The natural loss of Ash trees to dieback leads to a new generation of trees at National Trust run Sacred Grove of faith, hope, and reconciliation. Whipsnade Tree Cathedral in Bedfordshire is a war memorial of trees planted to grow into the form of Liverpool Cathedral, complete with chancel, nave, transepts, chapels, and cloisters designed around… Continue reading Whipsnade Tree Cathedral Restoration
Category: Trees
Britain’s Other Greatest Trees
In what can only be a direct response to our post on the Skippinish Oak being made the Woodland Trust’s Tree of the Year, The Telegraph scrambled to release their article on Britain’s 20 greatest trees In our post on the Skippinish Oak yesterday, we allegedly uncovered an alleged scheme by Big Oak to take… Continue reading Britain’s Other Greatest Trees
Oak Tree is UK Band Manager of the Year
After being voted Tree of the Year 2024, an old Oak has promoted the Scottish ceilidh band Skipinnish from stardom to mega stardom Woodland Trust’s Tree of the Year vote was won this year by a Sessile Oak tree called Skipinnish, after a Scottish ceilidh band. Under the tree’s management, they are now the most… Continue reading Oak Tree is UK Band Manager of the Year
Save the Darwin Oak: Free Oak Trees for All
Julia Buckley MP has presented Parliament with a petition to save the newly famous Darwin Oak from being removed for Shrewsbury’s new North West Relief Road. Good for Julia Buckley MP helping a 500-year-old tree who doesn’t even vote. Our interests here are horticultural, not political, but perhaps they overlap when we point out that… Continue reading Save the Darwin Oak: Free Oak Trees for All
Ash Tree Dieback Disease Hits Somerset
It Doesn’t Seem Real Until it Happens to You Yes, folks, it finally happened to us. We had a good run, but the dieback got us, right in the Bridgwater Road, which will be closed for five days this October to take down infected Ash trees. Ash saplings infected by the Chalara fraxinea fungus were… Continue reading Ash Tree Dieback Disease Hits Somerset
How to Prune Trees VS Clipping Hedges
Pruning woody plants is a big part of a gardener’s life, and winter is when a lot of it gets done – especially after windy weather leaves some rough edges to tidy up. When we examine a typical branch, we can see that there are basically three ways one could cut it: So, a hedge… Continue reading How to Prune Trees VS Clipping Hedges
6 Common Bay Tree Problems & Solutions
Broadly speaking, bay laurel plants, Laurus nobilis, are easygoing, low maintenance, aromatic evergreens that are a joy to grow. There are a handful of common problems that can affect bays, especially trees in pots, which always need extra care. Spotting and fixing the problems promptly will give your bay a new lease of life. They… Continue reading 6 Common Bay Tree Problems & Solutions
15 Ideal Trees for Growing in Pots
According to the proverb, ‘To be happy for a year, get married; to be happy for life, plant a garden.’A well-chosen tree makes the perfect finishing flourish, and by planting trees in a pot, it’s perfectly possible for even a balcony-sized garden to enjoy their many benefits. Container grown trees make an attractive focal point… Continue reading 15 Ideal Trees for Growing in Pots
Your Guide to Oak Trees: Facts, Types & Essential Information
It’s no exaggeration to describe oak trees as the national tree of Great Britain. They have been integral to our countryside for centuries, so naturally, many people are interested in growing oak trees for themselves. Planting an oak tree is one of the most altruistic things a gardener can do. These slow-growing giants take a… Continue reading Your Guide to Oak Trees: Facts, Types & Essential Information
The best of bareroot trees
We’re slap-bang in the middle of bareroot planting season. And that’s something worth celebrating when you love trees and shrubs but are on a budget. If you’re new to the joys of bareroot, the bottom line is that these are brilliantly healthy – but dormant – specimens. All trees and shrubs enter a period of… Continue reading The best of bareroot trees
Pruning Jobs to do now: Coppicing
Requiring only a sharp saw or secateurs and the courage of your convictions, coppicing is a straightforward and satisfying winter job. This short burst of activity will both warm the body and enhance the garden, with the added benefit of perhaps providing a fresh crop of bean poles or even some of next year’s firewood.… Continue reading Pruning Jobs to do now: Coppicing
Why I love hazelnuts. Or cobnuts?
What is the difference between a cobnut and a filbert? Are they the same thing, with regional variations of nomenclature? Is a filbert the fancier version of a cobnut with a longer husk? And how do they relate to hazelnuts? There must be a kernel of truth in there somewhere… Kent is where you’ll find… Continue reading Why I love hazelnuts. Or cobnuts?
Freezing weather & bareroot plants
Most of the damage caused to bareroot plants in cold, freezing conditions is to the delicate roots themselves. The roots are fine, fibrous structures with a high water content: moving them, or even the slightest touch whilst frozen, can cause damage. Almost all of a shrub or a tree’s energy reserves are stored in the… Continue reading Freezing weather & bareroot plants
Saving a Tree that is Falling Over
It crossed my mind this morning that we are in August. September is the other month of the equinox (exactly half a year away from Shakespeare’s “Beware the Ides of March”). March and September are the months when the Earth tilts just more than halfway to or from the Sun. So September and March are… Continue reading Saving a Tree that is Falling Over
Elderflower Cordial Recipe
Homemade Elderflower Cordial Recipe Late May – June is Elderflower time! Elderflower cordial in the shops is expensive and can be a bit sickly sweet. This homemade recipe makes great cordial and, with the use of Camden tablets your cordial will stay fresh for a long time. We also have a recipe for Elderflower Champagne (we… Continue reading Elderflower Cordial Recipe