Emma Atkinson: Landscape Architect & Garden Designer

The Humble Bumblebee...  Shrill Carder Bumblebee  Bees.. they are all the same aren't they? Honey, Bumble or Solitary? A few bee hives and bee hotels and the problem will be solved. This is what I believed for many years.. until a new project led me to the work of the Bumblebee Conservation Trust.  Over 270 species of bumblebee exist in the UK, many of which are extremely fragile and face the very real possibility of extinction. We are fed through the media that it's the honeybee which is in rapid decline, hence the recent surge in bee keeping and hive's popping up across the country, however bumble bees face far more of a serious threat. Over 25,000 bumblebee colonies are imported from Europe by UK farmers each year to support the pollination of our crops and support food production, due to the decline in populations of British bumblebees. This is a terrifying figure, and without importing bumble bee colonies from Europe, British crops would lack the crucial pollination ...

Creating Your Own Wildlife Haven  Have you spent January planning for the year ahead? What to sow, where to plant, what to move, the failures & successes? I know I have spent many of the first few weeks of January making lists and plans of plants to grow, but this year I also want to use my space to encourage more wildlife.  Outdoor spaces can be a prime resource for insects, birds and amphibians and I think it is more important than ever that we consider how we can utilise our spaces to encourage wildlife.  Whether you have balcony in the city, a small patio or large rural garden, there are many simple ways to create a refuge for wildlife, without compromising on the aesthetics or practicality of your space.  Below I have set out some key design elements that will encourage wildlife to your garden, without spending a small fortune.  1. Water: Water in the garden is always a huge plus when it comes to attracting wildlife, even tiny ponds such as a small trou...

 Sowing Sweet Peas Already dreaming of the longer evenings? Me too - only 4 weeks to go until we start gaining 2 minutes of light each day! But use the time now to start planning for Springtime colour in your garden.  You can start planting your sweet peas now! This might seem very premature, but if you start planting a  few seeds now, some more over Christmas and even more on New Years day, you will have an endless supply through spring and into Summer.  The first step is to fill some pots (or empty toilet rolls!) with peat-free multi purpose compost. Sow seeds 2cm deep. The easiest way is to use the top of a pencil, place a seed into each toilet roll and cover and water the compost well. Place the seeds in a warm position, initially where temperatures are between 15-18 degrees, and wait for the seeds to germinate!  After about 10 days, shoots should to start to appear. Once shoots establish make sure you move the seedlings to a cold frame or north facing windo...

Indoor Bulb Planting:   Are you feeling a little deflated now the evenings have drawn in and you are unable to spend as much time outside or in your garden?  I'm definitely feeling the effects of not being able to get outside in the evenings and spend my time pottering about the garden.  But, don't be too disheartened.. for the first time I have started to plant indoor bulbs, which can transform your home and  allow you to enjoy the colours and fragrance of Spring when it still feels like months away.  To keep it low cost, I just used what I had available in the garden - a mix & match of terracotta pots!  I am new to the world of indoor bulbs so below I have set out a few key things to remember that will help you get the best results when planting.  First of all, one key thing is to plan ahead. I didn't realise that there are two types of indoor bulbs, those that you need to chill first and those that you don't.  Bulbs that don't need chi...

DAFFODIL PLANTING  It's October! Now Autumn has firmly set in, it is time to plant your bulbs for a pop of Springtime colour next year.  September & October are the months to start planting out Daffodils, Crocus and  Hyacinths, b ut it is best to wait until November for Tulips!  Daffodils (Narcissus) are one of the most popular spring-flowering perennial bulbs that can be planted now, for a little springtime cheer in March. They also make perfect cut flowers to fill your home with in Spring and add to bouquets.  Daffodils are a perennial bulb, which means they come back year after year despite remaining dormant for a large proportion of the year and requiring very little maintenance.  Whether you have a large garden or small balcony, you can always have a go at planting daffodils! How to plant bulbs in a container?  Below I will take you through a few very simple steps of how to plant bulbs in containers.  When planting in pots, bul...

  A FEW TIPS FOR SEPTEMBER  Now the days are getting shorter and the temperatures are starting to fall, it is time to start preparing your plants and herbs for the next few months as we head in to Autumn.  1. Tidy up Strawberry Plants  A great way to grow strawberries is in containers or in hanging pots, but as summer comes to an end it is important all of the old foliage and leaves are cut back.  Cutting back foliage does two important things:  1. It instantly tidies up the plants by getting rid of old and tired leaves, whilst removing any insects or fungal spores that could cause problems with the plant in the future.  2. It also encourages more growth and flowers in Spring, eventually leading to more fruits!  Simply cut the plant back to the crown, removing all dead foliage and leaves. Make sure you do not 'pull' at the plant to remove growth as strawberry roots are shallow, so this may loosen the plant in the soil.  Tip: If you have lots...

 5 TOP TIPS TO ATTRACT WILDLIFE TO YOUR HOME: This weeks blog provides a focus on wildlife and how we can attract more wildlife species to our garden. Even the smallest of spaces can offer a variety of different habitats for wildlife.  There are multiple ways we can introduce wildlife to our spaces using low cost, simple solutions.  Below are 5 different things to consider to encourage a diverse range of wildlife species:  1. Get your garden buzzing.. Adding pollinator plants is the solution to attracting bees to your garden. Look out for this sign to make sure your garden is bee friendly. Find out more at :   schoolgardening.rhs.org.uk 2. Create a Hedgehog Highway Hedgehogs travel up to one mile every night through our parks and gardens, but one of the main reasons their populations are declining is because our fences and walls are becoming more and more secure.  Therefore, ensuring a hedgehog can pass through your garden is very important! A 13cm x13cm ho...