moss-end

Meet the Independent Retailers: The Modern Garage Company

Tue, 11 Nov 2025 15:16:01 GMT

Meet the Independent Retailers: The Modern Garage Company

At Moss End Garden Village, we love introducing you to the talented independent businesses that make our community so special. One of the newest additions is The Modern Garage Company — experts in transforming ordinary garages into extraordinary spaces.

Led by Design Directors Abi and David, this innovative company brings over 20 years of combined experience to every project. They specialise in luxury garage design and renovation, creating stunning, high-end interiors that are both practical and personal. From designer flooring and sleek wall finishes to smart storage and lighting, every detail is crafted to elevate your home — and redefine what a garage can be.

A Complete Design Service, All Under One Roof

The Modern Garage Company was born from a simple idea — to make garage renovations easier for homeowners. “We started the business to fill a real gap in the market,” the team explains. “So many people were juggling multiple suppliers for flooring, storage, and design. We wanted to bring it all together under one roof.”

Their full-service approach means clients work with one expert team from start to finish — from concept design to installation. It’s a seamless process that delivers stunning results and eliminates the stress of managing multiple trades.

Turning Forgotten Spaces into Dream Garages

Ask the team what they love most about their work, and the answer comes easily: the transformation.

“We love seeing how a garage can go from a forgotten, cluttered space to something beautiful and functional. Every project is unique — whether it’s a minimalist workshop, a clean and organised storage area, or a luxury extension of the home.”

Their pride lies in the detail. From flawless resin flooring to bespoke cabinetry and creative layouts, every project is tailored to the client’s lifestyle and vision.

A Passion for Craftsmanship and Design

The Modern Garage Company’s passion is clear — redefining what’s possible. “We want people to rethink what a garage can be,” they say. “It’s not just a place to park your car. A well-designed garage can add real value, order, and style to your home.”

Their commitment to quality craftsmanship ensures every finish meets the highest standard — sleek, durable, and built to last.

Part of the Moss End Garden Village Community

Being based at Moss End Garden Village is a perfect fit for the business. “We love being part of this community,” they share. “It’s full of like-minded, independent businesses who genuinely care about quality and customer experience. There’s a real creative energy here, and it’s inspiring to be surrounded by other experts who share our values.”

The welcoming environment also gives customers the chance to visit in person, see design options up close, and speak directly with the team about their vision.

A Wealth of Experience Behind Every Design

Between them, the team at The Modern Garage Company brings over 20 years of combined experience in garage interiors — covering design, flooring, and full project management. It’s this depth of expertise that allows them to deliver spaces that are not only stylish but built with precision and care.

You’ll find The Modern Garage Company here at Moss End Garden Village — ready to help you transform your garage into something extraordinary. Whether you’re dreaming of a luxury car space, an organised workshop, or simply somewhere you love to spend time, their expert team will bring your vision to life.

With more than 44 independent retailers at Moss End Garden Village, this is just a small snapshot of some of the familiar faces you’ll see when you visit. Come and visit to explore and discover a new shop you’ve never been to, and don’t forget to say hello to the owner! To find a list of all businesses that call Moss End Garden Village home, click here.

Meet the Independent Retailers: Absolute Mobility

Fri, 24 Oct 2025 16:06:24 GMT

Meet the Independent Retailers: Absolute Mobility

At Moss End Garden Village, we’re proud to be home to a flourishing community of independent businesses, each with their own story, passion and purpose. One business making an especially meaningful impact is Absolute Mobility , specialists in accessible bathrooms that support independence, dignity and comfort at home.

We caught up with the founders Darren and Rachel, to learn more about how it all began and what drives the business today.

A Business Built on Care and Compassion

Absolute Mobility was founded in 2009 after its founder recognised a real gap in the accessible bathroom market. Too many people were struggling to find trustworthy, reliable tradespeople when facing some of the most sensitive and important changes in their lives.

“I wanted to create a company people could depend on,” Darren explains. “One that genuinely cares about improving people’s independence and quality of life.”

From that vision, Absolute Mobility was born — a business focused not just on practical solutions, but on dignity, reassurance and peace of mind.

What does Darren love most about the work? “It’s the impact,” he says without hesitation.

Every bathroom designed and installed helps a customer stay in their home for longer — safely, confidently and happily.

Over the years, he’s seen moments of relief, joy and even tears, as customers and families feel the weight lift when a space becomes practical and supportive again.

“I’m also incredibly proud of our team,” he adds. “Their empathy, care and expertise shine through in everything they do.”

Helping people maintain independence remains at the heart of the business. “Even after decades in this industry, I’m still moved by the transformations we see. Supporting someone to stay in the home they love never loses its meaning.” It’s not just about bathrooms — it’s about restoring confidence, security and quality of life.

Proud to Be Part of the Moss End Community

Being based at Moss End Garden Village is an important part of the experience Absolute Mobility offers. “There’s a wonderful community feel here,” Darren explains. “We’re surrounded by other independent businesses who share our values of honesty, care and good service.”

For customers, the setting makes all the difference. Moss End offers:

Plenty of disabled parking
Ramped access throughout
A calm and welcoming environment

This thoughtful accessibility ensures that every visit is safe, comfortable and relaxed — exactly what customers need when making important decisions about their home.

“Moss End has really become a destination. Being part of will help us build trusted relationships, and that trust is everything in our work.”

And Something You Might Not Expect… Away from the workshop and showroom, there’s a slightly louder passion — cars ! “I’m a complete petrolhead,” Darren laughs. He owns a 1970s Dodge Charger with a beautiful story behind it. It originally belonged to his father, who later sold it when family priorities came first. Years later, after his father passed away, he began searching for the car — and remarkably, through sheer determination and a bit of internet detective work, he tracked it down and bought it back.

It’s now a cherished part of the family and memory — and a well-loved weekend hobby.

You’ll find Absolute Mobility here at Moss End Garden Village , ready to offer friendly guidance, expert advice and thoughtful solutions to help you or your loved ones live independently and comfortably at home.

Pop in and say hello — you’ll be in reassuring hands.

End of Summer Fair

Fri, 30 May 2025 10:36:21 GMT

Back by Popular Demand – The Moss End Garden Village Summer Fair Returns!

�� Saturday 31st August | �� 11am – 4pm | ��️ Free Entry & Parking

We’re thrilled to announce that the Moss End Garden Village Summer Fair is back – and it’s bigger and better than ever! After the incredible success of last year’s event, we’ve listened to your feedback and are bringing the magic back this August for another unforgettable day of family fun.

This year, we’re proud to be hosting the event in partnership with JL Events , bringing even more excitement, energy, and entertainment to the day.

Join us on Saturday 31st August from 11am to 4pm for a jam-packed celebration of summer. With free entry and free parking , it’s the perfect day out that won’t break the bank.

This year’s fair promises all the favourites and more – from children’s rides and entertainment to character meet and greets , face painting , and a fantastic selection of craft stalls to explore. Whether you're a foodie, a parent looking for a fun day with the kids, or a local shopper in search of something unique, there’s something for everyone.

You’ll also find plenty of delicious food and drink to enjoy, with a range of stalls offering everything from tasty treats to refreshing drinks to keep you going all day long.

The Moss End Garden Village Summer Fair isn’t just an event – it’s a celebration of community, creativity, and good old-fashioned summer fun. So round up your family and friends, mark the date in your diary, and get ready to make some wonderful memories.

Stay tuned for updates on what’s in store – we can’t wait to see you there!

Easter Fair

Mon, 03 Feb 2025 09:28:53 GMT

Hop into spring and join us for a fantastic family day out at the Moss End Garden Village Easter Fair on Sunday, 13th April, from 10 AM – 4 PM !

This egg-citing event is packed with fun activities for all ages, including free meet & greets with the Easter Bunny throughout the day. Enjoy delicious food from our BBQ , get creative with face painting , and let the little ones enjoy the children’s ride . There will also be prize every time games , a variety of food and craft stalls , and live entertainment to keep everyone in the festive spirit.

Entry and parking are completely free , making it the perfect day out for families, friends, and Easter lovers alike.

Plus, all funds raised during the event will be donated to Thames Valley Hospice , so you can enjoy the celebrations while supporting a great cause.

Save the date, spread the word, and get ready for a day of Easter fun at Moss End Garden Village! ��

Meet the Independent Retailers: Windsor Tackle Traders

Tue, 21 Jan 2025 20:33:40 GMT

Introducing Windsor Tackle Traders: Learn all about the face behind the business!

Owning a small business is a labour of love, and we love our small business owners! We asked the businesses of Moss End Garden Village to share a short story of why they decided to start their business, what they love about owning a business at Moss End, or just something entertaining about themselves…

This week we’re introducing Jeff, owner of Windsor Tackle Traders…

Located near the main entrance at Moss End Garden Village, Windsor Tackle Traders is your go-to shop for premium pre-owned fishing tackle. Whether you're a seasoned angler or just getting started, this shop has everything you need to reel in the big one. From rods and reels to alarms, bivvys, and luggage, they stock top-tier brands like Fox, Daiwa, Shimano, ESP, and more, ensuring you’re fully equipped for your next fishing adventure.

A Passion for Fishing: The owner’s love for fishing started at a young age, inspiring the creation of Windsor Tackle Traders. This passion drives the shop’s commitment to providing high-quality gear and expert advice, ensuring every customer—beginner or pro—finds exactly what they need.

A Personal Touch: The team loves everything about the business, from the fantastic products to the opportunity to connect with customers. They take pride in helping anglers create their perfect setup, whether it’s for a local fishing trip or a fishing holiday abroad.

Part of the Moss End Community: Being part of Moss End Garden Village is a joy for Windsor Tackle Traders. They value the sense of community and camaraderie among the diverse businesses in the village.

Fun Facts and Big Catches: When not in the shop, the owner indulges in fishing trips to Dorset and France, where Jeff has caught impressive 24lb wells catfish and other big catches. Closer to home, Jeff has even reeled in some giants at White Waltham!

Visit Windsor Tackle Traders: Pop in to browse their extensive collection, chat with the team, and gear up for your next adventure. Whether you’re looking for expert advice or premium pre-loved tackle, Windsor Tackle Traders is here to help you land your next big catch. �� Find them at Moss End Garden Village, near the main entrance through the outdoor furniture display area.

Exciting News: Welcome Our New Trader to Moss End Garden Village!

Sat, 18 Jan 2025 15:09:59 GMT

We’re thrilled to announce the arrival of a fantastic new business at Moss End Garden Village, bringing even more variety and charm to our vibrant community.

Visit Our New Traders Today

We’re so excited to have Windsor Tackle Traders join the Moss End Garden Village family. Bringing something unique to our community, and we can’t wait for you to explore everything they have to offer.

Stop by today to meet our new traders and see why Moss End Garden Village is the perfect place for shopping, dining, and discovering something special.

Feathers & Fur Falconry Centre Named Best Family Attraction in Berkshire

Wed, 19 Jun 2024 08:14:06 GMT

For the second year running, Feathers & Fur Falconry Centre has been honoured with the Best Family Attraction in Berkshire award by Muddy Stilettos. This accolade celebrates the centre’s dedication to educating the public about British birds of prey and owls.

About Feathers & Fur Falconry Centre

Feathers & Fur Falconry Centre, an independently-run establishment, boasts a diverse collection of birds including Barn Owls, Peregrine Falcons, Snowy Owls, and Buzzards. With a strong commitment to education, the centre offers various interactive activities such as educational talks for schools and groups, half-day hands-on sessions, family falconry experiences, and family owl encounters.

A Legacy of Education and Wildlife

Operating for 14 years and based at Moss End Garden Village for the past two, Feathers & Fur has made significant strides in wildlife education. The centre’s owner, Sadie, emphasised the importance of this award: “It’s such a nice recognition for the amount of work that goes into running Feathers & Fur. So much goes on behind the scenes looking after all the animals – daily feeding, cleaning, and flying them. It’s great that our amazing volunteers have been recognised for the work they do.”

Recognition Amongst Stiff Competition

As a small business with just four staff members, Feathers & Fur triumphed over formidable competitors such as Wellington Country Park and Bucklebury Farm. The award underscores the centre’s transformation from a perceived hobby to a recognised business. Sadie added, “The community we have here at Moss End is amazing. Everyone voted for us and helped to share the news with their customers. This award shows we are being taken seriously and it will help with awareness.”

Celebrating Success

Olivia and Ann, staff members of Feathers & Fur, attended the awards ceremony at The Loch & The Tyne in Old Windsor to receive the certificate. With 21 birds, the most popular being the Snowy Owl and the Barn Owl, Feathers & Fur continues to captivate and educate visitors.

A Heartfelt Thank You

Feathers & Fur Falconry Centre extends their gratitude to everyone who voted for them, acknowledging the vital role of their supporters in this achievement.

Visit Feathers & Fur Falconry Centre at Moss End Garden Village to experience their incredible birds and educational programs first-hand.

Meet the Independent Retailers: Garden Trends

Mon, 26 Feb 2024 15:46:24 GMT

Introducing Garden Trends: Learn all about the face behind the business!

This week we’re introducing Laura, Showroom Manager and Mike, Sales and Administration Support Coordinator at Garden Trends .

Nestled within the enchanting Moss End Garden Village, Garden Trends stands as a haven for outdoor enthusiasts, offering a spectacular array of garden furniture, outdoor kitchens, and accessories. From contemporary to traditional, and a variety of materials including wood, metal, and weave, Garden Trends has become a go-to destination for those seeking to elevate their outdoor spaces.

Leading the charge at Garden Trends is Laura, the Showroom Manager, who finds immense joy in connecting with customers and guiding them towards the perfect outdoor furniture sets. "I love hearing about the different gardens people have and helping them find exactly what they're looking for. It's about creating the perfect outdoor haven tailored to their preferences," Laura shares with enthusiasm.

What sets Garden Trends apart is not just the extensive range of products but the experiential aspect they offer. With the largest showroom of outdoor furniture and BBQs, customers are invited to touch, feel, and envision how these pieces could transform their own outdoor spaces. From budget-friendly options to catering to larger gardens, Garden Trends prides itself on being inclusive and customer-centric.

The showroom's allure goes beyond the local community, drawing visitors from across the UK. In fact, the record-holder hails all the way from Edinburgh, a testament to the showroom's reputation for quality and variety.

For Mike, the Sales and Administration Support Coordinator, the business is more than just selling furniture; it's a social endeavour. "Meeting people, understanding their needs, and interacting with them on a personal level is what makes our business special. The personal touch matters," Mike emphasises.

As a testament to their commitment to customer satisfaction, Garden Trends will be expanding their outdoor BBQ & Kitchen range this year to stay on top of evolving trends and ensure they continue to cater to diverse tastes.

Laura expresses her pride in being part of the Moss End Garden Village community, describing it as a unique setup with a plethora of individual businesses, offering a distinctive shopping experience that spans from antiques to reptiles.

And in the spirit of revealing unique titbits, Laura shares a delightful fact about herself – she is an identical twin. Not only that, but during her school days, there was also a set of identical twin brothers, and remarkably, all four of them were in the same history class. A small world indeed, echoing the close-knit and vibrant community spirit that characterises Moss End Garden Village.

Meet the Independent Retailers: Aqua Hot Tubs & Swim Spas

Wed, 22 Nov 2023 08:44:26 GMT

Introducing Aqua Hot Tubs & Swim Spas: Learn all about the face behind the business!

This week we’re introducing Sunil, owner of Aqua Hot Tubs & Swim Spas .

Aqua Hot Tubs are Berkshire's longest established hot tub and swim spa dealer, displaying and selling the Master Spas, Villeroy & Boch and Therapy Spas ranges of Hot Tubs and H2X swim spas at our fantastic showroom at Moss End Village. They have been in business for 18 years and pride themselves on customer service and the support they provide to all their customers. They have a fully functioning swim spa on display for prospective customers to swim test!

Before starting Aqua Hot Tubs, Sunil owned a hotel booking company – think a travel agency but for hotels only. It was very successful and then the internet came along and the landscape changed. Sunil therefore decided to move into a completely different direction and Aqua Hot Tubs was formed – something truly unique at the time.

For Sunil the best part of the job is actually visiting a customer after installation to show them how to use it properly, including getting the chemicals right. “I love seeing how happy they are” commented Sunil.

The team at Aqua Hot Tubs often go above and beyond to help their customers, even giving support in the past on Christmas Day so a customer could enjoy a dip in their hot tub with friends.

One of the most memorable installations was for the Producer of the film A Kings Speech. He lived by the river and it was impossible to get the hot tub into the garden from the front of the house, so they had to sail it over on a barge!

Aqua Hot Tubs moved to Moss End Garden Village during the pandemic and they’ve not looked back since. Sunil commented “everyone here is so friendly and easy to get on with, often giving business advice and support. There is a great atmosphere and it’s a great location”.

Meet the Independent Retailers: Moo Music Bracknell

Thu, 16 Nov 2023 08:41:37 GMT

Introducing Moo Music Bracknell: Learn all about the face behind the business!

This week we’re introducing Emma, owner of Moo Music Bracknell.

Moo Music is a fun and interactive music session for 0- to 5-year-old children and their parents, grandparents or carers too, where the children sing, dance, play, learn and have fun while doing it.

Emma started Moo Music Bracknell 6 years ago, initially to fit around her daughter’s school hours. She’s previously worked with children and was a dancer so this new venture brought all of her skills together.

Being a single Mum of 4 children, two who have special needs, she was feeling very isolated, Moo Music meant she started to meet people which she loves. When Emma first started she used to move around different community venues having to lug all the kit round with her. The opportunity came up to take a shop at Moss End Garden Village and Emma jumped at it as it meant she had a dedicated place where she could expand her offering.

Emma loves everything about her business, meeting new people and babies at just a few weeks old. “I get to see their development from day one which is such a privilege and wonderful to be part of. I get to be part of their childhood memories.” Emma commented.

“It’s also great to see the mums make friends, build a support network and spend time with each other outside of the classes at the other shops here at Moss End.” She continued.

Emma’s passion for child development really shines through when you talk to her. In addition to learning about child sensory practices, she’s also trained in Makaton sign language, baby massage and tummy time techniques. She continually learns to ensure her sessions are inclusive and beneficial to all.

“Music is an essential part of every child’s development and the 125+ original Moo Music songs used at the sessions are positive, uplifting, fun and educational.” Said Emma.

