Get a chair and a notebook, to make each visit to your pond an exploration   Ponds host a range of wildlife from the vegetation on the marginal edges to the shallow and deep open water areas. Ponds in the UK are declining which is a big problem as research suggests that garden ponds support more freshwater life than any other freshwater habitat found in the UK. This is because for many insect and amphibian species ponds are their homes and breeding spaces and are not polluted like many of our rivers. As well as being vital bathing areas and [...]

 A review of oak timber imports into the UK and whether oak timber should be classified as a sustainable resource.   Compiled my Director of Glorious Gardens Sussex and Undergraduate Students Consultancy Programme.   This review examines: 1)How much oak is imported into the UK per year   2)  The sustainability of using oak products.   3)  The complicated supply chain of oak products   4) Can certifying bodies be trusted   5)  The policies of UK companies that import and sell oak products     ___________________________________________   Introduction   The research presented in this review finds that far from [...]

A review of the literature on the environmental and human cost of mining Indian sandstone and the transportation of the stone to the United Kingdom.   Compiled by the Director of Glorious Gardens Sussex and University of Sussex students for the Student Consultancy Programme.   This review examines:   How much Indian Sandstone is Imported into the UK?   What is the environmental impact of the mining problem in India?   What is the human impact of the mining and refining process?   How can the product be made sustainable?     Introduction  The research presented in this review finds [...]

February- The Set-Up Month February is an important month to really set up your garden.  With Covid keeping us at home, our gardens can give us the expansiveness, connection and hope we desperately need. Andrew Staib from Glorious Gardens Designs takes a look at plants that will light up your garden. February can be an up and down month. Sometimes clear days have us running out to turn over the soil and dig in some compost, other days have us sheltering indoors looking out of a rainy window. If you are one of those gardeners who don’t start visiting their [...]

When designing a landscape, there are some basic principles which can be considered to help achieve the outdoor space of your dreams. The same principles can be applied regardless of the size and scale of the project.  By spending some time designing the landscape you can create a garden which is not only functional for your needs, but is visually striking, straightforward to maintain, and fits your budget.   Determine Priorities When designing a landscape, have a clear view on what you are looking to achieve and what you want out of your garden. By determining your priorities you can [...]

The pathways around your home serve their purpose, but flowers along the edging can bring colour and fragrance to this otherwise utilitarian space. Imagine these mini-gardens alongside the tiles, pavers, and hardscapes. Year-round, flowers will soften those lines as they appeal to the senses. By creating a beautiful border, your entire yard will be more attractive without being a chore. Here are a few examples of plants and shrubs which can enhance the visual appeal to your pathways. Lavender Lavender remains a favourite when planting borders. Its low height and abundance of colour make it a popular choice to line [...]

Summer perennials add wonderful colour and fragrance to the garden. When landscaping your garden summer perennials offer colourful blooms year upon year. They can make for simpler gardening as they are often easy to maintain and mean less work compared to the need to replace annual plants every year.  There is a rich abundance of choice when considering which perennials will fit your garden design. When landscaping your outdoor space think about the colour combinations you desire, the quantity of sunlight different areas are exposed to and the different heights the plants will reach. A landscape designer can create a [...]