The Helping Hands Gardener

14/05/2024

At its peak!

05/05/2024

A clients spring garden is at its peak this week. Just beautiful.

23/05/2022

A planting design done last autumn is coming nicely. Shrubs removed and grasses and perennials planted to soften the area at the top of the garden.

18/05/2022

All money raised will be donated to the Hope Hub, a local charity who work to prevent homelessness in Surrey Heath. Cash only sales. Thank you.

15/11/2021

I’ve had great fun the last few months, redesigning and planting up a new border. Out with the shrubs and the border replanted with more year round interest. A Daphne for winter scent, choisya and philadelphus belle etoile for summer scent and a range of perennials and grasses to extend the seasonal interest. I can’t wait to see it flourish next year.

24/05/2021

PLASTIC GRASS

British gardens are being dug up and replaced with plastic grass. But this isn’t the flaky, fading stuff on which oranges were once displayed at the greengrocer. Today’s artificial grass is nearly identical to the real thing.

With products named after beautiful places – Lake District, Valencia – modern artificial turf mimics not just the mottled colouring and shape of grass blades, but the warm springiness of earth.

Unlike the grass itself, the market is growing. Dozens of specialist firms now market fake grass as a replacement for garden lawns. UK sales have surged and valued the global market at $2.5bn (£2bn) in 2016 and forecasts a “staggering” rise to $5.8bn by 2023.

While fake grass might indeed be greener, at least in colour, its environmental impacts are difficult to gloss over.

Paul Hetherington, fundraising director for the charity Buglife, says “It blocks access to the soil beneath for burrowing insects, such as solitary bees, and the ground above for soil dwellers such as worms, which will be starved of food beneath it,” he adds. “It provides food for absolutely no living creatures.”

This is a particular concern in view of the dramatic global decline in insect species. The UK is on course to miss its own targets for protecting its natural spaces, and has lost 97% of its wildflower meadows in a single generation.

If you would like to petition the UK government over this here's a petition.

PETITION: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/585520

LINK: https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2019/aug/02/turf-it-out-is-it-time-to-say-goodbye-to-artificial-grass

PHOTO: Photograph: Lucy Nicholson/Reuters

23/05/2021

I am in the process of organising Camberley Gardeners Open Gardens which will take place in June and July. A great opportunity to see some local inspiration and raise money for The Hope Hub who work to prevent homelessness in Surrey Heath. Tickets are £3.50 and there are timed slots available at each garden in order to keep within Covid Regulations. A great way to ease us all back into life.

Camberley Gardeners Open Gardens is an event that will enable gardeners to share their passion of their garden with others, whilst raising money for charity.

08/05/2021

A lovely rainy morning, the plants will be so happy. The perfect time to have a coffee and read of my latest blog. I've got a new tool, which I'm loving. Find out what it is below.

Getting into the garden – May 2021 May 7, 2021May 7, 2021 Sarah WesleySpring, SummerLeave a Comment on Getting into the garden – May 2021 April – the frostiest April in 60 years and as gardeners didn’t we know it. All doing the daily dance of in out in out with the plants in and out of the g...

28/04/2021

Plants for a clients border redesign. More plants to follow once available and to use some existing plants in the garden.

17/04/2021

Due to homeschooling I had a break for a few months, but here is my latest blog. I'm now just desperately waiting for these frosts to stop so I can start getting my seedlings outside.

Getting into the garden – April 2021 April 13, 2021April 13, 2021 Sarah WesleySpringLeave a Comment on Getting into the garden – April 2021 April, the month of sunshine, showers (although hardly had any of those in the last month), and even the odd snow shower thrown in for good measure. The soi...

29/01/2021

It is the time to plan ahead in the garden for this year. Perfect for a rainy day when you can’t do much else. Longacres have put all of their summer bulbs and seeds online for click and collect or delivery. Also compost, seed trays, climbers and house plants all available and at great prices (we are lucky to have this company so near) Combine orders with neighbours if that helps with delivery prices. Please support local if you can. https://www.longacres.co.uk/plants/bulbs/all-bulbs/

19/12/2020

It has been a difficult year for so many, but I have been so grateful to be able to continue with some of my clients throughout most of the year. At times I needed time in their gardens as much as they needed me. Gardening is so benefical for our mental health and I am so grateful that I am able to work in an environment that makes me smile. Merry Christmas and here is to spring time and flowers in the garden again and a great 2021 ###