GARDENING

GOLD AWARD FOR TINTINHULL PRIMARY

The Woodland Trust Gold Award for Tintinhull Primary School puts it in the top 8 per cent of greenest primary schools in the UK

Tintinhull Primary School (St Margaret’s) near Yeovil has scooped one of the UK’s top green awards.

The village school has won the prestigious Gold Award from The Woodland Trust for their dedicated care of the environment. In the whole of the UK only 1,364 out of 17,000 primary schools have won Woodland Gold and this recognition follows the Silver medal gained last year. This puts the Tintinhull Primary pupils in the top 8 per cent of green primary schools in the UK.

The Gold Award is for a project called Share Your Woodland Words and Images where groups of the children spent time outside in the four acres of grounds and Field School, noting the changes in seasons and the feelings that come from these. Different age groups wrote or drew pictures of what they could see, hear, feel, smell and taste, and the younger children created a group poem. One of the poems read:

‘I can see white petals dotted through the rich, green grass. I can hear children laughing and having fun. I can feel the softness of the long green leaves. I can smell sweet, beautiful flowers. The petals are as white as snow. The daffodils are yellow as a banana. I feel happy when I look at them, excited about what the summer might bring.’ ‘We’re really thrilled to receive this award,’ says Head Teacher Hayley Robinson, ‘the children and staff love nature and we teach them to respect, enjoy and cultivate the environment.

‘The green agenda is a central part of our values at Tintinhull Primary and this latest Woodland Trust gong follows on from the RHS Level 2 certificate we received last summer. We’ve also been doing other outdoor activities like The Big Garden Birdwatch and have lots of plans for our growing area. The children have decided what fruit and veg they would like to grow this year, using the £50 voucher we won with our RHS gardening award.’

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TO WATER OR NOT TO WATER? THAT IS THE QUESTION

Mayhem UK, a small London design company, has come up with the solution to the age-old dilemma which weighs over every house-plant owner who is terrified of killing their house plants with either too little or too much watering.

The answer is an ingenious device which works as a simple traffic light system. Just pop the moisture sensor into the soil and it features a flower which flashes red when your houseplant needs watering and green when it is OK. It looks good and avoids stress for you and your plants.

Overwatering is the number one killer of house plants. Forget underwatering or cold draughts or lack of sunlight. Overwatering and waterlogged roots cause bacterial asphyxiation which is killing millions of house plants every year. Symptoms of overwatering and underwatering can be almost identical. The problem is exacerbated when worried plant owners see their plants wilting and pour on more water and effectively snuff out their beloved leafy friends.

Experts such as Monty Don and James Wong have been warning us about the danger of overwatering plants for some time. But it does not seem to have got through to the general public.

So what can you do to avoid this?

The solution is to use this moisture sensor. It is designed to look like a rose or a lotus flower, sits comfortably in your plant pot and detects the moisture level at root level. This is important because the soil maybe dry at the surface but waterlogged at root level. The sensor will flash red when the plant needs watering. It flashes green to reassure you when the plant has sufficient moisture and only switches to red when it detects there is a need for water. This simple traffic-light system is virtually fool proof. We hope this can put an end to the misery of losing favourite plants and the premature demise of our beloved flowery companions.

Current stockists: Robert Dyas, Gift Universe, Milestone Garden Centre, Meadow Grange Nursery, Palmers Garden Centre, Bernaville Garden Centre, House of Marble. Or buy direct from Mayhem UK at www.pocketsmoovie. com/plant. Price range £7.99-£9.99.

ANNUAL GARDEN FESTIVAL RETURNS TO THE BISHOP’S PALACE AND GARDENS, WELLS

The Bishop’s Palace and Gardens in Wells will be holding its popular Garden Festival on 17, 18 and 19 June this year.

Returning for its eighth year, the ever-popular Garden Festival will once again reunite garden-lovers with specialists from around the country.

Designed to celebrate the Great British Garden, the stunning 14-acre grounds of the Palace will feature guided tours, live music, expert speakers, delicious food, skills and crafts and a number of stalls, including some fabulous nurseries selling unusual and popular plants.

Headlining on Friday is Mark Bobin (head gardener at Minterne Gardens), who will be talking about the Himalayan Garden deep in the Dorset countryside - its history, its plants and plans for the future. He’ll also be sharing tales and footage from his planthunting trip to the Himalayas.

Troy Scott Smith (head gardener at Sissinghurst) and Sarah Venn (Incredible Edible Bristol) will also be giving talks over the weekend.

ABOUT THE BISHOP’S PALACE

The Bishop’s Palace is the 800-year-old home of the Bishops of Bath & Wells. The medieval palace is also home to the wells and ancient springs that give the City of Wells its name, the worldfamous mute swans that ring a bell alongside the gatehouse when they want their food, and 14 acres of stunning gardens. Within the gardens are an arboretum, formal planted gardens, the ruined and romantic Great Hall, waterfalls and well pools, a community garden and the Garden of Reflection. The Palace buildings open to the public include a medieval undercroft, a striking long gallery, hung with portraits of former bishops, exhibition space and the beautiful medieval chapel.

