Dobbies, the UK’s leading garden centre, is announcing summer workshops in its Edinburgh store to celebrate the start of summer.
The Little Seedlings Club workshop will teach children how to look after the garden with the warmer temperatures, and Dobbies’ Holiday Club workshop is about the different herbs and microgreens that can help your pizza taste great.
Suitable for children aged 4-10, these free and interactive sessions in Edinburgh are guaranteed to keep them busy during the school holidays and encourage them to discover more about nature.
Taking place on Sunday 2 July, the Little Seedlings Club workshop is set to be fun-filled and educational with a focus on how to effectively conserve water when looking after the garden this summer.
Children will learn about the fascinating water cycle in plants and why plants need our help to stay green and lush, particularly during the hotter months.
Dobbies’ horticultural experts will teach the children in Edinburgh when to water the plants and how to preserve water usage through sustainable mulching and planting drought-resistant species like Cordyline, Lavender and Hebe. Mulching not only saves water but also suppresses weeds, provides nutrients to the plants and enhances the overall appearance of the garden.
Dobbies’ Holiday Club takes place from the start of July where children will learn about the different herbs and microgreens that can be used as pizza toppings.
The Holiday Club session will show the difference herbs can make to a pizza, adding bold or subtle flavours as well as having nutritional value. The children in attendance will also learn how to grow herbs and microgreens at home with ease.
Dobbies’ Community and CSR Communications Executive, Chloë Bell said: “We are excited to be hosting two fantastic sessions for kids in our Edinburgh store this summer.
“Not only are these sessions a great way to keep children entertained and busy during the holidays, but it’s a great chance for them to meet friends and try something new. If you haven’t already checked out our free sessions, please do come along this July and get involved.”
Advance booking is required to secure a free spot at July’s Little Seedlings Club workshop and Pizza Planting Holiday Club. The Holiday Club will run throughout the school holidays and customers are encouraged to visit the Dobbies’ website for booking as each store’s availability differs.
For more information on how children can participate, visit: Events | Dobbies Garden
Power tools such as lawnmowers, hedge trimmers & pressure washers could lead to tinnitus and hearing loss
In the run up to the Chelsea Flower Show (22-27 May) which marks the start of the peak gardening season, Tinnitus UK is calling for gardeners to protect their ears when mowing the lawn, trimming hedges or using power tools on their patch, as new data shows only a quarter (26%) “regularly” or “sometimes” use hearing protection.
This means that over 4 million gardeners in the UK are putting themselves at risk of hearing loss and tinnitus, both of which can be permanent.
One in seven adults are affected by tinnitus – which is a condition that causes the perception of noise when there is no external source. There is currently no cure for the condition.
Noise becomes a risk to hearing health at levels of 80dB or above. Lawn mower sound levels vary, but they can be as high as 95dB for petrol driven models, and even higher for ride-on models.
Pressure washers – a popular way of cleaning paths and patios – can reach 94dB. Hedge trimmers are even more problematic as they can be as loud as 103dB. At this level, hearing damage can occur in under 8 minutes.
Caroline Savage, CEO of Tinnitus UK said: “Noise exposure is the single biggest preventable cause of tinnitus, and it is clear from our research that people appear to be unaware of the risks. Even if you’re only giving your hedge a quick trim or the patio a spruce up, use hearing protection. When it’s loud … Plug’em is our very clear message.
“We want to make sure that people are able to enjoy their garden to the fullest, and to be able to revel in the bird song and natural sounds in their outdoor space. We know gardening to be beneficial for people’s physical and mental wellbeing, and we’d hate for people to put that at risk.
“People protect their cherished plants from frost and slugs – we want protecting your ears to be second nature. There should be no stigma around using ear plugs – we only have one pair of ears, and damage to our hearing is irreversible.”
Dobbies’ Edinburgh store has announced its local Helping Your Community Grow winner, seeing Dalkeith Guerrilla Gardeners receive gardening products, advice, and support to enhance their outside space.