Moo Music Bracknell is different from others in this field as Emma really focusses on child development and sensory play, using her own experience of children with special needs to ensure everyone is included.

Moo Music Bracknell is proud to be part of the Moss End Garden Village Community as you’re surrounded by fellow business owners who are always happy to offer advice and support. “I really feel part of a community and it’s a great location as my customers also reap the benefits of other activities and shops on offer here”, commented Emma.

Meet the Independent Retailers: Berkshire County Trailers

Wed, 08 Nov 2023 09:56:47 GMT

Introducing Berkshire County Trailers: Learn all about the face behind the business!

This week we’re introducing Alex, owner of Berkshire County Trailers.

Berkshire County Trailers, Towing & Leisure is a family-based business offering a one stop solution for all towing, leisure and commercial requirements. This includes trailers sales, trailer hire, trailer servicing and trailer parts. They are also a main stockist for Thule and have a display of roof boxes, bike racks, rooftop tents and accessories. They pride themselves in quality, reliability and honesty.

Alex started the business as there was no one else in the market offering what they do. Trailers are very much Alex’s hobby, and it’s amazing that its now become his business, and this really does shine through.

Having grown up on a farm in Africa Alex was around trailers from a young age and this is where his passion for them started. When they stopped working, he’d take them apart and learn how to fix them. This turned into purchasing run-down trailers and bringing them back to their working glory, before selling them.

Alex loves his business as it really is unique and there are so many different trailers to work with from horse boxes to camping trailers to box trailers to flatbed trailers; and all the accessories that come with this sector such as wheel clamps and hitch locks.

Outside of the business the family love going 4x4 and off roading; and Alex also loves getting up close to classic and modern tractors – a throwback to his childhood on the farm. Alex commented “I love the buzz of buying something second hand, refurbing it and giving it new life; whilst making all my customers happy”.

Having visited Moss End Garden Village for a number of years and watching it grow, Alex jumped at the chance of having a store front here. He commented “there’s a lovely community here, with follow business owners providing advice when its needed. There’s also such a variety of shops here, it really is a unique place to be”.,

We always like to give away a little secret about our business owners and share something that’s unique to them, well guess what Alex quite likes for breakfast? A chicken curry… yes you heard it here first, apparently, he’s a “hot and spicy guy”!!!

Meet the Independent Retailers: Il Cortile

Tue, 31 Oct 2023 10:06:04 GMT

Introducing Il Cortile: Learn all about the face behind the business!

This week we’re introducing Il Cortile and Giorgio, the owner.

Il Cortile is an Italian family business producing mouth-watering food and wine. Il Cortile was established as the result of Giorgio Serrati concept to create a casual, natural, and straightforward Italian environment to eat, drink and shop all under one roof, while also celebrating Italian biodiversity.

The shop and café has been under new management since July 2022, with Giorgio now running it directly, along with his wife Federica.

When we asked Giorgio why he started the business his answer was simple “to bring Italian passion and culture to Moss End Garden Village.” They share the perfect Italian dish, made by Italians in the traditional, authentic way.

Giorgio loves his customers and the atmosphere they have created together. His passion is to make people happy and he puts every effort into this goal. “I want all my customers to leave happy and fulfilled”, commented Giorgio.

The team at il Cortile love Moss End Garden Village as it’s a great environment. Giorgio commented “its changed a lot in recent years and we’re improving what we do too. Our goal is to bring more people to il Cortile, and to Moss End overall”.

Giorgio is originally from Puglia, a southern region forming the heel of Italy’s “boot,” and is known for its whitewashed hill towns, centuries-old farmland and hundreds of kilometers of Mediterranean coastline. His favourite Italian dish is Peperonata, a vegetable stew typically composed of red bell peppers, tomatoes and garlic.

Meet the Independent Retailers: The Jungle Reptiles

Wed, 18 Oct 2023 10:15:51 GMT

Introducing The Jungle Reptiles: Learn all about the face behind the business!

This week we’re introducing The Jungle Reptiles and Jenna, Co-owner.

The Jungle Reptiles are a family run business specialising in reptile and exotic animal care; from the sale of reptiles and reptile food, to hosting parties and even offering reptile holiday boarding care!

Jenna and Kyle started The Jungle Reptiles as they both have an amazing passion for these creatures. They wanted to spend their days talking to like-minded people and help to educate everyone about this much mis-understood creatures. Many people feel that they are cold and boring, but as Jenna explained each and every reptile have different characters.

Jenna commented “my Mum always said do something you love, or just enjoy 2 weeks holiday a year, so here we are doing what we love!”.

Clearly Jenna loves reptiles, life revolves around the shops and she loves the fact that their children are involved too. The education side of The Jungle Reptiles is very exciting, being able to talk to children and spark their enthusiasm for these animals is what its all about.

Jenna and Kyle really like the fact that Moss End Garden Village is very much a family environment. Everyone is very friendly and all the traders work together to support each other. For example if one trader has something they no longer need they offer it to the rest of us, plus we bounce ideas around to increase our marketing presence.

“Things have changed so much at Moss End, it really is a place for the family to enjoy a morning or afternoon out, its not just about the retail side of things anymore”, Jenna commented.

Some unusual facts about Jenna and Kyle is that they keep over 600 Geckos in their bedroom, looking after them and raising them! You may also be surprised to learn that when Jenna was just 8 years old she managed to sneak 30 toads home in her parents car after a family holiday. She wanted to save them from being squashed! I think its safe to say the passion for reptiles was live and kicking even then!

Meet the Independent Retailers: Top of the Pots

Fri, 06 Oct 2023 12:56:56 GMT

Introducing Top of the Pots: Learn all about the face behind the business!

This week we’re introducing Top of the Pots and Laura, the owner.

Top of the Pots is, as it sounds, a pottery painting studio where visitors can paint their own pottery. Sounds simple (and it is!), but once you delve into the world of creativity within their studio you will discover that paint your own pottery means timeless keepsakes created by capturing a tiny baby’s footprints onto ceramics, the ultimate in personalised wedding gifts, unforgettable memories of a 6th birthday party with a difference or just simply something that you created with your own two hands.

Laura started Top of the Pots as a bit of a turn of fate we discovered. Sadly, Laura’s grandparents passed away, but they had left her some money and when she saw the studio was for sale, on her birthday nonetheless, she jumped at the chance and she hasn’t looked back since.

When we asked what Laura loved about owning her own business she commented, “the flexibility, to be able to bring my little one into work with me and have the kids around me when there’s school inset days etc is a real help.”

She also loves working with her best friend, they’ve known each other since they were 11 years old and it brings a real sense of family to the studio. Its also wonderful to see how creative our customers get, each day is different, you never know what magic will happen.

One of Laura’s passions is unsurprisingly ceramics, she studied Art at school but ceramics has become her new love. She is also very passionate about her family, making sure there is time for memories to be made together.

Laura loves being part Moss End Garden Village due to the community feel between all the traders. Laura said “watching Moss End grow over the years has been amazing, its developed so much to offer something for everyone. With the new businesses joining its now a destination, not just a retail space.”

What you might not know about Laura is that she actually trained to be a wedding planner and, stranger yet, she has now coccyx after breaking it during gymnastics at primary school!

Meet the Independent Retailers: The Reef Keeper Store Manager

Mon, 25 Sep 2023 09:52:53 GMT

Introducing The Reef Keeper: Learn all about the face behind the business!

This week we’re introducing Paul, Store Manager at The Reefkeeper

The ReefKeeper at Moss End is very proud to be the first of its kind! Their passion is marine aquariums and their drive is to make these beauties a reality for any hobbyist.

Paul has kept marine fishes for more than 20 years and was in fact a customer of Ed’s ( Owner of The ReefKeeper ), until one day Ed offered him a job. His background is in horticulture which some may be surprised to learn has great synergies with marine life, especially when growing and maintaining Coral.

Paul loves coming to work each day as there’s always something new, be that new stock or new customers to give advice to and start them on their journey to marine animal keepers. Paul says “it’s a very calming place to work and Ed is an amazing boss, so supportive. Everyone who works here genuinely loves fish and all things underwater.”

The ReefKeeper is proud to be part of the Moss End Garden Village community, Paul commented that there is so much variety in the types of businesses onsite that there’s always new people to meet and to plant the seed for future fish owners.

Meet the Independent Retailers: The Reef Keeper

Mon, 21 Aug 2023 14:34:48 GMT

Introducing The Reef Keeper: Learn all about the face behind the business!

This week we’re introducing The Reefkeeper

The ReefKeeper at Moss End is very proud to be the first of its kind! Their passion is marine aquariums and their drive is to make these beauties a reality for any hobbyist.

Ed, the owner, has always had a passion for animals, when at aged 6 he got his first goldfish, called Goldy of course. But marine life isn’t where things started for Ed, he had a successful career as a Management Consultant but soon realised that working 9 to 5 wasn’t his cup of tea. He therefore took the leap and turned his hobby into a business, and so The Reefkeeper was formed.

When you talk to Ed his passion for all things for animals, particularly those under the sea, is vibrant and wonderful to be around. His knowledge is second to none and he loves giving advice on corals and fish, in fact whilst we were chatting he took my 12 year old daughter on a mini shop tour. Regaling fun facts, for example, did you know start fish have 5 arms but hundreds of legs; and corals are both animals and plants? No me neither!!

Another thing we learnt is that you can grow coral, something Ed clearly enjoys as he explains that most of the Coral in the shop has been grown by them, making the whole lifecycle more sustainable.

Ed is a firm believer that it’s so important to engage with the younger visitors to The ReefKeeper as they’re future customers, but also the future custodians of the living plant and underwater world. He’s also known for naming the fish when they come in, one memorable member of the Moss End aquatic world was Porky the Puffer, who now lives at Legoland Windsor!

The ReefKeeper is proud to be part of the Moss End Garden Village community, Ed commented that there is such a vibrant buzz on site, it’s great to have the different and truly unique businesses all under one roof, supporting each other and learning from other business owners.

Away from the business it’s no surprise to find Ed’s other hobbies feature water, he’s a keen paddleboard and kayaker!

The Moss End store has a reputation for the rarer fish and every visit will delight the connoisseur of the unusual. Within the last 12 months alone they’ve had a Kingii angel, Clarion angel, several Gem tangs, Bandit angels, Candy swiss guards, Jocualtor angel, Lennardi wrasse, Femininus wrasse, Redtail triggers, Blue spot Jawfish, a Tigerpyges and Tri-colour scopas to name but a few of their treasures!

Meet the Independent Retailers: Feathers & Fur Falconry Centre

Wed, 26 Jul 2023 15:40:27 GMT

Introducing Feathers & Fur Falconry Centre: Learn all about the face behind the business!

This week we’re introducing Feathers and Fur Falconry Centre …

Feathers and Fur Falconry Centre is home to 22 birds of prey and owls and is run by Sadie Shepherd, who with a background and passion for conservation, has been working with birds for the past 23 years. ‘I love how birds of prey are the indicators for a fabulous environment, for without the correct habitat and food sources, birds such as a Kestrel and Barn Owl simply cannot live. By understanding their needs we can teach people to create the best possible environment around them and understand how important it is to protect it’. The centre offers people the chance to learn all of this, whether it be through a handling session or simply visiting the centre.

Feathers and Fur Falconry Centre opened to the public at Moss end in November 2022 but this was the conclusion to a very long journey. Feathers and Fur is actually 13 years old however and moved to Moss End Garden Village in 2020 amid the covid lock down when the previous location decided to close its doors and all the tenants lost their homes. ‘The move was one of the hardest, mental and physical challenges I have ever faced, but with an amazing team and the support of all our followers we did it. I am so proud of what we have built, and choosing to come to Moss End was the best decision ever’ – Sadie Shepherd.

The collection of businesses now at Moss End really makes it a fabulous place to visit with families, almost like a mini zoo trip with birds, reptiles and fish. I love it. The businesses are all so supportive of one another and as a site we feel like we have found our forever home.

The centre includes a classroom, photo boards, lots of information to learn, a quiz for young visitors and a centre tour to read whilst you visit the birds, plus a gift shop with lots of lovely Bird of Prey goodies. We offer school talks, educational visits, hands on sessions, photography sessions, birthday parties and much more.

Sadie Shepherd has led a rather busy and full life so far, including owning a lingerie shop, sky diving, climbing Kilimanjaro, working at the bottom of the Grand Canyon and volunteering in Iceland! Nowadays though you are more likely to find me in the centre, in a field with a bird or in the woods with my two dogs!

Meet the Independent Retailers: Scootify UK

Thu, 11 May 2023 08:26:12 GMT

Introducing Scootify UK: Learn all about the face behind the business!

This week we’re introducing Scootify UK , Berkshire’s leading independent electric scooter sales and repair specialists.

The team at Scootify all come from the auto industry but wanted a change of direction and actually formed The Vapers Cave, selling a variety of vaping products. As Covid hit they lost a lot of revenue as lockdown took hold.

Having been thinking about e-scooters for a while and now with time on their hands they took a leap and formed Scootify UK.

The family-led team felt right at home as they’d been working with cars all their lives so their love for anything with wheels meant they could turn their skills to e-scooters. After lots of research they realised that no one else was really offering scooter repairs as a service, and this is where things took off.

They can repair all brands of electric scooters so if you have a broken scooter or know someone who has they are there to help.

Since forming Scootify UK the team have met lots of nice people that they now consider friends; as a family business they know the value of being part of a community.

They enjoy being part of Moss End Garden Village as its great to work with the other independent businesses located here.

Meet the Independent Retailers: Cryptic Cabin

Wed, 26 Apr 2023 07:36:19 GMT

Introducing Cryptic Cabin: Learn all about the face behind the business!

This week we’re introducing Cryptic Cabin , a hub for Board Games, Wargames and excellent coffee!

Initially Russell, one of the co-owners of Cryptic Cabin, had a cabin, hence the name, which was used as a photography studio. But when Covid hit, in-person shoots couldn’t be carried out. So, this encouraged them to think outside the box for ways they could bring their cabin back to life.

Created by friends Spencer, Ben, Russell and Miles, all self-confessed game nerds; they wanted to form a business from something they loved, which was of course everything to do with board games, Pokemon, Warhammer and Dungeons and Dragons.

So they started selling games from the cabin, and hosting live play, welcoming people post-covid to a friendly space where they could enjoy playing the games they love with other people. After 12-months they had out-grown the cabin and so moved to Moss End Garden Village, bringing some much needed space to the business.

The team plays a ton of games alongside their amazing customer base. They’ve said it’s incredible to see everyone getting so into their games and having a blast, everyday is like they're reliving their childhood.

Spencer commented "Our customers get to meet new people and form friendships. In fact, we had a group who first met here, and now they're all attending each other's weddings!”

The team at Cryptic Cabin are passionate about teaching the next generation to play the games they love. They don’t consider visitors to just be customers, but also their friends.

They love being part of the Moss End Garden Village Community, working with different businesses to support each other. They recently collaborated with fellow Moss End business, Moneyrow Beans. They created a new blend of coffee which they now serve and sell at Cryptic Cabin.

It's interesting to note that Ben used to visit Moss End Garden Village as a child. Now, being able to own a shop on site is nothing short of amazing for him.

All four owners admit to having their own quirks, although they did share that Ben eats a lasagne every single day of the year! Now that really is a quirk! ��

Meet the Independent Retailers: Koubou Interiors

Fri, 21 Apr 2023 09:56:09 GMT

Introducing Koubou Interiors: Learn all about the face behind the business!

This week we’re introducing Koubou Interiors .

Gilly Craft, owner of Koubou Interiors - tutored at a college in fashion and interior design for many years, when she began to be asked to do external projects; so she started working from home to see if it was something she enjoyed and was successful. Thankfully it was - so she got my first premises in Crowthorne and subsequently moved to Moss End Garden Village in summer of 2021.

Koubou Interiors is an award winning full service Interior Architecture and Design practice specialising in Residential, Commercial and Healthcare design. They can take your vision and make it reality working within your budget and time scale.

Gilly and the team love transforming spaces, seeing a property or room develop. It’s about changing people’s lives; allowing them to live in a space that works for them and their family.

In addition to interior design projects, Gilly also speaks at various industry events on the subject of designing for an ageing population, especially focusing on design constraints imposed by Dementia and other disabilities.

Gilly’s passion include design, obviously! However, she’s passionate about all types of design; be it properties, fashion, architecture. She loves designing and making her own clothes when she has the time.

The team at Koubou Interiors like being part of the Moss End Garden Village as it’s a nice community, everyone’s friendly and helps each other out. Gilly commented “for us personally it’s a great commute and the friendly management team make it easy to manage the showroom.”

Something you may not know about Gilly is that she loves dancing and still perform in shows. Her other passion is sculling, “there is nothing better than getting out on the water!” commented Gilly.

With more than 44 independent retailers at Moss End Garden Village, this is just a small snapshot of some of the familiar faces you’ll see when you visit.

Come and visit to explore and discover a new shop you’ve never been to, and don’t forget to say hello to the owner!

To find a list of all businesses that call Moss End Garden Village home, click here.

Meet the Independent Retailers: Garden4Seasons

Thu, 06 Apr 2023 15:59:45 GMT

Introducing Garden 4 Seasons: Learn all about the face behind the business!

This week we’re introducing Garden 4 Seasons , our independent Garden Centre, owned and managed by Lesley & Bruce.

It’s a place where there is the widest choice and the most beautiful things for your garden and home. It is maintained and created each day by a small passionate and dedicated team who are completely customer-focussed.

As you walk into Garden 4 Seasons you will find unique products that you simply will not find on the high street. All carefully chosen designed lines from interior colour, texture and design to outdoor seasonal flower displays to give you ideas for your own garden.

As a small centre, the heart of the business is the hands-on approach and knowledge of the owners, which is evident in the quality of plants stocked at very competitive prices.

Lesley and Bruce have been at Moss End Garden Village right from the start and have watched it grow, change and develop. They love it here due to the real sense of community, you will always find support and advice from the other retailers; as well as a mutual respect as independent traders.

And finally, Bruce was actually a city guy and Lesley had a career in healthcare, but they wanted change and founded Garden 4 Seasons.

With more than 44 independent retailers at Moss End Garden Village, this is just a small snapshot of some of the familiar faces you’ll see when you visit.

Come and visit to explore and discover a new shop you’ve never been to, and don’t forget to say hello to the owner!

