Life In The Garden Ltd.

04/09/2026

Another project underway in Stapleford Abbotts. 🌿

We’re currently transforming the rear garden of this property on a new-build development, extending the existing patio to create a much larger and more practical outdoor living space.

The preparation is now well underway, including the new retaining brickwork, levels, reinforced base and groundwork ready for the finished surface.

New-build gardens often come with fairly basic landscaping, but with the right groundwork and design they can be turned into much more usable and attractive spaces.
More progress photos to follow as this one takes shape.

Life In The Garden Ltd

Landscaping • Patios • Brickwork • Groundwork • Garden Design

📍 Stapleford Abbotts, Essex

14/08/2026

Garden Wildlife – Humming-bird Hawk-moth

More and more photographs and videos of the remarkable Humming-bird Hawk-moth (Macroglossum stellatarum) are appearing this summer.

This spectacular day-flying moth is a regular migrant to the UK from the Mediterranean and North Africa. Hovering in front of flowers and feeding through its long proboscis, it is easily mistaken at first glance for a tiny hummingbird.

Gardens can help. Nectar-rich flowers provide valuable feeding opportunities, while bedstraws (Galium) are important food plants for the caterpillars. Avoiding unnecessary pesticide use also helps create a healthier environment for moths and other pollinators.

If you are lucky enough to see one in your garden, take a moment to enjoy it — it is one of the most extraordinary insects to visit our gardens.

Photo: Vajk László / https://www.izeltlabuak.hu/talalat/238823
licence: CC BY 4.0

14/08/2026

𝗚𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲 - 𝗢𝘄𝗹𝘀

𝗦𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀. 𝗥𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗿𝘀. 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝘆 𝗿𝗮𝘁 𝗽𝗼𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗺𝘆.

An owl hunting in your garden at dusk is the sound of a healthy ecosystem working. Rodents are a key food source for many birds of prey. A single owl can control a rodent population that would otherwise devastate your vegetable garden, your stored goods, your peace of mind.

But there is a problem. When pests such as rodents consume poisoned bait, they often do not die immediately. During this vulnerable period, they become easy prey for predators like owls. Because birds of prey regularly eat multiple rodents, the toxin builds up in their bodies over time.

This is called secondary poisoning. The owl eats the poisoned rat. The owl becomes toxic. The owl dies slowly, bleeding internally.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲: 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗽 𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗮𝘁 𝗽𝗼𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗻.

Removing food and shelter can often solve a rodent problem before traps or poison are needed. Remove fallen leaves and garden debris. Trim dense vegetation. Seal gaps in sheds and storage. Use trapping instead of baiting. These changes protect owls and the other predators that keep your garden in balance.

If you must control rodents, use mechanical traps. Do not use poison. Your garden’s owls - and their gift of pest control - depend on it.

𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, contact Stacey Leigh Shaw on 083 874 7816 or [email protected].

Visit www.bedford.co.za.

Social Media Sponsored by ISUZU South Africa

04/08/2026

From summer meadow to winter feed 🌾🦌

We are currently cutting this meadow after allowing the grass to grow through the spring and summer. The cut grass will be dried naturally, turned into hay and collected rather than left to decompose on the ground.

Removing the hay helps prevent the soil from becoming too fertile, giving finer grasses and wildflowers a better chance to develop next year.
We also plan to build roofed winter feeders and use some of the harvested hay as supplementary food for the deer during the hardest part of winter.

It is a simple, traditional cycle: the meadow provides habitat throughout summer, and its harvest continues supporting wildlife during winter.

26/07/2026

This is a Painted Lady (Painted Lady).

It can be identified by the combination of:
🟧 Bright orange wings with black patches.
⚪ Distinct white spots near the tips of the forewings.
⚫ Small black spots on the orange hindwings.
The overall shape and pattern match this species very well.

This is one of the world's most widespread butterflies and is a migratory species. Every year, many Painted Ladies arrive in the UK from southern Europe and North Africa, where they breed through the summer before later generations move south again.

