Gardener’s Cuttings New beehive sets out to encourage beekeeping
As more people living in urban areas look to grab a slice of the good life, beekeeping reconnects with nature and also can bolster the country’s dwindling bee population. Early spring is a perfect opportunity to get established and Wildlife World’s new Homebee Honeyhive is ideal for novice beekeepers with limited space.
Beekeeping is a fantastic way to enjoy your own supply of fresh honey and benefit the environment. As bees typically search for food within a three-mile radius, urban hives have every chance of thriving. A compact, designed beehive made from natural materials, it comes complete with a simple beekeeping kit and full information booklet, containing details on bee courses, other equipment needed and bee suppliers.
In the world of beekeeping, there is much debate about what is the best system for
beekeepers and their bees. The Homebee Honeyhive promotes and utilises the simplest type of beekeeping in the form of a top bar system, but the hive can also be used for more modern beekeeping with the additional purchase of frames and a foundation.
With the top bar system, as the name suggests, moveable horizontal bars are provided for the bees to form their own combs.
www.wildlifeworld.co.uk
Black Magic camellia arrives
Trehane Nursery, the Wimborne based leading camellia and blueberry specialist, has launched a new Camellia japonica ‘Black Magic’. With flowers of the deepest, richest red, this late spring-flowering camellia boasts unusual holly-like foliage giving it year-round appeal.
Lilies in memoriam at Gloucester Cathedral
Gloucester Cathedral is to provide a floral in memoriam in the form of a sponsored floral tribute, built of lilies, to decorate the inside of the vast West Wall in the run-up to the Easter period. Anyone can sponsor one or more of the lilies in remembrance of loved ones for just £5.50 for each lily and the name to be remembered, not only at Easter but also later in the year on All Saints’ Day. Anyone wishing to take advantage of this facility should send a cheque (made payable to The Chapter, Gloucester Cathedral) to The Cathedral Office, 12 College Green, Gloucester GL1 2LX by 15th April at the latest. UK tax- payers can Gift-aid their sponsorship by enclosing a signed and dated letter giving their full home address.
New school offers inspiring one-day courses for all gardeners
It’s large, semi-double flowers also have a strong natural shine, which when combined with its bushy, very upright habit and fast growth all make 'Black Magic' an excellent garden plant.
“Gardeners are always looking for elusive, black flowering plants,” said Nursery Manager Lorraine Keets. “And, whilst this cultivar does not carry black flowers, they are an unusually strong in colour, almost blood red and will look very striking when used as specimen plants in the garden.” Black Magic is available exclusively from Trehane Nursery in 2 litre, 5 litre and 10 litre pots, ranging in height from 30cm right through to 100cm. Prices start from £10.50. The nursery grows over 150 varieties of camellia, many unavailable elsewhere in the UK and personal shoppers are welcomed.
Trehane Nursery in Stapehill Road, Hampreston, nr Wimborne, opens weekdays from 8.30am – 4.30pm. Call 01202 873490 or visit
www.trehanenursery.co.uk.
The new Bath Gardening School has announced its first programme of Spring-Summer courses. The school offers gardeners of all ages and experience the opportunity to learn new skills over a day. Courses for the Spring-Summer programme, which starts in April 2011, include the English Country Garden, Planning a Kitchen Garden for Beginners, Garden Photography and A Beginners Guide to Beekeeping. Professional gardeners, experts in their field teach the courses, including high profile gardeners such as James Alexander-Sinclair from Gardeners’ World, author Anne Wareham and Mark Diacono, Head Gardener at River Cottage. Local faces such as Louis Hodgkin of the Bath Beekeeping Association and no-dig advocate Charles Dowding will also share their specialist knowledge.
Landscape designer and founder of the Bath Gardening School, Emma Bond, explained, “Last year I realised there are no outlets for people to learn about gardening in a friendly and relaxing environment in Bath.
Held in the Botanical Gardens in Royal Victoria Gardens, each one-day course includes coffee, tea and homemade cakes and a lunch, either in popular local pub, the Marlborough Tavern (in April and May), or a picnic provided by Bath’s Made by Ben (in June and July).
Each course costs £99.05. details are on
www.thebathgardeningschool.com.
Country Gardener 13
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