This was my first visit to The RHS Tatton Flower Show – despite living less than 20 minutes from the park for nearly 30 years! Shame on me… It was somehow a chance to reminisce – the last time I was here was to fly model aeroplanes across the wide expanse of parkland, my interests have changed somewhat over the years!

Young designers seem to creating most of the waves this year at the RHS flower shows.

James Callicott and Jack Dunckley at Hampton Court and at Tatton we saw the finalists of the Young Designer of the Year fight it out - not only for the opportunity of helping with the design of next years Champagne Laurent Perrier garden at Chelsea but as it turned out winning best in Show at Tatton.

Hugo Bugg fought off stiff competition from fellow finalists Olivia Stewart & William Quarmby to win Gold, Best in Show and RHS Young Designer of the Year. He collected his award from Elizabeth Banks the new President of the RHS.

The Albert Dock Garden by Hugo Bugg

It is also good to see the schools gardens which actively encourage children to explore gardening. There were some lovely exhibits – all naturally bright and vibrant on a nursery rhyme and children’s story theme.

Peter Rabbit

Humpty Dumpty

There was also a category called Tunes in Bloom for schools which produced some interesting entries.

The category that is particular to Tatton are the Back to Back Gardens. This spawned some great awards from the entrants this year as they fared much better than the Show Gardens Category

Amongst the Gold Medals were a Plant Hunters Retreat which caught my eye when I saw the modern take on A Wardian Case - a kind of mobile cold frame – used by Plant Hunters to bring their finds home.

Chic Tranquility which was well executed and had some nice touches – if a little vibrant on the green – and impractical with white decking!

Two gardens though that exhibited plenty of take home ability in this category were the Shower Time Garden and Visit Plantation: Colonial Chic & Bajan Roots Garden

Shower Time

Two gardens in one from Visit Plantation

As ever the Visionary Gardens cause a certain amount of controversy. Are they gardens or are they art? One visitor visibly turned their nose up at these gardens expressing the view that they would never want anything like this in their garden. That probably misses the point – if there is a point!

What did these visitors make of ‘A Matter of Time’?

Wave Dance showed a very strong rhythm with some powerful imagery.

My overall take on the show was that it was rather thin on the ground – perhaps as a result of the current economic climate. Exhibitors, designers and sponsors seemed to have tightened their belts – yet I met with another Garden Network member who was busier than ever with live commissions which hardly seems to support this theory!

Water conservation is a hot topic this year and will undoubtedly be a feature for years to come. Part of the UK is currently facing a hosepipe ban following the lowest rainfall for 74 years. In common with most other ecological subjects there is a simple way of approaching this

– Reduce – Reuse – Recycle.

Reduce the need for water in the garden.

• Select plants that are drought tolerant, remembering that they are probably only drought tolerant once they are established.
• Apply a mulch to borders – this will help reduce water loss through evaporation
• Add organic material to beds and borders. Whether you have clay or sandy soil this will help retain more water.
• Apply a light dressing of compost to lawns to help protect grass from higher temperatures.
• Let your grass grow – it will stay greener for longer if it is left longer!

Reuse water in the home and garden

• Consider saving and reusing bath water and other grey water for situations that don’t need fresh drinking water quality – this includes watering the garden
• There are grey-water systems that can be installed which help with this

Recycle water

• Install rainwater collection by fitting a water butt to every downpipe on your property. Including garages and greenhouses. This can help with storm-water management if the overflow is channelled to a rain garden.
• Increase water storage capacity by connecting several butts or installing a larger collection container where space permits

These are all good practices whether you are currently under the North West of England hosepipe ban or on a water meter and want to save money from literally going down the drain!

Useful links

Environment Agency

Waterwise

DEFRA

Turf Growers Association

Student Exhibition 2010 from Duncan Heather on Vimeo.

Guest article from Heather Gorringe at Wiggly Wigglers

Worm composting – is it worth the effort?

Well,  I am a bit biased! I’ve been worm composting for 21 years…

They’re great at food waste…

Each year an estimated 8.3 million tonnes of food is thrown away by households in the UK and this costs the average family with children £680 a year! Definitely time to reduce our buying habits and increase what we use ourselves before we ever let the worms get munching!

You can make your own wormery (there’s lots of information online) or buy a complete kit.

Here’s a few tips to ensure success.

•           Wormeries work best with kitchen scraps such as vegetable peelings.
•           Worms like variety. Don't give them too much of any one thing!
•           A wormery is usually too small to process large quantities of garden waste.
•           Don't add too much citrus peel, or meat and fish scraps.
•           Rabbit, dog and cat hairs all work well in your wormery.
•           Don't add more waste until the previous addition has begun to be composted.
•           Keep the waste covered to discourage fruit flies (or wrap it in a bit of newspaper).
•           Don't allow the bin to get too hot or dry out.
•           Mix in some shredded cardboard from time to time to ensure your compost is not too wet.

Using your compost and liquid feed.

Your worm casts are really rich and often referred to as black gold. Use as a fertiliser under your beans and veg, use as a  top dressing, or make your own potting compost using 25% worm casts as the base. Mix your liquid feed one part feed with ten parts water.

A worm composter does need a little TLC,  and is certainly not a waste disposal machine… - but they are much more fun to watch in my view and the World’s fastest natural composters!

The Thrive garden ‘The Unexpected Gardener’ is a small urban garden created by award-winning designer and Garden Network member Jo Thompson.  which demonstrates how the charity helps people with disabilities change their lives through gardening.

They have won a prestigious RHS Gold medal and come away with the Best Urban Garden award at Chelsea Flower Show 2010.

The garden displayed exquisite planting and was much admired visitors to the show.

The show, billed as the best flower show in the world had a more accessible air about it, with perhaps less controversy than some years, but the standard was high overall with more Gold Medals given than previously, which is a strong indication of the high standards expected and achieved at Chelsea.

Other gardens that caught my eye were the Global Stones Bee Friendly Garden

which was truly buzzing!

And the Rhubrab Crumble and Custard Garden which was certainly quirky!

The Cancer Research Garden by Robert Myers stood out for me in the Show Garden Category

And perhaps the most rewarding was the Eden Project's Places of Change which was the largest garden ever created at Chelsea and was contributed to by a team of over 500 homeless people giving them some hope for a brighter future. It was certainly an impressive garden.

Congratulations to everyone involved and especially the medal winners. A thoroughly enjoyable day out.

You can vote for your favourite garden on the RHS Website for the Peoples Choice

NFU MUTUAL COMES TOP FOUR YEARS IN A ROW

                            IN AUTO EXPRESS SURVEY

 - Customers vote NFU Mutual UK’s best car insurance provider –

For the fourth year in a row, NFU Mutual the UK’s leading rural insurer, has been rated as Britain’s best car insurance provider by readers of Auto Express magazine.

The magazine’s ‘Driver Power’ survey results covered 45 leading insurance providers and readers were asked to rate their own insurer across four categories – value for money, helpfulness, communication, and overall service. 

NFU Mutual was ranked top in all areas.

Auto Express also asked its readers whether they would buy another policy from their existing insurance provider.  An overwhelming 96 per cent of NFU Mutual’s customers said they would.

Lindsay Sinclair, Group Chief Executive at NFU Mutual said: “For me awards based on readers’ surveys are the most valuable because they are what our customers really think.

“So, to know that we’ve won this award for the fourth year running is truly a ringing endorsement of our philosophy of providing our customers with the extent of cover they need, at a fair price – with first class service.

“That’s what makes NFU Mutual so special.” 

David Johns, Editor in Chief of Auto Express, said: “Our readers are very difficult to please, so NFU Mutual’s unprecedented achievement of winning the top Driver Power award four years in a row is all the more impressive. 

“No matter what they are choosing – whether it be a new car or insurance policy – Auto Express readers demand not only great value but great quality and service, too.  Clearly NFU Mutual ticks all the right boxes, year after year.”

One of the readers surveyed said of NFU Mutual: “Simply the friendliest, most helpful and quick to respond of any others I have heard about.  I now wouldn’t think of leaving them.”

The Garden Network is the largest and friendliest online forum and garden resource.

Use our powerful search function to find a garden designer to suit your needs, check out their profile and view examples of their work.

Wherever you are based there are local garden designers on hand to help you make the most of your garden, so whether you are in London and the South East, or in the North of england or Scotland or maybe in the Cotswolds or West Country you are sure to be able to find a suitable company to help you out.

If you need advice on any aspect of gardening use our friendly forum to ask your question, someone will have an answer to help you on your way.

Happy gardening

Tim

Tips on how to get the most out of the Garden Network

We will be sharing some tips for getting the most out of the largest online gardening community.

The Garden Network is a social network in the same way as Facebook or Twitter and there are some guidelines which will help you get more out of it.

We hope that you find these tips useful and that as a result you will get more out of this fast growing online community.

The 'social' part of 'social networking' describes how relationships need to be based. This is more than simply business - so here are a couple of do's and don'ts that will help you. While these are perhaps more angled at businesses on TGN they are also valuable tools for individuals wanting to get more out of the site - feel free to contact me if you need further guidance

DO -

• Show an interest in what others are doing
• Share information that might be of interest to other members on the site
• Share contacts and help with introductions - networking is a very powerful way to find information and useful contacts
• Share personal things about yourself - allow people to get to know a part of you (remembering of course that this is a global environment)
• Demonstrate expertise and knowledge in your given field

DON'T -

• Don't only sell - In the same way that you would not go to a face to face networking meeting or social gathering and try and sell your services straight away. Think how you react when faced with this approach - most people 'switch off' straight away!

Social networking is a formidable tool in helping us find information and used effectively it is a powerful ally that can be used to everyones advantage. Mix blogging and posting on the forum with a show of your current project in your portfolio to increase your presence.

These tips are adapted from advice given by Mary Thomas of Concise Training in her 'Social Networking Guide' 

Thrive's debut show garden is designed by Jo Thompson and built by Adam Frost
 
To celebrate Thrive’s debut garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, we are holding a fantastic prize draw.

The lucky winners will receive 2 free tickets for the show on 26th May 2010 with an early evening behind the scenes tour with prominent garden designer and RHS judge Andrew Fisher Tomlin.

Andrew is also a Thrive Trustee and he will take our winners around the gardens and give an insider’s view on the designs, how the gardens are created and how the judges choose the medal winners.

Don’t miss the chance to enter our draw – simply send an email to info@thrive.org.uk and give us your:

• name
• email address
• how you heard about the prize draw and promotional code 'The Garden Network'

This draw requires you to supply us with your e-mail details and by submitting this information you are agreeing to receive information from us. You must indicate clearly if you do NOT wish your details to be added to our e-mailing list.

You can also enter by calling Thrive on 0118 988 5688.

The closing date for receipt of entries is 12.00pm on Friday 14 May 2010.

We will not publish or provide your e-mail address to a third party. Only one entry will be accepted per person. If you are under the age of 16, you must obtain permission from your parent/guardian before entering. Incomplete entries and late entries will not be considered. Full terms and conditions are available from Thrive on request.

I'm deligthed to announce that we have a new online store in the form of the Garden Boutique

Garden Boutique is opearted by our very own Alice Bowe and features Gorgeous gifts for Garden Lovers

With Christmas fast approaching you are sure to find something suitable!

Check out the store now

Tim

Blooming Direct have a new 5% discount voucher available from now until the end of October Code: Autumn09 Great for Autumn plants / Bulbs and Christmas Gifts for the gardener

Firepits are flying out the door as ever here at Raw Garden, and we've just had a fresh delivery of all our most popular firepits - so now is a great time to promote the must have garden accessory. Please see below our great range to suit all tastes and pockets. We also have a complete range of covers for all firepits which can be found on the product pages.

Contents:-
Firepits

Firepits

Hotspot Safety Fire Pit

The original Safety Fire Pit is constructed from cast iron to provide a durable and long lasting product. The fire pit doubles up as a grill, with a chrome hinged cooking grill. It includes a steel spark guard and a safety ring around the perimeter for added safety for those with children and pets.
Our Price £69.99

Hotspot Urban Fire Pit 550

The Hotspot Urban Fire Pit 550 includes a spun steel firebowl, stainless steel safety ring around the perimeter (for those of you with childern or pets) and hinged cooking grill. Urban firepits create the experience of a real fire feeling in the garden, providing atmospheric lighting and heat. It is constructed from spun steel providing a durable and long-lasting product.
Our Price £69.99

Grill Tech Terrace Brazier

What we like about the Grill Tech Terrace Brazier is how good it looks in the modern home and garden. It is a particularly trendy fire pit, made from high quality spun steel with stainless steel legs. It comes complete with a sliding/folding safety lid, has fold-away handles for easy manoeuvrability and even has clawed feet which allow it to sit level on uneven surfaces. The firebowl is plenty big enough to fit lots of logs. There is also a grill included for occasional cooking.
Our Price £89.99

Hotspot Urban Fire Pit 650

The Hotspot Urban 650 Fire Pit includes a spun steel firebowl, stainless steel safety ring around the perimeter (for those of you with children or pets) and hinged cooking grill. Urban firepits create the experience of a real fire feeling in the garden, providing atmospheric lighting and heat. It is constructed from spun steel providing a durable and long-lasting product.
Our Price £89.99

Hotspot Square Brazier

The Hotspot Square Brazier, constructed in a combination of steels, comes complete with a double grill, spark guard (for those of you with children or pets) and stainless steel legs. The Hotspot Square Brazier allows the experience of a real fire feeling on the patio, providing atmospheric lighting and heat. It is constructed from steel and stainless steel, with a chrome cooking grill providing a durable and long-lasting product.
Our Price £99.99

Bon-Fire Starter Set 1

Isn`t it fabulous that the Bon-Fire lets you grill and boil at the same time! You can put steaks on the grill while your potatoes boil merrily in the beautifully enamelled pot. To finish the perfect evening meal, why not boil fresh water for a nice cup of tea or coffee while watching the sun set. Magical!

Our Bon-Fire Starter Package gives you a helping hand with a new and exciting way to prepare and cook delicious food.
Our Price £125.00

Hotspot Urban Fire Pit 880

The Hotspot Urban 880 Fire Pit includes a spun steel firebowl, stainless steel safety ring around the perimeter (for those of you with children or pets) and hinged cooking grill. Urban firepits create the experience of a real fire feeling in the garden, providing atmospheric lighting and heat. It is constructed from spun steel providing a durable and long-lasting product. Mesh fire gard included
Our Price £129.99

Bon-Fire Starter Set 2

Isn`t it fabulous that the Bon-Fire lets you grill and boil at the same time! You can put steaks on the grill while your potatoes boil merrily in the beautifully enamelled pot. To finish the perfect evening meal, why not boil fresh water for a nice cup of tea or coffee while watching the sun set. Magical!

Our Bon-Fire Starter Package gives you a helping hand with a new and exciting way to prepare and cook delicious food.
Our Price £145.00

Dancook 9000 Charcoal Barbecue, Brazier and Fire Pit

When purchased with the revolving holder, barbecue pan and grill the 9000 transforms into a fully functional barbecue. This versatile product can also become a very stylish coffee table when purchased with the stainless steel lid. This brazier is a natural gathering point for the whole family, using both wood and charcoal for the bonfire. This is safer for children due to height and because the edges of the bonfire do not get warm. The bowl is made from stainless steel and the legs are Teflon-coated aluminium. The cooking grid is made out of a chromium-plated steel, which makes for a better distribution of the heat.
Our Price £149.99

Bon-Fire Complete Deluxe Package

The Bon-Fire Deluxe Package is everything you need to prepare and cook amazing food at home on the terrace, in the garden, by the holiday house, on the beach, or in the woods!
Our Price £279.00

BBC Gardeners World Magazine is the UK's biggest selling gardening magazine. Subscribe here and get a 25% discount.

