Latest Stories

  1. What horticulturalists do in their spare time… Horticulture

    What horticulturalists do in their spare time… Horticulture

    A staff member has set about creating a new wildlife haven at one of our nurseries 50-acre sites.

    Our Newlands site is located in the heart of Yorkshire and surrounded by open landscapes, it now enjoys a new pond courtesy of our long-standing employee Darren Fawbert.

    Darren Fawbert and Office Dog Isla 

    This new feature is located close to the nursery’s on-site apiary and woodland area which is already home to an array of birds, insects, rabbits, hares, deer and many other wildlife species.

    The pond is now one of five across 200 acres of our land, these are mainly left untouched and are currently homes to ducks, geese, grey herons, frogs, a swan and plenty of fish.

    Fawberts Folly 

    Darren set about his mission just weeks ago in his spare time and has transformed the area with a pond, native tree planting, a bench, and his very own sign ‘Fawberts Folly.’

    Isla swimming in Fawberts Folly

    We are one of the few businesses that can claim to be a true net contributor to the environment as our produce is a true natural offset to climate change and the country’s commitment to Carbon Neutrality.

    Graham Richardson, Group Managing Director at Johnsons of Whixley said: “ During the current crisis the public have recognised the value of outside spaces and the natural world. In a matter of weeks, Darren has created a hugely valuable natural space, some of our staff have even taken to having their lunch in this unique oasis located on the edge of a natural escarpment offering 360 views of the Dales, North York Moors and even the iconic spire of York Minster.”

    Posted 29th May 9:30am
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  2. Transforming old council site into an award-winning mixed-use development

    Transforming old council site into an award-winning mixed-use development

    We have teamed up with four other businesses as part of a £40m transformation project where a former council depot has been converted into an award-winning mixed-use development.

    The King’s Stables Road site which is situated in a historic quarter of Edinburgh includes a seven-storey private apartment block. This mixed-use development consists of 166 premium student accommodation, private roof terraces, a four-star apart-hotel, and a series of ground-floor commercial spaces, complete with stunning private and public courtyards.

    Construction firm Bowmer & Kirkland delivered the scheme designed by award-winning architecture & landscape architects Fletcher Joseph Associates and Harrison Stevens. With P1 Contractors enlisting Johnsons to supply the plants to complete their soft landscaping elements.

    The historic location presented several challenges. An extensive archaeological survey was carried out to determine the maximum depth of excavation to avoid disturbing medieval ground contents, and to preserve the historic boundary wall. Construction work had to be phased across several months to minimise the impact on surrounding roads, businesses and residents.

    We supplied a number of tree and plant varieties to compliment P1’s landscaping works. Trees included the multi-stemmed Amelanchier ‘Robin Hill’ in substantial 100-litre pots, Platanus orientalis ‘Minaret’, Amelanchier lamarckii and Quercus palustris.

    Other plant species included shrubs, herbaceous and grass varieties such as Heuchera ‘Autumn Leaves’, Persicaria ‘Darjeeling Red’, Crocosmia ‘George Davidson’, Stipa gigantea, Cornus stolonifera ‘Flaviramea’ and Deschampsia cespitosa.

    The improved public realm allows occupants and the wider public to weave their way through reopened historic closes and well-lit courtyards.

    The student accommodation building is orientated to enjoy stunning views of the nearby castle and across the city from individual terraces or via a large private terrace on the fifth floor, which features carefully curated planting. Other shared facilities include an integrated cinema, laundry, social lounge with a co-work area, gym and seminar room adding to the value of this accommodation.

    Portions of the scheme have already scooped several awards, including Private Halls of Residence of the Year at the recent Student Accommodation of the Year ceremony.

    Richard McMonagle, Director of p1 Contractors Ltd, said: “We are delighted to have teamed up with Johnsons of Whixley again on this project. Although not the largest project we have worked together on, the demand here was for quality given the nature and location of the project, knowing we would get this from Johnsons made it an easy choice. As always, Johnsons made life easy for us accommodating last-minute changes and deliveries into a tight city-centre location.”

    Posted 19th May 1:31pm
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  3. Helping to rejuvenate local playing fields and Caravan site

    Helping to rejuvenate local playing fields and Caravan site

    We have donated a number of trees and hedging plants to help rejuvenate and enhance the local playing fields and caravan site at a local village, Rufforth.

    Redevelopment of Rufforth cricket pavilion, changing rooms, bar and caravan park are all part of planned works by the Rufforth Playing Fields Association.

    Over the winter months, members have been busy litter picking and planting spring bulbs, along with 250 cell grown trees and shrubs donated by the Forestry Commission.

    We donated 300 Crataegus Monogyna (hawthorn), nine fruit trees including Malus Domestica and Prunus dom ‘Victoria’ and associated rabbit protection, tree ties and stakes.

