Tag Archive for: garden

Keep your garden beds blooming and slug free

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Keep your garden beds blooming and slug free: Every year, beloved plants face the threatof being devoured by slugs. The worry faces every avid gardener each spring as they work tirelessly to protect them from these voracious pests.

Hostas, sweet peas, lettuce, and cabbage are all favourites and slugs will take any opportunity to slither across for a bite. Beneficial nematode solutions, like Nemaslug 2.0, offer a biological solution to effectively keep slugs at bay and your flowers and crops whole.

Keep your garden beds blooming and slug free

Keep your garden beds blooming and slug free

Nematodes are a naturally occurring microorganism which target and kill specific garden pests without posing a risk to other wildlife, crops, or pets. This also means they are perfectly safe to use on fruit and vegetable beds to stop slugs from indulging in your home-grown produce.

The improved formula of Nemaslug 2.0 contains a new species of nematode called Phasmarhabditis californica, it is higher concentrated and more potent than the original Nemaslug, with larger quantities of nematodes for quick, persistent, and effective action.

Slugs account for the most pest-related complaints among gardeners, and their ability to consume and destroy yields of crops and flower beds is devastating. Nemaslug 2.0 provides a safeguard for gardens for up to six weeks, with the small but mighty nematodes working hard and fast to keep slug populations down. To ensure ongoing protection, applications should be done every six weeks during peak slug season, which is typically from early spring to autumn.

The application is simple, as per the instructions on the box, mix your Nemaslug 2.0 with water and apply to the soil on your flower and vegetable beds using a watering can fitted with a coarse rose. Then sit back and relax and watch your beds bloom all summer long without worrying about the slugs making a meal of your hard work in the garden.

An entire season’s worth of pest control can be purchased now via online stockists, to be delivered straight to your door.

To find out more about how nematodes work, look at this short video – https://youtu.be/JHNG1KSluh0

For further information please visit https://www.nemasysinfo.co.uk/ and follow basf_nemasys_uk on Instagram.

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RHS Chelsea Flower Show garden beds in at London school

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RHS Chelsea Flower Show garden beds in at London school: The first ever RHS Chelsea Flower Show garden designed by and for children has been relocated to its permanent home at Sulivan Primary School in southwest London.

The RHS No Adults Allowed Garden was designed by pupils from the school and award-winning garden designer Harry Holding and was visited by HRH King Charles III and Queen Camilla. Reimagined to suit its new setting in the school grounds, the unique garden will now be a lasting feature for pupils to explore, learn and play in, as well as take care of.

RHS Chelsea Flower Show garden beds in at London school

RHS Chelsea Flower Show garden beds in at London school

Nearly all elements from the original show garden have been transferred to the school, with the exception of the stream and rock pool. Instead, the subterranean den is set within a sea of wildflowers and has been reimagined by treehouse builders Root and Shoot into a sustainable climbing frame using timber from RHS Garden Wisley and rubber from waste material. Sculptural clay elements, crafted by land artist Finbar Ward and decorated by pupils, which previously adorned a wall within the show garden have now been positioned on the façade of the school itself.

As part of the relocation, the layout of the show garden has been adapted to suit the school’s setting, which is surrounded by a number of mature trees.  A path through the garden separates two distinct areas; one is low intervention with a wildflower meadow, a composting zone and dead hedges which provide habitats for wildlife, while the more cultivated side of the garden is packed with a variety of bold and colourful summer plants including kniphofias and gladioli, as well as edibles such as strawberries.

Wendy Aldridge, Headteacher at Sulivan Primary School, said: “We are so excited to welcome the RHS No Adults Allowed Garden to its new home. This garden will be a fantastic resource for our pupils, allowing them to develop hands-on gardening skills and a deeper appreciation for the natural world. It provides a unique, interactive space where children can learn about biodiversity, sustainability, and the importance of caring for our environment. The collaborative process of designing and now maintaining the garden has been invaluable, fostering a strong sense of community and pride within our school.”

