Blenheim Palace Flower Show

Nicholsons attended the brand new Blenheim Palace Flower Show at the weekend using the trade stand garden we had at Chelsea to showcase what we can offer in Garden Design. The weekend was a great success with thousands of visitors.

Nicholsons also had a "Tree and Hedging Advice Centre" where anyone could ask questions about planting trees and hedges from one of our experts.

Fenella was filmed by Witney TV and did a fantastic job as an ambassador for Nicholsons.

Wood Fuel

Niel Nicholson was filmed at the nursery discussing the topic of woodfuel. The BBC news clip is about promoting the use of wood in Oxfordshire as a cheaper and cleaner alternative fuel than oil. Using more wood would increase coppicing and wood harvesting which also encourages biodiversity to help the wildlife. The aim is that wood produced in Oxfordshire will be used in Oxfordshire.

The BBC came to Nicholsons to film the woodfuel boiler which heats five buildings from its renewable wood source. Nicholsons has also signed up to the OxLogs standard of firewood managed by toe² (Trust for Oxfordshire's Environment) where the customer will know where the wood stock is from and is guaranteed to be produced under ceratin standards.

Chelsea - it is all over for another year!

What do most people do on Bank Holiday Monday!
Laze around in the sunshine and enjoy a well earned day off - well in the aftermath of the Chelsea Flower Show life goes on and the show had to be taken down. 4 people set off at 5am and dismantled the show stand and were home by 2pm.

So plans for 2014.........watch this space

The stand after it had been cleared - recognise the shapes?

Day 2 of Chelsea, The Award

Our very own Certificate of Merit

The sun might not be shining this morning but there were sunny smiles all round when we were greeted with a Certificate of Merit for the outstanding presentation of our stand. This is a great achievement for all the hard work that has gone into our first Chelsea stand.

A few close up photos of the stand to show the detail in the design set off by Aquilega Kristall, Alchemilla Gold Strike, Paeonia Duchess de Nemours and the Buxus sempervirens (Box) hedge.

This picture shows the skilled craftsmanship of the ironwork by John Naysmith from The Oxford Iron Company. The peacock is exquisite and was chosen because of the 100 year old Rudyard Kipling poem "The Glory of the Garden" of which extracts were taken for the back drop of the stand.

Day 1 of Chelsea, Press Day

The completed stand

Finally complete and doesn't the stand look good. Well done to everyone! Remember to visit us on Pavilion Way at location PW33.

Monday is Press Day and the team had some very important visitors....

Chelsea Pensioners taking a rest on Nicholsons stand with Clara and Liz Nicholson

Music by Wendy

Clara and Liz were interviewed by BBC Radio Oxford and Clara was outstanding.

Also Roderick and Hanny Nicholson even got in on the act when they were spotted on the BBC News UK page admiring the vegetation. I shall ask Roderick what the plant was when I next see him...

Photo courtesy of BBC NEWS UK

The last Friday in the build up to Chelsea

Very nearly there........!

Chelsea - latest progress

Last plants loaded and on the way - Emily has spent many hours tending the plants to get them at their bast for the show - moving them from polytunnel to outside and back depending on the weather!

Chelsea Day 5 and on course

The stand is starting to take shape - all hard works done, water feature filling and excavations complete.

All the fluffy plants due later in the week - they are looking good at the nursery but they do need some sun! Maybe next week........

Do come and see us if you come to Chelsea and have a drink with us.

Chelsea Day 3 and 4

The shape of the stand is beginning to show with the ring in place

Roof now on, paths laid



Edges in and pebble mosaic in too

 Now we need some plants!

Day 2 of the Chelsea Build Up

Day 2 and things are starting to take shape.

Layout complete and some of the trees going in.

Watch this space for the next instalment....

Shelter base in and excavation done for the "ring"