First prize in the European Garden Book Awards 2021 goes to Nigel Dunnett for his seminal book Naturalistic Planting Design/Naturalistische Garten Gestaltung. Over 120 books were submitted for evaluation by the jury and Nigel’s book reportedly “stunned the jury so much that it really deserved first prize”.

The European Garden Book Award is the premium award for European garden books, honouring exceptional literary achievements in the field of horticulture and garden culture.

Nigel said: “It feels very special to be given this award, in this international and European context.  Most of the theory and ideas around naturalistic planting design originated in Europe: Germany, Scandinavia, The Netherlands as well as the UK, and these ideas have since travelled around the world, inspiring countless numbers of people.”

The 16th European Garden Book Awards were held at the Castle of Dennenlohe in 12th March 2021 and you can watch the results here followed by a statement from the author. Congratulations Nigel, we’re so proud of your achievement and particularly delighted as this is Filbert’s first international book award!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKalvG8bUPs

BBC TV Gardeners’ World filmed Arit Anderson interviewing Dan Pearson at his own garden which is situated in rolling farmland. Just like Tokachi Millennium Forest, the garden is carefully integrated into the surrounding landscape and the plants look like they have been there forever.  The piece ran on Friday 4th September, BBC 2.  Watch it here. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p08qn5vg

“Spellbindingly beautiful photography…a treat for Mediterranean landscape and garden enthusiasts”

Gardens Illustrated, May 2019

I thought picking blackcurrants was hard but at least all the fruits ripen at roughly the same time and for pickers the ground is generally level.

In Colombia’s coffee region a typical coffee grower works 1.6 hectares of land and picking takes place on a 45 degree slope. The Andes split into 2 cordilleras in Colombia and it’s still mighty hilly. The coffee finds perfect conditions in these high elevations where the temperature stays above 12C and it’s never dry for more than 40 days. Although the plants are pruned for size, it’s a stretch to reach the berries and a tough, uphill work moving them around and getting the beans to market.

 

 

 

Filbert Press #winwildflowermeadows Competition

Follow, retweet and reply with #winwildflowermeadows to have a chance of winning.

Prize: a copy of How to make a Wildflower Meadow by James Hewetson-Brown

Terms and Conditions:

Please read our terms and conditions before entering:

1. This prize draw is open to UK residents aged 18 or over excluding employees of Filbert Press, or any of its subsidiary companies, their families, agents or anyone else connected with this promotion.
2. Competitions are run by Filbert Press and are in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by or associated with Facebook or Twitter.
3. Only one entry per person per competition is allowed.
4. Entrants must have a valid Twitter account. Multiple entries will be disqualified.
5. The competition will start from 19th until 29th April 2017 at 12:00.
6. There will be 1 winner.
7. The winner will be chosen at random from all valid entries.

8.The winner will be announced on 29th April 2017 before 5pm.

9. The winner will be notified by direct message on Twitter, using the Twitter account details from which the winning entry was submitted.
10. The Prize is non-transferrable, and no cash alternative is available. The chosen winner may not substitute, assign or transfer the Prize. The Prize will only be awarded directly to the winner.
11. The winner must claim their Prize within 48 hours of Filbert Press sending the notification, by responding via direct message on Twitter. If the winner does not claim their Prize within 48 hours, they shall forfeit their right to receive the Prize and Retail Direct will carry out a further draw at random to select an alternative winner. The alternative winner will be the first entry drawn at random from all other valid entries.
12. Filbert Press reserves the right to cancel or alter or amend the competition at any stage, if deemed necessary in its opinion, or if circumstances arise outside of its control.
13. Retail Direct will dispatch the Prize to the winner within 30 days of the winner claiming their Prize. The winner must ensure that the address provided is correct. No liability will be accepted by Retail Direct if the Prize is lost or delayed in the post.

Visit http://www.twitter.com/filbertpress to enter.

Filbert Press #winplantlove Competition

Follow, retweet and reply with #winplantlove to have a chance of winning.

Prize: a copy of Plant Love by Michael Allaby

Terms and Conditions:

 Please read our terms and conditions before entering:

1. This prize draw is open to UK residents aged 18 or over excluding employees of Filbert Press, or any of its subsidiary companies, their families, agents or anyone else connected with this promotion.
2. Competitions are run by Filbert Press and are in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by or associated with Facebook or Twitter.
3. Only one entry per person per competition is allowed.
4. Entrants must have a valid Twitter account. Multiple entries will be disqualified.
5. The competition will start from 1st until 7th Feb 2017 at 12:00.
6. There will be 1 winner.
7. The winner will be chosen at random from all valid entries.
8. The winner will be announced on 8th Feb 2017 before 3pm.
9. The winner will be notified by direct message on Twitter, using the Twitter account details from which the winning entry was submitted.
10. The Prize is non-transferrable, and no cash alternative is available. The chosen winner may not substitute, assign or transfer the Prize. The Prize will only be awarded directly to the winner.
11. The winner must claim their Prize within 24 hours of Filbert Press sending the notification, by responding via direct message on Twitter. If the winner does not claim their Prize within 24 hours, they shall forfeit their right to receive the Prize and Filbert Press will carry out a further draw at random to select an alternative winner. The alternative winner will be the first entry drawn at random from all other valid entries.
12. Filbert Press reserves the right to cancel or alter or amend the competition at any stage, if deemed necessary in its opinion, or if circumstances arise outside of its control.
13. Filbert Press will dispatch the Prize to the winner in time for Valentine’s Day. The winner must ensure that the address provided is correct. No liability will be accepted by Filbert Press if the Prize is lost or delayed in the post.

Visit http://www.twitter.com/filbertpress to enter.

I’ve always wanted to cut down my own Christmas tree, straight from the forest, somewhere picturesque like this  farm in Massachusetts so when we inherited two Christmas trees on our allotment I knew I was getting close.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Filbert went to the Green Scythe Fair at Thorney Lakes near Muchelney in Somerset in early June. It’s a great place to…

Have a go at scything

Buy kit

Compete in time trials

Find out about making hay by hand

Check out this charcoal burner

A proper traditional country fair. Looking forward to next year.