‘What will we leave? The NSPCC Garden of Magical Childhood RHS Chelsea 2013
It’s been a busy week as we continue to work on the garden ready for Chelsea, and now that spring has suddenly appeared, our plants are exploding into growth, more of that later.
At the moment we are deciding on how the pebbles will look in our water feature; ‘The Wishing Pond’. ‘The Wishing Pond’ is an important part of the garden and will act as a focal point below the tree house. It is quite shallow and will be lined with painted pebbles of various sizes that will be visible through the water. Some of the pebbles will have messages or wishes painted on them from NSPCC supporters, all answering the question, ‘what will we leave?’
This idea of legacy is central to the theme of the garden which will hopefully stimulate people to reflect on how precious childhoods are and how important it is to help the NSPCC to protect both children and childhoods in the future. Leaving gifts in wills is a great way of doing it.
On a personal level we want to leave innocence, safety, security, ambition, and a feeling of significance but we are really looking forward to finding out what NSPCC supporters want to leave when we hear back from them in the next couple of weeks. That’s the great thing about this garden, getting real people involved!
Now, back to the plants. The weather has finally changed and we can breathe a sigh of relief now that things are actually starting to grow. We must admit that we were starting to feel a little bit worried with the late spring but now that temperatures are on the rise, all those worries are out the window. This time of year plants grow like stink, you just need to look at the hedgerows to see as the hawthorn and cow parsley start to romp away.
We’ll make sure that we give you regular updates on how the plants are doing as we head towards Chelsea. Our start date in the Artisan Garden section is 10th May 2013, so not long!
To find out more about leaving gifts in wills go to www.whatwillweleave.org.uk and to find out about the work of the NSPCC go to www.nspcc.org.uk
Spring Fever
For up to the minute gardening advice check out our latest gardening blog in the Herts & Essex Observer, Hertfordshire Mercury and Cambridge News. Spring is finally here, or at least it will be at the weekend!
http://www.hertsandessexobserver.co.uk/Homes-and-Gardens/Gardening/Golden-Gardens/A-welcome-spring-20130409092814.htm
It’s time to reclaim your garden!
Tune into BBC Radio Kent’s ‘Sunday Gardening Programme’ this Sunday 23rd December to hear Jon chatting to presenter Andy Garland about our entry for next year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
The Show starts at 8am and Jon should be on around 9.15am.
The garden, ‘The NSPCC What will we leave? Garden of Magical Childhood’, will be a celebration of nostalgic childhood memories & adventures featuring a tree house, vintage toys and wishing pond, with planting as wild and vibrant as a child’s imagination. Through highlighting magical, nostalgic childhood memories we hope to urge people to leave gifts in wills to help the NSPCC protect ther magic of childhood for the future.
www.whatwillweleave.org.uk
Join us again on BBC Three Counties Radio this Sunday 9th December 2012 when we’ll be giving topical gardening advice as part of Ernie Almond’s Gardening Phone-in Show. Tune in from 12pm
If you’ve got a gardening problem do get in touch
You can phone in on: 08459 455 555
Text: Text ’3CR’ and your message to 81333. Start your text with 3CR, then leave a space and continue your message as normal. (Texts will be charged at the standard network rate)
Alternatively you can email Ernie through the BBC Three Counties Radio website 3crListenerComments@bbc.co.uk
If you’ve missed it you can listen again on iplayer
95.8 FM | 103.8 FM | 104.5 FM
The Sunday Telegraph - May 27th 2012
‘One of the most charming artisan plots was the Plankbridge Shepherd’s Hut Garden surrounding a bucolic haven customised as a writer’s hut with a wood burner and leather topped desk. Again the packed planting reflected the wild-flower theme with cow parsley, burdock, cuckoo flowers and ecen rose bay willow herb, grown through a sward of native grasses like creeping bent, common sedge , cocks foot and yorkshire fog’
The War Cry - 26th May 2012
The Daily Express - May 25th 2012
Hertfordshire Life - May 2012
The Garden Design Journal - July 2012
The Independent- 23 May 2012 - Sheditecture - designer gardens make their mark at Chelsea
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
For monthly gardening advice take a look at our gardening page on the Herts & Essex Observer website:
http://www.hertsandessexobserver.co.uk/Leisure-Lifestyle/Gardening/
It’s Show time once again. Adam and Jon paid a visit to the world famous Chelsea Flower Show last week. Read their review for the Herts & Essex Observer in the ‘Press Coverage’ section of this website. (It’s under ‘Herts and Essex Observer June 2010′).
Tune in to Adam and Jon for a Bank Holiday Gardening Special on Gill Gauntlett’s ‘Greenhouse Show’ on BBC Three Counties Radio. Chelsea chat and plenty of tips to make your garden wonderful this season.
Monday 31st May 2010 – 7am-10am
(95.5FM, 103.8FM, 104.5FM)
