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 

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

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 -

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!

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.

Staycation - here to stay?

With the amazing weather that we’ve been experiencing over the last couple of months, combined with the aftermath of the much debated credit crunch, the ‘staycation’ seems set to … stay!.
So rather than rushing around cashing in your sterling for euros, making holiday cover arrangements for the pets – and buying all those last minute travel essentials, why not make better use of your time and money by investing in your outdoor space?

Think how much pleasure you and your family will get from a revamped garden – certainly more than the short and sweet two weeks enjoyment derived from on the average summer holiday. And don’t forget any improvements made in the garden will not only enhance your family’s ability to spend more time in the outdoor room, it will also add value to your property.

According to popular web site UpMyStreet.com, a well-kept garden is a valuable asset with 73% of UpMyStreet users preferring a property with a garden than one with a guest room and 8 out of 10 people saying they were willing to a pay a premium for a property with a garden (according to Halifax, buyers are willing to pay a £10,000 premium to secure a property with a garden).

And if you needed any further persuasion regarding the merits of putting your hard earned cash into your outdoor space rather than towards a trip overseas, think about the positive impact you will contributing to our natural environment, by - quite literally - going green!

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!

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.

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

Are You Sitting Comfortably?

With the cost of living rising at its fastest pace for two years, as inflation hit 4% in January, many homeowners will be looking at tightening the purse strings and dispensing with the annual summer trip abroad. If your traditional two week break is looking likely to be spent at home, then make it a holiday to be remembered by investing time now to get your garden get-away in ship shape condition.
Hopefully – weather permitting – you’ll be able to sample the delights of UK alfresco living so it is worth reviewing your outdoor dining facilities now if you want to be ready to enjoy ‘your very own place’ in the sun:

• Does your garden offer a dedicated dining area which can easily accommodate your outside garden furniture?
• Does the area offer sufficient shade from the midday sun, so diners can sit (safely) and comfortably outside for extended periods of time?
• Is there easy access to power in your outdoor dining zone, so that barbecues and lighting can easily be activated without having to rely on hazardous extension leads?
• Does the garden furniture do the garden justice? Is it in dire need of a style update?
• Is the area lacking in privacy? Too noisy or simply too exposed? It might be time to build in some additional shelter to create a more intimate dining spot

For the professional low down on how to create the ultimate outdoor dining area for your garden, contact our garden design team on 0845 5391467 or visit www.limeorchard.co.uk for further details.

---

What's Hot for 2011

Well the current year is not even over but pundits are already out there making their predictions regarding the anticipated top garden related trends for 2011. 

The Garden Media Group (GMG) has identified a new umbrella theme titled ‘Gardening with a Purpose.’ Analysts are saying this ‘purpose’ may vary – involving anything from growing fruit trees and vegetables to feed the family, to maintaining garden planters and flowerbeds in communal public spaces But the overall trend will be that gardening will have some “greater” function over and above creating aesthetically pleasing outdoor spaces.The last 12 months has seen a sharp increase in the number of people with gardens in their back or front yards and an even larger increase in the amount of community gardens or allotments established, so all the signs are there that growing food for the table is already on the increase.
 

Market research specialist Mintel, backs this prediction up saying that modern city dwellers are exhibiting a growing love of gardening and a need for nature.

With fresh, organic produce still economically out of reach for the masses, the general public is finding alternative means to bring healthy home. In the US, 26% of internet users purchased vegetable seeds in the past year, 19% bought vegetable/flower garden fertilizer and 27% like to grow vegetables at home. While in the UK, 1 in 5 consumers now grow their own fruit & vegetables and the UK Allotment waiting list has grown 20% in 2010.

Another suggested gardening trend for 2011 is the arrival of ‘vertical gardens’ (illustrated here) which relates to the growing popularity of climbing plants, especially in outdoor rooms which have space limitations. These plants can be used tactically to provide privacy, screen eyesores, and draw the eye upward to create the illusion of space.

Lime Orchard will keep you posted on any new trends as and when we hear about them!

Get Garden Fit!

