Gardener’s Cuttings
Rare Plant Fairs come to Wells and Quenington
Rare Plants Fair comes to Wells
The first in the season’s series of Rare Plant Fairs take place in March and April. The Bishop's Palace, Wells, is the venue on Sunday 27th March from 11am to 4pm; while on Sunday 10th April the Old Rectory, Quenington near Cirencester acts as hosts. Rare Plant Fairs are now a popular feature in the gardening calendar.
They have been successful in bringing together those new to gardening as well as experienced gardeners and growers in beautiful locations. At each fair there will be nurseries offering a wide range of shrubs, perennials and bulbs to choose from. The fairs are unique because the nurseries offer wonderful plants which will not be found in a garden centre. They are grown by the people selling them who can tell you if they are suitable for your garden and we also offer splendid locations as venues “. The Bishop’s Palace has been the home of the Bishops of Bath and Wells for 800 years. There are 14 acres of gardens including the springs from which the city takes its name. Entry is £4.00 per person and includes the Palace Gardens. The Bishop's Palace is NOT open. Refreshments available.
The Old Rectory, Quenington, where the fair is open from 11am to 4pm includes an organic garden, which has been developed over the past 40 years and is in a tranquil spot on the banks of a mill race and the River Coln.
Entry is £5.00 per person to include the gardens. A proportion of proceeds donated to Brewery Arts, Cirencester
Again refreshments are available. For more information on all rare Plants Fairs call Tel 08454681368 or visit
www.rareplantfair.co.uk
Peat ban gains support
The launch of a Government consultation which wants to phase out the use of peat in all horticultural sectors in the UK is gaining support throughout the south west. Natural Environment Minister Richard Benyon calls for the elimination of peat from the amateur gardeners market by 2020 and its use by all gardeners, growers and procurers by 2030. The UK currently uses three million cubic metres of peat every year for horticulture, with almost three quarters used by amateur gardeners and the rest by professional growers.Extraction of peat also contributes to carbon dioxide emissions, with healthy peat lands actually storing CO2 within them as carbon ‘sinks’, helping to reduce the greenhouse effect that contributes to climate change. As peat forms over thousands of years, its use is not considered sustainable and it cannot be readily replaced or recreated quickly. Paul Wilkinson, head of living landscape for The Wildlife Trusts, said: “We believe that extracting peat is an unsustainable practice, both because of its effects on wildlife and in terms of climate change.”
Time to get snapping?
The British Wildlife Photography Awards competition has opened.
Now in its third year these awards celebrate and recognise the talents of all photographers and highlighting the wealth and diversity of the natural history of the British Isles.
Wildlife photography awards: The 2011 awards will again look for stunning images
With a prize fund of up to £20,000 and the overall winner receiving a cash prize of £5,000, the images receiving judges’
commendations will form part of a series of nationwide exhibitions. aim to set the standard for wildlife photography in the UK for many years to come.
There are also three special awards to encourage participation by young people, schools and youth community groups.
The closing date is Thursday 2rd of June. Country Gardener
Largest ever exhibit at Chelsea for Hardy’s
The most successful ever female exhibitor at the Chelsea Flower Show is back for 2011 with her nursery's largest exhibit to date (12m x 12m). Rosemary Hardy from Hardy’s Cottage Garden Plants has come up with an unusual and intriguing display for this year’s show , thanks to working with Westland Horticulture whose West + compost Hardy’s use to grow all of their plant material including the displays at Chelsea, Hampton, Tatton and BBC Gardener’s World shows. The exhibit will be circular in shape with two walk-through pathways leading into the centre of the display. The effect will be of different heights of hedging and planting, offering intriguing views for visitors depending on where they view from. There will also be some movement from a water rill and Rosemary will be using full sized trees for the first time at Chelsea. Thirteen Carpinus betulis of approximately 2.5m in height will give added structure to the middle of the stand and have the appearance of being planted into the earth and the 24 metres of hedging is also C. betulis. This large stand will require in excess of 3000 plants to fill it, so Hardy’s are growing 3500. Rosemary and Robert hope to have at least one new plant for 2011 and at this stage Anemone ‘Wild Swan’ is shaping up nicely. The petals are white with blue reverse and it flowers naturally from June or July through to August and grows to between 18-24 inches. It will be planted in drifts for maximum effect. The display will also feature cottage garden favourites for which Hardy’s are famous, such as hardy Geranium, Maianthemum, various Salvias, Verbascums, Cirsiums and Angelicas. Regular visitors to the stand expect Rosemary to adhere to her mantra of ‘right plant right place’ and with this display she won’t disappoint.
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