Harry Holding, Award-winning Garden Designer, said: “It has been such a joy to work on
this momentous project and reimagining the show garden for its permanent home has been every bit as enjoyable as preparing it for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Seeing the pupils’ excitement as they interact with the garden, both in its original form and now in its new home, has been incredibly rewarding. In its new location, the design benefits from more space, lots of mature trees, and plenty of environments to explore. This garden will provide endless opportunities for discovery and learning, and will live on to benefit thousands of children and families from the local community for years to come. I am very much looking forward to seeing how it evolves with the students’ care and creativity.”

Alana Cama, RHS Senior Learning Manager, said: “The RHS is committed to nurturing a love of gardening in children and creating opportunities for them to engage with nature in a meaningful way. By involving pupils in the design and maintenance of the garden, they have quickly cultivated a sense of responsibility and connection to the environment. We’re excited to follow the progress of the garden and to see how it inspires a love of gardening amongst the school’s pupils for years to come. This project exemplifies our mission to make gardening accessible and enjoyable for all ages, and we are thrilled to see it find a permanent home at Sulivan Primary School.”

Sulivan Primary School is a member of the RHS Campaign for School Gardening which provides teachers with free resources and training, designed to help them give more children the opportunity to learn about caring for plants and our planet through gardening, while connecting with nature and boosting their wellbeing. The RHS is committed to fostering a love of gardening across generations and ensuring that it is an accessible activity for everyone.

For information on how to get involved with the RHS Campaign for School Gardening visit: https://schoolgardening.rhs.org.uk

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Flood Re Unveils the Flood Resilient Garden

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Flood Re Unveils the Flood Resilient Garden: Today at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, Flood Re, in collaboration with Dr. Ed Barsley and Naomi Slade, unveils the pioneering Flood Resilient Garden. 

Today, 1 in 4 homes in the UK are at risk of flooding – not just by the coast and rivers, but in urban areas too. Flooding doesn’t just damage homes and gardens; it devastates lives, causing lasting financial and emotional strain. In total, 5.4 million (1 in 8) UK adults with gardens have experienced the devastating impact of flooding on their green spaces.

Flood Re Unveils the Flood Resilient Garden

Flood Re Unveils the Flood Resilient Garden

From Roots to Resilience

The Flood Resilient Garden is designed to inspire and educate homeowners about the critical role their garden can play in flood defence. Incorporating sustainable drainage systems (SuDS), native flood-tolerant plant species, and innovative water management techniques, the garden is a model for future landscaping under the threat of increasing extreme weather events due to climate change.

In a groundbreaking display at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, the Flood Resilient Garden will intentionally flood to demonstrate its unique capabilities. This never-seen-before feature will illustrate how the garden adapts to changing water levels. Visitors will witness firsthand how the central swale becomes a lively stream, channelling rainwater into a feature pond where it can gradually soak away, while large water tanks double as ornamental ponds which store water for later use.

Leading weather & climate change expert Laura Tobin Joins the Cause

Adding to the excitement, leading weather & climate change expert Laura Tobin will be on hand to discuss the garden’s role in mitigating flood risks.

Laura Tobin Said:  “The Flood Resilient Garden shows that adapting to climate change can still be beautiful and homeowners don’t have to give up having a lovely garden to make it work hard against extreme weather. It’s about blending smart, sustainable choices with thoughtful design to protect our homes and communities”.

A Nation at Risk

The unveiling also shines a light on the latest insights from Flood Re, revealing a concerning lack of flood awareness amongst UK citizens.

Flood Re’s research shows that only 5% of people living in areas at high-risk of flooding could correctly identify their flood risk. Concerningly, 68% of people in high-risk flood areas incorrectly think their flood risk is low.

The research shows that despite Brits spending an average of £402 on their gardens over the past year, they are not taking the crucial steps they need to protect their homes and gardens from flooding.

