THE MODERN MINT BLOG
The Big Tree Plant
Funding has been secured from DEFRA through the Big Tree Plant programme to plant 17,000 trees in Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk over a period of two years.
Over 8000 trees were pplanted last season and there are another 9000 to go from this October 2014 to February 2015.
What do you need to do?
Provide a site which will take a minimum of 200 whips at 1m spacing.
Provide a site that is publicly accessible.
Encourage the local community to get involved in the planting and (ideally) the upkeep too.
What will Groundworks Essex (who secured the funding) do?
Help organise the communities involvement.
Provide protection for the trees from rabbits, strimmers etc…
Help design the scheme with their Landscape architect.
Provide additional trees and shrubs that are larger than whips if this is deemed necessary.
Tailor the design to suit your needs and site.
And most importantly…?
Fund up to 75% of the whole cost of the project, or even more than that if there is match funding or donations of time from another source.
How do you find out more?
To find out more about the Big Tree Plant scheme please get in touch with Kim Howell on 01268 752368; kim.howell@groundwork.org.uk
Topiary, The Art Garden at The Henderson
The Art Garden at The Henderson in Hong-Kong has now opened to the public. I joined the project last March, to work with Gillespies Landscape Architects on the topiary that had been designed for the Art Garden, which gives a calm, green space below the extraordinary Henderson skyscraper designed by Zaha Hadid Architects. The garden has been designed with butterflies in mind, so lots of nectar plants, and has other art projects and installations within its footprint. The history of the site is interesting too – it was originally the first cricket ground in Hong-Kong! So still a green space….! …
ClipFest 2025
On Sunday June 22nd there will be Clipfest 2025 at Ichi-Coo Park in Surrey. It is a celebration of all things pruning and topiary, and I will be there in my capacity of teacher at the European Boxwood and Topiary Society to demonstrate tool cleaning and sharpening, and how to clip. Tickets can be found here on Eventbrite. We are hoping for great weather and to see lots of keen pruners getting their shears out and joining us at this amazing garden! And for more on topiary…
Secateur Holders
A present arrived from Norway today, from a student who visited last February to work with Chris Poole and I on learning topiary. His new hobby – a beautiful and neatly stitched secateur holder. Thrilled with this! The holder will save me keep losing my secatuers too…! Thank you Bernt! It was the same student who introduced me to the APA with whom I am doing a talk at the end of March. Tickets can be bought here for ‘Defining The Essence – Aesthetic Pruning in the Garden’. Do join the European Boxwood and Topiary Society for that!