A green airport garden

WITH rapid development, Shuangliu International Airport ranks in the world's leading airports. Since its first international air route in 1987, Shuangliu International Airport has opened 109 routes, connecting five continents.

While promoting the airport economy, Shuangliu is actively building a beautiful airport and improving the level of green resources. Up to now, the green area in Shuangliu District has reached 4030.06 hectares, of which parks cover 557.47 hectares.

In the future, Shuangliu will build "Airport Flower Field Park" at Muma Mountain, it will also speed up the construction of airport greenway, carefully lay out various urban parks, green landscape and rural pastoral landscape, and form the regional ecological pattern, in a bid to ensure that the per capita park green land area will reach 16m2 by 2020.

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Green is the colour of Berlin

BERLIN is a green experience beyond the city limits . There are also green highlights to be found in the five municipalities that are conveniently connected to the city, such as Schlosspark, Stadtkirche and Orangerie in Altlandsberg, the Schlosspark and Gutshof in Fredersdorf, the Lenné Park in Hoppegarten or the Architectural Trail and the Museum Park in Rüdersdorf. 

The "Peter Joseph Lenné - Gardens, Parks, Cityscapes" app shows you the way to the most beautiful gardens, parks and cityscapes of Peter Joseph Lenné in your area. At the heart of this app is the multimedia tour of Schlosspark Glienicke. A comprehensive portrait of Peter Joseph Lenné (1789-1866), an overview of the most important gardens, parks and urban landscapes in Germany as well as a timeline are also included.

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Trail your literary heroes on the Isle of Wight

FOLLOWING on the heels of the launch of its Victoria’s Island Trail to celebrate the appearance of the Victoria & Abdul movie, Visit Isle of Wight (VIOW) has now published a new Literary Heroes Trail which visitors to the Island can follow all-year-round.

One of the highlights of the Literary Heroes Trail is the newly re-opened Farringford in Freshwater, where the renowned poet Alfred, Lord Tennyson once lived. The dramatic Gothic house has been the subject of a meticulous five-year restoration project, and is decorated in a late 19th Century style that reflects Tennyson’s tastes and interests. The grounds have also been returned to their authentic Tennyson-era appearance, complete with a full walled garden.

Other key locations on the Trail include the sailing village of Seaview, where author Enid Blyton was a regular visitor; and the traditional seaside resort of Ventnor, where Charles Dickens rented Winterbourne in Bonchurch – describing it to his wife as, “The prettiest place I ever saw in my life.”

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Picture Credit: Seaviw, Isle of Wight, Pintrest

Whales & Gardens Tours in British Columbia

BRITISH Columbia’s largest and most trusted whale watching company Prince of Whales Whale Watching, is excited to welcome guests aboard the Salish Sea Dream — a sleek new state-of-the-art, eco-friendly $3.5 million catamaran that will provide a new experience for tourists and locals on the “Ultimate Day Tour.” 

The custom-built 78-foot catamaran will depart Vancouver each morning, taking guests on a whale-watching tour en route to the B.C. Capital. In Victoria, there will be many options for sightseeing around the city before travelling by shuttle to the world-famous Butchart Gardens. From the Gardens, guests will take a breathtaking sunset cruise back to downtown Vancouver. The vessel can carry 95 passengers and everyone will have a great view as each person will have a seat inside the cabin and on the deck. Combining two of Victoria’s “must do” activities, the Salish Sea Dream will offer whale-watching excursions each afternoon from the Inner Harbour and stopping for a visit to the Butchart Gardens as part of the “Whales and Gardens” packages. 

“It’s a fantastic trip and it really offers something different,” says Prince of Whales Whale Watching owner Alan McGillivray. “We live in such an amazing part of the world and this gives people a front-row seat to see and learn more about the animals that live in and travel through our waters.” 

Marine naturalists and experienced crew will be on board and offer informative talks about marine mammals, birds and other wildlife, as well as the ecosystem and key points of interest. It will be an entertaining and educational trip with a focus on conservation.


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Picture Credit: Pintrest

Great Heritage

ENJOY a fabulous trip back in time by simply downloading the Great Heritage 2017 Guide to the best castles, museums, historic houses, gardens and churches across the Lake District and Cumbria. 