Indeed, 90% of homeowners, rising to 93% in high and mid flood risk areas, haven’t taken any steps to make their homes and gardens more flood resilient. Despite the extreme weather conditions, this doesn’t look to be changing, with only 9% of homeowners planning to add flood resilience measures to their homes and gardens in the next year

Build Back Better

In the event of a flood, Flood Re’s Build Back Better scheme allows eligible customers with specific home insurers to receive up to £10,000 as part of a claim.

The amount is meant for home and garden improvements that go beyond basic repairs, focusing on enhancing the property’s resilience against future floods

The Flood Resilient Garden is not just a temporary exhibit. After the show, it will find a permanent home at Howbery Business Park, allowing the public to explore its features and learn about flood resilience year-round.

Flood Re is on hand to help you invest wisely in your garden to make it beautiful and resilient. Check out all the best tips and tricks to make your garden both beautiful and resilient here.

Flood Re CEO Andy Bord, said: “Gardens bring joy to so many of us but they also provide an important first line of defence to flooding. With this garden we’re hoping to inspire more people to think about their flood risk and get smart with their spending by considering the plants and garden features that will both endure a flood and could also help reduce the physical destruction and psychological distress when a flood strikes. If flood resilient features and water storage capacity were to become a feature of most gardens in a neighbourhood, the positive combined effect would be enormous!”

Naomi Slade, Garden Designer, said: “People spend a huge amount of time and money on their gardens and floods can wreak havoc and cause a huge amount of disruption, heartache and expense. The principles showcased within our Flood Resilient Garden are impactful, practical and transferable, but crucially we’ve shown that making a garden more climate and flood-resilient does not have to be a compromise on either its form or function.”

Ed Barsley, The Environmental Design Studio, said: “With the increase in extreme weather events, heavy rainfall and flooding as well as drought, and even wildfires, many people are anxious. As individuals they can feel powerless to make a difference. But gardens are hugely powerful tools and the Flood Re: The Flood Resilient Garden sends a positive message of agency and hope, and it is packed with practical, achievable ideas and solutions to enable people, as we adapt to the climate crisis.”

For more information, interviews, or a guided tour of the Flood Resilient Garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, please contact:

Headland Consultancy: Beth Kelly – bkelly@headlandconsultancy.com

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Garden spend ending up in the ditch due to flooding

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Garden spend ending up in the ditch due to flooding: British people are wasting £2.9 million on their gardens, thanks to a low understanding of their flood risk, according to new data published today by Flood Re, the joint initiative between the UK government and the insurance industry.   

Despite the cost-of-living crisis, Brits spent £17.6 billion on their gardens last year – an average of £402 per UK adult – but a low awareness of their flood risk means they’re currently wasting £2.9M on their gardens, which are being battered by heavy rain and surface water flooding.

Garden spend ending up in the ditch due to flooding

Garden spend ending up in the ditch due to flooding

In total, 5.4 million (1 in 8) UK adults with gardens have experienced the devastating impact of flooding on their green spaces.

With February 2024 being the wettest on record for over 250 years and 1 in 4 homes in the UK at risk of floodingi, this National Gardening Week Flood Re wants people to start getting smart about their garden spending.

High Risk, Low Awareness 

The data also reveals only 5% of people living in high-risk areas could correctly identify their flood risk. Worryingly, 68% of people in high-risk flood areas think their flood risk is low. This low awareness of flood risk means green fingered Brits are at risk of investing time and money in their gardens that could be washed way.

The research shows Brits are not taking the crucial steps they need to protect their homes and gardens. Indeed, 90% of homeowners, rising to 93% in high and mid flood risk areas, haven’t taken any steps to make their homes and gardens more flood resilient. Despite the extreme weather conditions, this doesn’t look to be changing, with only 9% of homeowners planning to add flood resilience measures to their homes and gardens in the next year.

Furthermore, almost half (46%) of people in high and mid flood risk areas said flood risk had “no impact at all” on where they have chosen to live.

