As Christmas approaches, we at The Barn would like to take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude for your continued support throughout the year. As a family-run business, we understand the importance of spending quality time with loved ones during this special time of year. Therefore, we would like to inform you about our Christmas Opening Hours, as we will be taking some well-deserved time off to celebrate with our families.
At The Barn, we believe that the festive season is a time for relaxation, reflection and rejuvenation. We want to ensure that our dedicated staff members have the opportunity to enjoy the festive period wit their loved ones. Therefore we have made some adjustments to our opening hours during the Christmas period. Please note, The Boxwood Café will be closed between Christmas and New Year, but the Garden Centre will be open some days. See below for full details.
Christmas Eve 09:00 – 15:00
Christmas Day CLOSED
Boxing Day CLOSED
Wednesday 27th December – CLOSED
Thursday 28th December – CLOSED
Friday 29th December – CLOSED
Saturday 30th December 09:00 – 15:00
Sunday 31st December/ New Year’s Eve 10:00 – 15:00
Monday 1st January/ New Year’s Day CLOSED
Tuesday 2nd January 09:00 – 17:00 (usual opening)
Christmas Eve 09:00 – 14:00
Christmas Day CLOSED
Boxing Day CLOSED
Wednesday 27th December CLOSED
Thursday 28th December CLOSED
Friday 29th December CLOSED
Saturday 30th December CLOSED
Sunday 31st December/ New Year’s Eve CLOSED
Monday 1st January/ New Year’s Day CLOSED
Tuesday 2nd January 09:00 – 16:30 (usual opening)
We appreciate your understanding and continued support throughout the year. From our family to yours, we wish you a joyful and peaceful Christmas filled with love, laughter and wonderful memories. Warmest wishes, The Barn and Boxwood Teams.
The Humble Christmas Tree
Foremost in our Christmas celebrations will be the humble Christmas Tree. Standing proud in our homes, the twinkling lights and decorations evoking a sense of wonder and magic. Crowned with a star or angel and protecting the bounty of presents amassing at its foot. How did this beloved tradition become so intertwined and ever present with our festive celebrations?
The origins of bringing evergreens into the home can be traced back to ancient times. The Winter Solstice was celebrated by bringing boughs of holly or mistletoe inside signifying the victory of life and light over death and darkness. As Christianity spread, these ancient traditions interwove into the Christian holiday of Christmas. The modern tradition of cutting an evergreen tree and bringing it inside the home to adorn with candles and decorations comes to us from Germany. It was Queen Victoria who made this German tradition fashionable across Britain. Although familiar to her growing up with German relatives, it became the very fashionable thing to do in 1848. The Illustrated London News published a picture of Victoria alongside husband Prince Albert with their children surrounding a giant fur tree adorned with candles and decorations with presents placed underneath. This is how the tradition as we know it began.
Christmas Tree Facts:
The Christmas Tree in Trafalgar Square London is a gift from the city of Oslo, Norway to the people of London. It was first given in 1947 as a token of gratitude and allyship following the Second World War and has been given every year since. At around 21 metres/ 69 feet tall each year, the Norwegian Spruce is carefully selected by foresters and carefully transported to the UK.
The Christmas Tree in Covent Garden, London is slightly smaller in height, but decorated with some 30,000 lights.
Talking of lights, the tree at The Rockefeller Center in New York stands a similar height to Trafalgar Squares’ but boasts an incredible 50,000 lights!
Be it real cut trees or Christmas Lights, The Barn is your one stop Christmas shop (although our sets of lights do not come in tens of thousands and we sadly do not sell 20 metre tall trees!) We offer the traditional Norway Spruce or the needle retaining Nordmann Furs. We also have a smaller pot grown trees. Our trees are sustainably grown in UK and we only sell premium grade trees meaning you get only the very best shaped trees. Our cut trees usually arrive towards the end of November or the beginning of December. Our staff will happily cut the end of the trunk off to encourage your tree to draw water up. Do remember to water your tree! Be sure to buy a stand that holds water in the bottom. No Christmas tree would be complete without its decorations and ornaments. We have a beautiful display of decorations this year to inspire you centred around old ‘Fred’s Shed’. We can also help with the gifts under the tree and wrapping paper and ribbon to wrap them.
The Boxwood Café will be open for coffee and cakes only over the upcoming weekend, Saturday 16th an Sunday 17th September 2023.
The kitchen will not be open over the weekend, so no breakfast or lunch menus will be available.
Our normal full menus will be available again on Monday 18th September.
