My landscape gardening career

My landscape gardening career

I’m having some work done on my garden.

“Work” doesn’t really do it justice – they’re ripping the whole thing out and starting again – the ramshackle fence overgrown with ivy included.

It might surprise you to learn that I’m no landscape gardener, so I defaulted to the three experts I was paying handsomely for the job.

They asked me about fencing, and I chose close boards, with the smooth side inwards, towards the garden.

All three of the experts queried this – they thought people could use the horizontal struts to climb over the fence – a legitimate concern maybe, but since the garden gate is never locked, not one I was worried about.

Anyway, I came home from work after they’d been working on the fencing and went out to measure the space I’d earmarked for my outdoor fireplace.

It no longer fitted.

Read more

Kids, dogs & old people

Kids, dogs & old people

In our local village, there’s a 20mph limit.

In principle, it’s a great idea, with kids, dogs and old people all in plentiful supply.

In practice, it’s completely ignored.

They’ve tried all sorts to enforce it – signs, sleeping policemen, signs, cameras, notes through doors, signs, the list goes on.

Nothing’s worked, until the other day when they inadvertently cracked it.

I was driving through Pangbourne, on the way to the M4, and was taken aback by the snail-like speed of the traffic going so slowly at an off-peak time.

What sorcery was this?  How had they succeeded; had the signs finally done their bit?!

Nope.  As it turned out, the local Lamborghini garage had put eleven of their vehicles out the front – ranging from bright yellow to matte black (what I like to call “stealth colour”).

Read more

Who We Work With