Flood Devastation 

The picture couldn’t be more different for those who have experienced flooding in their home and garden, with 62% claiming risk of flooding has since impacted where they choose to live.  With 41% of those who have experienced flooding considering implementing flood resilience modifications (compared to only 4% of Brits who haven’t experienced flooding), Flood Re is on hand to offer easy, cost-effective ways to smartly invest in your garden as a flood prevention tool.

Gardens are an important and cost-effective first line of defence to flooding. Properly managed, domestic gardens can channel, absorb and store large quantities of water, which means the risk to buildings and property is mitigated. The risk of localised and downstream flooding is reduced too.

From Roots to Resilience 

Choosing a variety of plants such as willow, water mint and astilbe can help ensure your garden can thrive in varying water conditions and withstand the challenges posed by climate change, from drought to inundation.

Similarly, slowing the flow of water into your garden will significantly reduce local flooding risks by diverting rainwater away from infrastructure, easing the burden on drainage systems and avoiding costly upgrades down the line.

To demonstrate how to harness your garden’s natural flood resilience, Flood Re are teaming up with leading garden designer Dr Ed Barsley and Naomi Slade and, to unveil the Flood Resilient Garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in May. The garden has been carefully designed to show how people can protect their gardens and homes against extreme weather and learn how to increase their flood resilience from the ground up.

Build Back Better

In the event of a flood, Flood Re’s Build Back Better scheme allows eligible customers with specific home insurers to receive up to £10,000 as part of a claim.

The amount is meant for home and garden improvements that go beyond basic repairs, focusing on enhancing the property’s resilience against future floods.

Andy Bord, Chief Executive Officer, Flood Re said: “The research clearly shows there is a job to be done to educate people about their flood risk. Gardens are cherished spaces that bring joy to so many of us, so why wouldn’t we want to not only protect them from harm but actively harness their power to prevent them from future damage? Your garden can be both beautiful and resilient to extreme wet weather. We’re hopeful this research and the Flood Resilient Garden will help people think about their flood risk and consider the plants and garden features that will both endure a flood and help reduce destruction and distress to their home when a flood hits.”

Dr. Ed Barsley, Environmental Design Expert said: “The research clearly shows that the majority of people aren’t aware that their garden or home is at flood risk of flooding until it’s too late. However, what’s positive to note is that there are a variety of practical and cost-effective measures that gardener owners can take to save themselves emotional and financial stress further down the line.”

Nikki Stocks, 63 from Lancashire said: “In the chaos of the flooding, I felt overwhelmed, unsure of how to safeguard my home and happiness due to financial restrictions. It’s affected my mental health because now I’m always anxious when it rains and how bad it could get for my home”.

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Celebrity garden designer opens national education awards

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Celebrity garden designer opens national education awards: Inspiring, celebrity garden designer, Danny Clarke (aka The Black Gardener) is hosting the ceremony for the national Land-Based & Environment Learner (LBEL) Awards later this year, with today marking the opening of nominations for 2024 entries.

For the second year running, this exciting Awards scheme will recognise the outstanding talent, successes, and achievements of learners from across England and Northern Ireland in the land-based and environment sector.

Celebrity garden designer opens national education awards

Celebrity garden designer opens national education awards

Celebrity garden designer opens national education awardsvThe winners will be announced at a genuine celebration of talent on the 21 November 2024 at the centrally located, National Conference Centre in Birmingham. The ceremony will be hosted by Danny Clarke, who changed from a career in sales to horticulture in his early forties.

Danny Clarke, who trained as a garden designer at Hadlow College said: “I am thrilled to be hosting this year’s ceremony to recognise the talent and dedication of people in education who are taking care of and creating green spaces and looking after animals.”

“Although I didn’t change career until I was middle-aged, my love of the outdoors started early on in my life. I can’t wait to hear the stories behind the nominations, some of whom I expect will be career changers, like me, or young people embarking on their career. Either way, it looks set to be a memorable date in the calendar!”

