Month: June 2017

A Northern National Trust Road Trip

Charlotte Hallam
National Trust

An affordable day out can be quite hard to find nowadays, but a National Trust membership makes it much less difficult. However, even if you were to visit without a membership, you’ll be surprised at just how affordable the prices are. There are so many fabulous National Trust sites dotted throughout the UK and, although we can’t cover them all, we’re going to cover as many as possible. Today, we’re starting our road trip in the North of England covering counties from Northumberland to Cheshire. Don’t worry though, we’ll be…

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Essential tips for erecting a new garden shed

Charlotte Hallam
garden shed

This is the time of year when people start kitting out their gardens with all things new and beautiful. One accessory no garden should be without at this time of year is a shed. The staple of many British gardens is a wooden shed, but we’ll bet that you, just like many others out there, end up replacing your shed every few years for one reason or another. Maybe it’s not weathered well; perhaps the floor has become damp or rotten; or maybe it’s started to bow. There are many…

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5 summer cocktails you simply must try

Charlotte Hallam
Cocktails

Following on from our colourful post on fruity summer smoothies, this one’s aimed more at evening entertainment and garden parties. Of course, we’re talking about summer cocktail parties and all things alcoholic, below you’ll find a list of tastiest along with their recipes. Pimms cocktail Of course Pimms is at the top, it is the drink of summer after all. But surprisingly, there’s more to it than throwing Pimms, strawberries, mint and lemonade into a jug. Yes, really there is. The proportions need to be just right. Luckily, we have…

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Perfect summer smoothie recipes

Charlotte Hallam
colourful smoothies

Summer’s very much around the corner which means cold drinks and healthy eating are all the rage at the moment. In order to make things a little easier for you, here we have the recipes for 10 tasty summer smoothies that’ll help you pack in your five a day.   Summer in a cup A stunning recipe from the Minimalist Baker. All you need is raspberries, banana, pomegranate juice, orange juice and almond milk. For the ultimate, cool, creamy and beautifully refreshing summer smoothie, click here for the full recipe.…

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Chelsea 2017: Trends you can replicate at home

Charlotte Hallam
Chelsea Flower Show

This year’s Chelsea Flower Show, just like every year, was one of regal proportion. Every garden display was elegant, charming and perfectly executed. However, although this is the most well-known flower show in the UK, that doesn’t mean the gardens displayed are completely out of reach. You can’t pick them up and take them with you, but we’re going to show you the key trends you could definitely adopt.   Level changes Playing about with the levels in a garden adds drama, and provides more room for planting. This is…

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Summer sowing, what should you be growing?

Charlotte Hallam
Young girl sowing seeds

Unless you’re a truly seasoned gardener, it can be difficult to know what to sow and when. And, if you decide on the wrong thing at the wrong time of year then the results – or lack of – can be a more than a little disheartening. With this comprehensive guide we’ve tried to give you all the info you need to sow successfully through the summer and into autumn to ensure a great crop of fresh vegetables throughout the winter.   Looking after your sowings Ideally, you should start sowing…

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Essential Father’s Day Gift Guide 2017

Charlotte Hallam
Father's Day

Father’s Day is only a couple of weeks away which means, if you haven’t already, it’s time to get your thinking caps on. Buying a gift for Dad is a notoriously difficult task, so we’re here to save you a headache and give you a few great ideas, whatever type of Dad you have.   The Techy Dad Techy Dads are cool because they’re into all the latest gadgets but that does mean that cost can be a bit of a problem. Rather than a gadget, consider a backpack that…

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