the wall is installed, the construction of its foundations and buffer zone will cause such significant damage to the tree that it is unlikely to survive.

Jeremy Barrell (www.barrelltreecare.co.uk), has been asked by the tree’s, nearest resident, Abu Waji, whose land is within the crown spread of the tree, to assess the heritage value of this unique specimen. Jeremy, an expert in managing sensitive trees and the designer of the TreeAH method of assessing heritage value (www.TreeAZ.com), has identified this tree as one of the highest scoring trees he has ever evaluated.

Jeremy explained: “Wherever you go in the world, there are three heritage characteristics that always crop up; visibility, scientific importance and cultural value. Our method (TreeAH) scores each of these, which are added up to indicate how important the tree is in a national context. The maximum possible score for any tree is 20 heritage points, and this tree has hit that maximum; it is not possible to find a more important heritage tree!

“I put the information on “How to identify a heritage tree” on our web site for all to use free of charge to allow ordinary people to make an informed judgement to decide if a tree should be protected or not, as I care about trees,” explained Jeremy.

Many poor communities cannot afford professional help of a skill arboriculture advisor but this chart is proving useful. I do not get involved in the local politics but have provided a standard that all trees can be judged and then those that are considered worthy of protection have an accepted standard to argue their case."

Jeremy, who specialises in protecting vulnerable urban trees during development, knows all too well how sensitive such old trees are from his work on some of the most demanding London projects: “Ancient trees are just like old people, they are particularly vulnerable to changes around them, and for trees, even the smallest disruption in their rooting environment can tip them into an irreversible spiral of decline. Our experience is that protecting sensitive roots from being cut and preventing soil compaction, which indirectly kills roots, are essential priorities during construction. For such an ancient olive, if appropriate measures are not put in place to protect it during and after the wall construction, then its destruction is inevitable.”

Jeremy goes on to explain: “The problem with such old trees is that it is hard to put a cash value on their cultural importance; generations of people will have benefited from this tree’s shade, eaten its fruit and used it as a focal point for social gatherings. The tree is the direct link with those people, unique because it is a living witness to those events and irreplaceable because these links with the past can never be re-forged. There are so few of these ancient living relics left and they are being lost so quickly that each remaining tree becomes increasingly precious and worthy of special protection. Such a high scoring individual is right at the top of the heritage tree; I just hope that its immense cultural value will be recognised and it is saved.”

“I am pleased that my method is now being widely used around the world as a standard and I am hoping that the Arboriculture Association will incorporate many of my findings into the new regulations that they are planning to produce shortly. I care about protecting specimen trees for future generations and following the high number of times this has been down loaded shows how people care about trees. I am planning to have it available in several other languages including Chinese and Spanish so my heritage tree quantifier chart will be readily available for immediate use world-wide, free of charge.”

Young Offenders Triumph in Prison Garden Competition

Green-fingered prisoners from Young Offender Institution (YOI) Thorn Cross, in Cheshire, are celebrating having been selected by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) as winners of the Windlesham Trophy 2011, for best kept prison garden in England and Wales. It is only the second male young offender institution to win the award.

RHS President, Elizabeth Banks, presented the Windlesham Trophy, a redundant ‘Green Goddess’ Fire Engine bell, at an Award Ceremony held at the prison last Wednesday (24 August). Participating prisoners were also given a certificate acknowledging their assistance.

Thirty young male prisoners look after the gardens at YOI Thorn Cross. This includes a large conservation area which is a haven for butterflies and numerous insects and birds, a main pond that is shared by newts and ducks and an animal shelter. They also manage bedding displays and a range of poly tunnels where a variety of fruit and vegetables are grown for internal use within the main kitchens, thus reducing the cost of buying food and products.

John Platt, Head of Learning and Skills for Thorn Cross, says: “Winning Windlesham is a real achievement both for staff and prisoners, the gardens are a delight to walk around and have improved the life of the whole prison.  The importance of wellbeingness is enhanced by the many different gardens throughout, adding to a safer and more positive environment for all in the prison.

“The work done over the past year by the gardens team has benefited everyone in the prison, from creating a more positive environment, better sports fields, to the homegrown produce that is used within the prison and staff kitchens, adding to healthier and more cost-effective diet.”

RHS Judge, Michael Hickson, says: “The prison garden at Thorn Cross really stood out for us this year for a number of reasons.   The first impression was the bedding displays which were utterly stunning. The ‘young adults’ also manage the trees and shrubs very skilfully; pruning, thinning and shaping under guidance and there is a splendid wildflower meadow and pond, home for amphibians, butterflies, insects and mammals.

“They’re a great bunch of lads who regularly help local charities and schools.  For example, the prison is often given old garden tools, sometimes handle-less, and as part of their training the ‘young adults’ clean them, put new handles on and make them look like new.   They then donate them to local charities and schools so if you ever see a garden tool with a label saying ‘Renovated by Thorn Cross’ you will know where it has come from!”

