Cuttings from Coolings Summer 2018

- F RO M C O O L I N G S -

SUMMER

Rose Buddies Pages 8 & 9

2018

Len Goodman Comes to Coolings Page 3

THE EXPERIENCE IS GROWING Main image: Alstroemeria ‘Indian Summer’. See pages 6 & 7 for details.

Coolings Family Vouchers Pages 12 & 13

The Gardener’s Garden Centre

WelcomeCoolings

F RO M C O O L I N G S

to

Dear Friends,

Well. The weather!

What can I say about the first three months of the year? Wet, cold, wet, cold, more wet and so it went on, all the way through Easter too!

The combination of the extreme cold whilst still being so wet has resulted in many, usually hardy plants sustaining severe damage or even dying.

In my own garden a Phormium that has been established for over fifteen years looks unlikely to recover. However, nature has its own resilience and I would suggest not being too hasty in digging out an ailing plant. Personal experience tells us that many plants can still look dead or dormant until the end of May. If you dig them up before then and you find the roots starting to grow, chances are that you will have damaged those roots further and the plant may well then die. We pride ourselves on the quality of our plants hence, our 5 year hardy plant guarantee (7 years for Coolings Family members), but even the hardiest plants can struggle in extreme weather. Plants in pots that have good drainage should be fine as the weather warms up. It is a timely reminder that any containers that you decide to plant up for your garden, patio or balcony should have plenty of drainage to allow excess winter rain to drain away.

We know from the few sunny days that we have had that there is a lot of pent-up demand from frustrated gardeners who’ve not been able to get out into their gardens and we suspect that this will result in a big rush over the next few weeks as everyone tries to catch up. At Coolings we are very fortunate in having our own production

Data Privacy

nursery on site where we grow around a million plants and several thousand tubs and hanging baskets every year and we are not vulnerable to any supply chain or logistical issues. We are confident that whilst other establishments struggle to source supplies at short notice, we at Coolings will have plenty to fulfil all your needs, large or small.

If you enjoy looking at other gardens when you’re not working in your own, we have a fantastic schedule of visits to other places of inspiration, whilst the new Education Centre on the nursery has a range of courses suitable for anyone wanting to learn more about their favourite hobby and gain a little more confidence.

We are also delighted to welcome Len Goodman, known to millions as the past Head Judge of Strictly Come Dancing, to Coolings this September (details opposite). We look forward to hearing about his successful dancing career and hopefully some behind the scenes Strictly gossip!

If you’ve not already visited Coolings this year, you’ll notice improvements in many areas; shop, plant area and Arthurs, that will help to make your experience all the more enjoyable. The regular team, boosted by 24 additional seasonal assistants, are awaiting your visit and are keen to assist in any way they can to help you get the most from your garden.

We look forward to your visit soon.

Chairman Coolings

Coolings holds your data and privacy in its highest regard. You will be receiving postal and e-marketing from Coolings Nurseries Ltd because you will have previously signed up to receive this.

We will always remove customers from our postal marketing database on request, contact us on 01959 532269 or email rushmorehill@coolings.co.uk. We also proactively monitor all our customer addresses and will remove customers from our postal marketing database if we believe information we hold to be out of date or obsolete. Your data will never be passed or sold to any third party and will only be used by Coolings Nurseries Ltd to keep you informed about our business and to improve our products and services.

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Life Stories

Len Goodman at Coolings Nurseries Thursday 6th September 2018

Tickets Only £29 (per person) To book visit www.coolings.co.uk/events or tel: 01959 532269 e are very excited to announce that Len Goodman, known to millions as the past Head Judge of Strictly Come Dancing and current Head Judge of Dancing With The Stars, will be coming to Coolings to chat about his amazing life and career, and to entertain us with some of his life stories and Strictly gossip. Len will be giving two talks timed to start at 2.30pm and 7.30pm and we strongly encourage you to book early as demand for the event is expected to be high. Len will be joined on stage by journalist Jo Goodman, who will be interviewing Len in a ‘Life Stories’ type setting.

Talk times Afternoon: 2.00pm Entry to Events Area 2.30pm Talk commences 3.10pm Interval and refreshment break

(see opposite) 3.30pm Second half of talk commences 4.10pm Talk expected to finish but may

overrun depending on audience

questions.