Dalkeith Guerrilla Gardeners is a community initiative run by volunteers who aim to make a difference in the local area from gardening to litter picking.
Dobbies will provide the group with watering butts, plants, bulbs and seeds, alongside support from its horticultural experts to help bring this project to life.
Dobbies’ own-brand peat-free multipurpose compost, recycled and recyclable containers, UK-sourced plants and safer pest control products are among the many products the garden centre will donate to its winner.
Jenna Bavidge, General Manager at Dobbies’ Edinburgh store said: “We are delighted to be supporting Dalkeith Guerrilla Gardeners this year and look forward to seeing the community garden project come to life with our support.
“We’ve been truly overwhelmed with the response to our campaign in Edinburgh! The team and I would like to thank all the worthy causes that got involved in the application process and our customers who helped us crown our Helping Your Community Grow winner by voting.”
Dalkeith Guerrilla Gardeners said: “We are thrilled to have been crowned the local Helping Your Community Grow winner for Edinburgh and would like to thank those members of the public who voted for us.
“Dobbies’ backing will allow us to brighten up our local area in a sustainable way, and we can’t wait to see Dalkeith bloom.”
In addition to the local win, Nest Nurseries Garden Project located in Keston has been crowned the national winner for the initiative and will receive additional funding and support to help their garden project thrive.
This will include advice, gardening products and plants to help young children explore the outdoors, learn about nature, improve their physical development and better understand the world around them.
Have you always wanted to learn how to grow vegetables in Scotland but not sure where to start? ELREC has teamed up with The Royal Botanic Gardens of Edinburgh (RBGE) to offer you an amazing opportunity!
Join the Community Gardeners at the Botanics who will share their knowledge with us fortnightly on Friday mornings starting from April 21st!
We will have a plot where we will learn different aspects of growing vegetables, such as how to look after your soil, make your own compost, sow seeds, protect seedlings from pests and diseases using organic principles, and much more!
These sessions are aimed at anyone interested in learning about growing produce, even if you are a total beginner!
The sessions start TOMORROW on Friday, April 21st, every two weeks ’til October – we don’t expect you to attend all of them, but it’s helpful if you attend most of them to build your knowledge.
The sessions will take place in the demonstration garden, by the Botanic Cottage, and will last 2 hours from 10:15 to 12:30. Be sure to bring sturdy shoes and clothing that can withstand the Scottish weather!
Don’t miss out on this amazing opportunity to learn about growing your own vegetables in Scotland!
For the month of May, Johnson’s Lawn Seed is encouraging gardeners to say “no” to mowing their lawns, in a move to halt the declining numbers of bees, butterflies, and wildlife, as part of Plantlife’s No Mow May initiative.
A special new product will also be introduced, helping gardeners to further support our beloved creepy crawlies.
No Mow May returns next month and was first launched in 2019 by the botanical charity, Plantlife to highlight the terrifying loss of natural habitats including almost 7.5 million acres of flower-rich meadows and pastures having been lost since the 1930s. The result is fewer pollinators and fewer insect-eating birds, with entire habitats on the verge of complete collapse.
Recognising this, Johnsons Lawn Seed, alongside the No May initiative is highlighting the importance of our gardens, as a place to support vital wildlife. Small steps, such as having a slightly overgrown lawn or planting wildflowers that are rich in pollen and nectar, will attract beneficial insects and bees to gardens.
How to get involved
No Mow May doesn’t mean messy, overgrown, and scraggy patches of lawn to attract wildlife. Johnsons Lawn Seed’s Celebration Wildflowers Mix – launched for the 2023 season – can take a part of an existing lawn or flowerbed and convert it into a meadow. Containing bright and vibrant annuals, the mix has 17 different flowering species including cornflowers, poppies, cosmos, marigolds, and daisies, providing a diverse assortment of local insects.
