Blog

A Warm Welcome to Our New Boxing Hares...

A Warm Welcome to Our New Boxing Hares... 

Whilst GFC were at the Chelsea Flower Show, there is no doubt that there were many other sculptures and stands which caught our eye. However, it was the striking boxing Hares crafted by ‘Steel Sculptures’ that really won us over! Its powerful stature and incredible detail made it hard to resist; so, now we are going to include it in our wide range of products! In order to welcome our newest additions to the GFC family, here is a little introduction and background for the inspiration behind the magnificent boxing Hares!

Background...

It is argued that the brown Hare was introduced by the Romans to Britain, or even earlier between the 5th to the 3rd centuries BC. However, it is interesting to note that the Hare could have been treated with more care than other animals, as studies have found their bodies were buried without being slaughtered. This demonstrates how valued the Hare was within society, as they were regarded to be too special to consume. Fundamentally, brown hares are notoriously known to have an enthusiastic nature, and as such they channel this energy through fighting, or boxing as we might recognise, with each other. This is predominantly done within the mating March month which sees them leap around the air and box with each other. This ultimately coins the nickname ‘Mad March Hares’ due to this erratic behaviour. The Hare is an exceptional animal, with their strong exterior and passion to survive any threat that may challenge them. Unfortunately, the sightings of hares have decreased over the years and are now rarely seen in open spaces.

Inspiration...

In an artistic light, hares are popularly used to portray different emotions. Due to their prominent stature, they provide an amazing scale for artists and sculptors to illustrate their artistic vision. The image of boxing hares has been used in a variety of paintings and sculptures for centuries due to their cultural history in literature, art, music, religion and fairy tales as well as media and advertising. The Hare itself has a variety of representations within myths and folklore which inspires many artworks and creative media. For instance, the Hare is widely considered to be sensitive and ambitious, with the added implications of being fit and full of virtue. On the other hand, the Hare does possess an element of greed and selfishness, and in some cases even deception and dishonesty. But, by having this mixture of qualities, it is what makes the Hare a favourited animal for artists, writers and creative designers to use within their work.

With our new boxing Hares’ sculpture, ingeniously crafted by Paul Richardson, they are an amazing example of how the brown Hare is used in an artistically humours point of view. These hares are fitted with comical boxing gloves and expressions, with their dominating physique dressed in boxing shorts and shoes. As well as this, the hares are encased within a large boxing ring, highlighting the similarity to a real-life boxing match scenario. Additionally, the whole presentation of the sculpture is a gesture towards our outrageous human nature of quarrelling with world leaders and the political division this causes. Paul’s ingenuity to demonstrate this political conflict is portrayed through the boxing belts on the hares, with the word ‘hare’ written in English to represent the U.S.A on one, and the other written in Russian. The subtlety of this detail is what makes the sculpture so unique and appealing for us to showcase within our showroom!

Famous Faces...

As you may well know, the Chelsea Flower Show is a place where many celebrities and famous faces gather to view all the sculptures and gardens on display. And it seems that at the show, Paul’s boxing hares certainly received a lot of star-studded attention! Dave Meyers from the Hairy Bikers made a great impression of the boxing hares with a great fighting face which would be hard to beat! There were also visits from broadcaster Ben Fogle, athlete Linford Christie and young-up-coming boxer Jordan Thompson!

So, why not come down to our showroom where you can see the boxing hares for yourself! Be sure to tag us in our socials and remember to give us your best boxing face!

 

 

 

 

 

How to Style Retro Furniture

If you’re wondering where to buy retro furniture online, then you’ve come to the right place! Here at the Garden Furniture Centre, we have a beautiful retro furniture range that is especially popular with commercial clients including restaurants, hotels and event planners. We also welcome many domestic buyers who love to invest in pieces that will never go out of style.


Retro Furniture


Many people like the look of retro furniture from the 60s and other key eras because there’s something about vintage of which we just can’t get enough. There are so many ways to style retro items too to create a gorgeous outdoor aesthetic – these are our top three tips...

Pare It Back


The beauty of retro is that it already speaks its own style language and makes an impact thanks to its unique character. One way you can style is with a minimalist, stripped-back look. This is especially effective if your garden is more about the low-key style in terms of plants and flowers, perhaps with a very simple colour scheme, or if you’ve done the opposite and gone for a very busy garden with lots of foliage and plants against which your simple retro garden furniture will stand out. If you like to strip it back, we love the Retro Windsor Leisure Set with its simple yet graceful design including two chairs with high curved back and a matching table featuring distressed metalwork.

