Get High from Green Living

Why not transform that dull roof into something spectacular with a low maintenance living green roof that offers some really worthwhile environmental benefits? Now you can use your flat roof – or a roof with a slope of up to 45 degrees - to grow a fabulous range of sedum products or eco friendly wildflowers to create a dramatic roof top sensation.

With the increasing concern about the impact our development of the planet is having on the worldwide environment and the UK government calling for sustainable development, green roofs offer a number of benefits over more traditional forms of roofing, helping to meet sustainable development objectives:

Flooding floored
Following a heavy rainfall a green roof will initially retain more rain than a conventional roof. This minimises the initial heavy run-off, which can cause localised flooding and put pressure on the sewage system. The remaining water then drains off more slowly, allowing more rain to remain in the natural water cycle and less in the sewage system.

Ssh …
The soft layer of sedum blanket growing on a green will absorb sound, as opposed to hard conventional roofs which can reflect noise. The same layer improves the buildings sound insulation properties, reducing sound pollution within the building.

Thermal Insulation
The addition of a green roof layer to a property increases its thermal insulation properties, making it warmer in winter, cooler in summer and reducing those all important (and rising!) energy costs.

Home sweet  home
Green roofs can help compensate for the loss of green surfaces, sacrificed to building developments. This helps to provide an environment for the development of wildlife, especially bird, plant and insect life, increasing the biodiversity in our towns and cities.

Canine Design!

Julia Everett, the winner of our recent ‘win a £1000 garden design’ prize draw  had an unusual motivation for wanting a garden transformation.  One of the main issues associated with the current layout of her outdoor space related to Molly, Julia’s beloved rescue dog.  Molly, a foxhound cross had been terribly abused by her previous owners and as a result, when she first came to Julia she was extremely timid and nervous.  Three years on and after lavishing much TLC,  Molly is now a boisterous, mischievous pooch, prone to leaping over the fence and any gaps in the hedge to pursue adventures beyond the safety of the garden!  Julia’s main priority is for a design that is not only aesthetically pleasing but which also removes any opportunity for Molly to make a quick getaway!  Watch this space!

Lime Orchard - Garden Design. Planting Plans. Garden Build 
 

Alfresco Play

With talk of Britain raising a generation of ‘cotton wool kids’ denied the pleasures of traditional outdoor play as a result of over anxious parents too scared to let their children out alone, the pressure is on to allow kids the opportunity to indulge in some traditional free play in the safety of the home garden.

The risk of a potential knock or fall in the garden pales into insignificance compared with the dangers or raising a child whose experiences are defined by websites and computer games. That said, there are definite guidelines to follow to limit the risk of an accident in the outdoor play room :

• Play surfaces for gardens need to comply with safety standard EN1177, and basically this means that it should be self draining and non slip in order to do things like safely stop muddy patches under swings
• Play equipment must satisfy the British Toy and Hobby Association to standard no EN71-8, which covers swings, slides, and similar activity toys for indoor and outdoor family use. If it does it will display the CE and Lion mark on it as an indication that it has passed the relevant stringent tests and is fit for purpose
• It makes sense to create a dedicated children’s play zone rather than have activities taking place in the middle of your outside entertainment zone! Be sensitive to the need to provide shelter from the sun and also avoid placing any equipment close to walls or a concrete surface
• As well as specific outdoor play equipment consider investing in some specially adapted outdoor games. Giant Pick Up Sticks, Giant Dominoes or the classic kids favourite board game Snakes and Ladders can all provide endless hours of fun

Shed Life!

According to an article in the Guardian earlier this year, garden offices are cheap, chic, eco-friendly and above all, do away with the dreaded daily commute – so the trend for ‘shedworking’ is becoming increasingly commonplace. With more than 2.5 million businesses being run from home, the creation of a garden building represents the second most popular siting for a home office, although the spare room retain the no1 slot.  Aside from the practical advantages of a garden based home office, the decision to invest in an alfresco work space can also add value to your property – up to 5% according to some experts - and installing an office in the garden is certainly far cheaper than buying a house with an extra room!

Garden offices can be home built, designed by an architect or purchased from the myriad of suppliers competing in this growing market.  Latest models sport not only ultra chic and stylish designs, but also boast added green credentials such as power generation through solar panels in the roof and solar light generation.

Christmas Comes Early!

Christmas has come early for North Lincolnshire based Julia Everett, who is the lucky winner of our free prize draw and receives a free garden design worth £1000 prvided by Lime Orchard’s own Chelsea Flower Show Medal-winning Design Director, Ian Dexter. 