Not only do the Celebration Wildflower tins make ideal gifts for garden-loving friends and family, but they also offer an important gift to nature, as the wildflowers will encourage pollinators into gardens, providing nectar for these vital winged insects.
Outdoor spaces will come alive with bees and butterflies for months at a time as soon as the flowers appear. With coverage of up to 15m2 from one tin and an RRP of just £9.99, Celebration offers a lot more for your money and will bring wildlife to your garden in its droves.
In the Tin
The Celebration Wildflower Tins contain a stunning mix of flower seeds, chosen to create a riot of colour and attract all kinds of pollinators to the garden:
Common Name
Colour(s)
Paper Daisy
White/Pink/Purple
Pheasant’s Eye
Red/Orange
Pot Marigold
Red/Orange/Yellow
Cornflower
Blue/Pink/White
Cosmos
Pink/Purple
Painted Daisy
Red/Orange/Pink/Yellow
Dwarf Morning Glory
Blue/Purple/Pink/White
Chinese Forget-Me-Not
Blue
California Poppy
Multi Colour Mix
Fineflower
Blue/Pink
Farewell to Spring
Pink/Red/White
Baby’s Breath
Red/White
Candy Tuft
White/Blue/Pink/Purple
Love-in-a-Mist
Blue/Pink/Purple/White
Corn Poppy
Red
Why rewilding matters
Bumblebees are by far the most well-known pollinators and without these little buzzing creatures there would be far fewer flowers, fruits, and vegetables growing around us. According to a BBC report, bees pollinate approximately 70 of 100 crop species that feed 90% of the world, with honey bees alone being responsible for $ 30 billion a year worth of food.
Another benefit of leaving your lawn uncut is it protects butterflies as they lay eggs and food for insect larvae as they grow and develop. There are about 60 types of butterflies in the UK, but they are declining more rapidly in urban areas. A major scientific report from Butterfly Conservation shows that almost three-quarters of the UK’s butterfly species in the UK have suffered population declines over the last 10 years.
Seeds created by the wildflowers can also be eaten by garden birds and the taller plants will provide shelter for all kinds of wildlife, increasing biodiversity in an outdoor space. It’s also ideal for the novice gardener as the wildflower lawn is low maintenance, requires little water, and does not require a green thumb to keep it looking bold and beautiful.
Plants grasses too
For those that want to establish grasses as well as flowers, Johnsons Country Meadow Mix when planted in an urban setting is beneficial to support insects and other wildlife. By planting native wildflowers, you will provide attractive drifts of colour throughout the summer months, as well as maintain the No Mow May pledge.
The Country Meadow Mix is a mixture of native origin as sown by professionals and contains birdsfoot trefoil, black knapweed, and yarrow, as well as grasses including browntop bent, crested dogstail and Yorkshire fog.
The diverse lawn and native wildflowers are both natural and sustainable and are essential for establishing a healthy wildlife community. Think soft meadow colours, wildflowers, and native plants such as cow parsley, poppies, and buttercups accompanying wispy grasses and you have wildlife-friendly sanctuaries in your backyard.
Get the kids involved
Or why not get the kids involved with No Mow May and use either of Johnsons’ mixes by making a seed bomb? This is a fantastic gardening activity that children will love. All you need is some wildflower mix, some clay, and compost.
Mix with water to form a dough ball. Once they have dried, simply throw them onto your lawn or into your flower bed and watch how a magical meadow of blooms grows.
What’s more, each mixture of Johnsons’ wildflowers will establish within eight weeks. By not mowing the lawn this May, the longer length will create a haven for wildlife, newts, frogs, and hedgehogs to forage, as well as beetles and worms that will also bring birds to your garden to feast on the many invertebrates.
It’s not too late for gardeners to start getting involved now as part of the build-up of the charity’s No Mow May initiative.
Guy Jenkins, Consumer Manager at Johnsons Lawn Seed says: “No Mow May represents an opportunity for homeowners when it comes to native wildflowers and helping to support the biodiversity and nature of their area.