    The forestry commission trees have been used to create a woodland walkway for dog walkers while our donation has been used to create a community orchard and segregation hedge around the campsite area.

    Andrew Barker, who works in the sales department at Johnsons and lives in Rufforth village, said: “This has been a fabulous project that has brought together the community and various stakeholders of the playing fields. All would not have been possible without these kind donations.

    “One of the great aspects of working for a company like Johnsons is their view on corporate social responsibility and the way they use their capabilities by providing local charitable projects such as this with plant material.”

    Posted 14th May 10:46am
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  4. Our monthly favourites - May 2020

    Our monthly favourites - May 2020

    Want to add colour to your ‘May’ gardening projects? here’s a few of our favourite May flowering shrubs and perennials.

    1. Geranium ‘Johnson’s Blue’

    A vigorous, clump-forming perennial, with deep lavender – blue flowers,prefers a sunny location,and well drained soil.

    ???? Flowers: May – August

    ???? Position: Full sun or partial shade

    2.Ajuga ‘Burgundy Glow’

    A great multi-coloured ground cover perennial with dense upright deep blue flowers and evergreen foliage with splashes of red and cream.

    ???? Flowers: April – May

    ???? Position: Full sun – partial shade

    3. Aquilegia ‘Cameo Mixed’

    Compact silver grey foliage covered in pink, blue and white flowers from early May. A great addition to a rockery, border, or container pot.

    ???? Flowers: May – June

    ???? Position: Full sun or partial shade

    4. Acer ‘Garnet’

    A small tree with garnet-coloured foliage that turn to scarlet red during autumn. A great focal point for a small garden, in a container pot on the edge of a patio.

    ???? Position: Partial shade – full sun ( in a sheltered spot)

    5. Euphorbia amygd. ‘Robbiae’

    Lime-green flowers above glossy green foliage, happiest in partial shade this plant makes a great addition to a woodland garden or partial shaded border.

    ???? Flowers: April – June

    ☀️ Position: Partial shade

    6. Ceanothus repens

    A low-growing evergreen shrub that is smothered in masses of pale blue flowers come late April. Perfect for the front of a sunny border or trained against a wall.

    ???? Flowers:  April – June

    ☀️ Position: Sun

    7. Azalea ‘Golden Eagle’

    Trumpet shaped, large orange-yellow flowers appear between May and June against pale, lime-green foliage which take on brilliant shades of bronze and purple during autumn.

    ???? Flowers: May – June

    ☀️ Position:  Full sun – Partial shade

    8. Tiarella ‘Spring Symphony’

    A perfect addition to a shaded border in your garden known for their fantastic dark green foliage with central dark blotches and tiny delicate star-shaped white flowers come May time.

    ???? Flowers: May – July

    ☀️ Position:  Partial – deep shade

    Posted 11th May 2:35pm
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  5. May 2020 Gardening Reminders

    May 2020 Gardening Reminders

    Gardening reminders for May 2020

    Check out our latest gardening reminders for May 2020 put together by chairman and horticulturist John Richardson.

    1. Make sowing of hardy and half-hardy annuals and plant out when the risk of frost has passed.
    2. Mulch shrubs and fruit bushes when weather begins to warm up, but not deeply into the centre of the shrub, when growing from a stool.
    3. Plant evergreen shrubs, water before and after planting.
    4. Now is a good time to think about building that raised rockery bed you have contemplated for years. Choose a location not under trees and lay a foundation of broken stones for good drainage. For the walls, use stone, sleepers, stout branches,
      bricks or similar, leaving spaces in the walls for plants to grow from, subject to the type of plants you wish to grow. the soil should be acid for rhododendron types and neutral for most other plants. A few large rocks on the surface will add character,
      together with upright plants and conifers as well as ground cover.
    5. Apply a high Nitrogen lawn fertilizer, and water-in if conditions are dry, in order to prevent scorch to the grass.

    6. In mild weather slugs and snails may well begin to eat the shoots of newly growing perennials. Use environmentally approved slug pellets as a control.

    7.  Dahlias may begin to sprout in mild conditions under glass, but don’t plant out until frost is past. Consider taking cutting of the first shoots.

    8. Towards the end of the month collect woody twigs to use as supports for perennials before they get too long and straggly.

    9. Apply residual weedkillers to gravelled driveways and footpaths. Be careful to ensure that the application is confined to the treated area and not surroundings. Significant drift can occur when using a pressurised sprayer.

    10. Begin mowing the lawn weekly, but with the blades set quite high until the rate of growth increases. Dig out those perennial weeds that suddenly appear.

    11. Check stakes and ties of trees planted in the last 2 years, stakes should still be sound and the tree ties not strangling the tree.

    12. As the danger of night frost diminishes apply mulches to the soil to help conserve moisture.

    View our full list of gardening reminders for the year, here 

     

    Posted 5th May 2:26pm
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