Commenting on the win Julia  says  "I can’t believe our luck, we've never won anything before! We’re all absolutely thrilled to bits and can’t wait to see the design! We have been in the house for 20 years but have some problem areas that a professional pair of eyes will really be able to sort out. We are looking forward to having our  dream garden ready for the Spring” 

Follow the progress of Juila's design in coming issues of Garden Living  from Lime Orchard

No Need to Shop Until You Drop!

Looking for stylish accessories to complement the outdoor room?

In search of original garden related Christmas gift ideas?

Then look no further, we’re delighted to announce the arrival of the Lime Orchard online shop http://www.limeorchard.co.uk/garden-gifts featuring beautiful hand picked items to add that all essential zing to any outdoor room setting. 
As award winning garden designers, the team at Lime Orchard definitely has its finger on the pulse in terms of what’s hot and what’s not for the garden!  Our range of chic accessories has been carefully selected to provide a super slick ‘garden styling’ service to complement Lime Orchard’s credentials as creators of dramatic outdoor rooms. 

And with Christmas just around the corner don’t forget to visit the online shop here for inspiration when you’re on the hunt for gorgeous gifts for loved ones – far less stressful than traipsing around the stores in the busy run up to Christmas!

From cute kiddies garden pots to patchwork tools, indulgent pampering kits and stunning candle globe lighting, there’s something for everyone. 

But if you simply can’t settle on a present idea online, don’t forget Lime Orchard gift vouchers which represent the ultimate lasting gift, available in a selection of denominations. Visit http://www.limeorchard.co.uk/garden-gifts

Happy shopping!
The Lime Orchard Team

On Your Marks, Get Decked!

Even as the winter weather begins to set in, many of us still want to grab a slice of garden living on a daily basis. Few garden “accessories” boast decking’s immediate ability to so effectively extend your living area – quite literally creating an outdoor room which often seamlessly connects to your home’s interior – making decking the ultimate must-have for outdoor living enthusiasts. And if you have kids, it really pays to have somewhere they can let off steam but preferably without becoming covered head to toe in mud! 

The appeal of decking lies in its flexibility to blend with a variety of garden types and designs - and at a budget to suit.  From expansive elevated decks to the more intimate free standing island deck, there’s a whole host of decking options to choose

from each one providing a dramatic, stylish feature for your outdoor space that will last for years and years. If you’re entertaining the idea of having a deck installed in the garden, it is always worth talking to the professionals to ensure the agreed design meets with health and safety, as well as any necessary planning control and building regulations. 

Contact Lime Orchard to arrange a dedicated discussion to cover the do’s and don’ts of successful decking!

Planning Pays - Design your Garden Now, Enjoy it in the Spring!

Although you may feel Spring is a million miles away, if you want your dream garden to be completed in time for the beginning of next year’s improved weather, you need to start planning NOW!  All too often we only evaluate our gardens when the temperatures begin to soar and then suddenly the pressure is on to get the work completed at break neck speed.
 
The best approach to achieving your ideal garden is not to rush it.  Allocate time to thinking about the key criteria for your outside living area and plan well ahead.  Autumn is a great time to plan the  transformation of your house’s exterior living space for a whole host of reasons:
 

• Firstly, there are fewer restrictions on what work can be undertaken – for example, the ground is not so hard that it becomes difficult to try and break up – nor is it (traditionally at least!) so water logged it’s impossible to work with

• Most plants are dormant at this time of year so if the proposed garden make-over project involves a lot of cutting back of existing stock,  it is more likely that the trees / plants will be able to survive this intervention and any other disruption caused by machinery etc 

• Rather than having to plant out new trees and hedges from pots, in winter it is possible – and preferable – to use bare rooted stock.  In addition to establishing early successful growth your pocket will benefit too , as bare rooted stock is traditionally cheaper to buy than pot grown trees and hedges 

• Getting to grips with your garden now will save you having to join the queues next  year – and when those around you are struggling to find a landscaper with time to take on the job,  you can sit back and enjoy your stylish newly transformed outdoor space

 
So now’s the perfect time to realise the true potential of your outdoor space, book a consultation with Lime Orchard’ to benefit from our unique total transformation service, visit us at www.limeorchard.co.uk

Go Eco in the Garden

The term 'green living' no longer simply applies to a niche sector of our population.  Today, the whole nation has a responsibility to demonstrate a heightened awareness of the need to adopt a more environmentally friendly approach to day to day living in an effort to  save the planet.  So here’s some eco friendly strategies for you to consider for the garden this autumn:

• Reduce the use of pesticides and weedkillers in the garden, as these will eventually make their way into rivers, lakes and groundwater
  
• Be careful with the disposal of pesticides and weedkillers – don’t pour them down drains but dispose of them carefully at official sites
  
• When pruning trees and shrubs, keep sturdy sticks and use them as rustic poles for climbing plants like beans or peas. Try using willow to reinforce hanging baskets and dry out twigs to use as kindling. 
  
