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The Irish Sun
02-08-2025
- The Irish Sun
Garden designer reveals £2.75 Tesco trick to turn plain gardens into lush rainforest paradise
DID you know there are rainforests in Britain? Nope - me neither. But you may well have visited one without realising if you've holidayed in Cornwall, Wales or along the Atlantic Coastline. 3 Zoe Claymore with her Rainforest inspired show garden at Chelsea Flower Show Credit: Clive Nichols 3 Moss is a great indicator that you could be in a temperate rainforest in the UK Credit: Not known, clear with picture desk 3 Adding any kind of water feature into your garden will help create a rainforest theme Credit: free for devon wildlife trust use. Especially if you remember walking through green woodland packed with ferns, moss and lichen - with a really memorable earthy, damp scent. They once covered more than 20 per cent of the UK - but history devoured them - and now there's less than one per cent. So the The temperate rainforest restoration programme will restore approximately 1,755 hectares of temperate rainforest across the British Isles. Read More Gardening Some of the new sites created through this programme include in Devon, in North Wales, and Glion Darragh on the Isle of Man, in Pembrokeshire, and – most recently - Skiddaw in Cumbria. Garden Designer Zoe Claymore, won a silver gilt medal at RHS Chelsea for her British Rainforest Garden. She told me: 'I didn't know it at the time - but I played in a British rainforest as a child. The end of my grandparents garden in Devon went into Lidford Gorge which is one of the last existing rainforests. 'In the UK they're found in the Goldilocks zone - not too hot, not too cold - and by rivers, gullies and gorges, because you also need the moisture from the river creating that ecosystem.' Most read in Fabulous But there are ways of recreating one in your own 'Even if you don't live in an area suited to creating a rainforest there's other plants that will create the same vibes. Mums are raving about an indoor tropical rainforest attraction in the UK 'Create shade with Hazels - they're a great small tree which gives a real native-feel and perfect for 'Create a water feature - from a little stream with a few rocks or simply as an old-school rock water bowl - to create that sense of humidity. "But even if you just did a It's easy to make a home made pond - using old washing up bowls. First choose a spot that's sunny but not in direct sunlight all day - otherwise the water will evaporate. Then all you have to do is put some logs around it, and a few stones, so wildlife can climb in and out easily - almost like a ramp. Ideally fill it with rain water rather than tap. And then put in about three water plants - like mini water lillies or water forget-me-not and sit back waiting for the wildlife. Zoe added: 'Then use British classic woodland plants and really focus on ferns - the unsung beautiful heroes of shade gardening - as well as bluebells, foxgloves, primulars, ivy, bananas and - if you've got a wet area - moss - which is the jewel in the crown - so your For a 'how to' guide adapted to all UK gardens - as well as a rainforest-inspired pot combination - head to Also in Veronica's Column this week... Gardening tips, news, plant of the week and a competition to win a garden border worth £195 PLANT OF THE WEEK! NEWS! A dad's 60-year-old lawnmower has taken its place in gardening history as the UK's oldest Pete Goddard's monumental mower was inducted into the British Lawnmower Museum in Southport, Merseyside, last week after Flymo sent out a request for old mowers. The rare blue Flymo was unveiled last month - taking its place in the museum alongside King Charles, Brian May, and Nicholas Parsons' former mowers. It came after a nationwide search for the UK's oldest Flymo to celebrate 60 years since the iconic hover mower was invented. The 79-year-old retired Highway Maintenance Operative's Flymo was originally bought in the 1960s by his father-in-law and lovingly maintained across three generations - and still works today. NEWS! The seven acre garden in Platt, near Sevenoaks will be at it's best - with the hot and cool border in bloom, salvias bringing swathes of colour to the perennial borders and the Italian Garden in full flower in time for their annual two-day flagship event. The weekend event features a group of talented artists, craftspeople, award-winning nurseries and garden ornamental suppliers plus live jazz bands on the lawn. Curator William Dyson says: 'We can't wait to share the garden with our Summer Show visitors - it looks particularly splendid in August with the salvias in full flow. 'We've also introduced lots of new and interesting plants to the garden this year including a collection of new world salvias that we've inherited from Lindsay Pink (a collector in Portsmouth) that people won't have seen before. "We urge people to come along and see our revamped planting schemes which help to showcase new salvias that we have been keeping under wraps until now. There are salvias that I've only seen once before and can't wait to show people. We are mixing in drifts of South American annuals like Cosmos for interest and colour and Tagetes erecta (Mexican marigolds) plus lots of varieties of dahlias." For more info visit WIN! JOB OF THE WEEK ! Stake your dahlias, trim your lavenders, take fuchsia cuttings, prune climbing and rambling roses, add tomato food to corn and peppers. For more gardening content follow me
Scottish Sun
02-08-2025
- Scottish Sun
Garden designer reveals £2.75 Tesco trick to turn plain gardens into lush rainforest paradise
