Lucy’s news from the nursery:

It was World Mental Health Day this week, an opportunity to start conversations about mental health & check-in with your friends & family. We have worked with the local mental health charity Restore as well as the more well-known charity Mind since 2017 after losing Jack. Our fundraising events throughout the year & donations by our wonderful customers have meant we have been able to donate over £120,000 to them. Restore helps 500 local people each year with their recovery journeys. Many of you come along to the nursery to sit & listen to the birds or wander through the plants as you find it beneficial to your wellbeing. As a family we can agree that being outdoors amongst the plants & wildlife is a pretty good way to spend time at ‘work’.

We were in for a magical treat this Wold Mental Health Day as we were able to see the Northern Lights over Old Walter’s Meadow. At about 10pm Simon went over to see if it was visible then called me & Nimbus ? to come see. We wrapped up warm & were able to see beautiful orangey pink & green colours across the sky…dad came over just in time to see a shooting star whizz past too! ?

Calling all creative children (& grown-ups)…it’s competition time! We are looking for some Scarecrows to join our Scarecrow Trail over in the meadow on behalf of your chosen primary school ??. Each primary school that has 1 or more scarecrows made with receive a bundle of goodies worth approx £40 - including a waterbutt, 2 planter tubs, a bag of compost & 5 packs of seeds. Our customers will be able to vote for their favourite one and the ‘best scarecrow’ wins £100 voucher to buy plants for their primary school. The theme is children’s book characters (maybe a chance to recycle your outfit from World Book Day…).
To enter just email Lucy at fundraising@bunkershillgardenshop.co.uk, bring your scarecrow to the nursery & collect your scarecrow after the event ends.

There is a change in the air as we head into the autumn & winter months. We had a chilly evening last night so now is the time to cut back any perennials that are looking a bit straggly or soggy such as hostas. If you have containers with summer bedding that has now gone over you can replace them with colourful flowers such as violas, pansies & heathers which will last throughout the colder months. You could also plant some bulbs underneath which will pop up in the spring ?

Our annual Pumpkin Hunt & spooktacular fun is here! We have the return of the Pumpkin Palace, Straw-henge…plus the triumphant return of Big Bertha after her visit to the North Pole last year! Booking needed for weekends & half term only (during the normal week you can just turn up). Visit our website for more details & to book. All proceeds go to the mental health charities Mind & Restore.

This week’s highlights… Bareroot wallflowers, onions & garlic, Pumpkins, gourds, heathers, violas, pansies, polyanthus, primroses, cyclamen, hardy cyclamen, pyracantha, ferns, hebes & more!

Some jobs for the garden:
* Remove any fallen leaves from your pond - try putting a net across to catch them before they fall in ?
* Create a leaf pile in the corner of your garden for wildlife to shelter in over the winter. As it mulches down it can be used in the spring to put over your borders.?
* Create an autumnal display of pumpkins & guards outside your front door (then think of some tasty recipes you can create from them afterwards).?

Wishing you all the best
Lucy
&
Andrew, Liz and Simon
?❤️
P.S. Amanda Photography is doing her Christmas mini photo shoots again this year. See details below.