Please accept our apologies for the closure. As we try to recruit a further experienced chef to join our team, we simply cannot always open 7 days a week whilst staff take their annual leave.
Thanks again for your continued loyal support and understanding.
Autumn is nature’s own planting time. Branches and hedgerows weighed down with seeds, fruits and berries are synonymous with the change of season as days shorten and temperatures begin to cool. Even though it feels like we have been in autumn for a few weeks already thanks to the cold and wet summer this year, our gardens and nature around us will still start their annual slow down. The seeds, berries and fruits will swell and set. The leaves will begin to change colour before falling to the ground leaving their trees bare over winter.
Following natures lead, autumn is the perfect time to plant new trees and shrubs. The soil is soft and damp enough for roots to begin to establish before the cold arrives. When you think of autumn trees and shrubs, you might think of Pyracantha, Cotoneaster and Rowan for their colourful berries or Crab Apple for their fruit. Berberis and Cotinus Coggygria for colourful interesting foliage. Autumn however is the perfect time to plant any tree or shrub, not just the ones looking their best right now.
Now is the time to buy and plant your spring flowering bulbs. Think daffodils, narcissus, crocus, hyacinths, tulips, snowdrops, fritillaries. Plant them straight in the ground or in pots for a fantastic display to grow and bloom next spring. If you are a little less patient and cannot wait until spring for some colour, hardier autumn plants such as asters, violas, cyclamen and chrysanthemums can replace tired summer bedding plants in hanging baskets or containers for instant colour that will last through until spring.
Your houseplants inside need slightly different care at this time of year too. Despite most of them originating from much warmer climates than our own, as the hours of light and temperature decreases even inside our homes, houseplants have a dormant period too. They will not need watering as frequently. Moving them nearer to a window means they can make the most of the available sunlight. Make sure they are not in a draught or too close to a heat source such as a radiator. Stop feeding them over this dormant period and remember to keep their leaves dust free.
Jobs that can be done in the garden before winter whilst the weather is still warm enough include removing drying leaves or collapsed stems from herbaceous perennials, either by gently pulling them out or cutting them at the base with secateurs. Give your lawn a little TLC. Autumn lawn care includes scarifying it with a spring tine rake to remove thatch and moss. Trust the process. It can look terrible at first, but removing this helps water and nutrients to reach the roots. Aerate your lawn using a garden fork to reduce compaction of the soil and again to help the roots. Finally, apply an autumn lawn feed.
June heralds the start of our glorious summer months. The days are at their longest, the light at its brightest and gardens at their fullest. One plant at it’s very best this month is the rose.
Roses can seem bewildering. There are around 30,000 different varieties of rose around the world. Then there are the different types of rose, Hybrid Teas, Floribundas, Patio Roses, Ramblers and Climbers to name a few. Some have that unmistakeable perfume while others have no scent at all. Flowers can be beautifully simple or extravagantly bursting with multiple layers of petals. Some offer a single bloom on each stem, ideal for cut flowers whilst others have clusters of flowers smothering the plant. There really is a rose for every garden.
Rose care can conjure an image of old-fashioned gardeners from years gone by, carefully tending to every whim of their delicate prized blooms. Whilst it is true roses do need some care, some needing more care and attention than others. Here are some rose basics:
They flower in summer and some repeat flowering varieties can carry on flowering until the autumn. Deadheading roses after their flowers have faded will encourage more blooms, although climbing and rambling roses need treating a little differently. Using secateurs, snip off faded flowers. If left, a seed pod or hip will form and the plant will put all its energy into growing the seed. Stop these from growing and the plant will put its energy into new flowers.
They love sun. Plant roses in full sun. There are some varieties that will tolerate light shade, but roses are not for dark spaces. Once established, roses are deep rotted and should only need watering in very hot weather. However, water new roses regularly for the first few years until they become established. Water the soil around the base of the plant rather than the leaves and flowers. This will help deter fungal infection.
Plant them in rich, moist, well-drained soil. Roses are hungry plants. To encourage strong growth, feed twice a year. First around March/ April before flowering begins and again mid-summer after the first flush of flowers. Sprinkle a general-purpose fertiliser or specific rose fertiliser on the soil around the base of the plant. Roses in containers will need feeding more frequently.
Ideally prune them annually after they have flowered. Traditionally, this was done in late winter around February/ March, but there is a consensus this can now be done in the autumn. Don’t be afraid to prune them hard. Pruning has two aims. It removes dead, diseased or damaged shoots and it opens up the centre of the plant to improve air circulation again trying to deter fungal infection. The only exception is rambling roses as they flower on the previous year’s growth.
