Gardening In August with Geoff Carr

www.geoffreycarr.co.uk

Geoff Carr gives us tips on how to make our garden move with the times! Find out more about Geoff here.

Knowing when to prune and cut back plants can seem to be a bewildering challenge which is made even harder as the range of plants available to buy continues to expand. However, getting to know your plants is one of the great joys of horticulture because it leads to a greater understanding of what is going on in the garden and what part you can play in making it all work harmoniously. Rampant weeds are slightly less bothersome at this time of year so if you want to spend time researching your plants and how to look after them now is a good time to get out the reference and identification books. Now is also pruning time for summer-flowering plants such deutzia, philadelphus, weigela and all those who flowered in May, June and July.  Cut them back as soon as they finish flowering; remove any shoots that look too long, then cut to the ground about one third of the oldest stems.  In three years the plant will have been completely regenerated and ready for the health giving pruning cycle to begin all over again.

If you want to increase your stock of plants you can take cuttings now from such specimins as Abutilion, Brugmansia, Aeonium, Solenostemon , salvias, heliotropes, pelargonium’s and fuchsias.

Another job to do in August is ensuring container grown camellias do not dry out. They are using a huge amount of energy now to form next year’s flower buds and will benefit from a liquid feed that’s specifically for camellias. Hedges can be trimmed now but be careful not to cut back beyond the foliage of laylandii, they don’t break from old wood in the same way as yew or privet.

In the veg garden, plant new strawberry plants, sow spring greens, Japanese onions and salad crops too. Stop outdoor tomatoes after four fruit trusses have set; pinch out the growing tip at the top of the plant. It’s worth doing this because more fruit will not ripen in time and the plants energy can be diverted into improving the fruit that is viable.

Continue to deadhead roses and also trim back lavender. Lavender plants do not last for a long time and need replacing when they become straggly, usually every 5 to 6 years if you really want to maintain a healthy and neat looking display. To prune lavender, go over the plants with shears or scissors, cutting off old flower spikes and leaves back to about an inch above where the new growth is visible. For a free supply of new plants to replace the straggly old ones take cuttings now too. Plants to take cuttings from now include: - lavender, berberis, buddlejas, box, ceanothus, choisya, cistus, cytisus, heathers, escallonia, hebes, philadelphus, potentilla, pyracantha, santolina and viburnums. Some plants are producing their seeds at this time of year and it can be very rewarding to gather them up for planting either in pots or directly into the ground where you want them to grow next year.

There is always something positive that can be done in the garden and August is a good month for doing more than mowing the grass or pulling the weeds.

 http://www.geoffreycarr.co.uk/

Corinium Radio 'Under Siege'

Corinium Radio ‘Under Siege’

Corinium Radio has been under siege lately thanks to a mammoth recording project.

Cirencester’s community radio station has been working with local author Simon May to adapt and record his recent book ‘Siege of the Hares’ as a serialised play to be broadcast in the near future.

Also central to the adaptation is actor Moses Hardwick.

Now parts have been allocated for the play and recording has been started.

Said station spokesman Tony Coleman, “Volunteers have been arriving to record their parts for the final production.

“It isn’t being recorded chronologically so everyone is waiting to see what it sounds like when it all comes together.

“There’s a great buzz of excitement about the place.”

Graphic designer Simon uses talking hare characters in his book but factual events relating to Cirencester are also to be found.

Added Tony, “This really will be a programme not to be missed by local listeners.  We’ll keep you posted so you catch every second of the fun.”

Meanwhile Corinium Radio continues its major cultural project of working with creative talents from across the area.

At the moment the station is working with its ‘artist in residence’ Laurie Plant and will be auctioning an original artwork by him in the near future to help raise funds for Corinium Radio.

If you’re ever in the King’s Head in Cirencester you could well see examples of Laurie’s work, which adorn the hotel walls.

You can also see examples of Laurie’s work in an exhibition being staged in the Bingham Gallery in Cirencester. 

Entitled ‘Drawing on Cirencester’ the exhibition features art work relating to the town from over 200 years ago.

But Laurie’s drawings from 2012 bring the exhibition bang up to date.

During August you can see the exhibition on the 13^th and 27^th of the month between 10 am and 2 pm.

It is organised by the Bingham Library Trust.

And there’s more, Corinium Radio volunteers have little chance to get into holiday mode as they gear up to broadcast from Cirencester’s Phoenix Festival.  The free music festival promises great things this year with five fantastic stages for over 80 different music and dance performers over the August bank holiday weekend.

It takes place on the 27^th and 28^th of August in Cirencester’s Abbey Grounds and Corinium Radio will be there to air the proceedings.

Keep up to date with shows and news here:  http://www.coriniumradio.co.uk/

Corinium Radio Promotes Local Talent

Artist Laurie Plant.

Corinium Radio Promotes Local Talent

Corinium Radio is tuning in to the creativity of the Cotswolds.

Cirencester’s own community radio station is joining forces with a host of creative folk to promote and celebrate the artistic talent to be found across the region.

During the next 12 months four ‘Creatives in Residence’ will work with the local station on a variety of special projects.