“Our Wildflower mixes can help the pressures our pollinating insects and other wildlife face by creating a sustainable environment within the urban garden.”
Johnsons Celebration Annual Wildflowers are available in 50g tins with an RRP of £9.99.
Johnsons Country Meadow Mix is available in a 200g carton with an RRP of £14.99 Both are available from garden centres or retailers.
Heart Research UK Healthy Heart Tip, written by the Health Promotion and Education Team at Heart Research UK
Healthy Heart Tip: The Power of Gardening
It is National Gardening Day on 14th April in the UK and as the weather starts to (slowly!) warm up, it is a great time to get outside. Gardening is associated with many health benefits including improved physical, mental and social wellbeing.
Mowing the lawn, digging, weeding and other gardening tasks can help us stay active and hit our weekly exercise goal and simply spending more time outdoors has been shown to improve sleep. If you don’t have a garden, or outdoor space, you can still reap many of the benefits by planting in pots on windowsills or joining a local gardening group near you.
Read on for our top tips to get started and ideas of what to grow:
Getting started
Whether you are growing indoors or outdoors, a thriving plant starts with good soil. The surest way to make sure your plants get off to a good start is to buy a bag of compost and use this to start your seedlings; once they are well-established you can re-plant them into regular soil in your garden.
To save money on buying little pots, you can start your seedlings in clean yoghurt pots or any other containers you can save from your kitchen, just poke something sharp through the bottom to allow for some drainage.
Grow heart-healthy herbs
Eating too much salt can contribute to increased blood pressure, using herbs in cooking is a great way to add flavour without adding salt. Herbs are one of the easiest things to grow and great for beginners to try. They are a great choice for indoor growing as they do well in pots on a sunny windowsill.
If you’re planting them outdoors, choose the sunniest spot you can find. Chives, mint, basil, parsley, and thyme are just a few that are easy to care for. You can either grow from seeds or buy the small plants from the supermarket and re-pot them.
Involve the whole family
Gardening is a hobby for all ages, and it’s a nice activity to do with children. Children love to see flowers grow and growing vegetables together can be a great way to encourage them to try them, which is especially helpful if you have a picky eater.
It is also a great way to introduce a little responsibility in the form of caring for something else, let children choose what flowers and vegetables they want to grow and watch the sense of joy they get from seeing the fruits of their labour.
Strachan House Care Home resident, Bill Lathe had dreamed of being able to garden again so staffed teamed up with a local boy Struan Dow who helped Bill out with his wish to make it come true.
Bill has lived at Strachan House for several years and is oved by staff and residents alike. Staff and Struan were delighted to be a part of making his dream come true, as they knew how much it meant to him and they all wanted to be there to see the smile on Bills face.
Staff first found out about Bills wish through their active activities program. Mandy, Head of Activities, said “Bill has always had a love of gardening and when we were a contacted about a local boy Struan needing to complete his JASS project it made sense to pair the two up by surprising Bill.”
JASS is the junior programme for the Duke of Edinburgh awards and Struan needed to undertake his silver award. This meant he was tasked with having to complete a 12 hour project. A student in class 6HD at Erskine Stewart Melville School, meant that Struan gave up his Easter break to work on the project.
He said: “When I heard of Bill’s wish I knew I could combine my project with his wish, so I decided to spring into action and build Bill an accessible herb garden box and present it to him within the gardens at Strachan House.
“I was so happy to see Bill’s face and was so happy to be part of something special for him. To know that my herb box will be appreciated and go to good use is awesome!”
Mandy Head of Activities added “What and amazing young lad Struan is and he should be proud of his hard work. Bill is over the moon!”
In response to this wonderful surprise, Bill said: “I was overwhelmed. It is such an amazing feeling to know that the youngsters still look out for us and care so much.
“I’m really grateful to Struan and the team for making my wish come true. I can’t wait to get planting my herbs for the use in the kitchen”
Gordon Philp, General Manager at the home, said: “We want everyone we care for to know how important they are to us here at Strachan House. It was so nice to see how happy Bill was and the staff loved being a part of this as well.”
