Latest news with #horticulture
Telegraph
an hour ago
- General
- Telegraph
My First London Home: Tony Woods
I grew up in the Lake District, in a really rural area of small villages, with farms and a close-knit community. My parents were serial house renovators. We moved house a lot and lived in building sites our whole childhood and teenage years. Weekends and holidays were spent clearing the garden, digging holes and making dens with my brothers and sisters. I was a strange child. I loved plants and growing things. If it was my birthday, I wanted a chicken. I started to rescue ex-battery hens and used to buy ex-free-rangers for 50p each and sold the eggs to neighbours, so I was quite entrepreneurial. I had a good idea of what hard work was. By the time I was 15, I could mix cement, plant trees, and lay foundations. And there was no question that I wanted to go to horticultural college. When I was at secondary school, one of our art teachers started a gardening club and five or six geeky kids joined. But the kids that did it got bullied. The other kids would come along and smash things up. Now gardening is so cool. If you're a 16-year-old, you can be out on the allotment or look after houseplants. But I was bullied for gardening. My dad was in the police, and I was into gardening – it was a double whammy. Years later, I called my business Garden Club London in honour of all those kids who made my life hell! I first moved to London in 2008, to Victoria Drive in Southfields, really close to Wimbledon. It was an ex-local authority house share that had been carved into more rooms than it should have been. After a year, I moved to Putney, then Lavender Hill – all rental – then with my now-wife Lizzie to Clapham South, to Alderbrooke Road, for four or five years before moving to Folkestone. After moving house so often as kids, this feels like home. I began working for a landscape company, in billionaires' gardens, for celebrities, or sometimes just helping someone in a rental prune back their garden. Some of the client requests were completely bonkers. One very famous person, who had an immaculate designer garden, said the grass was the wrong shade of green. They were flying back from America and insisted their grass was sprayed green. We applied this lawn paint but it rained and the dye leached onto his limestone steps. It looked like something out of Halloween. The client came back and screamed at us. We had to bleach it clean. We had a similar client who lived on a street in Notting Hill – a very well-known, very rude person. They had super-renovated the terrace and everything in the garden was painted white. We didn't really want to do the work – it was outdoor cleaning not gardening – but the concierge pleaded with us. It turns out there was an old chap who lived next door whose life had been ruined by all the building work. So, he would buy blackberries from Portobello Road Market and feed them to the birds who would go and shit all over the neighbour's white garden. Fast forward a few weeks later and it had snowed. The concierge asked us to come back and melt the snow because it had turned grey. He wanted us to make it disappear because it was not the right shade of snow. We did our first million-pound garden last year. It was stressful, but the clients and their kids were so appreciative. You've got two types of clients. One will text you when they know you're on holiday to tell you that a lightbulb isn't working. The other one will take a picture of a flower that has just come out in their garden and send it to you. Our first [RHS] Chelsea garden was a step into the unknown. You have to balance keeping your business running and competing at the Olympics of gardening. We did the floating park in Paddington on Merchant Square. That was a combination of real naivety and excitement. We knew we had to do something that had never been done before in Europe. At one stage, the headline in the Evening Standard was 'London's floating disaster'. But we got it finished. It's eight years old now, and we've won many awards for it. I'm a real plants person. My perfect urban garden would have lots of herbs to really hack into for cooking: mint for tea and mojitos, lemon verbena for garnishing. And lots of scent – star jasmine and martagon lilies. There'd be no outdoor speakers – just bring a Bluetooth speaker out – no coloured lighting, and no inconsiderate fire pits. The Komorebi Container Garden, designed by Garden Club London and Masa Taniguchi and sponsored by Hamptons, won gold at RHS Chelsea and has been relocated to a school rewilding project in Kent.