How-to-style-retro-furniture

Embrace Shabby Chic


You never need to ask the question “Is retro furniture in style?” because it’s never off-trend! As another timeless trend, shabby chic works beautifully in an outdoor setting along with vintage pieces to add impact to your space. This retro dining table does the job very nicely with smooth white hues and an antique finish. As with all our retro outdoor furniture, it’s also super lightweight and virtually maintenance-free with capped feet for added protection.

How-to-style-retro-furniture

Colour It Up


Retro furniture trends have become brighter and more beautiful in recent years, and it’s not uncommon to see a range of colour and style options with vintage-style pieces. This is a gorgeous way to brighten up your garden whatever the weather or season. We have a range of retro chair sets coated with tough lacquer paint in vibrant colours with a choice of cross back or classic styles and a 4- or 6-chair set. Choose from soft pink, buttercup yellow, sky blue and bright green – match them up or mix them up for a gorgeous rainbow effect.

If space is an issue in your patio or garden, you can always add a touch of retro glamour with a statement piece, Our inviting love bench features scroll arms, a vibrant green colour palette and ample space for two. We also love this chic bar table that makes a subtle impact for all the right reasons thanks to a high ornate leg structure and smooth slatted top.

Our range of retro furniture has all been created using tough but lightweight aluminium frames that will remain rust-free when used outdoors. For guaranteed beauty and longevity with your garden furniture, look no further! Click here to browse our full range of retro garden furniture.

Winter Gardening Tips for Beginners

Whether we like it or not, it's time to put away the sun loungers and prep our gardens for winter. There are plenty of ways to preserve the beauty and style of your garden through the colder months. Winter gardening for beginners doesn’t need to be intimidating.

Add a Splash of Colour


Everlasting grey days are par for the course when it comes to the Great British winter. This is why we love to add some colour to our winter garden to keep our mood lifted and avoid a bare, unkempt landscape.

Pansies, Japanese quince and winter-flowering heather are all bright and beautiful flowering plants that will last throughout the chilly seasons. If you’re winter gardening in pots, make sure they are designed to withstand frosty and snowy conditions. We also love seeing dogwood and witch hazel in winter gardens for a timeless, low-maintenance addition.

Bring in the Bulbs


It’s always helpful to think ahead with your garden. This is why autumn and winter are the perfect time to plant your flowering bulbs in preparation for a gorgeous spring landscape. You can also plan ahead for year-round flower cover. The key is to understand what grows in winter gardening.

Plant daffodils, dahlias, hyacinths, lilies and crocus in autumn then snowdrops, winter aconite and tulips in winter for spring. Invest in some good quality compost to support growth and sprinkle them throughout your garden wherever takes you fancy. Beneath the trees, edging the lawn or beside the patio - the choice is yours!


Protect your Furniture


While some of us prefer to store away our outdoor furniture in a shed or garage during the colder months, others like to simply cover things up. In fact, investing in high-quality outdoor furniture cover will prove very fruitful. The unpredictable British weather means you can get the most from your coverage throughout the year!

Add buying good quality covers to your winter gardening to do list - at the Garden Furniture Centre, we have a wide range of furniture covers and protection including hard-wearing heavy-weight outdoor sofa weather covers.

As winter is also a great time to treat your wooden furniture and extend its lifetime, we sell maintenance kits with cleaners, protectors and applicators so that you can make sure your furniture is in tip-top shape before covering up for winter.

Polish Up


Of course, many of the top winter gardening tips are focused on protection. It's important to use this time to clean and sharpen your tools before you put them away for winter. Use warm soapy water to get rid of any stubborn mud and grime, then treat wooden and metal details with oil to minimise rust. Store carefully and keep some burlap close at hand for cleaning up again when spring rolls around.


Turn up the Heat


Of course, there are plenty of ways to continue to enjoy your garden throughout the winter by adding a stylish gas or electric patio heater, and even an outdoor fireplace or firepit. Make it cosy and huddle up under a blanket with plenty of scatter cushions for good measure. And don’t forget to invest in some stylish storage options to protect your accessories.

