Landscape Juice

The decline of the Hen Harrier: How can I help?

Witnessing the breathtaking skydance display of breeding hen harriers is a rare privilege for birdwatchers. Sadly, according to a recent RSPB report, the skydance will become an even rarer sight - the decline of this magnificent bird of prey as an English breeding species is reaching a critical phase as the hen harrier is ‘pushed towards extinction’, writes Linda Moore. The Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus) appears to have spread steadily throughout the British Isles as the dense medieval forests were cleared, giving way to heathland and rough pasture. Known in literature and folklore by a host of names (a sure... Read more →

Looking after Hadrian's dry stone wall

Visitors to Hadrian's Wall this summer may have seen parts of the ancient structure being carefully restored? The work is being carried out by the Hadrian's Wall Trust and is due to be completed this Autumn. (Image above: Workers from the Hadrian's Wall Trust repairing part of the wall) The hope is to improve access to Hadrian's Wall and to help attract more visitors to explore the Roman frontier. The project is being financed by a grant of £537,185 from the SITA Trust. Detailed survey work began in June and the full project will be completed in October. Some of... Read more →

'Don't buy seed of perennials' advice is wrong, says Graham Rice

Horticulturist and writer, Graham Rice, has called into question the advice given by grower, and fellow horticulturist, Bob Brown, that gardeners shouldn't buy seeds obtained from perennial plants, unless they are sown immediately. Commenting on an article that appears in Which? magazine, Rice notes: [quoting Bob Brown] "My experience is that seed of perennials will only reliably germinate if it's sown immediately, certainly within the month. If it gets as far as a packet or a seed catalogue it's already too old." And also... "My advice generally would be not to buy seed of perennials." Graham Rice responds to Brown's... Read more →

Four Brutal and Beautiful modern buildings given Grade II listing

(image: Capel Manor House ©James Davies English Heritage) Four modern buildings have been added to the National Heritage List for England A cold war bunker in Gravesend, a high tech' warehouse in Swindon, a concrete electricity sub station in Sheffield and a steel-framed private house in Horsmonden, Kent have become listed buildings because of their architectural importance in the modern era. A Roman Catholic Church in Birkenhead has also been upgraded to Grade II status. The buildings are the most recent post-war buildings to the National Heritage List for England, supplementing the nearly 700 which have been added since post-war... Read more →

RSPB release sand lizards to Farnham Heath nature reserve

Following on from a successful reintroduction in 2012, and as part of a three year project between the RSPB, Amphibian & Reptile Conservation (ARC) and Natural England, sand lizards will once again be released onto Surrey heathland this week. This will be the second of three annual releases of local captive bred lizards. Juveniles are released in early September to allow the animals to gradually get used to the site before hibernation in October. On average, fifty captive-bred juveniles are released each year which is sufficient to establish a structured population. Mike Coates, the RSPB site manager for Farnham Heath... Read more →

Bob Sweet retires from Chelsea as RHS regorganises

The RHS is making changes to its structure to further modernise and improve the organisation. The RHS' vision, it says, is to be open, easy to understand, and welcome to all. Changes to the RHS leadership team - which take effect on 01 January 2014 - are being made to ensure customers receive a consistent level of service delivery. Changes are needed to ensure the organisation is in the best shape to deliver its programme of ten major projects that will see it invest more than £27 million in the future of horticulture. The most significant element of the RHS... Read more →

Calculating soil volumes for planting trees in urban areas

If you've ever planted a tree in an urban environment you'll know how scarce, and therefore how critical, the rootzone area can be for healthy tree development. There's a very good chance that any tree pit will be surrounded by concrete and other impermeable layers making it difficult for new trees to sufficiently establish; and therefore go on to thrive, or at least be sustained to remain healthy. Greemleaf has designed a soil calculator for when planning tree planting in urban areas. Read more →

Understanding the new RHS plant hardiness rating system

The first frosts of the winter are surely just around the corner and it's time to start thinking about which plants are going to cope and which ones are vulnerable to cold. Understanding plant hardiness can save a gardener a lot of time and money if the right plants are chosen for a specific position within the garden. Knowing what will thrive and knowing what will perish, before purchasing a plant, is very important. In early 2013 the RHS brought in a new plant hardiness rating system. RHS Director of Horticulture explains why the RHS thought an update was necessary.... Read more →

Garden design ideas from the National Trust

From the sculpted topiary at Hidcote Manor to spectacular summer container planting at Powis Castle and stylish contemporary border planting at Packwood House, the gardens of the National Trust can be a fantastic source of inspiration for gardeners of all standards. In this book, keen gardener and design historian Jacq Barber shows how different elements in the National Trust's gardens can be applied to your garden - whether it is large space, courtyard or just a balcony. National Trust Head Gardeners give unique insights and tips throughout, showing you how to apply their expertise to reinterpret your garden while still... Read more →

The Garden Centre Group acquires Garden & Leisure Group

The Garden Centre Group (GCG) has acquired The Garden & Leisure Group from Louis Delhaize, which also owns Truffaut, a leading French garden centre group. The purchase adds seven large garden centres in prime locations to the group'€™s portfolio of 132 centres. It represents the first acquisition of a major chain of garden centres since The GCG came under the ownership last year of Terra Firma -€“ one of Europe'€™s leading private equity firms -“ and follows the recent announcement of the acquisition of Cheddar and Lechlade garden centres. The Garden & Leisure Group was formed in 1997 by Truffaut,... Read more →