in the summer, Please, woodland flowers are largely a spring feature before deciduous trees make demands for light and moisture. Enjoy them then and concentrate on other more open areas in the summer.

The moral to emerge from these examples is 'work with nature'. If you try to do otherwise mother nature will quickly put you in your place. For example if the aforementioned customer had pursued her plans the woodland plants would have been overwhelmed with grass and weeds because they would receive too much light. The woodland plants themselves would suffer in the heat and fail.

Whilst working over the years and noting the periodicity of flowering of a range of wildflowers I have noticed a number of combinations of plants that look stunning since they are flowering at a similar time.

These are a few 'magic' combinations which I can recommend but doubtless there are many more.

1. Wild primrose with Wood anemone and Dog violet in woodland

2. Germander speedwell, Greater stitchwort, Red campion and Bluebell in semi shade

3. Musk mallow, Great knapweed, Small scabious in a sunny dry border

4. Simple mix of Ragged robin and Meadow buttercup in a wetland meadow in open sun.

On a practical note Naturescape have expanded their facilities for producing seed and plants by acquiring an adjacent piece of land near the wildflower farm at Langar.

This land had been previously occupied post war by the Canadian Air-force, so we are proposing to call it Maple Farm. This will allow more room at the wildflower farm visitor centre for customers to browse with more choice and a range of large specimen plants. If having read this, or any other part of the website and you need additional inspiration and or advice please give us a call.

Kind regards
Brian