To find a list of all businesses that call Moss End Garden Village home, click here.

Meet the Independent Retailers: Your Home Your World

Thu, 06 Apr 2023 15:52:59 GMT

Introducing Your Home Your World: Learn all about the face behind the business!

This week we’re introducing Your Home Your World , an eco-friendly, plastic free business that wants to make low waste or zero waste alternatives more affordable and accessible!

Angharad, owner, was at university in Swansea which has one of the best recycling systems in the UK and was forced to see the amount of waste she was creating. She was filling a huge box of plastic waste every 3-4 days, this made her think and she knew she had to act to make a change.

She started research into low plastic products and discovered the zero-waste movement. Angharad tried to find a local refill shop to Bracknell, where she was now living, and her closest one was in Windsor, making it impractical to go to every time new products were needed. So Your Home Your World was created!

Their mission is to make plastic free products affordable and accessible to everyone, because everyone should have the chance to make a difference!

They often ask people “Do you think the earth is past saving” because they don’t feel that way at all and encourage everyone to act now to fix the current climate and waste crisis. They’re saying is "Your home is your world, the world is your home."

They absolutely love working with small business! It is genuinely one of their favourite things they get to do! Almost all of their products come from UK based small businesses. This is one reason why they are proud to be part of the Moss End Garden Village Community, working with other local entrepreneurs to support each others businesses.

Angharad has been visiting the village since she was a child and has loved watching it develop and change. Visitors really can find lots of different things here.

And finally, something you may not know about Angharad is that she’s very musical – she can play the Piano, Saxophone, Guitar and Ukulele, as well as sing!

With more than 44 independent retailers at Moss End Garden Village, this is just a small snapshot of some of the familiar faces you’ll see when you visit.

Come and visit to explore and discover a new shop you’ve never been to, and don’t forget to say hello to the owner!

To find a list of all businesses that call Moss End Garden Village home, click here.

Meet the Independent Retailers: Applewood Kitchens

Mon, 13 Mar 2023 11:26:59 GMT

Introducing Applewood Kitchens: Learn all about the face behind the business!

This week we’re introducing Applewood Kitchens . Scott, his wife Sarah, and John (business partner) started Applewood Kitchens with the sole intention of offering a better way for people to be able to buy a quality fitted kitchen, taking away all of the associated hassles by providing a full on service that includes everything that all the other companies don’t want to do. They carry out all the work from conception to completion, coordinate every trade and make sure everything runs smoothly and efficiently from beginning to end.

Applewood are a Which trusted trader (unique in kitchens) and have well over 800 testimonials from delighted local customers. During a tough economic climate, Scott and John have said that their secret has been sticking to their morals centred on customer values.

Scott said: “We’re celebrating 15 years in business this year which is such a milestone for the business, so we are absolutely over the moon that we have gone from strength to strength over the years.”

Applewood Kitchens pride themselves on using local manufacturers, local architects and local inhouse designers meaning the whole process runs as smoothly as possible. “We’re a local firm looking after local people and the community has been behind us from day one.” Continued Scott.

When asked what they love about their business, Scott simply said, all the staff within it, we are like a family, we have all worked together for 15 years, and there is much love.

Outside of work, the team always put family first, as both have four grown up kids and grandchildren. Scott is a dedicated carp fisherman, and John loves his golf.

They love being at Moss End Garden Village as it’s a community, a large group of passionate entrepreneurs and staff members, offering a variety of products and services to the local community, what’s not to like! Everyone is nice and friendly.

We owe a lot to Steve Hyde (RIP) and his lovely wife Janet, who own the site, and provided us all with this amazing opportunity, Steve will not be forgotten.

You see it was the dream of the late Steve to create a hub where small, independent businesses could start out, grow and thrive. Sadly, Steve passed away in 2014, but not before he saw his dream become a reality. This dream continues to be led through Steve’s wife, Janet, and other members of the Hyde family. Continued investment in the site has created a space for an unbeatable shopping experience and a destination for the whole family.

And finally, something many people may not know about Scott is he can sing a bit, loves a bit of Elvis, it’s his thing, but he does ask we don’t put him to the test ��.

With more than 44 independent retailers at Moss End Garden Village, this is just a small snapshot of some of the familiar faces you’ll see when you visit.

Come and visit to explore and discover a new shop you’ve never been to, and don’t forget to say hello to the owner!

To find a list of all businesses that call Moss End Garden Village home, click here.

Meet the Independent Retailers: Country Mouse Home

Tue, 21 Feb 2023 09:12:46 GMT

Introducing Karen, Steve, and Spud the dog, from Country Mouse Home based at Moss End Garden Village.

Karen started the business as she’d upcycled all the furniture in her own home and had caught the bug for making old look new and loved again. When a unit become available at Moss End Garden Village Karen jumped in with both feet and thought “lets go for it as all I want to do is paint furniture rather than sit behind a desk all day!”

What began for them as a small painted furniture venture in 2010, has become their lifetime passion! The more their customers jumped enthusiastically onto the upcycling wagon, the more they realised how important the planet has become to us all. This is what inspires both Karen and Steve to inspire YOU to forego boring mass-produced decor in favour of gorgeously sustainable upcycled furniture and accessories that reflect your own character.

Karen comments “I love spending time with customers and seeing their delight when they’ve tackled a project and made something beautiful”.

Karen’s passions evolve around saving the planet one ugly piece of furniture at a time. She loves scouring marketing for unique items for customers houses and creating eco-friendly homewares. Her other passion in life is her dog, Spud, a firm favourite of many visitors to Country Mouse Home!

Furniture painting and upcycling remain at the heart of this small business and they are very proud to be Berkshire stockists of the two leading brands of eco-friendly furniture paint, Annie Sloan Chalk Paint and Fusion Mineral Paint.

Over the years we've introduced other eco-friendly DIY products, one of a kind authentic 'flea-market' finds, and ethically sourced home accessories. More recently, Steve has introduced fabulous hand-made furniture and other bits fashioned in the main from gorgeous reclaimed wood.

Our brick-and-mortar shop at Moss End Garden Village is their home-from-home and they love serving their local community. One of the joys of being based at Moss End is being part of a supportive retail networking, there’s a great community spirit here. “We’ve made many friends over the past 13 years”, commented Karen.

“We’re all about saving perfectly good furniture from landfill and inspiring our customers to do the same. We provide the tools, the know-how and the inspiration for DIY ‘upcyclers’ and/or the labour for those who prefer leave it to us.” Continued Karen

So are you just starting out? Wanting to master a particular technique? Either way ... Country Mouse Home have got a workshop for you! Find out more at www.countrymousehome.com/pages/workshops

And finally… some fun facts about these guys… Sports mad Steve can be found on golf courses around the county a few times a month and around the continent a couple of times a year – he’s still playing off a single figure handicap. Karen’s other passion is music, she’s recently joined a local Rock Choir and can often be heard singing away whilst painting in the workshop.

Meet the Independent Retailers: Ron Taylor Carpets

Tue, 21 Feb 2023 09:05:21 GMT

Introducing Ron Taylor, from Ron Taylor Carpets based at Moss End Garden Village. Ron has the knowledge of more than 50 years in the flooring industry. He has shared this with his staff and employee’s to create a dynamic and highly customers service driven team.

Ron Taylor Carpets is a family business that delivers outstanding choice, value, and service every single day.

The business was first started as Ron needed a challenge, he wanted to do a good job and meet customer requirements and expectations. He loves the excitement of meeting customers and making them happy. He also enjoys the different challenges that present themself every day.

Ron is passionate about making every house feel like a home, providing excellent service and top-notch quality. Outside of work his other passion is drinking good wine!

“We love being at Moss End Garden Village as its great to be part of the small friendly community of independent retailers. Learning from each other and supporting other independent businesses” said Ron.

Meet the Independent Retailers: Mystical Stones

Tue, 21 Feb 2023 08:59:16 GMT

Welcome to Mystical Stones, owned by Anne & Paul. We are a company focused on crystals, people and spreading love & light.

We started our crystal business in 2020 during the pandemic and our crystal journey began after seeing a demand for crystals locally. We are two people with a passion for crystals and we wanted to share the happiness and wonders of crystals with everyone.

Our passions that drive us everyday is people & crystals, we love meeting wonderful people everyday and chatting with them about life and how crystals can help them.

We are so happy to be part of Moss End Garden Village community, such a wide variety of shops, activity's and businesses all run by people who have a passion and love for what they do and strive hard everyday to make it a place for all to come and enjoy a great experience.

There are so many gorgeous crystals to show you!, so pop in and say hello today.

Meet the Independent Retailers: MoneyRow Beans

Tue, 21 Feb 2023 08:54:48 GMT

Welcome to Moneyrow Beans, created by local coffee enthusiast, Vicky Weddell, supplying freshly roasted coffee for homes, businesses, markets and events.

Having worked in coffee training and events for some years, she started roasting small batches of fresh coffee in her garden shed in Moneyrow Green, Holyport. Local support grew and she has now set up her own artisan coffee roastery here at Moss End Garden Village.

Vicky loves coffee and the process of making it with love and care for people to enjoy. She also enjoys the fact there is always something new to learn and the variety of it all, the people she meets and the conservation aspect of the industry.

Vicky is passionate about coffee people and coffee communities, from coffee farmers to coffee drinkers. Moneyrow Beans is proud to be the first UK Distributor for Gorilla Conservation Coffee, a social enterprise which supports coffee farmers and protects endangered mountain gorillas in Uganda.

Her passions are obviously coffee, community and connections with people.

She is so happy to be part of the Moss End Garden Village community, and finds it a very friendly place. All the other independent business owners are supportive and there’s always someone around to bounce ideas off of, or knows someone who can help.

Not only does Vicky run her own business but she’s also a technical judge at the UK Barista Championships. This means she gets to meet upcoming stars in the industry, scoring them on their barista skills, workflow and how they make their coffee. She does it as a way to connect with the coffee community and ensure her skills are still up to date as Vicky is always striving to improve her standards.

Something people may not know about Vicky is that she studied Russian at University and her doorcam thinks she’s a pet due to her curly hair and regularly notifies her family that a pet has been detected at the front door!!

Looking to the future, Vicky wants to grow the business and the local coffee community, she believes that coffee is for everyone, not just the elitist and is adamant to create good coffee for good people.

She is also planning Maidenhead’s first ever Coffee Festival at Norden Farm Centre for the Arts on 16 ^th September. Its open to all and will showcase lots of different coffee businesses as well as host workshops and talks. So do keep your eyes open for more details soon!

If you’re after a taste of the best locally-made coffee in the area, then pop to Moss End Garden Village to pick up your pack today, and check out the coffee experiences too!

Mystical Stones - Now Open!

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 11:41:14 GMT

Joining the Moss End Garden Village family on Saturday 17th December...

Mystical-Stones is a well-renowned store that has continually featured a variety of high-quality and affordable crystals & gemstones since day one.

The team at Mystical-Stones knows that every crystal counts and strives to make the entire shopping experience as rewarding and filled with as much energy and love as possible.

Here at Mystical Stones, we are passionate about bringing our customers a great shopping experience. Our passion for excellence has driven us from the beginning and continues to drive us into the future.

We are excited to announce this very new store which will be opening in the Village Shops this December... opening on Saturday 17th!

Christmas Market - 4th December

Tue, 18 Oct 2022 10:48:57 GMT

Introducing our brand-new Moss End Christmas Market on 4th December from 10am to 4pm. Get the date in your diary now and get ready to enjoy stalls, food, games, activities and entertainment!

Wrap up warm and head to Moss End Garden Village to get into the festive mood this December. With a whole host of stalls, shops and food to explore you’ll find something for everyone.

We’ve put a call in to Father Christmas who will be making a special visit to wish everyone a Merry Christmas, and we’ll also have a visit from Buzz Bee!

In addition, we’ve planned some great activities including:

Reptile Handling Session & Talk: The Jungle Reptiles will be running a Reptile Handling Session and Talk so come on down to meet their cold-blooded friends and find out more about these amazing creatures. ��
Birds of Prey Talk & Show: Feathers and Fur Falconry Centre will be running a Birds of Prey Talk and Show, come and meet our feathered friends and find out more about these amazing creatures. ��
Christmas Carol Choir: it wouldn't be a festive event if we didn't have Christmas Carols to sing along to!
Coffee Discovery Experience with Moneyrow Beans : if you like coffee then you’ll love this tasting experience and a chance to see how coffee beans are roasted to make that perfect blend.
Boerewors Rolls from The Biltong Emporium: Our mouths are watering �� as we think about the Boerewors Rolls that will be on sale at the Christmas Market. The lovely people at The Biltong Emporium are preparing this traditional South African street food, tasty sausage made from beef mince, pork fat and spices. ��
Festive Biscuit Decorating: the team at Robyn’s Nest are baking some tasty biscuits ready for decoration so get planning your designs now!
Christmas Wreath Making: Lilly & Wild , flower installation designers based here at Moss End, are running wreath making workshops throughout the day – a chance for you to get creative and design something magical for your front door.
DJ Christmas Beats: some cracking music to bring the festive atmosphere and maybe a chance for you to have a boogie as you browse the stalls!

We also have a variety of stalls and rides in the market area including:

Face painting
Teacup ride & Swing boats
TWhites Wax Melt Gifts
Felt Decorations by Country Mouse Home
Created in Windsor Gifts
Tinkers Gifts
Usborne Books
Kimonomaisie
Your Home Your World
Lightly Scented
Children’s Clothes
Advert calendars
Cake and hot chocolate
Candyfloss and Popcorn
Love Filled Balloons
Charity Tombola

We will be raising money on the day in support of The Thames Hospice , a local charity that exists to provide and support the best palliative and end-of-life care services, giving dignity and comfort to those facing a terminal illness.

So join in the festive fun, support an amazing local charity and make this Christmas season one to remember!

Moo Music coming to Moss End soon...

Thu, 30 Jun 2022 07:40:38 GMT

Introducing Moo Music, a great fun and interactive regular music session for 0- to 5-year-old children and their parents, grandparents or carers too, where the children sing, dance, play, learn and have fun while doing it.

Music is an essential part of every child’s development and the 125+ original Moo Music songs used at the sessions are positive, uplifting, fun and educational. The interactive sessions will help your child gain confidence and develop memory, language and coordination skills in an exciting, enjoyable and multi-sensory way.

It’s a great way to make new friends - both for the children and the adults too!

Official Opening Date to be announced, likely end of August... keep an eye on our website for updates!

Home Design Open Day

Tue, 15 Feb 2022 17:17:48 GMT

Are you looking for some interior design inspiration?

Are you in need of help to turn your home renovation idea into a reality?

Do you want expert advice on lighting, interiors or architectural design?

If so, then book your free consultation with our experts at our brand-new Home Design Open Day taking place on Saturday 2 ^nd April between 10.30am and 3.30pm at Moss End Garden Village.

This is an exclusive opportunity to bring your project ideas with you and receive expert advice and ideas free of charge (consultations are usually chargeable). So gather up your floorplans, come armed with your moodboards and images and don’t miss out, book today.

Meet our Experts

Koubou Interiors
As a BIID Registered Design Practice, we are proud to have won several awards throughout our journey since 2004 as an interior architecture and design practice. Whether your project is large or small, we take time, compassion, and add our design knowledge to help it come to fruition.

Luxury Chandelier
At Luxury Chandelier, we offer unique designer chandeliers and bespoke lighting solutions that make a statement and bring a touch of beauty and glamour to your interior. Whether you’re looking to add a modern centrepiece to your room, or you’d prefer a timeless piece of lighting art, you can find your perfect solution in our showroom where we also provide lighting consultations.

Ashleigh Clarke Architects
Ashleigh Clarke Architects is a RIBA chartered practice with over 10 years of experience in the Cotswolds, specialising in luxury residential architecture. Many of our clients live in Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and we have built up extensive experience in obtaining planning permissions for both Grade II Listed Buildings and properties situated with the AONB and conservation areas. At this exclusive open day, we will provide an initial consultation to discuss your project and planning permissions that may be required

Book Your free 30-minute Consultation

Some of our Projects:

My January Garden

Mon, 17 Jan 2022 07:00:02 GMT

January is the beginning of the gardening year – a time for fresh starts, renewed energy, and grand plans for the twelve months ahead.

Jobs in the garden this month are mostly about keeping things trim and tidy, and getting ready for the year to come. If you're itching to get growing, there are a few things you can do besides the obvious planting bare root roses, chitting first early potatoes and starting off your sweet pea seeds. Check out what to sow and grow this month right here.

Timely Tips

It might be cold outside, but there are still plenty of jobs to do in the garden this month. Here are the main ones:

Put your new-year enthusiasm to good use by cleaning pots, tools, water butts and greenhouses in preparation for spring. It’s not the most glamorous of tasks, but it will set you up for a great growing season.
Start planning what you want to do with your garden in the months to come. Now is the time to order seeds and plants from the comfort of your armchair
Check your winter protection is still working for you — survey any stakes, supports and ties that might have been damaged in bad weather.
Continue looking after wildlife — put out wild bird food for hungry birds and continue to leave some areas of your garden uncut for shelter until the spring.

In the flower garden

Here are your main tasks to do in the flower garden this month:

Prune your wisteria by cutting back whippy summer growth, leaving only 2 or 3 buds.
Prune rose bushes this month while they are still dormant. Cut branches back to just above a bud, making sure to remove any crossing or dead branches.
January is the month to start pruning rhododendrons.
Tidy up perennials. Cut down the old stems of perennial plants like sedum - be careful of any new growth.
Cut back willow trees. Remove any damaged or diseased stems. Take out the oldest stems of brightly coloured willows, and thin out any overcrowding.
Remove any faded flowers from your winter pansies to stop them setting seed.

In the vegetable garden

The vegetable garden might feel quiet in January, but there are still plenty of jobs to do this month. If you want an excuse to get outdoors on a fine day, here are some things to be getting on with:

Keep harvesting your parsnips and leeks as you need them.
Protect potato grow bags with frost protection fleece on cold nights if your greenhouse is unheated.
Prepare the ground for early peas. Place a cloche over the soil this month, to warm up the ground a few weeks before sowing.

In the fruit garden

Here are the main jobs to do in your fruit garden this month:

Prune apple and pear trees if you haven't done so already. It’s best done during the winter while the plants are still dormant. Aim to create an open frame of branches in a goblet shape.
Prune your currant plants and gooseberries now to maintain a productive framework of healthy branches.

