GARDENING Make the great

The ‘Even Greater’ OUTDOORS

This season looks like being one to make the most of our gardens, so if you’re not sitting comfortably, it might be time to invest in some new furniture and lifestyle accessories to enjoy the great outdoors... Cold Overton based Gates Garden Centre has some rather wonderful suggestions!

IT’S THE SEASON TO ENJOY getting out in the garden, and today’s quality garden furniture is a million miles away from the uncomfortable or rickety products you’d have to put up with some years ago! Instead, comfy new products can create a living room in your garden. This month we’re presenting a few of the latest ranges from one of the area’s largest and most well-respected locations to find quality outdoor lifestyle products, Cold Overton based Gates Garden Centre. “For many people who were stuck at home during lockdown, last summer, the garden was a real source of comfort,” says the centre’s Nigel Gates. “Having somewhere that provided the chance to enjoy fresh air, being able to sit and read or even work in comfort was important to prevent a feeling of isolation and avoid that sense of cabin fever.” “Last year more than ever we were reminded of how valuable to our mental health our gardens can be, and we think this year is likely to be similar.”

“We’ve noticed that more people are keen to invest in quality furniture to be comfortable outdoors, so we’ve worked really hard to source products which strike a balance between being good value, but still providing the quality and longevity you’d expect.” “We’ve all you need for comfortable outdoor living from dining sets to outdoor sofas, recliners and tables, plus outdoor games, and barbecues... and speaking of barbecues, our farm shop provides all you need to dine al fresco in the garden too. That’s in addition to plants, shrubs and core gardening products to ensure your garden is a great place to relax this summer.”>>

Opposite: Chedworth modular sofa set with rectangular fire pit, £3,299. Top: Toulouse Mosaic bistro set, a best seller, in powder-coated iron, £159. Above: Seville rope side table with centre planter, £109.

“For many people who were stuck at home during lockdown, last summer, the garden was a real source of comfort,” says Gates Garden Centre’s Nigel Gates...

Right: Tetbury dining set with wood effect, Tree-Free top and six armchairs, plus matching three metre parasol and 15kg base, £1,199.

Below: Weber Genesis II SP-335 Gas Barbecue in Stainless Steel, £1,304.99.

Right: Seville rope side table with centre wine cooler, £74.99

Far Right: Monte Carlo reclining sun lounger with side table. All-weather faux leather; table has frost- resistant glass top, £949.

This Page: Monterey Triple Cocoon, new for 2021. Relax in this contemporary and stylish swing seat for three. This luxury hanging chair is for indoor or outdoor spaces and is made for sharing, £849.

Capri 8-seat rectangular dining set in bronze with amber cushions, new colour for 2021. Perfect if you want low maintenance, this cast aluminium set includes a matching three metre parasol and 15kg base, £1,699.

Above: Scatter cushions for outdoor use. Add a hint of colour to your outdoor furniture with the addition of these weather-resistant cushions, available in a wide range of colours and designs, you’ll be sure to find the perfect designs to complement your outdoor spaces, from £9.99.

Left: Plain Jane firepit with swing arm BBQ rack, choose from a range of sizes from 60cm, to 90cm diameter, £259-£419.

Right: Seville rope rocking chair, perfect for outdoors or in the conservatory, grey or beige. Water repellent, £299.

Find Out More: All of our featured products are available at Gates Garden Centre, still open and trading under Covid-19 compliant conditions. Visit the Garden Centre, open seven days a week on Somerby Road, Cold Overton, Oakham LE15 7QB, call 01664 454309 or see www.gatesgardencentre.co.uk. n

The Road to SUCCESS

There are a number of ways to provide a safe, neat-looking surface for the exterior of your home or business, but nothing beats the longevity, quality and cost-effectiveness of traditional hot tar and chip surface dressing. Here, we introduce Dean Laverack of Lincs Surfacing...

Words: Rob Davis.

The road to success and a way to improve the quality and appearance of your outdoor areas. Lincs Surfacing is the local surface dressing company which has grown over the years and will this month relocate to the Revesby Estate, where the company has already completed work for landowner Gavin Wiggins Davis. Let us introduce you to Dean Laverack. Dean is the owner of Lincs Surfacing, and he has the solution to all your resurfacing problems. “We work mainly within the commercial sector on properties ranging from holiday parks to private estates and large rural properties,” he says. “Many of our clients often think the only option is to have their roads or access areas fully removed and resurfaced, at a very high cost, but this is not the case. Our recent work has seen us repair and resurface the exteriors of car parks, holiday parks and large country estates, creating anti-slip, waterproof areas.” If you’ve worn, potholed or damaged areas, Lincs Surfacing, based on the Revesby Estate, north of Boston, is a local business helping domestic and commercial clients with a cost-effective, time-proven solution. “Hot surface dressing is Highways England’s chosen method of repairing, waterproofing and resurfacing our country’s roads and car parks with a new wearing layer of bitumen bonded stone which is available in numerous options depending on the project.” “We call this a ‘preventative maintenance’ measure, saving our clients money in the long term. With business budgets being very low, surface dressing is the most economically viable option, for commercial repairs in particular.” “Tar and chip dressing will last several years in a commercial environment – perhaps more, but we’re conservative in our estimates – or over a decade in a domestic or light duty setting, and its surface can be re-dressed periodically, in much the same way as you’d redecorate your home.” “Recent advances in our 150-year old industry have enabled us to change to a Highways Grade polymer-modified bitumen which gives even more longevity, higher bonding capabilities and waterproofing.” “Our tar and chip surfaces also have good anti-slip properties, and utilise specially washed Staffordshire 2-6mm top surfacing or 6mm or 10mm Welsh granite for high-traffic or commercial areas.” “We also complete remedial work like sweeping and pothole filling to ensure the longevity of our work and to prevent potentially costly trip hazards occurring in your outdoor areas.” “Tar and chip is also the solution that bodies like the National Trust use on their estates and it remains the most aesthetically suitable solution for period properties or those in conservation areas.” “There are many ways to resurface your external areas, but we recommend using good materials and good workmanship instead, to achieve a longer lasting surface and more importantly to really protect your investment.” n

Find Out More: Dean Laverack’s Lincs Surfacing is based on the Revesby Estate and provides quality traditional hot tar and chip surface dressing and resurfacing work for larger domestic, agricultural and commercial environments. Call 0800 141452 or 07793 140190 for a free, no obligation site survey. Alternatively, see www.tarchip.co.uk.