Associated Press
a day ago
- Business
- Associated Press
Hicks Nurseries Named #2 on 2025 Top 100 Independent Garden Centers List
Based on 2024 retail revenue from submitting companies' single largest or flagship location in North America WESTBURY, NY, UNITED STATES, July 21, 2025 / / -- Hicks Nurseries, Long Island's premier garden center, has been named the #2 independent garden center in North America on Garden Center magazine's 2025 Top 100 Independent Garden Centers List. The prestigious ranking is based on 2024 retail revenue from each of the submitting companies' single largest or flagship location. The annual Top 100 list recognizes the most successful independent garden centers across North America and is sponsored by Lightspeed. Hicks Nurseries will be honored alongside other top performers at the 2025 Garden Center Conference & Expo, taking place August 5–7 in Kansas City, Missouri. 'We are honored to be recognized as one of the top garden centers in North America,' said Stephen Hicks, President of Hicks Nurseries. 'This achievement reflects our team's commitment to providing exceptional products, services and experiences for our customers.' Now in its 172nd year, Hicks Nurseries continues to set the standard in the industry by offering expert advice, quality products, professional landscape design services, and seasonal events that are multi-generational family traditions. The recognition underscores the company's continued growth, resilience, and leadership in the garden center industry. View the entire 2025 Top 100 Independent Garden Centers List at About Hicks Nurseries Hicks Nurseries is Long Island's premier garden center and destination for home, garden and living. Family-owned and operated since 1853, Hicks Nurseries is renowned for providing expert advice, inspiration, exceptional service, community events, as well as a vast selection of quality products including plants, pottery, lawn care, outdoor furniture, seasonal décor and more. They also offer complete award-winning landscape design/build services. Hicks Nurseries is located at 100 Jericho Turnpike in Westbury, NY. Eleni Roselli Hicks Nurseries +1 516-334-0066 email us here Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content 'as is' without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Do YOU live in a Japanese knotweed hotspot? Here's how to spot and get rid of it
Bristol is the Japanese knotweed 'capital of England', new data from Environet shows. In the year to date, there have been 1,440 reported sightings of Japanese knotweed in the South West city, according to the findings. Merseyside is another hotspot for Japanese knotweed, with 2,963 sightings reported, but spanning a less dense area, at 11.87 episodes per square mile compared to 33.91 in Bristol. Greater London is the third most prevalent Japanese knotweed hub, with 4,687 reported sightings and 7.74 incidents per square mile. Lancashire came out in fourth place, seeing a hefty 8,612 sightings spanning 7.25 episodes per square mile. Residents in Greater Manchester also need to be on high alert for Japanese knotweed, with the area seeing 3,558 Japanese knotweed reports, translating to 7.22 incidents per square mile. Spanning further afield, the Isle of Man, a self-governing British crown dependency, also reached the top 10, as did the Channel Islands, Isle of Wight, Derbyshire and Nottingham, followed closely by the West Midlands and Surrey. What is Japanese knotweed? According to the Royal Horticultural Society, Japanese knotweed is a persistent, clump-forming herbaceous perennial, which was introduced to Britain as an ornamental garden plant but has since become an invasive weed subject to legal control measures. Japanese knotweed first arrived in Britain in the Victorian times in a box of plant specimens delivered to Kew Gardens and was quickly adopted by gardeners and horticulturalists, who were unaware of its invasive nature. Since then it has spread widely, with an average of 1.1 occurrences in every square mile of England and 3.9 in Wales, according to Environet. Japanese knotweed can grow in most soil conditions found in Britain, particularly in man-made habitats, such as roadsides, waste ground, railway embankments and cuttings and spoil tips. It is also commonly found along rivers and streams. Why is Japanese knotweed common in locations like Bristol? Speaking to This is Money, Emily Grant, a director at Environet, said: 'It's likely that Japanese knotweed is most prolific near ports such as Bristol, Liverpool and Cardiff, because of historical shopping and trading practices.' She added: 'In the nineteenth and twentieth centuries ships would return from all over the world carrying ballast, which often included soil containing non-native plant material like knotweed. 'That was then dumped to make way for the next cargo, and it quickly took hold. It may also have been planted deliberately to stabilise railway embankments and slag heaps. 'In industrial areas like Manchester, Lancashire and the Midlands, extensive soil movement from mining and construction accelerated its spread.' How can I spot Japanese knotweed? Japanese knotweed begins to emerge in early spring, quickly growing into lush green shrubs with pink-flecked stems, heart-shaped leaves and bamboo-like canes. In August it starts flowering with bunches of tiny creamy-white blooms that hang in tassels. It can pose serious problems for homeowners, with underground rhizomes that can grow up to three metres deep and spread up to seven metres horizontally, emerging through cracks in concrete, tarmac driveways, pathways, drains and cavity walls. While serious damage to property is rare, mortgage lenders require knotweed to be dealt with when a property is sold, meaning it can cause legal disputes between neighbours and reduce a property's value. Environet estimates that the presence of Japanese knotweed at a property can reduce its value by 5 per cent, though this is variable and will depend on the scale of the problem. A 2023 Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs report put the cost of tackling knotweed to the economy at nearly £250million per year. What should I do if I suspect Japanese knotweed? The government's website states: 'You must stop Japanese knotweed on your land from spreading off your property. 'Soil or plant material contaminated with non-native and invasive plants like Japanese knotweed can cause ecological damage and may be classified as controlled waste. 'You do not legally have to remove Japanese knotweed from your land unless it's causing a nuisance, but you can be prosecuted for causing it to spread into the wild.' If you do notice knotweed, you do not need to report it, but if it is on your property you should act sooner rather than later. 