Most of us feel like we’ve put in a good day’s work, after gardening for hours on end. But can gardening really be considered as good exercise? According to the University of Virginia, gardening rates up there with other moderate to strenuous forms of exercise, like walking and bicycling. Naturally, this will all depend on what gardening task you are doing and for how long. Like any other form of exercise, you have to be active for at least 30 minutes to see a direct benefit. Although you may not always realize it, while enjoying yourself in the garden, you are also working all the major muscle groups: legs, buttocks, arms, shoulders, neck, back and abdomen. Gardening tasks that use these muscles build strength and burn calories.

Besides the exertion involved, gardening has other pluses that make it a good means of exercise and calorie burning. There can be a great deal of stretching involved with gardening, like reaching for weeds or tall branches, bending to plant and extending a rake. Lifting bags of mulch, pushing wheelbarrows and shoveling all provide resistance training similar to weight lifting, which leads to healthier bones and joints. Yet while doing all this, there is minimal jarring and stress on the body, unlike aerobics or jogging.

And if you want to shed some pounds to prepare for the potential feasting frenzy that is Christmas, take note of the following research from Iowa State University, which shows how some of the more strenuous gardening tasks can really burn calories.

• Digging Holes - Men: 197 calories, Women: 150 calories
• Planting - Men: 177 calories, Women: 135 calories
• Weeding - Men: 157 calories, Women: 156 calories

In addition, further research shows that gardening for just 30 minutes daily will help:

• Increase flexibility
• Strengthen joints
• Decrease blood pressure and cholesterol levels
• Lower your risk for diabetes
• Slow osteoporosis

So if you are planning to tuck into mountains of mince pies and tones of turkey , - you know exactly what to do if you want to avoid starting 2011 with an uncomfortably tight waistband!!

Join the Revolution!

And we are not talking the Grow Your Own revolution this time! According to Smarta – ‘the ultimate advice and networking resource for anyone starting and running a small business’ – ‘the chicest, most bang-on trend for office space this season is …the humble garden shed”.

Shedworking is fast becoming a national phenomenon with many home workers choosing to locate their business premises in the garden. So if one of your new year resolutions is to start your own business, or even to try and maintain your current role but working from home, consider the following benefits of a garden office:

• free from the disruption and distraction of the traditional office, working from a dedicated garden office you are likely to be more productive and focussed
• cutting out the daily commute means that you get to spend more time actually working and less time wasting precious hours sitting in traffic or on a crowded train
• no more costly train fares or petrol expenses – AND a reduced food bill as eating from home is far cheaper than buying lunch from your local sandwich bar
• opportunity for parents to embrace flexible working patterns – the time you save on travelling to and from work can be put to better use doing the school run / attending children’s school events
• psychologically you are likely to perform better without the stress associated with travelling to and from work, and the natural garden landscape provides a comforting environment and an enhanced sense of work / life balance
• a good garden studio can add up to 5% to the value of your property, and works well as a selling point in competitive markets

Why not contact Lime Orchard to discuss how a home office can be blended into our garden landscape? .

Remember, Remember the 5th of November

Many families still choose to celebrate Bonfire Night at home in the privacy of their own garden.  However, according to Environmental Protection UK , lighting up a bonfire should not be something that is done without careful thought and consideration for the environment.  Burning garden waste produces smoke – especially if the waste is green or damp. 

This will emit harmful pollutants including particles and dioxins causing air pollution.  Burning plastic, rubber or painted materials is even worse, since noxious fumes are created which can give off a range of poisonous compounds.  Air pollution can have damaging health effects, and people with existing health problems are especially vulnerable, e.g. asthmatics, bronchitis sufferers, people with heart conditions, children and the elderly.  In addition smoke, smuts and smell from bonfires have long been a source of a significant number of complaints to local authorities every year. Smoke prevents neighbours from enjoying their gardens, opening windows or hanging washing out, and reduces visibility in the neighbourhood and on roads. 

Allotments near homes can cause problems if plot holders persistently burn green waste, and leave fires smouldering. And of course there are important safety issues to consider, fire can spread to fences or buildings and scorch trees and plants. Exploding bottles and cans are a hazard when rubbish is burned. Finally piles of garden waste are often used as a refuge by animals, so look out for hibernating wildlife and sleeping pets before any matches are struck. 

