Gardener’s Cuttings
Ivy extract used in new skin cream
Organic ivy extract from a crop grown at Ross-on-Wye is a main ingredient in a new body lotion produced by the skin care company Liz Earle, based on the Isle of Wight. The company sourced the finest quality ivy and found it on Castle Farm, where James and Emma Lambe have been growing herbs and extracting their essential oils since 1980. The new body lotion contains 19 natural actives, including damask rose flower water and sweet orange oil, blended to make a product to firm, tone and moisturise the skin.
But it is the ivy that may surprise people. Ivy (Hedera helix) has stimulating properties and helps boost blood circulation so has been used in skin creams to give an energising factor. It also tones and tightens the skin while helping to remove waste products and fatty build-ups, and so has also been used in the preparation of anti-cellulite creams.
Exeter hosts alpine show bonanza
The Exeter group of the Alpine Garden Society has been running the South West Alpine Show for 19 years, and it has grown to be one of the most prestigious shows in the calendar, attracting exhibitors from the Midlands, Wales, the South East and the Home Counties.
The next show takes place on Saturday 26th March at St. Luke’s Science and Sports College in Exeter. The show opens at 12 noon and closes at 4pm, but plant sales from 13 nurseries attending the show will be available from 10am.
The South West Alpine Show takes place at St. Luke’s Science and Sports College in Exeter
All Alpine Garden Society shows are
divided into three sections, depending on the abilities of the exhibitors and the size of pot that their plant is in, and many shows including the South West’s have an artistic section with paintings and photos of alpine plants both in the wild and in cultivation.
Visitors return every year to this outstanding show, not only to see the wonderful array of plants on the show tables, but also to buy plants often unobtainable at normal retail outlets.
The show is organised by the joint show secretaries, Bob and Di Dark, who can be contacted for further details on 01404 881213. The venue is at Harts Lane, Hill Barton Road, Exeter EX1 3RD. There is free parking on the site, and hot and cold refreshments are available.
Glorious Gloucestershire – a celebration of flowers at the cathedral
The longest ever floral carpet will be the spectacular centrepiece of the celebration of Gloucestershire’s famous people, products and events depicted in flowers at Gloucester Cathedral in July.
The nave will be filled with the floral carpet measuring 14 foot wide and 96 foot long, longer than ever previously seen in any of England’s 42 cathedrals. Parishes in the diocese will be providing many of the arrangements, and Church of England schools will be working together to create a wonderful display in the cathedral’s West End.
Ivy (Hedera helix) has stimulating properties
The all-organic farm, which has won awards for its wildlife and woodland conservation policies, grows ivy in its hedgerows. They are mechanically trimmed every three years to allow fruit, berries and flowers to develop.
The hedges are cut into an A-shape which is wide at the base so that habitats are provided for small mammals including the increasingly rare dormouse, insects including butterflies and the pest predators that are essential to organic farming. The shape also stops magpies from walking along the hedgerow, looking for eggs in nests.
‘Glorious Gloucestershire’ opens on Wednesday 13th July and will close on Saturday 16th July, from 10am until 5pm each day. There will be craft and plant stalls, talks, demonstrations and music. There is also to be a gala dinner.
Tickets will go on sale in March, admission £7.50 (Wednesday – Friday), £5 on Saturday, children free (up to two children with each paying adult). For more information call the cathedral on 01452 528095, email reception@
gloucestercathedral.org.uk or visit the website
www.gloucestercathedral.org.uk
Apple Tree winners – congratulations
The competition winners for five sets of ten-tree prizes from Adam’s Apples featured in our Winter 2010 edition were:
Jackie Williams, Little Torrington, Devon Mrs. D Kwiecien, St John, Devon Mrs. C Darnell, Fleet, Surrey
Country Gardener
Mrs. B James, Knowstone, Devon Mrs. A Robinson, Weston, Bath
The winners of the BuyDirect4u/ Charles Bentley – Komate lawn mower & grass trimmer 1st Prizes were:
Mrs. M Reeves, Shaftesbury Debbie Harding, Cheltenham Phill Pike, Bristol
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