At the ceremony, Elizabeth Banks also met up with Yvette Blake, Head Mistress of The Cobbs Infant and Nursery School, which works in partnership with Thorn Cross.

Horticulture forms an important part of the resettlement agenda at Thorn Cross, giving prisoners the opportunity to obtain industry-recognised qualifications (National Proficiency Tests Council) not only in gardening skills but also in the use and care of horticultural machinery. 

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Christmas present ideas from the RHS

From beginners and experts, to people who love wildlife and people who love being pampered; the RHS has the perfect Christmas gift for gardeners of all ages and interests.

For the new gardener…

• RHS Complete Gardener’s Manual: A definitive, practical guide to gardening, containing all of the techniques, inspirational ideas and problem-solving advice you need to create and maintain your garden. £20.00 (ISBN 9781405365833)

• Gold Leaf Winter Touch Gloves: Endorsed by the RHS, these gloves are designed to keep your hands warm and dry, with a Thinsulate ¾ thermal lining and an innovative, waterproof, breathable Ski-Dri lining. £21.99

• RHS Membership: Free days out at more than 80 gardens, special access or discounted tickets to RHS flower shows, personal gardening advice from the RHS experts and a monthly magazine subscription all offer you a wealth of inspiration and expertise to get any garden blooming. RRP £49.00 (www.rhs.org.uk/gift)

For the experienced gardener…

• RHS Encyclopedia of Perennials: The definitive, practical guide to choosing, planting and combining herbaceous perennials, and an essential tool for all gardeners. £22.00 (ISBN 9781405334310)

• RHS Chelsea Flower Show: Be inspired by the world’s best garden designers, nurseries, florists and garden product companies at the catwalk of the gardening world. 22 – 26 May 2011. Tickets on sale from early October (www.rhs.org.uk/flowershows)

• RHS Mini Colour Chart: An indispensible reference for anyone wanting to identify and communicate plant colours. This chart, containing 244 colours chosen to represent the broad spectrum of colour, allows for easy planning and standardisation of plant collections and colour schemes. £26.00

For the wildlife lover…

• Wildlife Gardening for Everyone: Full of expert advice from the RHS and the Wildlife Trusts, discover the many benefits of gardening for wildlife, both for your garden and for you. £12.99 (ISBN 9781845250904)

• RHS Wild in the Garden Diary 2012: Beautifully illustrated with photographs of birds, mammals, amphibians and insects that may be found in gardens, plus tips on how to manage your garden to enhance the wildlife potential and thereby add interest and enjoyment. £12.99

• Sarcococca hookeriana var. digyna ‘Purple Stem’: One of the RHS Perfect for Pollinators collection of plants, this shrub has sweetly scented, creamy white flowers in winter, followed by rounded, blue-black berries. £12.99 (2 litre pot).

For the kids…

• RHS Garden Bugs Ultimate Sticker Book Find all kinds of creepy-crawlies that live in your garden with this informative and fun sticker book. Choose from more than 60 reusable, easy-peel stickers to create your own busy garden bugs scene. £3.99 (ISBN 9781405314787)

• RHS Chelsea Flower Show jigsaw puzzle: 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle featuring a collage of the best and most beautiful gardens from the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. £14.99

• RHS How Does My Garden Grow?: Learn to grow plants for food and be inspired by other fun-packed projects, like turning tomatoes into pizza toppings or growing your own loofah. £9.99 (ISBN 9781405362627)

For the Grow Your Own-er…

• RHS Allotment Journal: The Expert Guide to a Productive Plot: Find out how to get the most from your plot, then cook up the produce. With storage advice and timely recipes for abundance and gluts, this book will keep you on top of an active plot. £12.99 (ISBN 9781845335595

• RHS Root Vegetables Metal Wall Sign: Handmade in the UK, this enamelled metal wall sign will brighten up any wall in your house with an image taken from the RHS Lindley Library collection. Measures 40 x 30cm. £10.99

• Hampton Court Palace Flower Show: Packed with ideas for fruit and veg lovers, this show is a must for gardeners who grow their own. See spectacular plants and produce in the Growing Tastes Marquee, and a wealth of inspiration from the productive gardens on show. Tickets on sale from early October. www.rhs.org.uk/flowershows

For the glamorous gardener…

• RHS Cotton Shawl: This beautifully soft, 100% cotton shawl is printed with original forget-me-not artwork by Caroline Maria Applebee (c1800 – 1850). £21.00

• RHS Flower Show Tatton Park: As the North’s greatest garden party, this show is perfect for gardeners who want a little pampering. Flowers, floristry and tea at Fortnum & Mason make for a full day of indulgence. Tickets on sale from early October www.rhs.org.uk/flowershows

• RHS Natural Gardener's Therapy Relaxing Bath Soak: Part of the new, luxurious range of RHS Gardener’s Therapy products, this soothing fragranced bath soak is enriched with extracts of cucumber and almond protein, to help cleanse, tone and moisturise the skin. £12.99

• Hunter RHS Wellington Boot: Made with the gardener in mind, these boots were designed especially for the RHS, using original artwork from the RHS Lindley Library. The upper is of vulcanised natural rubber construction, built on an orthopaedic last for the legendary Hunter fit. £65.00

Visit www.rhs.org.uk/shopping for full details about these products and many more, and find a great gift for the gardener in your life.