'The more it grows, the more it will cost to remove', Grant told This is Money. You will not be able to sell your property until you have had any Japanese knotweed professionally dealt with, and you could be at risk of a legal claim from a neighbour if you leave it to spread. Grant added: 'From there a treatment plan can be put in place, whether it's herbicide, removal, or a combination of both. 'Whatever option you go for, be sure to get an insurance-backed guarantee so if it starts to regrow you know you're covered – and that's what mortgage lenders will expect when you come to sell your property.' Japanese knotweed must be carefully disposed of carefully. If you cannot dispose of it suitably on site, you must send it to a landfill site or incineration facility that has the correct type of permit. It is best not to try and tackle a Japanese knotweed invasion yourself, unless you have appropriate training, skills and equipment. How to find a new mortgage Borrowers who need a mortgage because their current fixed rate deal is ending, or they are buying a home, should explore their options as soon as possible. Buy-to-let landlords should also act as soon as they can. Quick mortgage finder links with This is Money's partner L&C > Mortgage rates calculator > Find the right mortgage for you What if I need to remortgage? Borrowers should compare rates, speak to a mortgage broker and be prepared to act. Homeowners can lock in to a new deal six to nine months in advance, often with no obligation to take it. Most mortgage deals allow fees to be added to the loan and only be charged when it is taken out. This means borrowers can secure a rate without paying expensive arrangement fees. Keep in mind that by doing this and not clearing the fee on completion, interest will be paid on the fee amount over the entire term of the loan, so this may not be the best option for everyone. What if I am buying a home? Those with home purchases agreed should also aim to secure rates as soon as possible, so they know exactly what their monthly payments will be. Buyers should avoid overstretching and be aware that house prices may fall, as higher mortgage rates limit people's borrowing ability and buying power. What about buy-to-let landlords Buy-to-let landlords with interest-only mortgages will see a greater jump in monthly costs than homeowners on residential mortgages. This makes remortgaging in plenty of time essential and our partner L&C can help with buy-to-let mortgages too. How to compare mortgage costs The best way to compare mortgage costs and find the right deal for you is to speak to a broker. This is Money has a long-standing partnership with fee-free broker L&C, to provide you with fee-free expert mortgage advice. Interested in seeing today's best mortgage rates? Use This is Money and L&Cs best mortgage rates calculator to show deals matching your home value, mortgage size, term and fixed rate needs. If you're ready to find your next mortgage, why not use L&C's online Mortgage Finder. It will search 1,000's of deals from more than 90 different lenders to discover the best deal for you. > Find your best mortgage deal with This is Money and L&C Be aware that rates can change quickly, however, and so if you need a mortgage or want to compare rates, speak to L&C as soon as possible, so they can help you find the right mortgage for you.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Special needs school garden wins flower show gold
A special needs school's kitchen garden has been recognised by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). Dubbed "the Living Larder", the garden – comprising a mix of vegetables and flowers – has been created by students from Scunthorpe's Trent View College. It received a gold award at RHS's flower show, which is being held at Wentworth Woodhouse in South Yorkshire. Head teacher Sarah Parker said gardening helped young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) to develop employability skills. Students spent months growing plants from seed to create the display, which was transported to the flower show. According to a description on the RHS website, key features of the garden are "white flowers, purple vegetables and green foliage". The charity said this resulted in a "striking visual impact through a carefully considered interplay of colour, texture, and structure". All the produce grown is due to be donated to a local food bank. Kyla, 18, one of the students involved in the project, said: "I enjoy planting, watering and growing from seed." Her teachers said gardening had helped her become more independent. Ms Parker said: "One of our main aims [of gardening] is to support as many young people as possible into employment." Gardening gave her students "value and purpose", she added. Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Download the BBC News app from the App Store for iPhone and iPad or Google Play for Android devices Related internet links RHS Flower Show Wentworth Woodhouse
BBC News
2 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Scunthorpe special needs school garden wins gold at RHS Flower Show
A special needs school's kitchen garden has been recognised by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS).Dubbed "the Living Larder", the garden – comprising a mix of vegetables and flowers – has been created by students from Scunthorpe's Trent View College. It received a gold award at RHS's flower show, which is being held at Wentworth Woodhouse in South teacher Sarah Parker said gardening helped young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) to develop employability skills. Students spent months growing plants from seed to create the display, which was transported to the flower to a description on the RHS website, key features of the garden are "white flowers, purple vegetables and green foliage". The charity said this resulted in a "striking visual impact through a carefully considered interplay of colour, texture, and structure".All the produce grown is due to be donated to a local food bank. Kyla, 18, one of the students involved in the project, said: "I enjoy planting, watering and growing from seed."Her teachers said gardening had helped her become more Parker said: "One of our main aims [of gardening] is to support as many young people as possible into employment."Gardening gave her students "value and purpose", she added. Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Download the BBC News app from the App Store for iPhone and iPad or Google Play for Android devices