There is a modern, family and dog friendly cafe, serving produce from the gardens, drinks, cakes and light meals. The site is accessible for wheelchair users, with even pathways in the gardens and a lift in the Palace building.

Back by popular demand, Tim Watson and John Prescott will entertain visitors with saxophone and dulcet tones. The wonderful Becky Shell and Lucy Anna Taylor will also be performing.

Three of the region’s most skilled florists will also be on hand to advise visitors on how to get the best out of this year’s flowers. One highlight is sure to be Saturday’s demonstrations by Maria Heffer of The Bath Greenhouse. Maria’s detailed demonstration will spill the secrets of how dried flowers can make a fabulous bouquet.

For those who are more interested in the ornithology side of wildlife, the Palace’s own swan expert, Moira Anderson, will also be giving a talk. There have been signs of freshly laid eggs recently so be sure to keep your eyes peeled!

The Garden Festival is a fundraising event for The Palace Trust with tickets priced at:

Adult £13.50

Student/Blue Lights discount £10

Child (5-17) £6.50

Members and under 5s free

Tickets are available from the Palace’s website (www. bishopspalace.org.uk) and by telephone (01749 988111), with advance discounts and group rates also available.

B u y t i c k e t s o n l i n e o r o n s i t e

Guided tours, live music, expert speakers, delicious food, skills, crafts and stalls

The Bishop's Palace, Wells G A R D E N F E S T I V A L

17th, 18th & 19th June 2022

Buy tickets online at:

PLANTS NEED WATER!

By Mike Burks, managing director of The Gardens Group

To keep any plant in good health it needs the right amount of water, and the amount each plant needs will depend on, amongst other things, the type of plant, the time of year, where it’s planted, the soil type and the weather conditions. Water is a finite and precious resource so it’s also important to use it wisely.

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Tel: 01305 257250 www.thegardensgroup.co.uk

Knowing a plant’s requirement will come through experience. At this time of year plants in pots and hanging baskets will need watering every day even if we’ve had rain, as most of the downpour will have been deflected away from the compost in the pot by the foliage. The retention of water can be helped with the use of a moisture retentive gel that can be added to the compost but even then, this is only a small help and won’t stop the need for a good soaking. Established plants in the border that have been there for a number of years will usually have a root system extensive enough to find their own water. Help for such plants is best achieved by laying on a mulch, such as chipped bark or better still composted bark. This will reduce the amount of evaporation from the soil surface and will also trap in moisture that is applied. The added advantage is that as the mulch breaks down it gets incorporated into the soil, improving its structure and helping further to hold onto moisture for when the plants need it.

When planting out anything new, use a product called Rootgrow around the plant roots. This contains a naturally occurring beneficial fungi that attaches itself to plant roots and helps the plant obtain water and nutrients.

New plantings really need a good soak three or four times a week until they establish. Whilst it’s easier to do this with a hosepipe with an attachment, sometimes this makes everything look wet but actually the plants get very little of the water. My suggestion is to give each plant half a large watering can full but I bet that you’ll still want to use your hosepipe, so measure how long it takes to fill up half a watering can and then spend this amount of time with the hosepipe on each plant. For those who may get bored, there are some devices that can be used to help. Soaker, seep or leaky hoses are excellent for this. These need to be laid out winding through the plants in the border or veg garden, and when attached to the tap the water seeps gently and evenly into the soil. This method uses far less than splashing around with a hosepipe. Also available are mini-irrigation systems. These involve a supply pipe, usually half an inch in diameter, which is laid around the garden. From this main pipe ‘spaghetti’ tubes are attached, on the end of which can be fixed drip nozzles which are placed in pots, hanging baskets or grow bags and can even be dotted through the border. At the tap end of the system a timer is positioned so that watering takes places at a specific time of the day for a specific period. Again, this is an efficient way of watering. Saving your own water is an excellent idea. Rainwater collected from most roofs is excellent quality and better for plants than the stuff in the tap. For extra volume, water butts can be connected together and although the pressure won’t be great, hose pipes and/ or seep hoses can be connected to the tap. The timing of when to water is often discussed and when we get to this stage of the spring and summer, it’s best to water in the early morning or in the evening. This means that less water is lost to evaporation and also any that gets onto plant leaves is less likely to scorch on a hot bright sunny day. A plant with dry leaves going into the evening will be far less likely to succumb to fungal problems. Mulching borders with a layer of chipped bark or Bloomin’ Amazing will help enormously in keeping the moisture in the soil for when the plant needs it. As the mulch breaks down so your soil improves too.