David Austin OBE, The English Roses

Although roses did not originate in England, there is something quintessentially English about the rose. And if you want to learn all about the best types of roses that are available, the best kinds for your garden, how you can care for them, even which varieties you should not attempt to grow, then The English Roses, the latest book by renowned rose growing expert David Austin, is the very book for you.

The book is a large format hardback book of some 320 pages and is sumptuously illustrated with photographs of roses that are so pin sharp in detail that one feels one should be able to breathe in their gorgeous scents! 

But this is no coffee table book to be idly leafed through one in a while and forgotten about! No. For although it is a beautiful and truly handsome book it is also a rose encyclopaedia, containing a wealth  of knowledge on the history of roses, how they can be planted and tended, how to set roses plants to their best advantage, etc.

The beautiful rose gardens in the book are to be found at the David Austin Roses centre in Albrighton, which is nestled in the beautiful countryside of Shropshire, adjacent to the Cosford Aerospace Museum, not far from Wolverhampton. By the way, if you do visit David Austin's rose garden, do not forget to visit the tea shop for some home-made cake, and be ready for some serious rose buying!

The book is published by Conran Octopus at £30.

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Evergreens completes Big Brother house garden for fifth year

Evergreens has announced it has completed the garden for the Big Brother house for the fifth year running. The new series of Big Brother launches on Channel 5 at 9pm on the 18th August, and will mark a huge television event, with a large amount of National TV coverage.

Evergreens created the new Big Brother garden installing 300 square metres of Wonder Yarn 36mm grass product. The area will mainly be used for the new housemates to complete their weekly tasks and as a chill-out area the rest of the time.

Interestingly, half the new garden has been covered with daylight tubes to ensure some light gets through. This the is the fifth year that Evergreens has been involved in the creation of the Big Brother garden, which serves as a focal point for a lot of the show's action.

Andy Driver, marketing manager, Evergreens UK, commented: "It is fantastic to be involved once again with this iconic TV show. The artificial grass has proved to be a very successful addition to the house for the previous four seasons being soft, durable and practical making it ideal to cope with the housemates' fun and games. This year we have used one of our brand new LazyLawn products, with its Wonder Yarn recovering technology.

"The response to our work has been fantastic in previous years with our artificial grass being used more and more in gardens and landscaping projects throughout the UK."

FACTFILE:

Evergreens UK Ltd are an independent family built company established over 25 years, supplying and installing synthetic grass and flooring for a wide range of industries.

Evergreens UK are the UK's largest stockist of artificial grass surfaces and have a highly valued reputation within the european industry having pioneered the development of artificial grass for landscaping applications in the UK over 20 years ago.

Evergreens UK have developed working relationships with only leading worldwide yarn manufacturers who share our principles for quality, service, value and ethical behaviour.

As a company Evergreens UK is built on quality, providing clients with an unparalleled service and product range. Evergreens UK constantly develop and introduce new and innovative products to the market place and have completed thousands of projects for worldwide companies, individual clients and prestigious events.

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Stocktake leads to massive sale at Cannock Gates

Due to a recent stock take the UK’s top gate maker, Cannock Gates Ltd are holding a Stock Clearance sale which is offering a massive 33% off some of their popular styles of gates and railings. There is also 33% off selected garden products on the sister company Cannock Gardens website www.cannockgardens.com

Items included in the stock clearance sale are wooden gates, wrought iron style gates, wooden posts, steel posts, wrought iron style railings, gardener’s tool sheds, gazebos, trellis and garden arches, veg beds and planters, plus many more selected product ranges listed on their website.

The offers are only available until stocks runs out, so don't will lose out! You can visit the website www.cannockgates.co.uk to view the range of products on offer. Products available in the sale will be highlighted in green on the product size selection, alternatively you can call the sales team on 01543 462 500 to place your order and quote AUG33. Due to the limited sizes available please ensure you have your measurements ready before calling.

Information about the offers and full terms and conditions are available to view at:
http://www.cannockgates.co.uk/summer-stock-clearance/

LovetheGarden love your spuds!

LovetheGarden, your online gardening experts, are delighted to announce the second of their popular vegetable garden competitions, after a fantastic response to our launch a few months ago.

In February, they ran an online competition to find your best cabbage recipes to celebrate this often ignored and much maligned vegetable. The prize was a £200 meal for two at a restaurant of the winner’s choice, anywhere in the UK. The response was amazing, with some innovative and delicious recipes for everything from a modern twist on cabbage soup through to our winning entry, melt in the mouth cabbage and mushroom pasties. The winning entry was by Karolina, posted on the Senses in the Kitchen blog. The recipe is now a firm favourite with the staff at LovetheGarden, and you can find details of how to make Karolina’s pasties at www.sensesinthekitchen-Karolina.blogspot.com.

