Discover the world of park home living first-hand with Berkeleyparks at one of their upcoming residential park Open Days! From Cauldron Barn Farm Park in Dorset to Temple Grove Park in Essex, they have got a range of Open Days for you to experience! Take a tour around the park, view their range of show homes available, and even select the plot for your perfect park home to be placed on. Berkeleyparks park homes are beautiful bungalow-style homes in secure, residential developments. Here you’ll meet like-minded neighbours, who will soon become friends, as well as uncovering a much more relaxing ..read more

It’s time for a little patience…  Whereas last month everything was too early, suddenly gardeners start to feel a sense of panic and believe everything must be done in these March weeks. But we need to remember that March has one foot in winter and the other in spring and it can be very cold this month so keep an eye on the weather forecast and try to be patient. The other good news is that clocks also go forward right at the end of this month, so longer daylight hours help plants to really get under way. 1. Strengthening the soil is the number one job Boosting the soil for the coming gro ..read more

Keeping a nature diary to study phenology, or the seasonal changes in nature, can be an interesting and rewarding hobby, and will give you vital insights into a changing climate and habitat. Why start a nature journal? One thing we could all do is to keep a simple nature diary or journal. At the most basic this could be a record of what we see, though it could also be a mechanism for us to describe a connection with nature or something more descriptive of the wildflowers and creatures we bump into through the year. A nature diary can enhance an interest in wildlife as it might encourage us to ..read more

Anyone who hasn’t found it easy to keep houseplants alive can breathe easier as there is now a formal list of plants which seem very difficult to kill. Houseplants continue to grow in popularity but there are still a swathe of gardeners lacking confidence in their ability to keep plants alive.  It has all added up to a search for the toughest, born-to-survive houseplants aimed at those who may have accidentally killed a few houseplants in their time and would prefer to develop some confidence about their green fingered ability to keep plants thriving, There is some good news for this grou ..read more

How are the plants in your garden really coping with the change in our weather pattens? Warm springs, the odd heatwave, longer periods of prolonged rain and periods of hard frost are officially testing the ability of many thousands of plants to survive. Our patterns of weather have changed things: we will have to garden differently from now on. It may not qualify as a trend but the repeat experience in recent years of warm, even hot springs, heatwave bursts, longer periods of rain and wet, sometimes frosty winters is having an impact on the plants we grow. The right plant, right place mantra i ..read more

This winter the campaign to add gardening to the UK school’s curriculum is being stepped up as teachers believe it to be the perfect vehicle for hands on learning. This winter the biggest every drive is being undertaken for horticulture to be embedded in the UK school curriculum. The rise of gardening in schools has been quite staggering over the past decade.  It has slipped seamlessly into the primary school environment, providing a new and dynamic way for teachers to educate hungry little minds.  The campaign is nothing new-just perhaps more intense and urgent.  This winter wi ..read more

How to help Britain’s favourite feathered friend survive the season With their vibrant red breasts, cheeky personalities and cheerful melodies, robins are one of the UK’s favourite feathered friends and a popular addition to gardens throughout the winter.  Yet, they are also one of the most at-risk bird species, with an estimated life span of just two years and only 40 per cent surviving from one year to the next. The combined threat from predators, extreme weather conditions, and lack of natural food sources and nesting sites, means that these garden visitors may need a helping hand as t ..read more

Winter can feel like a gloomy time in the garden. The flowers of high summer are a distant memory, the rain is here to stay and the change of the clocks has put paid to any hope of working in the evenings. However, there is still much to be done. From looking after your garden tools, to splitting plants and planting bulbs for the seasons ahead, getting outside in your garden in the winter months can be rewarding and give you a chance to breathe fresh air and stay connected to the outdoors. Just remember to wrap up warm and reward yourself with a hot cuppa afterwards. 1. Protect plants from the ..read more

Whilst it may seem strange to be thinking of planting as the gardening year draws to a close, it is a really good time to plant shrubs and hardy perennials. The soil is still warm, and the autumn rains will help to the plants establish quickly ready for next year’s display. Developing a good root system is key to success for shrubs and hardy perennials and planting in warm autumn soil is far kinder to the plants than the chilly spring ground. That’s the advice from popular Ireley Hardy Plant Nursery, a small independent nursery north east of Cheltenham specialising in hardy perennials and shru ..read more

Blenheim Palace is encouraging visitors to spend some time in its stunning Butterfly House, which has undergone a huge transformation over the last six months with newly installed smart technology and improved environment for its inhabitants. In addition, new plants and different fruits are being trialled to potentially provide the butterflies with everything they need to thrive and live a longer life.  From Africa, Madeira and South America each plant was meticulously chosen and planted by newly appointed head gardener, Andy Mills, who worked closely with Chris Horne, Senior Gardener who ..read more