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Below is a very useful list of things to do in winter in preparation for spring provided by Albina Paige of Craig Manor Hotel.
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On the 10th September 2016 two of my garden design colleagues (Jenny Burke & Marian White) and myself will be leading a garden design workshop at Batsford Arboretum from 10.00am to around midday. Entrance fee is £15 via the Batsford website: http://www.batsarb.co.uk
If you want to learn a little bit about garden design come along. See you there ! Many thanks to the Editor and staff at the Cotswold Times for publishing my article on garden design in the Chipping Norton Times, Stow Times, Bourton Times and Moreton Times ! See the features (all on pages 19):
http://www.chippingnortontimes.co.uk/chipping_norton/issues/Chipping_Norton_Times_March_2015.pdf http://www.stowtimes.co.uk/stow_on_the_wold/issues/Stow_Times_March_2015.pdf http://www.bourtontimes.co.uk/bourton_on_the_water/issues/Bourton_Times_March_2015.pdf http://www.moretontimes.co.uk/moreton_in_marsh/issues/Moreton_Times_March_2015.pdf The works of Charlie Bell are truly extraordinary. He's an Irish Stonemason who has recently moved to the Cotswolds. As he put it, he moved here 'to work with the beautiful golden Cotswold stone.' Charlie's been working in stonemasonry for 19 years and his works are masterpieces although, as he admits, he has been influenced a little by British artist Andy Goldsworthy ! His passion lies in creating stone artwork for natural landscapes and 'wow' pieces for bespoke garden designs using his skills to produce intense, unique but sympathetic works of art that complement the design. Of course, as you'd expect, his portfolio also covers dry stone walling, patios, steps and lettering. Below are just some examples of Charlie's work - Wow ! Garden designers use this man ! A very good friend of mine recently asked me to redesign a garden for his buy to let property in Shropshire. As the house was a buy to let, the investment in the garden needed to be minimal yet the outcome needed to be a well thought out design that would allow easy maintenance but provide a haven for a potential young renting family. Good use of space was essential as well as little if no construction work. Some potential eyesores needed to be hidden too. The design was ecstatically received and the budget accommodated. You don't have to spend thousands to have a great garden !
It's good for designers to get hands on experience with landscaping. Knowing how and what to design so something can be built by a good landscaping firm is essential. So, in the last few weeks I've been helping Gardenmakers (http://www.the-gardenmakers.co.uk/) out in a couple of gardens near Stratford upon Avon. The gardens won't be finished until the new year but a lot has gone on already including clearing, levelling, paving, fencing, wall building. Check out my facebook page for photos.
Being half Italian I have the pleasurable benefit of being able to visit my relatives in Tuscany on a pretty regular basis. This time, during our UK half term, I also took the opportunity of visiting Pistoia which is half way between Florence and Pisa. Apart from its renaissance cathedral, the city and area around it has another claim to fame - it has a multitude of plant nurseries covering the vast area to the city's south. Some of these nurseries are immense and world renowned. The plain that they lie on was originally marshland that was drained leaving the soil incredibly fertile. I arranged to visit Vannucci Piante which is one of the larger enterprises. Its premise cover over 500 hectares, they employ around 370 people and their markets are practically all export. It was simply eye droppingly amazing to be driven (yes driven !) around the nursery gazing at the spectacular and pristine specimens being grown there. I was looking out for a particular plant for a garden in Chipping Norton - Ficus carica 'Brown Turkey', a half standard tree. Back on the autostrada, driving to Lucca, the road is lined with plants in various nurseries in row upon row for as deep as you can safely see (without causing an accident !) What a fascinating place !
I recently completed a design for a client in South East London - very exciting ! It involved redesigning the layout of his rear garden to remain in keeping with the house's Edwardian style. There were a few issues or consider, not least how the property adjoined neighbouring properties and the request by the owner to keep a tall existing tree. The design still has to be implemented but this is due to happen in the spring of 2015. I must admit, I'm looking forward to finishing off its implementation.
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