Plan Your Dream Garden Now!

Garden Design by Lime Orchard

Thinking about spending time in the garden may be the furthest thing from your mind as the warm Summer weather fades in to Autumn. But if you are hoping to make some improvements to your outdoor space you really need to start planning this side of Christmas if you want the project completed in time for Spring 2014.
Lime Orchard - an exciting local 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!

 AUTUMN OFFER

FREE Plants worth £120

Design your Dream Garden with Lime Orchard this Autumn and receive free plants worth up to £120.00, once the construction* work has been completed

Simply commission a garden design with us before 31 OCTOBER 2013 quoting offer code LO13AUT

*Subject to a minimum spend of £3,000 inc VAT
Terms & Conditions Apply - Contact Lime Orchard for details

Lime Orchard's Services

As well as high quality Landscape Construction our services include:

Initial Consultation - FREE

Meet with an experienced designer in your home to formulate a brief and identify the specific needs in relation to your garden. We’ll discuss ideas and advise on how to deal with some of the issues that can impact on realising a plan.

Full Design Service – from £395.00
The next step is to create a fully detailed, scaled, coloured master plan. Our designers work with you to ensure every detail is considered and included. Every garden is different, so, we provide you with a bespoke proposal and costing specific to your project. Our starting price is indicative of a garden (or part of garden) that is up to 200m2 and free from significant complications.

Planting Plans – from £150.00
You may already have a hard landscaping scheme or could be looking to liven up a small corner. If so we can provide prices to develop a professional planting plan for an existing garden

Make the Most of Professional Garden Design

Before you meet with a designer to discuss your dream garden aspirations, you need to review the existing space and identify what you’d like to achieve from your outside living accommodation. Here are some useful pointers to get your thinking on track:

- Ahead of any plotting out of what goes where, make a note of where the sun falls when, so you can plan a dining area in dappled shade; a sun-bathing area in full sun and a children's play area somewhere cool and sheltered

- Think about privacy. Do you need to work in some tall planting or trellis somewhere so that neighbours can't see into your garden?

- Will you need to put in an outside tap for a hosepipe? Or, perhaps, if you have kids, a hot tap will be handy, too, for the (few) times it's warm enough to fill up the paddling pool in the summer

- Be realistic about what you can achieve in your garden if you have children and / or pets. There's little point in creating a splendid display of delicate flowers if you live in constant fear of it being destroyed by boisterous kids or a playful pet!

- Ponds are probably a no no if you have young children due to the obvious safety hazard they represent - with an average of five children under the age of six drowning in garden ponds in the UK each year, according to RoSPA. If you want water, you could instead consider a pebble pond or a water feature that has no water basin, thereby eliminating any risk to children

- What storage will you need now and in the future? You should allow space for not just garden tools, but probably DIY tools, too. Plus, garden furniture, children's toys and bikes

- Do you plan to do much entertaining in the garden? Think about easy access to the kitchen and a dedicated ‘eating’ zone These are just a sample of some of the questions you need to ask yourself, for more ideas, advice and inspiration visit

Plus Win an Inspirational Visit to Chelsea Flower Show 2014!

With ticket's selling out weeks before the first public day, the Chelsea Flower Show is one of THE hottest events in the gardening and social calendar! Make sure you get your tickets FREE - Courtesy of Lime Orchard!

Simply enter our prize draw here > http://www.limeorchard.co.uk/chelsea_flower_show.html

No purchase necessary

Why not speak to a member of the Lime Orchard design team to get a fresh new perspective on how to get the very best out of your outside room? 

Visit www.limeorchard.co.uk or call 0845 539 1467

Chelsea Flower Show 2013 Ticket Winner

The lucky winner of a pair of tickets to RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2013 is:

Leslie T. from Bootle

The winner has been notified by
email and we look forward to seeing them there!

If you are not one of the lucky winners then please visit our website for details of how you can bring a little Chelsea Flower Show magic to your own back garden, courtesy of Lime Orchard.

Plus you can enter the draw to win tickets for Chelsea 2014 here:

http://www.limeorchard.co.uk/chelsea_flower_show.html 

Win Chelsea Flower Show 2013 Tickets

With ticket selling out weeks before the first open day, the Chelsea Flower Show is one on THE hottest events in the gardening and social calendar! Make sure you get your tickets FREE - courtesy of Lime Orchard garden design!