Strachan House care home is run by Barchester Healthcare, one of the UK’s largest care providers, which is committed to delivering personalised care across its care homes and hospitals.
Strachan House provides residential care, nursing care and dementia care for 83 residents from respite care to long term stays.
To help you find the right spring flowers to suit you, MyJobQuote’s gardening expert, Fiona Jenkins, has compiled a list of the 10 most beautiful spring-flowering plants:
Snowdrops (Galanthus spp.)
Snowdrops are one of the earliest blooming spring flowers. Sometimes, they can even bloom as early as January. There are many species of Snowdrops and they range in sizes and shapes. Snowdrops clump up over time, so it’s easy to dig them up when needed. From there, you can then divide and replant them to form a much bigger display. These flowers most commonly bloom during the months of January through to March.
Crocus (Crocus tommasinianus)
Crocuses are some of the most beautiful spring plants. These gorgeous flowers provide masses of pollen for early bumblebees. Most varieties of Crocus are purple. However, they can also come in white and yellow varieties as well. These flowers are best planted in autumn and grow best in moist, well-drained soil with full sun. These flowers most commonly bloom during the months of February through to April.
Daffodils (Narcissus spp.)
Spring just wouldn’t be spring without daffodils! These are very happy flowers that can bloom in even the most harsh of conditions and can help to provide a splash of bright colour to your garden when there is not much else in flower.
Although yellow daffodils are the most common and well-known, you can also get other varieties of daffodil in shades of pink and white.
If you enjoy the sight of daffodils, you can plant a range of early and late flowering daffodils so you can enjoy them for longer. These flowers most commonly bloom during the months of February through to May.
Hyacinth (Hyacinthus)
Hyacinths are seen as looking quite old fashioned. However, these traditional-looking flowers look great in pots displays. They are extremely fragrant, so offer some gorgeous scents to your garden.
Plus, they come in a range of colours including pink, purple, and white. This allows you to create some gorgeous blasts of colour throughout your garden space. These flowers require full sun and moist but well-drained soil. These flowers most commonly bloom during the months of March through to April.
Tulips (Tulipa spp.)
Tulips are one of the most popular spring-flowering plants. They come in a wide ranges of shapes, sizes and colours. If you want to create a cheerful display in your garden, you can choose a range of brightly coloured blooms.
Alternatively, go for white, purple and maroon shades to create a more dramatic aesthetic. Tulips grow best when planted in full sun and in moist but well-drained soil. These flowers most commonly bloom during the months of April through to May.
Forget-Me-Nots (Myosotis sylvatica)
Forget-me-nots are wonderfully cheery blooms with low-growing blue flowers. They work well when paired with various other spring flowers.
Forget-me-nots are perfect for ongoing gardens as they self-seed. However, they can start to look a bit untidy after flowering. With this in mind, it’s best to pull them out at this stage and plant something else in their place instead.
Forget-me-nots enjoy partial shade and moist but well-drained soil. These flowers most commonly bloom during the months of April through to June.
Snake’s Head Fritillary
Snake’s head fritillary plants are part of the lily family. They feature unique and beautiful chequerboard patterns and come in various shades of pink and mauve. You can also get white varieties, however, these are less common. Snakes head fritillaries enjoy moist soil with partial shade.
These flowers most commonly bloom during the months of March through to April.
Reticulate Iris (Iris reticulata)
Reticulate Iris plants are beautiful, delicate spring flowering plants with fragrant purple flowers featuring yellow markings. They tend to grow quite short so work very well in pots or in smaller displays.
They also grow best in pots and make a fantastic addition to things like table centrepieces and windowsill displays. These flowers most commonly bloom during the months of January through to April.
Foxgloves (Digitalis)
Foxgloves are beautiful unique spring flowers with purple/pink tubular flowers featuring gorgeous spots on the inside. You can also get white and orange varieties of foxgloves, however, these are less common.
