There has been a long standing and increasingly one-sided debate over whether certain pesticides harm both butterfly and bee populations around the world. Since 1975, UK butterflies have faced long-term decline, with up to 70 per cent of species declining in occurrence, and 57 per cent declining in abundance. That said however, not all butterfly […]
Aside from offering a great deal aesthetic value to our countryside and heritage, butterflies offer a great deal to the world in which they live, which is far beyond what we see as they flutter past. Much like bees, butterflies are heavily involved in the pollination of plants, but they do this in a way […]
This competition has now closed. Thank you to all who entered. Entries can be viewed here. As part of our butterfly and wildlife awareness campaign, we are announcing the launch of our Butterfly colouring in competition! Starting on March 3, and ending at midnight on 3rd May 2016 , all you have to do to […]
Gardening has gone through plenty of fashions, fads and phases, from the very first humans to grow vegetables and edible herbs on their doorstep, instead of foraging for them, through to planting flowers and shrubs for their aesthetic appeal rather than any real practical purpose. Victorian gardens are key But it was the Victorians who […]
We have five copies of John Walker’s latest book Digging Deep in the Garden: Book one (RRP £4.99) to give away, plus five £25 National Garden Gift Vouchers to be won in our easy-to-enter competition to find Britain’s most green and eco-friendly gardening tips. Followers of John Walker’s ‘renewable gardening’ blog will know that his […]
As soon as The Chelsea Flower Show closes its doors to the public on Saturday 28 May, the work of disassembling the beautiful gardens, trade stands and horticultural displays begins. The Main Avenue Hartley Botanic Show Garden takes more than three weeks to construct and lovingly plant but only a few days to disassemble. Hartley […]
Introducing Opus Hartley Botanic has been exhibiting beautifully planted trade stands at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show for close to sixty years, but for 2016, MD Johnny Mobasher is taking it to another level with a Main Avenue show garden designed by Catherine MacDonald from Landform Consultants Ltd. The inspiration for the feature glasshouse which […]
With autumn now on the way, Hartley Botanic is proud to announce that it has donated a brand new Tradition 8 Greenhouse to The Blue Coat School in Edgbaston, Birmingham. With such a beautiful school garden (known as The Hanging Gardens of Blue Coat), Hartley Botanic was more than happy to donate the greenhouse to […]
Now a firm part of British culture, over the last few centuries, the great English Victorian Glasshouse has become an iconic feature in botanic gardens throughout the country. Often thought of as a cornerstone of gardening itself, the history of the English glasshouse takes its roots from far and wide. Early beginnings Although a far […]
Enter for your chance to win a delicious & bespoke cheese hamper Please note: this competition has now ended, but thank you to every one who entered, and congratulations to our winner – Alison Barker, of Walsall in the West Midlands. Summer may feel like it’s on its way out, but here’s a […]
Created by Olivier Blanc & Charlotte Salt, Henri Le Worm aims to remind children where food comes from and the important role that nature plays in its production. Henri encourages children to engage with food and nature in a fun and playful way. In the App “Henri Le Worm – The Missing Cookbook,” children are […]
Staff on the Hartley Botanic stand at the Chelsea Flower Show welcomed a very special guest this week – Sarah is the granddaughter of Norman Hartley who together with his brother Vincent founded V & N Hartley in 1938. Sarah’s mother Elizabeth (Normans daughter) has spoken to Sarah of her memories of visiting Chelsea the year of […]