To enter* our Free Prize Draw all you simply compete the form at the link below. The first name out of the hat by the closing date will win a pair of tickets (worth at least £98) to Chelsea Flower Show  2013

For more information on this year's show, visit the RHS Web site click here >

Special Guided Tour

In addition to the free tickets, our winner will receive a unique guided tour of the Chelsea Flower Show by our very own RHS Medal Winning Designer, Ian Dexter! Ian will be able to give you a unique insight in to the work that goes on behind the scenes in creating the marvelous show gardens and his own critic of this year's entries.

Last year's prize draw winners, Steve and Alexandra had a fabulous day at the 2012 Chelsea Flower show, courtesy of Lime Orchard!

Steve commented “we enjoyed ourselves immensely (apart from the heat and the huge crowds). The exhibits gave us a few ideas but at the moment I am sticking to sunbathing as it is too hot to swing a spade”

Get ready for Chelsea 2013 - enter our prize draw to win tickets at our web site! http://www.limeorchard.co.uk/chelsea_flower_show.html

School Gardens Update

Do you want to develop your school gardens as a resource for students, staff and maybe the local community?

Lime Orchard is a garden design and construction company based in Nottinghamshire, who have become experts in helping schools to navigate through the system, to gain funding for designing and building great gardens and outdoor classrooms to enhance pupil learning.
We have worked with pre school, primary and secondary schools and have designed and built 100% funded, great gardens for them, see below for details of some of our school projects around the country

We are also running a schools garden design competition to win up to £2000 worth of garden design fees for your school, read on to find out how your pupils can enter .

"We have your plans up for parents to see what we have as our aspiration as money allows and they have been very enthusiastic in helping the children plant the trees. We were able to use the plan to help secure funding... "

From Richard Bonington School, Notts 

Celebrate The London 2012 Games and win a Garden Design worth £2000

Children are invited to submit their own design for a garden themed around the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games . Children can let their imagination run wild (pun intended!) or take inspiration from their own experiences of the 2012 Games!

The winning entry announced after the closing date of Tuesday 6 November will a receive professional garden design advice from the award-winning Lime Orchard team up to the value of £2000 for their nominated school, youth group or community project. Two runners-up will each received £100 in Gift Vouchers to spend on garden tools, plants or equipment. A presentation event will be announced in early 2013 with Irish Olympic Show Jumper - Billy Twomey presenting the awards.

Twomey commented

“It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to have the Olympic Games in your own back yard! I’m really delighted to support Lime Orchard in getting local children involved!”

The competition is open to children that attend full-time school and can submit there design in their choice of medium up to a maximum size of A3 (for print) or PDF of no more than 10Mb file size (for electronic submission)
 

Download the Entry Form click here >

Are your Pupils Enjoying the Benefits of an Outdoor Classroom?

The award winning Lime Orchard garden design team would like to share with head teachers and school governors the undisputed educational, environmental and social benefits associated with having a wonderful school garden. As a business we've an established track record in the creation of inspirational, RoSPA approved, outdoor classrooms. But as you will be aware, alfresco learning is not just about the aesthetic appeal of an outside space .

An Example of our School Garden Projects

Primary School Notts	Awaiting image
Cost to Design	£700
Cost to Build	£12,000
Funding Received	100%
This project replaced existing hard-surface play area with bespoke creative water-play and sound play areas with a focus on natural materials Using natural stone to create shallow pools and waterfall for the children to play in, also encourages insect life in to the garden. A den, created from a dome of living willow makes a beautiful hide-out for games and shaded reading area for story time. Sculptures hanging with pots and pans and beaters are there to encourage children to explore sound.

Pre-School Rutland
Cost to Design	£1,100
Cost to Build	£29,000
Funding Received	£10,000.00
The design sets out to increase play, creativity and interaction within the space. Being a very flat ext. site the aim is to introduce exploration, stimulation and journey within the area. This is achieved by introducing height, mass, division, texture and bold visual elements. Curved screens with circular, step through openings create tantalising views through to new areas of play activity. A grass knoll brings much needed greenery into the space and the rest of the area divides into water play, a trike track, sand play, sound play & sensory planting.

Primary School North London
Cost to Design	£1,100.00
Cost to Build	£17,000.00
Funding Received	£10,000.00
The brief for this school was to create a sensory garden that utilised a variety of tactile materials. The centre-piece of which was a wild-life pond with controlled access points and protruding deck to allow investigation of the pond’s eco-system in a safe manner.

