Hundreds of new homes planned in Reading and more stories you may have missed today

Catch up on all the news from Reading, Wokingham and Bracknell which you may have missed while you were back at work today

from getreading - Family & Kids http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/local-news/hundreds-new-homes-planned-reading-11821033

Parents pay children's prices at Reading cinema this weekend and more things to do

Take a look at what's happening in Reading and the surrounding area from Friday, September 2 and Sunday, September 4

from getreading - Family & Kids http://www.getreading.co.uk/whats-on/family-kids-news/parents-pay-childrens-prices-reading-11822363

The five most watched videos on getreading during August

From sunken narrowboats to Jaap Stam's all time team mates, August has provided a record-breaking month for video views on our website

from getreading - Reading & Berkshire News http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/five-most-watched-videos-getreading-11822137

Three Berkshire restaurants named in Good Food Guide 2017 Top 50

The Good Food Guide for 2017 has announced its top 50 restaurants in the country and three of them are in Berkshire

from getreading - Food & Drink http://www.getreading.co.uk/whats-on/food-drink-news/three-berkshire-restaurants-named-good-11819554

Darts legend Dennis 'The Menace' Priestley to join team in Winnersh for world record attempt

The former world champion will join the team as they attempt to break the record for most bullseyes in 10 hours

from getreading - Reading & Berkshire News http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/darts-legend-dennis-the-menace-11803374

Marie Curie charity asks people to host Dinner Down Memory Lane

Foodies in Berkshire are being invited to hold a dinner party to raise money for the charity for people with terminal illness

from getreading - Reading & Berkshire News http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/marie-curie-charity-asks-people-11801560

The absolutely best way to prune English lavender beautifully

I’ve been making a big mistake when I prune English lavender.

My lavender in 2014. It was planted in 2012. The lavender by the obelisk went woody and gappy by 2015. It had to be taken out.

I couldn’t work out why next door’s lavender is still healthy and bushy after fourteen years. Some of my lavender bushes have barely lasted four.

Next door’s lavender – still thick and bushy after fourteen years.

The lavender is a major feature in my garden. There are four big clumps around a pot in the centre. At midsummer, it is humming with bees and other pollinating insects.

But it is starting to look gappy and woody. There was also some lavender around the beds and that went completely woody and stalky. It was so ragged that I took it out.

The central lavender is beginning to get too stalky. Holes are appearing in the neat mounds.

August is the time to give my lavender its summer chop. The flowers have gone grey, and there are no bees humming amongst them. So I looked for the best English lavender advice. (French lavender has the little ears and needs different pruning).

I have always pruned my lavender rather warily. I snip rather than hack. I’m too frightened I’ll kill it. Everyone always says that if you cut into the wood, then it won’t regenerate. My mother told me that I would kill lavender if I cut it back too much. Even the RHS cautions against cutting into the woody part of lavender.

But the lavender specialists at Downderry say that English lavender needs hard pruning. You need to cut right down into the brown part, where little lavender shoots can just been seen.

‘Don’t be frightened to cut it back to 9″ just after flowering,’ they say. ‘It will love it!’

It’s true that I hardly pruned the lavender on the edge of the beds at all. Those are the bushes that I took out because they got so spindly.

Last year, I asked Salvatore, the Italian gardener, to cut the lavender in the centre of the garden. He cut it right back to the brown, especially in one part that was beginning to look gappy. It plumped up again before Christmas, and made elegant grey mounds for the winter garden.

Lavender is a lovely sculptural presence for the garden in winter. It looks especially good in the frost.

This year I’ve taken my courage – and my secateurs – in hand. I’ve chopped back the lavender mounds. I haven’t quite dared to take it down to 9″, but I have remembered that next door do cut their lavender very low.

I’ll pin this to a Pinterest board as an easy way to remember what to do.

The experts also say that you should use good secateurs for cutting lavender. This makes the job a lot longer than using shears, but it seems to give a tighter, more sculptural finish.

I use these Felco secateurs, which have lasted for around fifteen years, and always cut well. That’s an Amazon affiliate link which means you can buy them there. I may get a small fee if you do.

Can you really prune English lavender right back into the wood?

Yes and no. Secateurs also mean you can see what you’re doing. You do need to cut just above those tiny shoots at the bottom of the stem because if you cut the lavender down below them, it won’t regenerate. It will die. So wear your glasses!

Take a good thick bunch of lavender in one hand, and chop down to where you see tiny little lavender shoots in the brown wood. And repeat. I find it easiest to do sitting down. My trousers have got very grubby.

You can use the lavender for pillows or in bowls to scent the house. In this post here from Doddington Place Gardens, Amicia de Moubray explains the difference between English lavenders, which help you sleep, and French lavenders which make you feel more alert.

Here you can see one mound of lavender pruned to just under half its height. It looks brown and woody, but if you look closely you can see tiny lavender shoots on the lower branches.

Most lavenders are about ready to be pruned now or in the next few weeks. So if you have English lavender, be tough!