Competition time
This month’s competition features a vegetable we all take for granted – the potato. This stable of the western diet is bashed, mashed, chipped and roasted almost every day in kitchens across the UK, so we’re sure you’ve got some secret family recipes for potato dishes that you want to share with the world. To pay homage to this family favourite, they’re offering another prize of a meal for two worth £200 to the winning entry of this month’s competition.

Growing potatoes is easy and, as the price of spuds spirals up in the shops, growing vegetables like potatoes for yourself makes good economic sense. Picked fresh from the garden, these delicious vegetables also pack a punch in vitamin C and other essential nutrients. Rather than just deep frying them, roasting them in the oven or mashing them with butter, they want to know what you do with your potatoes to give them that extra something special.

Rewarding culinary creativity
“The potato is so familiar to everyone that we tend to take it for granted,” says George Hope from the LovetheGarden team. “So we want to celebrate the spud in all its forms, from sweet baby new potatoes right up to main crop Maris Pipers. If you’ve got a recipe for potatoes, we want to see it, and we’ll reward your creativity and culinary expertise with a celebratory meal for two in your favourite restaurant. Of course, potatoes will be on the menu!” he adds.

The closing date for entries is August 16th 2011, so if you’ve got a special potato recipe, whether it’s an old family favourite or a brand new culinary creation, post it up on your blog and let LovetheGarden know. Every few months there’s a new featured vegetable and a chance to win that £200 meal for two, so get blogging!

For more details and terms and conditions of entry, visit the vegetable garden competition page at LovetheGarden.com

London College of Garden Design celebrates Garden Design Diploma success with new online gallery

The London College of Garden Design celebrated student success this week when the Garden Design Diploma class of 2011 graduated. At the same time the College has launched a new interactive gallery on its website which their graduates will be able to use over the coming year to promote their services.

Founded by three of the UK’s top gardening professionals, the College prides itself on having some of the freshest and the best design teaching available.

The Director of Garden Design Studies Andrew Wilson said “This year’s student’s have completed a wide range of projects that test the breadth and scale of skills needed for a successful garden design career. The final project is a major garden or landscape design that the student chooses themselves and are often live projects that launch their career. The new graduate gallery is an ideal way to showcase their hard work.”

This year 4 distinctions were awarded with Ruth Ayoubi receiving the College prize for an outstanding final project and Fiona Silk being awarded the prize from this year’s guest examiner Cleve West who came fresh from his Best Show Garden success at the Chelsea Flower Show.

Cleve addressed the class of 2011 reminding them not to forget the skill of hand drawing alongside the computer skills that they have gained and are now the industry norm.

This is the last year that the Diploma will be taught from Regents Park as from September 2011 the London College of Garden Design one-year Garden Design Diploma classes will take place in the Orangery conference facilities at the world famous Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Founding Director Andrew Fisher Tomlin pointed out: “Our success is down to a unique combination of talents and teaching that students are finding to be a compelling reason to study with us. Our move to Kew Gardens will underscore that success and we look forward to an inspiring first year in our new location.”

FACTFILE:
The London College of Garden Design aims to offer the best professional garden design courses available in the UK. Launched in 2008 by three of the UK’s leading garden professionals, from September 2011 the London College of Garden Design one-year Garden Design Diploma classes will take place in the Orangery conference facilities at the world famous Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

In keeping with their vision to offer the best garden design training available, their new teaching facilities are world class and provide a quiet haven for study in the middle of one of the world's leading botanic gardens.

Courses

The Diploma course programme runs with two days contact time per week plus personal study time over a period of 34 weeks, divided into three academic terms. Through lectures, studio work and practical on-site training students are taken through foundation skills to professional design communication skills. As well as design and plant skills students will be equipped with business and construction skills to support their business aspirations. All teaching staff will be practitioners in their particular field enabling students to learn from their experience as well as their teaching.

Short courses for both the recently qualified garden designer and continuing professional development for established designers, are also offered by the College. An individually tailored tutoring service is also available.

www.lcgd.org.uk

Fiskars at Glee 2011

Fiskars will be showcasing the star of the first TV ad campaign for a garden hand tools company - the Fiskars Weed Puller. With double expected sales, Fiskars is keen to work with retailers as it plans two further TV campaigns for 2012.

Continuing its ‘Garden Tools: Reinvented’ theme, Fiskars is previewing a host of new products including QuikDrill™, a manual drill reinvented for a host of garden tasks. It’s a long handled tool with three choices of blade, so holes can be drilled standing up without putting pressure on the back. It’s perfect for bulb planting, creating holes for large plants and even drilling holes for fence posts. A versatile tool that combines clever thinking, ergonomics and great design.

The recent cold winters have left some consumers unprepared for snow. Bringing its wealth of knowledge of the white stuff to the UK, retailers can see top quality snow tools designed to last a lifetime.

