Tag Archive for: garden

Congleton Garden Machinery join GreenMech dealer network

Congleton Garden Machinery join GreenMech dealer network: GreenMech Ltd are delighted to announce a new dealer partnership with Congleton Garden Machinery Ltd. With immediate effect, the team lead by Director Andrew Meek will be responsible for the sales and service of the full GreenMech woodchipper portfolio for customers in Cheshire, Staffordshire and the surrounding areas.

Established in 1989 and with a wealth of experience in the garden machinery industry, Congleton Garden Machinery has gained a stellar reputation for providing high-quality products backed-up with exceptional customer service. Stocking a range of lawn and compact tractors, mowers, ATV’s and mini diggers from leading brands including Solis, Polaris, AS Motor and more, the knowledgeable team have extensive experience of working with customers across all aspects of groundcare, farming and forestry.

Congleton Garden Machinery join GreenMech dealer network

Congleton Garden Machinery join GreenMech dealer network

“Congleton Garden Machinery Ltd are delighted to have been recognised as a GreenMech dealer” comments Andrew. “To be associated with a company that designs and manufactures chippers within the UK offering versatility and efficiency with high-end products sits perfectly with our own values. Being the quietest chippers on the market and utilising a long life chipping system, the GreenMech chipper offers everything needed to keep a user’s business flowing. With the stock we maintain, both new and quality-used models, we can provide a machine to suit all applications. We look forward to a long and fruitful partnership – providing a first-class service to all new and existing users of these machines.”

“In Andrew and the whole team, we have a lot of experience and enthusiasm to hit the ground running” adds GreenMech Managing Director Jonathan Turner. “It’s been a really positive onboarding process, with a number of chippers already in the Cheshire depot to support the requirements of Congleton’s vast and varied customer base.”

Those wishing to find out more can visit www.mowersplus.co.uk or can speak to a member of the team on 01260 278332 or, via email, on sales@mowersplus.co.uk 

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Inveraray Castle wins Historic Houses Garden award

Inveraray Castle wins Historic Houses Garden award: This prestigious national award, presented annually since 1984, is designed to recognise the importance of some of the country’s most spectacular gardens with outstanding horticultural and public appeal. The award is voted for by members of the public who judge the gardens based on a variety of factors that contribute to their enjoyment. The announcement was made at the Historic Houses National AGM in London on Tuesday 12 November 2024.

Inveraray Castle is an eighteenth century turreted castle, seat of the Clan Campbell and home to the Dukes of Argyll. The gardens at Inveraray are home to the Duke and Duchess who have spent joyous times with family and friends over the years. They enjoy the changing of the seasons and the ability to present and share the gardens with their 85,000 guests who come to visit the castle every year.

Inveraray Castle wins Historic Houses Garden award

Inveraray Castle wins Historic Houses Garden award

The gardens have reflected the times, and each Duke has taken a keen interest in ensuring that the legacy evolves throughout the years with many different species of plantation and horticulture. The garden covers sixteen acres, of which around two acres are formal lawns and flowerbeds, the remainder being park and woodland. Extending to 180 hectares, they form one of the most important designed landscapes in Scotland.

The climate in Argyll, with its yearly average rainfall of 230cms, is ideally suited to rhododendrons and azaleas, which flower in the gardens from April to June. Conifers also grow well in the acidic soil of a high rainfall area, as can be seen by the fine specimens such as cedrus deodars, sequoiadendron wellingtonia, cryptomeria japonica, and taxus baccata. The borders on each side of the central path are known as the ‘Flag-Borders’, the paths having been laid out in the shape of Scotland’s National flag, the St. Andrew’s Cross. These borders, outstanding in the spring with beautiful Prunus ‘Ukon’ and Prunus subhirtella, are underplanted with an interesting mixture of rhododendrons, eucrypyias, various shrubs and herbaceous plants, giving interest all year round.

Ben Cowell, Director General of Historic Houses, said: “Inveraray Castle is a must-see destination for so many tourists to Scotland. We are thrilled that members and supporters have chosen to make it the 2024 Garden of the Year, and hope it encourages many more visitors to seek it out in 2025. They won’t be disappointed – the beautiful gardens are the perfect setting for Inveraray’s distinctive towers and turrets.”

