Gardener’s Cuttings


Nobu puts sushi on show at Newlyns Farm


Nobu, the famous London restaurant, will be hosting a series of culinary presentations this September at the private gardens of Newlyns Farm in Hampshire.


Starting from 10th September, sushi chefs from the restaurant will be conducting a series of four masterclasses, both during the day and in the evening, sharing the secrets of creating the Japanese fusion cuisine that Nobu is best known for. The events will be an opportunity for the guests to learn about Nobu’s trademark combination of traditional Japanese cuisine and South American influences.


Guests will be welcomed with a champagne reception and will be able to sample a five-course tasting menu that’s paired with Nobu’s own Sake served by a traditional Geisha. The evening presentations will also include a fireworks display.


Tickets can be booked by visiting www.newlyns-farmshop.co.uk


Hampshire winner of best exhibit at Hampton Court


The best exhibit award in the new look Hampton Court Floral Marquee has been won by Hampshire Carnivorous Plants.


Hampshire Carnivorous Plants was awarded one of the 52 gold medals distributed among the 90 exhibitors in what visitors and exhibitors described as the “breathtaking new marquee”. Moved to border the long water and housed in a new 200 metre long single structure marquee, the exhibits were shown off to full effect in bright, airy and easy to navigate conditions. Heucherholics owner Sean Atkinson said: “The overall effect of the new marquee is really good. It’s pretty much based like Tatton where we are forcing people around and back up again so hopefully there are no dead spots and every body will do good business.”


Students build free eco pure allotments to give away.


It’s taken six months of sheer hard work but students at a Hampshire secondary school have built 10 new gardens for the community. Horndean Technology College is giving residents the chance to grow their own grub on patches in the school grounds.


Pupils on Pathfinder courses who study vocational skills on top of their academic work put in the leg work and built the plots. Meanwhile members of the school’s Eco Club ensured every effort was made to use recycled materials and make the plots environmentally friendly.


And with an ever-increasing waiting list for council allotments the much sought- after pieces of land are expected to be snapped up - as they are all free.


Teachers hope it will bring the community together and teach pupils to lead healthier lives by understanding where their food comes from.


Father and daughter Adam and Jenny Howard were among the first to get their names down.


Mr Howard said: ‘I had always been interested in gardening and thought it would be a good thing to do with the family, so when the school asked for interested volunteers, I thought I should go for it. This gave me the opportunity and motivation I needed.”


Community farming helps to restore wildlife habitats


Restoring habitats for wild flowers, insects, birds and mammals is a feature of community farming and Community Supported Agriculture projects.


The River Bourne Community Farm at Laverstock near Salisbury has a chalk stream, water meadow and chalk downland habitats which are thriving due to careful farming methods.


These will feature in a Flora locale workshop on Wednesday 10th November which will focus on managing land with wildlife in mind.


David Burton, Director of River Bourne Community Farm, said: “We will be looking at the different wildlife habitats created on the farm, and discussing how urban and rural community farms can bring wildlife into their landscapes. “We have rare Grey Partridges breeding in spring, and Snipe over-wintering here, all because of the habitats we’ve created.”


To book a place on the workshop go to www.floralocale.org


Marwell Hall revives 17th century varieties A whole host of 17th century plant varieties have been revived at Marwell Hall, Owslebury, Winchester.


Located behind the Grade I listed Marwell Hall in Hampshire, the garden contains three styles of the 16th and 17th centuries - “knot”, “parterre” and “kitchen” gardens.


They contain 113 roses, 96 lavenders, 64 lilies, 104 irises, 280 dianthus and 940 box plants. The team laid more than 60 tonnes of topsoil and 6.4 tonnes of sleepers. Hillier supplied plants and advice.


Marwell chief executive James Cretney said: “The garden will help visitors uncover a piece of Marwell’s heritage and experience herbs and flowers that were popular centuries ago and remain so today.”


The garden was built by a team from Marwell, Sparsholt College students and the Community Payback team. Tel 01962 777407


Country Gardener 5


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