Wales Tourism and Visit Planning

Hips need more time Hips prove popular His Lordship s Roof Garden Historic Flower Pictures Discovered Historic Garden Home For Sale Historic Garden Restoration Historic Garden Row Historic Marshland Saved Historic Prospect Preserved For a Posy holiday in wales

HMP Leyhill Returns to Chelsea

Holker Hall Garden Festival Home and garden plans on the backburner Homeowners get building insurance wrong Homeowners going nowhere Homeowners need better protection from floods Homeowners beware garden furniture thieves Homeowners fall back on equity holiday wales

Insects in Sex Change Shock

Insights into Bird Song Insurance should be a priority Insurance covers should be checked regularly Insurers call for flood action Insurers Tell Gardeners to Get Geese Irish Garden Saved From Road Irish Garden to Commemorate Princess Diana cottage holiday in wales

Researching Plants

Residents victorious in garden clash Respect Wildflowers Retailers want action Return of Bill and Ben Return of the Barn Owl Return of the Bittern Return of the Garden Gnome Liberation Front Return of the Large Copper Return to sensible gardens caravan holiday in wales

Gardening Gifts Pet Products Innovations / New Products Clearance: 50% OFF Earn ipoints on all your purchases Ultimate green garden on exhibit at the NEC

The Grand Designs Live exhibit at the NEC in Birmingham will play host to the ultimate green garden at the beginning of next month. The space, designed by the Eden Project and Christian Aid, features an array of eco-friendly items including renewable energy devices and furniture made from recycled materials. camping holiday wales

Water butts can complement garden accessories

With the summer come shed break-ins 007 At Stowe 8th Wonder of the World A Blast for Birds A dry future in store for the UK A Garden Beyond Price A garden that stimulates the senses A Rattlingly Good Apple A walk on the wildlife side accommodation holiday wales

Brit experts reach Congo to study rare plants: UK gardening tips advice on Brit experts reach Congo to study rare plants : Unbeatable Prices and rapid UK delivery from Greenfingers.com, the UK s leading online Gardening store Proposals to Protect Wildlife

Pubs solar-panel improvements under threat Pupils tackle old school gardening product Python s lumberjack to plant tree in Sheffield Question Time Immortalised Quiet Please! Racing Pigeon Takes It Easy Radio show to examine north-south gardening differences holiday last minute wales

Year Round Mowing

York centre set for water-recycling initiative Yorkshire Garden to Close Yorkshire Gardens Reprieved Youngsters plant edible garden Zero carbon new homes target Zimbabwean Sculptures at Kew Subscribe to receive special offers Or Log on here catering holiday self wales

Help hedgehogs back into the back garden Help hedgehogs back into the back garden: UK gardening tips advice on Help hedgehogs back into the back garden : Unbeatable Prices and rapid UK delivery from Greenfingers.com, the UK s leading online Gardening store Help, hedgehogs, back, into, the, back, garden, UK, gardening, tips, advice, Help, hedgehogs, back, into, the, back, garden Gardening Gifts Pet Products Innovations / New Products Clearance: 50% OFF Earn ipoints on all your purchases Help hedgehogs back into the back garden

The British Hedgehog Preservation Society (BHPS) and AHS Direct are hoping to keep the dwindling levels of hedgehogs in UK gardens up, with their Help a Hedgehog Campaign. holiday wales walking

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The BHPS claim that, without help, the spiky wonders may become extinct within the next 18 years. Commenting on the ways in which gardeners can prevent the decline of the prickly beasts, Jackie Smyth of AHS said: We want everyone to think about the hedgehog, to exercise care when gardening, to check long grass before cutting, inspect pampas grass and bonfires before lighting, check compost before turning, move rubbish up out of their reach and offer them a safe place to hibernate in the winter. family holiday wales

The Tongass forest, like others along the western coastal areas of north America, is home to vast areas covered with some of the most majestic trees in the world, including the largest, the giant sequoia and redwood, spruce and hemlock. Seeds of the trees were first introduced to Britain from these areas during the 19th century. holiday riding wales