Full of ideas for intriguing days out the guide is brimming over with quirky things to discover, from a Bee Penthouse to a Sleeping Giant and a Viking helmet chandelier to a Faerie Glen!

There is also the opportunity to win a 2-night break with luxury accommodation and FREE entry for one year to any of our attractions. 

www.cumbriaslivingheritage.co.uk/competition-2017-2/

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Picture Credit: dolbinator1000 126654539@N08/33191987254 via photopin.

Outdoor Theatre at Dunster Castle

DUNSTER Castle is the beautiful setting for two outdoor theatre performances this Summer by the Chapterhouse Theatre Company, so bring a picnic and relax in the gorgeous gardens for the evening.

A Midsummer Nights Dream - Shakespeare’s best-loved romantic comedy. Let yourself be whisked away on a thrilling journey to the most magical of forests and meet star-crossed lovers, playful fairies and hilarious travelling players. Beautifully designed Elizabethan costumes, a wonderful musical score and enchanting woodland creatures come together to make this an evening of unmissable summer garden theatre.  June 17 gates open at 5.30pm.

Pride and Prejudice - Take a step back in time to meet Elizabeth Bennet, Jane Austen's most loveable heroine. When Elizabeth meets the rude and abrupt Mr Darcy, she loathes him at first sight. But is there more to him than meets the eye? Brought to life by award winning writer Laura Tuner, this brand-new adaptation celebrates the 200th Anniversary of Jane Austen’s death and promises to be the most splendid evening of the summer.  August 19 gates open at 5.30pm

http://www.seetickets.com

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Dinosaurs at Horniman

DISCOVER dinosaurs in a family focused interactive environment at Horniman Museum and Gardens in Forest Hill, #London.

The temporary exhibition Dinosaurs: Monster Families ends on October 30 and shows how dinosaurs looked after their families, you can view a near-complete skeleton of a dinosaur hatchling and enjoy the interactive stations.

The Horniman Museum has been open since Victorian times, when Frederick John Horniman first opened his house and extraordinary collection of objects to visitors. Since then the collections of anthropology and musical instruments, as well as an acclaimed aquarium and natural history collection has grown significantly.

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Picture Credit: 35034353562@N01/16662437686 Horniman interior via photopin.com

London’s royal parks in focus

A PROMOTIONAL VIDEO about London’s eight royal parks – which attract more than 77 million visitors a year – park can be seen on YouTube. Shot in 2015/16, the 2-minute, 22-second Park Stories film shows highlights of all of the parks, which cover 5,000 acres and cost approximately £36 million a year to manage.

The film features history and heritage and flora and fauna –Richmond and Bushy Parks are both Special Sites of Scientific Interest – and highlights the protected view of St Paul’s Cathedral from Richmond and the iconic views of the city from Greenwich Park and Primrose Hill … as well as one of London’s most famous streets, The Mall.

The parks are home to an abundance of wildlife deer, ducks, swans, bees, butterflies, and bats.

The video – One City, Eight Parks, Millions of Stories – can be seen at www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-F3yS6UKj0

Those 8 royal parks:

• Bushy Park 

• Green Park 

• Hyde Park 

• Kensington Gardens 

• Regents Park & Primrose Hill 

• Richmond Park 

• St. James's Park

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Germany’s world of gardens

SOUTH-WEST #GERMANY'S state heritage agency, Staatliche Schlösser und Gärten Baden-Württemberg, offers a fresh take on its many cultural sites. 

This year's theme is Welt der Gärten – The World of Gardens – inviting visitors to explore and enjoy gardens that are at the peak of their splendour. Historic monasteries in Baden-Württemberg are also celebrating their own special day, Erlebnistag im Kloster, on October 9. The agency’s 2016 programme offers visitors a wide range of opportunities to experience its palaces, castles, monasteries, and gardens first-hand.

Schwetzingen Palace: The renovation of Schwetzingen Palace's exterior has been completed, restoring it to its full 18th century splendour. Meanwhile, work on the interior is ongoing. The palace museum will re-open, with its original furnishings, in late summer 2016.

Up-to-date information on all the tours is available at www.schloesser-und-gaerten.de

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Picture Credit: www.schloesser-und-gaerten-de

Glorious gardens

THE TREASURE HOUSES OF ENGLAND have some of the most beautiful formal gardens and parkland in England. From Flower Festivals to Victorian Gardeners and Living History, there is much for garden-lovers to enjoy this summer.