Scroll down to win a Garden on a Roll border plan with plants - worth £195 Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) DID you know there are rainforests in Britain? Nope - me neither. But you may well have visited one without realising if you've holidayed in Cornwall, Wales or along the Atlantic Coastline. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Zoe Claymore with her Rainforest inspired show garden at Chelsea Flower Show Credit: Clive Nichols 3 Moss is a great indicator that you could be in a temperate rainforest in the UK Credit: Not known, clear with picture desk 3 Adding any kind of water feature into your garden will help create a rainforest theme Credit: free for devon wildlife trust use. Especially if you remember walking through green woodland packed with ferns, moss and lichen - with a really memorable earthy, damp scent. They once covered more than 20 per cent of the UK - but history devoured them - and now there's less than one per cent. So the Wildlife Trust, sponsored by Aviva, has just launched an epic 100-year restoration project to bring them back. The temperate rainforest restoration programme will restore approximately 1,755 hectares of temperate rainforest across the British Isles. Some of the new sites created through this programme include Bowden Pillars in Devon, Bryn Ifan in North Wales, Creg y Cowin and Glion Darragh on the Isle of Man, Trellwyn Fach in Pembrokeshire, and – most recently - Skiddaw in Cumbria. Garden Designer Zoe Claymore, won a silver gilt medal at RHS Chelsea for her British Rainforest Garden. She told me: 'I didn't know it at the time - but I played in a British rainforest as a child. The end of my grandparents garden in Devon went into Lidford Gorge which is one of the last existing rainforests. 'In the UK they're found in the Goldilocks zone - not too hot, not too cold - and by rivers, gullies and gorges, because you also need the moisture from the river creating that ecosystem.' But there are ways of recreating one in your own garden, she said. 'Even if you don't live in an area suited to creating a rainforest there's other plants that will create the same vibes. Mums are raving about an indoor tropical rainforest attraction in the UK 'Create shade with Hazels - they're a great small tree which gives a real native-feel and perfect for small gardens. Or include hollies, birch or willows. 'Create a water feature - from a little stream with a few rocks or simply as an old-school rock water bowl - to create that sense of humidity. "But even if you just did a pond in a pot surrounded by some fun little logs, that will create habitat, that will bring wildlife, and it will create that kind of feeling of rainforest-y wetness." It's easy to make a home made pond - using old washing up bowls. Tesco's are currently selling one for just £2.75. First choose a spot that's sunny but not in direct sunlight all day - otherwise the water will evaporate. Then all you have to do is put some logs around it, and a few stones, so wildlife can climb in and out easily - almost like a ramp. Ideally fill it with rain water rather than tap. And then put in about three water plants - like mini water lillies or water forget-me-not and sit back waiting for the wildlife. Zoe added: 'Then use British classic woodland plants and really focus on ferns - the unsung beautiful heroes of shade gardening - as well as bluebells, foxgloves, primulars, ivy, bananas and - if you've got a wet area - moss - which is the jewel in the crown - so your garden will be green all year round." For a 'how to' guide adapted to all UK gardens - as well as a rainforest-inspired pot combination - head to - and a share of the proceeds will go the Wildlife Trust. Also in Veronica's Column this week... Gardening tips, news, plant of the week and a competition to win a garden border worth £195 PLANT OF THE WEEK! Dierama Wind Nymph Pink - pictured above - clump forming perennial with slender arching stems with soft pink blooms and evergreen foliage. Bees love it. Plant in direct sunlight, likes well drained soil but might need protection in Winter. NEWS! A dad's 60-year-old lawnmower has taken its place in gardening history as the UK's oldest Flymo - after he read a plea in Sun Gardening. Pete Goddard's monumental mower was inducted into the British Lawnmower Museum in Southport, Merseyside, last week after Flymo sent out a request for old mowers. The rare blue Flymo was unveiled last month - taking its place in the museum alongside King Charles, Brian May, and Nicholas Parsons' former mowers. It came after a nationwide search for the UK's oldest Flymo to celebrate 60 years since the iconic hover mower was invented. The 79-year-old retired Highway Maintenance Operative's Flymo was originally bought in the 1960s by his father-in-law and lovingly maintained across three generations - and still works today. NEWS! Great Comp Gardens will show off some salvias not released to the general public before - at it's annual Summer Show next weekend. The seven acre garden in Platt, near Sevenoaks will be at it's best - with the hot and cool border in bloom, salvias bringing swathes of colour to the perennial borders and the Italian Garden in full flower in time for their annual two-day flagship event. The weekend event features a group of talented artists, craftspeople, award-winning nurseries and garden ornamental suppliers plus live jazz bands on the lawn. Curator William Dyson says: 'We can't wait to share the garden with our Summer Show visitors - it looks particularly splendid in August with the salvias in full flow. 