URBAN GREENS

Emma Clegg visits ‘the smallest garden centre with the biggest heart’ and finds a collaborative social enterprise that offers a host of plants and garden products, but also has the power to boost emotional and physical wellbeing

Gardening is uplifting, restorative and full of heart. But there are times when the garden retail industry feels impersonal, powered by turnaround, and devoid of the chance of a chat with a friendly specialist about how to start growing tomatoes or what plants might best suit your partially shaded westfacing balcony.

We have the solution. The Urban Garden, located on the border of Royal Victoria Park at Marlborough Buildings, described as “the smallest garden centre with the biggest heart”, brings the matter of plants and gardens down to an accessible size where human interaction fuels its every endeavour.

Opened just a year ago, the bijou but bustling site is leased by BANES Council to Grow Yourself, an established Community Interest Company (CIC). The Urban Garden project received funding from the National Lottery. Executive director Matt Smail, who previously ran Bath City Farm, explains that The Urban Garden works in partnership with BANES Parks department, which grows up to 60% of the plants sold in the Council’s nursery, adjoining the site. Ten percent of the overall takings goes to the nursery to fund the growing of the plants.

The Urban Garden sells houseplants, outdoor plants and a mixture of annuals and perennials, along with bulbs, seeds and all sorts of garden accessories and products, from garden pots and outside mirrors to bird tables and feeders, with a number of products made by local artists.

Sustainability is high on the agenda with all compost peat-free and supplied in refillable bags. There’s also a supply of ‘POSIpots’ by the till so that when a plant is purchased, it is transferred to the biodegradable POSIpot which can be planted in the ground or recycled by the buyer, and the plastic pot is kept for future use, helping to close the plastics loop. And with so many plants grown by the nursery travelling just a few metres to get to the centre, the carbon footprint is exemplary.

As a small enterprise, the company has to be clear about its emphasis, says Matt: “We have to be different to enable us to better compete with the larger garden centres. We specialise in ideas for smaller urban gardens and we offer a really good customer service –we’re friendly, we like to have a chat and offer advice.” The recent introduction of an on-site horsebox café selling hot and cold drinks, cakes and pastries (all sourced and made locally) extends the social potential even further.

It’s a long road for some people to get into employment but hopefully we are helping people with that ❝

Matt Smail

because they work in collaboration with Bath-based charity, Grow for Life, who deliver a City & Guilds course in Practical Horticulture. What’s more, all profits from the Urban Garden are reinvested back into this training, helping to improve the mental health and wellbeing of local adults.

On the morning of my visit the City & Guilds Level 1 course had taken place, and the results were on display –students had designed a spring container, a follow-on from learning about seed sowing, propagation and taking cuttings. Matt says, “We run two City & Guilds courses in practical horticulture for people with mental health issues and the longterm unemployed. The Level 1 is delivered with our partner charity Grow for Life and we deliver the Level 2. We’ve had some really good outcomes from this –last year 23 of our people got qualifications –and alongside the training we offer work placements in the garden centre of between three to six months, once they are doing the Level 2 course.

“We also help our students with getting a job and doing a CV. It’s a long road for some people to get into employment but hopefully we are helping people with that.”

The centre relies on a stalwart team of volunteers who work on Wednesdays and then from Thursday to Sunday when The Urban Garden is open to the public. “We’ve got some really committed volunteers and we value them so much,” explains Matt. “We wouldn’t be able to do it without them.”

Right next to the Royal Victoria Park, The Urban Garden has regular passing trade from those enjoying the park who stop off to take some time to browse. It’s no secret that involvement with gardens and gardening can have a massive positive impact on emotional and physical wellbeing, but seeing how much it is changing lives here shows just how transformative it can be. n

The Urban Garden, Marlborough Buildings, Bath BA1 2LZ Open Thursday to Saturday 10.30am–5pm, Sunday 11am–4pm; @urbangardenbath; theurbangarden.org.uk

Rose Cottage is a detached, Grade II listed cottage dating back to the late 18th century and sympathetically extended in recent years to provide the current accommodation.

The ground floor provides a light filled, kitchen/dining room with built-in appliances, island unit and door to the west facing courtyard area ideal for Al fresco dining. The sitting room is full of character and charm with 2 stone mullioned window, 2 fireplaces, one being an inglenook with inset woodburning stove and a beamed ceiling. In addition there is a study, utility area, wet room and Bedroom 3 with built-in wardrobes and ample storage cupboard.

The main bathroom and bedroom 1 are situated on the first floor. The latter enjoys a sunny aspect via 2 stone mullioned windows, a range of built-in wardrobes and further storage cupboard. A staircase leads up to bedroom 2 with ample eaves storage.

The garden is truly wonderful. To the front there are various seating areas with mature roses and clematis. There is a side courtyard area where steps rising up to the terraced rear garden, where there is an orchard and produce area, together with a pond and storage sheds. The views from the top of the garden, across the hamlet to countryside beyond are stunning.

The beautiful and charming hamlet of Turleigh is situated just a few miles from the picturesque market town of Bradford on Avon. Turleigh contains many attractive stone-built period properties and the entire village lies within a conservation area.

Rose Cottage, Turleigh

• Grade II listed 18th century cottage

• 3 bedrooms

• Many retained period features

• Light filled kitchen

• Stunning tiered garden

• Glorious views

£850,000

Claverton Down, Bath

Offers over £650,000

A stylish end of terrace, 3 bedroom late Victorian family home with generous well stocked gardens, garaging, off street parking and full planning permission in place to create a beautiful ground floor extension.