The post The absolutely best way to prune English lavender beautifully appeared first on The Middle-Sized Garden.

from The Middle-Sized Garden http://www.themiddlesizedgarden.co.uk/absolutely-best-way-prune-english-lavender-beautifully/

Shoppers warned Ben and Jerry's ice cream could contain metal

Your tub of Ben and Jerry's popular Cookie Dough ice cream could contain pieces of metal

from getreading - Reading & Berkshire News http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/shoppers-warned-ben-jerrys-ice-11808827

Berkshire women take on 100km Thames Path Challenge in aid of Helen and Douglas House

Jo McGuiness, from Twyford and Jemma King, from Caversham will take on the challenge on September 10 and 11

from getreading - Reading & Berkshire News http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/berkshire-women-take-100km-thames-11781856

West Reading charity ABC to Read boosted by Heathrow grant

Five more reading mentors can be recruited thanks to the Heathrow Community Fund grant

from getreading - Reading & Berkshire News http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/west-reading-charity-abc-read-11800089

West Reading charity ABC to Reading boosted by Heathrow grant

Five more reading mentors can be recruited thanks to the Heathrow Community Fund grant

from getreading - Reading & Berkshire News http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/west-reading-charity-abc-reading-11800089

Bracknell Forest's GCSE results in English nine per cent above average

Bracknell Forest Borough Council highlights above average results using the new Progress 8 and Attainment 8 measures

from getreading - Reading & Berkshire News http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/bracknell-forests-gcse-results-english-11801321

Caprese salad

It’s heritage tomato harvesting season.

I’m rather chuffed with my tomato crop this year. My little patio is so sunny and sheltered that the plants have shot up, and have been cropping marvellously well. This is one day’s harvest.

As I only moved here in April, I bought grafted tomato plants to get me going quickly. They are obviously more expensive than growing from seed, but I wanted to get a move on and didn’t have much time or space.

I’ve been feeding them twice a week with organic tomato fertiliser, and watering them every other day in their containers so that they do not develop problems associated with irregular watering such as blossom end rot.

To test out their taste, I jumbled a load of the fruits into a simple Caprese salad. There are three different tomatoes in here, and while the orange and red varieties and perfect for a salad, the yellow fruits would be much better slow-roated as they have thick, dry flesh, and very few seeds.

from Fennel and Fern http://www.fennelandfern.co.uk/blog/2016/08/25/caprese-salad/

GCSE results 2016: Leighton Park triplets get 'threemendous' results

Leighton Park Schools bucks the national trend with an eight per cent increase in A* to C grades

from getreading - Reading & Berkshire News http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/gcse-results-2016-leighton-park-11799506

Music in Reading: What's coming up in August?

Take a look at what's coming up in August on the music scene in Reading and the surrounding areas

from getreading - Reading & Berkshire News http://www.getreading.co.uk/whats-on/music-nightlife-news/music-reading-whats-coming-up-11665535

Wokingham GCSE results: find out how your school performed

getreading has GCSE results from schools across the borough

from getreading - Reading & Berkshire News http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/wokingham-gcse-results-find-out-11790411

Overturned car blocked Bradfield road

A road in Bradfield was blocked by an overturned car

from getreading - Reading & Berkshire News http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/overturned-car-blocked-bradfield-road-11792974

Berkshire's Team GB heroes head home in style on gold-nosed aeroplane

Stars on the plane included Burghfield Common's Chris Mears and rowers Katherine Grainger, Helen Glover and Heather Stanning.

from getreading - Reading & Berkshire News http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/berkshires-team-gb-heroes-head-11787626

Reading Thai Food and Craft Festival makes successful debut

The food and craft festival was created to show the people of Reading why Thai culture is so popular

from getreading - Arts & Culture http://www.getreading.co.uk/whats-on/arts-culture-news/reading-thai-food-craft-festival-11784312

A33 roadworks for mass rapid transit scheme start in September

Although lane closures will be off-peak, congestion is still predicted by Reading Borough Council for 12-weeks when work begins

from getreading - Reading & Berkshire News http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/a33-roadworks-mass-rapid-transit-11782650

Woodley Hammers players raise cash for mum diagnosed with cancer

Players, both past and present, took part in the match in aid of Michelle Davey (nee Avenell) who was diagnosed with bowel cancer in April

from getreading - What's On News http://www.getreading.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/woodley-hammers-players-raise-cash-11783197

Mapledurham Food and Craft Festival sees guests get cooking and creative

Take a look at our gallery of photos from the event at the weekend

from getreading - What's On News http://www.getreading.co.uk/whats-on/family-kids-news/mapledurham-food-craft-festival-sees-11783657

Rio 2016: Reading star Kate Richardson-Walsh leads the way in record-breaking haul for Team GB

There was golden success for many of Berkshire's athletes

from getreading - Reading & Berkshire News http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/rio-2016-reading-star-kate-11781504

Inquests into mum and children's A34 deaths opened by Berkshire Coroner

The inquests of a mother, her two children and another child have been opened by the coroner's office

from getreading - Reading & Berkshire News http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/inquests-mum-childrens-a34-deaths-11781823

Meet Peter Pan and the Twirlywoos plus other things to do with the kids around Reading

Take a look at some of the great family events happening in Reading this weekend

from getreading - Family & Kids http://www.getreading.co.uk/whats-on/family-kids-news/meet-peter-pan-twirlywoos-plus-11679140

Learn about Reading Abbey, Second World War air raids in Reading and more with guided walking tours

Find out more about the town's rich history including the biscuit factory, the English Civil War and more

from getreading - Arts & Culture http://www.getreading.co.uk/whats-on/arts-culture-news/learn-reading-abbey-second-world-11768634

Crayola tour coming to Reading to celebrate 100 years of colour

All aboard the double decker Crayola bus for colouring and fun!

from getreading - Family & Kids http://www.getreading.co.uk/whats-on/family-kids-news/crayola-tour-coming-reading-celebrate-11768106

Fences for privacy – 9 great ideas for garden screening

Are you making the most of your fences for privacy and screening?

