Spring is definitely sprung!! Its great to see the gardens and countryside coming to life and its clearly time for the garden centre trip and the potting and planting to begin!! Our garden page this months looks at the 2025 trends for gardens, large or small, village or urban so you can choose to be bang on trend with your plans this year! Dont forget to check the council page for tips on green recycling too.
Easter is also just around the corner, and what do we all think of? Chocolate of course!! Food and drink this month features what to do with all the lovely chocolate you have left over (as if!!)
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Leftover Chocolate?
Is
there such a thing? Not in our house. However, if you DO have some, or want to make some fun chocolate treats with the kids this Easter we have some ideas!!
Easter Chocolate Bark
3 x 200g bars milk chocolate
2 x 90g packs mini chocolate eggs
1 heaped tsp freeze-dried raspberrypieces
Break the chocolate into a large heatproof bowl. Bring a pan of water to a simmer, then sit the bowl on top. The water must not touch the bottom of the bowl. Let the chocolate slowly melt, stirring now and again with a spatula. For best results, temper your chocolate (see tip) Meanwhile, lightly grease then line a 23 x 33cm roasting tin or baking tray with parchment. Put three-quarters of the mini eggs into a food bag and bash them with a rolling pin until broken up a little.When the chocolate is smooth, pour it into the tin. Tip the tin from side to side to let the chocolate find the corners and level out. Scatter with the smashed and whole mini eggs, followed by the freeze-dried raspberry pieces. Leave to set, then remove from the parchment and snap into shards, ready to pack in boxes or bags.
Creme Egg ‘Scotch Eggs’
8 Cadbury Creme Eggs®
150g digestive biscuits
250g vanilla sponge (homemade or shop-bought)
1 tbsp honey
60g smooth, unprocessed
almond butter
200g white chocolate roughly chopped
Line a baking tray with baking parchment. Unwrap the Creme Eggs®, arrange on the tray and put in the fridge to chill.Meanwhile, blitz the biscuits in a food processor until they resemble sand. Tip into a shallow bowl and set aside. Crumble the sponge into the food processor and pulse for 30 seconds to rough crumbs. Add the honey, almond butter and ½ tsp fine salt, and blitz again until the mixture is combined and slightly sticky. Roll the sponge mixture into eight equal balls. To assemble the scotch eggs, flatten one sponge ball into a roughly 8-10cm circle. Put one chilled Creme Egg® in the centre, and form sponge mixture around it to enclose the egg. Repeat with the rest, then return to the tray and chill for 10 mins. Melt the white chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water, ensuring the bowl doesn't touch the water, or in the microwave in short bursts. Remove the eggs from the fridge and, using two forks, carefully dip each egg in the melted chocolate, turning to coat. Lift out of the chocolate and allow the excess to drip off, then roll in the biscuit crumbs to coat. Put the eggs
Easter Rocky Road
225g dark chocolate broken into pieces
100g unsalted buttercubed
2 tbsp cocoa powder
2 tbsp golden syrup
100g rich tea biscuits
50g mini marshmallows
50g dried cranberries
200g chocolate mini eggs
Line a 20 x 30cm traybake tin with 2 sheets of cling film (in a criss-cross pattern). Put the chocolate and butter in a large bowl set over a saucepan of gently simmering water, and melt until smooth and glossy.Remove from the heat and add the cocoa powder and golden syrup. Mix together until fully combined and leave to cool at room temperature for about 15 mins.Put the biscuits in a freezer bag and use a rolling pin to bash them, leaving some pieces chunkier than others. Stir into the cooled chocolate with the marshmallows, cranberries and 150g of the mini chocolate eggs. Pour the mix into the tin and press down with the back of a spoon until even. Scatter over the remaining mini chocolate eggs, pressing them in a little, and leave to set in the fridge for 1 hr.
In 2025, UK gardens are embracing sustainability, functionality, and a closer connection to nature. These trends reflect a collective move towards more sustainable, resilient, and multifunctional outdoor spaces that cater to both environmental concerns and personal well-being.
Sustainable Practices
There's a growing emphasis on eco-friendly gardening, with gardeners opting for peat-free composts, recycled materials, and sustainable plant choices.
Technological Integration
Wildlife Friendly Spaces
Creating habitats for local wildlife is a priority. Incorporating features like bird feeders, insect hotels, and ponds supports biodiversity and enhances garden ecosystems.
Multifunctional Outdoor Areas
Gardens are becoming extensions of living spaces, serving multiple purposes such as relaxation, dining, and social gatherings. This trend leads to the design of versatile and adaptable outdoor environments.
Climate Resilient Planting
Smart technology is making its way into gardens, with features like automated irrigation systems, garden lighting, and integrated solar panels enhancing convenience and sustainability.
Focus on Wellness
With changing climate conditions, there's a focus on drought-tolerant & low-maintenance plants. Mediterranean-style gardens with gravel & hardy plants are gaining popularity for their resilience and minimal water requirements.
Gardens are being designed as sanctuaries for mental and physical well-being, incorporating elements like sensory plants, meditation spaces, and areas dedicated to yoga or exercise.
Bold Colour Palettes
Vibrant colors are making a statement in garden designs, with bold plant choices and colorful accessories adding personality and energy to outdoor space.
Vertical Gardening
In urban settings with limited space, vertical gardening is gaining traction. Utilizing walls and fences for planting maximizes space and adds a lush, green element to smaller gardens.
Garden waste COLLECTION SERVICE
You can now subscribe or renew for garden waste collections from April 2025 until March 2026.
Subscribers to the service pay a one-off charge of £55 to receive fortnightly collections of garden waste for the whole year, with a break of one collection over Christmas.
After you subscribe, we will supply you with a garden bin permit sticker, which will indicate to our crews that the bin must be emptied. They can also check your subscription details on their in-cab devices.
If you are not on a wheeled bin collection route
You can purchase biodegradable garden waste sacks from the council. No other type of sack can be accepted.