We hope you've enjoyed reading our winter gardening tips for beginners! Our gardening experts love to share their knowledge on our blog, so don't forget to come back next week for more gardening tips, advice and insights.

How to brighten up your garden for spring

Many of us feel gloomy during the dark, grey winter months which is why now is a great time to start thinking about your spring garden. There are many ways to introduce a bit of colour into your garden space and brighten things up in preparation for when the weather grows warmer.


Colourful Spring Flowers


One way is to choose bright and beautiful spring blooms that are designed to flourish from March onwards. Daffodils, crocuses, pansies and tulips are lovely spring-flowering plants all of which work well when planted in abundance. This will really make an impact to create a gorgeous colourful border garden. Hyacinths are another popular choice that come in a whole range of softer and bolder colours to reflect the essence of springtime.

If you fancy mixing up textures and heights, the iris is a late-spring flowering plant that will stand tall in the borders for an elegant aesthetic. For a gorgeous and more unusual spring plant, alliums also stand high for a gorgeous complement to brightly coloured flowerscapes.

Away from the lawn and flowerbeds, add some more colour around your spring garden with azaleas and rhododendrons crawling up the wall, flowering fruit tree blossom, lilac trees and rugged clematis. The latter is just one example of how you can add colour with a more masculine edge instead of traditional pretty florals.


Colourful Furniture for your Spring Garden


Brightly coloured garden furniture is another great way to brighten things up for spring. We suggest choosing a selection of investment pieces that have been designed to stand the test of time in both style and durability. And colourful doesn’t have to mean overbearing.

We like the fresh springtime look that comes with rattan furniture such as the Fiji Chill Sofa which has been crafted using UV and colour stabilised rattan for a non-fade quality, Bearing in mind that the British springtime can often witness wet weather, the Fiji range includes pieces made using thermal bonding of the fibres to make them tough even when wet.


Using Colour in Garden Design for Small Spaces


 

If you prefer a more chic, minimalist aesthetic with your spring garden but still want splashes of colour, cushions and other accessories are a great way to achieve the look. When you’re considering garden design for small spaces, this is also a good way to go in order to avoid a cluttered appearance. Our Fiji 2-seater sofa shows how colour can be used in a more subtle way – the Montana Dining Armchair is another good example of colourful accents that will uplift your spring garden.

If you prefer a real statement piece – or perhaps you plan to use your garden for entertaining guests and socialising throughout the seasons – the Montana Apple Day Bed is a glorious piece. Handwoven to look and feel like natural water hyacinth, it features a retractable drinks table for added luxe and is super-easy to maintain year-round thanks to high water resistant qualities and olefin fibres designed for optimum outdoor use.

We hope that this post has inspired you in your spring garden design and provided some useful ideas on how you can blend the live elements of your garden with some beautiful furnishings to create your desired aesthetic. For more ideas and to browse our full range, click here to visit the Garden Furniture Centre shop.

What You Need to Know About Outdoor Heating Safety




Whether you have the towering and sleek Athena Gas Patio Heater or a classic fireplace model, an outdoor heater can do a world of good for enhancing your outdoor space.

Not only does it provide you with warmth, but it also adds an element of elegance to your garden. However, there's more to these heaters than just its style, as they can be a huge safety hazard if you're not properly familiarized. Fortunately, we've listed down some top tips in ensuring outdoor heating safety so you can enjoy one at home...



Read the Instruction Manual


More often than not, the outdoor heater's instructional manual is ignored. While it may be lengthy, it contains key pieces of information that will help you keep fire risks at bay. Indeed, the Health and Safety Executive notes these instructions cover everything from intended use of the product to proper installation and, of course, safe use of the product. However, there's no one-size-fits-all manual, as each model is built uniquely. To this end, thoroughly reading the contents of your model's manual can make all the difference for your outdoor heating safety. Moreover, be sure to write down important safety instructions, such as minimizing fuel leaks and stabilizing its stand, so you're prepared in case of a potential accident.



Secure Safe Placement


The placement of your outdoor heater can either make or break it. As explained by Hunker, installing it in a location that's exposed too much to the natural elements will easily blow out the flame. But before selecting any spot in your garden or patio, it's also vital to keep possible safety hazards in mind. For instance, it's recommended to keep an outdoor heater over a metre away from any combustible material. Another thing to watch out for is the surrounding area, as it will need an open area to ensure proper airflow. Lastly, be sure that it has a solid and smooth surface so it can stand firmly and not be easily knocked over.The placement of your outdoor heater can either make or break it.




