Iris flowering around our water feature

Snowdrops flowering in the undergrowth

The benefits of companion planting

Companion planting is about grouping a variety of plants which have a mutual benefits to each other. It can be an organic way to protect your crops from pests and it could help improve the pollination of fruit and vegetable crops. 

If you are interested you can find a list of good companion plants at:

Thompson and Morgan

Gardeners World

Making a nest box

Making a nest box couldn't be simpler and is a great way to attract birds into your garden.

If you would like to make a nest box more detailed information can be found at:

RSPB

BTO - National Nest Box week

Gardeners World

Growing tomatoes - free tips and top advice

Growing your own tomatoes is simple and with just a couple of plants you can be rewarded with plenty of delicious tomatoes throughout the summer. They come in a large variety of colours and sizes,from small cherry tomatoes to giant beefsteak tomatoes making them ideal for gardens of any size, including patios, window boxes, containers and even hanging baskets.

For more information and free tips and advise on growing tomatoes please visit:

Thompson and Morgan

Gardeners World

Royal Horticultural Society

Crocus flowering in the winter sun

Gardeners Worlds top ten vegetables for beginners

More and more people are trying to grow vegetables and finding that some are harder to grow than others.

Gardeners World has produced a top ten list of easy to grow vegetables aimed at the novice gardener. If you would like more information please visit their website here.

Home composting

Compost made from recycled garden and kitchen waste is an excellent way of producing free soil conditioner, plant food and potting mixes. You do not need a large space as compost heaps can be designed to suit gardens of all sizes.

If you would like more information on how to make and use good quality compost please visit:
the Garden Organic website here and the Recycle Now website here.