The Eurasian otter is the apex predator of the UK’s freshwater ecosystems. As opportunistic carnivores, they primarily feed on fish but will also eat crustaceans, frogs, molluscs and even small water birds. Otters require a mix of good quality water sources in close proximity to terrestrial habitats, making rivers, lakes and coastal regions ideal Read more »
Floriography is the language of flowers which have meanings derived from Greek mythology. They were often used by Shakespeare in his playwriting and they were studied by the Victorians who used flowers to send secret and complex romantic messages. The Victorians not only used different species to convey a variety of messages but also Read more »
By Libby Reeves, Head of Horticulture There is an association between soil fungi and plant roots that covers over 90% of plant life, this is known as mycorrhiza. It works in a symbiotic way with benefits to both the plant and the fungi. The plant provides carbohydrates from photosynthesis whilst the fungi assist with Read more »
Gardens can have such a positive impact on our well-being. Time outdoors with nature, sunshine, growing plants and tidying your garden space can help to improve your physical and mental health through extra hours of daylight, fulfilment, purpose and grounding. We can make simple changes in our own gardens and lives to benefit us, Read more »
The UK is home to six wild species of deer, of which only two are native; the iconic red deer and the illusive roe. The remaining four species (fallow, Chinese water deer, muntjac and sika) were introduced to this country primarily for sport hunting. Since the Norman conquest of 1066, the UK countryside has Read more »
The summer holidays are fast approaching and parents don’t know whether to be excited, relieved or panicked. The children, however, are over the moon! They are planning adventures, dreaming of sun, sea and sand and bubbling to the brim with anticipation and giddiness, imagining what this summer could bring. As the end of term Read more »
Topiary is the shaping of shrubs or trees into ornamental shapes. Many of us will have formed our first impressions of topiary through visits to historic buildings. You may have come away with memories of tiny box hedges with gravel in between or avenues of clipped hedges leading the eye to a victory column. Read more »
By Libby Reeves, Head of Horticulture I have been studying trees and plants in scientific formats for many years, particularly their growth habit, how they have evolved and why they are here. This is something I feel well-versed in and have written about on several occasions. I fell in love with plants Read more »
With the weather alternating between sun and rain, the garden weeds are thriving. Bindweed snakes its way up and around our shrubs until you can barely see what’s under them, ground elder marches relentlessly across our borders, brambles burst forth through the foliage of our shrubs, clumps of meadow grass announce themselves in the Read more »
By Ruby Simpson, Garden Designer As a designer, when I come across a garden with a dramatic feature that needs to be creatively included or enhanced, I’m excited for the challenge! When I saw the mature copse of trees at the bottom of this client’s garden, I couldn’t wait to start Read more »
By Katie Stevens, Forestry Assistant Throughout the world, we are experiencing the effects of climate change with unpredictable, extreme and out of season weather conditions.  This is the second of three blogs that will look at various species that are predicted to cope with the stressors of climate change. Each section will include Read more »
The challenge of creating privacy within a garden is frequently discussed with our clients. In the Nicholsons Garden Design Team,  we encourage natural screening wherever possible, if not physical structures softened by greenery to limit any incoming line of sight or equally block an unwanted view on neighbouring land/property. The Design Team has summarised Read more »
On a day-to-day basis, I get many people asking if they can keep their plant in a pot since they happily stay in containers in the nursery. This is a fair question but certain care guidelines need to be followed to ensure that your plant thrives in its new surroundings and doesn’t succumb to Read more »
What flower springs to mind when you think of Mother's Day? For me, it’s daffodils! I remember when I was younger, we made daffodil cards at school with yellow tissue paper petals and an orange trumpet made of card. I love a cheery bunch of daffodils in the house – it makes me feel Read more »
By Katie Stevens, Forestry Assistant Throughout the world, we are experiencing the effects of climate change with unpredictable, extreme and out of season weather conditions.  This is the first of three blogs that will look at various species that are predicted to cope with the stressors of climate change. Each section will include Read more »
By Freddie Gibbs, Associate Director & Head of Garden Design Avenue: a road, path or track, typically with trees at regular intervals along its sides. Vista: a distant view through or along an avenue or opening. From these definitions, it’s fair to say that when it comes to landscapes, these two aspects Read more »
I first joined Nicholsons back in the summer of 2016 on a placement year during my degree in Product Design at the University of Bournemouth. After I completed my studies, I returned as an assistant within the team and have continued to progress through different roles: Studio Manager, Garden Designer to Senior Designer, Head Read more »
One of the trickiest decisions to make when you re-landscape your garden is choosing paving. Search on any number of websites and you have to make choices about stone, finishes and colours and navigate jargon like 'riven,' 'etched' and 'dressed'. Paving is also one of the most expensive elements of a landscaping project and Read more »