Fiskars Aluminium Snow Spade is the perfect companion to dig the car out after a night of heavy snow fall, or kept in the boot of the car for people who like to venture out in the snow. This multi-use spade weighs less than 500 grams and floats on water. The durable aluminium scoop guarantees high tensile strength, while the hexagonal shape of the shaft ensures a good grip even when used in snow or water.

To clear larger surfaces like pavements or driveways, Fiskars’ lightweight Snow Sledge simply makes life a little easier. The sharp profile cuts into the snow, while the broad handle with a calculated angle for comfort ensures easy manoeuvring without causing extra muscle strain. The wide scoop of 720mm enables most paths to be cleared in one go, which allows for extra time to give the kids a spin on the sledge for fun.

Also on show will be extensions to the QuikFit™ multi-headed range. These include a fruit picker with a V-shaped construction, so the fruit is cut away from the stem to delicately fall into the bag. Additional shafts and other heads bring the range up to a selection of over 50 heads – the most comprehensive on the market.

A spokesperson said: “We look forward to welcoming you to Fiskars Stand 5A10/B11 during GLEE 2011.”

A Fifth of Britons Now ‘Growing Their Own’ To Save Money

New research from the UK’s top discount website has revealed that many Britons are turning to ‘growing their own’ in order to save money; with one in five Brits admitting to now growing their own food produce.

It seems that many Britons are now turning to ‘the good life’ in order to save money, with 22% now admitting to ‘growing their own’ in order to keep the grocery bills down, according to new research.

The study, conducted by www.MyVoucherCodes.co.uk, polled, 1,221 Britons aged 18 and over as part of research into the grocery shopping habits of people around the UK; with focus on how people were adapting their shopping habits in order to save money.

According to the results, 22% of those taking part claimed to be ‘growing their own food produce’; with the vast majority, 79%, explaining that they had done so in order to ‘save money on grocery bills’.

What’s more, just over two thirds, 67%, of those who admitted to ‘growing their own’ food said that they had started doing so within the past 12 months.

When asked to specify where exactly they had begun ‘growing their own’ food produce, over half, 53%, claimed to be doing so in their own garden; whilst a quarter, 25%, had access to a plot or allotment. In contrast, 17% admitted that they had access to someone else’s land, where they were growing their own food produce.

The fifth of respondents taking part in the study who admitted that they were ‘growing their own’ food produce were asked to specify what exactly they focussed on growing. Respondents were able to choose multiple answers, according to what they were growing, and the top five results were as follows:

1) Herbs- 31%

2) Potatoes- 28%

3) Strawberries- 26%

4) Carrots- 21%
5) Tomatoes 19%

Total respondents to the study were asked if they felt their grocery bills had risen within the past year; to which the majority, 61%, of respondents answered ‘yes’. Furthermore, a quarter, 24%, of the Britons taking part in the study admitted that they had switched their supermarket within the past year in an attempt to save money on grocery bills.

Mark Pearson, chairman of MyVoucherCodes.co.uk, commented on the findings: “It’s interesting to see what measures Britons have taken to in an attempt to save money on groceries, particularly those who have switched supermarkets or taken to growing their own fruit and veg. Growing your own can be a great way to save money on grocery bills, and providing you have the room to do so, can be a fun way to get more involved with the food produce you eat.”

He went on to say: “We’d recommend that anyone looking to start growing their own fruit or veg gets some proper advice before tackling it, in order to minimise the chances of a gardening disaster. Money spent on tools and seeds can be wasted if plants aren’t properly taken care of, so make sure your money saver doesn’t become a money waster!”

www.MyVoucherCodes.co.uk 

FACTFILE:

Mark Pearson, chairman of MyVoucherCodes is a regular media contributor regarding online shopping and the credit crunch. At 30, his personal worth is over £60 million. Mark was previously a trainee chef working for Gordon Ramsay at Claridges, London.

Mark appeared as a ‘Secret Millionaire’ in the series on Channel 4, in which he donated £115,000 of his own money to worthy causes.

MyVoucherCodes has had sales exceeding £600 m in the last year

Consumer savings on online shopping via MyVoucherCodes.co.uk up from £52m in 2009 to £65m in 2010.

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National Trust reveals £3.5 million investment results at Hidcote Manor

The National Trust has announced that a restored semi-tropical plant house, a bathing pool and a summerhouse mural are just some of the results of 10 years of hard work and £3.5 million investment at Hidcote Manor garden in the Gloucestershire countryside.

The National Trust has now officially completed a major phase of reinstating many of the key historic structures in this world-famous garden due to the efforts and support of a very generous anonymous donor, who matched every pound raised by the Trust up to a wonderful £1.6 million.

Created by American-born horticulturist Major Lawrence Johnston, Hidcote is reputedly one of the most inventive and influential gardens of the 20th Century.  His creation was built around outdoor 'rooms' linked by views and design features clearly influenced by the fashionable 'Arts and Crafts' style.

However, elements of the 10 acre garden fell into disrepair during the 1950s and as a result, 10 years ago, the National Trust set itself a target to recreate Hidcote as Johnston envisaged it and planned it.