As well as the broader goal of landscape conservation, perhaps President Clinton s decision was partly influenced by the fascination aroused on a previous visit to California when he was shown how the giant sequoia tree grows over a period of hundreds of years from a tiny seed. adventure holiday wales

Domes for MP s Garden UK Greenfingers Domes for MP s Garden: UK gardening tips advice on Domes for MP s Garden Domes for MP s Garden

Ex-Deputy Prime Minister Michael Heseltine is reported to have commissioned 16 miniature domes for his magnificent garden at Thenford Hall in Northamptonshire. The Tory MP, who is standing down from his seat at the next election, was one of the Millennium Dome most vocal supporters, a connection not lost on the Mail on Sunday today. holiday park south wales

These smaller versions will be used to house a range of exotic birds and are just one element of a major -million revamp of Michael Heseltine estate. Made of wood, steel, glass and, in some cases, decorated with an extra layer of copper, the custom-made aviaries will cost around, 000 each. cottage holiday wales

Thenford Hall is already remarkable for its arboretum, which features 3, 500 trees from around the world, and is the biggest of its kind in Europe. It is apparently known as Tarzan Jungle by local residents. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the Mail reports that the MP is now spending considerably more time on his garden than on politics... holiday in wales

Hedge Bill in Parliament UK Greenfingers Hedge Bill in Parliament: UK gardening tips advice on Hedge Bill in Parliament Hedge Bill in Parliament

Recent decades have seen a marked increase in disputes between neighbours arising from fast-growing Leylandii hedges. Last year one such argument ended in death, when a retired civil servant was shot by his neighbour. holiday wales

This week, Tory MP John Taylor hopes to bring an end to these rows when he presents a bill to Parliament that will allow councils to intervene in disputes over hedges if and when ormal courtesy has failed cottage holiday in wales

The bill has the support of Hedgeline, an organization set up by Michael Jones, who spent 25 years battling to reduce the height of his neighbour Leylandii. It stands a good chance of becoming law, although, as the Independent on Sunday points out, Parliamentary time is limited in this election year. caravan holiday in wales

Evolution Warning UK Greenfingers Evolution Warning: UK gardening tips advice on Evolution Warning Evolution Warning

Research being carried out in the Negev desert is providing scientists with fascinating insights into the ongoing process of evolution. The study of numerous bird species in the area found them to be evolving at unusually fast rates. camping holiday wales

Much of the reason for this is ascribed to the high levels of biodiversity in the Negev (which means that there is considerable genetic variety available for the creation of new species), and to its extremely changeable environmental conditions (to which the birds must adapt). Dr Salit Kark, who is conducting the research, believes that ven if the overall numbers are not high, this is a region in which speciation (the creation of new species) could take place. br accommodation holiday wales

Such studies are particularly relevant now, points out an article in The Times, because man is causing the extinction of huge numbers of natural species through the destruction of environments like rainforests, wetlands and coral reefs. It quotes Dr Norman Myers, fellow of Green College, Oxford, who believes that the Earth is going through a period of mass extinction: he current crisis will eliminate large numbers of species and reduce the ability of the remaining species to recover and generate new species. br holiday last minute wales

Despite evidence that the process of evolution may be speeding up and creating new species, Dr Myers believes this cannot keep pace with the number of species becoming extinct. In consequence, genetic variety will decrease, making the creation of new species less and less likely, and allowing pests and weeds to increasingly predominate. catering holiday self wales

As Dr Kark states: eople think evolution is about the past, but it a live thing, it going on al the time. And we must think about the future of evolution now. We have been warned. holiday wales walking

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HMP Leyhill Returns to Chelsea UK Greenfingers HMP Leyhill Returns to Chelsea: UK gardening tips advice on HMP Leyhill Returns to Chelsea HMP Leyhill Returns to Chelsea

