I don’t feature The Old Forge very often but not because it isn’t worthy: it’s simply that The Priory is the main star of my blog and a jealous one too. Nevertheless, in late July on my regular Tuesday visit, I took some snaps and thought I’d give you a short – if incomplete – […]
Portugal is a dream reborn in the prairies of Alentejo. In 1580, the king of Portugal died without an heir and the king of Spain inherited the throne of Portugal. After six decades of Spanish domination, a small group of nobles organized a coup to restore independence. They wanted to make Dom João of Braganza, a duke with […]
By Baraka Rateng’ This article was originally published on SciDev.Net. Read the original article. The African Union’s Malabo Declaration adopted in 2014 to double agricultural productivity and end hunger by 2025 underestimated the risk that climate change will pose, a report says. The declaration failed to consider investing in Africa’s scientific capacity to combat climate […]
via African policy to end hunger silent on climate risk — One Billion Hungry: Can We Feed the World?
Our recent Elements of the Landscape photography exhibition perfectly documented the story of the Ouse Washes Landscape through the people who live and work in the area. The exhibition was displayed within the beautiful Wigeon Café at WWT Welney Wetland …
via Ouse Washes photography project tells the stories of local people — Ouse Washes
The June issue of Gardens Illustrated has a feature (written by me as it happens) about this impressive garden, so I was more than happy to take a friend and go along to support their NGS Open Day. Set on a steep hill, it is a garden that has achieved a perfect balance of cultivated…
For the first time this week, garden enthusiasts will get the chance to see the remarkable garden created by Pat and Norman Webster at their stunning Canadian home overlooking the water, when the gardens open at 10.00 on 4 August. I was lucky enough to have a sneak preview when visiting Quebec in June with…
29/07/2016Older patients receiving care from Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust at a specialist unit in Ipswich are now able to make the most of the great outdoors following a mini-garden makeover.
Large planters which were once left derelict and unkempt have been filled with colourful plants and aromatic herbs, in turn bringing the courtyard at The Willows, which is part of Woodlands Unit at Ipswich Hospital, to life. Elsewhere, new seating has been added and tomatoes and peppers planted so that service users can enjoy growing their own vegetables.
The project was made possible thanks to the Woodbridge branch of Wyevale, which donated the plants, compost and gardening gloves to NSFT Staff Nurse Lesley Bradshaw. Some of NSFT’s service users helped with the planting, while more patients than ever now using the new-look garden to enjoy time away from the ward.
“We are really pleased with the makeover, which has added some colour, texture and aroma to what was once a rather bland and unloved courtyard,” said Lesley. “We asked our patients if they would like to get involved in planting and they really enjoyed it and found it quite therapeutic – one lady in particular who loves gardening at home was in her element.
“We are very grateful to Wyevale for their generosity, without which this project would not have been possible. More people are now using the space and enjoying sitting outside to get some fresh air, which shows that they really appreciate the work we’ve done.”
Brian Luke, Charity Champion with Wyevale, said: “It is a pleasure to help and I hope that we are able to support the unit again in the future and that many people get to enjoy the new space.
“I would like to thank John Bishop, the Garden Centre Manager, Mike Upson, our Horticulture Manager, and Tom Nunn, our Horticulture Team Leader, for making this all possible.
“It is my intention to do what I can to support our local communities in my role as Wyevale, Woodbridge Charity Champion.”
From NSFT Website
Death of the hardware store
As the harmless nondescript strips of suburban Melbourne are systematically bulldozed by developers, a few local shops cling to each other like possums in the equally sparse remnant vegetation.
Next to the sublime Melbourne Vintage Audio shop (I wrote about yesterday) sits this slither of a hardware store dug in like an echidna, bristling with spiky wares to ward off anyone in a sharp suit. In the soft underbelly no doubt there is an ancient shopkeeper and an able assistant who can find a 31/2″ screw in a flash (no we don’t sell metric fittings in here my dear they would say ever so slightly patronisingly).
When we lived in St Kilda there was such a little hardware shop just off Acland St – a great refuge for newlyweds unsure of the etiquette of dealing with the early disasters of home making. Nothing like a wander about an array of power…
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Once upon a time, there was a prince called Pedro who was calm and handsome. As the younger brother of the king, he did not expect to have to perform royal duties. So he devoted his energies to the construction of a palace in the village of Queluz where he could host hunting parties. The […]
Whilst down in Devon recently, one sunny Sunday morning I wandered into Tavistock Pannier Market to the Tavistock Garden Festival. It was busy.There was a lovely range of displays by local nurseries all vying for our trade, as well as some other trades people with garden ornaments and practical garden items. I was tempted…and succumbed, buying three rather unusual plants, all of which now adorn the pond garden here at the Old School: a beautiful white Camassia (I’ve already saved seed from this and hope to propagate further plants), a Sanguisorba with a mix of red flowers and nicely cut foliage and a rather nice Geum, with golden yellow flowers nestling on pinkish red bases.
Nigel Boldero aka 'Old School Gardener'
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