National Trust gardeners and volunteers have spent an entire decade researching and piecing together Johnston's original plans for his Cotswolds garden, putting in many thousands of hours of work  into reinstating  former structures and garden rooms which formed part of Johnston's vision, with 'habitats' ranging from high alpine to the sub-tropical.

The Head gardener at Hidcote, Glyn Jones (EDITOR: What a fantastic gig for a dedicated gardener!) who led the team working on the project, said: "This has been a huge undertaking but one that we're very proud of.  We really feel we have managed to bring Johnston's vision back to life.  Visitors will be able to imagine Johnston and his guests enjoying the gardens, tennis courts and bathing pool back in the 1920s, '30s and '40s as they wander around."

In Hidcote's new incarnation, Johnston's unique plant house has been given a new lease of life. It is once again filled with semi tropical plants such as citruses - orange and lemon - Fuchsias, South African Plumbago, Begonias and Oleanders.  Fully glazed in the winter, in the summer the plant house was designed to have the panels along the front removed, turning it into a truly wonderful

floral arcade.

Mike Calnan, head of gardens and parks at the National Trust, said: "Hidcote is one of the most famous and important 20th Century gardens in Europe.  It is of particular importance to the Trust because it is the first property acquired purely on merit for its garden.

"The team has done a fantastic job in turning the garden around, reinstating many structures, lost features and installing behind-the-scenes services to make it easier to maintain.

"Painstaking research has also been put into tracking down the plants Johnston used and reinstating former beds and planted areas.  We may never know exactly how he arranged these to create the celebrated 'Johnston' style, but our challenge over the coming years is to move even closer towards that vision of perfection."

Mike Beeston, property manager at Hidcote, said: "With Hidcote already attracting 150,000 every year, we hope the completion of the restoration will inspire new visitors to take a look - and also to inspire past visitors to visit again." 

(EDITOR: This is part of the reason why my wife and I are National Trust members. To find out how to join visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk)

Transform your garden

Having enjoyed some early good weather, now is the time  to plan and prepare your garden so you can really take advantage of the lighter nights and warmer weather through July and August. 

Functionality has become increasingly important for the garden with more and more people making it a space that works for the family and lifestyle beyond just a lawn, flowers and plants. Viewing the garden as an extension to your home and creating outdoor living spaces can give you new ‘open air rooms’ in which to entertain, dine and  relax.  Adding extra dimensions to your garden can also add value to your home.

The range and choice of products and materials available to create your outdoor living spaces is vast,  ranging from natural wood decking, natural and manmade paving, fences and walling to gazebos, pergolas, water features and lighting.  

Michael Bandy, Product Manager from builder’s merchants, Travis Perkins, which has a branch locally, offers some top tips on creating your perfect landscape for the summer months and beyond.

First things first, decide how you want to use your outdoor space and best locations for activities.  For example, you may want to position your BBQ area close to the kitchen door, a children’s play area away from the sun or a tranquil retreat in the remotest part of the garden.  This will help you create your ‘outdoor’ rooms.    

Next, decide what type of garden do you want – formal, informal, high or low maintenance.  It’s worth considering this beforehand as it will impact on  the shapes of paving, paths, patios and walls you design and your choice of materials. Materials such as decking, paving and aggregates are low maintenance solutions and look great. 

Take into account your style of house.  A beautiful country cottage wouldn’t suit a contemporary Zen space!  Create balance and flow from your home through to your garden. 

Employ an expert tradesman to help with planning, design and build.  Getting it right first time can save you money in the long term and enhance as well as add value to your property.  

Remember, the majority of installation costs are usually in the ground preparation and labour. Opting for the best quality paving won’t significantly increase the overall cost of your project, so choose the best product you can afford as it will last longer.

For more information about garden landscaping, visit  your local Travis Perkins branch and take a look at their landscaping display, which offers you a preview of what is achievable using some of the most popular landscaping products.  Or you can visit their website to find out more about the range of products and materials available to support your landscaping project.

More information can be found by visiting the website www.travisperkins.co.uk

Have you seen this caterpillar?

The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) and the Food and Environment Research Agency (FERA) are calling on gardeners to help the RHS map the whereabouts of box tree caterpillar (Cydalima perspectalis).

This native of East Asia eats the leaves of box plants (Buxus species) and has been reported for the first time in British private gardens. Adult moths have been recorded in Southern England since 2008, but its caterpillars had only been found at one commercial nursery in Surrey in 2009 and 2010. In May 2011 the RHS received the first specimens from private gardens in Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire.

Box tree caterpillars were first detected in Europe in 2007 and are now widespread on the European mainland. FERA concluded that, given the pest’s rapid spread and the possibility of adult moths reaching the UK naturally, no statutory action would be taken on further occurrences in the UK.

“Box plants can be totally defoliated by this moth’s caterpillars and there is also a threat to our uncommon native box plants such as those on Box Hill in Surrey. This is yet another problem for box in the UK which is already suffering from diseases such as box blight (Cylindrocladium buxicola),” says Dr Andrew Salisbury, RHS Senior Entomologist. “It is important for us to monitor this caterpillar’s movement. Knowing how quickly it is spreading and what plants it has been found on could help us develop ways of managing this pest.”