• End of terrace house dating back to c. 1890 • 120ft well stocked back garden • Contemporary and period features • 3 bedrooms • Single garage

Lansdown, Bath

£1,200,000

A handsome detached 5 bedroom family home with a pretty garden, a separate one bedroom annexe, a large double garage and gated off street parking, located on Bath’s sought after Lansdown slopes.

• 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms • Formal double aspect sitting room and snug/office • Large well-equipped kitchen/dining room • Pretty gardens and sun terrace • One-bedroom self-contained annexe • Spacious double garage and gated off street parking

Landlords, are you aware of the forthcoming changes?

Peter Greatorex,

managing director of The apartment Company

Nothing ever stands still in lettings, continuous new regulations and legislation keep us on our toes and the ever-growing demand for private rental apartments in Bath never eases. At The Apartment Company we work closely with our landlords so they feel secure that their investment is healthy but also so that they are aware of forthcoming changes and can take the necessary steps to ensure they are compliant by the required date. There are two changes that are in the corner of our eyes at the moment, and they are smoke and carbon monoxide alarm regulations, and further minimum energy efficiency standards.

Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm Regulations

Since October 2015 it has been a requirement for landlords to ensure that there is a smoke alarm fitted on every floor of their rental properties, and if a room has a solid fuel fire, such as a wood, coal, biomass or open fire, then a carbon monoxide alarm is needed. All alarms must be tested and working at the start of any new tenancy.

From Autumn 2022, and following the consultation with the industry, Housing Minister Eddie Hughes MP, said there would be the following key changes to the rules:

•Carbon monoxide alarms will be mandatory in rooms with a fixed combustion appliance (excluding gas cookers) in both private and social rented homes.

•Carbon monoxide alarms will also be mandatory upon installation of any heating appliance (excluding gas cookers) in all tenures through building regulations.

•Private and social landlords will be expected to repair or replace alarms once informed that they are faulty.

•Smoke alarms will be mandatory in all social rented homes. If you are a landlord and recognise that your property would not be compliant with these changes, we urge you to start installing these alarms within your properties as soon as possible.

EPC of C by 2025

New energy efficiency rules have been released, meaning that, as predicted, the minimum energy efficiency standards (MEES) for privately rented properties will rise again in 2025 to an EPC rating of C or above. Upgrading properties to meet the C EPC rating will no doubt come at a considerable cost to many local landlords, whether that be by improving the glazing, installing a more energy efficient boiler or looking at investing in renewable energy products, such as solar panels.

With these changes on the horizon, again we ask landlords to start to plan ahead to meet the 2025 MEES. As with all technologies, things develop quickly, so we don’t know what fantastic new renewable energy solutions could be around the corner. We know a number of our landlords at The Apartment Company listened to our advice and have already built in a timetable for changes to their properties to spread the cost over the next few years.

It is also worth your while to have a conversation with our Lettings Manager, Nicola Wilkes, who can help you put together a workable plan to minimise the impact on your tenancies.

For more advice and information on the smoke and carbon monoxide changes and the planned rise in the minimum energy efficiency standard, call Nicola or one of our lettings team on 01225 303870.

The Apartment Company 01225 471144 | www.theapartmentcompany.co.uk

MARDAN, BATH’S BESPOKE REMOVALS AND STORAGE COMPANY, DEVELOPS NEW TALENT

Mardan have a wealth of experience within the removals and storage industry, spanning over 30 years, ensuring customers have a stress-free and seamless move. Mardan are family run and bespoke with the experience, knowledge, skills, equipment and capacity to complete removals of any size; locally, nationally for domestic or commercial customers.

Marcus, Mardan’s founder, has always held fast, with confidence, to his belief that he can deliver a high standard of removals, exceeding that of his competitors. Marcus knows to do this he must have trust and confidence in the skills of his staff, which he does. So when a new office position was required within Mardan instead of recruiting externally Marcus looked to develop a team member which he already had extreme confidence in and who he knew would develop into the role seamlessly, Nik. The role would include; liaising with customers, completing quotes, emailing quotes, planning the removals diary, logistics and managing the storage yard. Nik, had worked with Marcus within removals for over 10 years having a strong knowledge of all aspects of removals and with the skills necessary to lead a team from Mardan on removals. Nik has risen to the challenge and is thriving. Marcus and Nik work extremely well as a team thus ensuring all customers have a personalised service and a positive move experience. Both Marcus and Nik enjoy completing the physical removal and Marcus truly believes that to do the ‘office’ role well it’s important to continue to complete removals, thus maintaining the in depth knowledge developed throughout their earlier careers. Marcus and Nik are able to be flexible with their roles and keep their ‘hand in’ the hard physical work of removals.

Mardan continue to grow their self-storage facility, offering safe, secure and reasonable storage to upward of 100 domestic and commercial customers.

“We used Mardan following a recommendation from a friend. They moved us in and out of storage and then into our renovated house. I would highly recommend them. The service was super efficient and the guys were quick, polite and courteous. Nothing was too much trouble and all of our possessions arrived safe and sound”

Emma Webster, Moon Client

Mob: 07899 847857 Tel: 01225 317645 www.mardanremovals.co.uk

DOMESTIC & COMMERCIAL MOVERS • packers • STORERS • SHIPPERS

Red House Farm, Broughton Gifford

A collection of six beautifully designed homes ranging from two to four bedrooms, including five bungalows and one detached house.