Evening: 7.00pm Entry to Event Area 7.30pm Talk commences 8.10pm Interval and refreshment break

(see opposite) 8.30pm Second half of talk commences 9.10pm Talk expected to finish but may

overrun depending on audience

questions.

The event is held in our events glasshouse. If it is particularly warm or cold please dress appropriately.

Interval Refreshments (both talks) A selection of hot, cold and alcoholic refreshments will be available. Our famous homemade cakes are also available as a light snack. These can be pre-booked when making your ticket purchase.

Arthurs will be staying open later than usual to allow those attending the talks an opportunity to enjoy a meal in Arthurs post afternoon/pre evening performance. Last orders for hot food will be taken at 7pm.

Arthurs will close at 7.30pm.

If you require further information please view our website or please do ring us on 01959 532269. Refreshments and food are not included in the ticket price.

The majority of tickets for this event are priced at £29, a limited number of premium tickets will be available at £35. Anyone with a disability who has special requirements, please contact us before booking.

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Blowing Hot and Cold

Words by

Jon Reburn

Seasonal planting to capture a theme

Colour theming is a great way to give your garden a certain feel or effect.

Seasonal plants allow a fresh pallet every year and give the opportunity to experiment. Warm colours complement each other and give vibrancy to an area. Cool colours are calm and relaxing, providing space to unwind.

Here we give our pick of seasonal plants that will work together to evoke feelings and effects.

Cool, Mellow Vibes

Blues, silver, white and even soft pink, play off each other to create a cool and calming effect.

The perfect backdrop to a relaxing summer’s evening.

Felicia Amazing semi-trailer with sky blue flowers. Great for pots and baskets.

Dichondra A cascade of beautiful, silver heart-shaped foliage that thrive in drier conditions.

Argyranthemums White Marguerites are fantastic in pots and flower for months.

Felicia Blue

Dichondra ‘Silver Falls’

White Argyranthemums

Laurentia Check these out! Blue star flowers all summer long.

Fuchsia Look out for blues, whites and soft pinks. Both trailing and upright varieties available.

Bacopa The number one choice as a flowery filler plant for pots and baskets. Try combining both blue and white Bacopa in a planter.

Fuchsia ‘Annabel’

Blue and White Bacopa

Laurentia ‘Blue Star’

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Tropical Heat

Summer is just around the corner so why not choose plants that enhance the warm, balmy days. Reds, oranges and yellows work well when grown together.

Canna Orange

Canna Dark Leaf Red

Cannas Top choice for a tropical look. Stunning foliage and vibrant flowers are a winning combination, with their height adding to the drama. Keep the plant frost free during winter and it will come back better each year.

Red Salvia

Salvias Sizzling reds pack a punch, great in flower beds and borders.

Gazanias Sun lovers from South Africa in shades of yellow and orange.

Euryops

Euryops Happy yellow daises that flower all summer long.

Gazania ‘Tiger Stripes’

Zonal Geranium Love it hot and dry. Red, scarlet and orange are popular choices.

Zonal Geranium Red

Zonal Geranium Violet

Zonal Geranium Orange F RO M C O O L I N G S

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A few from Peru The joy of Alstroemeria

More and more people are discovering that Alstroemeria (commonly called Peruvian Lilies) are unusual, colourful and easy to grow additions to the garden. here are now many attractive modern varieties available that will flower throughout the summer and return year after year given some basic care.

They are best planted in a well-drained sheltered spot in sun or part shade and benefit from the addition of good organic compost when planting. During winter it is also advisable to cut the plant to the ground and protect the crown with a layer of mulch 5-10cm deep.

Dwarf Alstroemeria can easily be grown in pots and containers and make superb patio plants that will return each summer. Simply tuck the pot into a greenhouse or other sheltered spot for the winter.

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Words by

Sam Smith

Alstroemeria Inca Series Compact, long flowering plants perfect for pots or the front of borders.

‘Inca Vito’

‘Inca Goal’

‘Inca Husky’

Here is a selection from our large range that we hope will tempt you to discover the joys of Alstroemeria!

Alstroemeria Summer Series The perfect choice for borders, these taller growing plants will add vibrancy to the garden through the summer months.

