Following the drought warning recently, London's Clifton Nurseries, will be helping gardeners' to beat the drought with a range of plants and sundries that will help keep gardens blooming without using too much precious water.Managing Director, Matthew Wilson, knows a thing or two about watering – in 2001 he designed a zero irrigation garden for the Royal Horticultural Society, which has never been watered! Matthew is the author of several books and articles covering drought and is keen to ensure that gardeners beat the drought: "From April we will increase the type of products we sell to help conserve water, such as new types of water buts, controlled watering systems and clever products such as moisture gel and self-watering planters and drip-feed systems,” says Matthew.
Dry-stone walls in the shape of the spinal column are at the heart of a pioneering rehabilitation garden for patients at the Duke of Cornwall Spinal Treatment Centre in Salisbury. Designed by award-winning designer Cleve West, (pictured left) Horatio's Garden will provide patients with a beautiful social place in which to escape the day-to-day routine of hospital life.The garden will also serve as a lasting tribute to Horatio Chapple, who was killed in a polar bear attack in Norway in August, 2011. Horatio was a volunteer at the Spinal Treatment Centre and had helped with research that identified the need for a patients' garden.
Read more: Pioneering garden set for Spinal Treatment Centre
Two new heritage courses have been announced by the National Trust marking the charity’s most significant development in horticultural training for 209 years. The new courses, which are co-funded by the National Gardens Scheme, offer budding gardeners the opportunity to study for qualifications in heritage gardening and replace the Trust’s Careership training scheme which was launched in 1991.
The one year Foundation Certificate is aimed at those new to heritage gardening and will enable the development of essential practical skills needed to look after and nurture heritage gardens. It is aligned with the Royal Horticultural Society’s (RHS) Level 2 in Horticulture.
Read more: New heritage gardening courses launched by National Trust