Privacy is a big issue for middle-sized gardens, because high hedges and fences block light. But low hedges and fences mean you can see and hear your neighbours. And your ideal fence height may not be your neighbour’s ideal fence height.

But installing fences for privacy is not just about height. You can increase your privacy by positioning screening in the right place in your garden.

First, consider your neighbours. There is a saying ‘good fences make good neighbours.’ Arguments over fences and boundaries cause more problems than anything else in communities.

Most governments recognise this so you will have laws that explain what you are entitled do. Although this post focuses on English fences, it will give you a good idea of what issues to check locally before changing or erecting fences for privacy.

This fence in Normandy, France, must legally be kept ‘open’ like this – the requirement is in the Deeds of the house and also the farm it abuts. So always check your Deeds and local regulations.

Some houses, districts, counties or states will have different restrictions regarding fences. For example, in Dungeness, Kent, you are not allowed to fence your land. Yet, just a few miles away, you are able to put up a two metre fence without any problem.

So always check whether your Deeds or local area regulations place different restrictions on you before making your final decision.

It’s also important to discuss a new fence with your neighbours. Do they want more privacy too? Or are they worried about their light? Or are they planning a garden re-design of their own, which might affect how they feel about your choice of fence?

In England, you need to get planning permission for fences higher than 2 metres (6ft 5″). But you can often get planning permission. In cities like London, where privacy is cherished, most fences are higher than 6’5″.

Stylish fences for privacy

Horizontal fence slats will give your fence a stylish, contemporary look.

When this London terraced house was built, all the gardens had low walls. The horizontal slatted fencing raises the height, updates it, looks smart and makes the garden more private. Garden designed by Charlotte Rowe.

Iron or steel fences

I saw a steel screen fence in the Melbourne Garden Show in Australia earlier this year. It was designed for a small urban garden and it looked delightful.

I saw this steel fence at the Melbourne Flower Show, Australia. It reflects light well, so would be great in a small city garden.

Steel louvred panels as fencing for privacy in the The Retreat Garden by Final5 at Hampton Court Flower Show 2016

Traditional wrought iron fence in Normandy, France. Large hydrangea bushes add privacy.

Natural fences

This is a fence made of saplings cut from trees and fixed with wires. It’s very similar to a ‘dead hedge’, where dead wood is used to create a barrier. It’s great for wildlife.

I saw this fence in a street in France. It’s very simple and I love the nasturtium growing out of it.

If you don’t fancy finding your own wood, you can get something of this effect with split hazel hurdle fencing here. (This is an affiliate link, so I may receive a small fee if you buy.)

Painted fences

Painting your fence doesn’t affect your privacy, but it will make your garden look better. Before you paint your fence, you need to make sure who owns it. If it’s your neighbour’s fence, you must ask their permission before painting on your side.

Garrya elliptica against a black fence in Faversham, Kent.

This small urban garden designed by Charlotte Rowe in London looks smart with a black fence. Note that the trellis is also painted black – a nice detail.

A pale blue fence makes plants stand out on the Harrod Horticultural stand at RHS Chelsea 2015.

This fence in Tasmania, Australia, is painted cream. The raised bed beside it is painted the same colour. This makes the plants stand out in a striking way. Here a short stretch of height allows privacy near the house, but the fence drops down at the end of the terrace, allowing extra sun in.

Fences for privacy in front gardens

In England you have to get planning permission if you want to erect a fence over one metre (3’3″)  in the front garden if it is on a public road.

However, very few people in England are aware of this, as I see 2m garden fences going up everywhere without planning permission. There are also historic fences and walls of 10ft or more, which have been there for centuries.

In some areas, you may also have to get planning permission for a hedge in a front garden, but in most places, hedges are allowed as long as they don’t cause a nuisance.

There are complicated rules about hedges and height, but if your hedge is kept well trimmed and doesn’t affect anyone else, then you probably don’t have to worry.

Add a trellis for privacy or screening

Can you add trellis to your fence to give yourself extra privacy? That depends. There is no legal difference between trellis and fencing. So – in theory – the height of your trellis must be no more than 2 metres.

Sarah Langton-Lockton has a trellis above a wall. Some councils like this as it is good security. There is also trellis on the neighbour’s side.

However, this varies in different counties in England. Some authorities will let you have higher trellis, according to this guide from Jackson’s Fencing on the legal issues around fences.

Some councils even encourage people to add trellis to the tops of their fences, because it is a good burglar deterrent. A trellis is not strong enough to support much weight, so it makes it difficult to climb. You can order trellis here (affiliate link).

