Garden designer, Andrew Fisher Tomlin, reveals new floating bird hide design

 International garden design company Fisher Tomlin have just revealed details of a new floating bird hide designed for a wildlife park in Normandy. The unique idea aims to get bird watchers up close and personal with migratory birds on a series of wildfowl lakes at the park. Bird watchers can enter the hide at the bank and then gently float out into the lake without disturbing other wildlife to watch the birds.

Founding director Andrew Fisher Tomlin said “This has been a bit of a departure from our usual work but a very logical one. We are increasingly involved with designing habitats for wildlife and in recent years have worked on a number of ecological projects including the new wetlands on the London 2012 Athlete’s Village. So designing opportunities for visitors to enjoy the benefits of wildlife habitats is a natural progression.”

Fisher Tomlin have previously designed wildlife houses including a bee hotel for ‘Beyond the hive’ that is now housed next to Smithfield Market in the City of London. The new bird hide will be built and launched in its new location in the near future.

Fisher Tomlin create gardens from their offices in Wimbledon, London and Chobham in Surrey. The company provides design and horticulture services for residential gardens and parks across Europe and beyond for which they have received a number of international awards.

Website address - www.andrewfishertomlin.com

Terram Protecing our green spaces in droughts

Keeping our green and pleasant land just that, is proving to be an increasing challenge for British gardeners and landscapers, especially in light of the hosepipe ban imposed by seven UK water suppliers this week effecting over 20 million homes and businesses.

Our parks and green spaces are under threat following one of the driest two-year periods on record, and this year brings increased pressure to the industry in the form of the Olympic Games where the eyes of the world will be upon us expecting an English Country Garden in full bloom.

Although hosepipe ban concessions have been made for specific Olympic venues, the challenge is on especially in tourism locations to maintain the appearance of green spaces, and landscapers are increasingly looking to new technologies designed to retain water and boost the longevity of grassed areas.

The Terram product portfolio offers landscapers and professional gardeners a number of solutions which assist in retaining much needed moisture for grassed surfaces.

Turf Carpet™ is a mature ‘soil-less' grass growing in a biodegradable felt especially designed to retain moisture, give strength and flexibility. The felt itself is made from recycled British textiles, and acts as barrier to weeds as well as retaining water to promote establishment.

Suitable for temporary or permanent use in landscape architecture, grass flooring, green roofs and exhibitions, Turf Carpet™ can be rolled out for an instant green effect with minimal mess. It can also be used with a number of different grass types including hardwearing, drought tolerant, fine lawn, low maintenance, and wildflower and can be grown to order.

Good irrigation is a vital element of any landscaping project, porous pavers offer excellent drainage options and in drought conditions can help support water retention. BodPave 85 pavers unique interlocking cellular structure can be filled with soil and seed to create a natural grass surface, the cells retain water to help promote growth.

BodPave 85 is manufactured from 100% polymer and is suitable for both grassed and gravel retention, as well as SUDS source control applications.

For further information visit www.terram.com or call 01621 874200.

Spades to the ready - it’s National Gardening Week!

It’s National Gardening Week this week and the McTimoney Chiropractic Association offers the following advice to all would-be and experienced gardeners.

We all want to be out in our gardens now the days are longer and the sun is attempting to shine. However keen you are feeling to get digging and raking, you should take a little care to ensure that you don’t give yourself a back injury on your first day.

The McTimoney Chiropractic Association (MCA) has the following advice to help you remain injury-free:

• Take it steadily! Think of your garden as a gym and give yourself breaks every 15-20 minutes; also try to swap activities regularly so you don’t strain your back or joints. Make sure you warm up with gentler tasks first rather than getting stuck into heavy digging straight away.

• You will find that if you take up a daily stretching programme you will notice a marked improvement in your movements. Stretching increases flexibility and strength, so digging, raking or weeding becomes easier as you increase your core strength. The MCA has a useful free leaflet which shows and describes a wide range of back exercises.

• Use tools that are right for you! It sounds silly, but if you are using a spade which is too short, you will constantly be bending over it and are very likely to get stiff and become inflexible. The same applies to your lawnmower – find one that does not encourage you to swing it from side to side as this causes stress on your back and surrounding muscles. Test drive a few different types of each item before you buy to find the best fit for you.