Potted roses sold in the Garden Centre can be planted year-round, but avoid frozen or waterlogged soil or during drought type conditions. Hopefully you too will find a favourite rose that you can enjoy for years to come in your garden.
The Coronation of King Charles III will take place on Saturday 6th May 2023. In celebration of the day, Buckingham Palace announced Monday 8th May would be a Bank Holiday making this Coronation Weekend is another long three day weekend!
We have hung the red, white and blue bunting and flying the union flags in celebrate this historic day. We will be open as usual across the weekend:
Garden Centre:
Saturday 6th May 9-5
Sunday 7th May 10-4
Monday 8th May 9-5
The Boxwood Café
Saturday 6th May 9-4:30
Sunday 7th May 10-3:30
Monday 8th May 9-4:30
Last food orders from kitchen 30 minutes before closing.
The Coronation Ceremony will take place at Westminster Abbey conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury. The ceremony will see His Majesty King III crowed along side the Queen Consort. The Coronation will reflect the monarch’s role today and look towards the future, while being rooted in long standing traditions and pageantry.
We are looking for an additional Chef to join our hardworking team in The Boxwood Café (April 2023)
Working alongside our Head Chef, your role will include:
Whilst experience is desirable, a passion for food is essential.
We are open at the same time as the Garden Centre, so evenings will be your own! (No split shifts!)
This is a Full Time role and will include working every other weekend and Bank Holidays. Over a two week period, you will work 10 days.
Benefits include:
If you think this role might be for you, please E-mail a copy of your CV along with a covering letter to Paul Wilson contact@thebarngardencentre.co.uk or call the Garden Centre on 01832 273310 to discuss any details further.
The long Easter Weekend is usually the start of brand new season in the Garden Centre.
The longer, lighter evenings and hopefully some warmer weather kickstarts nature into waking up after the cold dark months of winter. Whether you are an expert gardener or a novice new to all things green fingered, the sunshine suddenly calls us to venture out into our gardens ofter neglected over the colder winter.
This time of year sees lots of new plant deliveries, with new stock arriving almost daily. Arriving in time for the Easter Weekend are the first of our basket plants. Petunias, lobelia, geraniums, verbena to name a few that can be planted into hanging baskets, window boxes or containers of any sort. We have a wonderful choice in stock already, but these tender young plants will need to be protected from frost that can still strike at this time of year.
In the edible garden, we have the whole alphabet of baby vegetable plants too right through from Beetroot to Turnips. Easter is also traditionally the perfect time to plant seed potatoes. We also have a huge choice of seeds that can started on a windowsill at home or in a plastic mini greenhouse if you do not have a greenhouse of your own at home.
Spring flowering bulbs are blooming everywhere at the moment! These bulbs are planted in autumn ready to bloom the following spring, but do not worry if you forgot. We have daffodils, tulips, grape hyacinth and hyacinths to name a few growing already ‘in the green’ that you can plant straight out! The bonus is, once they die back, they will grow again year after year going forwards.
We have some great things to help entertain the children these Easter Holidays. Planting and growing seeds always fascinates children and also helps them to understand where their food comes from. A quick germinating and growing seed is the classic cress. Our own children have grown their own pizzas before! Well toppings and herbs to go on a pizza. Tumbling tomatoes are very easy to grow and care. We loved watching the grow and ripen before picking them ready to eat. Oregano and basil are perfect herbs to grow to add to your pizza. We have a range of smaller sized gardening tools and equipment too to help our smallest of gardeners.
Aside from gardening activities, we have sets of eggs with paints included ready to decorate and plain Easter Bonnets to let your creativeness loose on. We have a great choice of hardback Easter story books too to ready with younger children or to give as a little present.
We have some wonderful sweet Easter Treats to tempt you this season. From stunning boxes of chocolates, to ornately iced biscuits to carrots shaped boxes stuffed with goodies! Flicking through the pages of interior magazines, more and more people are marking the start of the new season by adding spring or Easter decorations to their home. We have some beautiful hanging decorations and some spring coloured items such as cushions, candlestick holders, mugs and vases to welcome in the sunshine.
Our Garden Furniture has arrived too. It is here in stock, so no waiting weeks for delivery or for items to come back into stock. See what you like in store and we can arrange free local delivery to Oundle or one of it’s surrounding villages.
Due to our size, trading laws mean that we have to close on Easter Sunday, along with lots of other shops across the country. As a family owned and run business, this not only gives us a precious day off with our family, but also our hard working staff too. We are open as usual across the rest of long Easter Weekend.