You have to look very carefully at this to see what it is. A tall wall or fence at the end of a London garden has been covered with mirror glass. A trellis has been placed on top and tall trees have been planted in front of it. This is where an apartment block was built behind an established house. Although such a high wall or trellis wouldn’t normally be allowed, it’s likely that it was a condition to maintain the privacy of the original house.

Think about the eye line for privacy

In today’s crowded world it is rare to have privacy in your whole garden.

The answer is to decide where you want your privacy. Then look at who can see that part of the garden. It is that sight-line you need to block, not the whole garden.

A slatted screen at the end of the garden can make a seating area private. From the Cloudy Bay garden at Chelsea 2015.

Ideally, you should block that sight-line without cutting out light in anyone else’s house or garden. That may mean having trellis, fencing or trees in the middle of your own garden.

If you want to place a tree in the right place for privacy, see this post here.

I have found no legal restrictions on height when a trellis is within the garden. However, be aware that taller trellis will need to be sturdy, as it will rock in the wind.

Trellis arches, for example, across a long thin garden, could block the view from windows opposite without affecting anyone’s light.

You could also use a split fence to give you privacy without completely shutting off the area. This fence at a Hampton Court show garden shows how effectively it can work.

Two different blues on a fence in a show garden at Hampton Court (with Rachel de Thane). I’ve lost track of whose garden it was, so do let me know if it’s yours.

Here Pippa and James Rubinstein have an espaliered pear tree in front of their window in Kent. It screens the study window and creates a place for two to eat in the evening.

This espaliered pear is under 5ft high so it doesn’t block much light. 

A pergola for privacy

In England, you can have a pergola with an eaves height of 2.5 metres (or 8ft 2″) if it is against your boundary. You can have a pergola with a pitched roof height of up to 4 metres if it’s in the middle of the garden. That offers lots of privacy. You can order a pergola kit here (affiliate link).

A pergola against a wall creates a private seating spot in Faversham, Kent

Does the smooth side of the fence have to face outwards?

There’s a common myth in England that the owner of the fence must build it so that the smooth side faces the road or their neighbour. However, I can find no evidence of this rule anywhere. I’ve also asked the experts at Jackson’s Fencing and they can’t find any regulations either. However, I do have a friend who informed her neighbour that the smooth side of his newly-installed fence was supposed to face her garden. He turned it round, so either he knows something I don’t or he is terrified of her.

This is the ‘back’ of the fence. You can always add trellis or plant in front of it if you don’t like it.

There are more ideas for garden privacy on my Pinterest board here, and do let me know of any good ideas you have.

And do please share, using the buttons below. Thank you!

The post Fences for privacy – 9 great ideas for garden screening appeared first on The Middle-Sized Garden.

from The Middle-Sized Garden http://www.themiddlesizedgarden.co.uk/fences-for-privacy-great-ideas-garden-screening/

Top nine ways to avoid Reading Festival

Want to be as far away from the festival as possible? See our top suggestions for avoiding the music and madness

from getreading - Music & Nightlife http://www.getreading.co.uk/whats-on/music-nightlife-news/top-nine-ways-avoid-reading-11771264

Europe's largest inflatable slide Gung-Ho! is coming to Windsor with BBC Children in Need

Fundraisers are invited to join CBeebies presenter Dr Ranj Singh in 5K inflatable obstacle race at Royal Windsor Racecourse

from getreading - What's On News http://www.getreading.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/europes-largest-inflatable-slide-gung-11760928

Weather warning, road closures and gang smash up cars: Friday's top stories

A round-up of the most-read stories on getreading for August 19

from getreading - Reading & Berkshire News http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/weather-warning-road-closures-gang-11775554

Thames Tower giant crane work postponed because of high winds

The planned closure of Station Road to make way for a giant crane will not go ahead because high winds are expected this weekend

from getreading - Reading & Berkshire News http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/thames-tower-giant-crane-work-11772001

Sinking narrowboat, new Reading FC signing and A level mania: Thursday's top stories

A look at the most-read stories on getreading for August 18

from getreading - Reading & Berkshire News http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/sinking-narrowboat-new-reading-fc-11770508

Do you get child benefits? Update HMRC on your children's education

Parents need to update HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) on their child's educational status before the end of the month

from getreading - Reading & Berkshire News http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/you-child-benefits-update-hmrc-11767410

Celebrate A Level results with these Reading food deals and voucher codes

Heading out for a meal with the family tonight? Make the most of these restaurant details and voucher codes

from getreading - Family & Kids http://www.getreading.co.uk/whats-on/family-kids-news/celebrate-level-results-reading-food-11765761

Berkshire's healthiest areas revealed - find out where your postcode ranks

Bracknell, Wokingham and West Berkshire have emerged as some of the healthiest areas of England but Reading has some way to go

from getreading - Reading & Berkshire News http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/berkshires-healthiest-areas-revealed-find-11756395

Pick of the Past: Help us find out more about The Best Tournament 1997

We know a bit about the event, but would love to hear from people who were there

from getreading - Berkshire History http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/berkshire-history/pick-past-help-find-out-11763650

Tesco offers free fruit to Berkshire kids as part of healthy eating push

Here's all you need to know about the supermarket's healthy eating initiative for children

from getreading - Shopping http://www.getreading.co.uk/whats-on/shopping/tesco-offers-free-fruit-berkshire-11755900

A Level results: What time can Reading, Bracknell and Wokingham get their grades? And when does UCAS update?