• Avoid using patio heaters, now recognised as a climate-busting way to keep warm outdoors.  Instead consider a fire pit or chimenea. Chimeneas burn wood, which may be a carbon-neutral fuel and if you wan to be really green try and get hold of some Heat Logs, (made from natural sawdust and shaving residues from sawmills that use 100% virgin timber from sustainably managed plantation forestry) 
  
• Install a water butt to collect rain water for watering the garden - many water companies and local councils offer some good deals
  
• Buy a composter and compost your kitchen and garden scraps
  
• If you have to buy new wood, make sure it is FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified
  
• Plant drought-resistant plants, e.g. mediterranean herbs including lavenders, sage & rosemary, especially if you live in a part of the country that will become much drier in the summer (such as southern England)
  
• Opt for solar rather than traditional mains powered lighting
  

Securing your Outdoor Room

With most of us spending more and more time in our outdoor room – and year round to boot, so the value of the items in our garden has risen making them increasingly attractive to the opportunist thief.  According to a report in the Guardian last  May, we now spend £4bn each year on making the land around our homes more beautiful, but insurer Churchhill Insurance claims that as many as one in seven households will be affected by garden crime, saying that the British lose nearly £300 m per year in garden thefts. If you want to minimise the risk of unwanted visitors gaining access to your outside space there are a number of factors you should consider:

• Natural defences - think about planting prickly or inhospitable plants and bushes around the garden. This is natural defence in its purest form! This way you can still achieve an attractive backdrop and make the thief's job more difficult (and uncomfortable) at the same time! Hawthorn or holly are two of the best plants to ward off thieves
• Fighting fit fences - ensure your fencing is fit for purpose and capable of withstanding any attempts to push it over, remove any panels or parts, kick it through or climb over. An ‘average’ garden fence is designed to provide attractive demarcation and can easily be compromised.  A total fence height of less than 1.8m is generally ineffective as it can easily be scaled and allow objects to be passed over it.  Where possible, and subject to planning permission, a fence should be 2-2.4m high.  Fitting a trellis on the top of a fence also makes it harder for thieves to gain access
• Grab some gravel!  A gravelled drive and path makes a great noise deterrent
• Weigh it down -  put bricks in any expensive garden pots outside the house to make them too heavy for anyone to walk off with
• Working undercover – prune trees and shrubs near sheds, greenhouses and garages to prevent thieves from working undetected
• Let there be light – keep the garden well lit and consider investing in security lighting to make it difficult for a thief to work unobserved

Family Friendly Outdoor Rooms

A successful family garden  needs to cater for the demands of family life and fulfill a number of uses - from a play to planting area. The priority for most families is to incorporate a safe play zone and a comfortable patio eating area, with of course a splash of greenery courtesy of lawns, trees, hedging and planting displays. The challenge is how to create a desirable space for children without compromising on your aesthetic requirements.   While the kids may think there's nothing wrong with the array of toys strewn across the entire garden, parents don't want to lose their stylish barbeque area for entertaining. The solution to this dilemma is quite simple: plan your garden carefully before you spend a fortune. Alternatively, work with a garden design or landscaping company that also has the relevant expertise and experience to create your family's dream outdoor area.

 As part of the planning process you'll also need to take into consideration some important safety factors:

•       If your garden is hedged, it will need to be checked regularly for gaps. You might want to run chicken wire down the base of a hedge if it isn't bushy all the way to the ground, to keep children or pets contained

•       Secure, robust fencing and a well-hung gate are vital to keep your kids within the safe confines of the garden.  Pressure wash patios & paths ahead of the onset of winter to remove any moss or algae that may form a slippery patch. Clear away wet, slippy leaves from paths & paving and use for composting or mulching a shrub border.

•       Beware of dangerous plants in the garden and educate the children on the hazards of eating them. Some plants have sharp stems which are quite capable of delivering a nasty cut (such as pampas grass), while the pointy leaves and thorns of holly or roses can give a nasty prick

•       You'll definitely win brownie points if you install a climbing frame or a playhouse in the garden. Be careful where you position these features, they should be well away from concreted areas and not too near any walls, fences or large bushes. Ideally, you should set up any play equipment on a dedicated play surface

•       Take a good look at the condition of the paving in your garden and be sure to repair any broken or loose pavers

Christmas is Coming!