Looking after your lawn: Avoid walking on your lawn whenever it is blanketed by heavy frost or snow, as this will damage the grass beneath.

Here are some other jobs you can do around the garden this January:

Check your climbers and climbing shrubs are securely attached to their supports with ties.
Remove any lurking weeds, roots and all, from your beds and borders.
Shred your Christmas tree and add it to your compost bins. Alternatively, the stripped-down branches make great pea sticks.
Remove slimy patches from patios and paving by scrubbing with a broom or blast with a pressure washer.

Try a new recipe for Veganuary

Mon, 10 Jan 2022 07:00:02 GMT

This is a subtitle for your new post If you haven’t heard of Veganuary before, it’s a challenge to go vegan for the whole of January. This means not consuming any animal-derived produce, including meat, fish, dairy, eggs, shellfish, or honey.

People participate in Veganuary for a variety of reasons. It could be for the challenge, for health reasons, or perhaps as a kickstart to their plant-based journey.

If you’re taking on the challenge then why not check out this great recipe below…. Don’t forget to share your photos on our social media profiles and tell us what you thought of it!

Persian what the cluck with potatoes, prunes and pumpkin

To celebrate Veganuary, The Vegetarian Butcher have created this delicious Persian What the Cluck with potatoes, prunes and pumpkin recipe! So why not try it out!

INGREDIENTS (for 4 people)

320g The Vegetarian Butcher What the Cluck Chunks / Quorn chicken pieces

400g New Potatoes, cut in half

250g Pumpkin/Butternut, diced

200g Onions, large dice

75g Prunes

20g Ginger, peeled and grated

500ml Water

1 Knorr Vegetable Bouillon cube

50ml Soy Sauce

1 Lemon

15g Brown Sugar

50g Mango chutney

1g Cracked black pepper

10g flat leaf Parsley

PREPARATION

Bring the water to the boil then add the soy sauce, mango chutney, lemon juice, brown sugar, black pepper, ginger and Vegetable bouillon.
Boil for 2-3 minutes until the sugar has melted then remove and set aside.
Mix the pumpkin, onions, potatoes and prunes together then pour out into a deep oven tray.
Pour over the sauce then cover and bake for 45 minutes @ 180C.
Remove the tray from the oven and add in the NoChicken Chunks and stir through.
Return to the oven, cover and bake for 10 minutes then remove and allow to rest for 5 minutes.
Stir through the chopped parsley, adjust the seasoning and serve.

Festive Advent Calendar Giveaway

Mon, 22 Nov 2021 09:05:02 GMT

Every day from December 1st through to the 24 ^th we’ll be giving away prizes to our amazing Moss End fans to celebrate the magical festive season.

Thanks to the amazing companies, businesses and traders at Moss End Garden Village we have some cracking prizes that will make your Christmas dreams come true, check out the list below:

1. Delicious Brownie Box from Robyn’s Nest Cafe

2. £50 voucher to use at The Old Grain Barn

3. Tasty Biltong hamper worth £50 from The Biltong Emporium

4. A doggy bath/wash from Hot Dogs Grooming

5. Bottle of Wine from Aqua Hot Tubs (18+)

6. A 5x3 Rug from Ron Taylor Carpets

7. £100 Voucher for The Vapers Cave (18+)

8. Owl experience for x2 adults from Feathers and Fur Falconry Centre

9. Bottle of Prosecco from Koubou Interiors (18+)

10. £30 Voucher to be spent on shoes instore at The Shoe Emporium

11. 2 Bottles of wine from Lloyd Organisation (18+)

12. Thule Free Ride 532 Bike rack worth £60 from MT Car Box

13. Set of Siemens Saucepans for induction hobs worth over £150 from Applewood Kitchens

14. BottleBling Festive Light up Gin Liqueur from Warfield Stoves (18+)

15. Unicorn electric kick children's electric scooter worth £150 from Scootify

16. Set of Cat Eye Volt 200XC Rapid Mini Bike Lights worth £59.99 from Sam's Bike Shop

17. Greenworks Electric Strimmer worth £90 from Moss End Garden Machinery

18. Signed poster of Jack Gleeson from Game of Thrones from Creative Framing and Memorabilia

19. Bird Dining Station and Bird feed worth £30 from Garden4Seasons

20. Handmade Shopping/Tote bag from Material Girl

21. A 2kg Bag of More Cat or Dog Food worth up to £20.49 from Pets Corner

22. A beautiful Alexander Rose Acacia Broadfield 5ft Bench worth £249 from Garden Trends .

23. Starter Fish Tank from Maidenhead Aquatics

24. Maui Small Table Lamp Worth £210 from Luxury Chandelier

To enter, visit our social media pages and simply let us know who you’d love to share the prize with in the comments section below and why. Each different comment counts as one entry, so the more people you tag, the more chance you have of winning. Winner will be picked at random and notified directly.

Each day the giveaway is open from 10am to 11.59pm, entries outside of those times will not be counted.

This promotion isn't sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook or Instagram in any way.

Please note we will never ask competition winners to provide bank details – why would we as it’s a free competition! If you are asked to provide these details, please get in touch ASAP. Some prizes are for those aged 18+, which will be made clear on the day of the giveaway.

Competition Winners will need to collect their prizes from Moss End Garden Village – full details on how to do this will be given when we contact you to tell you the good news!

World Kindness Day

Sat, 13 Nov 2021 07:45:02 GMT

Kindness Day was born when a collection of humanitarian groups came together on November 13, 1997, and made a “Declaration of Kindness”. Likewise, on Kindness Day everyone is encouraged to make a similar declaration. Donating books, food, or clothes to your local community is a great way to celebrate.

However, pledging to commit just one act of kindness is no less worthwhile: hold the door open for a stranger, compliment your neighbour on their collection of garden gnomes, let your partner have control of the TV remote for the evening.

The reason for World Kindness Day is detailed by the World Kindness Movement. “to highlight good deeds in the community focusing on the positive power and the common thread of kindness which binds us.”

Activities You Could Get Involved In On Kindness Day

The trend with this day is for you to commit around three random acts of kindness to others. Some of the activities you could do include:

Giving compliments - Smile at strangers passing by, hold open a door, give up your seat on public transport, or compliment someone sincerely on something they have done or have changed such as wearing a new top or new haircut. Even these small gestures are a nice way of showing kindness to others.
Write a love letter or poem- This is a great one for your significant other half. We can often take them for granted so show your kindness in a letter or poem.
Give a gift to let people know you’re thinking of them, flowers are always a good way to brighten some day… check out the range available right here at Moss End Garden Village, as well as the many other gifts available.

World Kindness Day gives you the perfect opportunity to get creative with your ideas. There are many ways you can celebrate and join in with sharing kindness with others.

My November Garden

Mon, 08 Nov 2021 07:45:02 GMT

It’s getting colder and wetter as we draw into November. Trees are putting on their autumn displays and winter stems start to come into their own. As autumn turns to winter, your main jobs in the garden are mostly about protecting plants and structures from the wilder weather to come.

There’s still sowing and growing to do this month to keep the garden ticking over. Here is a list of the top jobs to do in the garden during the month:

As the weather starts to get more wintry, your garden needs some protection:

Insulate your outdoor containers from frosts. Use hessian or bubble wrap held in place with garden twine.
Prevent containers becoming waterlogged by raising them off the ground for the winter using bricks or 'pot feet'.
Encourage hungry birds into your garden by investing in bird baths and bird feeders. Our feathered friends will keep garden pest numbers down and bring joy on a bleak winter’s day.
Protect roses from wind-rock by pruning them by one-third to half their height. This will stop them swaying in strong wind and prevent roots coming loose in the soil.

In the flower garden

Remove fallen leaves from around the base of any rose bushes which suffered from blackspot or rust this summer, to reduce the chance of reinfection next year.
Cut back the yellowing foliage of herbaceous perennial plants, and lift and divide overcrowded clumps to maintain their vigour.
Cut a few stems of holly with berries for making Christmas garlands. It’s early, but now’s the time to do it before the birds eat all the berries. Stand them in a bucket of water in a sheltered spot where birds can't take them.

In the vegetable garden

Lift parsnips after the first frosts, when their flavour will have sweetened.
Prepare a perennial vegetable bed to plant up with rhubarb plants and asparagus crowns.
Keep planting onion, shallot, and garlic sets. Dig over heavy soils adding organic matter before planting.
Spread well rotted farm manure across the surface of your vegetable beds to rot down over winter.
Check stored potatoes and remove any that are rotting. Use hessian sacks to store your potatoes to allow the crop to breathe.

In the fruit garden

Divide mature clumps of rhubarb once they’re dormant.
Plant bare root raspberry plants now for a delicious home-grown crop.
Tidy up your strawberry plants, cutting off any dead leaves and removing runners.
Prune apple and pear trees anytime between now and February.
Don't prune your plum trees now as they will be susceptible to the silver leaf fungus - wait until midsummer.
Remove the top netting from fruit cages as heavy snow in winter will make it sag.
Check fruits in storage and promptly remove any showing signs of disease or rotting.

Looking after your lawn

Aerate your lawn now before winter sets in. Either use a lawn aerator or simply insert a garden fork at regular intervals and lean it back slightly to let air in.
Continue to clear fallen leaves off the lawn to keep it healthy using a light rake.
Set your lawn mower to a higher cut-height for winter.
Edge your lawn. This is easy to do in the winter months once beds are clear. Lawn edging creates a neat and tidy appearance and makes maintenance easier throughout the year.

For more advice, tips and to order your plants, vegetable seeds and shrubs, visit Moss End Garden Village today and we’d be only too happy to help.

The Joy of Shopping at Moss End Garden Village

lee@schyde.co.uk (Lee Skinner) — Mon, 01 Nov 2021 08:45:02 GMT

When it comes to shopping, there’s nothing quite like the real thing, is there?

It’s been more than a year of rescheduled events, growth spurts and getting a little too attached to our PJs... But with a return to civilisation now upon us, we’re ready to break up with our jogging bottoms. Whatever your shopping mission, Moss End Garden Village has got you covered!

The key to any successful mission is being prepared, so if you have any questions about the village – including our opening hours, what safety measures we have in place, or what’s new at Moss End Garden Village – please view our FAQs .

We hope you're just as excited to visit, as we are to welcome you back! From surprise finds to superb outlet savings, here are some of our top reasons why shopping in real life just can’t be beaten...

Eats and treats

Who can resist grabbing something yummy on a shopping trip? When visiting pop into Il Cortile to sample real Italian deli delights or nip into Robyn’s Nest Café for a warming hot chocolate and slice of delicious cake.

Seeing is believing

When you don’t know exactly what you want, or you’re looking for the perfect thing the festive season, browsing the shops really is essential and can’t be replicated online. You never know when ‘the one’ is going to jump out at you – and that’s all part of the fun!

On-hand style advice

Another major benefit of a proper shopping trip that can’t be replaced is on-hand advice from the experts! If you’re looking for that stunning new gown or winter outfit then take the time to visit Just Kendal or Valdenize Soares Ladieswear and help will most definitely be on hand.

Whether you need a complete wardrobe overhaul, the perfect outfit for an upcoming wedding, or a special gift for a loved one; our brand experts know current collections inside out and will be delighted to offer tailored advice just for you.

Whatever your reason to visit, we look forward to welcoming you to Moss End Garden Village.

World Pasta Day

Mon, 25 Oct 2021 07:45:02 GMT

Picture this….a warm steaming pile of spaghetti in a rich red sauce, littered with seasoned sausage, black olives, and mushrooms served with crusty garlic bread on the side. Or, perhaps the idea of a rich Chicken Fettuccine in a creamy garlic white sauce is more likely to be what blows your mind.

Pasta comes in over 600 shapes known to mankind, and their names are usually Italian words that are delightfully descriptive of their shapes. Spaghetti (‘cord’), vermicelli (‘little worms’), rotini (‘spirals’), fusilli (‘spindles’), tortellini (‘little cakes’), linguini (‘little tongues’), conchiglie (‘shells’), fettuccine (‘small ribbons’), penne (‘quills’) and capellini (‘fine hairs’) are the savoury little goodies that are essential to any pantry.

While Italian food made it famous, that was actually only a gateway to pasta. Chinese Chow Mein and German Spaetzle are just a couple of the ways the world has taken pasta and fallen in love with it all over again.

And World Pasta Day is the perfect time to celebrate this love!

Eat Pasta–and Lots of It!

One of the best ways to celebrate World Pasta Day is by preparing a favourite dish and enjoying the delicious flavours and textures that come along with that noodly goodness. There’s no better way to renew a deep appreciation for it than by wolfing down this healthy and semi-nutritious food.

Here’s one of our favourite recipes… Cheesy broccoli pasta bake

Ingredients

280g penne
280g broccoli, cut into florets
25g butter
25g plain flour
300ml milk
1 tbsp wholegrain mustard
140g mature cheddar, grated

Method

STEP 1: Cook the pasta, adding the broccoli for the final 4-5 mins and cooking until tender. Drain well, then heat the grill.

STEP 2: Heat the butter in a saucepan and stir in the flour. Cook for 1 min, then gradually add the milk, stirring well between each addition. Bring to the boil, stirring, then simmer for 2 mins, before stirring in the mustard, half the cheese and seasoning.

STEP 3: Mix the pasta and broccoli into the sauce and spoon into an ovenproof dish. Scatter over the remaining cheese and place under a hot grill for 3-4 mins until golden and bubbling.

My October Garden

Mon, 11 Oct 2021 07:45:02 GMT

October is a beautiful month of autumnal colours and first frosts. Crisp, blue-sky days are the perfect time to tidy up and cut back in the garden. If you grow fruit and veg, there's still plenty to harvest and store for the cold winter months ahead.

Here’s our top tips for gardening this month:

If your greenhouse is fairly empty, now's a good time to clean and disinfect it. This lets in more light and prevents pests and diseases from over-wintering.
Protect half-hardy plants with fleece or bring them into a frost-free greenhouse.
Sweep up any fallen leaves that harbour fungal spores and provide ideal hiding places for slugs and snails. Use them to make leaf mould for the garden.
Lift and divide any overcrowded herbaceous perennials whilst the soil is still warm.

In the flower garden

Rose filipes 'Kiftsgate' (Rambling Rose) from Thompson & Morgan
Give your rambling roses some TLC after flowering
Lift dahlia tubers, begonia tubers and gladioli corms to store over the winter months. Remove any dead foliage before storing them.
You can take hardwood cuttings from deciduous shrubs now.
Prune rambling and climbing roses once they've finished flowering, and tie in the stems before autumn winds cause damage.
Clear up fallen rose leaves to prevent diseases such as black spot from over-wintering. To avoid the spread of damaging fungi, don't compost the leaves.
Clear overhanging plants from pathways to maintain access around the garden.
Cut back perennial plants that have died down. Alternatively leave the dead foliage in place to shelter friendly wildlife.
After tidying borders, mulch with bark chips, well rotted manure, leaf mould or spent mushroom compost to insulate plant roots for the winter and keep weed growth in check.
This month is the ideal time to plant hedges and move trees and shrubs.

In the vegetable garden

Harvest your pumpkins in time for Halloween
Finish harvesting peas and beans. When they've finished cropping simply cut the plant away at ground level, leaving the roots in the soil. These crops fix nitrogen which is slowly released into the soil as the roots break down.
If you plan to grow peas and beans next year, start preparing the site by digging trenches and filling with manure or kitchen waste.
Hang any tomato plants and pepper plants with green fruits upside down indoors to ripen.
Reuse old grow bags by cutting away the top and sowing late salad crops. Cropping can be extended into winter if grown under glass, cloches or inside polytunnels.

In the fruit garden

If you haven't done so already, cut back the fruited canes of your summer fruiting raspberries, leaving the new green canes for next year's crop. Tie in next year's raspberry canes to plant support wires or fencing.
Move citrus trees indoors to a bright, frost-free position (4-12°C) away from cold draughts and radiators. Reduce watering in winter but don't let the plant dry out completely.
Clear the straw from around the base of strawberry plants to increase ventilation. Shear back old foliage to encourage fresh new growth.
Divide congested clumps of rhubarb by digging up and splitting into several pieces with a spade. Re-plant the healthiest looking pieces.
To test when apples are ripe, gently lift them in the palm of your hand or give them a gentle pull — they should come away easily.
Remove any diseased fruits from branches or the ground so they don't infect next year's crops.
Remove the netting from fruit cages to allow birds to catch and eat any pests that are lurking there.
Apply a winter wash to the trunks and branches of fruit trees to kill off overwintering pests.

In the greenhouse

If you haven't done so already, remove any greenhouse shading to allow as much light in as possible.
Move tender plants into the greenhouse to protect them from early frosts. Make sure that there's enough space between to keep them well ventilated and reduce the risk of disease.
Check any plants which you're bringing inside for pests like aphids.
Continue to remove any fallen or dead plant material to keep the growing area free of fungal diseases.
Set up your greenhouse heater in case of early frosts.

Looking after your lawn

Clear up fallen leaves regularly to allow light to the grass.
A last mowing can be made this month before leaving your lawn for the winter.
Recut any lawn edges if needed. Install lawn edging to make future maintenance easier.
Aerate your lawn with a garden fork to avoid waterlogging and compaction over winter.
Rake any thatch from the surface and repair dead patches. There's still time to lay fresh turf if required.

Other jobs about the garden

Reuse spent compost from annual container displays as a mulch on the garden.
Create compost bins for collecting fallen leaves and dead plant material.
Collect leaves up for making leaf mould as a soil conditioner. Oak, alder and hornbeam will rot down in a year, but beech, sycamore, horse chestnut and sweet chestnut take a couple of years to compost.
Net ponds to prevent leaves falling into them. If you need to clear pond weed, lay it next to the pond for a day to allow wildlife to escape back to the water.
Clean out water butts and let the autumn rains refill them. Install a new water butt ready for next year.
If the soil is dry, give your garden one last good watering before the ground freezes.
Build a cold frame to protect young plants from extreme winter weather.
Make time to give evergreen hedges a final trim before the bad weather sets in, so they look neat and tidy for the winter.
Raise pots off the ground for the winter with bricks or 'pot feet', to prevent waterlogging.
Invest in bird baths and bird feeders this autumn. Birds are a gardener's friend and keep pests down.