Secondary School West Midlands
Cost to Design	£2500.00
Cost to Build	£100,000.00
Funding Received	100% Funding by Diocese and fund raising events
The school had extensive areas featureless of Macadam surface that required renovation. Moving away from traditional ‘black top’, a light surface brightened the area. This became the basis to create a Continental café inspired socialising environment for teenage pupils. Timber uprights create a feeling of seclusion without removing line of sight and were used to deter footfall amongst robust planting.

How Can Your School Access This?

At Lime Orchard, we have a wealth of experience of working with schools (pre-schools, primary and secondary schools) to deliver exceptional outdoor learning spaces. Our award winning garden design team was involved in the creation of the 2008 RHS Chelsea Flower Show show garden "The Marshalls garden that kids really want", which was awarded an RHS Silver medal.

We are able to combine a deep understanding of the far-reaching educational benefits of a school garden with an appreciation of the aspirations of the children for whom the garden is being created. We can work with you to create a bespoke outstanding outdoor learning resource. Our service provides a complete solution, from initial design concept right through to a quality installation delivered by experienced local landscapers.

 

Send Her Victorious!

Everyone at Lime Orchard would like to wish Her Majesty our very best wishes over this Diamond Jubilee Bank Holiday Weekend.

The Queen is of course well known for her garden parties at Buckingham Palace but is you are planning a slightly lower-key celebration in your own garden this weekend then leading garden centre chain Dobbies has some sound advice to make sure you keep safe:

1. Do not place the barbecue where anything will be dangling above it, such as low-hanging tree branches. And be sure it is far enough away from any structure to avoid smoke stains or discolouring. Never try to move your barbecue while it is alight.

2. Make sure your barbecue is on solid ground so that it doesn’t roll or tip.

3. Even if your barbecue uses natural gas and has a permanent location, survey the surrounding area before you light up, especially the first time in the spring. Greenery can grow surprisingly fast and leaves and twigs might have accumulated where they shouldn’t be, so clean up all debris first.

4. If you have no choice but to place your barbecue on a wooden deck, be sure it is free from debris such as dry leaves, twigs, etc.

5. Clean-up is crucial. Don’t let grease build up on your barbecue as it catches fire easily and can be difficult to extinguish. If that does happen, quickly close the lid.

Read more: http://www.dobbies.co.uk/blog/barbecue-safety-guide

Roof Garden Design & Build

The Lime Orchard team have recently completed another roof garden project for a very satisfied client!

Roof Garden Terrace in London by Lime Orchard

The roof terrace was situated above the 6th floor of a Central London property and as such presented us with some unique, logistical obstacles to overcome when installing the new garden. The design brief was to transform the existing, tired, largely unused roof terrace into a space where the client would wish to spend time socialising, dining or simply relaxing and taking in the panoramic views. The design would look utilise the space more successfully by delineating it into its desired functions whilst also bringing shade into the garden.

A Western Red Cedar pergola connecting to the rear of the apartment creates a shaded, dining space beneath it with raised planters incorporated throughout. These are filled with Meditteranean style planting that enclose, soften and define the space.

The clients commented,

"Lime Orchard reflected our wishes in designing a perfect roof terrace for us.

Furthermore, they worked on time and on budget and were meticulous in the final finishing phase of the project. We recommend them without reservation."

For further information on our specialist Roof Garden Design and Build Service, visit http://www.limeorchard.co.uk/Roof_Gardens.htm

Win Tickets for RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2012 with Lime Orchard

I

With ticket selling out weeks before the first open day, the Chelsea Flower Show is one on THE hottest events in the gardening and social calendar! Make sure you get your tickets FREE - courtesy of Lime Orchard garden design! To enter* our Free Prize Draw  simply visit http://limeorchard.co.uk/chelsea2012. 

The first two names out of the hat by the closing date will each win a pair of tickets (worth £98) to Chelsea Flower Show for Thursday 24 May 2012

For more information on this year's show, visit the RHS Web site click here >

 

 Special Guided Tour

 In addition to the free tickets, our winners will receive a unique guided tour of the Chelsea Flower Show by our very own RHS Medal Winning Designer, Ian Dexter! Ian will be able to give you a unique insight in to the work that goes on behind the scenes in creating the marvelous show gardens and his own critic of this year's entries.