Pupils can find out whether they've been accepted into their choice of university

from getreading - Reading & Berkshire News http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/level-results-what-time-can-11760653

Can pupils in Reading, Bracknell and Wokingham get their A Level results early? And when does UCAS update?

Pupils can find out whether they've been accepted into their choice of university

from getreading - Reading & Berkshire News http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/can-pupils-reading-bracknell-wokingham-11760653

David Brent hits the big screen: Remember his finest moments in The Office

Reading boy Ricky Gervais is back as David Brent in Life on the Road, but the character has had many brilliant moments already

from getreading - Reading & Berkshire News http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/david-brent-hits-big-screen-11752881

Rio Olympics 2016: a look at all of Berkshire's medalists

At this year's games rowers, a diver and a horse rider from Berkshire have earned themselves a place on the podium

from getreading - Reading & Berkshire News http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/rio-olympics-2016-look-berkshires-11753346

E-fit of Legoland Windsor sexual assault suspect released

Two six-year-old girls were touched inappropriately at the theme park on Thursday, August 11

from getreading - Reading & Berkshire News http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/e-fit-legoland-windsor-sexual-11753158

Caversham and Southcote patients can now meet new GP company

OneMedicalGroup, providing GP services at Priory Avenue and Circuit Lane surgeries, will be holding drop-ins for patients this week

from getreading - Reading & Berkshire News http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/caversham-southcote-patients-can-now-11751365

Macmillan cancer information team coming to Reading with sun safety advice

Macmillan advisors will be in Reading with advice on sun safety and skin cancer

from getreading - Reading & Berkshire News http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/macmillan-cancer-information-team-coming-11750905

No heatwave but lovely weather in Reading for most of the week

It's going to be "warm rather than hot" according to the Met Office

from getreading - Other Sport http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/no-heatwave-lovely-weather-reading-11751359

Rio 2016: Berkshire's Olympic athletes to look out for this week

When to watch Berkshire's athletes in action at Rio 2016 in the next week

from getreading - Other Sport http://www.getreading.co.uk/sport/other-sport/rio-2016-berkshires-olympic-athletes-11749162

A new garden

F&F has moved house.

So, it has been a few months since the last blog. That’s because I’ve been moving garden, from the beautiful Dream Garden to this little corner in London. It isn’t big and it isn’t posh. But it is my home now, and I love it.

When I moved here, of course, it was just a blank patio. The only green was the wild, wavy Solanum jasminoides.

I decided the best thing to do was to make the space as bright as possible. I bought bunting and brightly-coloured tub trugs, which I bored holes in at the bottom for drainage and filled with peat-free compost.

Everything seems to be growing happily. And though it’s not a big grand garden, I love the idea of having a little cheerful urban plot again.

from Fennel and Fern http://www.fennelandfern.co.uk/blog/2016/08/15/a-new-garden/

Chris Tarrant announces Pride of Reading Awards date for 2016

The date has been set for Reading to raise a glass to its unsung heroes at the 13th annual Pride of Reading Awards.

from getreading - Reading & Berkshire News http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/chris-tarrant-announces-pride-reading-11741851

Food festival teaches BBQ tricks and more things to do in Reading

Take a look at some of the great events happening in Reading this weekend

from getreading - Local News http://www.getreading.co.uk/whats-on/arts-culture-news/food-festival-teaches-bbq-tricks-11679167

Catch and cook your own fish and more things to do with the kids in Reading

Take a look at some of the great family events happening in Reading this weekend

from getreading - Local News http://www.getreading.co.uk/whats-on/family-kids-news/catch-cook-your-fish-more-11679140

Sad and shocking news in Reading this week - the stories you've been reading

It's been a week of sad and shocking news in Reading, take a look at the biggest stories from getreading

from getreading - Local News http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/local-news/sad-shocking-news-reading-week-11746479

The 7 best plants for late summer garden success

A friend recently told me how brilliant her late summer garden was looking.

This simple, pretty treatment lines a neighbour’s path. A row of verbena bonariensis looks charming against a fence.

I’m pretty pleased with ours, too, provided no-one looks too closely at the bare patches and the weeds.

The dahlias are the star of our garden at the moment. Here Dahlia ‘Labyrinth’ reminds me of some of our best sunsets.

But there were three of us in the conversation. The third person shook her head sadly. ‘Late summer is no good for my garden…it’s over by now.’

These rudbeckias in another neighbour’s garden caught my eye while walking the dog.

I was thinking about the conversation as I walked the dog yesterday. Some front gardens around us are looking outstanding now. Others have faded away.

Are some gardens just better at certain times of year? Maybe you have to decide whether you’re a June garden person or an August garden person?

Cosmos is another good late summer garden plant. Seen here at Doddington Place Gardens in August.

I don’t think so. The holy grail of middlesized gardens is that we want to look good all year round, or for as long as possible. The late summer garden is an important ingredient in that.

