Jon and Adam take time out to check over their Chelsea wildflowers. It’s been a challenging time to get everything to flower in time; the rain and cold weather has made everything a couple of weeks late.  Some plants have had to be brought on in the greenhouse and we’ve had to bring out the grow lamps for others. Thankfully, the temperatures are warming up a bit which will really bring out the flowers. By judging day (monday 21st May) everything will look amazing, fingers crossed!

We start our build up on friday 11th May.

For more pictures check out our facebook page by clicking on the icon or go to www.facebook.com/Woolcottandsmith or go to www.plankbridge.com

Artisan Garden – SEW7

Artist Impression – Jonathan Smith

The inspiration

 The Plankbridge Shepherd’s Hut garden is a nostalgic, relaxing, Dorset wild flower garden, featuring the first shepherd’s hut to be exhibited in a show garden at RHS Chelsea.  Inspired by the Dorset countryside and Dorset wild flower meadows in and around’ Hardy Country’, the garden is a real wildlife haven.

  The shepherd’s hut has been adapted as a writer’s retreat in honour of Thomas Hardy, Dorset’s most famous writer. Scenes from Far From the Madding Crowd, including those with shepherd Gabriel Oak, were set in fields near Plankbridge. On Press Day, the hut will be used by best-selling author Tracy Chevalier, who has many close connections with Dorset. Tracy will be working on the manuscript of her new novel, which is set in Dorset and America.

 The shepherd’s hut

 The shepherd’s hut was hand built to fit the garden area by Richard Lee of Plankbridge Hutmakers. He used Plankbridge’s authentic Victorian designs with some unique design additions, including the curved doorframe.  The colour of the hut is a pre-raphealite colour called ‘Shepherd’s Shirt’, which is taken from a painting called ‘The Hireling Shepherd’ by William Holman Hunt. The hut was weathered to suit the garden scheme by scenic artist Jonathan Holbrook, who has worked on major film and TV projects including Pirates of the Caribbean, The Golden Compass and Lark Rise to Candleford. 

'The Hireling Shepherd' (1851)

 The large Artisan garden (7m x 5m) is designed by triple RHS Gold Medal winners Adam Woolcott and Jonathan Smith www.woolcottandsmith.com They specialise in naturalistic planting and beautiful, nostalgic gardens. They share the same love for craft, beauty and attention to detail as the Plankbridge team. Adam and Jonathan will include their ‘secret weapon’ lucky stinging nettle in the design, which has featured in their previous three Chelsea award-winning gardens.

 Plants to look out for include the rare Southern Marsh Orchid (Dactylorhiza praetermissa), which is native to Dorset and grows abundantly at Plankbridge, plus rare heritage vegetable varieties, including runner beans and ‘Convent Garden’ beetroot kindly donated by Garden Organic.

 Photocall

 On Press Day, best-selling author, Tracy Chevalier will be writer-in-residence in the shepherd’s hut. Tracy has a home in West Dorset and has published six novels, including Girl with a Pearl Earring, which was famously adapted for film starring Colin Firth and Scarlett Johansson. Two of Tracy’s earlier books feature Dorset characters and settings and her new novel (to be published in spring 2013) tells the story of a Victorian Quaker who emigrates from Dorset to America in 1849. Tracy will be working on the manuscript of her new novel in the hut and will be available for interview and filming as requested.

 Photography

 Award winning garden photographer Rachel Warne www.rachelwarne.co.uk will be taking images of the garden on Press Day. Please contact the PR team below if you require images.

Notes to editors:

 The Plankbridge Shepherd’s Hut Garden SEW7

Sponsor:  Plankbridge Hutmakers, Dorset www.plankbridge.com

Designers: Woolcott & Smith www.woolcottandsmith.com

Construction: Conway Landscapes www.conwaylandscapes.com

 For more information, please contact: Alicen Dines or Sara Hudston at Watershed PR, telephone 01308 420 785, email alicen@watershedpr.co.uk or sara@watershedpr.co.uk

ENDS

Great little piece in the Telegraph last week about our ’Plankbridge Shepherd’s Hut Garden’.  Click on the link below to find out a bit more about our Artisan Garden and our fabulous sponsors Plankbridge Hutmakers, probably the best hutmakers in the world!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/chelseaflowershow/9160514/First-time-at-the-Show.html

Don’t forget to check us out on twitter and facebook to keep up to date . Click the buttons on the left of the page.

To find out more about Plankbridge Hutmakers log on to www.plankbridge.com

Wheels on fire!

Check out our tips for dealing with the  hosepipe ban. For many of us in the eastern part of the UK the ban comes into force on 5th April 2012. Remember you can still use your watering can.

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hertsandessexobserver.co.uk%2FHomes-and-Gardens%2FGardening%2FWhat-the-first-hosepipe-ban-in-22-years-means-for-your-garden-13032012.htm&h=_AQFzwgWx

We have finally strayed into the digital age by joining social networking sites  facebook and twitter to keep you up to date with what we’re up to, should you be in the least bit interested!

Check out our new  facebook  page by following the link below or by clicking on the little blue facebook button at the bottom of the page:

www.facebook.com/Woolcottandsmith

See photos and watch videos about us and about our Chelsea 2012 preparations

If you are a twitter fan you can also follow us by using the link below or by clicking on the twitter button at the bottom of the page:

www.twitter.com/Woolcottsmith

Keep up to date with our news as it happens

To view our latest gardening article click the link below. With all this arctic weather on the way it’s all about ‘fleecing your favourites’. Don’t forget you can also catch up with our Chelsea progress in the ‘Chelsea Chat’ section at the bottom.

http://www.hertsandessexobserver.co.uk/Homes-and-Gardens/Gardening/Golden-Gardens/Fleece-your-favourites-protect-your-tender-plants-30012012.htm

Now, where’s my mittens!

We are delighted to announce that our Artisan Garden design has been accepted into the Royal Horticultural Society’s Chelsea Flower Show 2012. Next year’s design for Plankbridge Ltd, promises to be our best one yet. The design will feature a tranquil wildflower garden, inspired by the beautiful Dorset countryside immortalised by Thomas Hardy in his novel ‘Far from the Madding Crowd’. Central to the design is an authentic Dorset-style shepherd’s hut which sits on the banks of a stream in a water meadow.

 The exhibitor and sponsor of the garden, Plankbridge Limited, are manufacturers of traditional, authentic shepherd’s huts. Based just outside Dorchester in Dorset, the Plankbridge team are dedicated and experienced craftsmen that create something really unique and special. To find out more go to www.plankbridge.com.

 For more information on the Chelsea Flower Show go to www.rhs.org.uk

 We’ll keep you posted with more details soon.

Adam shares his excitement about guest presenting on the Ideal World Shopping Television Channel. Working with Garden Bargains.com, Adam has started as a regular gardening guest presenter.

 Adam says  ‘ I am totally nuts on plants and working with Garden Bargains gives me the chance to share my passion with many thousands of people and the opportunity to bring people some fabulous plants and gardening products at incredible prices’.

 Ideal World can be found on Channel 747 (Virgin Media), Channel 644 (Sky), Channel 22 (Freeview) and Channel 812 (Freesat). Alternatively, check out the website www.idealworld.tv. Garden Bargains can be found at www.gardenbargains.com

Tune into Adam and Jon on BBC Three Counties Radio on Sunday 27th November 2011 for some great gardening advive and some news on Chelsea 2012. As expert guests on the Ernie Almond Show from 3-4pm the duo are awaiting your questions so ring, text or email through the BBC Three Counties website www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-12424116