St. Kevin, We Need You!

Flogged up to the NEC at Birmingham today to see Grand Designs Live. I can't tell you what it was like to go to a venue simultaneously hosting three shows (I could have gone to GDL, something to do with horses and the Wedding Show on the same day) - OMG as my daughter would say. The garden design area was much more hot tub than horticulture, but it was a valuable day and gave me much food for thought.I don't want to sound like too much of a suck, but Kevin McCloud is a very nice, personable bloke who is passionate, intelligent, and knowledgable about his subject (like Hugh F-W). Grand Designs has deservedly done him well, now attracts a huge following, and has opened a whole new world for people like me (like River Cottage). Ten years ago I wanted to live in an old rectory. Now I want to build my own eco house. Why in God's name can't someone do for cool, chic, functional eco friendly gardens and landscapes what Kevin has done for cool, chic, functional modern architecture? I'm sure there's a gardening McCloud out there - several names come to mind - we just need to persuade a commissioning editor somewhere to back the right show. Is Matthew Wilson's Landscape Man a good start?I was mulling this over while stuck in a traffic jam on the M5 somewhere north of the Cheltenham exit on the way home and listening to Gardeners' Question Time. Someone asked the panel what they would do if they had a spare acre of land. I know it's just a bit of fun, but I for one was interested and thought I might get an inspiring idea. One of the panellists said she would plant a field of Pumpkins. PUMPKINS!!! Says it all, really.

"You got membrane under the hardcore?
I wouldn't put any less than 150mm to 200mm hardcore under on clay.
I've heard this is a problem this year. I haven't seen any effect sofar.
I've only done one patio with a step this year the sucker hasn't…"

"I think a few guys have experienced this, possibly ground heave. I've had a Patio I laid 6 years ago do a similar thing. It's a difficult one, because if you followed all the correct guidelines for your install, what do you do?
After an incredibly…"

I would love to hear if anyone has had an experience of paving being pushed up because of the hot and dry weather this summer. We have had a number of patios where this has become a problem (a couple we laid ourselves and quite a few more where…

Comments

Kieran Ray October 11, 2010 at 10:44pm

I know what I would do,and its not plant pumpkins!

In fact I would build a series of smaller gardens that are all linked together, each sub garden having its very own unique identity.

Kieran Ouzel Landscapes