Landscape Juice

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Conserving water in the garden - hose pipe tip

With a growing feeling that 2009 will be a heatwave, us gardeners share a responsibility to ensure that we only use the right amount of water to get the job done and preserve valuable supplies.

Although it is hot outside at the moment, we are nowhere near the potentially devastating temperatures that can do damage to plants, trees, lawns and indeed humans and animals.

It is almost certain, if temperature remain high throughout the summer and autumn, we will encounter hose pipe restrictions will ensue Europe wide.

Blenheim Palace is garden of the year for 2008

Blenheim Palace's, Capability Brown designed Gardens, have won the coveted title of 'Garden of the year,' awarded by the Historic Houses Association, which celebrates its twenty fifth year. The award was given for the season of 2008 by the Friends of the HHA.

Joint head gardeners, and husband and wife team, Hilary and Trevor Wood were not told that the garden had even been entered which is a great testament to their normal standard of garden maintenance.

The twelve strong team, including Hilary and Trevor's son Matthew, are responsible for Blenheim Palace's ninety acres of formal gardens which includes a formal lawn of three acres.

Where to source woven willow and hazel garden products

Claudia has been on the research trail again and brings us a list of suppliers where you can source willow, hazel and reeds.

Weaving is an ancient craft still practised today all over England by men and women. At every craft or country fair there will be someone making baskets or obelisks from willow or hazel collected from nearby woods. Here are some people whose work I have seen and highly recommend.

Frances Keenan began weaving from the age of nine. She works in Langport on the banks of the river using willow from fields around her. She also runs weaving courses. Her work ranges from baskets to coffins.

Cuckoo placed on Red List of endangered species

It appears that the Cuckoo is in trouble and disappearing from the United Kingdom countryside at an alarming rate.

The bird, with its familiar call that is heard echoing across fields and woodland from late March through to early July or August, migrates from its winter feeding grounds in sub-Saharan Africa to lay its eggs in the nests of other birds throughout Europe.

Changes to the countryside and habitats are said to be behind the decline but interestingly, according to the report on the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds website, climate change has not been linked to the decline.

Beavers introduced near Knapdale Forest Scotland

A trial by Scottish Natural Heritage has seen the official - one Beaver escaped prematurely from the Quarantine centre in Devon and is now living wild in the river Tamar - introduction of eleven European Beavers into the United Kingdom for the first time in over four hundred years.

The BBC reports the release of three families into Knapdale Forest in Argyll, close to the Cairnbaan Hotel.

The Beavers were first brought to the UK in November 2008 and have been held in quarantine at the Upcott Grange study Centre in Devon to ensure all risk if disease has passed.

Guessing the mystery garden

The silence either means that nobody is interested or you don't have an idea where this weeks mystery garden is.

I have to admit that I revealed only a small part of this famous garden but I did so because I thought the super sleuths would get it in an instant otherwise.

A little clue - Not even Drogba could bend it around this flower bed.

Click to enlarge the image.

Gardening and flower business for sale in France

Have you ever considered quitting the rat race and moving to another country to fulfil a dream and experience a different culture and way of life?

If you are trained in horticultural or perhaps you have a great passion for gardening and an outdoor life, then I might just have found you a fantastic opportunity.

Even after two visits and meetings with the business owners Guy and Jane Robinson, I still cannot quite believe what I have seen and what this opportunity offers.

Is Kew Gardens too expensive

At £13.00 for an adult ticket, Kew Gardens is not exactly a cheap place to visit. Throw in lunch, an ice cream, a souvenir guide for £7.00 and travel costs to get there (depending where you live) and there is potentially a hefty bill for a day out at one of Britain's national horticulture, historic and scientific treasures.

Alarmingly - but not surprisingly - Kew Gardens is in a bit of a financial pickle and received grants this year totalling £19.6 million; including a £2 million top up to help offset an 8.5% drop in visitor numbers for 2008.

Allotment waiting list in Cheltenham is seven years

The waiting list for allotment allocation in Cheltenham is now over seven years as the clamour to rent a plot of soil to cultivate fruit and vegetables increases.

The Guardian reports how this pressure has led to an eviction notice being issued against sixty-one year old gardener John Weston for failing to keep his 30x15 foot Midwinter allotment in the right condition; as a result he has fallen foul of council tenancy laws.