By Libby Reeves Seeds are nearly always taken for granted. We buy packets and lose them down the back of a cupboard, the dog chews the packet, or a gust of wind carries them to areas where we don't want or need them. We plant them out in little lines then go along a Read more »
By Liz NicholsonChildhood memories of dens, treehouses and shepherd’s huts set the scene for often chasing the “home beyond the house walls”.In my case, the shepherd’s hut was the real deal, abandoned in a leafy beech woodland on a bucolic Cotswold estate. The shepherd’s hut of my childhood was scarce in its furnishings, bare in Read more »
By Oliver Ong The arrival of August means that we are firmly in school summer holiday season, which brings with it an excellent opportunity for families to come together and enjoy the outdoors. This week’s blog presents a selection of fun activities to entertain you and your family throughout the holidays. From outdoor pursuits Read more »
Article prepared by Sam Hargreaves, Arboricultural Services Manager The hottest June weather on record will not have been so welcome to our teams on the tools, in particular the guys and gals suiting up in chainsaw trousers, boots and helmets to undertake the strenuous work arboriculture requires of them. But Read more »
By Liz Nicholson We will all be aware that the climate is giving hectic rainfall patterns, demonstrated locally with no rainfall in the month of May. Water security is of great concern across the entire population and, at Nicholsons, we are working hard to play our part in supporting long-term water security. Our forestry Read more »
By Libby Reeves The evolution of animals is widely known and monopolized. Dinosaurs have been used in films, books, and many other mediums for knowledge and entertainment. The backstory of humanity evolving from apes is used in a similar way. However, plants have evolved alongside these ancient beasts, and their history is equally important. Read more »
Gardens have always been spaces of natural beauty and serenity, but some gardeners seek to take their green sanctuaries to a whole new level. Enter topiary trees—the living sculptures that add a touch of artistry and whimsy to outdoor spaces. With their carefully trimmed forms and meticulous designs, topiary trees have captured the imagination Read more »
As the warmth of summer approaches, it's time to prepare your garden for the vibrant and flourishing season ahead. Whether you're an experienced gardener or just starting out, a little preparation can go a long way in ensuring a successful and thriving garden. In this blog, we will explore some essential gardening tips to Read more »
By Libby Reeves The last 12 months have been a very tricky time for us all. The painfully dry spring and blazing hot summer of 2022 was followed by the warm but unnaturally dry autumn and one of the coldest winters I can remember. The recent rain has been something of a blessing for Read more »
By Ruby Simpson Perfection is an interesting concept – and something that many humans strive for. This puts pressure on a lot of us, for various reasons; people feel they have to look perfect and portray a happy life because of social media, parents think they have to uphold unrealistic expectations because of fear Read more »
By Jared Hutchings ...and Re-discover Herbaceous Perennials! Around about this time of year, with those pesky late frosts safely behind us, my lovely mum proudly announces “I’ve got the bedding plants in” and hurries me outside to witness the neat row of “geraniums.” “They’re pelargoniums, mum”, but she ignores my botanical pedantry. I duck Read more »
By Libby Reeves Traditionally, orchards were always a haven for local wildlife. In modern times, with a push for more productivity and consumerism, they have become void of their previous biodiversity. Unlike other ancient habitats, however, we are in a stronger position to replace them, as it takes far less time for these habitats Read more »
By Ruby Simpson Spring feels like it’s fully arrived – bulbs are bursting into flower, April showers are in full swing and the days are finally stretching out and giving us more hours of daylight to fit gardening into! I had a glorious day in the garden this week when I decided to get Read more »
By Ruby Simpson There are lots of ways to use colour in the garden to suit everyone’s individual tastes, but there are a few simple rules that will help you create a huge amount of impact in your border planting. Even if you love a lot of bright colour, removing just one or two Read more »
By Libby Reeves It is so easy to think that any green space must be beneficial for the local environment, any tree to be planted must assist with the fight against carbon, and promoting everyone from individuals to large estates to add more plants must help our landscape to improve. This is, however, not Read more »
By Rachel Jackson As we continue to head into February, we start to see the tell-tale signs of Spring approaching. The days are getting longer, the weather is becoming mildly warmer, and the first green shoots start to appear through the soil, bringing much needed colour back into our gardens and natural landscapes. It Read more »
By Libby Reeves As I look out of the office window, the beech hedge is almost white with frost, and my fingers are just starting to thaw from being outside in temperatures getting close to -6 degrees. It sometimes feels like the garden is a forgotten pastime better suited to later in the year, Read more »
By Natasha Hannah-Lyons If you were asked to list iconic British wildlife, I would confidently say that the small, prickly mammal that gently toddles around our gardens after dark would be on most of our lists. This little bug eating carnivore is a firm favourite of many, but it is in need of our Read more »
