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Novel ideas: 9 of the best gardening books to give this Christmas
Anyone who loves gardening will love a gardening book, whether it offers aspirational designs, practical tips or just novel ideas for how to perk up your outside space. Here are just some of the offerings this festive season which will make your loved one want to get...
Green ‘healthy’ fingers: How gardening can save your life -from cutting isolation to mental health benefits
It’s amazing the calm that can descend when you are surrounded by greenery. All those problems suddenly seem manageable and your brain quietens right down. And actually putting your hands in the soil, can be life-changing. According to mental health charity Mind, more...
Into the woods: How an old shed inspired hundreds of stories
A derelict property in Surrey has been transformed into a storybook haven for artists. The garden designer Anthony Paul has lived in the same black-and-white cottage in the Surrey Hills for more than 40 years. He is surrounded by villages that recall the trees that...
Scorchio! How to prepare your garden for the potential drought
Worried there might be a hosepipe ban on the horizon? There are some things you can do to protect your garden now. After the blistering heatwave and more warm weather coming our way, we could be set for a drought. Most of England (except for the North West) has moved...
Rubbish gardens: How to create a sustainable garden out of old junk and rich planting
Cement mixers, radiators and other throwaways can have a place in the garden. TV gardener Frances Tophill, a regular on BBC Gardeners’ World, is well qualified to advise on how to reuse, reclaim and recycle. She’s just won Best Show Garden at BBC Gardeners’ World Live...
Garden longevity: Could you extend your life and drop your stress by taking up the pursuit, too?
Dan Buettner has studied five places around the world where residents are famed for their longevity: Okinawa in Japan, Nicoya in Costa Rica, Icaria in Greece, and Loma Linda in California and Sardinia in Italy. People living in these so-called “blue zones” have...
Potty about pots? Here’s how to pick the best containers for your garden
Metal, terracotta, resin or plastic? Shape and size? We measure up the options. You want to perk up your patio with new pots, but which should you choose? Obviously the setting will be key - if you have a traditional cottage garden you might not want to be...
‘Revolutionary in a quiet way’: The rise of community gardens in the UK
Royal Horticultural Society sets up first Community Awards as community gardens become more common. The first melon of the season always tastes amazing,” says Lucy Mitchell. “I don’t think anyone has ever taken one home - every year, we just cut them into as many...
Rich pickings: Choose a wealthy area and carry a measuring tape. Lessons in furnishing your house for free
After outfitting his home with free finds from the kerb and beyond, Marty Smiley shares his hard rubbish tips and regrets. When our landlord booted us out of our share house last year, a group field trip to Ikea was out of the question. Like many Australians,...
Flight of fancy: The home inspired by an aircraft fuselage
A designer’s fascination with aviation led him to build his own cocoonlike home in Kildare, Ireland. Most creatives yearn to build their own home, experimenting with materials, styles and ideals. Type “self build” into Google and up will pop homes ranging from the...
Winter wonderlands: 10 stunning gardens to visit for a healthy walk and gardening inspiration
Blow away the cobwebs and walk off some of the excesses of the festive season. To keep fit in 2022 you can also gain inspiration for planting in the year ahead by visiting some of the UK’s most beautiful gardens and parklands. Whether you’re interested in shrubs,...
Going to ground: How to use coffee waste in the garden -and what to watch out for
As an organic grower for restaurant royalty, Anna Greenland uses everything at her disposal to help her plants flourish, including used coffee grounds, as she explains here. Chances are there’s at least one coffee drinker in your household. In ours it’s my husband...