 That said, and contrary to popular belief there are no specific byelaws prohibiting garden bonfires or specifying times they can be lit.  However, this is not a license for indiscriminate burning!  Here are some tips on how to enjoy a safe bonfire this Guy Fawkes!

 -         Warn your neighbours – they are much less likely to complain if you tell them in advance that you are planning a bonfire-

-         Only burn dry material

-         Never burn household rubbish, rubber tyres or anything containing plastic, foam or paint

-         Avoid lighting a fire in unsuitable weather conditions – smoke hangs in the air on damp, still days. If it is too windy, smoke blows into neighbours' gardens and windows and across roads

-         Avoid burning when air pollution levels in your area are high or very high. You can check air quality on 0800 556677 or at www.airquality.co.uk

-         Keep your fire away from trees, fences and buildings

-         Never use oil, petrol or methylated spirits to light a fire – you could damage yourself as well as the environment

Style Counsel for the Garden

Having your own personal wardrobe or colour consultant - – even your own personal interiors consultant have all become part and parcel of day to day living for our generation.  Less familiar perhaps is the realisation that now you can apply that all important ‘professional styling expertise’ to your home’s exterior living space – the garden!

Speaking to a ‘garden stylist’ or garden designer will not only help to deliver the outdoor room of your dreams, it can also represent excellent value for money.  For most people, the definition of a garden designer is someone who creates a detailed plan complete with planting recommendations, which will result in a total garden make-over.  But whilst this is clearly a worthwhile investment, to many it is simply not an option, for a variety of reasons ranging from the overall cost of such a project, the imminent likelihood of a move or a feeling that you are merely improving a rented property for the landlord’s benefit. That said, the desire to spend time in a sleek and immaculately styled outdoor room dictates that even if you are not in the market for  a complete re-design of the garden, you may still a need access to some immediate measures which can enhance your enjoyment of  the unrivalled advantages of garden living.

A professional garden stylist can offer a fresh new perspective on your outdoor living zone, bringing a host of inspirational styling ideas all designed to offer designer kudos and most important of all - instant gratification! Delivering a splash of bold colour to a wall, adding a selection of super chic garden accessories, updating  your garden furniture, creating a strong focal point with a smart water feature – these are just some of the suggestions that can transform a dull outside space into an inviting outdoor haven!

For more details of Lime Orchard’s Garden Stylist services:

Call us on 0845 5391467 or visit www.limeorchard.co.uk

Star Sign Style...

Expert astrologer Russell Grant has used his unique powers to reveal what your garden says about you. The famous TV horoscoper has given his insight into what garden style is best suited to your individual star sign.

So for a full low down on the most harmonious choice of outdoor space according to your birth date read on …

Aries – You might put a lot of thought into the creation of your garden but you won’t want to feel committed to having to put constant and regular effort into looking after it

Taurus – You love nature and your garden is likely to be a wildlife haven, designed especially to attract a range of wildlife visitors

Gemini – Young at heart, the Gemini will have gnomes and leprechauns hiding behind bushes and animal statues in the most unexpected places

Cancer – There’s something homely and ancient about the Cancerian’s garden. It will feel as if it has been established for years, even if it was designed fairly recently

Leo – The Leo’s garden is likely to be full of colour and creativity. In the Spring, they will introduce new plants, enjoying the anticipation of what they might sprout into

Virgo – This is one of the earth signs and these people love nature but there is also a perfectionist side to their nature that suggests they prefer to see things tidy and in control

Libra – Libra loves beauty in all forms and there will be nothing ugly or overgrown here but there will be features that will provide year-round interest

Scorpio – The Scorpio loves perfection and that’s why there’s always something tidy and picture-perfect about their garden

Sagittarius – Just as the Sagittarian hates to be tamed or subdued, their gardens will be spacious and informal

Capricorn – There is likely to be a strong sense of traditional landscaping in the Capricorn’s garden

Aquarius – Rather than going for anything traditionalist or formal, Aquarius will delight in deconstructing old garden designs and ideas to experiment with new ones

Pisces – The Pisces garden will reflect their love of peace and tranquility. It will be a serene place where people will feel comfortable and at ease

Personally, we think you might be better off talking to the garden professionals to find out what type of garden is best suited to you and your family!