Garden Landscape & Construction Services www.sherbornegardenangels.co.uk 01935 324737 HPS Somerset Group Summer PLANT FAIR Sunday, 12 June 2022 10:00 am –3:00 pm at Lower Severalls Crewkerne, Somerset TA18 7NX Many of the South West’s top nurseries, plus other stalls, will be attending. Admission charge will be £4. (£3.50 for RHS & HPS members.) Pay at the gate. visit somersethps.com

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GARDEN FLOORING: WOOD AND COMPOSITE DECKING AND PORCELAIN

By Liv Sabat

The UK may not always bless us with the certainty of sunshine, but that doesn’t stop the garden being the most important place, especially in the summertime. With British summers being what they are, you can enjoy your garden every day if you opt for one of our garden rooms or awnings, which can keep you sheltered from wind and rain and allow you to spend more time in your garden all year round. The key to creating the right atmosphere for al fresco dining is selecting the right outdoor flooring for your space. If you decided to do your outdoor flooring with us, you won’t need to feel overwhelmed with having to work with a variety of different companies as we provide all services for you: from groundwork, to planning and working with architects if needed, to creating a perfect outdoor space that you can be proud of. Bespoke decking from Millboard, our company of choice, provides the perfect flooring for whichever product you choose. You have the option to go for hardwood or composite flooring, based on budget or preference. The part we love the most is that our outdoor flooring is comfortable underfoot (with no shoes on) and provides your outdoor space with a feeling of genuine, handcrafted beauty. The beauty of Millboard decking is that, due to its wood-free composition, it looks great with relatively little maintenance – perfect for busy families or those who would rather spend their time enjoying their outdoor space. The various colours in the range allow you to choose from something traditional to something more contemporary and modern.

Now let’s talk about porcelain paving and why it is so beloved. The main reason is that it is easy to clean and maintain; there’s no need for industrial cleaning chemicals or a complicated jet washer, you can get your porcelain pavers clean with only a sponge and a bucket of soapy water and that’s not even the best part – you only have to do this simple cleaning routine two to three times a year to keep them sparkling through the seasons. Porcelain pavers are also extremely hard-wearing and are one of the most durable paving options on the market. Most importantly, porcelain paving improves the safety of your garden by reducing the risk of falls and slips on the rainy days as they are carefully designed with an anti-slip texture. I hope this helps you decide what is best for you and your garden. Until next time

A GRAND DAY OUT

By Julie Haylock, Sandhurst Garden Design

In mid-April we visited family in Kent and took the opportunity to go to Arundel Castle Tulip Festival.

It had been on my ‘bucket list’ for some time and it did not disappoint. The fabulous display of tulips around the castle grounds and in the ornamental gardens was a feast for the eyes. The backdrop of the castle and cathedral only added to the sense of drama of 66,000, yes, I did say 66,000, tulips planted in the autumn; it was a very regal sight indeed.

The following day, and keeping with the castle theme, our road trip took us to Hever Castle, once the childhood home of Anne Boleyn who would become the second wife of Henry VIII and the mother of Elizabeth I.

The castle is full of history that formed the base of a sequence of events that would change the course of British history, monarchy and religion. ‘It felt like we were stepping back in time as we strolled around the castle, Italian Gardens and bluebell wood.’

The following weekend we struck it lucky again with the weather when we visited BBC Gardeners’ World Fair at Beaulieu. This new show on the annual garden show circuit was extremely popular with visitors as they have access to both the show, car museum, house, and gardens.

This was our first visit to this show. Regular readers will know that in the past I have exhibited both a Beautiful Border and a Showcase Garden at the sister show, BBC Gardeners’ World Live at the NEC held in June, so this was a chance for us to see how the shows compared.

There was plenty to see and do, including a very entertaining talk by Joe Swift, Emma Crawforth and Matt Biggs on ‘How to Grow your own Food’, which I know many of you have started to do in the last couple of years.

Next stop for us now is Taunton Flower Show on 5 and 6 August when we will be exhibiting our own show garden. Watch this space for more details in next month’s column. This year the show celebrates its 190th year so it promises to be extra special. Put the date in your diary if you fancy a good day out. Tickets are on sale now; visit the website www. tauntontfs.co.uk.

Until next time, Julie

Sandhurst Garden Design

Julie Haylock

Garden Designer

20 Sandhurst Road, Yeovil, Somerset BA20 2LG

Tel: 07899 710168 Email: juliesandhurst1@gmail.com www.sandhurstgardendesign.co.uk

Contact Julie for garden and border design, planting plans, plant selection advice and garden styling

POEM CORNER

By Andrew Haylock

The inspiration for the poem this month is to celebrate the horse and how it has shaped our history.

THE HORSE

‘A horse! A horse! My Kingdom for a horse!’ Exclaimed King Richard III of course. A desperate request highlighting noble steed, And its loyalty in all times of need. From pit pony to the giant gentle shire, Their work ethic must be admired.

Horse-drawn plough shaped our countryside, Gymkhana rosettes won with such pride. At the Olympics and Olympia one and all, Bravely jumping the Puissance big red wall. For centuries, the horse was our power, And the driving force of our finest hour.

Inbuilt instinct for flight and survival, Though calm in adversity without rival. Nuzzling the child that lacks confidence, Causing a heart-warming smile so immense. Through the wars, cavalry bugle call, Horses led the way, strong and tall.

The sport of kings and queens, Legends of the racecourse have seen. Arkle, Mill Reef, Desert Orchid, and Red Rum, All chasing for a princely sum. In this year of the Queen’s platinum jubilee, Centre stage of celebrations the horse will be.