For more advice, tips and to order your plants, vegetable seeds and shrubs, visit Moss End Garden Village today and we’d be only too happy to help.

Feathers & Fur Falconry have arrived!

Mon, 04 Oct 2021 07:45:03 GMT

We are very excited to welcome Sadie and her team at Feathers and Fur Falconry Centre to Moss End Garden Village.

After lots of work to create a new home for more than 23 stunning birds we are proud to welcome them all.

Sadie Shepherd, owner of Feathers & Fur commented “It’s been an exhausting task, and we have really pushed ourselves to create an amazing new centre in just 5 months. But I know Moss End is the perfect home and I cannot wait to welcome visitors to the site”.

An independently run Falconry Centre with a wonderful collection of Birds of Prey and Owls. With a passion for British birds, the centre is home to Barn Owls, Peregrine Falcons, Snowy Owls, Buzzards and many more stunning birds.

The core value of the centre is education, helping to teach people about the wonderful wildlife right on their doorstep. To do this, Feathers and Fur Falconry offer a wide range of activities including educational talks for schools and groups, half-day hands-on sessions, family falconry experiences and family owl encounters, plus many more.

How can you help support Feathers and Fur Falconry Centre?

Donate to their ‘Go Fund Me’ account, every single penny counts and they are so grateful for all donations - gf.me/u/y234g9
Follow, like, share and save on all their social media accounts, this helps to spread the word far and wide - www.facebook.com/feathersandfurfalconrycentre or on Instagram: Feathers and Fur Falconry
Purchase a gift voucher for one of their amazing flying experiences. Gift vouchers are valid for a year and are now Covid flexible - www.feathersandfur.co.uk

MT Car Box has moved

Wed, 29 Sep 2021 07:47:17 GMT

Now located in our main retail area it gives visitors the perfect opportunity to find out more about the ingenious travel storage solutions from car roof boxes to roof bars plus their innovative cycle and water sport carriers.

They provide a free on-site fitting service here at Moss End when purchasing their products so you can visit the other businesses in Moss End whilst they take care of your vehicle. They also offer a unique mobile deliver and fit service if you prefer where they come to you at home or work.

MT Car Box also provide a unique hire service covering roof boxes, roof bars, cycle and water sport carriers so they can help with this too, with free fitting here at Moss End or they can provide their mobile service too.

With everyone making the most of the UK and their sporting pursuit we all need to work around the travelling challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Whatever your plans, get in touch and MT Car Box will help get you ready for your adventures this year.

Visit their brand new show room to find out more, call them today on 01344 286454 or email sales@carbox.co.uk . Further details in their range and services can be found here: www.carbox.co.uk

National Family Day

Mon, 27 Sep 2021 07:30:02 GMT

As the name suggests, Family Day is a chance to celebrate our loved ones and show them that we care. This day is one of the best ways to remind us of the importance of family in our lives.

As the name indicates, Family Day is a date for us all to pay tribute and honour to our families. Often, we do not appreciate our families as much as we should. This is because we spend so much time with them and we are so used to this that we do not take a step back and reflect on everything that they do for us. Family Day gives you the opportunity to do this.

Of course, not all families are related by blood. There are step-families, and families that you have inherited along the way, and our work families too.

With that in mind we’re celebrating the Moss End Family today, our amazing community of local independent retailers.

Today is also a day to remember family members who are no long with us and with that in mind we remember Steve Hyde and thank him for his vision to make Moss End the amazing place that it is today. It was his dream to create a hub where small, independent businesses could start out, grow and thrive. Sadly, Steve passed away in 2014, but not before he saw his dream accomplished.

This dream now continues to be led through Steve’s wife, Janet, and other members of the Hyde family. Continued investment in the site has created a space for an unbeatable shopping experience and a destination for the whole family.

We encourage you all to use today to show all your family members just how much they mean to you. If that’s just a phone call to let them know you’re thinking of them, or perhaps send some flowers to your Mum to say thank you, however you say it, enjoy it and treasure today.

My September Garden

Mon, 13 Sep 2021 07:30:03 GMT

September is generally a cooler, gustier month than August and the days are noticeably shorter. While there's not as much to do in the ornamental garden at this time of the year, if you have a fruit or vegetable patch, you'll be busy reaping the rewards of harvest. It's also time to get out and start planting spring-flowering bulbs for next year and you can collect seeds for next summer's colour too. Make the most of the remaining warmth while you can!

Timely tips

Divide your herbaceous perennials. This will keep your plants healthy and vigorous year after year and multiply your stock.
Net ponds now before autumn leaf fall gets underway to reduce the amount of debris entering the water.
Clean out cold frames and greenhouses ahead of autumn sowing and growing.
Plant spring-flowering bulbs now, such as daffodils, crocus and hyacinths

In the flower garden

Continue to feed and deadhead hanging-basket and container annuals — they will often keep going until the first frosts.
Keep deadheading annuals and perennials to extend their performance.
Prune any late-summer flowering shrubs, such as the rock rose
Prune climbing roses and rambling roses once they've finished flowering
Keep camellias and rhododendrons well-watered at this time of year to ensure that next year's buds develop well.

In the vegetable garden

Keep harvesting crops. If you have a glut of fruit and veg try freezing, drying, pickling, and storing so that you can benefit from them later on.
Harvest sweetcorn. To test if it’s ready, pinch a kernel — it will release a milky sap when ripe.
Spread newly dug potatoes out to dry for a few hours before storing them in a cool, dark place. Store them in paper or hessian sacks, as this will allow the crop to breathe while it’s in storage.
Help pumpkins ripen in time for Halloween by removing any leaves shading the fruits.
Raise pumpkins and squashes off the ground to prevent rotting. Place them on a piece of slate or wood.
Keep feeding and watering French and runner beans to keep them producing. Continue harvesting little and often to prevent them setting seed.
Cut bean and pea plants away at ground level when they have finished cropping. Leave the roots which will slowly release nitrogen back into the soil as they break down.
Remove any old crops that have finished and clear away weeds to leave your plot clean and tidy for the winter.
Cover your brassicas with netting to prevent birds making a meal out of them.

In the fruit garden

Tidy up your strawberry plants and clear away any used straw, as this will harbour pests and diseases over winter.
Pot up strawberry runners to make extra plants for next year.
Pick ripe apples. To test when they’re ripe, gently lift them in the palm of your hand or give them a gentle pull — they should come away easily.
Pick off rotting fruits from pear, apple and stone fruit trees — they will spread disease if left on the tree.
Harvest plums. If you have more than you need, freeze them by washing, halving and stoning them, before laying them out on a tray in the freezer. Once frozen, pack them into freezer bags.
Pick blackberries as they ripen and use straight away or freeze some for use later on.
Take hardwood cuttings of currants, gooseberries and figs to increase your stock.

In the greenhouse

Water greenhouse plants early on in the day so the greenhouse is dry by the evening. Damp, cool nights can encourage botrytis.
Close greenhouse vents and doors late in the afternoon to help trap in heat overnight.
Empty pots — old compost and decaying plant material can harbour unwanted pests over winter.
Clean out your greenhouse to reduce the risk of pests and diseases next year.

Looking after your lawn

Create a new lawn from turf or seed — autumn weather is favourable for good lawn establishment.
Raise the height of your mower blades as grass growth slows down.
Carry out essential lawn maintenance to avoid waterlogging and compaction.
Feed your lawn with an autumn fertiliser which is rich in potassium and low in nitrogen.

Other jobs about the garden

Create compost bins in preparation for all the fallen leaves and dead plant material which you'll be collecting over the coming months. Autumn leaves make a great addition to compost bins and are ideal for making leaf mould.
Burn diseased plant material or dispose of it in your household or green waste. Don’t compost it as the spores may remain in the compost and reinfect your plants.
Raise pots off the ground for the winter by using bricks or 'pot feet', to prevent waterlogging.
Clear pond weeds and net your pond in anticipation of autumn leaf fall.
Install water butts to collect rain this autumn and winter. Rainwater is great for watering ericaceous plants such as blueberries, rhododendrons and camellias.

Summer Sizzler Giveaway

Mon, 16 Aug 2021 07:00:02 GMT

Every day from August 20th through to the 24th we’ll be giving away prizes to our amazing Moss End fans to celebrate the great British summer!

Each day we’ll be giving away the following prizes:

Day One: 2 adult Owl Experience with Feathers & Fur
Day Two: A Pancake Sharing Board for 2 with Virgin Mimosas from Robyn’s Nest Café
Day Three: A starter tropical aquarium from Maidenhead Aquatics worth £49.99
Day Four: A set of Solar lights worth £29.99 to make your garden sparkle from Garden4Seasons
Day Five: A voucher for £10 off a £25 spend at Top of The Pots

To enter visit our social media pages and simply let us know who you’d love to share the prize in the comments section below and why. Each different comment counts as one entry, so the more people you tag, the more chance you have of winning. Winner will be picked at random and notified directly.

Each day the giveaway is open from 10am to 11.59pm, entries outside of those times will not be counted.

This promotion isn't sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook or Instagram in any way.

Please note we will never ask competition winners to provide bank details – why would we as it’s a free competition! If you are asked to provide these details, please get in touch ASAP.

#summergiveaway #win #competition #summersizzlercomp

Happy S'mores Day!

Tue, 10 Aug 2021 06:30:03 GMT

Graham crackers, melted chocolate and sticky toasted marshmallows, all in one little sandwich—if that can’t get people licking their chops (and their fingers!), what can?

S’mores are the one of the most popular North American desserts and they are practically the quintessential campfire treat. In fact it is estimated that over 50 million pounds of marshmallows are toasted over a fire in North America each year!

Never tried them? Then S’mores Day is the perfect day to get started. And even for those people who have tried them, there is no reason to pass up the opportunity to enjoy them again! It’s time to get started on S’mores Day!

How to Celebrate S’mores Day

Celebrating S’mores Day can be super simple–it just requires a few ingredients and a few friends! Try these ideas for celebrating S’mores Day:

Make and Eat S’mores

What could be a better way to celebrate S’mores Day than enjoying this sweet treat? As always, it’s better to make your own, and S’mores are incredibly simple to make.

Of course, it would be best to make them around a campfire in the woods while telling ghost stories like the treat’s creators did almost 100 years ago, so those who are planning a camping trip in the near future might want to leave the making of s’mores for then.

Try Different S’mores Variations

Although S’mores are absolutely delicious on their own, it’s also possible to get creative with them by using different ingredients. Usually the basic recipe stays the same and something extra special is added. Try these unique ideas:

Peanut Butter S’mores. What can’t be made better with peanut butter? Just smear a layer of yummy peanut butter on the graham cracker prior to making up the treat.
Banana S’mores. Add a bit of fruit to the mix by placing banana slices on the graham crackers when building the snack.
Chocolate Chip Cookie S’mores. Instead of graham crackers, try using chocolate chip cookies as the base of this yummy snack.

Make S’mores At Home

For those who are not planning on going to be camping anytime soon, there’s no reason not to make some s’mores in the comfort of home. It might even be fun to roast the marshmallows over the flames of your gas stove or a candle, if all else fails and you want fire-roasted marshmallows!

Ingredients:

32 miniature graham crackers or 8 regular size graham crackers, broken in half
2 milk chocolate bars, the kind that can be broken into squares (Hershey’s brand is traditional and melts well)
8 marshmallows

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Lay 1/2 of the graham crackers on a cookie sheet. Top with chocolate pieces to cover.
Use kitchen scissors to snip the marshmallows in 1/2 horizontally if using miniature crackers and place 1/2 a marshmallow on top of each graham cracker. If using regular size crackers, it’s probably better to use a whole marshmallow.
Bake until the marshmallows are puffed and golden brown, about 3 to 5 minutes.
Remove from the oven and top with the remaining graham crackers, pressing down slightly to make a sandwich.
Serve immediately, while still warm.

For those who are making their s’mores by a real campfire, simply toast the marshmallows of the flames first and then put them on the crackers, add a piece of chocolate and top with another cracker. It’s important to use chocolate that melts well from the heat of the marshmallow, so a milk chocolate is likely to be the best choice thanks to its high cocoa butter content.

So enjoy and have s’more!

Visit Moss End Garden Village today to pick up all the ingredients you need to enjoy S’mores Day!

My August Garden

Mon, 02 Aug 2021 06:45:02 GMT

The last official month of summer is the perfect time to enjoy your garden while it’s still at its best. Children are on school holiday, lawns are in full use, and there’s plenty of delicious fruit and veg to fill your dinner plate. See our guide below for all the jobs to keep on top of:

Timely Tips: August isn't the time to take your eye off the ball in the garden. Here are some of the main jobs:

Top up ponds and bird baths regularly.
Water fruit and veg plants daily.
Prune all summer flowering shrubs once the blooms are finished.
Keep on top of weeds as they compete with your crops for nutrients and water.

In the flower garden

Water evergreen shrubs like camellias and rhododendrons thoroughly this month to make sure that next year's buds develop well.
Keep patio container plants well-watered and feed with a liquid fertiliser every fortnight.
Dead-head annual bedding plants and perennials to encourage them to flower into the autumn and stop them self-seeding.
Cut back faded perennials to keep borders tidy.
Cut back herbs now to encourage a new flush of tasty leaves you can harvest before the frost.
Collect ripened seeds and store them for next year. Leaving some seed heads in place can be attractive and allows the plant to self-seed in the surrounding soil.
Prune climbing roses and rambling roses once they've finished flowering (unless they’re repeat-flowerers in which case leave them).

In the vegetable garden

The vegetable garden comes into its own in August, with plenty of delicious home grown produce to harvest. Here are some tasks to keep you busy this month:

Water sweetcorn plants regularly and feed with tomato food to get the best cobs.
Apply a high-potash fertiliser such as tomato food once fruits start to form on peppers, cucumber and aubergine plants.
Pinch out the tips of your runner bean plants once they reach the top of their support. This encourages side-shooting and more beans at a manageable height for picking.
Limit the fruits on a squash plant to about three, but make sure these fruits are well established before pinching out the surplus.
Spring-sown carrots and beetroot will be ready to harvest now although they can be left in the ground to keep growing.
Continue to harvest second early potatoes now — perfect for salads!
Sweetcorn is ready to harvest when you can pop a corn with your thumbnail and the juices are milky.
Keep harvesting courgettes before they become too big!
Clear away any diseased and spent foliage around your veg plants to discourage pests and diseases spreading.

In the fruit garden

Here are the main jobs to do in your fruit garden this month:

If you have plants fruiting in containers, make sure you give them a high potash liquid feed to keep them healthy and productive.
Remember to feed your lemon tree (and other citrus fruit trees) throughout summer with a special citrus fertiliser.
Plant out any rooted runners of strawberries for a good crop next year.
Keep birds and squirrels off your berries with netting or old net curtains.
Harvest your fruit trees — cherries, plums, peaches, nectarines and apricots should all be ripe now! Early varieties of apple trees will be ready towards the end of the month.
Prune the fruited stems of your blackcurrant bushes after harvesting.

In the greenhouse

Here are the main jobs to do in your greenhouse this month:

Check plants daily and water them if the soil is dry.
Damp down your greenhouse on hot days to increase humidity and deter red spider mites.
Open vents and doors on warm days.
Use blinds or apply shade paint to prevent the greenhouse from overheating in sunny weather.

Looking after your lawn

Here’s how to look after your grass this month:

Don't worry if your lawn is looking brown, the autumn rains will soon make it green again.
Don't feed your lawn with a high-nitrogen fertiliser now as this will encourage lots of lush new growth which is easily damaged by autumn weather.
Lawn growth slows down in late summer so raise the cutting height of your lawn mower to help the grass cope.
If your lawn is infested by ants, brush out the nests on a dry day. Always brush them away before mowing.

For more advice, tips and to order your plants, vegetable seeds and shrubs, visit Moss End Garden Village today and we’d be only too happy to help.

Garden Makeover Ideas

Mon, 19 Jul 2021 06:00:03 GMT

Jump on board with these exciting new garden trends for 2021 and give your outdoor space an instant update.

It’s safe to say that 2020 was a big gardening year. So many more of us got outside to boost our wellbeing, create space for socialising, and grow flowers, fruit, and veg. 2021 is full of promise for stunning garden design ideas – from wild gardens and monochrome tones to pizza ovens and hot tubs.

We’ve done our research to share our top trends with you, so, whether you want to freshen up a slightly neglected corner, undergo a major overhaul, inject a new dose of colour or try out something new, these stylish ideas are sure to get you inspired. It doesn’t matter if you have acres of land, a small patio, or simply a windowsill to play with either. There’s something to suit everyone!

INDOOR/OUTDOOR LIVING

With the intermittent lockdowns, many of us are home more than usual. As a result, the trend to extend our indoor living into our outdoor space is staying strong for 2021. Gardens, patios and balconies will continue to be an important extension of the home in 2021, with many consumers looking to update or expand their existing furniture ranges, with 'stylish statement furniture which will stand the test of time.

INDULGENT HOT TUBS

Gardens are a place to relax, and after a year like 2020, we all deserve it! Just being outdoors does wonders for our wellbeing, but why not go the extra mile this year? And by that, we mean to indulge in one of the best hot tubs, of course! They come in all sizes and styles, but if space is limited, there are plenty of inflatable options available, too. Surround with leafy ferns and foliage for an extra spa-like experience, turn on the bubbles, jump in and unwind. Ahhh.

ALFRESCO DINING

Cooking is a wonderful way to unwind, particularly in the sunshine and open air, and eating outside is just as good for the soul! Check out the best BBQs, invest in some pretty tableware and garden furniture, and turn any meal into an outdoor occasion this year. Why not decorate the table with a handful of cut flowers or tea-lights in jam jars, too? It’s a simple, yet lovely way to add to the ambience. And don’t let the cooler months deter you – an addition of a fire-pit or an abundance of blankets can keep things cosy.

PIZZA OVENS REPLACE BARBECUES

Who doesn’t love a pizza? With the boost in popularity for alfresco dining, and well, alfresco living, investing in the best pizza oven would be a welcome addition to pretty much any garden for 2021. Sure to be loved by all the family, these worthwhile investments often become the centre of many outdoor celebrations and are available in all sorts of designs to complement your individual style.

