Upgrade your house and garden …

Well, now that the clocks have gone forward and we’ve had Easter, spring is well and truly sprung and we’re looking forward to being outside more. But if you want to enjoy your garden fully and would also like to have somewhere comfortable to view it if the great British weather decides to be a damp squib, we’re looking at a solution – an orangery.

Orangeries became particularly fashionable after William II was crowned king in 1689, as the orange was the symbol of his house and they became popular in stately homes and wealthy country estates to shelter exotic plants and citrus fruits.

The difference between an orangery and a conservatory is that while both can have solid brick sections and glass, contemporary orangeries often have a showcase, vaulted glass roof. They’ve become a popular way to increase house space or to add a showcase feature. You can add one onto your house, with perhaps a bi-fold door that opens out onto your garden, merging your indoor and outdoor spaces. Or you can have a completely separate orangery, placing it wherever it has most use in your garden. More details below.

This issue, we’ve got other ideas to get you out of the house, including holidays in properties with some of the most magnificent and greatest gardens ever!

Enjoy.

Chris & all the Bushy team

Fabulous freesias

You can’t beat freesias for their lovely scent and pretty coloured blooms, making them the perfect addition to a bouquet or vase. You can plant them outside in April for late-summer flowering or grow them in a greenhouse and they’ll flower now.

Enhance your house and garden with an ornate orangery

Firstly, as with any building project, take professional advice when planning your orangery and ensure you comply with current regulations. When selecting materials, consider the existing property features and colours and also the landscape of your garden and how it should all look. Have a chat with us for ideas.

A south-facing garden position will provide the orangery with natural light for most of the day but glazed windows and a vaulted glass roof will also provide it. If you plan to use it year-round consider sun shading like UV filtered or tinted glass – and also heating options. Remember to install decent locks to the doors and windows too.

If you’d like to view some of the great original orangeries of yesteryear, add the following National Trust properties to your viewing list: Ham House near Richmond and Hanbury Hall, Worcestershire.

Make a National Trust property your holiday home

If you enjoy visiting National Trust properties, did you know that you can stay in a variety of holiday cottages on some of their estates? Once other visitors have gone home for the day, you’ll have the gardens to yourself. Right here in Surrey there’s the Polesdon Garden Cottage for example, which sits next to the rose gardens of the Polesden Lacey estate. You’ll have uninterrupted views over the formal gardens. But there are all kinds of properties – from castles and manor houses, to towers and art-deco villas – pretty much everything you can dream of. Discover more here. 

Bee friendly

Have you ever thought about being a beekeeper? It’s becoming increasingly popular as people try to connect more deeply with nature and the environment. It is possible to keep honeybees in your garden in the UK but you must follow certain regulations and best practices, including registering with the British Beekeepers’ Association (BBKA, which celebrates 150 years in 2024) and gaining your neighbour’s permission. A good starting point is here.

Bushy Beverage

The annual BEEREX festival, offering around 60 real ales from around the UK, takes place between 18 – 20 April at the Farnham Maltings. As well as the wide range of keg beers and lagers, there are over 30 ciders and perries, soft drinks, great live entertainment, local street food and other hot snacks. Hurry to get your tickets before they sell out here.

Until next time!

If you’re interested in having a built structure like an orangery in your garden – or simply want a bit of fresh landscaping done – our Consultancy service will help you make it a reality. Get in touch and we’d love to discuss your ideas with you.