Several of this year’s big flower shows have included gardens entitled something like The Wellbeing Gaarden. This is not really surprising with the increasing realisation that gardens and gardening can be very good for our mental as well as physical health. What does surprise me though is the apparent consensus from the shows, magazines and […]
When the summer veg is over
Many people grow summer vegetables in a small plot but may not make full use of the space through the autumn and winter. By the end of September even the last sowings of quick maturing salad crops such as radishes and salad leaves will be coming to an end. You can move onto winter hardy […]
Get a bigger garden
Would you like a bigger garden without moving house or moving the boundaries into the garden next door? Well it is possible make your garden appear bigger by some careful use of space and perspective. Sitting outside in summer offers a good chance to look at the overall layout of your garden and question whether […]
Plant survival techniques
It seems that as we move into September and the start of autumn the weather is following a much more typical pattern so that plants as well as people know exactly where they are in the year! With the late spring frost and snow – remember that? – and two months of soaring temperatures here […]
Gardening for the Mind Workshops
The Gardening for the Mind workshops are new in 2018 introducing people to the principles of Mindfulness, how gardening can support and improve our mental wellbeing and, of course, how the two activities blend together. Our Gardening for the Mind Workshops are unique; combining the wellbeing benefits of physical activity together with meditation and mindful […]
The Seaside in your Garden
August is well and truly the holiday month and whether you have been away or are still looking forward to going, what could be nicer than having a sense of the seaside without leaving home? Creating a coastal feel to a corner of your garden is not difficult as long as you understand that you […]
What’s wrong with Rhododendrons?
Towards the end of May I spent two consecutive days garden visiting and there could hardly have been a greater contrast. Firstly I was one of thousands at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show and the following day I attended a preview of Leonardslee Gardens in West Sussex currently undergoing restoration. Apart from the weather – […]
Festival of Learning 2018
I was delighted to be nominated for teaching ‘Learning Well’ gardening courses for mental health and wellbeing across west and mid Kent and Medway. The programme brought community learning to people who have not previously accessed Adult Education services and I worked with groups ranging from a mental health support group who meet regularly to […]
Gardens, cake & good causes
What better combination is there than visiting a lovely garden and enjoying tea and cake, knowing that you are supporting a good cause? Of course I am talking about the wonderful summer institution of ‘gardens open for charity’, whether these are via the National Gardens Scheme in the UK (aka The Yellow Book) or individual […]
The New Shrubbery
By using the term New Shrubbery I do not just mean adding in a few more shrubs but thinking about how much this useful and sometimes maligned group of plans can add to your garden. I often talk and write about Less Effort Gardening and the benefits of permanent planting to create a year […]