LUXE CANOPIES AND GAZEBOS

Chic outdoor coverings will be all the rage for 2021, as another way to extend our living spaces. Gorgeous canopies and gazebos will be a big trend this year – not only for their practical uses against the elements, allowing us to use our gardens for longer periods of time, but also because they make the outside space work as an extra room. Filling them with lots of pillows and rugs, and adding fairy lights and festoons give them a glamorous, luxe resort feel – or even create a great den for the kids to play in!

My July Garden

Mon, 12 Jul 2021 06:00:04 GMT

July brings long, warm days that continue late into the evening — perfect for pottering in the garden after work, hosting barbecues, and enjoying your beds and borders as they reach their peak. Here’s a list of jobs to keep on top of this July.

Timely tips

Summer can still throw out a few surprises — make sure tall plants and climbers are well supported in case of bad weather.
Water at dusk to reduce evaporation and use mulch to retain moisture around plants.
Terracotta pots are prone to evaporation so dampen the pot down to keep roots inside cool and damp.
Regularly deadhead bedding and perennial plants to encourage new blooms for as long as possible.

In the flower garden

Cut back faded perennial plants to keep borders tidy.
Cutting back growth in hanging baskets can encourage new flowers and foliage and will revive the display. Make sure you feed your baskets well after doing this.
Cut back hardy geraniums and delphiniums after the first flush of flowers to encourage new growth and further blooms.
Continue to tie in and train new growth on climbing plants.
Take cuttings from your favourite tender plants for overwintering indoors. Cuttings can also still be taken from shrubs and border perennials.
Deadhead bedding plants and perennial plants to stop them self-seeding and to encourage further flowering.
Deadhead your roses to keep them looking tidy. Leave the flowers in place if your rose produces attractive hips (seed pods).

In the vegetable garden

If you're growing aubergines, pinch out the growing tip once they have 5 or 6 fruits. Pick fruits while they are young. You can expect to start harvesting mid to late summer.
Nip off the growing tips of squash and courgette plants to encourage branching.
Pinch out tomato side shoots each week. Cut off any leaves growing below the lowest ripening fruit trusses to improve air circulation and prevent diseases.
Feed crops with a general purpose fertiliser.
Pick your courgettes while they’re young. Regular picking encourages more fruit.
Harvest beetroot, peas, carrots, chard, potatoes, salad leaves, lettuce, and tomatoes this month.
Water your fruit and vegetable crops daily in warm weather. Try to ensure that they’re consistently moist.
Clear weeds regularly, as they compete with your crops for nutrients and water.

In the fruit garden

Thin out the fruits on your fruit trees to produce good sized crops. This also helps to prevent brown rot.
Protect any developing fruits from birds and squirrels by placing mesh around your plants.
Feed lemons and other citrus fruit trees throughout summer with a special citrus fertiliser.
Peg down runners on your strawberry plants to create more plants for next year. If you don't need more plants simply remove the strawberry runners completely.

Looking after your lawn

This is your last chance to feed your lawn with a special lawn fertiliser to encourage healthy green growth.
Water your lawn during hot weather, particularly newly seeded or turfed lawns. Don’t allow new lawns to dry out.
If you’re experiencing prolonged dry weather, set your mower blades higher to reduce stress on the grass.
Warm weather encourages rapid weed growth — apply specific lawn weed killer to tackle this problem.

Other jobs about the garden

Water containers and baskets thoroughly in hot weather. Continue to feed them with a balanced liquid fertiliser every 2 to 4 weeks.
Use water butts instead of tap water as often as you can when watering your plants.
Keep bird baths topped up in hot weather.
Prevent slugs attacking your young plants by using pest control. For container plants apply copper tape.

Buy local or bye local: Five ways to support independent businesses

Mon, 05 Jul 2021 07:00:03 GMT

Independent retailers are the lifeblood of UK high streets, offering specialist products and services, knowledge and passion for their community. Shopping at an independent retailer supports local traders and in turn, the local economy, enabling local businesses to prosper and grow. In this article we’re sharing tips on how to support independent businesses.

1. Choose independent

The most obvious way to support independent businesses is by shopping with them. Whether you are buying a birthday gift or even a greetings card, the money that you might spend with a national retailer is much better spent with a local business.

2. Write a positive review

This is an action that you can take right now! If you have eaten at a local restaurant or bought a gift from an independent shop or website, make sure you leave a good review on their Facebook, TripAdvisor or Google My Business Page. It doesn’t cost you any more money but it helps reinforce that they offer an excellent service and will encourage other people to shop with them. It’s also really nice for business owners to read positive feedback!

If you don’t have a good experience, instead of going straight to social media to have a moan, take it up as a private conversation with the business owner. This is much more productive and less damaging. Not everyone can get everything right all of the time, but they can improve their service and offer solutions if you contact them directly.

3. Spread the word

Word of mouth is one of the best free marketing tools out there. Tell your friends, family and colleagues about them and recommend independents when people ask you for recommendations. Again, this is another way to support independent businesses that doesn’t cost you a penny.

4. Engage on social media

I’m speaking as an experienced marketeer here – engaging on social media WORKS. All it takes is a little double tap! Social media algorithms work based on what content you engage with most, so when you follow a local business, do a little bit of backdated engagement. It means that their posts will show up on your newsfeed. On platforms like Facebook, if you like or comment on a post, it will often pop up in your friends’ newsfeeds so it helps other people discover local business too.

5. Support independent initiatives

There are lots of people across the UK just like me who are really passionate about supporting independents. Just a Card is a great campaign founded by Sarah Hamilton who saw the quote “If everyone who’d complimented our beautiful gallery had bought ‘just a card‘ we’d still be open.” They offer support and networking for independent business owners across the UK. You can support them by buying a pin badge or displaying a banner somewhere on your website.

Independents’ Day UK was a new initiative last year and is a campaign that independent retailers in various sectors across the country use to promote their business online. It’s taking place on 4th July so get involved by pledging to support or buy from an independent business on the 4th.

If we don’t support local businesses – that’s it. It is only by consciously shopping with and supporting independent businesses we can make a real difference to our local economy and help them survive and thrive after their extended period of closure.

Its one reason why we’re proud to be able to host so many independent retailers right here at Moss End Garden Village – visit us to day and discover a unique shopping and leisure experience.

Garden Makeover Ideas

Wed, 30 Jun 2021 11:33:04 GMT

Jump on board with these exciting new garden trends for 2021 and give your outdoor space an instant update.

It’s safe to say that 2020 was a big gardening year. So many more of us got outside to boost our wellbeing, create space for socialising, and grow flowers, fruit, and veg. 2021 is full of promise for stunning garden design ideas – from wild gardens and monochrome tones to raised beds.

WILD GARDENS

Chris Packham has inspired us to ditch the lawnmower, encouraging a more relaxed, and certainly more straightforward approach: just let it grow! This method is very much in tune with the latest trend of wild gardens – where nature is permitted to take charge.

As we have been limited in our travels and even visiting the countryside, we crave a connection with birds, insects, wildflowers and nature. There has been a huge uptick in sales of bird feeders, bee hotels, wildflower turf and seeds as well as natural perennial planting. This is easily achieved in any size of garden and has huge stress-busting benefits. Watching nature unfold around us is an antidote to the difficult times we find ourselves living in.

RAISED BEDS EVERYWHERE

These types of beds make planting, maintaining and harvesting simple – and are much better for minimising back-ache when you’re busy with all-important weeding! Whether your planting style is neat and orderly or wilder, raised beds can be a wonderful feature in themselves. How about giving them a lick of outdoor-friendly paint in a jazzy colour?

MEDITERRANEAN STYLING

Many of us are unable to venture off on our usual summer holidays due to the global pandemic, so why not bring your holiday to you? Mediterranean gardens are a big trend for 2021 across both homes and gardens, and it's been given a modern twist with colour palettes in terracotta, pistachio and pastels.

Add some rustic outdoor crockery, layers of scatter cushions and perhaps some soft garden lighting ideas to set the tone, and you’re ready for a five-star staycation!

MONOCHROME GARDENS

One way to make a striking statement instantly is by colour-blocking, and in this year’s gardens, monochromatic gardens will be on the rise.

Particularly in vogue will be white gardens, and we’re talking everything, from the flowers to the shed! It’s a simple way to create a harmonious environment with an air of chic, and suits both formal and cottage-style planting.

There are hundreds of white flowers available to choose from – how about the giant blousy mop-heads of a hydrangea such as ‘Wudu’, the well-loved Cosmos ‘Purity’, or the delicate Scabiosa caucasica 'Perfecta Alba’ to start with? Don’t forget about jasmine too, with its beautiful scent.

EYE-CATCHING CONTAINERS

2021 has also seen a boost in container gardening, which is great news for those with smaller plots, or less time on their hands. You’re not the only one to benefit from these spaces, neighbours and passers-by will also take joy in them. So be sure to use as many containers as you can, and fill them with anything you like; bulbs, annuals, perennials. The more colour the better! They can be galvanised, terracotta or recycled plastic. Just have fun with it and create a space to enjoy at home.

MINDFUL WATERING

The trend for sustainable living is becoming increasingly important as people become more conscious of their effect on the planet. People are becoming more aware of how much water they use in the garden, how they protect plants – reducing or removing the use of chemicals – and how they compost.

One way to do this is to look for plants which don’t need as much water – looking for varieties that are more resistant to drying out. For example, grey foliage plants that you’d see by the seaside. People with flowerbeds can also apply mulch to flower beds and borders as it helps to retain the moisture in soil, leading to the use of less watering.

My June Garden

Mon, 21 Jun 2021 10:15:02 GMT

The longest day of the year falls on June 21st, bringing warmer temperatures and extra sunlight. Flowers are blossoming, there’s lots to harvest in the vegetable garden, and keeping on top of bolting plants is a priority — particularly weeds!

For advice on what to cultivate this month, here’s a comprehensive list of jobs to take care of in your garden this June:

Timely Tips

Check plants daily and water them if the soil is dry — especially newly planted fruit trees and shrubs that are still getting established.
Harden off any remaining half-hardy bedding plants ready for planting out.
Use blinds or apply shade paint to prevent your greenhouse from overheating. Remember to open vents and doors on warm days.
Keep on top of weeding. Your plants shouldn’t have to compete for precious water, light, and nutrients!

In the flower garden

Harden off and move hanging baskets and containers growing on in the greenhouse into their final position. If your hanging basket plants become leggy, trim off the excess to encourage bushy new growth.
Continue to thin out drifts of hardy annual plants if they're overcrowded.
Lift and divide clumps of snowdrops and bluebells once the leaves start to yellow.
Lift and divide overcrowded clumps of flower bulbs and tubers.
Wait for bulb foliage to die down naturally before cutting back.
Pinch out the tips of fuchsias to encourage a bushy habit and more flowers.
Start to pick sweet peas as soon as they flower to encourage more blooms.
Dead-head your roses if they’re repeat-flowering types. Otherwise, leave the seed heads on for decoration.
Dead-head and cut back oriental poppies after flowering. Cutting them close to ground level will stimulate new foliage.
Stake tall perennial plants to prevent wind damage.
As new shoots grow, use soft ties to train climbing plants such as honeysuckle and clematis to their supports.
Prune out overcrowded or dead stems of evergreen clematis once they have finished flowering, to maintain a good shape.
Towards the end of June, if your hardy geraniums have finished flowering, cut them back to encourage new foliage and flowers. For more information about growing your own gorgeous geraniums, head on over to our new geranium hub.
Harvest flower heads from your lavender plants to use in baking, crafting, or as a garnish to your meals.

In the vegetable garden

Continue to earth up potato plants as they grow.
Keep the compost of newly planted container potatoes moist, but take care not to overwater, as this compacts the soil, squeezing out the oxygen, and prevents the developing tubers from swelling.
Pinch out any side shoots from your tomato plants. You can pot these up to create new tomato plants. Start to feed once the first truss is setting fruit.
Harvest salad crops, and resow every 2 weeks for a constant supply of tasty leaves.
When planting out cabbages, use brassica collars to prevent cabbage root fly attack.
Harvest first early potatoes — these are normally ready about 10 weeks after planting.
Keep an eye on your onion and garlic. When the leaves start to yellow and die back, they’re ready to harvest.
Protect crops from carrot fly by covering with horticultural fleece.

In the fruit garden

Start to prune your plum or cherry trees now.
Although fruit trees will naturally shed some fruit (called the 'June drop'), aim to thin out congested branches further for bigger and better fruits.
Protect any developing fruits from birds and squirrels by placing netting around your plants.
If you have plants fruiting in containers, remember to give them a high potash liquid feed to keep them healthy and productive.
Top-dress patio dwarf fruit trees with fresh compost and a slow-release fertiliser.
Peg down runners on your strawberry plants to create more plants for next year. If you don't need more plants simply remove the strawberry runners completely.
Always water potted blueberry plants with rainwater, as the lime contained in tap water reduces the acidity of the soil over time.

Looking after your lawn

If there hasn’t been much rain, raise your lawn mower blades to reduce stress on the grass.
Water your lawn during hot weather, particularly newly seeded or turfed lawns. Keep new lawns well-watered.
Warm weather encourages rapid weed growth — apply specific lawn weed killer to tackle them.
Feed your lawn with a special lawn fertiliser to encourage healthy green growth.
Recut lawn edges, or install lawn edging to make future maintenance easier.

Other jobs about the garden

Use water butts as much as possible and water your containers and baskets well in hot weather. Start to feed them with a balanced liquid fertiliser every 2 to 4 weeks.
Make small 'wells' around individual plants so that the water can soak the soil to about 25cm (10in). Merely wetting the surface wastes water, encourages weeds and can lead to surface rooting making plants more vulnerable.
Keep removing blanket weed from your pond to allow the plants and fish room to breathe.
Clip evergreen hedges such as privet, box and yew while they're in active growth.
Turn the compost in your bins every month to keep it well aerated.
Keep bird baths topped up in hot weather.

NEW: Adriatico – Authentic Italian Gelateria & Café

Mon, 07 Jun 2021 08:00:03 GMT

We are excited to announce another new fabulous attraction right here at Moss end Garden Village in the form of Adriatico, an Authentic Italian Gelateria & Café.

Serving artisan ice cream and sorbets, authentic Italian coffee and other sweet treats, customers can expect a variety of tasty flavours to savour and enjoy.

You can expect the classics such as chocolate, pistachio, salted caramel, as well as more modern flavours such as bubble-gum, with mango and vanilla sorbets always on the menu too.

Toni, the owner, is Italian and loves ice cream. “I’ve always been enterprising and wanted to do my own thing, so starting Adriatico made perfect sense,” he commented.

And for us novices, what’s the difference between Italian gelato and English ice cream? “Gelato is softer and creamier. All my recipes are made with top quality ingredients and then tested over and over again to get the taste absolutely spot on.”

Toni added “We use only the best ingredients to prepare and present sumptuous desserts to our wonderful customers, ensuring that every mouthful is as good as the last. We look forward to welcoming you to Adriatico, where you will receive the full Italian Gelato experience.”

World Environment Day

Sat, 05 Jun 2021 07:30:02 GMT

REIMAGINE. RECREATE. RESTORE: This is our moment.

We cannot turn back time. But we can grow trees, green our cities, rewild our gardens, change our diets and clean up rivers and coasts. We are the generation that can make peace with nature.

Let’s get active, not anxious. Let’s be bold, not timid.

Since 1974, World Environment Day has been celebrated every year on 5 June, engaging governments, businesses and citizens in an effort to address pressing environmental issues.

For too long, we have been exploiting and destroying our planet’s ecosystems. Every three seconds, the world loses enough forest to cover a football pitch and over the last century we have destroyed half of our wetlands. As much as 50 per cent of our coral reefs have already been lost and up to 90 per cent of coral reefs could be lost by 2050, even if global warming is limited to an increase of 1.5°C.

Ecosystem restoration means preventing, halting and reversing this damage – to go from exploiting nature to healing it. This World Environment Day will kick off the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, a global mission to revive billions of hectares, from forests to farmlands, from the top of mountains to the depth of the sea.

Only with healthy ecosystems can we enhance people’s livelihoods, counteract climate change and stop the collapse of biodiversity.

To encourage the revival of ecosystems everywhere, UNEP has published a practical guide to ecosystem restoration. Released at the start of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration 2021-2030, the Ecosystem Restoration Playbook provides an introduction to the range of actions that can slow and halt the degradation of ecosystems and foster their recovery.

Designed for all interested individuals and stakeholder groups, the guide outlines three pathways to getting involved in ecosystem restoration during the UN Decade and beyond:

Taking action such as starting or support an on-the-ground restoration project
Making smart choices like buying only sustainable products and changing diets
Raising your voice in support of ecosystem conservation and restoration

Everybody living on this planet, in this moment in time can be a part of #GenerationRestoration. Download the playbook here

Bike Week 2021: Health & Wellbeing

Sun, 30 May 2021 06:00:02 GMT

Bike Week, delivered by Cycling UK, is an annual celebration to showcase cycling and how brilliant it is. Join thousands of people across the UK and enjoy the simple pleasure of riding a bike. Let's make the world better by bike.

Cycling remains a great way to keep fit and active and is a good way to boost immunity, it's also fantastic for your wellbeing. This year Cycling UK are launching the World’s Biggest Bike Ride. You can also take part in their virtual #7daysofcycling challenge, giving you an amazing way to reunite with your friends and family in the outdoors. The most important thing is to take part, record your ride and have fun – click here to take part .

Cycling is incredible; it will help improve so many aspects of your life.

Cycling to work can mean you have a 45% lower risk of developing cancer, and a 46% lower risk of cardiovascular disease.
If you cycle regularly in adulthood, you will enjoy a level of fitness equivalent to someone 10 years younger.
If all cycle journeys increased from the current level of 2% to 25% by 2050, the collective benefit would be £248bn.

If you’re after advice or need a new bike, clothing, accessories or servicing/repairs, Sam's Bike Shop is the perfect destination and its right here at Moss End Garden Village.

The BBQ Season has Arrived!

Fri, 28 May 2021 10:08:19 GMT

British Summer Time is here and we’re itching to get the grill out and invite friends and family over. Here at Moss End Garden Village we have everything you need to offer your guests something special this BBQ season.

Choosing your grill

Buying a barbecue can be tricky, especially if all your experience has been on the silver tray disposable ones! There are a few things to consider before making your purchase, and perhaps the most important is how often you plan to use your grill. If it’s a one-off event, it might be worth borrowing one or even going back to the disposable kind, but if it’s going to get regular usage it can be worth investing a bit more.