The Awards organisers, Lantra and Landex, are actively encouraging land-based employers, colleges, private training providers and universities to recognise and promote their top candidates by nominating them for a prestigious award. The deadline for entries is 11 June 2024.

Dr David Llewellyn CBE, Lantra’s Chair of Trustees commented: ‘’We were overwhelmed by the 120 nominations that were received in the first year of the Awards. The LBEL Awards already play a key role in celebrating hard-work and success and in this second year, we are urging employers of apprentices to put their best candidates forward. In this way, we can recognise and reward the very best of our developing workforce.’’

Marcus Clinton, Chair of Landex commented: “Landex is calling on the network of land-based colleges and universities to identify outstanding learners who have the talent and drive to push the industry forward. We want them to take some time to nominate these fantastic individuals and join us in giving them the recognition they deserve.”

The annual awards are open to individuals on a full-time or part-time Land-Based and Environment course or Apprenticeship in England between September 2022 and September 2024. The award categories include Agriculture; Aquaculture and Fisheries, Arboriculture; Forestry and Woodland Management; Equine and Farriery; Floristry; Landscape and Horticulture; Land-Based Engineering; Animal Care and Management; Veterinary Nursing; Environmental Conservation, Game and Wildlife; and Sports Turf and Greenkeeping.

Prizes for the above categories apply across Private Training providers, Further Education (FE), Apprenticeships Awards (Level 2-3), Higher Education (HE) and Higher Apprenticeship Awards (Level 4-7). This year we will be introducing a new category: Research Student of the Year, where supervisors are encouraged to nominate a student studying a post-graduate level either for a master’s degree or a Doctoral Degree.

There are overall prizes for: Research Student of the Year; Apprentice of the Year; Overall Winner; and Runners Up. Online entries are being encouraged, as the quicker and more sustainable option. However, paper copies of the nomination form are available on request, by emailing lbels@lantra.co.uk

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Green-tech proud to donate to Best Show Garden

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Green-tech proud to donate to Best Show Garden: Green-tech donated the PlantBox Green Wall system which makes up two walls within the Constructing Minds Show Garden designed by Carolyn Hardern and Jon Jarvis.

The biggest and officially ’the best’ show garden at RHS Tatton 2023 is the brainchild of Garden Designer Carolyn, and Jon the Construction Manager for landscape contractor Ashlea Ltd. The garden was awarded a silver medal.

Green-tech proud to donate to Best Show Garden

Green-tech proud to donate to Best Show Garden

Built by The Landscape Academy, the garden has been designed to raise awareness of mental health within the construction industry. Construction has the highest suicide rate of all industries, where an average of two workers take their own lives, each working day. The garden is designed as a calming space to help those struggling with their mental wellbeing.

The show garden was built using sponsorship donations and volunteers. Green-tech donated the Plantbox system to provide two 2.4metre high walls. The system creates a clever vertical garden, with a unique watering system that makes looking after plants easy.
The walls formed part of the Inner Sanctuary of the garden to offer a semi-enclosed private space that respects confidentiality and provides a degree of emotional security and a different environment whilst retaining the connection to nature. Seating and wildflowers assist with contemplation.

The overall design is based on the Japanese idealism of Shinrin Yoku and the benefits to our health through passive engagement to nature. With over 30 trees, 800 ferns and 100²m of wildflower turf, this is the biggest show garden. After the show, the garden will be moved to Clatterbridge Hospital, Wirral where it can be a place of tranquility for patients, visitors, and staff.

The garden has been designed to support and promote construction industry charities Band of Builders and Mates in Mind. Both Carolyn and Jon are fully committed to raising awareness of the mental health crisis within the construction sector and have worked on the design over a seven-month period.

Jon Comments, “This is a cause close to my heart and I appreciate Green-tech and all the sponsors that have enabled our vision to become a reality. Having Green-tech as national suppliers to the landscape world involved gave our cause traction and raised awareness in the market.”