The Corinium Radio ‘creatives’ will be from different artistic disciplines highlighting the wide variety of genres where talent is to be found.

They could, for example, be musicians, writers, artists, poets or makers.

The first ‘creative’ to work with the radio station is renowned local artist Laurie Plant.

Each ‘creative’ will work with the station for 3 months, and during his tenure Laurie is planning to create and donate a piece of original artwork with a local theme.  This will be auctioned by sealed bids to raise funds for Corinium Radio.

The town radio station has just been named Creatives Champion in the Cirencester Chamber of Commerce annual business awards.

Said station spokesman Tony Coleman, “We were over the moon to get the award and the idea of promoting creativity throughout the Cotswolds seemed a fitting way to mark our achievement.”

The idea for the creative link-up came from Corinium Radio chair Carole Boydell and the hope is that there will be a lasting legacy to the project at the end of the year.

One idea is to produce a ‘Creatives Tour Guide’ to the area so that locals and visitors alike are pointed towards the wide variety of artistic talent which can be found in Cirencester and the Cotswolds.

Carole said, “We decided to work with and promote creative talent locally as a direct response to winning the Chamber of  Commerce award.

Chair Carole Boydell.

“As a radio station we support all kinds of creative people and it was fantastic to win.

“However, we didn’t just want to put the award on a windowsill and celebrate amongst ourselves.

“We really wanted to mark the year in a way that involved the wider community.”

She pointed out that the money raised from the artwork auction could help set up the Creative Tour Guide to the area.

Added Carole, “This is planned to be a guide to lots of places where people can see what the area has to offer when it comes to creativity.

“Laurie is a fantastically talented artist who lives in Cirencester and whose heart is in the community – as is Corinium Radio’s.”

Front Garden Festival-See the Entries

Will this be a winner?

Front Garden Festival

Entries for the Front Garden Festival are now closed and the three prize winners will be announced in this magazine next month. The pictures shown here illustrate some of the fabulous displays that were entered into the competition; we hope you enjoy looking at these photographs and that you are inspired to think about contributing some more flower power for next year. 

Streamline.

Charming.

The full list of participating gardens is printed below, they are all within walking distance of Cirencester town centre and they make for a very enjoyable stroll.

Summery!

5, Gosditch Street. GL7 2AG: 9, St Peters Road. GL7 1RE: 35, Lewis Lane. GL7 1EA:

38, Alexander Drive. GL7 1UG: Coombe Cottage, Querns Road. GL7 1RP: Paternoster House. Watermoor Road. GL7 1JR: 22, Coxwell Street. GL7 2BH: 40c, Lewis Lane. GL7 1EB: 40b, Lewis Lane. GL7 1EB: 20, St Peters Road. GL7 1RG: 8, Ashcroft Gardens. GL7 1RB: Phoenix Gardeners C/O Abbey Grounds/Thomas Street/town centre tubs

Japanese Knotweed and the Law-Alison Fielden & Co

Japanese Knotweed and the Law

Japanese knotweed is an invasive, non-native plant which dies back in the winter but grows up to 2 metres or more in height by the early summer. It stifles other plants and is very difficult to eradicate. 

Powers of Statutory Bodies

Under the Infrastructure Act 2015, species control agreements can be made between environmental authorities and land owners in relation to an invasive non-native species of animal or plant. Invasive means that if uncontrolled the species would be likely to have a significant adverse impact on biodiversity, other environmental interests, or social or economic interests.

Under a species control agreement, the parties agree measures to control the species and will specify what is to be done by whom and when.

If a species control agreement is broken, or the land owner refuses or fails to enter into one when asked, a species control order may be made by an environmental authority to achieve the same results. Criminal penalties may result if the order is not complied with. 

Other statutory provisions which could be used are Section 215 of the Town and Country Planning Act which allows the local authority to serve a notice on a land owner and to remedy the condition of his land if the amenity of land or adjacent land in the local authority area is adversely affected.

 

The offender-Japanese Knotweed

Also under the Antisocial Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, a community protection notice can be served on someone whose unreasonable conduct is having a detrimental effect on the quality of life of those in the locality. 

Sale of Land

When buying land, residential or commercial, a buyer will wish to know whether the land is affected by Japanese Knotweed. In the latest edition of the property information form TA6, used in most domestic purchases and sales, there is a specific question asking exactly that. The seller must answer whether the land is “affected” and this of course does not refer only to Japanese Knotweed on the land being sold, but can also include neighbouring land. The seller can answer “yes”, “no”, or “not known” but unless this is made very clear to the buyer, the seller will be expected to have made reasonable enquiry and must in any case not mislead the buyer. 

Some mortgage lenders have specific requirements about what is to be done if Japanese Knotweed is present and these must be addressed before the mortgage money is requested.

For further information please see Infrastructure Act 2015, Town and Country Planning Act 1990, Antisocial Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2004. Please also feel free to contact Alison Fielden.

Alison Fielden & Co The Gatehouse Dollar Street Cirencester GL7 2AN, alison@alisonfielden.co.uk, 01285 653261.