Following a survey indicating that an increased number of people chose to carry out renovations in their homes in 2022, with outdoor areas being the most popular for spend in the South West, RGB Building Supplies is giving advice on budget-friendly improvements people can make in their gardens this spring.
The research, carried out by consumer spending experts at money.co.uk for its annual Renovation Nation Report1, found that from the 2,000 people surveyed, just over 88% indicated they had spent money on home renovations within the previous 12 months. This is an increase of 14%...
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...
The fur will be flying, in a good way, at one of Devon’s most-loved gardening events.
The Secret Gardens of Topsham, being held on June 11th, is a hugely popular event with residents and also draws hundreds of people to the town, taking advantage of a rare opportunity to see a wide range of hidden gem gardens.
These are usually private but their owners have agreed to throw open their doors to visitors for just five hours.
Nell and Marcus Parry’s walled garden in the centre of town is completely invisible to passers-by but will be one of 12 on display this year....
Across Devon, National Trust places are full of warmth as the trees slowly turn to red, orange and gold, enjoy crisp walks with family and friends and steaming cups of hot chocolate. There’s lots on offer this season, from garden tours and fashion exhibitions to exploring history and showcasing nature.
What’s more, every time you experience a National Trust day out, you help care for these special places for future generations
Please join us for the Alphington Garden Trail, taking place on Sunday 17th July, with five gardens and the Ide Lane Allotments opening to the public to raise funds for Rainbow Living.
Combined admission: adults £5 and under 16s free for entrance to all venues. Tickets can be purchased at any garden entrance via cash or card at some venues – please see poster for details. We’ll be selling home-made jams and marmalades + refreshments at some gardens.
HOME and garden retailer wilko is backing charity calls for the nation to get their hands dirty ahead of the heatwave in order to help migrating and endangered birds, who will struggle to build their nests while temperatures soar.
The earlier than expected arrival of very hot weather may be fun for families but sadly can impact the nation’s feathered friends, as the heat will harden the ground and leave birds such as house martins, swifts and swallows without enough sludge to build their nests and stay safe.
These bird species have rapidly fallen in numbers and charities...
The RSPB is calling for everyone in the South West to join the wildlife-planting revolution after a YouGov survey revealed that three quarters (78%) of people are now doing at least something in their garden or outside space to help wildlife (with 23% trying a lot, 28% trying a fair amount, and 27% trying a little).
The survey, commissioned by the RSPB as part of their Nature on Your Doorstep campaign, also revealed the wide range of ways that people in the South West are already gardening with wildlife in mind – 47% consider how a plant can benefit pollinators when choosing what...
As autumn approaches, gardeners are being given advice on how to attract and protect wildlife.
Experts at GardeningExpress.co.uk have put together their tips on how to attract wildlife including birds and hedgehogs to your garden as the temperature begins to drop.
As autumn approaches, many wildlife species will be looking for a place to stay and hibernate as the cold months pass.
Gardens across the country will be acting as a home and there are small things that gardeners can do to help attract wildlife and provide them with a safe space.
The number of nature lovers who took part in the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch soared to a million people this winter after a year of lockdown restrictions saw people turn to nature for comfort.
Now in its 42nd year, the Big Garden Birdwatch is a chance for people of all ages to count the number of birds that visit their garden, helping the RSPB build up a picture of how birds are faring. This year, over a million people across the country took part counting 17 million birds, with over 28,800 taking part across Devon.
Hopes were raised for a bumper participation year after...
A Tiverton boarding school has purchased a new fleet of grounds equipment after securing a six-figure funding package from HSBC UK as part of a wider overhaul of the grounds within the school’s 120-acre site.
Blundell’s School switched banks to HSBC UK in October 2020 and has used additional funding from the bank to purchase a fleet of high-quality grounds equipment, including tractors, a four-meter-long mower and a turf conditioner. Head Groundsman Graham Cox, who joined Blundell’s last January, has seen improvements on many fronts thanks to the new equipment.