To enter - simply complete the form at http://limeorchard.co.uk/chelsea2012*

Create Your Own Show-Stopping

Garden with the Specialists

Garden Design. Planting Plans. Garden Build. by Lime Orchard

*Entry is subject to terms & conditions 

Season's Greetings & A Happy New Year From The Lime Orchard Team

We would like to wish all our Customers, Suppliers and Friends a very Happy Christmas and an enjoyable 2012!

In consideration of the environment, we don't send traditional paper greetings. Instead we will be donating the usual postal costs to The Landscape Design Trust, a charity that promotes the landscape for the benefit of the environment and the community. For more information, or to make a donation visit http://www.landscape.co.uk/aboutus/background

---

PLUS Don't Forget our Winter Offers Extended until 31st January 2012

Garden Design Consultation - 2 hours with a qualified garden designer followed by a written report explaining how to give your garden"THE WOW FACTOR"

-Usual Price £150-

Now only £75 -

NOTTS SCHOOL GARDEN DESIGN COMPETITION 2011-12

CHANCE TO WIN A £2,000 PROFESSIONAL DESIGN FOR YOUR SCHOOL GARDEN

Here is an opportunity for your school to engage in an exciting Nottinghamshire-wide garden design initiative.  We anticipate that the project will not only provide a useful learning resource (and a possible lively Family Learning Task), it will also help children to appreciate the extensive benefits of an outdoor class room.  One lucky school will win a professional garden design consultation (worth up to £2,000) courtesy of the award winning Lime Orchard garden design team. Two runner’s up will each receive a cash prize of £100.

As you will be aware, alfresco learning is not just about the aesthetic appeal of an outside space. A survey of 700 schools and early learning settings, commissioned by Learning through Landscapes (the national school grounds charity) 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)

Last Year’s Winners

The Joseph Whitaker School, in Rainworth, Mansfield stepped up to the challenge  with a winning design entry - which was supported by a stunning 4 foot by 4 foot 3D model of their garden depicting a polytunnel, shed and chicken coop with accompanying chickens!!

The project was spearheaded by Sue Harpham who runs the Joseph Whitaker School (JWS) Community Gardening Club. The club represents an important support activity for special children in the community, children living with either physical and / or learning difficulties. Commenting on the school’s success, Sue said “We are thrilled to have been selected to win this prestigious award, which underpins the significant role the JWS Gardening Club plays in the local community. Participating in the Gardening Club in the evenings, at weekends and during school holidays enables our special children to develop valuable life skills and boosts their self-esteem and confidence within the group. By winning the prize of a professional garden design we will be able to realize the true potential of our garden space and further enhance the scope of our WASP (We are Special People) activities”.

Minster Secondary School and Bleasby Primary School in the Southwell area were also both selected as runners-up in the competition, each winning £100 and a free initial garden design consultation.

How to Enter

If you’d like more information on the Lime Orchard School Garden Design project for Nottinghamshire schools, simply email or phone us and we will forward a an entry pack which includes ideas on getting started with a garden design, to assist  teachers in introducing this topic into their lesson plans.  The competition is open from November 2011 and the closing date for entries will be 31st March 2012 with judging taking place April 2012.

View our web site www.limeorchard.co.uk/school-gardens  for details of our award winning design capabilities / references to school gardens that we have created.

Lime Orchard Best in Show!

The Lime Orchard team  is proud to have been awarded the trophy for 'Best Trade Stand' at the annual Flintham & District Agricultural and Horticultural Show 2011, held in Nottinghamshire.

http://www.flinthamploughingmatch.co.uk

 The judges' eyes were caught by Lime Orchard's compact show garden, which mixed economical low-maintenance hard landscaping with striking designer garden furniture and structural planting. The garden also incorporated parking space for a modern city car - a role played by a liveried Smart ForTwo coupe. Visitors to the stand were also able to enter a free prize draw to win a Design Consultation - worth £150 - perfect to add a dose of professional inspiration for their own garden.

For more information on Lime Orchard's services visit http://www.limeorchard.co.uk/nottingham.html

Set Sail for Summer!