Beaulieu has a topiary display running throughout 2016; it’s based on Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.

The Blenheim Palace Flower show returns for its fourth year (June 17-19). The three-day show celebrates the very best of gardening in the UK. Visitors can also explore the beautiful Formal Gardens and 'Capability' Brown Parkland. 

Burghley's Flower Festival (October 1-9) will transform the State Rooms with floral displays created by local flower societies.

Castle Howard's interiors will be brought to life colourful floral displays – from traditional to contemporary, understated to ornate – during its flower festival (June 23-26). Soak up the garden party atmosphere in the Boar Garden with live music, strawberries and Pimms, join a guided garden tour, or explore the 1,000 acres of parkland and gardens.

Hatfield House has its two-day garden show (June 4-5) takes place on the Queen Elizabeth Oak Field, with plenty of exhibitors selling plants, shrubs, and gardening tools.

A must-see might be Woburn Abbey’s garden show (June 25-26) June. Whether you're a keen horticulturalist or you're looking for inspiration for your family garden, all are welcome. This year demonstrations, talks and Q&A sessions will be presented by Pippa Greenwood, a BBC Gardeners World panelist.

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St Michael's Mount re-opens

ST MICHAEL'S MOUNT in #Cornwall has re-opened for the 2016 holiday season.

Developments there this year include the opening in May of a visitor centre. Designed in partnership with the National Trust, the centre will be in the Barge House in the village at the base of the island, where it will provide an experience for visitors who are unable to take the climb to the castle or walk around the gardens.

Coming up:

Annual Easter Egg Trail – March 25, 27 and 28.

A Coastal Garden (April 11- July 1) will focus on the challenges of seaside gardening, with head gardener Lottie Allen and her team on hand daily at 1pm (weekdays only) to talk about the terraced gardens where blooms and exotic plants have thrived since 1780.

Island Harbour Home (June-August) will bring to life the story of the community living and working on the island.

Castle and Conservation (September and October) highlights the challenges in caring for a Grade 1 listed building at the top a tidal island.

A Garden in a Castle (October 2-October 11) brings the Mount's sub-tropical autumn planting into the castle.

There are free, daily tours of the village and the harbour led by head guide Bob Hunt, who focuses on the everyday lives of the people who live here and showcases the harbour and village.

Visitors can walk to the island at low tide. At high tide during spring, summer and autumn, motorboats leave from landing points at Marazion, subject to weather conditions.

#StMichael'sMount castle, shops and restaurants are open daily (except Saturdays) until October 30.

www.stmichaelsmount.co.uk

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Caerhays wins gardens award

THE #CAERHAYS ESTATE in South #Cornwall has won the Historic Houses Association’s 2016 #Garden of the Year award, which recognize the importance of the country’s most spectacular gardens with outstanding horticultural and public appeal.

Above Porthluney Cove and framing the castle designed by John Nash, the 140-acre gardens are Grade II* listed and considered of outstanding importance by The Royal Botanic Garden at Kew.

A traditional Cornish flowering garden, it originated from the work of plant hunters in China at the start of the 20th century. It is today the home of a Plant Heritage National Collection of Magnolias containing more than 600 species and named hybrids from around the world. The gardens have an international reputation and have been described as world class.

Charles Williams of Caerhays Castle Gardens said: ‘It is a great honour for the work of four generations of the Williams family and the four talented head gardeners at Caerhays since 1897 to be recognized with such a prestigious award from Historic Houses Association and Christie’s.  A woodland garden like Caerhays never stands still and is never “complete”, but this is certainly a key moment in the history and development of the plant collections here.’

The estate, half-way between St. Austell and St. Mawes, has self-catering holiday accommodation.

www.caerhays.co.uk

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What's On at the Treasure Houses of England …

FROM February, explore the evolution of the motor car in a display in Beaulieu's National Motor Museum (Brockenhurst, Hampshire.) Discover how automotive technology has developed since the dawn of motoring, 

New at Burghley (Lincolnshire) from March 19 will be two exhibitions; 'Capability Brown at Burghley' exploring Brown's influence on both the parkland and the house, and ‘The Georgians at Burghley’.