Foxgloves enjoy moist but well-drained soil and can survive in conditions from sun to shade. Biennial varieties self-seed readily. These flowers most commonly bloom during the months of May through to June.
Alliums (Allium spp.)
Alliums are beautiful spring-flowering plants with gorgeous globe-shaped flowers. They are a favourite flower amongst bees and also make excellent cut flowers. They look particularly beautiful in both fresh and dried cut flower arrangements.
These flowers enjoy full sun and well-drained soil. They look best when grown with other foliage plants as other plants can hide their unsightly foliage. These flowers most commonly bloom during the months of May through to June.
Water-smart gardening tips plant seeds for Spring inspiration
WATER experts are calling on the public to get into the garden this spring to make every drop count of Scotland’s most precious natural resource.
With garden sprinklers using around 15 litres of water per minute, alternative water-cautious methods will ensure the resource is protected and waste reduced.
Not only that, small and cost-effective interventions can play an important role in slowing the speed that water run-off hits our drainage systems and streets, helping to reduce potential flooding risks.
A series of cost effective, simple tips have been produced by Scottish Water to help the country’s gardeners make an impact – and are perfect for trying out with the whole family this Spring:
1. Install a water butt
A useful way to harvest rainwater, to save it for a sunny day, is to create a water tank. Buying and fitting a water butt is easy, but there are all sorts of hacks to reuse household items. Maybe using an old watering can, or a bin – there’s a host of creative videos online that are simple and free to do. It’s a great way to highlight to youngsters how much water a garden uses while also catching water to give plants a drink in dry spells.
2. Creative upcycle
From budget planters to making DIY garden pots, there is something for all the family to get involved in while giving a new purpose to unused or unloved material. For example, turning an old sandbox into a garden bed or getting handy with odd bits of wood to build and decorate a box – great ways to add colour to the smallest of spaces. And the perfect solution to absorbing water in heavy downpours, reducing surface water run-off which can contribute to flooding. It all helps!
3. Learn to love your lawn
Let your lawn get back to nature. Letting it grow a little longer is great for bees and bugs. Summer dry spells can mean your lawn becomes parched – but that’s natural too and you’ll be amazed at how it can bounce back with the next rainfall. Delivering water to your taps – whether in the garden and in the house – uses loads of energy, so only using the water you need can reduce our collective carbon footprints.
4. Water wise plants
Plants and trees play an important role helping to intercept rain before it hits the ground. Large leafy plants, shrubs and trees scattered throughout your garden will absorb groundwater through their roots and catch some water on their leaves. They’ll also help to shelter exposed ground, saving it from damage caused by intense rainfall.
5. Create a raingarden
Creating a natural ‘raingarden’ within your plot can help gardens cope during heavy rain and can be a much-needed haven for nature. They can also help reduce water flowing off paved areas quickly in heavy rain onto roads and into the sewer system and help reduce flooding downstream.
Rain gardens can be created simply, by digging down to create a dip at the lowest part of your garden, to help water drain into it. Plant the space with plants that like wet conditions but can also cope with period of dry weather.
Gravel paths, permeable driveways and real lawns all help drain heavy rainfall which is all too familiar as the climate changes. If you must pave over part of your garden, then draining it through a raingarden helps to minimise rainwater run-off, helping nature and adding a welcome pop of colour to your garden.
6. Home composting
Composting is an inexpensive, natural process that transforms kitchen and garden waste into valuable and nutritious food for your garden.
Starting this spring will save you money, resources and help improve your soil – while acting as a fun family project. Many councils can supply a compost bin, or you can cheaply make your own out of pallets or odd bits of wood.
Did you know the water you’ve already used to wash yourself, clothes and dishes is called ‘grey water’? And this grey water can be reused to water your plants or lawn – a bit of soapy washing up water will do your plants no harm.