Green-tech’s Andrea Questari manages the Ashlea account and adds, “This is such a worthwhile cause and great initiative to help raise awareness that we were delighted to help in any way we could. The Plant Box living wall system really does create a quick and easy instant green wall so was the perfect product for the inner sanctuary of the design.”

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Welcome winged wonders to your garden

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Welcome winged wonders to your garden: Think of pollinators and bumblebees, butterflies and beetles may come to mind – but the humble bat also plays a huge role in this vital work. Disruptive wildflower company Seedball is encouraging people to celebrate the importance of this mammal for International Bat Night, held this year between Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 August.

The night has been arranged by the Bat Conservation Trust and is designed to raise awareness of this special animal, which pollinates over 500 plant species, including some mangoes, guava, banana and agave, which is used to make tequila. Over 70 per cent of bats – and 100 per cent in the UK – also feed on insects, and as such play an important part in controlling the numbers of pests. They have massive appetites, and a tiny Pipistrelle bat alone can eat over 3000 mosquitoes in one night!

Welcome winged wonders to your garden

Welcome winged wonders to your garden

Bats’ excrement is also a fantastic fertiliser, known as guano. Bat guano comprises of roughly ten per cent nitrogen, three per cent phosphorus and one per cent potassium – a mixture which helps plants thrive and encourages their bright green colouring, boosts root growth and promotes strong, healthy stems. So, bats in a garden is a great sign that your plants will be benefitting from this brilliant natural fertiliser, helping your flowers bloom stronger, for longer.

Unfortunately, increased use of pesticides means that many British bat species are in decline, as they go hungry from lack of insect prey. Many are also faced with fewer roosting places due to a decline of natural habitats, meaning they struggle to get that all-important slumber during the day. In fact, one third of Britain’s most highly threatened mammal species are bats.

At Seedball, founders Drs Emily and Ana Attlee are encouraging people to plant wildflowers which will entice bats – whether that’s in a garden, balcony or even pots on a windowsill. The Bat Mix tin contains wildflower seedballs specially selected to attract a wide range of insects that bats feed on, including flowers that release their fragrance at night when bats are most active. The mix contains plant seeds with a combination of long and short pollen tubes, and a variety of colours and shapes of flowers to maximise the number of insects they attract – creating a delicious and well-rounded diet for bats! The seedballs contain borage, cornflower, corn marigolds, evening primrose, wallflowers and night-scented stock – which will not only encourage bats to visit but will also look beautiful too.

Dr Ana Attlee said: “Bats are a much-misunderstood creature, but here at Seedball we love them! They play such an important part in pollinating plants, getting rid of pests and keeping our soil healthy, and we encourage people to enjoy these furry visitors – as they are a sign of a happy, healthy garden. Our Bat Mix can be sown between August and October, so we’ll be celebrating International Bat Night on Saturday 26 August by scattering some seedballs and welcoming more bats over the coming months.”

For more information, visit https://seedball.co.uk/product/bat-mix/.

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Makita’s garden redemption has launched

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Makita’s garden redemption has launched: Leading power tool manufacturer Makita UK has launched its hugely popular winter cordless garden redemption promotion. With the purchase of selected products, end users can claim FREE LXT and XGT products, making this an attractive deal for those looking to start or expand their existing Makita cordless kit.

Makita’s latest garden machinery promotion gives end users the chance to claim ether a free 5.0Ah (BL1850B) 18V LXT Battery, or two free 5.0Ah BL1850B 18V LXT Batteries, or a free DMR110N DAB+ Job Site Radio with the purchase and registration of a wide selection of its leading LXT outdoor garden products – including cordless blowers, hedge trimmers, split shafts, chainsaws and more.