Alstroemeria ‘Indian Summer’ Beautiful variety growing to about 1m tall. Flowers from May until the first frosts and has attractive dark foliage.

‘Indian Summer’

Alstroemeria Inticancha Series Dwarf plants ideal for containers or borders.

They come in a whole range of attractive colours.

‘Summer Breeze’

‘Summer Break’

‘Inticancha White Pink Blush’ ‘Inticancha Cabana’

‘Summer Snow’

‘Inticancha Maya’

‘Inticancha Passion’

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Rose Buddies!

Any visitor to Sissinghurst Garden in Kent, the legendary home of Vita Sackville-West, will quickly realise that the idea that roses can only be grown in sterile single species beds is simply untrue. There are many beautiful but easy-going herbaceous perennials and low shrubs that lend themselves well to planting Words by alongside roses to soften and add interest.

Mark Reeve

Here we list some great plants that can be used to enhance your roses.

Artemisia ‘Powis Castle’ Lovely feathery silver foliage. A really ornamental addition to the garden.

Campanula poscharskyana Great ground cover plant with attractive blue bell flowers.

Dianthus ‘Tickled Pink’ Garden pinks associate well with roses, their scented flowers enhancing that of roses.

Sedum ‘Rose Carpet’ Low growing and even lower maintenance, later season colour. Beloved by bees!

Geranium ‘Brookside’ ‘Tough as old boots’, this geranium will reflower later in the season if chopped back to the ground immediately after it blooms.

Geranium ‘Max Frei’ Lovely little plant perfect for growing under roses.

Lavender Hidcote Quintessential compact English Lavender.

The fragrance of lavender combines beautifully with the scent of roses to capture the essence of summer.

Nepeta ‘Six Hills Giant’ Ideal for growing in swathes along the edge of a rose bed to give a cottage garden feel.

Osteospermum compactum Perfect partner in a dry sunny rose bed, they flower for months.

Salvia ‘East Friesland’ Beautiful but tough perennial combines well with roses.

Stachys byzantina ‘Big Ears’ Attractive mats of soft silver foliage.

Otherwise known as Lambs Ears - these are an old favourite.

Pink Carpet Roses backed by Lavender

Stachys byzantina ‘Big Ears

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Our celebration of Roses begins on June 8th see back page for details

Alchemilla mollis This enchanting plant has beautiful emerald foliage and yellow-green flowers which capture the morning dew, giving a subtle backdrop to roses.

Alchemilla mollis planted with Roses and Nepeta

Artemisia ‘Powis Castle’

Campanula poscharskyana

Dianthus ‘Tickled Pink’

Geranium ‘Max Frei’

Gertrude Jekyll Rose with Geranium ‘Brookside’

Lavender ‘Hidcote’

Nepeta ‘Six Hills Giant’

Osteospermum compactum

Salvia ‘East Friesland’ F RO M C O O L I N G S

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Outdoor Living 1

Parlane ‘Alec’ Wire Bowls Set of 3 beautiful rustic wire bowls, finished in black with a bamboo rim (L) H: 13 x D: 23cm, (M): H: 12 x D: 17cm, (S): H: 9 x D: 14cm £19.95 for the set

2 Parlane Drinks Dispenser (3.5 Ltr) £24.95 3

4

Parlane Jam Jar Glasses with Straws (set of 4) £19.95 for the set Parlane Cortez Bowl (made from recycled glass) £14.95

5 Hendriks Ceramic Stripes Vase £20.99 10

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6 Parlane Tray £29.95 7 Divine Deli Olive Wood Carving Board £29.99 8 Divine Deli Olive Picker £4.99 9 Rustic Pastel Tapas Bowl £6.99 10 Divine Deli Luxury Bowl full of artificial Figs. Bowl: £99.99, Figs: £5.95 each 11 Parlane Natural Slate Tray £16.50 12 Garden Trading Round Marble Board £25.00 13 Garden Trading Glass Water Bottle £4.50 14 PTMD Round Candleholder (L) £29.75 each

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15 PTMD Rustic Night Blue Pillar Candle £6.99 each