Ladybirds and other wildlife flourish in gardens which can be used to help tackle climate change. Scottish Water is offering top tips to anyone with outdoor space on simple steps they can take to help reduce drought risks and to help prevent flooding
Top tips: Pop a few pot plants near your kitchen door, take your used washing up water to top up the plants when they need it. Just remember to let the water cool and water from the roots not the leaves. Avoid using greywater on edible plants.
8. Garden games
A fun way to encourage youngsters to think about the cycle of water from cloud to life is through different planting experiments. Why not identify an area where water naturally gathers during rainy days and plant vegetation that will thrive in that sort of soil, and do the opposite with a dry area? Lavender is a cheap plant that loves dry soil, smells great and attracts bees. Likewise the beautiful Himalayan blue poppy thrives in damp ground, helping reduce flooding.
9. Real vs Artificial grass
Despite the increase in artificial grass over the last decade, nothing beats the real thing for water efficiency. And it can often be a much cheaper option.
Get the family together to level the lawn, distribute lawn seeds and watch it grow. This could make for an exciting holiday project.
Artificial grass is essentially plastic, so it releases microplastics into the environment.
For soaking up water in damp ground, the Himalayan blue poppy. is ideal. This is Meconopsis ‘Slieve Donard’
Scottish Water is providing tips to help the public tackle climate change in their gardens – not matter how large or small. Dawn Lochhead, Flood Risk Manager, is an expert in water smart gardening. She has shared 10 tips, including plants that will help prevent flooding by retaining water during times of heavy rain
A real lawn supports wildlife rather than harming it. If your only option just now is artificial, could you install a rain garden to manage rainwater runoff from hard surfaces.
Something as simple as a raised bed or planter boxes; easy to create, maintain and add colour.
10. Show off your work and encourage others to do the same
By encouraging everyone to consider small changes to their lifestyles, people can save water, save money and help reduce our collective emissions – so make sure to show off your water smart gardening with friends, in person and online. And remember, your actions can affect others down-stream, so be a good neighbour and do your bit to reduce flooding.
Dawn Lochhead, Scottish Water’s Flood Risk Manager, in the garden of her Midlothian home with son Harris and pet dog, Rex. Dawn is an expert on how gardens can be optimised to make optimal use of water and help prevent flooding during rainy weather and to reduce water use during potential drought periods.
These pics go with Scottish Waters 10 top tips for effectie water use in gardens.
Dawn Lochhead, Flood Risk Manager at Scottish Water, is also a keen gardener who has implemented many of these tips in her own family garden in Midlothian. She said: “Water is precious resource, and we all need to look after it.
“I’m sure most of us think it rains a lot in Scotland – and that is true – but our weather is changing due to climate change, leading to us to a mix of longer dry spells and much heavier downpours which can lead to flash flooding.
“Modern life means we’ve changed our green spaces substantially. Being water-smart in our homes and gardens is an easy thing we can all do to help redress the balance, help nature thrive and reduce flood risk for ourselves and our neighbours.
“Thinking about drainage and the use of permeable materials in our gardens is the first step, allowing water to be absorbed and dissipate naturally. Plus capturing rainwater to use in the garden helps during dry spells.
“Planting a lawn, shrubs, flowers, creating a raingarden not only look great, they attract wildlife and are a true investment in everyone’s future. If everyone did a few small things in their gardens this Spring, collectively we’d make a big difference.”
Have you always wanted to learn how to grow vegetables in Scotland but not sure where to start? 
ELREC has teamed up with The Royal Botanic Gardens of Edinburgh (RBGE) to offer you an amazing opportunity! 
Join the Community Gardeners at the Botanics who will share their knowledge with us fortnightly on Friday mornings starting from April 21st! 
These sessions are aimed at anyone interested in learning about growing produce, even if you are a total beginner! 
The sessions will take place in the demonstration garden, by the Botanic Cottage, and will last 2 hours from 10:15 to 12:30. Be sure to bring sturdy shoes and clothing that can withstand the Scottish weather! 