I think that late summer garden plants get less attention than spring and early summer plants. The RHS Chelsea Flower Show is the gardening equivalent of London Fashion Week, setting the pace for garden fashion for the rest of the year.

But that means that spring and midsummer planting get all the publicity and admiration. They are seen in a design context, so it’s easier to imagine how to use them in your own garden. Cow parsley, for example, gets much more publicity than dahlias.

Grasses and dahlias look good for months on end.

But if you want a garden to look good for a long time, then you’d choose dahlias.

Hydrangeas are another plant that offers huge choice, a long season and are easy to look after. But, apart from Hydrangea arborescens ‘Annabelle’, you don’t see many hydrangeas in designer gardens.

Our Hydrangea arborescens ‘Annabelle’ is at its best in August. However, its position as the ‘chic hydrangea’ may be slipping as you do see rather alot of it about. Sorry about the weeds on the terrace!

Posy Gentles and I started discussing which plants were best for the late summer garden. We came up with dahlias, hydrangeas, fuschias, unusual bedding plants such as cleome, all the daisy types such as helenium and rudbeckia, late summer roses, echinacea and verbena bonariensis.

All the hydrangeas, dahlias, fuschias and roses come in a very wide range of colours and styles, so there would be something for every garden style.

I think this rose is ‘Just Joey’ – looking good in yet another neighbour’s garden. Most of the pictures in this post came from one dog walk, which shows how abundant gardens can be at this time of year.

Cleome ‘Violet Queen’ with Erysimum ‘Bowles Mauve’ in the background. Bowles Mauve seems to flower from April to November, and sometimes all through the winter.

Once we started to list the plants that look good in August, we couldn’t stop. Which are your favourites?

 

The post The 7 best plants for late summer garden success appeared first on The Middle-Sized Garden.

from The Middle-Sized Garden http://www.themiddlesizedgarden.co.uk/the-7-best-plants-for-late-summer-garden-success/

The best car boot sales in Reading and Berkshire

Here's all you need to know about the weekly and monthly sales in your area

from getreading - What's On News http://www.getreading.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/best-car-boot-sales-reading-11352573

15 of the most beautiful walks in Reading, Wokingham and Bracknell

Fancy getting out to stretch your legs and get some fresh air? Try one of these picturesque routes around Reading, Wokingham and Bracknell

from getreading - What's On News http://www.getreading.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/15-most-beautiful-walks-reading-9002742

Reading Pokemon GO master accused of cheating

Reading's self-proclaimed Pokemon Go master called out for using cheat software

from getreading - Reading & Berkshire News http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/reading-pokemon-go-master-accused-11727723

Looless Crossrail trains give Colostomy Association cause for concern

The Colostomy Association raises concerns about the contract for Crossrail trains which have no lavatories

from getreading - Reading & Berkshire News http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/looless-crossrail-trains-give-colostomy-11735624

Binghams Brewery's beer is the best in Britain

Binghams Brewery's Vanilla Stout was crowned CAMRA's Supreme Champion Beer of Britain after impressing judges at the Great British Beer Festival

from getreading - Food & Drink http://www.getreading.co.uk/whats-on/food-drink-news/binghams-brewerys-beer-best-britain-11743084

Wokingham Festival returns to town for 10th annual event

This year the 10th Wokingham Festival will be held in Elms Field

from getreading - Food & Drink http://www.getreading.co.uk/whats-on/family-kids-news/wokingham-festival-returns-town-10th-11743486

Berkshire shooter Amber Hill misses out on the medals at Rio

The teenager missed three shots in the semi finals and narrowly missed out on a spot in the bronze medal shootoff

from getreading - Reading & Berkshire News http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/berkshire-shooter-amber-hill-misses-11743881

A level results day: what to do before and after

Independent careers advice to students will be available across Reading throughout August and on A-level results day

from getreading - Reading & Berkshire News http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/level-results-day-what-before-11734902

Safe sex advice and free condoms for young people in Berkshire

Young people from Reading, Wokingham and West Berkshire can sign up to a scheme for free condoms and advice

from getreading - Reading & Berkshire News http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/safe-sex-advice-free-condoms-11734262

M4 crash, Olympic glory and a blocked canal: Thursday's stories

The news round-up for Thursday, August 11

from getreading - Reading & Berkshire News http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/m4-crash-olympic-glory-blocked-11738690

Katherine Grainger becomes Britain's most decorated female Olympian

Berkshire Olympian Katherine Grainger and rowing partner Victoria Thornley won silver at Rio 2016

from getreading - Other Sport http://www.getreading.co.uk/sport/other-sport/katherine-grainger-becomes-britains-most-11737078

Rio 2016: Crowthorne judo club gives fans chance to see Team GB's Ben Fletcher in Olympic action

The Old Wokingham Road club is putting on an event on Thursday, August 11       

from getreading - Reading & Berkshire News http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/rio-2016-crowthorne-judo-club-11694575

Rio 2016: Wokingham judo club gives fans chance to see Team GB's Ben Fletcher in Olympic action

The Old Wokingham Road club is putting on an event on Thursday, August 11       

from getreading - Reading & Berkshire News http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/rio-2016-wokingham-judo-club-11694575