23 Stockholm Lantern Set of 3 £49.99 for the set

16 Kettle Picnic Set from The Wicker Merchant (2 person) £57.50

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17 Wine Bottle & Glasses Caddy from Panacea (wine and glasses not included) £14.99 18 Hacienda Moscatel 2016 Bottle of Wine £4.99 19 Silk flowers from the large selection in our shop. Prices vary per flower 20 PTMD Metal Silver Pan Stand (L) £7.75 21 PTMD Raft Wood Chopping Board £9.50 22 Ivyline Citronella Grey Dish Candle (Yellow) £7.99

Master Touch BBQ (57cm) (includes Free Pizza Stone. Available only at Coolings Green & Pleasant) £269 (10 Year Guarantee)

25 Old England Garden Furniture Set 2 x Grey Painted Bench 1 x Grey Painted 200cm x 90cm Rectangular Table (Available only at Coolings Green & Pleasant) £749 (3 Year Guarantee)

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Cuttings Vouchers with ...

All vouchers must be redeemed with your Coolings Family Card and Coolings may refuse to redeem the voucher without your Family Card.

If for any reason you have mislaid your Coolings Family Card then please speak to a member of our team and we will be more than happy to sort this out for you.

16 May - 31 May 2018 Free Toast Portion with Set Breakfast

16 May - 31 May 2018 Hardy Salvia ‘East Friesland’ 2 litre NOW £4.99

Valid Monday - Friday between 9am and 10.30am only Valid in Arthurs at Coolings Garden Centre Offer valid 16 May - 31 May 2018 excluding Monday 28 May 2018. Only valid on presentation of your Coolings Family Card at time of redemption. For full Terms & Conditions please see www.coolings.co.uk.

Valid at Coolings Garden Centre, Rushmore Hill Offer valid 16 May - 31 May 2018. Only valid on presentation of your Coolings Family Card at time of redemption. One reduced item only per household. For full Terms & Conditions please see www.coolings.co.uk.

Normally £9.99, Now £4.99

HALF PRICE

4 Jun - 29 Jun 2018 (exc. Fri 8 Jun)

1 Jun - 30 Jun 2018 Buy One Get One FREE Hardy Geranium 1 litre

Cream Tea for Two for £9 Valid Monday - Friday between 2pm and 4.15pm only. Valid in Arthurs at Coolings Garden Centre

Valid at Coolings Garden Centre, Rushmore Hill

Offer valid 4 Jun - 29 Jun 2018 excluding Fri 8 Jun 2018. Only valid on presentation of your Coolings Family Card at time of redemption. For full Terms & Conditions please see www.coolings.co.uk.

Offer valid 1 Jun - 30 Jun 2018. Only valid on presentation of your Coolings Family Card at time of redemption. One free product only per household. For full Terms & Conditions please see www.coolings.co.uk.

SAVE £6.99 1 Jun - 30 Jun 2018

1 Jun - 30 Jun 2018 SAVE £5 on Hozelock 60m Hose Cart with 30m Hose

SAVE £5

on Plantpak Strawberry/Herb Planter

Valid at Coolings Garden Centre, Rushmore Hill

Valid at Coolings Garden Centre, Rushmore Hill Plants not included

Normally £29.99, Now £24.99

SAVE £5

Offer valid 1 Jun – 30 Jun 2018. Only valid on presentation of your Coolings Family Card at time of redemption. One reduced item per household.

For full Terms & Conditions please see www.coolings.co.uk.

Normally £49.99, Now £44.99

SAVE £5

Offer valid 1 Jun – 30 Jun 2018. Only valid on presentation of your Coolings Family Card at time of redemption. One reduced item per household.

For full Terms & Conditions please see www.coolings.co.uk.

2 Jul – 31 Jul 2018 Two Quiche Salads for £12.50

No e has Purc ssary e N ce

1 Jul - 31 Jul 2018

FREE Pack of Bedding Worth £3.99

Valid Monday – Friday between 11.30am and 3.30pm only Valid in Arthurs at Coolings Garden Centre

Valid at Coolings Garden Centre, Rushmore Hill Offer valid 1 Jul - 31 Jul 2018. Only valid on presentation of your Coolings Family Card at time of redemption. One free product only per household. For full Terms & Conditions please see www.coolings.co.uk.