Pictured: Our Athena Plus Gas Patio Heater.

Ensure Proper Maintenance


Since outdoor heaters are normally used during the cold seasons, you'll likely keep it covered every now and again. Nonetheless, you should always keep a good eye on your heater, as properly maintaining it ensures that it will work safely when the temperatures begin to drop. To ensure proper maintenance, be sure to read the manual to help you disassemble and clean the debris inside if the heater hasn’t been used in a while. Then, you can clean the surface with water and soap or a polisher. Once everything's spick-and-span, you'll need to reassemble it with help from the manual. Last but not least, you'll need to check for broken parts — particularly, hoses, reflectors, and emitters. If you’re not confident about your own assessment, then it’s best to call a technician who can do it for you. It is important that you treat your outdoor heater with the same care and attention you would your indoor heating system. HomeServe highlights the importance of finding providers you can trust in order to keep your home’s heating systems working properly. And just as you’d get your indoor heating systems regularly serviced to ensure they are safe and ready for use, it’s important to give your outdoor amenities the same TLC, too.




Pictured: Our Chesney Terrace Gourmet Heater & BBQ.





Establish House Rules


Learning the hazard and risks is the first step to outdoor heating safety. The next and equally essential safety measure is properly informing your household about what you've learned. This is especially crucial if you have children in your household. As adults, it's your responsibility to educate them about the basics of fire safety before letting them go near the outdoor heater. You can even teach them what to do in case of an emergency — from protecting themselves from dangerous smoke to calling the fire service.


To stay updated on the latest trends for outdoor furniture, be sure to look through our different posts here on The Garden Furniture Centre.

Pictured: Our Chesney Heat & Grill

For gardenfurniturecentre.co.uk - An article by Abigail West


How to Heat your Outdoor Space in Winter

There are so many wonderful ways to appreciate our gardens, from simply designing an aesthetically beautiful space that makes us feel rested and calm to creating a sociable area which can be enjoyed throughout the seasons. As the cooler months approach, we want to talk about how to heat your outdoor space in winter and gain the most enjoyment from your garden whatever the weather.

When the sun isn’t shining and the temperatures have dropped, there are plenty of ways to keep things cosy and snug. Gone are the days when garden heaters were clunky and unattractive; modern garden furniture is all about creating a tactile experience and a comfy, chilled out area in which to spend time with your loved ones beneath the smooth winter skies, crisp spring days and snuggly autumn afternoons.


Choosing your Outdoor Heaters


When it comes to choosing your outdoor heaters, it usually comes down to budget and style preferences. However, it’s always best to go for the highest possible quality in your price bracket because you get what you pay for especially if you’re planned to use your items frequently. And there are plenty of great options at a good price right here at the Garden Furniture Centre.

There’s nothing quite as cosy as gathering around the fire pit, Go for industrial chic with a cast iron fire bowl or a strong modern aesthetic with this brass effect contemporary design. If you like to make a real statement with your outdoor furniture, many customers love the cast iron fire bowl with a blaze stand. Featuring a simple, rippled effect and ornate stand, it creates a stunning focal point for your garden and provides plenty of heat to keep everyone toasty.

This type of modern outdoor heater is also super-easy to look after with very little maintenance required. Any rust can be concealed with heat resistant paint and we always advise to keep your outdoor fireplace covered in winter when not in use.


Outdoor Heaters for Cooking


We love to use our gardens as a sociable space in the winter where family and friends gather to eat barbecue food and put the world to rights. This BBQ and Firepit is designed for “grillin’ and chillin’" so that you can enjoy the outdoors to the highest standards. A tough lacquered finish, steel trimmings and ribbed body make it highly robust and great for regular use.

For a gorgeous, wintry effect, add coals or logs to bring light to the top. As both a firepit and a cooking device, this is also a great space-saver for those seeking a more compact aesthetic or if you’re limited on room.


All-Weather Furniture for your Outdoor Space


When designing your outdoor space to be functional, stylish and low-maintenance throughout the seasons, it’s also essential to include all-weather furniture. Rattan is a great option as it tolerates a huge range of temperatures without degrading and is very easy to look after with just a quick wipe-down required after each use.