A34 crash, house fire in Coley Park and Olympic success: Thursday's Stories

The daily news round-up for Wednesday, August 10

from getreading - Reading & Berkshire News http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/a34-crash-house-fire-coley-11733486

Top five curry houses in Reading, as voted by you

From bhajis to bhunas, we've got your Indian fix covered

from getreading - Food & Drink http://www.getreading.co.uk/whats-on/food-drink-news/top-five-curry-houses-reading-9892885

Rio 2016: How Reading's athletes have fared in first few days

Sam Townsend, Helen Glover and Dan Shingles are among those in action for Team GB in Brazil

from getreading - Sport http://www.getreading.co.uk/sport/rio-2016-how-readings-athletes-11726169

Berkshire singer Will Young to join Strictly Come Dancing line up

Newbury singer Will Young has become the second person revealed to be taking part in this year's Strictly Come Dancing

from getreading - TV http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/tv/berkshire-singer-young-join-strictly-11727185

Charity needs you to record Berkshire wildlife - dead or alive

The People's Trust for Endangered Species is asking Berkshire trippers to record mammals on the road - including roadkill 

from getreading - Reading & Berkshire News http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/charity-needs-you-record-berkshire-11723347

Open air cinema shows Grease, SIGMA play and more things to do in Berkshire this weekend

Take a look at some of the great events happening from Friday, August 5 to Sunday, August 7

from getreading - Reading & Berkshire News http://www.getreading.co.uk/whats-on/arts-culture-news/open-air-cinema-shows-grease-11679167

Meet The Twits, meet firefighters and more family fun near Reading this weekend

Take a look at some of the great family events happening from Friday, August 5 to Sunday, August 7

from getreading - Reading & Berkshire News http://www.getreading.co.uk/whats-on/family-kids-news/meet-twits-meet-firefighters-more-11679140

M4 closures and the A329M contraflow continues - what to expect on the roads this week

Plan your journeys with a list of the expected roadworks around Berkshire coming up in the next week

from getreading - Reading & Berkshire News http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/m4-closures-a329m-contraflow-continues-11715711

Prospect Park rape, Bracknell man's murder and Pokemon GO: The top stories of the last week

A look back at the most read stories on the site from Sunday, July 31  to Sunday, August 7

from getreading - Reading & Berkshire News http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/prospect-park-rape-bracknell-mans-11715509

Easy garden party ideas and inspiration

I’ve been working tirelessly on garden party ideas.

I’ve had to go to lots of parties. It’s a hard life, but someone has to do it.

And we’ve also given quite a few parties over the years. Here are the summer party ideas that have worked for us, either as party-givers or party-goers.

I’ve bought some items, but others have been sent to me free for review. There are some affiliate links in the post, which means you can click through to buy some products. If you do, I may get a small fee. However, I’ve only included products or ideas that have worked for me or for friends of mine.

Garden party flowers

Everything in the garden is a balance between time and money. If you have the money, get a professional florist to do the flowers as it will save you a lot of work.

These flowers look charmingly rustic but were done by a professional florist.

If you’re on a tight budget, do the flowers yourself. But set aside a realistic amount of time. Party flowers take a long time to pick, buy and arrange, so allow at least a whole day.

For a recent party here, I combined a garden tidy-up with flower arranging. Go round the garden seeing what needs clipping or cutting back. Use the clippings in your arrangements. We had crocosmia flopping over the lawn, so I cut it back and used it in vases.

Tip: It’s important to check that paths are clear if you’re having a party in the garden. People may trip over trailing greenery or paving stones. You may be familiar with the hazards, but if people are drinking and it’s dark, there can be accidents.

Buy some supermarket flowers or flowers from your local florist. Just £10 worth of flowers can go a long way if you mix it with flowers from the garden.

Supermarket roses mixed with garden flowers.

Jam jar garden party ideas

Jam jars are so useful for garden party decorating. Use them for nightlights, flowers or as holders for cutlery. We collect jam jars, but you can also buy them here. Use them in the summer for the garden, then for jam in the autumn and marmalade in spring.

English summer flowers in jam jars in the church for Charlotte Rowe’s wedding. Photo by Jacqui Sinnatt.

I saw the best use of jam jar flowers at the recent wedding of garden designer, Charlotte Rowe. She had jam jars and kilner jars full of seasonal British flowers along windowsills at the church.

After the service, guests walked to the village hall for the reception. They were asked to carry the flower-filled jars from the church to the reception. The jars were then placed on window sills and tied to the picket fence.

The following day, there was a post-wedding barbecue at Charlotte’s home. The same jars were lined up on trestle tables at Charlotte’s home.

The wedding jam jars flowers in their third place – on trestle tables for a barbecue.

As we left the barbecue, Charlotte urged us all to take a couple of bunches of flowers home. So the flowers had yet another party to go – a barbecue at our house, given by our twins for their twenty-something friends.

Charlotte’s ‘jam jar’ wedding flowers at their fourth occasion in three days. The blue glass was from a set by Bormioli, which I bought from Amazon.

Trestle or folding tables

Trestle or folding tables can be stored in cellars, attics and garages. They’re really useful for garden parties. Charlotte has wonderful old wood trestle tables. We, however, have a less glamorous but highly practical high-density blow-moulded plastic folding table. It’s strong and serviceable. We cover it with a table-cloth. As it’s made of plastic and powder coated steel, we can store it anywhere, even in the cellar where it is rather damp. We could probably keep it at the back of a wardrobe, too, as it folds down flat.