The two main choices for domestic barbecue grills are gas and charcoal. They both have their fans and it often comes down to personal preference.

Gas barbecues offer instant heat and can be ready to cook on within 10 minutes. The control is similar to a gas cooker, allowing you to regulate temperatures more easily than when cooking over charcoal. They’re low maintenance, with minimal cleaning needed and no charcoal ash to dispose of. Gas barbecues are powered by propane, and you’ll need to buy a cylinder. When it runs out, you can have it refilled.

Charcoal barbecues cook your food with heat from the glowing embers. They give your food the classic charred flavour and appearance. The temperature is controlled by raising and lowering the grill, and it takes a while to get the coals glowing white and ready to cook on.

Check out the amazing range of BBQs, Grills, Outdoor Kitchens and future available at Garden Trends, here at Moss End Garden Village – click here

What to put on the Barbie?

Sausages, burgers and the odd kebab are fairly standard grilling fare, but we’re always on the lookout for something new to cook on the BBQ. We’ve got some unusual ideas as well as some top BBQ tips for beginners to help you bring the wow factor to your socially distanced gatherings this Spring.

More cheese please! It’s no secret that halloumi is delicious, but have you tried grilling it? Slice your halloumi cheese into thick pieces, around ⅓ inch to avoid them falling apart on the grill. Then grill for around 3 minutes on each side, until golden char marks appear. You can also thread your halloumi onto skewers with your favourite veggies for grilling.
Good golly it’s cauli! Cauliflower deserves better than being boiled, and when grilled on the BBQ has a whole new level of flavour. It’s one of our favourite cheap BBQ ideas for entertaining. We like to slice our cauliflower into steaks and slather with rich tandoori spices from our Veggie Rub 01. Grill until charred and tender, then add a squeeze of lemon before serving.
Avo go at avocado: We didn’t think it got better than avocado on sourdough toast in the morning, but we’re happy to say we were wrong. It turns out that avocados are delicious on the BBQ. Just a few minutes of searing will give them a crisp burnished flavour.
Use your loaf: You may not have considered putting bread on the BBQ before, but it’s a welcome addition to soak up all of the lovely meaty juices as well as using up any loaf that is a bit past its best. To take it to the next level, try blending butter and garlic before slathering it on thick slices of bread and grilling.
Dish up fish, fresh from the grill: Fish is the unsung hero of the barbecue. It takes very little cooking and can be ready in a few minutes. Salmon and other oily fish are natural choices for the grill, as they’re unlikely to dry out and readily take on delicious smoky flavours. White fish works well too, but takes even less cooking – we like to parcel ours up in tin foil with butter and herbs, then grill.
The perfect pizza, fresh from the BBQ: A pizza oven is top of our garden wish list, but did you know that you can still make a pretty good pizza pie on your current barbecue? We recommend using a pizza stone – a flat slab that gets extra hot and absorbs moisture, ensuring a crispy pizza every time.
Get fruity: We’re usually so stuffed after the main event that we can’t face dessert, but if you’re looking for a sweet treat to round off your BBQ party, why not pop some fruit on the grill? Watermelon and pineapple are obvious contenders, but we love slicing partway through an unpeeled banana, squishing chocolate buttons into the gaps, wrapping it in foil and letting it grill over the dying embers.

For all your BBQ ingredients, visit Moss End Garden Village and you won’t be disappointed!

My May Garden

Thu, 06 May 2021 06:00:02 GMT

May has arrived and the days are getting warmer and longer. Summer is on its way and it's time to tidy up spring plants, plant out summer flowers and get planning for autumn.

Timely Tips for May

Start planting out summer bedding plants towards the end of this month
Look after your finished spring bulbs for next year. Once they’ve gone over, resist the temptation to cut back the foliage. Instead, let it die and break down on its own and add liquid fertiliser all around the clumps. This will give you an even better display next spring.
Remember to open greenhouse vents and doors on warm days. You can also damp down your greenhouse on hot days to increase humidity and deter red spider mites.
Optimise your watering regime — watering early and late to get the most out of your water — and start collecting and recycling water whenever possible.

In the flower garden in May

Plant summer hanging baskets, adding good-quality compost, slow-release fertiliser and water-retaining crystals, to keep them in top condition. Protect them from late frost under cover. Try planting petunia 'Pegasus Wine Splash' for cascading stems of brightly spotted blooms.
Continue dividing herbaceous border perennials to improve vigour and create new plants.
Trim back spreading plants such as aubrieta, alyssum and candytuft (Iberis sp.) after they’ve flowered, to encourage fresh new growth and more blooms.
Take cuttings of tender perennials, such as fuchsia and pelargoniums (tender geraniums). The new shoots of hardy perennials can also be used for cuttings.
Take softwood cuttings of shrubby herbs (such as sage and lemon verbena).
Tie in rambling and climbing roses. Laying the stems horizontally will help to produce more flowers.
Tie in sweet pea plants with sweet pea support rings to encourage them to climb.
Prune spring-flowering shrubs after flowering.
Trim lavender plants, cutting off old flower heads and about 2.5 cm (1 inch) of the current year's growth.
Feed and water container plants.
Top-dress permanent pot plants to refresh the compost.
Supplement container plants with balanced liquid feed every 2-4 weeks to promote healthy growth.
Look out for signs of blackspot on roses. If discovered, treat it with a systemic fungicide.
Continue to weed beds and borders. This reduces your plants’ competition for water and nutrients.
Lift and divide overcrowded clumps of daffodils and other spring-flowering bulbs.

In the vegetable garden in May

Continue earthing up potatoes.
Harvest asparagus spears when they are no more than 18 cm tall.
Thin out direct-sown vegetables such as spinach, carrot and lettuce seedlings, then water the rows well.
Pinch out the growing points of broad beans as soon as beans start to appear at the base of the plant to reduce the risk of blackfly attack.
Make supports for your runner beans, using 8 ft (2.4 m) bamboo canes.

In the fruit garden in May

Protect strawberry plants with straw (to control weeds and lift the berries off the ground) and netting (to keep birds off the fruit).
Harvest rhubarb, picking only one-third of the total amount of stems.
Keep young fruit trees well-watered while they are putting on rapid growth.
Remove blossom and fruits from newly planted fruit trees to help them establish properly during their first year.
Erect garden netting around soft fruit plants to prevent birds eating your crop.

Looking after your lawn in May

Apply lawn weedkiller to your lawn this month.
Feed your lawn with a high-nitrogen fertiliser to encourage healthy green growth.
Water the grass during hot weather — that’s particularly important for newly seeded or turfed lawns. Never allow new lawns to dry out.
Lower mower blades to their regular summer-cut height.

For more advice, tips and to order your plants, vegetable seeds and shrubs, visit Moss End Garden Village today and we’d be only too happy to help.

National Gardening Week

Wed, 28 Apr 2021 08:45:02 GMT

The country’s biggest annual celebration of gardening will take place from Monday 26 April to Sunday 2 May 2021. This year, The RHS will be encouraging you to Get Your Dose of Vitamin G!

Over the last year, we’ve come to rely on our gardens and green spaces more than ever. Many of us have rediscovered the importance of connecting with nature for our mental and physical wellbeing. For National Gardening Week in 2021, we’re celebrating the feel-good power of plants and gardens, highlighting the scientific links between gardening and wellbeing and sharing easy tips to get your daily dose of Vitamin G.

Research reveals that environments can increase or reduce our stress, which in turn impacts our bodies. What you are seeing, hearing, experiencing at any moment is changing not only your mood, but how your nervous, endocrine, and immune systems are working.

Being in nature, or even viewing scenes of nature, reduces anger, fear, and stress and increases pleasant feelings. Exposure to nature not only makes you feel better emotionally, but it also contributes to your physical wellbeing, reducing blood pressure, heart rate, muscle tension, and the production of stress hormones. It may even reduce mortality, according to scientists such as public health researchers Stamatakis and Mitchell.

Research done in hospitals, offices, and schools has found that even a simple plant in a room can have a significant impact on stress and anxiety.

So, if you need to de-stress then why not head to Moss End Garden Village and pick up some new bedding plants to enjoy time in your garden or select from our large range of indoor plants to enjoy on your desk or living space.

You may also want to visit The Wellness Centre located in The Courtyard at Moss End Garden Village, a place where a range of therapists work together to help people obtain their optimum wellbeing.

MT Car Box: Solving your travel storage needs

Mon, 12 Apr 2021 13:00:03 GMT

Last year was an incredible year for the great staycation and 2021 is going to be no different. But if you, like so many of us, struggled to fit the kids, the dog, the clothes, tents and not to mention the bikes in the car before you headed off on your adventure, MT Car Box has the solution for you.

MT Car Box are an exclusive Thule Partner, an independent retailer providing a personal, high quality service. Thule are the market leaders in Europe and MT Car Box can provide their high-quality range for all your staycation, travelling and sporting needs. They can supply Thule’s full range of roof boxes and roof bars plus their innovative cycle and water sport carriers along with the Active with Kids range.

MT Car Box are located in the Barns, opposite Sam’s Bike Shop and IL Cortile. Due to COVID-19 they operate on an appointment basis to manage social distancing so please get in touch via 01344 286454 or email sales@carbox.co.uk

Further details in their range and services can be found here: www.carbox.co.uk

My April Garden

Wed, 07 Apr 2021 07:30:02 GMT

April’s here and spring has sprung at last! As the weather warms up and early flowers start to bloom, all of a sudden there’s a load of jobs to do outside.

This month, there’s plenty to sow and grow in your garden and greenhouse. But there’s lots more to do besides sowing and planting out. Here are your main garden jobs this April:

Start with these four garden tasks this month:

Order annual plants like geraniums, begonias and petunias online now for summer bedding and hanging basket displays - it's your last chance!
Give your greenhouse a thorough scrub with hot soapy water. This will get rid of pests and diseases and let in more light.
Prepare beds for the growing season. Dig in a 5cm (or more) layer of compost or well-rotted manure. You can also work in a general-purpose fertiliser, such as pelleted chicken manure, or fish, blood and bone.
Check your patio plants aren't drying out. The warmer weather will quickly affect soil moisture levels - try mixing water storing granules with compost to improve water retention in containers.

Here's what to be getting on with in the flower garden this month:

Lift and divide established border perennial plants now to improve vigour and create new plants for your garden.
Pinch out the tips of fuchsia plants and sweet pea plant shoots, to encourage bushy growth this summer.
Divide primroses once they have finished flowering.
Feed trees, shrubs and hedges with a balanced, slow-release fertiliser, by lightly forking it into the soil surface. Roses, in particular, are greedy plants and will greatly benefit from feeding as they come into growth.
Finish cutting back any dead foliage on perennials and ornamental grass plants to make way for new growth.
Trim winter-flowering heathers as the flowers disappear, to prevent plants becoming leggy.
Tie in new honeysuckle and clematis stems. These plants will be putting on growth now, and you’ll need to train them along their supports.
Continue to remove faded flowers from winter pansies to stop them setting seed. This will encourage flushes of new flowers throughout the spring.
Deadhead daffodils and tulips as the flowers finish, but leave foliage intact, allowing it to die back naturally.
Apply a layer of mulch around your perennials and biennial plants, trees and shrubs before the hot weather arrives. Use organic matter such as well-rotted manure.

Get busy with these vegetable garden tasks this April:

Prepare vegetable seed beds by removing all weeds.
Dig a 5-cm layer of compost, well-rotted manure or green waste into beds.
Cover prepared soil with sheets of black plastic to keep it drier and warmer in preparation for planting.
Harvest asparagus spears when they’re no more than 18 cm tall.
Support pea and bean plants now. For quick and easy pea supports, push some twiggy sticks around your plants.
Thin carrot seedlings to achieve good-sized carrots; do this in the evening when fewer carrot flies are around.

Here's what to do in the fruit garden this month:

Protect fruit blossom from late frosts by covering them with horticultural fleece on cold nights.
Spray the emerging leaves of peach and nectarine trees to prevent peach leaf curl. Sheltering your plants from the rain will also help reduce the risk of peach leaf curl.
Mulch fruit trees with well-rotted manure or garden compost, taking care not to mound mulch up around the trunk.
Top-dress patio fruit-trees with fresh compost and a slow-release fertiliser.
Feed raspberry canes, fruit bushes and fruit trees to encourage good crops this season. Apply a slow-release fertiliser around their base.
Try hand pollinating peaches and nectarines with a soft-bristled paint brush for better crops this year.

These are your lawn-care jobs for April:

Sow lawn seed now on well-prepared soil and keep the soil moist while it germinates.
For an instant lawn, lay new turf this month, and keep it moist until it’s established.
Repair any bare patches in your lawn — try sowing lawn repair grass seed.
Apply a high-nitrogen fertiliser to your lawn, for a boost at the start of the season.
Apply specialist lawn weed killer to your lawn wherever moss and weeds are a problem.
Brush away any worm casts on dry days.
Mow your lawn more regularly, as required. Lower your mower blades towards the end of the month.

Lastly, here are some of the garden tasks you can do from the comfort of your armchair, while you’re dodging the April showers:

Keep track of what you have sown and planted in your diary — it will really help you out later in the year.
Give your houseplants some TLC — the warmer weather and longer light hours will encourage them to grow and they may require more water.
Buy vegetable plants as plugs to free up window-sill space and avoid the hassle of sowing seed.

For more advice, tips and to order your plants, vegetable seeds and shrubs, visit Moss End Garden Village today and we’d be only too happy to help.

Garden Trends Opens at Moss End Garden Village

Sat, 03 Apr 2021 08:15:02 GMT

We are thrilled to announce that Garden Trends have joined the Moss End Garden Village Community, offering a fantastic range of garden furniture and accessories to suit all styles and sizes of garden.

Enjoy your summer in style with their wide range of quality outdoor garden and patio furniture. Now is the perfect time to get your garden in order so you can spend the warmer months outdoors in the garden, and there is nothing quite as relaxing as sitting down to eat a fantastic meal al fresco. With the amount of time you’ll be spending outdoors it makes sense to create an outdoor space that is as comfortable and practical as possible. Whether you want a stylish garden dining area to entertain family and friends, or a relaxing corner on your patio to settle down for some sunbathing, Garden Trend’s wide range of garden furniture has something to suit every garden.

They also have a fantastic BBQ range, including Built-In and Freestanding options from BeefEater, Grillstream, Kamado Joe, Draco Grill & more. In addition they can supply Modular Outdoor Kitchens, or, if you want something more personal, they offer a bespoke Build-In Kitchen Service, tailor-made to your own design.

For great-quality gazebos, outdoor heating, tables, storage, parasols, fire pits and more, Garden Trends have something for every garden and every requirement.

Pop in to visit their store today and be helped by friendly and knowledgeable staff.

Easter Holiday Fun

Wed, 31 Mar 2021 08:30:02 GMT

A school holiday packed with chocolate, egg hunts and adorable animals? Sign us up! It’s officially time to shake off those winter chills and jump straight into fun, just in time for the Easter school holidays. We’ve rounded up the key dates, along with the best Easter activities and things to do in the Easter holidays, helping you to have an egg-cellent few weeks!

Enjoy a walk in nature

Why not head out into the great outdoors, take some fresh air and enjoy a leisurely stroll together. Most National Trust and English Heritage outdoor sites, including parks, gardens and coastal are still open and free to enter. Better yet plot a route near Moss End Garden Village so you can drop in and pick up a warming hot chocolate and delicious cake from Robyn’s Nest Café !

Choose from 100 great things to indoor

Who says days in can’t be just as fun as days out?! If you’re staying at home during the holidays and you’re looking for Easter activities to do in the house, check out these 100 great ideas for things to do with kids indoor . From making Easter bonnets to baking Easter nest cakes and decorating eggs, there’s plenty of seasonal fun in there too!

Better yet pick up your home pottery painting kit courtesy of Top of The Pots based here at Moss End Garden Village. Find out more and order your kit today: www.topofthepots.co.uk

Visit our Attractions

We can offer you a full day out for the whole family with our range of unique attractions. Discover the fascinating world of birds of prey with the Feathers & Fur Falconry Centre or take a walk under the sea, visit ReefKeeper, full of reef-inspired aquariums. Find out more - click here.

Changes are coming – Offering a Covid-Safe Environment

Fri, 26 Mar 2021 11:00:02 GMT

We’re looking forward to the easing of the lockdown measures, much like everyone else and are pleased that from 29th March we are able to meet with 6 people or in 2 households together outside.

Why not visit Moss End Garden Village to enjoy a delicious cake and coffee in our outside seating area and catch up with friends and family. Safety for staff and customers remains our top priority so you can be rest assured that we, and our independent traders, are operating in a safe way and will welcome you with warmth and kindness.

What to expect when you visit

Our priority is to ensure the safety of customers and staff alike. You will notice a number of measures in place when you visit, including:

We are still limiting the number of customers in the village at any time. Please be aware at busy times that you may need to queue. Please queue 2m apart and continue to follow our 2m social distancing markers throughout the village. We also ask that you carefully browse the Retail Village following the one-way system. Please respect staff and fellow customers and maintain a safe distance when shopping.
You must now wear a face mask whenever you are visiting - this includes both the inside shop and outside plant area - unless you are exempt.
Sanitiser stations will be located at the entrance for customer use.
We can take cash payments as well as card payments, but we would prefer contactless payment wherever possible.
Under government guidelines, we, unfortunately, will not be able to offer assistance to customers in our usual way so please be aware that we may not be able to load your car with heavy items during this period of social distancing.
Dogs are always welcome but must be kept on a lead.
Refreshments are available from Robyn’s Nest Café on a take-away basis but you can take a seat in our outdoor seating areas.

Stay safe and may your gardens - and homes - continue to be a source of normality and happiness.

Compost Week

Mon, 15 Mar 2021 08:00:01 GMT

Compost Week 2021 will run from the 15th to the 21st of march this year and celebrates the benefits of composting and encourages the UK to be rotters!

Compost is nutrient-rich material that can transform your soil and give plants a dramatic boost. It is created from decomposed organic matter, with help from bacteria, fungus, insects and other organisms.

For anyone new to composting, or those who simply want to improve their existing compost heaps, we’ve prepared a round-up of top tips and great stuff that will help you get on top of your compost.