Our award-winning range features synthetic weave manufactured specifically for use in outdoor furniture and designed to appear and feel just like natural rattan-weave. Every piece is also beautifully unique having been handwoven by expert craftspeople in Indonesia using traditional skills passed down through the generations.

Go for the Cove 3-seater sofa suite if you’re looking for smooth, straight lines, plenty of space to relax and wide, flat arms designed for lounging. This suite features synthetic weave tightly woven to look and feel like natural water hyacinth with a characterful plaited effect. For smaller spaces, the Montana 2-seater suite is a great alternative.

When it comes to outdoor heaters, it’s also important to go back to basics with some cuddly accessories. A throw and cushions will do the job nicely but make sure you have the storage to protect your items. The Fiji Cushion Box offers a simple yet detailed design that adds a stylish edge to your outdoor space. It’s also super easy to keep clean and is both highly water resistant and well-accustomed to colder temperatures, making it ideal for year-round use.

For more great ideas about how to heat your outdoor space in winter and for all the latest inspiration in outdoor furniture, browse our collections.

 

Shabby Chic Garden Design

Shabby chic is one of those trends that is truly timeless. It originally emerged as an interior design style characterised by furniture that shows clear signs of ageing or new furniture reimagined with vintage elements.

This distinctive antique aesthetic has become so popular in recent times that it has transcended the interior space. This means it can work beautifully as a theme for your garden as a unique and fun look that can be achieved on all budgets.


A Soft Colour Palette


When considering your shabby chic garden design, the best place to begin is with the furniture. This will act as the main focal point for your shabby chic theme and you can then introduce flowers, plants and other accents to complement the picture. Consider both colours and materials – this theme broadly takes in softer tones such as beige, mint green and powder pink.


Shabby Chic Garden Furniture


Use this subtle, understated and pretty colour palette as a starting point for your shabby chic garden. We love the use of rattan material in your garden furniture as this introduces a vintage feel perfectly.

Our rattan furniture range includes seventy different sofa suites including footstools, coffee tables, day beds and bar sets many of them woven from award-winning outdoor rattan-weave which is hand woven in Indonesia.

You can then add cushions to your chosen pieces to embrace the shabby chic colour scheme of your choice -  lilac and cream will fit beautifully within the theme for a soft vintage look and feel.



 

Shabby Chic Garden Accents


Another thing to consider with your shabby chic garden is the curves and lines of your chosen pieces. This theme lends itself more to curved, soft lines and less to harder ones – think sweeping rounded edges instead of rectangular or square silhouettes.

A parasol is one way to embrace this trend – complement with pieces that recall a bygone era such as a retro love bench, painted bench or carved rustic bench.

If you like the look of teak for your garden aesthetic, we would recommend reclaimed teak as opposed to standard furnishings which are much sleeker and more streamlined, as opposed to the distressed look of shabby chic pieces. Reclaimed furnishings will give a bold dose of shabby chic in gardens of all sizes for a really beautiful effect.


All Fired Up


Another way to create a stylish shabby chic garden design is to use a few key statement pieces to convey the look. A crackling outdoor fireplace is a great trans-seasonal piece of furniture that embodies the warm, cosy and effortlessly shabby chic aesthetic. Complete the look with a love heart wood rack to store your logs – a rack with a rustic finish will do the job nicely.

The detail is also in the accessories when it comes to your shabby chic garden furniture. Choose items with gentle, curved shapes in warm materials such as wood. A hand carved side table in differing shades of mango tree wood is a lovely modern-day antique that fits neatly within the theme. You might also like the Oxy candle holders which have been hand crafted from individual sections of rustic teak root where the natural flow of the grain conveys added decorative effect.

Never forget the value of upcycled pieces for your shabby chic garden. Our range of Indian accessories include a soft bench, antique bench and Jeep table, all of which embrace a retro aesthetic for a strong overall theme.

Feng Shui For Your Garden

Feng Shui for your Garden


Feng Shui is a wonderful starting point to think about your garden design scheme. After all, we all want our outside space to feel relaxing and simply a beautiful place to be with peace, serenity and enjoyment all year round. If you want to know how to design a garden landscape based on this age-old Chinese design philosophy, first you need to familiarise with its key principles.