“There is little published information on the control of Box Tree Caterpillar,” says FERA Entomologist Anastasia Korysinska. “The silk webbing around the caterpillars can make control difficult. However, insecticides available to gardeners for controlling moth caterpillars, such as pyrethrum, deltamethrin or lambda-cyhalothrin, should be effective. Physical control by cutting off infested material or picking off caterpillars could also help.”

In Germany, complete defoliation of ornamental box plants have occurred but in the Netherlands the damage has been less severe. In Europe the caterpillar has only been found feeding on species of box. However, in Asia other host plants include llex purpurea (purple-leaved holly) and Euonymus alatus (winged spindle tree).

The RHS asks gardeners finding this pest in their garden to let it know by sending samples or photographs to Entomology, RHS Garden Wisley, Woking, Surrey GU23 6QB or sending images to Advisory_Entomology@rhs.org.uk.

Box is not usually damaged by other caterpillars, so extensive defoliation and webbing on this plant is likely to be due to box tree caterpillar.

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DIY Wooden bamboo windchimes to your garden

Add the music of nature to your garden with a gorgeous set of bamboo windchimes for a delightful sound effect... Bringing the sound of water and wind into your garden can enhance the hours of simple pleasure spent outside during the Summer months. A running water feature where a small fountain trickles over pebbles, or a set of bamboo windchimes gently clinking together in the breeze, adds a soft charm to any outside space. Bring some zen into your life. Just follow our easy step-by-step guide.

Step One

Mark out a circle on a piece of wood (12cms in diameter) and cut out using your Dremel 300 multi-tool, SpeedClic mandrel, spiral bit and line and circle cutter attachment. Then repeat to create a smaller wood circle (5cms in diameter). Then, cut seven lengths of bamboo (three x 30cms, three x 36cms, one x 10cms in length) using the multi-tool and wood cutting wheel.

Next, insert wood drill bit no: 4 into your Dremel 300 and drill six, equally spaced holes around the edge of the larger wood circle, two in the middle and another four holes set 2 cms in - for hanging the finished set of chimes.

Then, drill two holes through the middle of the smaller wood circle and two threading holes through each side at the top of the six lengths of bamboo and one through the top of the small bamboo piece.

Step Two

Cut away and shape the lower half of the bamboo pieces. Then, use a pen to draw your designs on each piece of bamboo and mark lines round the edges of the two wood circles.

Step Three

Insert the woodburning tip in the Dremel Versatip and burn your design onto the bamboo and the lines around the wood circles.

Step Four

Use cord to thread the small wood circle and small length of bamboo through the centre of the larger wood circle. Thread the longer bamboo lengths around the outside, then thread the four hanging holes and ensure the chimes hang evenly.

Difficulty rating :
*** 3 stars (moderate)

Materials required :

Dremel 300 Series multi-tool
SpeedClic mandrel SC402
SpeedClic wood cutting wheel SC544
Line and Circle Cutter Attachment 678
Spiral bit 561
Wood drill bits 636
Dremel Versatip with woodburning tip
Wood
Lengths of bamboo
Marker pen
Threading cord

For more information visit the Dremel website:  www.dremel.co.uk

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Hot Summer Savings at Cannock Gates

No matter what the weather at the moment (fairly good at the moment as I look out on to the That's Gardening garden, as it happens!) June is the perfect month to give your garden some TLC, ready to provide you with not only satisfaction and enjoyment over the summer, but in the long run it will make economic sense, as it adds value to your property.

Cannock Gates prides itself on offering the UK’s largest range of wooden gates and wrought iron style gates and railings. The extensive range includes garden gates, side gates, drive gates, estate gates and field gates in over 750 standard size and style combinations. A bespoke service is also available, so you can choose a style and size of gate to perfectly suit your home. In consultation with knowledgeable and sympathetic experts at Cannock Gates.

With great weather, barbecues and school holidays just around the corner why not take advantage of one of Cannock Gates 10 Scorching Summer Savers and get ready to enjoy the Sun? (Don't forget the suncream!)

The offers are available until the end of July and they include 10% off ALL Wooden Gates, 10% off ALL Wrought Iron Style Gates and 10% off ALL railings! Other offers available are free painting, free delivery, 20% off steel or timber posts, and an introductory offer of 30% off the new ‘Hampshire’ gate design. To view all of the offers and to order, visit www.cannockgates.co.uk and quote SUM2011 to receive the offer most beneficial for you.

Some fantastic deals are also available at sister company Cannock Gardens website, such as a whopping 33% off the Gardeners Tool Shed, the perfect gift for Father’s day! To see all the offers available please visit www.cannockgardens.com The same voucher code applies to receive the offer.

