Archive | May, 2011

World Environment Day 2011

31. May 2011

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World Environment Day 2011

World Environment Day, abbreviated to WED, takes place on 5 June and  is a global celebration of positive environmental action. The UN-promoted event began in 1972 and has grown to become one of the main ways in which the organization draws attention to environmental issues around the world. http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/green-agenda-world-environment-day-2292869.html Water is one of the key […]

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Drought loving plants – Cordyline Australis

31. May 2011

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Drought loving plants – Cordyline Australis

A favourite drought plant with UK gardeners is the Torbay palm  or Cordyline Australis which is now a very popular sight all over the UK, inspiring thoughts of tropical islands even on a miserable winters day. Sadly many specimens did not survive the hardest winter for 100 years in 2010/11 but do not let that […]

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Guardian tackles climate change

30. May 2011

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The Guardian always takes an interesting angle on climate change: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/jun/01/ten-steps-to-tackle-climate-change

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Drought continues in June

29. May 2011

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Drought continues in June

The unpredictablity of our UK weather is nothing new but, after the coldest winter for 100 years and now the driest start to summer for 100 years, gardens everywhere are certainly being challenged . Suggestions are that East Anglia and the South East will experience ongoing dry weather in June if Positive Weather Solutions get […]

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Rain arrives in London

26. May 2011

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Rain arrives in London

When it rains heavily in London, the Victorian drains often overflow and rivers of rain simply rush away. The average Londoner uses nearly 160 litres of water a day – saving just 10 per cent of this total, through easy measures, would fill an incredible 48 Olympic-sized swimming pools every day. With rising population, climate […]

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B&Q vertical garden goes sky high

25. May 2011

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B&Q vertical garden goes sky high

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1390415/Gold-standard-Edible-garden-takes-prize-Chelsea-Flower-Show.html?ito=feeds-newsxml Food for thought? This amazing edible garden brimming with fruit and vegetables caught the judges attention at The Chelsea Flower Show and shows just how home grown produce can be produced in the smallest of urban spaces. Apart from providing home grown food and reducing our air miles , there are a host of […]

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RHS highlights water crisis for gardening

22. May 2011

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RHS highlights water crisis for gardening

On the eve of the Chelsea Flower Show it is brilliant to see the RHS using the focus on gardening in the UK this week to point out that gardeners have to think about how they use water to maintain their precious gardens. They have commissioned a study that highlights the benefits of gardens but […]

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How green is Chelsea Flower Show?

22. May 2011

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How green is Chelsea Flower Show?

Environmental concerns figure highly at Chelsea this year with Nigel Dunnett’s New Wild garden, capturing every raindrop to store in two circular ponds, with nothing wasted down the drains. http://www.rhsplants.co.uk/rhs-chelsea/rbc-new-wild-garden/ Marney Hall uses solar panelling to power the greenroofed garden office of her Skyshades garden http://www.rhs.org.uk/Shows-Events/RHS-Chelsea-Flower-Show/2011/Gardens/A-to-Z/The-Skyshades-Garden-Powered-by-Light The B&Q sponsored 9m tall garden tower is one […]

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Dry gardening at Chelsea Flower Show

21. May 2011

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Dry gardening at Chelsea Flower Show

The dry weather in Southern England continues with no sign of heavy rain before Chelsea opens on Monday for judging on Members Day. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-1387551/UK-weather-Heatwave-way-hottest-May-350-years.html Gardening in the current dry weather is  proving very challenging but there is help at hand from one of the Chelsea Flower Show gardens tipped to win Best in Show. The […]

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RHS Chelsea Flowers early

20. May 2011

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RHS Chelsea Flowers early

The Independent  says that “Visitors to Chelsea could be in for a very different experience this year, as unusual weather over the preceding months has forced many garden designers to rethink their plans. A cold snap followed by the warmest April on record has meant the best laid turf of many gardeners has gone awry […]

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