Design Principles for your Feng Shui Garden


Feng Shui translates to ‘wind and water’ both of which act as the source of all life energy according to traditional Chinese beliefs. Also known simply as chi, you should always consider how to bring this life energy into every aspect of your Feng Shui garden space as you go through the design process.

You also need to attain the right balance of the five elements - Earth, Metal, Water, Wood, and Fire – in your garden to really do the job. But where does everything go and what elements should each part of your garden connect with and what can you use to make this happen? You can find out below with our Feng Shui theory map…

North-east

Personal and spiritual growth

North

Your career path and overall life path

East

Health, family and longevity

South and Southeast

Wealth, money and abundance

West and Southwest

Romance, luck and creativity, energy (especially that of children)

Even if you’re looking at garden design for small spaces, there are simple ways to turn this theory into something tangible and nourishing for all the senses. You simply need to adapt the key principles and tools to create a strong Feng Shui garden design.

Avoid straight, harsh lines and go for curved, gentle pathways to encourage a good chi flow. You can also use this idea of smooth, easy flow within the details of your Feng Shui garden.

Feng Shui Garden Ornaments


Feng Shui garden décor is another important way to utilise the theory and create positive flow and energy. Add water features to those areas where you want to encourage growth and prosperity – that’s money, health and your career path (southeast, east, north). An outdoor fountain will work beautifully. Bring light elements such as a fire pit, fairy lights or lanterns to the Fire areas, wind chimes and sculptures to the north area for the Metal element, and wooden furnishings to the eastern area to honour the Wood element. A zen garden with pleasant rock formations and flowerpots will work beautifully in the north east area to encourage the Earth element and positive energy flow towards personal growth and nurture.


Bringing your Feng Shui Garden to Life


Now that we’ve explained the basics of Feng Shui garden theory, it’s time for the fun part! Bring your garden to life with these beautiful pieces from our collections:

Many people find an animal-themed ornament very soothing for the Metal areas and Ribbet the Frog is a perfect example. Up-cycled by local village workforce in Vietnam, it is both a charming and eco-friendly ornament that provides income to those in need. Puss the Cat is also a popular option.

Colours play a major role in the Feng Shui theory to encourage the right energy. This is why we recommend using warm, rusty tones of red and brown in Fire areas. The Aspen fire pit has a lovely brass effect and sloping lines to encourage good chi. A cast iron fire bowl will also work well where attractive, painted framework adds a subtle, tactile sense of character to any outdoor space.

Wooden elements such as a dining set or swing chair will bring a powerful sense of strength to your space. We love this Oak Swing Seat made using Responsibly Sourced Oak from Managed Forests in Europe. With space for three people to relax, it is a work of rustic brilliance. Original natural features add authenticity and create a deeper connection to the natural world. Furnishings in reclaimed teak will also do the job nicely.

Creating a Soothing Space


We hope that you enjoy creating your Feng Shui garden! Browse our collections today for even more inspiration on how to create that flee flowing chi and reap all the benefits that such a tranquil, energising space will bring.

Best Plants for Moist Soil

While autumn and winter in the UK inevitably mean a lot of rain, it’s safe to say we experience a fair bit of wet weather all year round. By understanding which are the best plants for moist soil, we can make sure that our garden flourishes throughout the seasons.

As different parts of the garden will receive more moisture due to their exposure to the elements, e.g. open flowerbeds compared to spots of soil sheltered by trees, we need to understand how to utilise the best plants for moist soil so we can make the most of every area of our garden.



Below we have gathered our selection of those plants that simply love the wet weather so that your outdoor space will grow and thrive on even the wettest days…

Tropical Temptations


If you want to transform a dark, dreary landscape into a tropical paradise, cannas are a great choice featuring brightly coloured flowers and large leaves. With the option of taller or dwarf plants, they work well for any garden space for a neater, ordered look or a more adventurous, busy landscape.

Lythrum is another gorgeous, vibrant option that flourishes in wetter conditions with spiky pink flowers that turn red in autumn and always brighten up the landscape. We also like helenium, a bright and fiery flower that works well in damp soil. This is also a super versatile option - let the flowers grow and flourish or trim them back for a neater look that some people prefer during the wetter seasons.


