gardening

Toby’s Garden Festival’s 10th Anniversary: A Two Day Gardening Extravaganza

Celebrating its 10th anniversary, Toby’s Garden Festival yet again promises two days of delight, celebration and inspiration for gardeners and lovers of the great outdoors, on the stunning grounds of Powderham Castle, near Exeter. Hosted by BBC Two Gardeners' World presenter Toby Buckland, on Friday 3rd and Saturday 4th May, the family friendly two day extravaganza boasts an impressive programme full of free gardening and food and drink talks, demonstrations, tastings and workshops plus live music.

Headlining Toby’s Garden Festival this year alongside Toby, are fellow BBC Two...

Kickstart spring at Toby's Garden Festival

Now in its 9th year, Toby’s Garden Festival, hosted by BBC gardener Toby Buckland, is an unmissable two days for gardeners and foodies, with over 160 exhibitors, including award-winning Chelsea Flower Show plant nurseries, plus art and craft, garden furniture, outdoor kitchens and buildings. New for 2023 is the Food Drink Devon Market showcasing local producers, with talks and tastings on wine, cider, cheese and more, hosted by The Daily Telegraph’s wine guru, Susy Atkins, and food writer Mark Diacono of Otter Farm. Festival sponsor Wickham’s will be offering free wine tastings, with a...

Garden expert Joe Swift to make appearance at Devon County Show 2023

Those visiting Devon County Show on Friday 19th May will be able to pick up some gardening design ideas from gardening expert Joe Swift, who will be making an appearance at the Show for the first time.

Just in case there is anyone in the world who hasn’t heard of Joe, he is, of course, a familiar face on gardening themed TV programmes, having been a regular presenter on BBC Gardeners World since 1998.

Joe also anchors The BBC coverage of The Chelsea Flower show and other RHS shows and has presented several gardening series over the years. He also writes a weekly for the...

It's Lettuces, Beetroot and Coriander on the menu this August

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Fri, 08/14/2020 - 8:06pm

Suttons Seeds, the long-established supplier of seeds, bulbs, and other horticultural products, today released its figures of seed sales during lockdown (March 23rd to July 4th 2020 inclusive). The data shows that Brits sowed a staggering 100 million lettuces, 25 million herbs and over 15 million beetroot seeds during lockdown! Suttons seeds sales saw growth of 2,500% on some days during lockdown, with nearly 80% of all seed packets sold during lockdown being vegetable seeds. With traditional gardeners typically purchasing their seeds early in the year, these figures highlight how the...

Spending time in the garden linked to better health and wellbeing

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Wed, 05/06/2020 - 3:32pm

Spending time in the garden is linked to similar benefits for health and wellbeing as living in wealthy areas, according to a new large-scale study.

Research conducted by the University of Exeter and the Royal Horticultural Society charity, published in Elsevier’s Landscape and Urban Planning , analysed data from nearly 8,000 people collected by Natural England between 2009 and 2016. The research, conducted with funding from Innovate UK and NIHR, found that people who spend time in the garden are significantly more likely to report general good health, higher psychological...

New customers allowed to join garden waste scheme

People in Exeter can sign up once again for the City Council’s Garden Waste Collection Scheme.

The Council had stopped new customers signing up for the scheme at the beginning of the Coronavirus outbreak. However it has now lifted the suspension and is taking on new customers.

Gardeners can choose either a 140 litre brown bin for £37.15 a year or a 240 litre bin for £48.80. Alternatively a bundle of five biodegradable sacks costs £11.

Things that can be put in the bin are:

  • flowers and plants
  • grass cuttings
  • leaves and bark
  • ...

Ten fragrant gardening gifts for Mothers

Authored by Marc Astley
Posted: Sat, 03/14/2020 - 8:35pm

So many plants offer fantastic scents – the sweet headiness of lily-of-the-valley in spring, the strong perfume of roses, mock orange and lilies through summer.

From shrubs whose scent is carried in the wind and can be enjoyed out on the patio, to houseplants that fill a room with fragrance, along with scented balms, oils and candles aimed at gardeners, your mum can inhale the joy of her garden with a fragrant Mother’s Day gift.

Here are some of the most perfumed offerings to buy now… Fragrant gifts for Mother's Day

The gardens at Holcombe Rogus

Hospiscare’s Open Gardens shows off Devon’s hidden treasures

Authored by Hospiscare
Posted: Mon, 05/13/2019 - 10:22am

This year will once again see Hospiscare teaming up with local residents who are gladly opening their gardens in support of what is now a favourite staple in the charity’s calendar. This year, Hospiscare Open Gardens is entering its fifteenth year and to date has raised the awe inspiring amount of £227,000. This is thanks to the gardeners who work tirelessly caring for their outdoor spaces, the visitors who turn out in force to marvel at these treasured lands and the friends, family and volunteers who come together to make it all possible.

2018 was a record breaking year for the...

Redrow Homes supports community land rejuvenation project

Authored by PF
Posted: Thu, 09/27/2018 - 10:36am

Redrow Homes is working in partnership with the local council and community in Pinhoe, Exeter to revamp a derelict patch of land into a beautiful landscaped space.

The area is located near to Redrow’s Saxon Brook development and has been empty since a popular pub was demolished.

On learning that Redrow had a development in the area, Exeter City Council reached out to the award-winning housebuilder. Redrow was immediately keen to be involved in the rejuvenation of the community’s land surrounding Saxon Brook.

The project is well underway, and the team involved have...

The Need to Feed: Broadclyst Community Garden joins nationwide initiative to alleviate food poverty crisis

With an estimated three million children at risk of being hungry during the school holidays in the UK this summer, and as food bank usage is reportedly hitting record highs, Broadclyst Community Garden has joined a nationwide initiative to grow and donate fresh fruit and vegetables to those in need. The charitable initiative sees gardening brand Miracle-Gro connect with FoodCycle projects across the country, including Exeter, to support those at risk of food poverty and social isolation. With the long-term aim to alleviate the nation’s food poverty crisis, the partnership hopes to kick-...

Pages