Need an Extra Room?

If you are in need of some extra outdoor living accommodation, then you might want to consider investing in … a shed! 

You may recall we featured the growing trend for ‘shed working’ in our December issue, but the phenomenal rise in popularity of garden buildings is not simply due to the increasing number of people choosing to work from home. The all new gloriously glamorous ‘shed’ has fuelled a whole new trend in garden based living, and the owners of this new generation of outstanding outdoor rooms are using the extra space for a wide range of activities.

According to a report in The Telegraph last August, ‘there is no end to the ingenuity of home owners and garden buildings, Screwfix says there are now more sheds and log cabins in the country than households’. The same article refers to how a glimpse on Google Earth now reveals as many as 30 million garden buildings lurking in back gardens as homeowners extend their living space into the area around / to the rear of their property. Screwfix even reports that on some days, it sells sheds at a rate of one sold every two minutes!

The all new ‘garden studio’ can really be whatever you want it to be; from a dedicated home office to practical, ultra private additional guest accommodation; from upmarket kid’s den to a sophisticated 21st century music studio; from an exclusive private home gym to a luxury sauna or hot tub retreat, the opportunities really are endless. It is also worth remembering that in addition to the practical benefits of a good garden building, there are also positive financial implications, according to a well known property buying agent, this type of home improvement can add 5% to the overall value of your property – as long as the ‘shed’ is in peak condition.

Kids Getting Enough of the Green Stuff?

According to one expert, parents have a responsibility to help their children to connect more with nature.

Richard Louv, author of a book titled ‘Last Child in the Woods’ calls for mums and dads to encourage their offspring to join in with gardening activities such as setting up a bird bath, planting seeds and even helping to dig ponds.

Louv puts forward the argument that nature can have a calming influence on children and believes there are possible negative effects associated with a failure to allow our children to connect with the natural world and visit green spaces. He claims that parents who allow this to happen may be exposing their children to the genuine risk of falling victim to Nature Deficit Disorder. Symptoms cited include hyperactivity, depression, loneliness and boredom. This theory is backed up by Jules Petty from the University of Essex who states that "green exercise" can prove beneficial to young people who are experiencing stress, referring to a report from the Environmental Science and Technology journal, which revealed youngsters can increase their overall wellbeing by participating in outdoor activities. So the clear message is, make sure your kids get their green fix!

Spring Style Refresher

As the inevitable ‘spring cleaning’ fever begins to gather momentum, thoughts will soon be turning to getting the garden looking gorgeous for the official ‘start’ of the outdoor living season. If, once all the traditional tidying, weeding and clearing up is completed, you still feel a need to inject some extra sparkle into your outside room – but don’t have the funds for a full garden make-over, then it’s time to consult a garden stylist! Just as a professional wardrobe advisor can open your mind to all the latest ‘clothing’ fashion trends, whilst also providing guidance on the top wardrobe choices to suit your personal style, shape – and budget, all the same benefits can be gained from a consultation with a qualified garden stylist. 

Armed with all the latest up-to-the minute knowledge of what’s hot, what’s not in outdoor living terms, a garden stylist can provide a fresh new perspective on your outdoor living zone, delivering a selection of inspirational ideas all designed to offer designer kudos and instant gratification! Sometimes the simplest of measures can transform a drab outside living space into a super chic style statement! Visit the Lime Orchard web site for more details of the company’s recently launched Garden Stylist service.

Create the Perfect Kitchen Garden this Spring!

Lime Orchard Garden Design offers a simple modular raised-bed solution to help make 'growing your own' even easier!

Last year, a major food trends report commissioned by Sainsbury’s, predicted that in 2030, British families will spend less time eating out and more time at home cooking an increasing amount of garden grown vegetables. The report, produced by The Future Laboratory, forecasts that the trend of grow-your-own, which took off during the recession, will continue with far more than the current 15 million people likely to be planting vegetables and fruit on windowsills and gardens in the future.
And with the general public gaining inspiration from top chefs around the UK who have started their own kitchen gardens in order to secure the freshest possible produce the concept of a kitchen garden is destined to snowball.

Creating a dedicated kitchen garden within the outdoor room does not necessarily need to be at the expense of a visually pleasing, beautifully styled outside space. With a bit of careful planning, aesthetic appeal and designer good looks can happily sit alongside the undisputed functional benefits that a kitchen garden offers.

Lime Orchard is pleased to offer a full range of treated-softwood beds either in kit form for you to install yourself or as part of a hassle-free fully installed solution; including filling with quality topsoil and suggestions for mixed ornamental and edible planting .These self-contained, raised plots are ideal for getting children interested in gardening and make adding a vegetable crop to a corner of your garden simple! The Kitchen Garden Boxes are available in four different depths to suit your needs - each adding approx 9" (225mm).

Self-installed kit prices start from just £95.00 inc VAT for a 0.6x0.9m single depth bed up to £695.00 for a 2.4m wide bed up to four boards depth – suitable for most root vegetables. Prices ex. delivery dependent on area.

Why not contact us for more advice on how to create the perfect kitchen garden? Call
us on 0845 539 1467 or visit www.limeorchard.co.uk