Best Plants for Damp Shade


Moist soil and damp shade often go hand in hand in our gardens, so this part is all about finding those plants that thrive in such conditions instead of simply exist. Hostas are one such example which evolve beautifully with the seasons. In cooler months, they show up as green leaves trimmed with yellow while the summer welcomes purple flowers. They are super easy to grow but make sure to check the type of hosta you purchase before going ahead, as some work better in damp conditions than others.

If you’re looking for more low maintenance plants for damp soil, persicaria is a great option. It’s also super long flowering for maximum impact. Presented in various shades of pink and red with a lovely, delicate aesthetic, it works great as a herbaceous perennial plant in damp soil and part shade.

Certain varieties of iris also work well in moist conditions. The Siberian Iris works beautifully in damp soil to produce deep blue-purple flowers and vibrant, slender green foliage in abundance towards the end of spring. The yellow flag iris is another bright and beautiful option that will flourish and bring a touch of beauty to any style of garden, although it does need careful watch as it likes to spread.

Foxglove is a good biennial flower that grows in sun or shade; astilbes is a ferny, unique flower with broad leaves which stands nice and tall and works best in shady, damp areas. Japanese Primrose is a spring-blooming perennial that likes wetter conditions while cardinal flowers and their gorgeous red blooms are most comfortable beside water, such as a stream or pond.


Garden Furniture for Wet Weather


It’s par for the course that as we’re speaking about plants for damp soil, we also need to think about preparing our gardens for wetter weather in terms of furniture too. Invest in some versatile rattan furniture or sleek teak furniture whose oily nature makes it naturally resistant to all weather with a lovely smooth finish that won’t rot, warp or split.

You should also invest in some garden furniture covers that can be thrown on at a moment’s notice to create a close, protective cocoon against dirt, grime and extreme weather and keep your furniture in the best condition. All seams on our garden furniture covers are taped for extra strength and long-lasting quality. We also add water repellent treatment and UV Stabilisers to the fabric during the manufacturing process.

The Garden Furniture Centre Continue To Support The NHS...

As the lock down starts to slowly ease away, we all still have a role to play in keeping each other safe and supporting our national health service in doing so.

One of the most obvious ways you can support the NHS at this time is to adhere by the government guidelines. As a company, we have made many changes to the way we operate. In order to keep both our staff and customers safe, we have introduced necessary safety measures; such as implementing social distancing, disinfecting high traffic areas, zero-contact deliveries/collections and continuing to support staff members who are working from home.

However, there are many ways you can support the NHS further. And one of these ways is by donating.


Our Fundraiser


Every year, the Haimes family hold an annual Woodland Walk as a charity fundraiser. This walk begins at the small shopping village in Warwickshire, Yew Tree Farm, and continues through the local Wootton Wawen private woodlands, owned by the Haimes family. This woodlands walk is truly mesmerizing as every year the woodland ground turns into a carpet of sweet-smelling purple bluebells. On this walk, supporters get to enjoy the refreshing woodland air, glimpses of the thriving local wildlife, plus the obvious beauty of the bluebells. All whilst helping to raise money for the charity or organisation of choice for that year. This year, that charity of choice was the NHS.

Although we were deeply saddened having to cancel the event, we did not completely give up on the idea of the event. Instead, we decided to partner up with the SWFT Charity & create a virtual Bluebell walk with all donations going towards the amazing NHS. In particular, these donations will go towards the  Warwick, Leamington Spa, Stratford-Upon-Avon and Ellen Badger Hospitals as well as out of hospital community services across the whole of Warwickshire.

Although a virtual tour is not the same as the real thing, we hoped the nation would still appreciate the beauty of nature through a screen – and we were right! So far this fundraiser has raised a whopping £2,850 from generous donations made by the public. Although this sum is truly incredible, we still feel we can do better!..


How You Can Help


We would like to reach out further and ask those who have not yet supported the fundraiser to please do so. You can do this by watching the stunning video here and donating to the cause here.

Every donation, large or small makes a difference. This fundraiser ends on the 30th June.

But don't forget, there are other ways you can support the NHS, in fact they even have a list of ways you can support them on their website.


We'd like to take this time to remind you that our showroom is now back open! You can read more about this on our covid-19 updates page. 

1 2 3 4 5 ... 31 Next Page
© The Garden Furniture Centre Ltd. 2024. All Rights Reserved.