Offer valid 2 Jul - 31 Jul 2018. Only valid on presentation of your Coolings Family Card at time of redemption. For full Terms & Conditions please see www.coolings.co.uk.

Li St mit oc ed k

FREE

1 Jul - 31 Jul 2018

1 Jul - 31 Jul 2018 SAVE £5 on Smart ‘Home Sweet Home’ OR ‘Mad Stripes’ Washable Doormat

SAVE £15

on Starplast Large Sit On Cushion Box Valid at Coolings Garden Centre, Rushmore Hill

Valid at Coolings Garden Centre, Rushmore Hill

Offer valid 1 Jul - 31 Jul 2018. Only valid on presentation of your Coolings Family Card at time of redemption. One reduced item per household.

For full Terms & Conditions please see www.coolings.co.uk.

Normally £79.00, Now £64.00

Normally £14.99, Now £9.99

SAVE £15

SAVE £5

1 Aug – 31 Aug 2018 Buy One Get One FREE Hot Drinks, any hot drink, any size

Offer valid 1 Jul - 31 Jul 2018. Only valid on presentation of your Coolings Family Card at time of redemption. One reduced item per household.

For full Terms & Conditions please see www.coolings.co.uk.

1 Aug - 31 Aug 2018

Buy One Get One FREE

Hardy Fuchsia 1.5 litre SAVE £7.99

Valid Monday – Sunday between 9am and 11am only Valid in Arthurs at Coolings Garden Centre

Valid at Coolings Garden Centre, Rushmore Hill Offer valid 1 Aug - 31 Aug 2018. Only valid on presentation of your Coolings Family Card at time of redemption. One free product only per household. For full Terms & Conditions please see www.coolings.co.uk.

Offer valid 1 Aug - 31 Aug 2018. Only valid on presentation of your Coolings Family Card at time of redemption. For full Terms & Conditions please see www.coolings.co.uk.

SAVE £7.99

1 Aug - 31 Aug 2018

1 Aug - 31 Aug 2018

Save £1.50

10% OFF ANY

on Neudorff Sluggo Slug and Snail Killer 800g

Houseplant

Valid at Coolings Garden Centre, Rushmore Hill

Valid at Coolings Garden Centre, Rushmore Hill

Normally £6.99, Now £5.49

SAVE £1.50

Offer valid 1 Aug - 31 Aug 2018. Only valid on presentation of your Coolings Family Card at time of redemption. One reduced item per household.

For full Terms & Conditions please see www.coolings.co.uk.

Offer valid 1 Aug - 31 Aug 2018. Only valid on presentation of your Coolings Family Card at time of redemption. One reduced item per household.

For full Terms & Conditions please see www.coolings.co.uk.

10% OFF

Terms and conditions apply to all vouchers: Whilst stocks last. Only 1 voucher per transaction, only 1 voucher per household/customer. No cash alternative. Not valid with a trade card or any other offer.

Please present your Coolings Family Card at time of redemption. Coolings reserves the right to amend the offer or terms without prior notice. For full Terms & Conditions please see www.coolings.co.uk.

in store and online…

wagglespets.co.uk KNOCKHOLT Tel 01959 535808

Shapeshift Your Garden

Easy as 1,2,3!

Words by

Annika Strand berg

There are lots of different frames available for you to shape your topiary exactly how you want it, so you could grow an Elephant or even a Giraffe if it takes your fancy.

Alternatively, if you want to have a go at making your own, you can use chicken wire to shape your frame.

If you are new to topiary it might be better to start with something less complex!

Simple shapes, such as two cones by the front door, can be very effective.

With the right tools and suitable plants it’s

easy as 1,2,3...

1. Select a smallish shrub, we suggest Ligustrum (Privet), Laurel (Bay), or Buxus, Privet and Bay are faster growing but Buxus although slower growing, is traditionally used for topiary growing.

Plant your selected shrub in a pot of your choice.

2. Choose a frame in your preferred shape - we stock ball and cone frames at £19.99. A simpler, smaller pyramid shape costing £14.99. Wrap the frame around the plant, teasing out any longer shoots.

3. Start snipping when the new growth starts coming through. Any hand cutting tool will do but the job is so much easier when using the right tools, e.g. traditional sheep shears. Our choice would be Kent and Stowe Topiary Shears, Large £19.99 or small £9.99. Also comes in a mini version £7.99.