(Kitchen closes 30 minutes earlier for food orders)
We would like to wish all our customers a wonderful Easter. Here’s hoping for for beautiful weather. We hope to see you over the weekend, but remember we will be closed on Easter Sunday!
Paul and Steph Wilson and everyone the The Barn and Boxwood.
Mother’s Day falls on Sunday 19th March 2023 here in the UK. A date to add to your diary!
Here at The Barn Garden Centre Oundle and The Boxwood Café have a few ideas to help you say ‘Thank you’ to the Mums in your life including cards, keyring and candles!
As you would expect, we have lots of gifts ideals for your gardening mum. From pretty gardening gloves to outdoor plants, including this rose ‘Mum in a Million’ with its pink fragrant blooms flowering from summer through to autumn or these stunning Camelias that are full of buds almost ready to burst into bloom.
Inside the Garden Centre, we have a selection of orchids and other indoor plants to present to Mum. If gardening isn’t your Mum’s thing – don’t worry! We have a lovely selection of faux flowers. Arrange them in a vase from our homeward department and you have a present that lasts long after Mother’s Day.
Talking of our homeware department, here is a treasure trove of gift ideas! We have some stunning cushions in stock at the moment. These soaps and matching candles from Raine & Humble have the most beautiful scents including Lemon Myrtle, Sea Salt & Sage and Cotton House, which I have to say is one of the best cotton fragranced candles I have ever smelt. Here I’ve teamed the Raine & Humble French Pear Soap with one of our pear motif cushions.
Does Mum long to make the most of her garden as spring and summer approaches. For a larger gift to her, our outdoor furniture has been put out this week, and there are some stunning sets to choose from.
Why not treat Mum to breakfast or lunch in The Boxwood Café on Mother’s Day? Or make the day extra special with our pre-booked Afternoon Tea. We always offer a limited number of tables to be booked throughout the day so we can leave some tables available for walk-ins. Have other plans on the day itself? Why not buy a Gift Voucher for The Boxwood Café. Available in person from the Café, you can treat Mum another day.
To check availability or to book a table in The Boxwood Café, call us on 01832 270200 during our opening hours or pop in and see us in person.
Wishing you all a wonderful Mother’s Day.
Early Spring in the Garden
Spring arrives with an unapologetic splash of daring colour. The brilliant yellows of daffodils, forsythia, aconites and native primroses never fail to make me smile. Tucked up all winter, waiting patiently for the temperatures to rise so they can wake up with a shout that winter is over.
Another spring show stopper is the magnificent Magnolia. With their tulip-like or star-like shaped flowers, colours range from pure white through to pink and deep magenta. Some such as Magnolia x brooklynensis ‘Yellow Bird’ have yellow flowers. Slow growing, they can take 10-20 years to reach their ultimate size. They need acidic to neutral soil and a sheltered spot away from strong winds but where it gets plenty of sun to ensure a good display of flowers. If you do not have the correct type of soil for a magnolia or do not have the room, smaller varieties such as Magnolia stellata ‘Centennial’ grow well in large pots or containers.
Shrubs with decorative bark such as cornus or salix can now be cut back hard. The new growth will be even more vibrant next winter. Hydrangea can be cut back too. Cut back to a healthy bud to encourage new growth. Buddleja davidii can also be pruned back hard. It grows vigorously, so don’t worry about being too brutal as it will very quickly regrow and provide lots of flowers for visiting butterflies later in the year.
The weeds in our gardens will also respond to the rising temperatures. Start weeding now. Hoeing will kill most seedlings or you can dig over the ground with a fork to loosen the soil and then remove the weeds by hand. Afterwards, add a 10-15cm layer of mulch. Compost, bark or well-rotted farm manure all work well. Not only will it help keep the weeds away, but also add nutrients to your soil, help retain moisture and can make your beds look neater.
It might just be too early still to give your lawn its first mow of the year. If it is already growing and the lawn is dry enough, you can give it a cut, but remember to raise the blades on your lawnmower as high as they will go. In the meantime, you can edge your lawn to make it look smarter. Use a half-moon edging iron or flat-bladed spade. Any overhanging grass that regrows can be trimmed with long-handled edging shears through the rest of spring and summer. A spring/ summer lawn feed high in nitrogen can be applied to your lawn later in the month. This will encourage strong green growth. Apply on a cool day when rain is expected.
As we welcome British Summer Time at the end of the month, here’s to longer days out in our gardens. Hopefully, our British weather gets the memo about spring arriving too.