THE MODERN MINT BLOG

Sep25

Planting Trees At Modern Mint

Planting Trees At Modern Mint

Through the charity Trees For Life, Modern Mint are planting trees.

I spend my days working with trees and shrubs, shaping and pruning them into odd shapes. Like this abstract duck, for example…

topiary tree

But it is not just clipping trees – I love planting trees too.

Planting Trees To Save The Planet

Modern Mint should be doing more to encourage the planting of trees.

When I see articles like this one about the melting glaciers in Iceland, read the words of warning about climate catastrophe by Greta Thunberg or note the denials that humanity has done anything wrong to the planet by men in privileged positions, it makes me want to do everything I can to green up the landscape.

It may seem futile or silly, when you look at the uncaring way some people treat the natural environment, but each step will help.

glacier climate

Trees For Life – Plant A Tree Today

Trees For Life are a charity I came across when I first read about rewilding the UK in the book Feral.

Since 1993 Trees For Life have been trying to restore the Caledonian Forest in the Scottish landscape, in the process not just bringing back trees like Scots Pine, Willows, Aspen and Birches but enhancing life all the way across the land.

Growing trees means the impact of climate change can be reduced by storing carbon, preventing flooding and erosion through the tree roots slowing down water and allowing wildlife to thrive – such as the red squirrel returning to the North West Highlands.

Planting trees creates life. Something we love about gardening and try to encourage all of our clients to do, whether we are making topiary in their garden or giving a talk at their group.

We Support Trees for Life

This is the easiest way we can make a difference.

Support the Trees For Life project by visiting the grove of trees Modern Mint has donated, and adding your tree to the grove. It costs £6 per tree and I hope that, over the next few years, we can make a massive difference to the world.

Plant a tree now and enhance life for everyone.

Jan28

Monty Don British Gardens Episode 4

I hadn’t seen the new Monty Don series ‘Monty Don’s British Gardens’ but I was sent a message one evening to say stick it on – episode 4 especially! On the episode were three gardens I make and clip the topiary in… the photo above is my quizzical boxwood emu… which looks ridiculous out of context of the wider topiary garden it sits in… but hey! Showcases what you can do with boxwood, when given enough time to let it grow! But also on the episode were Waltham Place, one of my favourite gardens and a place I teach topiary …

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Nov01

Topiary Art In Hong Kong, The Henderson

Here are a couple of photos of the topiary work I have been doing in Hong Kong for the Art Garden at the bottom of the brand new skyscraper, The Henderson. The building has been designed by Zaha Hadid Architects and this November 2024 the garden at the base of the structure will be planted up, with lots of topiary originally designed by Gillespies Landscape Architects, grown by Tarzan Nursery in China, and then clipped and refined into shape by…. me. Will update with photos from The Henderson Art Garden when all is completed and the garden is opened, but …

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Apr16

EBTS Boxwood Growers Forum

Through the European Boxwood and Topiary Society I worked with Chris Poole and Sue Mesher, members of the EBTS board, and we set up a Boxwood Growers Forum. This was to discuss how to make sure this wonderful topiary plant stays in the public conscioussness – we know many growers, suppliers and distributors have stopped selling it as the cost of replacing boxwood that has blight, or is nibbled by the boxwood caterpillar, makes it unviable to offer to clients and gardeners. But Boxwood is a phoenix plant, and there are ways to deal with the problems associated with Buxus. …

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