Visiting Forest Garden

Forest Garden are the latest supplier that the Evergreens group had the opportunity to visit.  They are the leading manufacturer and distributor of timber garden products, primarily sheds, fencing, decking and decorative structures.

This is a business that is truly growing.  Reaping the benefits of changing social, financial and environmental factors in the UK.  More people have smaller houses, with less indoor storage, requiring a shed.  More people are entertaining at home - rather than dining out - and are investing in their gardens and decking.  Severe storms are becoming more frequent boosting the demand for new fencing and fence posts.  Rising popularity for grow-your-own is injecting money into timber greenhouses and coldframes.  Suffice to say, Forest have invested a great deal in their Hartlebury bases in recent years to prepare for this 'perfect storm'.  Forest have several UK sawmills, and no shortage of trees!  Tastes are changing though, and besides the plantations in Northumberland and Scotland, more timber is being sourced from the colder, northern Europe for some products.  It was interesting to learn how UK and Continental timber compare.  It is also interesting to consider how a changing climate could affect both types of tree, and demand for them in the future.

The Homebase Garden Academics were spared the chance to build a shed of their own, but Rob and Andrew made us very welcome on our tour of the facilities, for which we are very grateful.

Visiting Needlefresh Direct

The most recent Garden Academy visit was to the buyer, grower, retailer and supplier of Christmas trees: Needlefresh Direct.  They are based near Swindon, and manage a patchwork of fields in West Berkshire of their own. You might not know where your live tree comes from.  Perhaps you might assume your Christmas trees herald from Scotland, Scandinavia or maybe further afield.  Its worth considering that around 30% of the UK's Christmas trees are grown in Southern England.

The Garden Academy 'Evergreens' team visited and were provided with a fascinating insight into Christmas tree agriculture.  We were taken on a tour of the some of their fields, and our guide, Paul, demonstrated how and when trees are felled.  As staff in Homebase stores, we would normally only have limited contact with the trees. Employees typically rely on corporate training on how to handle and sell the trees.  It was very helpful to see behind the scenes at the supplier of all Homebase's trees.  To learn and ask questions.  To see how sustainable the process is.  To appreciate the scale of the operation.  To understand the wide range of issues and problems the tree farmers face: from rising deer populations to short term staffing.  From soil quality to changing customer requirements.  

It was a great day, and thanks must go to all at Needlefresh Direct for welcoming us.

Top tips for looking after your cut Christmas tree...


* Keep it outside, stood upright in water, undecorated until you are ready to bring it in.

*  On taking it indoors.  Saw the bottom inch of tree stem off. then place the tree in a stand that holds water.  The tree will absorb about 3-4 pints of water after being cut, so keep the water topped up.  Treat the tree as you would treat cut flowers.  The tree will 'sweat' releasing an attractive scent, and the resin in some spruce that give them their 'blue' hue.

*  Keep the tree away from intense heat sources such as radiators.  The tree will quickly shed needles if it is too hot.

*  Remember to recycle or dispose of the tree appropriately after Christmas.  Your local council will likely offer facilities.

* Consider a living tree - which is sold complete with potted and bagged root system.  You could plant it in the garden after Christmas.  Trees create an excellent ecosystem for wildlife, offering food and habitat for birds.  They absorb carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide and carbon monoxide - harmful gasses - from the atmosphere and produce oxygen.  It may also provide you with a (slightly larger) Christmas tree for next year!

Garden Academy - October (Part 2)

The second stage of my Garden Academy week introduced two very different gardens, both of historical importance, and both very different to the Winterbourne estate.

Firstly, we were introduced to Greenacre.  BBC Gardeners World moved in to this former playing field between 2008 and 2009 with ambitions of basing a long term series there.  The nurseryman and gardener Toby Buckland was lined up as presenter.  Within two years however, falling ratings prompted the BBC to make changes and they moved out of town, axeing Toby in favour of Monty Don and his Herefordshire garden.  The state that had befallen Greenacre was reported in 2011 by the Daily Mail, who found the garden "Abandoned".  Though several groups have visited and made their mark in the proceeding years.  It was an eerie scene that greeted the Garden Academy in 2015.

We were put to work at Greenacre clearing the small garden plots of rubbish, overgrowth and animal corpses (!).  The RHS training was put into immediate practice through single digging, cultivation and tool maintenance under the watchful eye of our teacher, Helen.  We will be returning to these gardens throughout our course, and perhaps we will play some small part in returning them to their former glory.  Perhaps they shall be returned to the community as a vibrant, living resource.  Hopefully the pictures below indicate the condition of Greenacre we encountered, and some of the work we carried out.

After two days of practical horticulture at Greenacre, we moved on to the incredible Birmingham Botanical Gardens for the next stage of our learning.  First opened to the public in 1832, the botanical gardens include a Japanese garden and the National Bonsai Collection.  The gardens are a tourist attraction and educational charity.  With 15 acres of landscaped grounds and Victorian glasshouses, just minutes from the city centre.  What better surroundings to study propagation and how to take cuttings.  We have the pleasure returning to the study centre here several times over forthcoming months.