Hatfield House (Hertfordshire) will be commemorating the 100th anniversary of the first official tank trials which took place in the park in February 1916. A replica Mark IV tank will be on display throughout the year, and there will be an accompanying exhibition in the library explaining the history of the tank.


Leeds Castle (Kent) will be hosting EnjoyMotors (May 7-8). Get up close to hundreds of vintage, high performance, and classic cars from around the world.

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Picture Credit: By Robert Linsdell from St. Andrews, Canada - Beaulieu National Motor Museum, Hampshire, CC BY 2.0, http://www.flickr.com/photos/24874528@N04/9225083678">Hatfield House - July 2013</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/">(license)

Gardens around the globe

HIGHLIGHTS of the Royal Horticultural Society’s 2016/17 #garden #holidays programme include: 

• The Landscape Gardens of Capability Brown 
• Gardens and Wildflowers of South Africa's Western Cape 
• Two tours of the French Riviera featuring the Menton Lemon Festival in February and the International Rose Festival in Grasse in May 
• Architecture and Gardens of Andalucia tour, which includes a visit to Cordoba's patio festival 

With expert hosts on many departures, the programme features 26 escorted tours to destinations including Italy, France, Spain, Portugal and the Azores, Sweden, South Africa, Japan, New Zealand, Chile and Sri Lanka, plus Britain and Ireland. 

Hosts include Christopher Bailes, former curator of the Chelsea Physic Garden, Jekka McVicar, one of Britain’s leading experts on herbs, and Sabatino Urzo from RHS Garden Wisley.

Itineraries showcase horticulture in its widest sense encompassing private, botanic, and historic gardens, wild landscapes, national parks, vineyards, nurseries, and charitable gardening projects. Wherever possible, exclusive access has been secured as well as private openings and a welcome from the garden owner or curator. 

www.rhsgardenholidays.com 

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Picture Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/93242958@N00/4827924180">Pincushion at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/">(license)

Make time for Wiltshire

Gardens … 2016 sees the 300th anniversary of the birth of master landscaper Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown. Many of Britain’s great houses owe their pastoral settings to his groundbreaking vision, and his creativity is still inspiring gardeners today. In #Wiltshire, Bowood House, Longleat, Corsham Court, Wilton House, Lacock Abbey, and Old Wardour Castle all have connections with Brown. 

There are many other stunning gardens in Wiltshire including Iford Manor and The Peto Garden, Larmer Tree Gardens, Lydiard House & Park, Abbey House Gardens, Heale Gardens and Arundells. Wiltshire is also home to many National Trust gardens such as Stourhead, Great Chalfield Manor, and Mompesson House.

Stonehenge and Avebury are magical places shrouded in history. If you stand on Salisbury Plain at sunrise or sunset, it’s easy to understand why the ancient Britons believed Stonehenge was special. Its orientation on the rising and setting sun is one of its many outstanding features, but why it was built in this way remains a mystery. 

Wiltshire is home to archaeology collections of outstanding national importance. Salisbury Museum has three major exhibitions planned for 2016, and together with the Wiltshire Museum in Devizes, visitors immerse themselves in the full Stonehenge and Avebury story.

There are opportunities to access the expertise of the museum staff who have a detailed understanding of Wiltshire’s archaeology and who care for internationally important finds from these iconic sites. There is a unique opportunity to see Marden Henge – the third super henge in Wiltshire - being excavated as part of an archaeology tour being run by Wiltshire Museum in July.


Market towns & and medieval Salisbury … Wiltshire’s historic towns and villages have something unique to offer. Market towns include Bradford on Avon, Amesbury, Cricklade, Malmesbury, Corsham, Calne, and Marlborough. Quintessentially English villages such as Castle Combe and Lacock are often used as filming locations. Salisbury was one of the top ten cities in the world to visit according to Lonely Planet last year. Home to Salisbury Cathedral and Magna Carta, Salisbury Museum, The Rifles Berkshire & Wiltshire Museum, and Mompesson House … all within a stone’s throw from each other.

Food & drink … Local breweries include Wadworths and Arkells, the latter a family brewer since 1843 with many pubs around the county. Award-winning restaurants in the county include Red Lion Freehouse, East Chisenbury, the Harrow at Little Bedwyn in Marlborough, and the Manor House at Castle Combe.