With Cancer Research UK’s latest research findings revealing a shocking tripling in melanoma rates among British 15-34 year olds since the late 70s – and the latest available figures showing that the total number of cases of malignant melanoma for all ages increased from 10,800 in 2007 to 11,700 in 2008, a rise of 8.5%, the need for adequate protection against the sun’s harmful rays has never been more topical.
Enjoying the benefits of the outdoor room in the summer sunshine is perfectly acceptable as long as you ensure you and your family have access to the sanctuary of some shade. There are a number of options available if you need to create a safe sun-free area in the garden but one of the most effective (and often dramatic) means is via a Shade Sail.
Shade sails are made from scientifically developed material which has been impregnated with both waterproofing and UV protection. The average UV protection of shade sails is around 85% making them suitable for preventing burning on all but the fairest of skins in temperatures higher than we are ever likely to experience in the UK. When you consider that Factor 85 is probably good enough for most people in the tropics, the level of sun protection afforded by a shade sail is more than sufficient for the UK climate.
A key benefit of a shade sail is that it can be cut to any shape or size and because of the treatments they are impregnated with, they are also tough and solid and retain an attractive shape. Shade sails can be used to cover driveways and paths; they can cover all or part of a patio; or they can make roof like areas for what effectively become outdoor dining rooms. Shade sails can be strung together in attractive groups to form staggered or larger shading areas and they can be attached to the sides of buildings or strung between poles.
A fact often not considered is that a shade sail need not necessarily be just for summer. Sails can become a permanent addition to the outside room since they also offer protection from rain and wind as well as from the sun. And let’s face it, in Britain we are likely to need more protection from the rain and wind than from the sun!

Boring British Garden Design?

A report which featured in The Guardian at the beginning of the June, questioned whether or not British gardens are stuck in the past. The debate followed a comment made by celebrity gardener Monty Don on a BBC Radio 4 programme which inferred that Brits are overly conventional in their approach to garden design “The British are obsessed by plants, provenance of plants and there is a lot of one-up-manship” by contrast Don went on to add “Italians love design, love bella figura, the way things look and appear and don’t care how they achieve it. Gardens are more than just plants. Which is what you get in Italian gardens”.

To make such a sweeping statement which effectively denounces the whole nation’s design credentials is not only insensitive, it is also wildly inaccurate. There are still garden owners for whom the choice of plants will always remain the focal point for the outdoor room, and yes, certainly there are also those for whom a garden is simply not a garden if it is devoid of lavender and a bed of English roses. But to infer that all British gardens are lacking in individuality, innovation and sheer style is a travesty.

As the Guardian states “Brits are a whole load more creative and eclectic than (some journalists) suggest”. This country celebrates a myriad of garden styles, ranging from über chic urban, essentially English, ultra modern and naturally eco-friendly. If we are so backwards in our design thinking, how come our garden shows enjoy such a prestigious reputation around the world? We would concur with The Guardian’s comment that “British gardening and design really is a rich and varied tapestry, and long may it remain so”.

The design for every garden is bespoke, geared towards meeting the individual needs and aspirations of its owners. No two gardens will be the same, let alone the gardens of an entire nation! If you are in need of some design inspiration for your garden, call Lime Orchard on 0845 539 1467 for a free, no obligation visit.

As a Result of Your Recommendation!

If you are one of our growing number of satisfied customers sitting enjoying the sunshine in a Lime Orchard-designed or built garden, then we would love you to tell your friends about your experience!
If your chat then turns in to a friend calling Lime Orchard about their own garden then we would like to say thank you! Quite simply, if we undertake a garden design or build worth £1000 or more from your recommendation we will send you a £50 gift voucher to spend on your garden. Plus we will give your friend a £50 discount off of their garden design or build proposal!

To claim, we must receive a completed application form prior to the design or build going ahead with both your details and the details of your friend. Give us a call on the number below and we will send a claim form to you. Terms & Conditions apply, available on request.

Contact us for more information

Kerb Appeal

Don’t just consider your home’s kerb appeal when you are looking to attract a buyer! Make your home the pride of the street by lavishing some extra special care on the so often neglected front garden. Although the front garden creates a lasting first impression for anyone visiting your home, it is usually the area of outdoor space which receives the least attention.