The open prison at Leyhill is set to make a stunning return to the Chelsea Flower Show in 2001, with the largest show garden ever staged there. The team of prisoners, under the guidance of Jeff Goundrill, created one of the most popular gardens at Chelsea last year. Entitled cime the Healer it showed the natural reclaiming by plants of an industrial site dug out by man. holiday riding wales

They e turned the theme on its head this year, designing a garden that has been inspired by the Eden Project in Cornwall. At its centre will be a 12-metre biosphere housing tropical rainforest flora, as well as a waterfall and pool. The area around the sphere will be terraced to imitate the quarried site of the Eden Project, each terrace being planted with different crops from around the world. adventure holiday wales

Work has already begun on this huge undertaking. lants for the rainforest are being brought on in the greenhouses at the moment, says Jeff Goundrill, nd I am hoping that the orchids we have in cold storage will be in flower for the show. Planting for the project started last October and we are still sowing seed to be grown on for May. br holiday park south wales

Railtrack Introduces Hawks to Stations UK Greenfingers Railtrack Introduces Hawks to Stations: UK gardening tips advice on Railtrack Introduces Hawks to Stations Railtrack Introduces Hawks to Stations

Railtrack has made regular appearances in the Greenfingers news pages over the months. First it was the company s plans to use a mixture of lemon and orange juice to keep leaves from clogging up the lines. Then came controversy with the announcement that trees would be felled, again to prevent train delays caused by wet leaves. cottage holiday wales

Seasonal citrus shades for summer Second warmest winter recorded Serious Flower Shows Shooting Star Show Show For The Stars Simple steps can save energy Small Gardens at Chelsea Smelly flower pulls in punters Snow for Sale holiday in wales

Wildflower Paradise for Sale

Wildflowers Make Farming Profitable Wildlife at Number 10 Wildlife Exhibition Wildlife Sites Destroyed Wildlife Survey Wildlife Week Winter Garden for Sheffield Winter is second hottest on record Witch hazel recommended for spring colour holiday wales

Not So Healthy Soya

Ever since the beginnings of alternative medicine and healthy eating, soya has been up there in the forefront of recommendations as the ideal alternative to all sorts of health-endangering ingredients: caffeine, dairy products and gluten for a start. cottage holiday in wales

Now, however, the soya bean, which has enjoyed such a dramatic rise in demand, is under threat according to the Observer. Far from its reputation for reducing the dangers of, for instance, cancer and cholesterol, it is now accused of containing toxic chemicals, unacceptable levels of oestrogen - especially for baby foods where it is so prevalent, and of enhancing the dangers of mineral deficiency in the normal diet. caravan holiday in wales

At the same time, one of the biggest marketing claims in favour of soya, that it must be good for you because the Japanese eat large quantities and have low rates of cancer, is cast in doubt by evidence that suggests the Japanese do not actually consume that much soya. camping holiday wales

There is clearly much at stake in the argument: a massive international agricultural and food industry against a powerful section of the health lobby and the possibility of widespread public concern. accommodation holiday wales

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Bring the Mediterranean to your garden

Check insurance covers garden furniture Dig For Victory Broadcaster Dies Get composting this Mother s Day Insure garden valuables Invest in eco-friendly garden accessories Keep outdoor furniture in peak condition Keep outdoor items as good as new catering holiday self wales

Dry-stone Wall Thefts UK Greenfingers Dry-stone Wall Thefts: UK gardening tips advice on Dry-stone Wall Thefts Dry-stone Wall Thefts

The current fashion for garden landscaping in TV makeover shows is being blamed for the significant increase in the theft of dry-stone walls from England Peak District. According to the Independent, foresters have found hundreds of metres of wall missing over the last six months, and cars have been spotted, laden down with stones. holiday wales walking

The walls are a distinctive feature of the area, and are made of layers of local sandstone, with curved vopings vertically lining the top. The copings are most popular with the thieves and are the hardest to replace. In an effort to protect the walls, new copings are being fixed in place with mortar. family holiday wales

