All posts in garden

Last night I delivered my ‘Gardening for Wildlife’ talk on Zoom for the first time to Shepton Mallet Horticultural Society. It was a bit nerve wracking as I would prefer to see who I am talking to, to gauge reactions and involve the audience in the talk rather than ‘talk to myself’ and have to…

We are having a Christmas open day – it will be lovely to see friends and clients after this year of isolation!

I used to own and manage 10 acres of ancient woodland on the edge of the South Downs. Working in the wood (coppicing and hedge laying) was a completely immersive experience and extremely hard work but it filled me with joy and wonder as well as teaching me so much about nature and ecology. This…

The colours are changing in the landscape, patches of vivid green meadows broken up by an intricate network of golden brown hedgerows and woodlands. My garden is looking rather windswept but the Verbena bonariensis, Dahlias, Sedum and Salvias continue to add colour punctuated by red from the Crataegus x lavallei ‘Carrierei’ and Rosa moyseii berries…

“INTO THE LIGHT” After a period of uncertainty and isolation, two local artists are emerging from the darkness with an exhibition celebrating light as part of Somerset Art Works Open Studios 2020. Angela Morley (garden designer, willow sculptor and ceramicist) and Joanna Briar (printmaker) are creating a pop-up studio at Pilton Cider on the Anglo-Trading…

I will have a pop-up studio at Pilton Cider for this year’s event. Joanna Briar will be joining me with her atmospheric ink drawings and prints. My husband, Martin will be offering his latest range of ciders and wild fruit fermentations. The exhibition will have an installation of willow lampshades as well as table top…

It is a bit of a cheat but I thought I would share Charles’ July newsletter. I found the opening paragraph particularly interesting: “The rate of plant growth in a July day equates to two days in August, 4 days in September and a week in October”. My squash plants have been growing at an…

“What a wonderful morning. I was absolutely fascinated. Your talk was so informative, useful, encouraging and totally engaging. I am so pleased I came and that you sent me the information about it. I do hope the 2 on Wednesday go just as well. Thank you also for the very informative fact sheet you gave…

My garden is a continual source of joy as it attracts an array of wildlife. I will give a guided talk on ‘Gardening for Wildlife’ using my small garden to illustrate the principles. You should see wildlife in action, for example newts in the pond, there will be plenty of opportunity for questions. My studio…

I accidentally discovered the exotic notes of slowed down birdsong whilst videoing a bee on a flower using ‘slo-mo’ on my phone. As part of the Somerset Re-acquainted project I have been studying slowed down birdsong and using it to draw patterns with a view to using these on my ceramics. The bird song, even…