Hours are spent pondering how to create the ultimate back garden retreat but the majority of homeowners only spare a thought for the front garden when they are looking to sell. This could be due to the fact that often the front garden space is difficult to manage and hindered by expanses of concrete or gravel – but with careful planning and creative flair it is possible to work wonders. Some simple ideas include:

    * Position a couple of imposing bay trees either side of the front door to create an immediate impression of grandeur
    * Arrange a selection of fragrant flowers in beautiful pots within your front garden area to encourage a welcoming ambience
    * Introduce a splash of bold colour to exterior walls by potting up some hanging baskets – and if you have a colourful front door, choose some bright zesty flowers to complement it
    * Go for a style makeover of just the bed or border at the front of the house. Rethink your choice of plants and the layout of the bed

– for the simplest of transformations why not contact Lime Orchard to come up with a full planting plan for the bed which includes plant variety recommendations, position and suggested size of each plant – and of course a totally professional ‘installation’. Call 0845 539 1467 (local call rate) or visit www.limeorchard.co.uk for further details.

Alfresco Dining

One of the greatest delights of summer is enjoying dining alfresco, whether it’s a formal entertainment opportunity or a casual family meal eaten au dehors, you need to ensure that you and your guests are not only sitting comfortably – but that the outdoor setting looks suitably stylish!
This season’s hottest trend is for mixing and matching the brightest colours, so whether you are thinking of investing in some super-sized oh so cosy bean bags, or funky new seat cushions or even a selection of dashing new tableware, opt for some bold colour clashes.

Fuchsia pink paired with a hot red or sparkling turquoise will add a dramatic touch, or try an out there orange with zingy green. The mixing and matching doesn’t just relate to colours either, combining different materials is also very much on trend, so a glass table can look super stylish matched with ultra contemporary (and practical) plastic or metal chairs. And if you are looking to introduce a little designer chic into your outside space, a moulded sofa-come-bench for the garden is the very latest ‘must have’ cool garden furniture accessory.

RHS Chelsea Flower Show - Highlights from 2011

From The Daily Telegraph

Eight gardens struck gold at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show, with The Daily Telegraph winning Best in Show (pictured). Designed by Cleve West the winning garden bucked the current trend for going tall, by taking the visitor into an intimate sunken garden surrounded by warm yellow walls, flowing water and delicate trees. The three 10ft high columns with one lying on the ground, at first glance appear to be ruins but in fact are a mixture of the old and the new in concrete and terracotta.

However, it was the jewel-like colour scheme of reds, pinks and yellows - including bizarrely parsnips - that earned the designer the title the ‘Heston Blumenthal of gardening’ awarded for his propensity to gravitate towards experimentation.

Every year, a number of key themes emerge from the show and 2011 was no exception. Popular trends witnessed at this year’s event were the inclusion of sculptures, water features and garden offices in the show gardens.

Another popular theme was the use of trees clipped into strong architectural forms and a departure from neat, manicured beds to more natural wild flower planting. Water features on display ranged from Mediterranean inspired pools to gentle flowing country streams, whilst sculptures were used on a tactical basis to create an architectural focal point or as means of introducing a contrast to a lush green landscape.

Garden offices on show were very much in keeping with the growing awareness of environmental issues, incorporating ‘eco-friendly’ features such as solar panels and the effective recycling of waste materials.

RHS Chelsea Flower Show - best ever for 2011?

When the curtain closes at the end of May, RHS Chelsea Flower Show recycles 98% of the material used in the show gardens. So while the blooms may remain dazzlingly colourful, the main event is most definitely green!

The organizers of this year’s prestigious RHS Chelsea Flower Show are promising that 2011 is destined to be one of the best RHS Shows in history. 2011 marks the 98th anniversary of the world famous event which is now widely recognized as one of the most celebrated annual shows in the world and the undisputed showcase for horticultural excellence, with visitors flocking from across the globe both to visit and exhibit!

Over the years the show has gone from strength to strength starting with around 244 exhibitors in 1913 to today’s overwhelming 600, including gardens, nurseries, floristry, educational displays and trade stands. RHS Chelsea Flower Show now regularly attracts 157,000 visitors every year, in addition to widespread international media attention.

2011 will see the unveiling of 17 show gardens, 15 smaller gardens and a hundred of the world’s best growers and nurseries. Unsurprisingly many of the inspirational gardens at this year’s spectacular show highlight the importance of sustainability and urban greening.

The B&Q Garden demonstrates how we can all make an environmental difference regardless of the size of our garden. The garden also increases awareness of environmental issues in a theatrical and imaginative way.

The ‘Monaco Garden’ reflects the character, personality and vibrancy of Mediterranean Monaco drawing attention to environmentally sustainable solutions to enhance urban living. Roof space, vertical walls and alternative energy sources combine to provide a green way of living ideal for busy urban spaces.