Interviewed in the Independent, forester Albin Smith doesn hold any one TV show responsible but says, The more coverage of that kind there is, it quite possible people want the stuff more and may not know where to get it or mightn want to pay for it. holiday riding wales

Housing Scheme for Mice UK Greenfingers Housing Scheme for Mice: UK gardening tips advice on Housing Scheme for Mice Housing Scheme for Mice

The Severn Trent water authority has devised an ingenious way of housing voles and mice in a wildlife area that has yet to establish itself, reports the Daily Mail. Fifty workmen s old leather boots have been spread across the field and will be lived in by the mammals until the grasses and wildflowers that are their natural habitat have grown. The boots will be left in place to slowly biodegrade. adventure holiday wales

The voles and mice are being reintroduced as part of a scheme to attract birds of prey back to the area, near Nottingham. holiday park south wales

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Global Warming Warning UK Greenfingers Global Warming Warning: UK gardening tips advice on Global Warming Warning Global Warming Warning

A report released by the World Wildlife Foundation (WWF) today warns that, by the end of the century, up to a third of plant and animal habitats could be drastically altered by global warming. holiday in wales

In those northern areas most affected, up to 70% of habitat could be lost. In some places, plants would need to move ten times faster than they did during the last ice age merely to survive, said Adam Markham, co-author of the report. It is likely that global warming will mean extinction for some plants and animals. holiday wales

The report predictions are based on an estimate that levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere will increase two-fold from pre-industrial levels. The WWF argues that the effects of the inefficient uses of coal, oil and gas are already being seen, with birds like Scotland great tit breeding earlier in the year and butterflies ranging further north. cottage holiday in wales

Commenting on the report findings, Jennifer Morgan, director of WWF Climate Change Campaign, said, This is a wake-up call to world leaders if they do not act to stop global warning, wildlife around the globe may suffer the consequences. caravan holiday in wales

Glasshouses Open

This weekend the glasshouses of Wimpole Hall in Cambridgeshire will open to the public for the first time in more than 50 years. Designed by Sir John Soane and built in 1794, these impressive structures were destroyed by a bomb in the Second World War. camping holiday wales

A project to restore the 18th-century Hall s Walled Garden was set in motion in 1997 and necessitated considerable research amongst the Hall s archives, as well as the John Soane s Museum. The discovery of Sir John s original drawings enabled work to begin, with glass being brought over from Poland and wood from Canada. accommodation holiday wales

Wimpole Hall is well worth a visit, and not just for the opening of the glasshouses. The House itself features interiors by Gibbs, Flitcroft and Soane, whilst Bridgeman, Brown and Repton had a hand in landscaping the park. holiday last minute wales

Speaking for the Woodland Trust, the chief executive Mike townsend makes the plea, Ancient woods are a finite resource which can never be replaced, their future survival depends on action now. catering holiday self wales

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Question Time Immortalised UK Question Time Immortalized

BBC s Gardener s Question Time, still the most established media icon in the gardening world despite the rising threats of younger television rivals, has been officially recognized as part of Britain s heritage. family holiday wales

It has become the first radio programme ever to be honoured with the award of a blue heritage plaque, of the kind that more usually adorn the former homes of politicians and actors. The plaque - suitably in a shade of green rather than blue - was officially unveiled this week at the Broadoak Hotel, Ashton-under-Lyme in Greater Manchester, by the local Tameside council. The hotel was where it all began in 1947 with the first broadcast entitled, How Does Your Garden Grow: A Gardener s Question Time. holiday riding wales

At the same time another plaque was unveiled to recognize the contribution of Will Sowerbutts, one of the original panelists. This plaque will be moved to his former home. The show still commands a devoted audience of 1.3 million and the content retains the same mix of earthy humour and advice that usually focuses on the practical end of gardening, in particular fending off pests and diseases and growing vegetables. adventure holiday wales

Greenfingers Serious Flower Shows: UK gardening tips advice on Serious Flower Shows Serious Flower Shows