Makita's garden redemption has launched

Makita’s garden redemption has launched

Makita has also extended the promotion to offer a free 2.5Ah (BL4025) 40V XGT Battery to those who purchase selected XGT 40VMax outdoor equipment, including chainsaws, hedge trimmers, post-hole borer and even the latest 40VMax XGT Telescopic Pole Saw.

Kevin Brannigan, Marketing Manager at Makita UK said: “We are delighted to offer our valued customers a fantastic choice of free products this winter with our latest cordless garden product redemption. Claimants can purchase from a range of over 40 selected LXT products to receive 18V LXT batteries or a DAB+ radio, and 16 selected XGT products from our 40VMax XGT line up to receive the XGT battery.”

Makita’s latest redemption offer will run until 31st December 2022. Customers who have purchased any of the qualifying models from an authorised dealer between 01.10.22 and 31.12.22 should register their purchase online within 28 days of making their purchase to claim their free product. On successful application, customers will receive their free gift after 30 days.

For more information on the promotion and its terms and conditions, visit: www.makitauk.com/redemption.

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Summer garden trends

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Summer garden trends: Red is the new Green when it comes to the quiet revolution taking place in Britain’s gardens!  Gardeners all over the UK may be shouting about the new trend in cordless gardening tools, but the products will be whispering as they work away at cutting your hedges, trimming your grass and sucking up all the leaves left on your patio.

Mountfield customers have really taken to the battery powered gardening tools in the Freedom100 and Freedom500 ranges, due to the quietness, cleanliness and ease with which they can be handled and used.  But not only that, all of the products in each range have batteries which have a Smart Tool Recognition System. This battery management microchip optimises the performance of the battery to each tool by analysing the electrical resistance. It then adjusts the power output and current levels accordingly to  maximise the battery’s storage ability, longevity and run-time.  The Freedom100 products all use 20V battery and the Freedom500 range is powered by 48v lithium-ion batteries.

Summer garden trends

Summer garden trends

 

Freedom100 Cordless Garden Tool Examples

New for 2022 the MVS 20 Li battery blower/Vac shredder is the ultimate garden tidy tool. Lightweight, easy to use and energy efficient it not only blows leaves and debris away but can also simply vacuum and shred them into tiny pieces which collect in the 45-litre collector. You can blow, suck or shred to your hearts content with the MVS 20 Li, because it is powered by Mountfield’s superstar STIGA 20V Lithium-Ion batteries giving an impressive air speed of 55m/s.

The MMT 20 Li battery multi-tool (seen above) comes with pole pruner and hedge trimmer attachments.  Powered by  a 4Ah 20V lithium battery, it is lightweight and versatile. This easy to use cordless multi-tool is the perfect nifty partner for any small garden!

Freedom500 Cordless Garden Tool Examples

The lightweight, cordless MTR 50 Li grass trimmer (and Telegraph Best Buy 2022) makes tidying up the garden so easy and effortless thanks to its high-performance cutting device.  The telescopic shaft allows the user to adjust the shaft to suit along with the adjustable front handle for a comfortable working position.

The recently launched last year MCS 50 Li top handled chainsaw is a powerful, high performance tool.  Equipped with a powerful 1000W brushless motor and 12” cutting bar with high performance chain the MCS 50 Li cordless chainsaw is lightweight and efficient and makes easy work of woodcutting jobs around your garden.

You can see all Mountfield cordless gardening tools  on the website: www.mountfieldlawnmowers.co.uk

Easy mows, cuts it, blows it…with Mountfield!

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Pellenc maintains Scotland’s most exotic garden

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Pellenc maintains Scotland’s most exotic garden: The team responsible for maintaining the incredible Logan Botanic Garden have noticed several benefits since investing in a wide-range of Pellenc battery-powered equipment.

Regarded as Scotland’s most exotic garden, Logan Botanic Garden is located at the south-western tip of Scotland on the Rhins of Galloway. The Garden is warmed by the Gulf Stream which enables plants from Australia, New Zealand, South and Central America, Mediterranean and Southern Africa to thrive.