Wooden trestle table. Photo by Jacqui Sinnatt.

Indoor-outdoor furniture

My friend, Emma, moves her dining table and chairs straight outside onto the terrace when she’s giving a party. And if we’re short of chairs when we eat inside, we often bring garden chairs in. Some metal garden chairs have quite sharp feet, and could make holes in the carpet. But most chairs are fine inside and out.

Emma brings her dining room chairs outside.

Solar fairy lights for garden parties

Lighting is at the top of the garden party ideas list. If you don’t have electricity in the garden, you need solar lights, battery lanterns, candles in lanterns or tea lights.

I have discovered the key to solar lights. You must read the instructions. They’re not complicated, but solar garden lights are different to ordinary electric lights.  This may sound like a blinding glimpse of the obvious. The little solar panels have to be exposed to full sun. They are small and unobtrusive, but they cannot be hidden in foliage.

Solar lights need to be charged up by a few days in the sun. So get them working several days in advance. Once you have them charged up and switched on, they will automatically come on when it’s dark. Then they re-charge during the day. Once everything is set up, it’s all very easy.

I’ve been sent two kinds of solar lights to review. Both are good. The Solar Centre’s Blingstring Solar Fairy Lights are a generous 20 metres long. I strung them around our pergola, and had no trouble charging them up. I fixed the solar panel to the top of the pergola, and now hardly notice it.

The Solar Fair Berry Lights from Festive Lights are shorter at 10 metres, so I wound them round my topiary spiral. It took me a while to work out which button to press, but it’s now working well. These lights would also look pretty as table decorations, in a large glass jar or hurricane lamp.

When buying fairy lights, make sure you know whether you are buying the blue-tinged White or the yellow-tinged Warm White bulbs.

Lanterns and candles

Sort out your lanterns and candles in advance. Or if you have battery-operated candle lanterns, check the batteries. There is nothing more frantic than scurrying around looking for matches, batteries or tea-lights when the party is in full swing.

If your lanterns, jam jars and night-light holders have been outside for a while, give them a good wash. It makes all the difference. Then replace the candles and tea lights and put them outside ready for action.

Add colour

Bright and strong colours work well outside. Pick a colour theme, such as red, hot pink, purple or lime green. Make it work with coloured napkins or glasses. You don’t need matching china and plates.

Bright napkins and coloured glass look great outside. These are from Sarah Raven.

Red wine and water glasses give this table a party feel, ‘pulling together’ the different plate patterns.

Picnic-ware and plates

You don’t have to use picnic plates for a garden party. But there are some lovely picnic plates around now, and it’s a great excuse to use them. I particularly love these tin plates.

I collect tin plates like this one, so I love having an excuse to use them for garden parties. The table cloth covers up a plastic folding table.

Use a mixed collection of plates – no need to be formal.

Bunting

What would a garden party be without bunting? If you only want short strings of bunting, the easiest option is to buy some. I went online to find Amazon’s best ranked vintage bunting and bought two packets. I strung one up on the pergola and another at the kitchen window to frame the garden outside.

I bought two packets of Amazon’s top-rated vintage bunting.

If you need alot of bunting, it’s cheaper to make your own. My friend, Fiona Boucher, made this bunting. She and two friends put aside a day. They bought about ten different colours of cotton and turned themselves into a production line. She made enough bunting for a big marquee and now lends it to friends.

The barbecue

Always start the barbecue an hour before you think you need to.

One of the best garden party ideas was suggested by a friend of mine. She advised me to have two barbecues on the go. She swears by her small ‘kettle’ barbecue. It was very useful for the party at our house this weekend, because there were two vegetarians. Their food was cooked separately.

It also means you can have a barbecue when there are just two or three of you, because it uses so much less charcoal than a full-size barbecue.

Protection from the weather

We have always borrowed gazebos from friends. When I find the perfect gazebo, I will buy one. So my first tip is ‘borrow from a friend.’ However, if something goes wrong, you don’t want to break a friend’s gazebo. And there are some very affordable models around such as this one from Deuba below at £46.95.

Roughly speaking, you have a choice between a £50 gazebo or a £200+ gazebo. You can’t expect the £50 model to last as long as the £200+ one, or for it to be as sturdy. Every time you put a gazebo up or down, you are putting some strain on it. If you leave it out in bad weather, the wind can cause damage. It may be more convenient to buy a cheaper gazebo, so that if it’s damaged, there’s less to lose.

A friend recently bought a heavy-duty gazebo like this one from AllSeasons Gazebos. She’s found it excellent so far. It’s easy to put up and take down, and it’s big enough for a party.

If it rains a lot where you live, then a permanent garden shelter may be a good investment. And if you have a kitchen that opens up into the garden, you may not need a shelter at all.

Let me know your garden party ideas and tips. Have a good party!

The post Easy garden party ideas and inspiration appeared first on The Middle-Sized Garden.

from The Middle-Sized Garden http://www.themiddlesizedgarden.co.uk/easy-garden-party-ideas-and-inspiration/