26/07/2026

🌿 Every thriving garden is built on habitats, not just plants.
A wildlife-friendly garden is much more than a collection of flowers. Every feature provides a different purpose, creating a network of habitats that supports birds, mammals, insects, amphibians and countless other species.
🪻 Flower-rich borders provide nectar and pollen for pollinators.
💧 Ponds become home to frogs, newts, dragonflies and provide drinking water for birds and mammals.
🌳 Native hedges and shrubs offer food, shelter and safe nesting sites throughout the year.
🌾 Long grass and wildflower meadows are essential for butterflies, bees, grasshoppers and many ground-dwelling creatures.
🪵 Log piles and dead wood create miniature ecosystems where fungi, beetles and hedgehogs can thrive.
🪨 Stone walls and rock piles provide warm basking spots and hiding places for insects, reptiles and small mammals.
♻️ Compost heaps are alive with worms, beetles, fungi and microorganisms that recycle nutrients back into the soil.
🐦 Bird boxes, bug hotels and small areas of bare ground offer nesting opportunities for species that increasingly struggle to find suitable habitats in modern gardens.
The secret isn't creating one perfect feature—it's creating many different habitats that work together.
Nature is incredibly resilient. Give wildlife food, water, shelter and space, and it will often find its way back.
At Life In The Garden, we believe that every garden—large or small—has the potential to become a thriving ecosystem.
More habitats. More wildlife. More life. 🌱🦋🐦🐝🦔

22/07/2026

15/07/2026

🐦 The swallows are still with us… but for how long?

As I write this, I can hear swifts screaming above North Weald.

Every summer they return after an incredible journey from Africa, filling our skies with life and reminding us that nature is still here.

Growing up in southern Hungary, swallows were simply part of summer. Barn Swallows nested inside the stables, House Martins built mud nests beneath the roof, and watching them chase away cats that ventured too close to their nests is one of my strongest childhood memories.

Today, many people say they don't see as many swallows as they used to.

They're right.

But the story isn't simply about birds.

It's about insects.

It's about old barns disappearing.

It's about modern landscapes becoming less hospitable to wildlife.

And perhaps most importantly...

It's about the choices we make in our own gardens.

A wildlife-friendly garden won't save Britain's swallows on its own.

But every flowering hedge, every pond, every native tree and every patch of wildflowers helps rebuild the food web these remarkable birds depend on.

Nature doesn't usually recover through one big action.

It recovers through thousands of small ones.

❤️ I've written a new article exploring the fascinating lives of Barn Swallows, House Martins, Sand Martins and Swifts, why they're declining, and what we can all do to help.

🔗 Read the full article here:
https://landscaping-uk.com/2026/07/15/the-swallows-are-still-with-us/

I'd love to hear your memories too.

Do you remember swallows nesting where you grew up?

The swallows are still with us Life in the Garden4 views Why the Sound of Summer Matters More Than Ever “As I write this article, I can hear swifts screaming above my house in North Weald. Every summer they return, filling the evening sky with their unmistakable calls. It reminds me of my childhoo...

16/06/2026

Another project completed.

53m² of Mint Indian Sandstone laid at a property that is over 250 years old.

While porcelain paving is becoming increasingly popular, some gardens call for a more traditional approach. The natural colours, variation and character of Indian sandstone complement older properties in a way that modern materials often cannot.

Finished with a gravel border to soften the edges and create a clean, timeless appearance.

A garden should feel like it belongs to the house it surrounds.

Life In The Garden Ltd
📞 07714090341
🌿 Landscaping & Garden Maintenance throughout Epping, Thornwood, North Weald, Ongar and surrounding areas.

12/06/2026

Another Indian sandstone patio taking shape in Thornwood.

This garden belongs to a row of cottages dating back around 250 years. While porcelain paving is becoming increasingly popular, it doesn't always suit the character of an older property.

For this project, we chose traditional riven Indian sandstone because it complements the age and style of the house and sits naturally within the garden.

Good landscaping isn't just about installing the latest materials – it's about choosing materials that belong in their surroundings.

Looking forward to sharing the finished result.