Crab apples are beautiful, compact trees with vibrant autumn foliage followed by clusters of buttery yellow, bright ruby red or mellow orange fruits that adorn the branches for many months. Spring brings prolific flowering with pure white, pink and red blossom, and attractive foliage, often with deep purple tones. Thriving in almost any soil and… Continue reading Crab Apple Trees: Year-Round Interest
Tomato & Chilli Chutney
This is a fantastic chutney, which accompaniments most cheeses, especially a strong and mature cheddar – yum! Ingredients 1 kilo Fresh Tomatoes 1 tin Chopped Tomatoes 150g Caster Sugar 250ml White Wine Vinegar 2 tsp Nigela Seeds 2 Chillis (remove seeds & finely chop) 1/2 tsp Chilli Powder 1 tsp Smoked Paprika 2 Red Onions… Continue reading Tomato & Chilli Chutney
Blueberry & White Chocolate Muffins
It’s Blueberry picking time! With an abundance of Blueberries, why not try this lovely Blueberry & White Chocolate Muffin recipe… Ingredients 300g Blueberries 60g white chocolate buttons/chunks 350g Self-raising flour 60g Caster Sugar 60g Muscovado Sugar 3 Eggs 2 tsb Baking Powder 140g Margarine 120ml Milk Pinch of Salt Method Pre-heat oven to 190oc/gas mark… Continue reading Blueberry & White Chocolate Muffins
Damson Gin
Our simple homemade Damson Gin recipe will be great in a few months, ready for autumn! Ingredients 1 Litre Gin 500g Damsons 250g Caster Sugar Method Rinse and remove any leaves and stalks from the Damsons, then pat dry. Tip into a freezer bag and freeze overnight. The next day, bash the bag of damsons… Continue reading Damson Gin
Fig, Apple & Halloumi Salad
Ingredients 10 fresh figs halved 60g honey 100ml olive oil 2 x 250g blocks halloumi, thickly sliced, then halved 2 tbsp sherry vinegar 150g rocket 1 x eating apple, peeled, cored & finely sliced 2 tbsp flaked toasted almonds Method Heat the grill to its highest setting. Put the fig halves (Brown Turkey Figs are… Continue reading Fig, Apple & Halloumi Salad
Raspberry Compote
The home-grown fruit and veg cropping in abundance bring with them the soothing, homely prospect of making jams, jellies and chutneys. Do have a look below for the Ashridge team’s favourite recipe for raspberry compote. Compote Ingredients Method Want to grow your own raspberries? Visit our online shop and see all the soft fruit we… Continue reading Raspberry Compote
Planting Combinations for June
The long days of summer have finally arrived. But now the last spring bulbs have faded away and with a month or so before later summer stalwarts such as rudbeckia, echinacea and salvias begin to flower, how can we enjoy colour and beauty in our early summer borders? Quintessential Cottage Emily Bronte Cottage borders really… Continue reading Planting Combinations for June
Drought-proof Gardening
It’s been the driest April on record in the UK and the weather continues to represent drought conditions, and my London garden is looking pretty parched. The water butt at the far end, which collects rainwater from the shed roof, is empty, so I’ve been lugging watering cans up to my raised veg beds every… Continue reading Drought-proof Gardening
The Best Plants for a Wildlife Hedge
A good hedge is an invaluable addition to any garden. From the outside, it delineates and disguises boundaries, creating structure in a space. Up close (and there’s no better way to get a close-up view than by learning the ancient art of hedge laying) it reveals shady spots on the ground and well concealed areas… Continue reading The Best Plants for a Wildlife Hedge
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