Buy a decent compost bin: If you don’t fancy building a compost heap try a compost bin. They’re compact, so they’re perfect for smaller gardens and yards.
Pick the perfect spot for your compost heap or bin: It’s best to site it on a level, well-drained spot, which will ensure that any excess water drains away easily. This also helps worms to get in and get on with the job of breaking down the content.
Let the worms do the hard work: Nature has provided us with the perfect waste disposal unit in the humble worm. They can live their whole lives in the dark and love the moist atmosphere of a wormery or compost heap, eating the waste material you put in and converting it into liquid feed and compost. The brilliant tiger worm (Eisenia fetida) is the most efficient little worm we know and loves nothing more than eating its way through organic waste.
Put the right stuff in: Good things to compost include vegetable peelings, fruit waste, teabags, plant prunings and grass cuttings. These are fast to break down and provide important nitrogen as well as moisture. It’s also good to include things such as cardboard egg boxes, scrunched up paper and fallen leaves. These are slower to rot but provide vital fibre and carbon and also allow important air pockets to form in the mixture. Crushed eggshells can be included to add useful minerals.
Don’t put the wrong stuff in: Certain things should never be placed in your bin. No meat or dairy products unless you’ve opted for a digester. No diseased plants, and definitely no dog poo or cat litter. Putting any of these in your compost will lead to unwanted pests and smells. Also avoid composting perennial weeds (such as dandelions and thistle) or weeds with seed heads. Remember that plastics, glass and metals are not suitable for composting and should be recycled separately.
Get the balance right: The key to good compost lies in getting the mix right. You need to keep your ‘greens’ and ‘browns’ properly balanced. If your compost is too wet, add more ‘browns’. If it’s too dry, add some ‘greens’. Making sure there is enough air in the mixture is also important. Adding scrunched up bits of cardboard is a simple way to create air pockets that will help keep your compost healthy. Air can also be added by mixing the contents.
Give it a good airing: A well-cared-for compost heap requires regular turning, which can be a tricky job without the right tools. Turning your compost helps to aerate and mix up the waste and cuttings, which leads to faster composting.
Boost to the system: You can encourage the correct enzymes in your compost by using a compost activator. It helps to turn your grass, leaves and garden waste into dark, rich, crumbly compost in less than half the time. You mix a small amount into water, pour it onto your compost and after 10 weeks of rotting your compost is ready to use. It can also be used to revive partially composted or dead heaps.
Turn fallen leaves into compost too: You can use fallen leaves as a good source of compost. It’s fine to add these to your compost bin but if you have large amounts of leaves, you might prefer to place them in a large biodegradable leaf bag. Once you’ve gathered up your fallen leaves they can be left to turn into a brilliant source of moisture-rich soil improver that’s great to use for potting mixes as an alternative to peat. The leaves will be kept neatly in one place and the sack will biodegrade, leaving you with a rich pile of wonderful compost.
Getting the best out of your compost: When your compost is ready you’ll have a dark brown, almost black soil-like layer at the bottom of your bin. It should have a spongy texture and will be rich in nutrients. Spreading the finished compost into your flowerbeds greatly improves soil quality by helping it retain moisture and suppressing weeds. It also reduces the need to use chemical fertilisers and pesticides.

If you want to start your home composting pop to Moss End Garden Village today as we have everything you need to get going.

My March Garden

Tue, 09 Mar 2021 10:00:02 GMT

By mid-March, we’re ready to welcome the start of spring — a hopeful, happy time for us gardeners. There’s lots to be done outside, now the slower winter months have passed.

Read about this month sowing and growing tasks here or find what other gardening jobs there are to do in March:

This month’s timely tips are all about getting a head start in the garden.

Fertilise your beds. Once your soil is workable, dig a 5cm (or more) layer of compost or well-rotted manure into your beds to prepare for the growing season ahead. You can also work in a general-purpose fertiliser, such as pelleted chicken manure, or fish, blood and bone.
Put supports in. If any of your garden plants need supporting this year, put them in now, so plants can grow up through them. Adding supports afterwards is trickier and often looks unattractive.
Move deciduous trees or shrubs. Now is the time to do this task, provided the soil isn’t frozen or waterlogged.
Resurface paths before plants start to grow and smother them.

Here are your main tasks in the flower garden this month:

Feed trees, shrubs and hedges with a slow-release fertiliser by lightly forking it into the soil surface.
Feed roses with special rose feed or balanced fertiliser as they come into growth.
Prune roses now to encourage strong new growth - follow our guide on how to prune roses for guidance.
Prune clematis - prune early-flowering varieties once their flowers have finished and summer-flowering ones before they start into active growth. Check our clematis pruning guide for more detailed instructions.
Finish cutting back shrubs grown for their colourful winter stems. Cut them right back to their bases to encourage new stem growth for next winter.
Finish cutting back dead foliage from perennials and ornamental grasses to make way for new growth.
Prune overwintered fuchsias back to one or two buds on each shoot. This will encourage a bushy growth habit.
Prune winter-flowering jasmine and heathers after flowering, to encourage new growth for next year's blooms.
Keep an eye out for slugs as the weather warms. Pay special attention to soft, new growth, which slugs love. Use nematodes for an effective organic control. Read our helpful guide on how to beat the slugs for more advice.
Continue to deadhead winter pansies to stop them setting seed. This will encourage flushes of new flowers throughout the spring.
Deadhead daffodils as the flowers finish and let the foliage die back naturally.
Deadhead hydrangeas before new growth appears. Cut to about one third of last season's growth.

Here are your vegetable garden jobs for this month:

Dig in green manures grown over the winter. Do this while stems are still soft.
Dig compost, well-rotted manure or green waste into your vegetable beds to prepare for the growing season ahead. Dig in a 5cm (or more) layer when the soil becomes workable. Weed vegetable seed beds before adding the layer.
Cover prepared soil with sheets of black plastic to keep it drier and warmer in preparation for planting.
Weed and mulch asparagus beds. Asparagus has shallow roots so weed by hand to prevent damage.

Trim, feed and protect plants in the fruit garden:

Cut autumn-fruiting raspberry canes to the ground to stimulate new canes, which will fruit in the autumn. Cut the tips of summer-fruiting raspberry canes that have grown beyond the top of their supports; cut just above a bud.
Feed blueberry plants with ericaceous plant fertiliser.
Protect the blossoms of apricots, peaches and nectarines from frost with a screen or horticultural fleece.
Mulch fruit trees with well-rotted manure or garden compost. Take care not to mound mulch up around tree trunks.
Cover strawberries with a cloche to encourage earlier fruiting.
Mulch rhubarb with a thick layer of well-rotted manure to keep it healthy and reduce moisture loss through the soil. Take care not to cover the crown, as this is where the growth happens.

Here's how to look after your lawn this March:

Recut any lawn edges if necessary.
Install lawn edging to make future maintenance easier.
Mow your lawn if it needs it. Choose a dry day and set your blades higher than usual.
Lay new turf if the ground isn't frozen or waterlogged.
Prepare soil for growing new lawn from seed. Doing this now allows it time to settle before sowing.

From your armchair

Order annual bedding plants now, ready for beautiful containers and hanging baskets this year.
Order fruit trees for planting this spring. If space is limited in your garden try growing dwarf fruit trees.
Buy vegetable plants for a hassle-free start to your vegetable garden.
Sort your seeds by sowing date, month by month. Start a sowing and growing diary to keep track of which seeds you are sowing and when they were sown — it really helps later in the year.

For more advice, tips and to order your plants, vegetable seeds and shrubs, visit Moss End Garden Village today and we’d be only too happy to help.

Italian Passion

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 18:34:07 GMT

Their selection of great Italian food is second to none locally. They supply a wide range of exceptional Italian produce, including salami and cured meats, wine, prosecco, biscuits, pasta, sauces, pâtés, gift hampers and more.

Why not pop in to pick up the best ingredients and try out the recipe below? For an authentic taste of Italy, look no further than Il Cortile.

Baked gnocchi with bolognaise

INGREDIENTS

1 tbls olive oil
1 brown onion, chopped
1 carrot, peeled, chopped
1 celery stick, chopped
2 garlic cloves, crushed
500g Coles Australian Beef & Pork Bolognese Mince
1/2 cup (125ml) dry red wine or beef stock
800g can diced tomatoes
2 tbls tomato paste
2 bay leaves
2 tsp Italian mixed herbs
1 quantity Basic Potato Gnocchi
1 cup (100g) coarsely grated mozzarella

METHOD

Heat the oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Add the onion, carrot, celery and garlic. Cook, stirring, for 5 mins or until the onion softens. Add the mince and cook, stirring with a wooden spoon to break up lumps, for 5 mins or until mince changes colour.
Add the wine or stock to the mince mixture in the pan and bring to the boil. Add the tomato, tomato paste, bay leaves and mixed herbs and bring to the boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook, stirring occasionally, for 30 mins or until the sauce thickens. Remove and discard the bay leaves. Season.
Preheat oven to 200°C. Cook one-quarter of the gnocchi in a large saucepan of boiling water for 2-3 mins or until gnocchi rise to surface of the pan. Use a slotted spoon to transfer to a tray lined with baking paper. Repeat, in 3 batches, with remaining gnocchi.
Add gnocchi to the sauce in the pan. Gently toss to combine. Spoon into a baking dish and sprinkle with mozzarella. Bake for 20 mins or until the mozzarella melts and is golden brown. Divide among serving plates and enjoy!

Big Schools’ Birdwatch 2021

Fri, 19 Feb 2021 09:00:01 GMT

Take the survey and enjoying watching the local wildlife.

Big Schools’ Birdwatch looks a bit different this year, but you can still be part of vital citizen science by taking part in the survey and enjoying watching the local wildlife.

This activity is about counting the number of birds in your school grounds (or home gardens if you’re home schooling). It only takes an hour, so one lesson or lunchtime is ideal. The results also contribute to Big Garden Birdwatch – the world's largest wildlife survey.

Get your garden ready to welcome all species of birds by visiting Pets Corner here at Moss End Garden Village where you can pick up the tastiest wild bird food mixes, a new nest box or a hanging bird bath. Whilst you’re at it pop to the Garden Centre Shop and get some binoculars so you can see everything in detail.

Find out more about the Big School Birdwatch here: www.rspb.org.uk/fun-and-learning/for-teachers/schools-wild-challenge/activities/big-schools-birdwatch/

My February Garden

Mon, 08 Feb 2021 09:10:51 GMT

Hearts beat a little faster this month with the arrival of Valentine’s Day. Likewise, for gardeners, pulses begin to race with the prospect of spring on the horizon.

Whether you’re working on the allotment, or in the garden, the jobs list is beginning to increase as we start to prepare for the arrival of a new season. However, don’t be seduced into thinking you should immediately start sowing outside. Jack Frost is a cunning cad, and is always seeking the opportunity to break hearts. Whether it’s a severe frost, or a late flurry of snow, gardening plans can be quickly scuppered. Right now, in this unpredictable month, patience is the key.

So, why not take a moment to enjoy what February has to offer. Hellebores, crocuses, even an early daffodil, can be just what’s needed to get you in the mood for spring.

In the flower garden

DIVIDE: Most snowdrops have now bloomed and will start to fade before returning to their green form. Now’s the time to lift, divide and re-plant. Over the years, they will naturally increase and spread. However, a gardener’s intervention can result in larger displays, without such a lengthy wait. This process can also be applied to the perennial plants in your herbaceous borders. Quite often a sharp spade is the best way to divide them. Think about how you want your border to look this summer, and re-plant accordingly.
BORDERS: At the moment, borders aren’t looking at their best, but this is the time to get them ready for the growing season ahead. Remove all weeds and fallen debris, and cut away last season’s dead perennial foliage. Finally, mulch the area, ideally to the depth of six inches, as this will help suppress weeds. Be careful not to cover perennials, shrubs or protruding bulb shoots as this will prevent the sunlight and warmth reaching them, and could encourage rot.
GRASSES: Ornamental grasses in winter can add wonderful structure to a vacant gardening space. But as winter wanes, they will start to look a little ragged. Deciduous varieties will benefit from being cut back hard with a pair of shears. This may seem drastic, but don’t worry, they will thank you for it. Varieties such as Stipa, need nothing more than a good comb. By using your hands and a sensible pair of gloves to prevent cuts, simply drag your fingers through the clump, removing old growth.
GREENHOUSE: Despite the cold month, if you’re lucky enough to own a heated greenhouse, polytunnel, or a well-lit, warm, windowsill, you could think about sowing hardy annual and perennial seeds. Whether it’s Cornflower, Cosmos, French marigolds or Echinacea, these can be sown now. Overfill a small pot or tray with either seed or multi-purpose compost. Tap the container gently, and brush the excess soil from the rim. Sow your seeds thinly over the surface, and then cover over with a thin layer of compost, or vermiculite. Once labelled, place your container in a couple of inches of water. It’s preferable to let the pot draw the water from the bottom, leaving the seeds undisturbed, as watering from above can easily scatter the seeds, disrupting their growing environment and hampering germination. Finally, place in a bright and warm spot.
GARDEN WILDLIFE: Continue to keep bird-feeding stations supplied with food and fresh water. If the weather is too bad to work in, then this might be the time to retreat to the shed, and think about building a nest box. Garden birds will soon be looking for nests to hatch their chicks. So why not help bring birdlife into your garden, and install a nest box.

On the veg patch

RASPBERRIES: Cut all autumn fruiting varieties down to an inch above the ground. Mulch around the raspberry stalks, ensuring you don’t cover them over. If you want a longer growing season, cut only half of your stock down to above the ground. The untouched canes will provide fruit earlier in the season. This is the last opportunity to plant bare root varieties. Once summer varieties are planted and mulched, cut canes down to ten inches. Again, with autumn fruiting varieties, mulch and cut-down to an inch above the ground.
FRUIT TREES: There’s still time to prune your fruit trees and soft fruit, such as gooseberries, as they’re still dormant. Beyond this, tree sap will be on the rise, so pruning too late might create a seeping wound, thus damaging the tree. Consider buying bare rootstock varieties, and rhubarb crowns, and plant out.
CHITTING: Up and down the land right now, windowsills are dominated by seeding potatoes sat on eggbox thrones, with their eyes looking skyward. However, if you haven’t bought your tubers yet, it’s still not too late. Get them chitting as soon as possible, and six weeks from now you could be sitting them in the warming soil of your allotment, or in growing bags.
SOW: If you have a cold frame or greenhouse, ideally with a heat source, then you might consider sowing into plugs the following; onions, beetroot, cabbage, leeks, spring onion, lettuce, radishes, and tomatoes. If you sow into large plugs, and thin your seedlings out accordingly, then your young plants can continue to grow on until you’re ready to plant out. This method will not only give you the time to prepare the plot, but give the soil an opportunity to warm up in the early spring weather. Bear in mind, it’s still a low winter sun, so light levels can make plants leggy. If you’re hoping to sow seeds, such as carrot, straight into the ground, wait until at least the end of the month. Ideally, warm the allocated plot, by covering the soil for few weeks with either a cloche, or plastic sheeting. This extra warmth is precious when trying to germinate seeds, such as carrots and parsnips. Remember to stagger your sowing, otherwise months from now you may find yourself with a glut.

Aqua Hot Tubs have arrived!

Mon, 11 Jan 2021 13:43:13 GMT

Moss End Garden Village is proud to announce the arrival of Aqua Hot Tubs , the luxury addition to any garden.

Berkshire's longest established hot tub dealer is now displaying and selling the Wellis, Villeroy & Boch and Therapy Spas ranges of Hot Tubs in their fantastic new showroom space.

Having been in business for 15 years, they pride themselves on the customer service and support to all their customers. They take care of everything for you. Do you require a hot tub base, awning, log cabin, electrics, disabled lift or hoist, landscaping or sauna? No problem - they will sort it all.

They offer installation, moves, electrics, servicing and repairs, providing a wide range of top-quality products, including Spas, Infra-Red Saunas and Steam Showers, Commercial & Domestic Hot Tubs and Pool Chemicals.

Visit their website to see what they have on offer:

www.aquatubs.co.uk

Covid-19 Update

Mon, 21 Dec 2020 14:05:45 GMT

Moss End Garden Village is open.

Moss End Garden Village is open, however in line with government restrictions, some of our concessions can only operate a click and collect service.

We are operating a separate entry and exit, hand sanitising stations are located around the centre and face masks must be worn.

Please support our staff by observing social distancing.

Coming Soon - Feathers and Fur Falconry Centre

Thu, 17 Dec 2020 14:01:43 GMT

We are very excited to be welcoming Sadie and her team at Feathers and Fur Falconry Centre to Moss End Garden Village in Spring 2021.

Work is well underway already, creating a special home for 23 stunning birds and an unforgettable experience.

Visit their website where you can buy vouchers for experiences…

www.feathersandfur.co.uk

Coming Soon - Aqua Hot Tubs

Wed, 16 Dec 2020 14:04:21 GMT

Moss End Garden Village is proud to host Aqua Hot Tubs, the luxury addition to any garden, opening on 7th January 2021.

Berkshire's longest established hot tub dealer will be displaying and selling the Wellis, Villeroy & Boch and Therapy Spas ranges of Hot Tubs in their fantastic new showroom space.

Visit their website to take a peek at what’s coming…

www.aquatubs.co.uk

Coming Soon - Garden Trends

Tue, 15 Dec 2020 14:01:41 GMT

Moss End Garden Village are excited to be welcoming Garden Trends and sister company Gordon Stone to The Village.

Garden Trends offers a fantastic range of garden furniture and accessories to suit all styles and sizes of garden from contemporary to traditional, in all types of materials, including wood, metal and weave. Staff are always happy to help take you through all your options. With a fantastic BBQ range, including built-in and freestanding options from BeefEater, Grillstream, Kamado Joe, Draco Grill & more.

Sister company Gordon Stone, create gorgeous, bespoke outdoor kitchens that exude luxury to act as the ultimate compliment to your home, allowing you to take your culinary expertise into the great outdoors - or even just extend your hosting space beyond the usual four-walled boundaries.

They work alongside you from the start of your project to help realise your vision. Specialising in designing luxury bespoke outdoor kitchens, naturally their design process is tried-and-tested and meticulous. It is incredibly important to them that they create the ideal space for your garden and your requirements, so they will go through several steps with you to ensure that everything runs perfectly for your design from start to finish.

Visit their websites to take a peek at what’s coming…

www.gardentrends.co.uk

www.gordon-stone.co.uk