Wiltshire's visitor economy currently generates an estimated £1.5 billion a year and supports more than 28,000 jobs.
www.visitwiltshire.co.uk 

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Picture Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/48411817@N04/11327286036">2013 Holiday Train - Midway Station</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/">(license)

Capability Brown at Blenheim

2016 MARKS the 300th anniversary of the birthday of the landscape gardener, Lancelot 'Capability' Brown. #BlenheimPalace, Oxfordshire, is one of the best places to see his extraordinary work; it has 2,000 acres of landscaped parkland, which the gardener spent 11 years creating. 

The landscape setting he devised in the 1760's provided such a sublime form of beauty and harmony that every generation of the Marlborough family has endeavored to preserve it. 

Many landscape historians state that the landscaping at Blenheim Palace is the finest example of Brown's work. The 2,000-acre park delivers beauty across all seasons; from lawns brimming with daffodils in spring, greens of the trees transforming into a myriad of warm tones from summer to autumn, to the blanket of frost and mist rising from the lake in winter.

Blenheim has a 2016 calendar of activity planned to celebrate Brown’s work, from specialist garden tours, a temporary exhibition, a self-guided trail and guided walks.

The exhibition, open in February, reveals Brown's work at the palace across the 11 years he was commissioned (1763-1774) through detailed accounts of how he designed and executed such a masterpiece through to photography, drawings, equipment, and costumes.

Brown’s nickname came about for his common phrase: ‘This garden has capabilities to improve.’

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Garden delights . . .

COMBERMERE ABBEY ESTATE in Whitchurch, Shropshire, is hosting a series of Open Garden Afternoons this summer, providing a rare chance to see this privately-owned historic estate.

They will be held on August 26, and September 23.

Visitors will be able to explore the estate’s Victorian walled gardens and glasshouse, its pleasure garden and garden wood, fruit tree maze, and lake.

The estate’s team of gardeners will be on hand to answer questions and share tips.

Tickets are priced at £5. Gates will open at 1pm, with the last entry at 4pm. Dogs and picnics are not permitted.

The abbey was built in 1133 as a Cistercian monastery. Now a family home, it is a venue for weddings, corporate events, and has ten holiday cottages.
www.combermereabbey.co.uk

AN open-air gallery of contemporary sculpture in the grounds of a Georgian mansion is the centrepiece of the first of an occasional series of visitor trails published by Congham Hall Hotel, near King’s Lynn, Norfolk. 

The Magnificent Seven… Norfolk #Gardens – the hotel's illustrated trail – features the collection, which is on display at nearby Houghton Hall.

The 90-mile self-guided circuit of the seven gardens begins with Congham Hall's herb collection. Others include Gooderstone Water Gardens, a naturalistic re-interpretation of a wet meadow, and Sandringham Gardens, a chronicle of the changing tastes in horticultural design over the past 150 years.

The trail can be download online or obtained from the hotel's reception desk.
www.conghamhallhotel.co.uk

GARDENERS and walkers – and #gardeners who like walking – might be interested Adagio's Channel Isles walking tour of the gardens of Guernsey, Sark, and Herm.

Highlights include strolls in St Martin to #SausmarezManor with its sub-tropical gardens, a ferry ride to Herm to meet the head gardener for a private tour of the island's gardens, and a private tour of the #LaSeigneurieGardens on Sark, with its Victorian glasshouse, hedge maze, and stone walls.

The company’s UK manager, Amber Parish-Smith, says: ‘We couldn't miss out on visiting both the small islands of Sark and Herm for a day each. Traffic is prohibited on the islands, so horse-drawn carts, cycling, and walking are the ways to get around. It really does feel like you are stepping back in time when one visits these islands.’ 

Price are from £1,155 per person, including return flights, transfers, half board at a three-star hotel on Guernsey.   www.adagio.co.uk

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Picture Credit: Combermere clocktower by Espresso Addict - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons, Gooderstone Water Gardens, Gooderstone, Norfolk - geograph.org.uk - 794060 by David Mills. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons, Sark-aerial by Phillip Capper - Sark, Channel Islands, 17 September 2005. Licensed under CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons