Cuttings from Coolings - Spring 2020 by Coolings Garden Centre

- F RO M C O O L I N G S -

SPRING

White flowering perennials Pages 4-5

2020

Tea and cake for £4.50 Pages 16-17

Moroccan bedding colours Pages 10-11

Main image: Prunus x amygdalo-persica ‘Spring Glow’

THE EXPERIENCE IS GROWING The Gardener’s Garden Centre

Book a Personalised Shopping Experience! Our FREE personal shopper experience will allow you to maximise the potential of your outdoor space by creating beautiful garden beds and borders. Our horticultural experts will provide you with their plant recommendations, to provide year round colour and interest and will give you the best advice on how to care for them.

WelcomeCoolings to

Dear Friends, 2020 is an exciting time for us, looking forward to the next decade. Our recent expansion and investment means our four garden centres are at the forefront of plant production and our focus on quality and sustainability means that we are proud to say the group is ahead of the curve and working hard to maintain our standards and sustainable practices. I hope you will see the evidence of this at all our sites, in our plants, shop products and when visiting our restaurants and cafes. I am reminded of Darwin’s quote that “Those that survive are not the largest, strongest or fastest but are those that are most adaptable to change”. Now that Coolings has four sites (addresses can be found on the back cover), adapting to change is more important than ever. Economies of scale will help us to remain competitive whilst greater opportunities now exist for those of our team who wish to progress.

Book your appointment today by contacting your local Coolings garden centre. It will be an IN STORE appointment. CONTACT US

 telephone or email

Coolings Rushmore Hill:  01959 532269 or  coolings@coolings.co.uk Coolings Potted Garden Nursery:  01622 737801 or  pottedgardennursery@coolings.co.uk

As in previous years, we are joined in anticipation of a busy Spring by many new full time and part-time colleagues, both seasonal and permanent. At our recent open day for prospective employees, I was most impressed by the calibre of those keen to join the existing team. We know that the quality of our plants (and cakes) is important to you but we also

Simply contact your local Coolings garden centre today to book a personal shopper appointment, or visit our website for more information.

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Appointments are available from Tuesday to Friday only. Experiences must be booked in advance and all dates are subject to availability. Each booked appointment slot is for a one hour duration.

Regardless of which Coolings site is now your closest, the teams at our two locations in Knockholt, at Bearsted near Maidstone and at Wych Cross in the Ashdown Forest are all keen to help you in the year ahead for all your gardening needs. We look forward to welcoming you soon,

Chairman Coolings

With gardening and horticultural courses covering a broad range of topics and abilities, you’re sure to find one that suits your own interests and time commitments.

HOME DELIVERY SERVICE

On the topic of excellent staff, we said goodbye to our Assistant Shop Manager, Annika, at the start of this year. Annika joined us as a seasonal staff member, working in the shop and Arthurs restaurant, and ended up staying for 20 years! Anyone who worked with Annika will know of her friendly and chatty personality and her willingness to help anyone. We are lucky to have had her with us for all these years and wish her a long and happy retirement.

• RHS Level Qualifications • Garden Design • Beginner or more advanced • Daytime and evening options

BOOK A SLOT

Delivery charges may apply.

know that it’s the people who give the excellent service that set us apart from our competitors so I am very pleased that this looks set to continue throughout 2020.

Love gardening but want to learn more?

Coolings Wych Cross:  01342 822705 or  wychcross@coolings.co.uk

Using our fleet of environmentally friendly, biodiesel powered vans, our very own delivery team can bring your purchases direct to you.

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Bergenia ‘Bressingham White’ Masses of pretty white flowers bloom in early Spring. This easy to grow evergreen perennial will be happy in sun or shade.

Pulmonaria ‘Sissinghurst White’ AGM winning with mottled leaves, this Pulmonaria is a reliable performer and has fantastic disease and pest resilience.

Dianthus ‘Memories’ This compact Dianthus has brilliant white flowers. Its fragrant scent is perfect for entertaining areas and entrance ways.

Becky Ellis

If you are looking for a more relaxed, soft and inviting garden then white flowering perennials are a superb option. Our herbaceous expert, Becky, has hand-picked some of her favourite choices. Allium ‘Mount Everest’ These statuesque flowers (growing to 90-100cm) are a firm favourite and look stunning soaring up the back of a border.

Aquilegia ‘Dove’ This iconic cottage garden plant is eyecatching when grown underneath shrubs and roses and as an added bonus, is fairly undemanding.

Dicentra spectabilis ‘Alba’ This shade lover, with arching wands of heart-shaped white flowers, will brighten up any dull corner.

Our range of outdoor products are a perfect way to achieve the shabby chic theme. Our expert Sam has selected some of his favourites. Brunnera macrophylla ‘Betty Bowring’ Sprays of pure white forget-me-not like flowers are produced in April and May, perfect for a shady garden.

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Scabious ‘Kudos White’ This large flowering Scabious is a great garden addition and is loved by bees. With regular deadheading, the show will keep on going.

Bicycle Planter A lovely garden feature, this bicycle planter is a great home for trailing plants.

Bovingdon Mirror This arched mirror has a wonderful shabby chic finish and is a terrific way to make your garden appear bigger.

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Sam Smith

Spike Hedgehog These garden animals are eye-catching when placed on a patio or in a border. Spike is one of our favourites. F RO M C O O L I N G S

Proven Winners:

Buddleja-Lilac-Chip

Hydrangea-RubyAnnabelle

Spiraea-DoublePlay-Big-Bang

A new prestigious range of plants exclusive to Coolings

The Proven Winners brand is a prestigious range of vibrant shrubs and here at Coolings we are delighted to be the only garden centre in the UK to have the full selection of new varieties. Each plant variety is stringently trialed and tested, with only the best performing varieties selected. The breeders select plants based on their disease resistance, growth habit, performance in drought and prolonged flowering. The benefit to you is plants which requires less chemical input and are stronger, performing better in your garden. In keeping with our environmental outlook, branded plant pots are recyclable. Our Assistant Plant Manager, Adam, has profiled a few of the new UK varieties at Coolings. Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Gatsby® Gal’ This rounded shrub has a profusion of upright white panicles that fade to pink with age, and its compact growth habit makes it suitable for smaller gardens. White flowers contrast nicely against oak shaped, bronze tinged leaves.

Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Gatsby® Gal’

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Viburnum ‘Shiny Dancer®’ Stunning shiny evergreen foliage is the main attraction, with an eyecatching bronze tinge as new foliage emerges. This is great as a specimen shrub in a medium sized border, with attractive white panicles of flowers in early Spring.

Buddleja Chip® x ‘Lilac Chip’

Spiraea japonica ‘Double Play® Big Bang’ Almost burnt orange new foliage emerges in spring and gradually fades to yellow. This Spiraea has a nice dwarf mounded habit and a long lasting flowering period in Summer. This variety has been chosen for its pink flowers that are larger than previous varieties.

Rhododendron ‘Bollywood®’ In Spring this shrub comes alive with blazing pinkish red flowers that contrast perfectly with the variegated leaves. This semi evergreen dwarf shrub is ideal for larger pots or the front of mixed borders. Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Gatsby® Pink’ This larger plant, growing to 2m, is suitable for a bigger planted border with its showy upright pink flowers and amazing burgundy red foliage in Autumn.

Buddleja Chip® x Lilac Chip Loved by butterflies, this dwarf Buddleja has attractive lilac flowers that last from early Summer through to Autumn. It has a compact and neat growth habit, reaching up to 60cm tall.

Hydrangea arborescens ‘Ruby Annabelle®’ This compact Annabelle form has large clusters of ruby pink flowers throughout Summer. Suitable for a large pot or mixed border, it needs to be kept moist and not left to dry out. Hypericum kalmianum ‘Sunny Boulevard’ This tightly branched shrub is noted for its long bloom time, beginning in July and continuing until September. The flowers are rich yellow, small but numerous, with willow-like leaves. An excellent choice for adding bright colour to your garden all Summer long. 7

Kitchen Garden Herbs

Grow your Own

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Having your own kitchen garden at your fingertips is not only convenient but hugely satisfying, plus a great way to cut food bills and get that sense of satisfaction that comes from growing your own. Herbs can be grown in vegetable patches, allotments or even on the kitchen windowsill

Jon Reburn Sage A popular herb, Sage provides nice colour to a herb garden and flourishes in sunny, well-drained areas. Look out for ornamental purple and tricolour sage.

Mint

Mint Best grown in pots due to its vigorous nature, this frost-hardy favourite likes lots of sun and plenty of water.

and growing them is easy, so there’s really no excuse not to give it a try. Our Horticultural Manager, Jon, has selected 10 failsafe choices from the huge range available from Coolings this Spring.

See Page 19 for Buy One Get One FREE Voucher Thyme This aromatic herb is loved by wildlife. Don’t over water to allow harvest from June to September.

Sage

Chives

Chives Plant in March or April and wait for this versatile perennial to flourish. Its attractive purple flowers are an added extra for your herb garden.

Tarragon Perennial and aromatic, ideal for seasoning French food, plant Tarragon in a sunny sheltered spot and keep well-watered. Tarragon

Fennel Displaying pretty yellow flowers in early Summer, perennial Fennel is a sun lover. Sow in-situ, as it doesn’t enjoy being moved once planted.

Rosemary Evergreen and fragrant, this decorative drought tolerant plant is a flavoursome addition to a herb garden. Thyme

Fennel

Rosemary

Oregano This perennial herb, described by the Greeks as ‘the joy of the mountain’, likes sun and looks great planted along path edges.

Parsley Easy-growing Parsley can prosper in containers and borders and even does well in part-shade. Oregano

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Dill With feathery leaves that provide attractive foliage, statuesque Dill likes water and needs support to hold it in place.

Bay Attractive and ornamental, Bay looks lovely in borders or containers. Keep well-watered and feed regularly. Parsley

Bay

Dill F RO M C O O L I N G S

Geranium ‘Zonal Scarlett’

he gardening colour theme for summer 2020 is tipped to be Moroccan shades, which will bring a bright and warm feel to the garden. Many of our bedding plants capture this spirit and are available for you to create a heated Moroccan look for yourself. Our Horticultural Manager, Jon, has selected his picks for the season ahead.

Words by

Jon Rebur n

n a c c o r o M mood

See Page 19 for Buy One Get One FREE Voucher

Osteospermum ‘Blushing Beauty’ If you’re looking for vibrant colour, look no further than this exuberant Osteospermum. With its yellow and pink flowers it brings an exotic touch to the garden and makes an impressive duo with Osteospermum ‘Blue Eyed Beauty’.

Osteospermum ‘Blue Eyed Beauty’ From early Summer to mid-Autumn, this cheerful plant will produce yellow daisy-like flowers. Sun loving ‘Blue Eyed Beauty’ is ideal for border fronts or containers, adding a spray of colour to the garden.

Beautiful rich red blooms are displayed on this vigorously performing, sun-loving geranium. It impresses in flowerbeds or containers, flowering prolifically throughout Summer.

Verbena ‘Red’ This blooms energetically throughout Summer with wonderful star-shaped red flowers. It makes for an excellent ground cover plant and also works well in baskets due to its trailing habit. Deadhead when necessary to help further flowering late into the season.

Diascia ‘Apricot’ Ideal for borders or pots, this compact trailing plant produces a profusion of apricot coloured flowers from May to October, which contrast beautifully against its dark-green leaves. An excellent choice for baskets and pots.

Mini Training Petunias Easy to grow and long-flowering, with beautiful marmalade colour petals. It makes particular impact in baskets or pots, where its bright trailing style gives an exuberant display. 10

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New! Bidens ‘Blazing Fire’ This bright and compact newcomer is a stunner with its paint dipped effect; eyecatching yellow flowers, tipped with orange. It flowers abundantly, making it an ideal choice for containers or borders where it will add a bright touch.

Gazania ‘Sunbathers Totonaca’ With wide luxurious red and yellow flowers, ‘Sunbathers Totonaca’ is an impressive addition to the garden and is a long bloomer, providing interest throughout the Summer.

Helianthus Sunbelievable ‘BrownEyed-Girl’ Chelsea Flower Show’s 2018 Bronze medal for Plant of the Year, this Sunflower is a prolific flowerer and can produce over a thousand flowers during growing season. Bright and cheerful, it will drench your garden in magnificent sunshine yellow.

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Wildf lowers for Wildlife Leaving space for nature in our gardens is one practical way that we can all help wildlife to thrive. Wildflowers have declined dramatically in the British countryside along with the bees and butterflies that relied on them, so bringing them back to your garden is a great idea to attract wildlife back.

Cowslip One of the best known Spring flowers, these yellow beauties tend to be found in open woods and meadows. Cowslip likes sun or partial shade.

Oxeye Daisy

This robust daisy thrives from June to August and produces flowers that can be 6cm across.The yellow centre of the flowerhead attracts many nectar-loving insects.

Greater Knapweed

This upright perennial is a favourite of butterflies. Growing up to 75cm, it produces eyecatching pinkish purple flower heads made up of many small florets.

Planting wild flowers is easy provided you chose an area where the soil is poor; fertiliser and compost will simply encourage vigorous grass and weeds which smother them, so be careful when planting.

With their glossy evergreen foliage and exuberant Spring blooms, Camellias are desirable and attractive plants to enhance your garden. They require acid (ericaceous) soil, but if you do not have this, they will live happily in a large pot if grown in ericaceous compost. Our Horticultural Manager, Jon, has chosen some of his favourite varieties available at Coolings this Spring.

Look out for our range of wild flowers. 9cm pots will be in store from March.

Wild Foxglove

This beautiful and bold wildflower grows up to 120cm in height and brings a wonderful dash of colour. An excellent source of nectar and pollen, this is loved by bees.

Wild Marjoram

More frequently known as oregano, this plant produces delightful clusters of pink flowers and attracts butterflies and bees.

Field Scabious

Pom-pom like lilac blooms are produced atop long stalks, flowering between July and September and bring a delicate feel to the garden.

Wildflowers can also be grown from seed and we have a good range in our shop. Thompson & Morgan Wildflower multipacks are a great place to start. Thompson & Morgan Ultimate Mix - £5.99 Thompson & Morgan Cornfield Annuals Mixed - £5.99 Thompson & Morgan Meadow Mix - £5.99 F RO M C O O L I N G S

Spring Glamour! Camellia x williamsii ‘Ruby Wedding’ A dense, evergreen shrub which grows well in part shade; this impressive Camellia produces striking medium sized red flowers from February to May.

Camellia japonica ‘Brushfield’s Yellow’ With elegant creamywhite flowers and an eye-catching yellow centre, ‘Brushfield’s Yellow’ is a popular choice of Camellia.

Camellia x williamsii ‘Donation’ This RHS award-winning hybrid is a reliable Camellia which exhibits large semi-double pink flowers in early Spring.

Camellia japonica ‘Silver Anniversary’ With irregular petals, these large flowers produce interest in Spring, with distinctive golden stamen.

Camellia japonica ‘Desire’ This desirable Camellia has beautiful white and pink flowers which produce a lovely focal point in the garden.

NEW! Camellia japonica ‘Bonomiana’ ‘Bonomiana’ produces beautiful white and pink flowers in early Spring and likes a sheltered spot in the garden.

See Page 19 for £5 off Camellia Voucher Miracle-Gro Azalea

Coolings 60L Ericaceous Compost

To give your Camellias the best start, we recommend planting with Coolings 60L Ericaceous Compost. Make sure plants are well fed - our pick would be Miracle-Gro Azalea, Camellia & Rhododendron Liquid Plant Food 1L.

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pring is the season of rejuvenation and new beginnings after the long days of Winter. As the garden gradually awakens there are fresh discoveries to be enjoyed as Spring flowering plants reveal their beauty. Among the loveliest and most useful of these are early flowering clematis which are ideal for scrambling up obelisks or covering unsightly walls and fences and are perfect for free draining locations. They are easy to care for by pruning if required immediately after flowering. Here are a few of our favourites.

Queen of

Clematis armandii ‘Snowdrift’ This vigorous evergreen climber is covered with clusters of perfumed starshaped white flowers in March. Avoid exposed areas for best growth.

C L I M B E R S

This late spring flowering Clematis is a cheeky climber with nodding pink bell shaped flowers. Ideal for growing up trellis or an archway.

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Obelisks and arches are ideal homes for your climbing Clematises to flourish and can also add attractive structure to your garden. Here are a few choices to give you some garden inspiration.

Clematis alpine ‘Constance’ This medium-sized climber produces beautiful bright pink and white flowers in Spring and has a RHS Award of Garden Merit.

Tom Chambers Nostell Obelisk Prices beginning at £24.99 This detailed contemporary obelisk comes in three sizes.

Clematis macropetala ‘Blue Lagoon’ Semi-double blue flowers with silvery seed heads make this tough and slender climber an attractive choice. Ideal for tumbling over a garden fence or wall.

Clematis alpina ‘Willy’

Clematis montana ‘Fragrant Spring’ With attractive light pink flowers and a lovely vanilla scent, this is an ideal climber to cloak a fence or scramble through a tree.

Obelisks & Arches

Clematis ‘Early Sensation’ Ideal for a sheltered location, this lovely climber has attractive evergreen foliage and beautiful white flowers. When grown alongside Clematis ‘Avalanche’ for pollination it also produces the added bonus of amazing ornamental seed heads!

Clematis ‘Korean Brunette’ A deciduous climber producing dramatic purple-red bell shaped flowers. A versatile plant which is loved by bees.

Tom Chambers Priory Obelisk £24.99 The decorative Priory obelisk is a classic choice, standing at 1.7m tall.

Panacea Arched Top Arch This pretty arch can add structure to your garden. This Arched Top Arch costs £69.99.

Not available at all sites

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Food & Drink offers with... Coolings The Gardener’s Garden Centre -

ARTHURS

Vouchers can only be redeemed upon presentation of a Coolings Family Card. Coolings may refuse to redeem the voucher without a Family Card. Offers are not valid at all sites, please see voucher for details.

Coolings Green & Pleasant -

Coolings Wych Cross -

THE BLUEBERRY CAFÉ

THE HYBRID TEA ROOM

Coolings Potted Garden Nursery -

THE GARDENER’S CAFÉ

2 Mar - 13 Mar 2020

2 Mar - 13th Mar 2020

Valid in Arthurs at The Gardener’s Garden Centre, Rushmore Hill Monday - Friday 12-3pm

Valid in Blueberry Café at Green & Pleasant, Main Road Monday - Friday 12-3pm

Valid in The Hybrid Tea Room at Wych Cross Garden Centre, Wych Cross Monday - Friday 12-2.30pm

Valid in The Gardener’s Cafe at Potted Garden Nursery, Bearsted Monday - Friday 12-2.30pm

Valid once per voucher. Voucher must be presented at time of ordering. Subject to availability. Cannot be used in conjunction with any other voucher / promotion. Only valid on presentation of your Coolings Family Card at time of redemption. Coolings reserves right to amend terms, full terms see www.coolings.co.uk.

14 - 27th Mar 2020

Valid in The Hybrid Tea Room at Wych Cross Garden Centre, Wych Cross Monday - Sunday 9-11.30am (from 10am on Sundays).

Valid in The Gardener’s Cafe at Potted Garden Nursery, Bearsted Monday - Sunday 10-11.30am

3 Mar - 26 Mar 2020

Buy One Get One FREE on our Pre-Booked Afternoon Tea Booking ONLY available on Tuesdays and Thursdays and must be pre-booked. Call 01959 532269 to book. BOGOF also applicable when purchasing Afternoon Tea Gift Vouchers. Valid in Arthurs at The

Gardener’s Garden Centre, Rushmore Hill Tuesday & Thursday Only 2.30-4.30pm.Valid

Buy One Get One Half Price Jacket Potato

2 Mar - 27th Mar 2020

Buy One Get One FREE on our Pre Booked Afternoon Tea Call 01959 534386 to book your Afternoon Tea. Valid in Blueberry Café at Green & Pleasant, Main Road Monday - Friday 12-3pm Valid once per

Buy One Get One Half Price Jacket Potato Li St mit oc ed k

Buy One Get One Half Price Jacket Potato

Buy One Get One FREE ‘Gardener’s’ Breakfast

Valid once per voucher. Voucher must be presented at time of ordering. Subject to availability. Cannot be used in conjunction with any other voucher / promotion. Only valid when you present your Coolings Family card at time of redemption. Coolings reserves right to amend terms, see www.coolings.co.uk

Buy One Get One Half Price Jacket Potato

Buy One Get One FREE ‘Gardener’s’ Breakfast

once per voucher. Voucher must be presented at time of ordering. Subject to availability. Cannot be used in conjunction with any other voucher / promotion. Only valid on presentation of your Coolings Family Card at time of redemption. Coolings reserves right to amend terms, full terms see www.coolings.co.uk.

voucher. Voucher must be presented at time of ordering. Subject to availability. Cannot be used in conjunction with any other voucher / promotion. Only valid on presentation of your Coolings Family Card at time of redemption. Coolings reserves right to amend terms, full terms see www.coolings.co.uk

1-4 & 6-9th Apr 2020

23 - 27th Mar 2020

1 Apr - 9th Apr 2020

Valid in Arthurs at The Gardener’s Garden Centre, Rushmore Hill Monday - Friday 9-11am

Valid in Blueberry Café at Green & Pleasant, Main Road. Monday - Friday 9-11.30am

Valid in The Hybrid Tea Room at Wych Cross Garden Centre, Wych Cross Monday - Sunday 2.30-4.30pm.

Valid in The Gardener’s Cafe at Potted Garden Nursery, Bearsted Monday - Sunday 2.30-4pm

14 – 30th Apr 2020

20 - 24th Apr 2020

1 Apr - 30th Apr 2020

Valid in The Hybrid Tea Room at Wych Cross Garden Centre, Wych Cross Monday - Saturday Only 9-11am

Valid in The Gardener’s Cafe at Potted Garden Nursery, Bearsted Monday - Saturday Only 10-11.30am

Buy One Get One FREE ‘Seedling’ Breakfast

Free Pot of Tea or Americano with any Breakfast item when spending over £5 Valid in Arthurs at The Gardener’s Garden Centre, Rushmore Hill Monday - Friday 9-11.30am Valid for 2 people per voucher. Voucher

must be presented at time of ordering. Subject to availability. Cannot be used in conjunction with any other voucher / promotion. Only valid when you present your Coolings Family card at time of redemption. Coolings reserves right to amend terms, see www.coolings.co.uk

Buy One Get One FREE ‘Classic’ Breakfast

FREE Pot of Tea or Americano Coffee with any Hot Breakfast Valid in Blueberry Café at Green & Pleasant, Main Road. Monday - Friday 9-11.30am. Valid for 2 people per voucher. Eat-in

only. Excludes Breakfast Sandwiches and Children’s Breakfasts. Voucher must be presented at time of ordering. Subject to availability. Cannot be used in conjunction with any other voucher / promotion. Only valid when you present your Coolings Family card at time of redemption. Coolings reserves right to amend terms, see www.coolings.co.uk

Pot of Tea or Americano & Any Cake for £4.50

Buy One Get One FREE on any Hot Drinks

Pot of Tea or Americano & Any Cake for £4.50

Buy One Get One FREE on any Hot Drinks

Terms and conditions apply to all vouchers: Whilst stocks last. Only 1 voucher per transaction, only 1 voucher per household/customer. No cash alternative. Not valid with a trade card or any other offer. Please present your Coolings Family Card at time of redemption. Coolings reserves the right to amend the offer or terms without prior notice. For full Terms & Conditions please see www.coolings.co.uk.

Come Dine with Us Here at Arthurs we are always on the lookout for new and upcoming food trends to keep our loyal and discerning customers interested, whilst also tickling the appetite of our new customers! With the current boom in plant based and vegan dining lifestyles we have introduced a healthy collection of new vegan dishes to our Summer menu, which we are sure will intrigue even the most die-hard carnivores! We are delighted to be into our second year of our ‘Plot to Plate’ scheme,

Main

To create the star of the dish (our gorgeous home grown courgettes) we are going to slice them in half lengthways (removing the ends) and then slicing them into 1cm strips at a 45 degree angle, then

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Arthurs Head Chef

We are especially looking forward to using our green and yellow courgettes in the recipe below, soon to be featured in our new Spring/Summer menu!

• White wine Dressing: vinegar 25ml • Olive oil 40ml • Castor sugar 5g • Ground nutmeg 8g • Mixed spice 8g To make this dressing, place the vinegar, sugar and spices into a small mixing bowl and using a hand blender blitz the mixture until combined and then slowly pour in the olive oil until fully incorporated, decant this into a pouring vessel and reserve for later.

To create our salad we first need to toast the walnuts in the oven at 160’c for 6-8 minutes until golden brown, remove from the oven and allow to cool fully before gently crushing into smaller bite sized pieces. The next step is to cook out the bulgur wheat by placing the bulgur into a large mixing bowl and covering it with enough boiling water till it just covers the top of the wheat, then cover the bowl in cling film and allow to soak for 15 minutes, once fully cooked and soaked remove the cling film and fluff it up using a fork, leave aside to cool.

Thomas Williams

where we use fresh grown ingredients delivered straight from our ‘plot’ to your ‘plate’. Our dedicated team of onsite gardeners spend countless hours tending and nurturing our garden to yield the freshest crops for us to use – ‘picked in the morning and served to you by lunchtime’ – and lots of our menu is influenced by what we are able to grow on site.

Vegan bulgur wheat, courgette, toasted walnut and pomeg ranate salad

For our salad: • Pomegranate seeds 100g • Green and yellow courgettes 380g

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• Toasted walnuts 60g • Bulgar wheat 200g • Broad beans 80g • Dill 7g • Olive oil 25ml

rub them with the olive oil and a tiny pinch of salt and place them onto an oven tray and roast in the oven for 4-5 minutes, don’t cook them too long or the crunch will disappear! Pour a small amount of water over your broad beans in an appropriate sized bowl and leave for 2 minutes, carefully remove the beans and drain off the water. Peel the outer skin off the beans and lave them aside to cool. To finish the salad place all the salad ingredients into a large mixing bowl and very gently toss together, drizzle a little of the dressing over the top and mix the salad again and have a taste! If you feel your salad needs a little more of the dressing then drizzle some more over and mix again until you have achieved the desired taste!

Look out for in-store Dill An attractive feathery herb, which should be sown between April and July in a sunny location.

Broad Beans Available in store to propagate from seed, these easy growers are great to use in the kitchen.

Courgettes This Summer squash can be grown from seed. Alternatively, 9cm pots will be available from late April.

Cuttings Vouchers with ... 1 Mar - 31st Mar 2020 Buy One Get One FREE Hardy Verbena ‘Meteor Shower’ 1 litre £5.99 each

Come back variety, loved by bees. Redeemable at all 4 sites Offer valid 01 Mar – 31 Mar 2020 inclusive. Subject to availability, one reduced item only per household. Cannot be used in conjunction with any other voucher / promotion. Only valid on presentation of your Coolings Family Card at time of redemption. Coolings reserves right to amend terms, full terms see www.coolings.co.uk.

1 Mar - 31st Mar 2020 4 for 3, £2.99 each

Zoon Meze Menu Dog Treats in Various Flavours Valid at Coolings The Gardener’s Garden Centre, Rushmore Hill, Coolings Potted Garden Nursery, Bearsted and Coolings Wych Cross Garden Centre, Wych Cross. Offer valid 01 Mar – 31 Mar 2020 inclusive. Subject to availability, one reduced item only per household. Cannot be used in conjunction with any other voucher / promotion. Only valid on presentation of your Coolings Family Card at time of redemption. Coolings reserves right to amend terms, full terms see www.coolings.co.uk.

1 Apr - 30th Apr 2020 Buy One Get One FREE Nemisia ‘Pink Lemonade’ 1 litre normally £4.99 each Redeemable at all 4 sites Offer valid 01 Apr – 30 Apr 2020 inclusive. Subject to availability, one reduced item only per household. Cannot be used in conjunction with any other voucher / promotion. Only valid on presentation of your Coolings Family Card at time of redemption. Coolings reserves right to amend terms, full terms see www.coolings.co.uk

All vouchers must be redeemed with your Coolings Family Card and Coolings may refuse to redeem the voucher without your Family Card. If for any reason you have mislaid your Coolings Family Card then please speak to a member of our team and we will be more than happy to sort this out for you.

1 Mar - 31st Mar 2020 Buy One Get One FREE on all Garden Herbs 1 litre normally £4.99 each

Redeemable at all 4 sites Offer valid 01 Mar – 31 Mar 2020 inclusive. Subject to availability, one reduced item only per household. Cannot be used in conjunction with any other voucher / promotion. Only valid on presentation of your Coolings Family Card at time of redemption. Coolings reserves right to amend terms, full terms see www.coolings.co.uk

1 Mar - 31st Mar 2020

20% off, normally £5.99 now £4.79 Miracle-Gro Performance Organics All Purpose Liquid Plant Food 1L Redeemable at all 4 sites Offer valid 01 Mar – 31 Mar 2020 inclusive. Subject to availability, one reduced item only per household. Cannot be used in conjunction with any other voucher / promotion. Only valid on presentation of your Coolings Family Card at time of redemption. Coolings reserves right to amend terms, full terms see www.coolings.co.uk

1 Apr - 30th Apr 2020

£5 OFF

Any Camellia Redeemable at all 4 sites Offer valid 01 Apr – 30 Apr 2020 inclusive. Subject to availability, one reduced item only per household. Cannot be used in conjunction with any other voucher / promotion. Only valid on presentation of your Coolings Family Card at time of redemption. Coolings reserves right to amend terms, full terms see www.coolings.co.uk

1 Apr - 30th Apr 2020

SAVE £2 Job Done

SAVE £2 Protect Garden

Redeemable at all 4 sites Offer valid 01 Apr – 30 Apr 2020 inclusive. Subject to availability, one reduced item only per household. Cannot be used in conjunction with any other voucher / promotion. Only valid on presentation of your Coolings Family Card at time of redemption. Coolings reserves right to amend terms, full terms see www.coolings.co.uk

Glyphosate FREE 1L (ready to use) (normally £4.99, Now £2.99)

Slug Killer Organic 70g (normally £6.99, Now £4.99)

Multisensory We are delighted that our 2020 charity partner is Kent Association for the Blind, a wonderful charity who support sight impaired people to live independent lives, and who are celebrating their centenary this year. We are looking forward to working with them throughout the year on some exiting projects! Gardening can be a wonderful hobby for those suffering from

sight impairment and sensory gardens are wonderful spaces for people living with sensory impairments.

They are specifically designed to be calm and stimulating environments used for learning, therapy, community or relaxation. Here are our recommendations for creating a sensory garden which can be enjoyed by all.

1. Choose scented plants to

add smell to your garden. These are best placed in sheltered areas as this contains the fragrances better and will allow them to be enjoyed more. NEW Clematis ‘Sugar Sweet’ The firstly truly scented large flowered clematis, with beautiful almond fragranced flowers. Available from Coolings for the first time this Spring. Lavender ‘Ashdown Forest’ A superb variety with lovely scented flowers and foliage.

2. Plants with interesting

textures are ideal garden choices

for those living with sight impairment. They also go down particularly well with little ones who like to investigate their surroundings.

FFRO ROM M C CO OO OLLIIN NG GSS

Gardening

Senecio ‘Angels Wings’ This stunning recent introduction has tactile silky silver foliage. Works well in containers and is impressive on a patio. Griselinia littoralis Silky soft glossy foliage makes this popular choice the perfect evergreen screening plant.

Saint De La Mare m a k e r s

o f

g a r d e n s

Garden Design • Planting Plans • Garden Consultations • Plant Supply

Saint De La Mare offer a friendly and professional service covering:• Garden design – • Planting plans – • Garden consultations – • Plant supply –

designs start from £500. plans start from £250 per border. £95 for a one hour consultation. quality plants supplied direct to your garden.

3. Sound can produce an extra

dimension to a sensory garden. Bamboo and grasses are ideal for creating some plant-based audio, along with adding water features or bird baths. Fargesia nitidia ‘Black Pearl’ This is an amazing clump forming bamboo with attractive dark canes, ideal for containers and smaller gardens. The breeze moving through the foliage will create a relaxing rustling sound.

For further information, please visit our website www.saintdelamare.com and complete the enquiry form or email direct to contact@saintdelamare.com We will be happy to get in contact and have an informal chat as to how we may help you. Deborah Saint BA (Hons) Garden Design 0771 555 4166 • 0208 301 3576

Lesley De La Mare HND Illustration 0786 733 7365 • 01689 639 312

W: www.saintdelamare.com E: contact@saintdelamare.com

Gardening for

! g n i e b l Wel As we head into Spring, the garden needs preparing. The upside of digging, clearing, raking and mowing are that these energetic tasks are a great physical workout, burning calories and boosting your heart rate. We all know that regular gardening keeps you physically fit and flexible.You may not have thought about it, but gardening actually offers a complete body workout - lifting pots works on strength in your arms and legs, pruning and clipping keeps hands and wrists flexible, and planting out requires a complete repertoire of balanced bends and twists across your knee, hip and ankle joints. Proper posture is essential in any activity, so look after your back; if you can squat while gardening, do. It is one of the best ways to maintain balance and keeps ankles, hips and the lower back strong and flexible, which is why squats are also recommended by Pilates and yoga teachers. 22

F RO M C O O L I N G S

Gardening is also good for our mental health. Even something as simple as having a plant on your windowsill or desk can reduce stress, make you feel more energized and able to think clearly. People suffering from anxiety or depression have found gardening and caring for plants to be incredibly beneficial. So good in fact that some GPs have even started writing prescriptions for gardening! The benefits can be as varied as reduced stress to increased fitness and improved vitamin D levels.

Gardening health benefits can include heart health, better sleep, improved hand strength. Financial benefits of gardening include growing your own vegetables and cut flowers, getting creative with plants to decorate and dress your home and a nice garden can increase the value of your home by up to 20%. If you need any more encouragement to get out in the garden this Spring, gardening is also good for the planet. Think of the environmental impact of homegrown fruit, vegetables and flowers versus those flown halfway round the world. As well as the reduction in plastic consumption, grown at home you can be certain of just how many (or how few) pesticides and herbicides have been used in their production. Some excellent varieties of fruit cannot be grown for commercial use as they don’t, for example, travel or keep well, but all the better for home gardeners!

Bring the Outdoors in with Houseplants You can still experience the benefits of nature by having houseplants. Shades of green are recognised as being restful, so introducing houseplants to your home can help ease stresses and boost mental wellbeing. As well as looking good, houseplants also improve air quality by trapping and capturing pollutants, allowing you to breathe in cleaner air.

How much nicer is a home-grown bunch of flowers than something picked up in a hurry from a supermarket? Or a pot of plants lovingly tended for months before being gifted? And they’re cheaper too… Choosing plants that are grown locally also help to reduce environmental impact. At Coolings, we grow most of our plants on-site and use other local nurseries for specimen or unusual plants. Gardening can be great for wildlife Our gardens are a vital home for wildlife and many species really need our help if they are to survive. Attracting wildlife to your garden is easy and enormously rewarding. A pond is a great place to start but even bird feeders, a bird bath or bird box will have a positive effect. Plant lots of colourful flowers and watch the bees and butterflies come flying in.

Visit our shops for gardening tools and sundries, seeds, houseplants, bird care and lawncare. We stock everything you need for your garden. F RO M C O O L I N G S

Greener

Alternatives

Gardens help the environment. As well as plants releasing oxygen back into the atmosphere, gardens help to reduce air and noise pollution. Roots bind the soil and help prevent erosion. Growing your own vegetables and selecting locally grown and native plants minimises carbon footprint. These are our top tips for an environmentally friendly garden

1. Plant as many native plants

as possible. Not only will these attract wildlife, but they are often more resistant to pests. Native wildflowers are ideal for attracting bees and butterflies (see page 12 for suggestions).

2. Consider companion

planting. Certain combinations of plants complement each other, boosting growth and vitality, providing shade and deterring unwanted insects.

3. Plant a tree. We have many native species and trees come in all shapes and sizes to fit into any garden. They can also provide additional benefits such as shade and help to reduce noise pollution.

4. Make homes for wildlife.

You can give nature a helping hand by providing some man-made shelter. Include bird boxes and bug hotels as well as hedgehog homes and bee hives.

Plants also filter ground water and gardens provide vital food and habitat for wildlife. So whether your garden is big or small and whether you are a novice or experienced gardener, there is always something you can do to make your garden that little bit more environmentally friendly.

The way we care for our gardens is also important for the environment. We have a range of products to help gardeners achieve results and see their gardens flourish in harmony with their surroundings.