Discover Great British Garden Principles With Chef & Brewer
At Chef & Brewer, our gardens are more than just outdoor spaces. They celebrate the natural beauty that surrounds our countryside pubs, offering guests the invigorating scent of fresh air, the visual feast of blooming flowers, and the soothing sounds of birdsong.
The details are designed to be savoured, with nooks and crannies to discover, as well as ample shade from the heat, plants and potential habitat for animals, and secluded spots for those cosy meet-ups.
Whether you've got a generous-sized garden or just a quiet corner or balcony, there are so many ways to make your outdoor space feel like your own tranquil oasis.
Here are our key tips for a garden landscape you'll be blooming proud to call your own.
How to create a garden that thrives all year long
Our gardens may bloom in spring and summer, but there's no reason your outdoor space can't flourish in the colder months too.
Use plants in your garden that can survive through the winter months
Frost-hardy perennials, such as lavender, hostas, and peonies, can survive the harsh weather, even thriving in cold environments. If you're short on garden space, you can always plant these in boxes or a large container.
Appeal to your senses
Much like your home, a garden will feel more inviting when it appears to your sight, touch, and smell. Don't be afraid to experiment with textures, colours and scents in the landscape. You want a garden to feel like a true experience. Lonicera or even roses are great for the colder months.
Focus on plants that provide more than just a visual treat for your garden
Productive plants give a garden more purpose. Berries, currants, fruit trees, herbs and vegetables can be used for fresh produce, and the array of colourful crops will bring your garden to life. Even if you don't have any outdoor space, you can buy windowsill planters to add some botanical beauty.
Design your garden for the future
Much like raising a family, our gardens can continue to grow. Especially in small gardens, be mindful that plants can bloom and expand. Don't forget, a mighty tree grows from a small seed. Next year, your space may have transformed!
Use house plants to elevate your home
If you don't have an outdoor garden, you can still enjoy the beauty of plantlife. House plants have even been shown to reduce stress and boost our moods.
How to protect the birds and local wildlife, and create a sustainable space
Support birds and local wildlife with shrubs and pollen-rich plants
Plant pollen-rich favourites like lavender in your garden to feed bees and butterflies. These small but vital habitats help support biodiversity, while hedges, shrubs, and trees give wildlife a safe place to thrive.
Use reclaimed materials
Using reclaimed materials in your garden helps to reduce waste and also conserve natural resources, lowering carbon emissions. Things like reclaimed bricks, timber, stone, and containers can all be reused for plants, pathways or beds, and add such character to your space.
Avoid concrete
Instead, go for permeable, self-draining materials in your garden, such as compacted gravel or sand to reduce run-off, improve soil health and support local ecosystems.
Plant trees and native wildflowers
Trees enhance water uptake and also improve habitat sustainability in your garden. Native wildflowers work to prevent monoculture and help various wildlife thrive.
Include safe water features and hedgehog access points
You can easily create hedgehog access points in your garden by cutting small gaps into fences or walls to allow them to move freely. Leave leaves or shrubs for them as shelter and food too. Safe water features in your garden can help a range of species. These could be shallow ponds, birdbaths, or small fountains. You can also get extra advice for your garden by engaging with local wildlife organisations on how to aid local species through planting and design.
Look at your garden as a way to connect with others
Gardens can be social spaces, so why not look at gardening as a way to connect with new people or bond with loved ones?
Turn apples into cider
To avoid windfall apples and wasps in your garden, try apple picking. You could rope in friends and family and turn the apples into cider, juice, or even a warming apple pie.
Make it fun for the kids
Set up a bug hunt trail in your garden for kids, asking them to tick off things like insects or plants when they spot them. It could be a great way for them to learn about nature. You could even get kids to help with cleanup tasks, such as raking leaves or collecting fallen twigs.
Explain your free-flowing garden to the public
If you’re growing wildflowers or leaving weeds in place in your garden, you've got to consider that not everyone may understand the purpose. If your garden is visible to the public, put up clear signs explaining why the plants are being left or encouraged to grow. This will help educate visitors, hopefully preventing complaints, and maybe even engaging your local community in supporting wildlife-friendly gardens.
Fall in love with nature again
Increased levels of insect activity in your garden might be off-putting for some people, but educational activities may help to spread positivity and enable people to better deal with things like wasps and bees in the summer months.
Join a local horticultural society
If you love being outdoors, a horticultural society can help you connect with fellow gardeners and even learn some new tips and skills. You can discuss outdoor plants, garden furniture, the right equipment, and even share garden tools.
Want to discover a garden with Chef & Brewer?
Our pubs are a celebration of the great outdoors, so stop by one of our inns with a beer garden. Tuck into a delicious meal, sip on something special, and enjoy the warmth and beauty of nature.