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Spring/Summer 2008 Newsletter

A Room of your own

A little tight for space in the house? Lost your ever precious office/ study/ reading room to the newest member of the family? We have a solution! People often talk about bringing the garden into your house, why not take some of the house out into the garden!

Sheds might be something that raise a giggle and a murmur when talking about the "old man" who likes to disappear off into his own little shed, but the fact is they don't have to be about tools and dirty coffee cups and homes for lawn mowers. You can turn your shed into anything you want! Playrooms, reading/ writing rooms, offices, games rooms... the list is endless - all you need to do is find the right one for you at your local DIY store or wherever and your plans can jump into place!

You will of course need to make sure the shed is built on a firm base - which is where we come in... you know where to contact us. By the way, Kirstie Allsop of Location Location fame recently added a shed to her "portfolio" costing around £5-7K, and this in turn sent the value of her flat up by £15-20K. It makes sense!

Why DIY?

Apparently, April saw the start of "Home Improvement Month". It would be fair to say that the housing market has been suffering a little of late and although things look to be improving, it really isn't the easiest time to sell your home and try and find that new abode. How about we make the most of the "Improvement" bug and set about nesting in our own much loved homes - put the moving on hold a moment and appreciate what you've already got!

You know where we're going but your home is obviously absolutely perfect as it is - the only place you can really make a difference is out there in the garden! Give us a call and we will help you bring the standard of your garden up to match that of your beautiful home.

To "affinity" and beyond

It was with much sadness that we had to end our business relationship with landscape architect Dan Houghton. Dan has decided to move on from Landscape design presently and has plumped for a change in direction within his career. We wish him well! We are however, delighted to report that we are now working with a new company "Affinity Garden Design". The designs are masterminded by designer Chris Francis and we are looking forward to a new and blossoming business rapport. Contact us for more information; prices start from £300.

In the summertime...

... "...the weather is hot" ... or so they say (or so we hope!). Any parents out there will know that the 6 week summer break from school can fill you with trepidation! What on earth will we do with them? How can we keep them out of trouble?! Lets hope we will finally get a decent summer and the kids can spend the bulk of their time outdoors. What better way to keep them entertained than by creating their own special hideaway? And at the same time, creating a little bit of loveliness in your garden.

How about Vine tepees!

You will need about 18 sturdy hazel poles approx 10ft (3 metres) long, hemp twine and 5 Vitis cognetiae plants. Arrange the poles around a 6ft floor area and push the first 5 into the ground allowing them to cross at the centre of the circular area. Tie the tops with twine to secure.

Add more hazel poles, not forgetting to leave a gap to form a door. Tie all the rods securely at the apex using thick hemp twine.

Cut 3 shorter lengths of the pole and tie them across the door space, leaving just a small entrance at the bottom. Arrange 5 vines around the tepee spacing them evenly. Plant the vines close to the poles, angled towards the structure. Encourage the vines onto the structure and keep well watered.

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