Chelsea, BBC Gardener World, Hampton Court The succession of big show names through the summer get constant exposure and publicity and you might think that there isn room for any others. holiday park south wales

But the really serious horticulture often goes on at the smaller flower shows around the country, such as the summer show that the Royal Horticultural Society have just held at their main exhibition hall in Central London. cottage holiday wales

Gardeners love seeing new varieties of plants and it was great to see an intriguing batch being revealed here where they would be seriously assessed by a small audience, as opposed to at one of the larger shows where they might be lost on a larger stage. holiday in wales

There were new varieties of a number of summer-flowering favourites including clematis, pinks and foxgloves. There were also rarities such as the Michaxia Zystery /i unveiled by Hopleys Plants of Hertfordshire, which is a brilliant looking relative of the bellflower. Even more exotic were the Andean orchids or anguloas shown by Henry Oakeley from Kent. Among the new plants exhibited was Anguloa tognettiae which was only re-discovered growing in Peru last year more than two hundred years after it had originally been discovered. holiday wales

Hatfield s Festival of Gardening UK Greenfingers Hatfield s Festival of Gardening: UK gardening tips advice on Hatfield s Festival of Gardening Hatfield s Festival of Gardening

Summer has become an increasingly busy season for garden shows in recent years with newcomers constantly springing up. One of the most successful and enjoyable, away from the big-gun RHS league of Chelsea, Hampton Court etc, is the Festival of Gardening which takes place this week-end at Hatfield House for the eighteenth consecutive year. cottage holiday in wales

Hatfield festival, open from 10am to 6pm today and tomorrow, Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th June, has skilfully made best use of the resources at its disposal. First it takes place in one of the most superb country house (stately home really) and garden settings anywhere in Britain. Second, it has as its hostess one of the most admired gardeners of her generation, Lady Salisbury. caravan holiday in wales

During the time that she has lived at Hatfield, home to generations of her husband family since it the site was acquired from King James I, Lady Salisbury has regenerated the existing gardens into one of the best compositions in the country. Superb planting and design are perfectly in tune with the house distinguished Jacobean heritage. camping holiday wales

So while the house and garden provide the setting that alone will happily fill a few hours today or tomorrow, the festival itself has lots on offer that makes the most of both. Successive rooms of the house will show off the festival of flowers. Outside, in the flower exhibition tent, nurseries and growers all of whom have the quality stamp of a gold medal at Chelsea in their pedigree compete to win the Lady Salisbury Award. accommodation holiday wales

Distinguished lecturers will this year include Anna Pavord, gardening correspondent of The Independent, who will be talking on the subject of her gardening best-seller The Tulip. Question Time for Gardeners is always a firm favourite and throughout both days guided tours of the gardens take in the glorious East Garden, otherwise rarely open to the public. holiday last minute wales

Gardening guru Roy Lancaster has called Hatfield festival, he quintessential English summer show. You can get much better praise than that. For more information please contact Sue Jessop at Hatfield House on 01707 262823 catering holiday self wales

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Return of the Large Copper UK Return of the Large Copper

Loss of habitat has regularly led to the extinction in the wild of different species of wild flowers and creatures. But restoration of the habitat can often successfully lead to reintroduction and in this light, the return to Britain of the Large Copper, one of Europe s rarest butterflies is to be especially celebrated. family holiday wales

The Sunday Telegraph describes how radical alterations in the agriculture and management of areas of fenland has allowed an experimental reintroduction to go ahead. Larvae of the butterfly have been released in two sites inthe Norfolk Broads, as part of a programme involving English Nature, the Broads Authority and the Environment Agency. holiday riding wales

The butterfly, latin name Lycaena dispar, has beautiful colouring of orange, pale blue and grey. It has been officially extinct in Britain since around 1860, although it is successfully bred in captivity. adventure holiday wales

The crucial change is to remove areas of scrub that crowd out the two plants imperative to the butterfly s succcess. One is the great water dock, the only plant on the leaves of which the fussy female Large Copper will lay her eggs. holiday park south wales