Helen Riches Garden Design and Writing, Saffron Walden

Helen Riches garden designer and award winning garden writer, based in Saffron Walden, Essex, 12 miles from Cambridge, but also close to Suffolk and Hertfordshire. Creates beautiful, unique gardens. Garden writer and regular contributor to BBC Gardeners' World Magazine. Development of garden projects - specialises in container gardening. Garden stylist. Garden talks to garden clubs etc. Garden design courses, fun garden courses for all ages. Keen gardener. Garden has been open for the Yellow Book (National Garden Scheme - NGS).

Things to Do

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compost heap envy

compost heap envy

Yes, doesn't this new heap look absolutely gorgeous? Thank you Dave. But don't envy it, make your own! Three bays, if you have the space, the third for bags of leaf mold and twiggy bits. 15.01.11
secret ingredient

secret ingredient

They think its a secret, but the lads from the garden shed Boys Film Club added a magic ingredient to the compost during comfort breaks. Now in its new home, the compost couldn't be more rich, dark and earthy! 18.1.11
mini gifts

mini gifts

Pots of pickle, jars of gerkins, they don't need to be gigantic to be useful mini gifts in the party season. Helen's homemade sloe gin and spicy chilli oils looked cute in jars from www.jamieoliver.com. 20.12.10
raid the hedgrows

raid the hedgrows

Making your own festive decorations? See this months BBC Gardeners' World Magazine and the 18th Dec Issue of Amateur Gardening to see how Helen got on. All foraged locally! 14.12.10
cosy cover

cosy cover

Prepare for the big chill. Protect vulnerable plants (like this Rheum palmatum) with straw and cover with a cosy hessian blanket. This sack was being discarded by a coffee vendor. Yes really! Cut to size and pin with bent pieces of garden wire. 14.12.10
last fruits

last fruits

Tempting as it is... don't pop the last of summer's bounty in your mouth when no ones watching, share it with friends & family... decorate a cake or pudding. That's right, just scatter it on, leaves and all. 20.11.10
tree staking 1

tree staking 1

 The wind is getting up! Check your tree stakes, they may have loosened over the last few seasons, or just as likely, tightened as the tree girth has expanded. Not a good look. Snip off excess straps, or discard forever if planted more than 2 years or so. 8.10.10
tree staking 2

tree staking 2

If your tree is small and planted in a sheltered spot, consider making home-grown stakes from tree prunings. Secure with figure-of-8 twists of soft twine, to ensure bark and stem don't rub. 8.10.10

Helen Riches | Garden Design And Writing

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