With the high street enticing us with exciting Christmas ideas as early as September, it pays to plan ahead for the annual frenzy of festive activity. For a unique and lasting gift that will provide year round pleasure, a garden design represents a refreshingly original and perfectly personal present solution.  

From September 2009, Lime Orchard will be offering a brand new gift voucher service which can be used to buy a number of garden design related gifts for your nearest and dearest.  For example:

£150 would entitle the recipient to a 1-2 hour consultation with a garden designer in the comfort of their own home. This session will unveil a fantastic range of creative ideas and inspiration on how they to make the most of the outdoor room.

A gift of £300 would include both the 1-2 hour home consultation, in addition to a detailed planting plan with positions and species (suitable for most gardens up to 200 sqr mtrs total area) – making this a truly sensational gift for the person  who is looking to inject the all important horticultural WOW factor into their outside living space (limited offer, valid on vouchers purchased before 1 November 2009)

 A gift of £545 would include both the home consultation plus a full garden design . Following the consultation visit, the designer will produce a   hand-finished, coloured master plan, suitable for a garden up to 200 sqr mts.

For more details on the Lime Orchard gift voucher service visit our web site http://www.limeorchard.co.uk/gift_vouchers.htm or email us at gifts@limeorchard.co.uk

A Whole New Genre of Garden Therapy!

Researchers have long applauded the important role gardens can play in terms of providing a haven away from the hurly burly of life where it is possible to unwind and de-stress. The therapeutic benefits of horticulture were even debated in a research report from Virginia Tech University which claimed that a view of trees could reduce the recovery time in the hospital after surgery by almost a full day!  

But now there’s a whole new type of therapy on offer in the garden – pathways that provide on the spot pampering!  A luxury-flooring brand has developed a foot-massaging pathway!  The pathway surface encourages the homeowner to kick off their shoes and walk barefoot along the pebbles, which apparently ‘helps to increase the circulation and stimulate the body and mind”.  The pathway was a major inspiration for the ‘Lose The Shoes’ show garden at the RHS Flower Show at Tatton Park, which won an RHS Silver medal.

WIN A GARDEN DESIGN - WORTH £1000

FROM THE AWARD WINNING LIME ORCHARD GARDEN DESIGN TEAM

Is your outside space in need of a professional make-over?

 

Does your exterior living area fail to live up to the high standards of your home’s interior ?

 

Now is the ideal time to start planning how to achieve your ultimate outdoor room – and here’s a chance to win a professional garden design from the team behind world class show gardens at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

 

Lime Orchard specialises in providing a complete garden transformation service – from award winning design to high quality build.

 

All you need to do to enter the prize draw is to sign up to Garden Living, the FREE Lime Orchard newsletter, which will deliver regular tips on how to add designer zing to your outside living zone! 

Click here to enter! 

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Holidaying at Home Turns Gardens into Pleasure Parks

A leading garden centre spent time with a group of 6-7 year olds over the summer, to canvas their views on what constitutes the ‘perfect garden’. The children were all asked to design their very own ‘great garden’ and three features clearly topped the poll as essentials required to create the ideal children’s outdoor room.

1. Wet Wet Wet – whether it’s a small but perfectly formed paddling pool, or a super sophisticated real swimming pool, kids just want to wallow in the water

2. Outdoor play room – according to kids, all great gardens need a dedicated play space and tree houses or a sports area for football / tennis

3. Grow your own – the children felt that a garden simply wasn’t a garden without a generous display of flowers, fruit and vegetables - but the good news was that the group of budding gardening enthusiasts also said they’d be happy to help look after them! And with weeding ranking as the most favourite gardening activity (above planting and watering) the junior work force is unlikely to lose interest as soon as a few weeds take hold!

The research also revealed that most children want a little bit of garden to call their own, with as many as 90% of the kids claiming they wanted even the smallest area earmarked for their own personal gardening project.

Learning Alfresco

If you’re a parent, chances are you are being bombarded with complaints about the return to school following the long summer break.  Teachers need to work hard to inject some variety into the learning routine to help keep pupils motivated throughout the school day.  A simple solution to breaking the daily grind is to literally take learning outside!  Research shows that, more and more schools are recognizing the benefits of an outdoor classroom. Learning through Landscapes (the national school grounds charity) undertook a survey in 2003 which proved that schools which have invested in and improved their outdoor facilities for pupils, experience significant tangible benefits such as

-    enhanced pupil behaviour (73% of respondents)
-    a reduction in bullying (64% of respondents)
-    improved attitudes towards learning (65% of respondents)
-    better social interaction (84% of respondents)
-    increased community / parental involvement (66% of respondents)

The government’s growing support of the outdoor classroom is evidenced by The Growing Schools initiative which was set up in 2001. In 2006 the Learning Outside the Classroom Manifesto was launched and since then more than 1698 organisations and individuals have signed up.