Pellenc maintains Scotland’s most exotic garden

Pellenc maintains Scotland’s most exotic garden

Garden Supervisor Colin Belton has been working at the Garden for 23 years and there are many reasons as to why he has stayed in the job for this amount of time.

“It is a great part of the world to be in,” he said. “It is very quiet, laid back, no rush to life and I’m part of a great team. We all work together as one unit.”

Colin revealed that plans were already in place to reduce carbon emissions after being encouraged to do so by the government. In fact, Logan Botanic Garden unveiled the first carbon neutral glasshouse in the UK. This was five years ago, and Colin’s attentions then turned to battery-powered equipment as an alternative to petrol machinery.

“I first became aware of the Pellenc equipment about 20 years ago,” he said. “I was at a horticultural show, and I saw the Pellenc chainsaw in action. I thought it was modern and different and so I took a brochure away with me. I still have that brochure to this day!

“A lot of other companies started bringing out battery-powered equipment, but to my knowledge, Pellenc has been around the longest and it was the one brand that really stuck with me.”

A forerunner when it comes to lithium-ion technology, Pellenc has established itself as the number one choice in the ‘zero emission’ professional power tools market for the maintenance of urban and green-spaces.

Light, odourless, noise-free, with no starting problems and enough power to enable professional users to work for a full day on a single charge, it’s no wonder more and more professional users are turning to Pellenc. It is an attractive alternative to those who have, for several years, been relying on fuel-based machinery.

Colin arranged for a demonstration of Pellenc equipment to be carried out at the Garden and he now boasts a fleet consisting of Airion blowers, Helion compact hedge-cutters as well as the Helion telescopic model, an Excelion strimmer and Excelion brushcutter, and the Selion T220/300 telescopic polesaw as well as the Selion C21 HD pruner – which were all supplied by Allan Wright of Agrovista Amenity.

“At the demonstration I think the light weight and the quietness impressed everyone the most,” said Colin. “We no longer have to endure an engine tucked under the ear droning away. Generally, it felt as though the petrol machinery was starting to take its toll on all of us.

The Pellenc equipment has certainly made our lives easier and safer.

“Take the Helion telescopic hedge cutter for example. The Helion enables us to reach the full height of the hedges, so we no longer have the hassle of assembling, moving, or relevelling our scaffolding tower. It’s a huge time saver and we can cut those hedges in half a day rather than a full day now.

“In fact, we can complete a lot of jobs much more quickly now and this is because we can work without disturbing our visitors. Previously we would get complaints about the noise from the petrol machines, and so we would be limited to a two-hour window to carry out jobs like hedge-cutting and strimming, before opening to the public. We can use the Pellenc equipment all day now because it is so quiet.

“There are just so many benefits to using this equipment,” continued Colin. “The Airion blowers, for example, have a huge advantage over the old petrol ones. Many of our paths are gravel based and trying to blow the leaves without taking the gravel with it was impossible with our old petrol blowers. However, the Pellenc Airion blowers have that low setting which is just enough to move the leaves along without interfering with the gravel.

“Then we have Excelion brushcutter with the City Cut head, and this enables us to work in the Garden without fear of debris flying towards visitors. In the past we have had to be extra careful and wait until no visitors were around.”

All the Pellenc tools at Logan Botanic Garden are powered by two ULiB 1500 batteries – the most powerful in the Pellenc range.

“We start work at 8am and we finish at 4.30pm and we get a whole day’s use out of them without the batteries being anywhere near flat. Some of the lighter pieces of kit we have run for days.

“To be honest, I think that initially, we were all sceptical as to whether the Pellenc products would be as powerful as a petrol engine – but they are.”

Pellenc is distributed exclusively in the UK by Etesia UK.

For further information, please contact Etesia UK on 01295 680120 or visit www.pellencuk.com

You can also follow Pellenc on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @PellencUK for much more news, reviews and insightful views.

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