Archive
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How to make the most of your living space as the nights draw in
Whatever your vista, as the days get shorter, temperature drops and winter draws closer, now’s the time to think about the benefits of making your home feel cosier, warmer and draught-proof. “An underrated and surprisingly cost-effective method
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Create pretty vignettes even in the darkest corners of your garden
Working with shifting levels of light and selecting the right shade-tolerant plants will allow you to create pretty vignettes even in the darkest corners of your garden November is a great time to assess your garden and plan new areas. Before winter
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Dogwoods and acers bring both leaf and stem colour in autumn
It’s November, and we are turning the lights on at 4pm and closing the curtains. But, this is the month I like to look at my garden, sitting in a comfy seat, swaddled in a fleecy outdoor throw and contemplate spring and summer's gardening highs and
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The Devon garden experts modernising topiary
It’s sustainable, a home for wildlife and will make you smile - award-winning Devon-based designers Charlotte Harris and Hugo Bugg are dragging topiary into the 21st century with a fresh approach Their work showcases how this green sculpture can
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There’s something quite addictive about growing
Harvesting It was always late autumn when we held harvest festivals during our school assemblies. The few times when we sang at double forte to the annual rendition of We Plough the Fields and Scatter and presumed that the fresh produce we
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John Lewis-Stempel's ode to ‘The Queen of Trees’
In his latest book, John Lewis-Stempel immerses himself in this country’s distinctive habitats, from chalk downland to woodland, and fen to coastal cliffs. In this extract, he sings the praises of ‘The Queen of Trees’, the noble beech John Lewis-Stempel
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Top tips for bulb planting season in the garden
The planting of spring bulbs such as daffodils, crocus and tulips can begin as early as late August, nudging into September, but the majority of us tackle this job from October onwards. This month, we complete the planting of our annual bulb display
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Pruning and protecting tender plants in the garden this month
Pruning, protecting tender plants, raking fallen leaves, and planting bulbs for spring are among the jobs you can be doing in your garden says Threave Garden instructor Nadine Stotten-Thom PHOTOGRAPHY BY KEITH KIRK PRUNE HARD Cutting back
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Journalist and author Ben Macintyre at Stroud Book Festival
Journalist and author Ben Macintyre has written the first definitive account of the SAS storming of the Iranian embassy in 1980. We in the UK watched it unfold live on TV. The Siege is an astonishing account of what was (vividly, horrifically, humanly
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Two award-winning Kent gardeners share their top tips
Two garden designers I particularly admire for their ability to blend the romantic softness of the English style with considered form are both based here in Kent. Marian Boswall and Roger Platts also share a desire to create sustainable designs that
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One of the most popular and reliable evergreen plants
With winter approaching and autumn colour starting to fall evergreen shrubs and trees which form the structure of the garden start to become more prominent. One of the most popular and reliable is Viburnum tinus and its cultivars, these versatile shrubs
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How to get that festive feeling in the garden
While many homes will adorn a Christmas tree as the centrepiece, there are many other green options for bringing colour and interest to your home and outside space... Perrywood houseplant and bedding manager, Alloit, proudly showing off the Poinsettia
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Conifers provide good structure, colour and interest to the garden
Andrew Pitman Plants Department Manager at Monkton Elm Garden Centre offers his seasonal advice The seasonal nature of gardening is never so apparent as in autumn, with preparation for winter and planning for spring, there is usually a lot to keep
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Bringing colour to a grey season in the garden
We start the month by huddling together under a night sky to witness the crackle of a bonfire and gasp in wonder as the sky explodes into colour with ascending fireworks. This is the start of winter, and for many, a cosy time. Woolly jumpers are donned
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The rise in community gardens across Hampshire
The greater awareness of the physical and mental health benefits of being in nature and gardening is seeing a rise in community gardens across the country, including here in Hampshire. Community gardens are for everyone, whether just visiting and chatting
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10 things to do in the garden in the month of November
10 things to do in the garden during November Daylight hours The clocks have gone back, the mercury has dropped and we can feel that winter is almost upon us. The shortening days and colder weather can feel a little daunting at times, so it