If your child’s school does not currently boast an outdoor learning area why not put the idea to your PTA or School Governor representative?  At Lime Orchard, we have a great deal of experince in building inspirational outdoor learning spaces, so for more information on school gardens, visit http://www.limeorchard.co.uk/OutdoorClassrooms-GardensforSchools.htm or speak to a member of the Lime Orchard team on 0845 539 1467 .

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Visit http://www.limeorchard.co.uk/Newsletter.htm

Refresh your garden

If you are in need of inspirational ideas to transform your garden, Lime Orchard - an exciting brand new garden design and build service - is on hand to help you achieve your dream outdoor living zone.

We specialise in the creation of refreshingly stylish, beautifully crafted garden spaces - but without the exclusive designer price tag! Lime Orchard gives you direct access to a national garden design team with an exceptional track record in the delivery of fresh ideas guaranteed to inject new life into your outside room. But recognising that creative flair and original thinking is of little value unless partnered with a high quality garden build, Lime Orchard provides a one stop shop to smartening up your garden by offering a complete design and build solution. And all at a cost-effective price. In fact, we have just launched our 'Free Taster' service, ideal if you are unsure of the benefits of a design for your garden, click here for more information.



So if you want a reassuringly simple route to realising the true potential of your outdoor space, with added design kudos, then Lime Orchard’s unique service could be just what you are looking for … contact us http://www.limeorchard.co.uk/contact_us.html

Alfresco Entertaining on the up

Research carried out for the Horticultural Trades Association this July revealed that over three quarters (77%) of garden owners use their gardens for eating and entertaining, with half (50%) owning a barbecue and the same proportion also having outside lighting. And with over half of respondents (56%) also claiming their gardens as a stylish outdoor party venue, it seems that the outside room is increasingly becoming the social hub of the home! Stylish furniture and accessories are key to the creation of a chic alfresco entertainment zone.

Brit's Love their gardens - It's Official!

Yes, we Brits do love a good garden. A recent study by Yorkshire Bank showed that UK homeowners who do not have a garden would be willing to pay about a third of their annual income in order to add a green space to their home. Add to that the impact the recession and the emergence of the “conscience consumer” has had in terms of fuelling the growth of the “Grow your own revolution”(garden centres report a 60% increase in sales of vegetable seeds in the last year) and it is evident that an accessible, welcoming outdoor space is fast becoming a must-have for UK house buyers.

Keep Healthy, Grab some Garden Living

We all know the benefits of leading a healthy lifestyle and since the nation is currently on a red alert due to the outbreak of Swine Flu, never has it been more important to make sure you and your family take all the necessary precautions to stay well. Advice from NHS 24 suggests “staying at home and avoiding crowds of people could help you to avoid the virus” and that “leading a healthy lifestyle will help you to be better equipped to fight off infection… taking regular exercise, will help to keep you fit and healthy”. Taking on board this advice, coupled with the knowledge that stress can weaken the immune system leaving us vulnerable to infection, and it seems that spending more time in our very own stress free garden sanctuary is a sensible health savvy decision.

Welcome Wildlife

According to gardening celebrity Chris Beardshaw, 2009 will see an increase in more wildlife friendly and environmentally conscious gardens. “It has been a growing interest over the last few years as people realise the importance of our gardens not just as a pleasure space for us humans but as a resource in which to grow our own food, and to create feeding stations and habitats for our friendly wildlife, many of whom are seriously threatened”. Beardshaw, presenter of BBC 1’s Wild about Your Garden is keen to dispel the myth that wildlife friendly gardens have to be messy. The award winning designer / TV presenter believes it is possible to create a garden that suits our needs as well as the needs of our residing or visiting creatures, while also being a beautiful retreat. So take a walk on the wild side and invite a bit more nature into your outdoor room!

Outdoor Room Boom

The advent of the UK ‘staycation’, the move for UK householders to increasingly view their gardens as a retreat offering a safe haven from the threats of crime and “Big Brother’, combined with the growing doom and gloom associated with the economy – all of these factors are contributing to a boom in garden centre and nursery sales (the HTA reports sales were up 42% this April), as Brits realise the many benefits of an outdoor room.


So whilst you may not be able to enjoy your traditional two week beach break, take comfort in the fact that any investment you make in your outdoor space, will enhance your “home “ holiday this summer, not to mention benefit your family year round. And could also potentially increase the overall value of your property.