Other BBC publications you may be interested in...

Dear Garden Network Members

Garden & Homes Direct have some great offers on Sunloungers, outdoor furniture, Bar-b-q's and gazebos and you can use the discount code Summer09 to get a discount of 8%.

Did You Know? – we offer
FREE DELIVERY on ALL products for all customers and no minimum spend.
 
Buy 2 get one FREE on some products,

3 Acers for £15.98

3 Cordylines for £15.98

Impatiens Summer Waterfall 100 Plants +60 Free for £9.99

Geranium Fire Queen 50 Plants +20 Free for £9.99

Geranium Mixed Ivy (Trailing) 30 Plants for £13.99

MowDirect have the voucher code MowDirect20. This ongoing voucher offers £20 off orders of over £300.

Tuffcut – a new range of petrol lawnmowers – high value items which sell in good numbers: http://www.mowdirect.co.uk/acatalog/TUFF_CUT_LAWNMOWERS_PETROL_ROTARY.html

Ryobi Brushcutter + Free Cultivator attachment – exclusive Mow Direct deal run in conjunction with manufacturer: http://www.mowdirect.co.uk/acatalog/RYOBI_RBC30SES-AQTT_PETROL_BRUSHCUTTER_MINI_CULTIVATOR_COMBI_TOOL_EXCLUSIVE_SPECIAL_OFFER.html

Best selling individual petrol lawnmowers:

Einhell 'Royal' BM51-S Self-propelled Petrol Rotary Lawnmower: http://www.mowdirect.co.uk/acatalog/EINHELL-ROYAL-BM-51-S-SELF-PROPELLED-4-WHEELED-PETROL-ROTARY-LAWNMOWER.html

Victus self-propelled petrol lawn mower: http://www.mowdirect.co.uk/acatalog/VICTUS-VSS48-H135-PETROL-SELF-PROPELLED-LAWN-MOWER.html

Victus petrol push lawnmower: http://www.mowdirect.co.uk/acatalog/VICTUS-VSP48-K40-PETROL-PUSH-LAWNMOWER.html

Flymo XL500 Plus petrol hover lawnmower: http://www.mowdirect.co.uk/acatalog/NEW--FLYMO-XL500-PLUS-PETROL-HOVER-MOWER--FOUR-STROKE-.html

McCulloch 46RSD Petrol Rear Roller Lawnmower: http://www.mowdirect.co.uk/acatalog/McCULLOCH-TITANIUM-46RSD-SELF-PROPELLED-PETROL-REAR-ROLLER-LAWNMOWER.html

Bosch Rotak 36 Rotary Lawn Mower: http://www.mowdirect.co.uk/acatalog/BOSCH-ROTAK-36-ELECTRIC-FOUR-WHEEL-LAWN-MOWER.html

Best selling ride-on mowers:

Lawnflite 603 lawn tractor: http://www.mowdirect.co.uk/acatalog/LAWNFLITE-603-LAWN-TRACTOR---SPECIAL-OFFER-A.html

Lawnflite 703LT Lawn Tractor: http://www.mowdirect.co.uk/acatalog/LAWNFLITE-703LT-LAWN-TRACTOR---SPECIAL-OFFER-A.html

Mountfield 1540H Lawn Tractor: http://www.mowdirect.co.uk/acatalog/MOUNTFIELD-1540H-LAWN-TRACTOR-MOWER--SPECIAL-OFFER-.html

