Helping Hands Outdoors

16/10/2026

Love this time of year. Preparing Paperwhite Daffs in planters. Sprouting already. An early flowering variety.

09/10/2026

Well who knew this little gem was right in the middle of Salford. We stumbled on this after staying in the city for a Gig.

Ordsall Hall
Beautifully restored building, gorgeous blooms,
heritage fruit orchard …..and it’s free to enter 👌

Well worth a mooch.

04/10/2026

Hello lovely garden folks!

As you all know I love to get creative and am hosting some gorgeous workshops with fellow green fingered wizz Diane.

Places are filling fast so get in touch if you’d like a place.

As usual all very relaxed with generous amounts of unusual, hand foraged foliage to choose from. Not your average wreath!

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1k2kQ93gou/?mibextid=wwXIfr

🌟 Christmas Wreath Workshop 🌟

🌲 Using fresh seasonal winter foliage and sustainable floristry techniques you will learn how to make your own professional wreath and decorate it with beautiful natural foliage and decorations from sustainable sources.

⚒️ ✂️ 🍃 What to bring:
All materials will be provided but we encourage you to bring an apron and a pair of secateurs if you have them.

☕️ 🍰 Light refreshments will be provided.

✅ 🙌 Suitable for:
No prior experience required! This is suitable for beginners or anyone who loves to work with natural foliage. Please come by yourself or with a friend - everyone is welcome. Step by step demonstrations are provided and help is to hand to make a large professional wreath that will last for two months plus!

🏠 📌 Venue:
Silkstone Common Methodist Church Community Hub

Cost:
£45 per person – we keep our workshop sizes small and have generous amounts of materials to choose from. Includes hot drinks and christmas seasonal cakes. PAYMENT IN FILL REQUIRED BY NOV 1st 2026
Workshop times:
12-2pm
3-5pm
6-8pm

📞 07368 875535 with your preserved workshop time to book your place.

26/08/2026

There’s something about drawing on a chalkboard that I just LOVE. 🌱✏️

I’ve been getting creative at the nursery with a few hand-drawn signs for the spring bulbs — and it’s made me ridiculously excited for spring already! 🌷

Roll on spring… I’m ready for the bulbs! 🌸

17/08/2026

Not working in 30-degree satan’s-armpit heat?
❌ No sunburn
❌ No melting
❌ No watering myself between gardens
❌ No feeling like a shrivelled up courgette that’s accidentally died and gone to compost heaven 🙏

Sorry sun worshippers. I’ll be over here absolutely thriving. 😂

09/08/2026

I wasn’t quite prepared for how moving this would be. 🌿

I’d seen Gaia at RHS Chelsea Flower Show earlier this year, where Sarah Eberle’s On the Edge garden won Best in Show and Garden of the Year 2026, but seeing her here at Park Hill in Sheffield felt completely different.

I honestly just wanted to lie down beside her and take it all in. The craftsmanship and talent behind this piece completely blew me away — the carving, the sculpting and the way every element has been brought together.

And then you get up close and realise that what initially looks almost like sculpted steel hair is actually intricately woven willow, branches and hedgerow. The detail is incredible. 🤎

Afterwards, I wandered around Sheffield Botanical Gardens, taking in the beautiful planting, the movement of the trees and that lovely feeling of slowing down and simply being surrounded by nature.

A little reminder that gardens can be so much more than plants. They can make you feel something. 🌱✨

01/08/2026

Sometimes the best way to find fresh inspiration is to put the gardening gloves down for a while. 🌿💚

A peaceful wander around Sledmere House, soaking up beautiful planting, quiet corners, and ideas for the garden. Sometimes slowing down is just as important as getting jobs done.

19/07/2026

Spicing up the local plant nursery one chalkboard at a time! 🌶️✨

Chilli plant season is officially here! These little firecrackers are incredibly easy to grow, packed with flavor, and look stunning whether they’re in pots outside or in.

06/07/2026

Before ➡️ After 🌿

Years of well-rooted weeds and ivy cleared away to give this driveway a fresh start and make room for new planting. A lot of hard work, but the transformation is worth it!

If your garden has become overgrown, get in touch for a free quote.

04/06/2026

Even plant lovers have some peeves! I don’t have many my but these are a few:

🌸 Red Campion on a wet day.
Not because it minds getting wet—but because when it does, it can develop a rather distinctive aroma. Let’s just say it won’t be replacing your favourite perfume anytime soon. Fortunately, the pollinators don’t seem to mind, and it still turns up looking fabulous.

🌿 Falopia (Russian vine). Zero respect for boundaries.
Give it a fence, a wall, a shed, or five minutes unattended and it’s already planning a takeover. The phrase “personal space” means nothing to this botanical thug. PLANT WITH CAUTION to avoid daily pruning!

🪴 Fiddle Leaf Fig:
Too much water? Sulks. Too little water? Sulks. Moved it six inches to the left? Absolute outrage. It’s less a houseplant and more a highly paid diva with a very specific rider! (I learned this the hard way) Never again! 🤦‍♀️

What are your plant peeves? Let me know in the comments ⬇️