Chaumont garden show

Nicholsons’ Landscape section left the office for a day recently to visit the Chaumont Garden festival in the Loire Valley in search of fresh thoughts and artistic flourish.

After trying out all of the seats on offer we tried to digest the inner meaning of the “Body and Soul” gardens designed by an international selection of inspired minds.

Some gardens were more comfortable to be in than others and some had ideas to take home, though on the whole their appeal was in the concepts behind the design rather than the detail.

The gardens needed to be walked through to be appreciated with the designers urging visitors to take off their shoes to feel the materials underfoot or to caress the giant bamboo stems.

By contrast at Chelsea it is possible to drift past the gardens and like what you see through the crowds without even knowing the name of the garden let alone the ideas behind it, stopping only to consider and discuss the merits of one plant variety over another.

All of which begs the question which is the better designed garden? The one with a story to tell that engages the mind as well as the senses or the one which bares all at first glance and relies on thousands of pounds worth of paving and perfect pre-prepared planting?Perhaps it’s time for a Chaumont moment in the UK?

Just before the children at Witney Community Primary School came back from their summer holidays, we sent the Landscape Team, Jules and Alastair to revamp the tired looking space ready in time for the Autumn Term.
With a digger some MOT Type 1, a few edging boards and some childhood inspiration to make some teepees, they built them a whole new looking space ready for the soft works team to come in and plant up the trees and shrubs.

Myself and Ali went back shortly after the term started and got the children involved in the planting. Some were more interested in the worms which they placed in the new raised veggie bed we also built for them. The children were all so enthusiastic and it was wonderful to see them all getting their hands into the mud and plant something that will grow taller than them by the time they leave the school.
So thank you for helping us.

For all those children who planted and then put a layer of bark mulch on top we wrote their names on a on a tag and attached it to the plant, so they can show their friends and family, but most importantly to look after, water and talk too.
Talking to plants and trees will always make them grow!

Nicholsons Hedging at Bicester Avenue Garden Centre

Nicholsons are delighted to announce that they have opened a Hedging shop within the Bicester Avenue Garden Centre - one of the centres within the 120 strong Garden Centre Group. It is to be known as the British Hedging Shop and stocks all the lines that Nicholsons grow and are known for - quality container grown hedging. This is the first such Hedging shop within the groups stores and it is hoped that if it is a success that it will be roled out in other stores next year.