Lightweight Topiary Hedge Shears

When trimming larger topiary, it’s better to use a pair of Lightweight Topiary Hedge Shears £29.99 and do the finishing touches with a smaller pair of Perennial Hand Shears £14.99.

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Cabbage Patch Kids Growing your own vegetables is fun and rewarding.

At Coolings many of our staff have lots of first hand experience cultivating veg and are happy to offer their advice to customers. Here, two of our plant area team tell us about their favourite crops.

I have grown vegetables ever since I was a child learning from my Grandfather who was an avid traditional gardener. There is nothing better than picking food fresh from the garden!

Words by

Jon Reburn

Carrots The taste of a carrot pulled fresh from the ground cannot be matched by anything shop bought. I grow Flyaway from seed thinly sown in short rows (to avoid thinning which attracts carrot fly). Never buy carrots as young plants as transplanting them can attract the attention of carrot fly.

Pumpkins Really easy to grow but they need space, lots of water and plenty of good compost in the hole when you plant them. Fun for Halloween and delicious roasted or in soup.

Radish Mooli Gardeners never stop learning and last year I tried growing them for the first time. They make a fantastic late season crop and the delicious long white radishes are great in stir-fry or stews! Grow from seed (try Suttons Radish Mooli Seeds - ÂŁ2.49 a pack).

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Beetroot The sweet taste of homegrown beetroot is one of summer’s pleasures. Make life easy and buy as young plants - they transplant well.

As a life-long vegetarian, having a supply of fresh organic vegetables is really important to me.

What better way than to grow them myself!

Words by

Runner Beans Really worth growing as they taste so much better picked fresh. Grown up a wigwam of garden canes they could be grown in any garden. If it is hot, mist the flowers with water to help the beans to set.

Sweetcorn Homegrown sweetcorn fresh from the cob is yummy! Grow the plants in blocks not rows as pollination and thus cropping, is better.

Sam Meaton

Courgettes Tasty, easy to grow and useful in so many vegetarian recipes!

Spicy Salad Mix Salad is so easy to grow. I think the mixed leaved salad is such a good choice to grow and perfect for beginners.

If you want to show off the ‘fruits of your labour’ this summer, why not enter your prize winning homegrown delights into our Horticultural Show of Shows on Saturday 22nd September 2018.

Deadline for entries is Wednesday 19th September. For more information or details on how to enter please visit www.coolings.co.uk and download the show schedule.

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Garden Waterworks

Water features are brilliant for increasing the enjoyment of your outdoor area by adding the tranquillity and ambience of running water. As well as helping you feel cooler in the summer sun, they have the added benefit of attracting birds and all kinds of wildlife to your garden.

All our water features and accessories can be found in our Garden Accessories Shop - exit our shop onto the plant area and turn right!

Here are a few of our personal favourites: Bustling Waters (Pictured) A stunning water course and statement feature H100cm x W70cm x D200cm £999.99 Hovering Tap Trio Guaranteed to be the talking point of your garden H94cm x W42cm x D42cm £199.99 Mosaic Waterfall Contemporary design to compliment any garden H159cm x W40cm x D39cm £499.99 Playful Otters A cute design to add a bit of fun to your garden H56cm x W35cm x D29cm £149.99

We’ve got a brand new range of Kelkay Easy Fountain Water Features for this year.

They’re called Easy Fountain because they will more or less look after themselves with little maintenance required. Once filled with water they require occasional top up and minimal cleaning. It really is as easy as taking it out of the box, filling it with water and plugging it in!

Whether you’re looking for a large statement feature or a smaller unique design we’ve got something to suit all tastes and budgets. Everything you need to care for your water feature is available in store including algae stopper, cleaner spray and covers to protect them from the winter frost.

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Pondlife

If you’re feeling adventurous and want to give creating your own unique water feature a go, we’ve got a new range of pumps and lights to help you do just that!

The pumps are available in different sizes to suit the smallest to the largest of features. If you’re looking for a different kind of water feature then the appeal for a pond in the modern garden as a place to relax and unwind remains very strong. Often the space or time required to build and establish a traditional pond is not available and a more convenient solution is required.