MTD Mowmaster RS125/96T Lawn & Garden Tractor: http://www.mowdirect.co.uk/acatalog/MTD-MOWMASTER-RS125-96T-LAWN---GARDEN-TRACTOR---FREE-LMC-20L-EU-TRACTOR-COVER.html

Mountfield 1436H Lawn Tractor: http://www.mowdirect.co.uk/acatalog/MOUNTFIELD-1436H-LAWN-TRACTOR-MOWER--SPECIAL-OFFER-.html

Other fast selling items:

Lawnflite S2690K Long Reach Hedgetrimmer / Brushcutter Combi Kit: http://www.mowdirect.co.uk/acatalog/MTD-LAWNFLITE-LONG-REACH-HEDGETRIMMER---BRUSHCUTTER-COMBI-KIT--CODE--S2690K---EH22-.html

Tanaka Line Trimmer: http://www.mowdirect.co.uk/acatalog/TANAKA-TBC-230S-LINE-TRIMMER--SPECIAL-OFFER-.html

Tanaka Hedgecutter: http://www.mowdirect.co.uk/acatalog/TANAKA-THT-2000-HEDGECUTTER-WITH-TWIST-GRIP-HANDLE.html

Ryobi RPT400 Electric Long Reach Telescopic Hedgecutter: http://www.mowdirect.co.uk/acatalog/RYOBI_RPT-400_ARTICULATING_POLE_HEDGECUTTER.html

Lawnflite-Robin Hedgetrimmer: http://www.mowdirect.co.uk/acatalog/LAWNFLITE-ROBIN-LR2560W-LONG-REACH-HEDGETRIMMER--SPECIAL-OFFER-.html

Einhell BMH-33/36 Single-Speed Petrol Mini-Tiller: http://www.mowdirect.co.uk/acatalog/EINHELL--ROYAL--BMH-33-36-PETROL-MINI-TILLER.html

Mountfield Manor Cultivator: http://www.mowdirect.co.uk/acatalog/MOUNTFIELD-MANOR-35-CULTIVATOR.html

Bosch Ciso Cordless Secateur: http://www.mowdirect.co.uk/acatalog/CORDLESS_SECATEURS.html

Ryobi line trimmer: http://www.mowdirect.co.uk/acatalog/RYOBI-RLT-30HT-LINE-TRIMMER-WITH-FREE-AHF03-HEDGETRIMMER-ATTACHMENT--SPECIAL-OFFER-.html

We are continually adding new stores to our shopping pages. These are carefully selected to offer a wide range of items that we hope will be of interest to you as a member of The Garden Newtork. By clicking through to the links and purchasing from these stores The Garden Network gains a small commission - at no extra cost to you - indeed in many instances we have special offers available online. Using our shopping area helps to keep The Garden Network free.

Recent additions include the RHS 

Who need no introduction.

We have also added Cobland Plants who have an extensive nursery of plants for purchase online including some large plants.

We have also added PondKeeper for their range of Pond linings and equipment. 

There are also a couple of other shops including Joules Clothing & Majestic Wines

We hope you enjoy your shopping experience and, as always, let us know which stores you would like to see featured. As mentioned above we get notification of special offers and discounts through frequently, so you can benefit even more. Thanks.

Welcome to my first blog as the new TGN Admin!

We are constantly striving to improve the site for the benefit of our members and deliver content that will be useful to you as well as all of the benefits gained by being part of this rapidly growing online community.

One of the key areas you can support this work is via the shopping area. We have a wide selection of stores offering everything from plants to greenhouses, clothes to tools, books and DVD's - it's all there! Clicking though from this site to these stores to make your purchase generates a small commission which helps support the network.

We have added some new stores which now include Thompson & Morgan - who have some great offers on plants & seeds at the moment

We have also added Jersey Plants Direct after they received praise from one of our members.  

Another addition is for UK Water Features who are members of the Garden Network

Do you use other online stores that would benefit other Garden Network members? If so do let me know about them and I'll see what I can do to include them.

Many thanks for your support - happy gardening.

TGN Admin