Reclaimed material features in many gardens with the stunning Cotswold stone walling and paving in ‘The Daily Telegraph Garden’ showing that reclaimed materials can still be breathtakingly beautiful, while recycled wood planks, wind turbines and galvanized containers to collect water are also on show at Chelsea this year.

This year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show takes place 24-28 May 2011.

Garden Design Dilemmas - Questions you will wish you asked

Just as you might invite an architect in to provide advice on how to make the best use of the area inside your house, it makes sense to bring in a Garden Designer to gain their professional insight on how to maximise your outdoor living accommodation.
 
To many, a Garden Designer is responsible for artistic and creative input resulting in the origination of a stunning, designer inspired, perfectly styled garden. And whilst this is one aspect of their job, it is most certainly not the only role of the Garden Designer. In addition to delivering this creative flair and visionary thinking, a Garden Designer is there to guide you on a number of practical issues to ensure the final design delivers the functional as well as aesthetic benefits to suit you / your family’s lifestyle.
At the heart of any well thought out garden design is an honest and open dialogue with the client at the initial consultation stage. Most reputable designers will have a standard questionnaire which they ask clients to complete in advance of the first meeting. This will help to establish some of the key issues / priorities for the garden and may include:

• Agreeing the main functional requirements for the outdoor space eg Entertaining? Rest and relaxation? Play area? Grow your own zone?
• Agreeing the preferred style of garden eg contemporary, minimalist, traditional cottage etc
• Identifying the main problems with the existing design eg limited shade, need to create boundaries between different zones of the garden, difficult sloping aspect etc
• Identifying motivating influences on choice of garden eg desire to be environmentally friendly, desire to incorporate certain style of planting etc
• Identify a broad operating budget

These are just some of the obvious questions that you might be asked to consider but an experienced designer will be able to provide expert counsel on a number of specific issues. Below are some more unusual design dilemmas that you might encounter:

• Looking for a formal, sunken, concrete lined, fish pond? Always check out the water table of the garden. In some instances it may be necessary to raise the fish pond to avoid the water pressure present in the ground causing the concrete lining to "pop" and fail

• Want a lushly planted Cottage garden but live in an area which is plagued with rabbits? Avoid the unnecessary additional cost of expensive rabbit proof fencing by planting a careful selection of plants that repel rabbits (incl. Acanthus, Agapanthus, Alliums & Delphiniums)
• Need to introduce a substantial boundary into a country garden but worried about obscuring the view? Try installing a ha-ha, a boundary barrier (usually a semi-ditch and a wall) which does not block out the surrounding landscape
• Got a small garden but needing to maximise the limited available space? Try painting the boundary fence matt black with planting in front of it to give the illusion of a larger outdoor space
• Interested in installing a pale cream Travertine natural stone terrace to the back of your property? If the garden is south facing, be aware that on a sunny day the glare from the paving will prove very uncomfortable, if not blinding. Consider an alternative choice of paving!
• Want an old drive or patio removed and replaced? Don’t incur additional expense by having the old patio ripped up and taken away. You can leave the existing patio/drive in situ and use it as a sub base for the new paving

So identifying the right garden designer is not just about reviewing a portfolio of gorgeous inspirational designs! For a national brand with proven design expertise balanced with reliable ‘can do’ counsel, try the award winning Lime Orchard garden design team. We provide an initial consultation with a member of the team to discuss your garden project, free of charge. From there it's a simple process to achieving the garden of your dreams!

Find out more about Lime Orchard garden design here!

Win a Glossy Garden Design Book

We’re giving away a copy of the newly published fantastic ‘1000 Designs for the Garden and Where to Find Them’ by Geraldine & Ian Rudge. This is a beautiful glossy coffee table book depicting, as the title suggests, stunning photos of 1000 dramatic garden designs for you to admire (and hopefully inspire).

Don’t forget to check out the ‘Marshalls Garden that Kids Really Want’ (pictured), designed by our very own Garden Design Director, Ian Dexter. To enter simply email your name and postal address to enquiries@limeorchard.co.uk with 'Easter Prize Draw' in the subject line and one lucky winner will be drawn out of a hat. The winner will be notified by 6th May 2011.



Call us on 0845 539 1467 (local rate) or visit www.limeorchard.co.uk

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.