Now anyone can fulfil their aspirations of having an attractive pond in their garden with the new Hozelock Aquarium, £249.99.

Installation is easy to complete in around 30 minutes with no digging, tools or construction expertise required.

The result is an above ground pond complete with a modern decorative finish and side viewing windows to allow you to observe your fish from a natural perspective.

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Let the

Games Begin

With the warmer weather upon us and the sun starting to shine, it’s time for the kids and adults to get out in the garden and play!

Words by

Andy Daly

Have you fond memories of playing board games with family and friends? Whether it was Saturday nights in, camping and caravanning holidays or even when there was a power cut, the board games were always brought out for a bit of family fun - even by candlelight!

To help cut down on screen time, why not have more fun together outside with family and friends with our new range of garden board games?

Fast-forward to the present day and family fun time is very different. Heaven forbid if phones or tablets aren’t charged and you can’t get on social media. Total disaster!

Five Big Games in a Set £31.99 Snakes and Ladders (90cm2), Noughts and Crosses (90cm2), Draughts, Snakes and Ladders Puzzle and Ring Quoits.

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Garden Noughts and Crosses £16.99 9 interlocking squares to form the board with foam noughts and crosses (90cm2).

Bring on the nostalgia with our traditional range of garden games.

Show the kids the fun we used to have outdoors back in the day.

Horse Shoe Pitching £9.99 Includes 6 horse shoes and 3 wooden numbered target pins.

If you’re feeling a little more energetic then we’ve got a great new range of garden sports games. Perfect for all the family.

Garden Hopscotch £15.59 10 interlocking foam board pieces with numbered inserts and 4 oversized counter pucks.

Garden Rounders Set £14.99 Includes 1 wooden bat, 1 ball, 4 stakes and comes in a handy carry bag.

Two Player Badminton Set with Net £11.99 Includes 2 metal racquets, 2 shuttlecocks and a net with steel poles.

While chef is busy cooking the burgers on the Barbeque, you can show off your skills with our classic garden games or maybe let the kids or the other half win just to be nice!

Giant Garden Four in a Row £35.99 Red frame (L: 53cm, H: 46cm) with white and black counters.

Garden Tumbling Tower £74.99 76cm high with 56 wooden bricks.

Visit our shop to see the full range of garden games available as well as children’s tools and planting kits to get the younger generation loving the garden as much as we do!

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Grow your grey matter with us in 2018/19 We are one of only four centres in Kent where you can now study for the RHS Level 2 AND Level 3 Certificates in the Principles of Horticulture and Practical Horticulture.

People of mixed abilities undertake level 2, including complete beginners, who may then go on to complete level 3.

Expand your knowledge and have fun… sign up today at www.coolings.co.uk/courses

Events to look out for this summer...

Primrose Proms Saturday 7th July We are delighted to be hosting the ‘Primrose Proms’ in our very own Arthurs garden.

We’d love you to join us for this fantastic charity event organised

by The Primrose Centre - an independent charity that provide support and therapies to Breast Cancer sufferers.

The evening is an opportunity to enjoy a two-course meal (provided

by Marks & Spencer), listen to music and enjoy the beauty of the garden, whilst at the same time raising funds for the Primrose Centre.

Tickets £35 each

To book please call Mary Spinks at the primrose centre direct, on 01689 880218.

Visit Us...

Coolings Garden Centre Rushmore Hill Knockholt Sevenoaks Kent TN14 7NN T: 01959 532269 E: rushmorehill@coolings.co.uk W: www.coolings.co.uk

Len Goodman

Comes to Coolings Thursday 6th September Tickets £29 each See page 2 for details

Celebrate the English Rose This summer, we will be getting out the bunting (literally!) to celebrate the world’s favourite flower – the quintessential English Rose.

Visit our 14,000ft² House of Homegrown Flowers!

From 8th June to 1st July Everyday 9am - 5.30pm More information on our website.

Our 2018 Summer Flower Exhibition opens Friday 29th June

Opening Times Monday - Saturday 9am - 5pm Sunday 9am - 4.30pm Extended opening until 5.30pm from 22nd March - 31st July

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Coolings Family is promoted by Coolings Nurseries Ltd. The use of all Coolings Family benefits are bound by our terms and conditions available on www.coolings.co.uk or by request.