(EDITOR: Please mention That's Gardening)

CATS get the cream, thanks to artist and RHS Chelsea Flower Show

Bluebell Woodland a photograph displayed as part of an urban garden at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show, by contemporary landscape artist David Anthony Hall, has raised over £12,820 for the London charity, Children’s Acute Transport Service (CATS).

The landscape artist David Anthony Hall’s donation of his photograph 'Bluebell Woodland' has raised £12,820 for the Children’s Acute Transport Service, CATS.

Andy Petros, director of CATS said, ‘We are enormously grateful to David for this extremely generous donation.

“It is humbling to realise other people value us enough to support us to this extent. With this donation we will buy more equipment and run educational courses to further improve the care of critically ill children.”

What does CATS do?

CATS provides emergency transport for critically ill children and it covers over 50 hospitals in the North Thames and East Anglia regions. It is one of the few international services accredited by the Commission for Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems (CAMTS) and is also one of the largest specialist services of its type in Europe.

Hall, who each year offers at least one of his images as a donation to a charity close to his heart, was especially touched by CATs after he and his wife watched a BBC programme about the service.

“With two small children of our own we were so taken with the passion and dedication of the CATS team.” said David.

“As parents it is something we could relate to despite, thankfully, never having had any direct need of their assistance. There is nothing greater than the gift of life passed to us by our parents and yet as parents ourselves, what could be more overwhelming than the fear and helplessness felt when dealing with a sick child.

“It’s impossible to comprehend the pain a mother must feel at the loss of a child. CATs can make that lifesaving difference and we wanted to support it.”

The image ‘Bluebell Woodland’ was part of a body of work that formed the inspiration behind a concept garden at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Thompson’s Gallery, who devised the garden at RHS Chelsea and are currently displaying Hall’s solo show at their New Cavendish Street Gallery in London, generously waived their usual fee as their way ofhelping the charity erven further.

Other suppliers were keen to help, so they waived their fees, too! These include Genesis and Canon large format printer distributors Velmex, who printed the image. The new owner has also agreed to gift aid her donation enabling the charity to benefit from the extra Gift Aid, too!

David's solo show runs for the next month at Thompson’s New Cavendish Street Gallery in London and is showcasing 20 images from his latest works. David's work is always of nature and represents the strong emotional connection he feels to a place.

He added: “In a society battling with over civilisation, it is easy to lose touch with nature and each other in its simplest sense. My work constantly reminds me of how fleeting our presence actually is on the planet and how precious our relationships with loved ones are in this context.’”

Hall dedicates this donation in memory of his natural mother Maura O’Connor, who lost her battle with cancer on 18th May 2011.

FACTFILE:

David Anthony Hall was born in Dublin in 1969. Hall has been exhibited at top art fairs including; London Art, Art London, 20/21 International Art Fair and The Affordable Art Fairs, London, New York, Paris, Singapore & Amsterdam. His landscape photography was first published in 1989. Over the past five years his work has been exhibited in eight countries, with over twenty group shows and two solo shows. David’s work has raised over £25,000 for charities, he is also supporting Marie Curie Cancer Care with an auction to be held at The Royal Academy of Arts in July 2011.

For David his art is about more than just a beautiful image, his interest lies in capturing the natural environment that exudes a presence of a powerful past. Intent on connecting an anthropological and geographical history to expose a sense of mystery and wonder, his work envelops and compels.

To find out more about CATS visit http://portal.cats.nhs.uk

To find out more about the gallery and the show visit www.thompsonsgallery.co.uk

Add a touch of luxury to your garden with Dremel

Give your courtyard or small walled garden a hint of the theatrical twinned with urban roughness. Paint an ordinary garden seat black, then inset with mirrored and silver glittery mosaic pieces. Place it in a pretty spot for a contrast of opaque and transparent forms - a definite wow factor for a small courtyard! Just follow this easy step-by-step guide.

Step One
Prime and paint a garden bench black, using external paint.

Step Two
Mark around pieces of silver glitter mirror mosaic square, in a straight line on the arm, back and front sections of the garden bench with a pencil.

Step Three
Plunge cut using the Dremel 8200 multi-tool with router attachment, set to a depth slightly deeper than the depth of the piece of mosaic tile.

Step Four
Sand with the Dremel multi-tool and abrasive buffs. Use the Detailer's Grip to give you an easier hold.

Step Five
Then, inset silver glitter mosaic square or mirror diamond and stick into place using Dremel Glue Gun and 7mm clear glue. Fill around edges with multi-purpose filler slightly proud of the surface of the wood, then sand off excess filler using the abrasive buffs as above. Continue until pattern is finished. Paint in using black paint.

Planting
Add box spirals in tubs to your courtyard. Create the spiral shape by training box hedging around a steel rod placed in the centre of the tub and continually clip into shape with a shearer.

Materials required :

Dremel 8200 cordless multi-tool with router bit 654, SC 402, SC 511S/512S and the router attachment 335
Dremel Glue Gun 930 with its 7mm gluestick
Silver glitter mosaic squares and mirror diamonds
Shearer
Garden bench
Black paint
Plants

For details visit www.dremel.co.uk