Orlando Rock, Chairman, Christie’s UK, said: “I am thrilled to congratulate Inveraray Castle on being awarded the Historic Houses Garden of the Year Award. The stunning gardens, spanning 16 acres of formal lawns, flowerbeds, parkland, and woodland, are a true reflection of the timeless beauty of Inverary and the dedication of the Duke and Duchess of Argyll and their amazing gardening team. For generations, the Campbells have shaped the evolving legacy of this remarkable landscape, offering a serene and ever-changing sanctuary where family, friends, and nature come together in perfect harmony. This well-deserved recognition celebrates not only the beauty of Inverary and its gardens, but the enduring passion and vision that has shaped them over the years.”

Helen Gallagher Buchana, Visitor Experiences Manager at Inveraray Castle, said: “We are delighted that the gardens team have received this prestigious award. They work with great passion, loyalty, and dedication in all elements, creating the beautiful colours, tranquil environment, and space for our visitors to enjoy relaxation.”

Belcombe Court, in Bradford-on-Avon, is the Judges’ Choice this year. When owner Paul Weiland purchased the estate back in 1992, the gardens were in a state of disrepair. Over the next 30 years, Paul restored the gardens to its former glory with many contemporary additions that impressed judges.

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Fisco Farm & Garden Machinery Joins Etesia Dealer Network

Fisco Farm & Garden Machinery Joins Etesia Dealer Network: Etesia UK is delighted to announce that Fisco Farm & Garden Machinery, a long-standing family business based in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, has officially become the latest dealer for Etesia products.

The partnership marks an exciting new chapter for Fisco, enabling the company to expand its commercial product offerings while reinforcing Etesia’s presence in the region.

Fisco Farm & Garden Machinery Joins Etesia Dealer Network

Fisco Farm & Garden Machinery Joins Etesia Dealer Network

Fisco Farm & Garden Machinery has been a family-run business in Wakefield for over 60 years. Founded by Clifford Broadhead as Farmers Ironmongery Supply Co, it later expanded to meet the changing needs of the agricultural industry. Today, Fisco continues to evolve, now offering leading brands like Etesia to enhance its product range for both domestic and commercial clients.

Ryan Powala-Higgins, Manager of Fisco Farm & Garden Machinery, explained that becoming an Etesia dealer is a strategic move to grow the company’s commercial opportunities. “We are a single branch, and for a long time we were predominantly in the domestic market,” said Ryan. “But over the past few years, we’ve started to take on more commercial products to boost sales in that area. We felt like we were missing out, and that’s why we decided to take on Etesia.”

Etesia, a company known for high-quality grass-cutting equipment since 1989, has become a key player in both the professional and domestic markets. Their extensive product range includes walk-behind and ride-on mowers, brush cutters, and innovative green technology solutions, such as the award-winning ET Lander electric utility vehicle. Fisco’s decision to partner with Etesia aligns with the growing demand for reliable, high-performance commercial machinery that can handle the toughest conditions.

Ryan added that Etesia had been on their radar for some time: “We’ve known about Etesia for a while. There was a bit of a gap in our portfolio, and a lot of customers were asking about the brand. We’ve always known the products are good.”

Ryan credited Etesia UK’s Business Development Manager, Stephen Muir, for making the dealership process smooth and efficient. “Stephen came out to see us and he was very accommodating. The whole company is a pleasure to deal with. We appreciate that Etesia is willing to come and talk to us face-to-face. It’s refreshing in a time when so much business is done online.”

Part of the appeal of Etesia, Ryan explained, is their focus on mowers that perform exceptionally well in all weather conditions—especially when it comes to grass collection.

“Etesia’s ability to collect grass even in wet conditions is a key selling point for landscapers, grounds maintenance companies, and local councils,” Ryan shared. “In terms of collection, nothing beats Etesia.”

Among the products that have already caught Fisco’s attention are the Etesia Hydro 80 ride-on mower and the 18-inch pedestrian mowers, which Ryan described as “perfect machines” for their customer base. “The feedback we’ve had from clients who already own Etesia machines is overwhelmingly positive. They say these are the machines to have.”

Looking ahead, Ryan expressed enthusiasm about the future of Fisco’s partnership with Etesia. “We’re very excited about what’s to come,” he said.

For further information, please contact Etesia UK on 01295 680120 or visit www.etesia.co.uk.

For more news, reviews and insightful views, you can follow Etesia UK on Twitter @EtesiaUK and like the company’s Facebook page – www.facebook.com/EtesiaUK. You can also view the latest Etesia videos by visiting www.youtube.com/EtesiaUK.

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Keep your garden beds blooming and slug free

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

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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