'We've also introduced lots of new and interesting plants to the garden this year including a collection of new world salvias that we've inherited from Lindsay Pink (a collector in Portsmouth) that people won't have seen before. "We urge people to come along and see our revamped planting schemes which help to showcase new salvias that we have been keeping under wraps until now. There are salvias that I've only seen once before and can't wait to show people. We are mixing in drifts of South American annuals like Cosmos for interest and colour and Tagetes erecta (Mexican marigolds) plus lots of varieties of dahlias." For more info visit WIN! Garden on a Roll - which provide ready-made garden border paper templates, and the plants to put them in - are offering three £195 borders at 3m x 60cm of any style - including the 'Wildlife border' for bees and butterflies. To enter visit or write to Garden on a Roll competition, PO Box 3190, Colchester, Essex, CO2 8GP. Include your name, age, email or phone. UK residents 18+ only. Entries close 11.59pm. August 16, 2025. T&Cs apply JOB OF THE WEEK! Stake your dahlias, trim your lavenders, take fuchsia cuttings, prune climbing and rambling roses, add tomato food to corn and peppers. For more gardening content follow me @biros_and_bloom
Newsweek
02-05-2025
- General
- Newsweek
Homeowner With 'Wild' Yard Doubles Down After Persistent Neighbor Files Dozens of Complaints
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A homeowner is winning fans online for her "little act of rebellion" after a disgruntled neighbor complained about her yard. User tawnyfritz explained on Reddit this week that her yard was "wild," by which she means, "Living or growing in the natural environment." On the Wild Side The original poster (OP) and her husband cultivate native species that are drought resistant, including numerous wildflowers, and they include elements like driftwood logs to retain water. "There are a plethora of birds, bees, bunnies and other wildlife," the OP wrote. "More wildlife than any yard in the area, as far as I can tell. It's beautiful and alive, but definitely not a manicured lawn with perfectly cut grass and landscaping." Her neighbor, however, did not seem to share her enthusiasm for natural plants. File image: Wildlife in a garden. File image: Wildlife in a garden. Photo by Clive Nichols / Getty Images According to the user, they received a notice that they were in violation of a local ordinance. When her husband called the county, he "Got a very 'over it' employee who let out a big sigh and said he had gotten like 30 complaints from one person for the entire strip of road that we live on." In an message to Newsweek, the OP said she wasn't sure which neighbor filed the complaints. "I'm not sure if it was a direct neighbor, or someone who drives down the road that borders our house and was bothered by the wildness," she said. However, the homeowner wasn't ready to give up easily. She took steps to get her yard qualified as a National Wildlife Habitat. "I checked the county ordinance and made sure everything we had in our yard was in compliance," she wrote. "Things like 'purposely cultivated,' which our wildflowers definitely were. We planted specific species of seeds and we remove whatever's not native. "None of the wild plants block any sidewalks nor do they hang over onto any other properties... I filled out the form, paid the fee and got my certificate." When her husband called the "over it" employee, he was grateful and asked to be sent the certificate. "I now have signs on my yard that announce the property as a wildlife habitat and the birds and bees get to keep living happily in the wild," the OP wrote. 'How cool your yard is' Reddit pundits were generally supportive of the homeowner's actions, amid more than 900 comments over two days. "Good for you! Both the malicious compliance specifically and for maintaining a wildlife habitat in general," an individual cheered. "Those look better than any flat plot of grass any day of the week." A fellow Redditor was one among many asking to see images of, "How cool your yard is." Meanwhile an individual recalled a report by NPR earlier about a woman in Arizona who pulled up her grass and return her yard to a native desert condition. "She was told by the county to 'remove that trash' and plant a green lawn. She took her fight to city hall and eventually won," the individual noted. 'Ahead of your time' A fellow Redditor, meanwhile, wrote that they would love to be neighbors with the OP, sharing that they own beehives. "I ripped up about a little over a third of my front lawn last year to remake it into a pollinator garden. I think lawns are stupid. What's left is literally probably 10 feet long and 4 feet wide, [laugh out loud]. "But other neighbors around us are doing the same thing. They're sick of taking care of a lawn, they love our bees, we pass honey out to them each year, and they are planting pollinator gardens all over the neighborhood! "So honestly, you're just ahead of your time." 'Rewarding in ways I never imagined' The homeowner told Newsweek she was thrilled that so many people online were excited by the idea of wild yards. "Having a natural lawn is rewarding in ways I never imagined," she said. "We get rare birds on our bird feeders and we've even had ravens stop by. The birds eat bugs in the yard and we've watched nature play out in fascinating ways. "We once had a stoat hanging out for about two weeks!" Newsweek's "What Should I Do?" offers expert advice to readers. If you have a personal dilemma, let us know via life@ We can ask experts for advice on relationships, family, friends, money and work, and your story could be featured on WSID at Newsweek. To read how Newsweek uses AI as a newsroom tool, click here.