• Balance yourself by carrying two watering cans or two pots of roughly the same weight. Don’t heave large bags of compost, instead use your lifting barrow or wheelbarrow to move them. Pick items up with bent knees and a straight back.

• When weeding, try and use a proper weeding pad. Some have raised side handles which you can use to help yourself up by using your legs/knees. Try not to over-reach into your flower beds and invest in a long-handled, lightweight hoe if you have wide flower beds. If you are kneeling, take regular breaks, get up carefully and have a stretch.

• Try and design your garden with your back in mind. Raised beds and selected low maintenance plants are now popular with busy gardeners.

• If you do have a potting shed or greenhouse, make sure that work benches are the correct height to avoid stooping.

If you do inadvertently strain your back a few trips to your local McTimoney chiropractor should be able to help. The McTimoney technique is very precise and gentle and can used by gardeners of all abilities and ages. The McTimoney Chiropractic Association website has a ‘search a chiropractor’ facility to show you where to find your nearest chiropractor or do call our office on 01491 829211 if you would like a back care leaflet.

Muntons new steel plant supports for herbaceous borders

Muntons new herbaceous plant supports

You will be inspired by these attractive and hand-made-in-the-UK plant supports.

Their rusted mild steel plant & shrub supports and arches are topped with steel balls. Uncoated they develop a natural oxide and soon achieve a lovely mellow rust patina which is why they blend seamlessly into your garden ... where they will last for many years.

Hand-made in England using solid 12mm mild steel, all their supports are welded together into a single piece requiring no self-assembly. Yes, that's right! No flatpack self-assembly, no tubular steel frames, no nuts and bolts, just welded steel which is why they guarantee them unconditionally.

Choose from supports for herbaceous clumps; supports for shrub roses; obelisks for roses and clematis; step-over apple supports; steel containers for olives and bay trees

Herbaceous plant supports (35-95cm dia)
This new range of circular supports will elegantly contain peonies or any herbaceous clump with a tendency to flop – they use them also to hold together clumps of agapanthus, alstreomarias, campanulas and smaller asters. Larger ones suit tall michaelmas daisies, shrub roses or delphiniums.
Price £35-85 delivered

Steel planters (45cm x 45cm)
Their new range of planters are made in three sizes; their ball feet lift them off the ground enabling them to stand outside all year round without damage from even the severest winter! They are large enough to contain an olive or laurel tree or equally stunning with a display of early spring bulbs or summer bedding.
Price £150-190 delivered.

Obelisks (2.5m)
A single 2.5m obelisk, either circular or square, adds height and architectural interest throughout the year. Ideal for roses and vigorous climbers, they can support scented columns of sweet peas or other annual climbers that need room to grow. Use alone or in multiples in the kitchen garden as robust runner bean supports that will not collapse under the weight of the beans ... and they make harvesting easy.
Price £185 delivered

Abinger obelisks (1.5m & 2.5m)
These elegant, architectural obelisks are ideal for roses and other vigorous climbers. Use singly or in pairs to provide a focal point either side of a path gateway.
Price £185-225 delivered

Rose arches (2.5m)
Define a walkway through your garden, or frame a seating area or a garden gate with roses or trained hedges. Our arches are not just well proportioned but, as your roses grow to maturity, they are robust enough to take the weight of the plants. They make an equally reliable support for a laburnum or wisteria walkway
Price £205 delivered

Raised bed supports
Height and length can be adjusted to accommodate the dimensions of raised beds or lengths of walls. These easily-installed systems (with a metal hook to hold the horizontal in place) are useful round asparagus beds; training step-over apples or espaliers or keeping broad beans and peas upright. Use them to edge a raised vegetable border or lift perennials such as catmint or hardy geraniums that flop onto the lawn or pathway.
Price £30-40 delivered

Steel stakes
Their ball-headed stakes are perfect for staking plants & vegetables and restoring tidiness year-round. Use instead of bamboo to support plants prone to flop or to keep nets & fleeces in place over vegetables
Priced £30-45 per set of 6 delivered.

Check out the Muntons website for more details.