We have recently donated a number of plants to help create a Baby Memorial Garden in Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire.
The Baby Memorial Garden was thought of by parents Andrew and Donna Clifford who tragically lost their baby son, Rory when he was just nine days old in 2019 from sudden infant death syndrome.
The garden is located in Scunthorpe’s Central Park and will be planted with as much colour as possible to celebrate Rory’s life. Plants donated to the project have included shrubs, trees, hedging, herbaceous and bulbs.
The rainbow garden will provide a space for parents and families to remember, reflect and commemorate Rory’s and other children’s lives that have been lost before, during or after pregnancy in a beautiful, quiet but colourful space.
Rory’s father Andrew Clifford said: “Rainbows have been incredibly significant to us since Rory’s passing. It rained for many days after he died and we included lots of rainbows at his funeral because we wanted to celebrate his short life with lots of colours. If a rainbow ever comes out, we tell our children that Rory is here with us and in our hearts, and we think that is true for every family who has lost a baby.
“Rainbows have continued to play a significant part in our own grieving process, and that is why they have such a profound meaning in this project.”
Johnsons are just one of the 16 supporters of the Memorial Garden with Hedges Direct, Silica Lodge Garden Centre, SC4, EC Surfacing Ltd, Direct Plants, North Lindsey College, North Lincolnshire Council, Trees Direct, Decorative aggregates and Axholme Turf & Topsoil all offering support and donations.
Discussing the donation, Johnsons of Whixley’s Marketing Manager, Eleanor Richardson added: “We look forward to seeing the garden come together in the following months ahead and hope the garden can provide an area where Rory’s parents and other families can reflect and remember the lives of babies tragically taken from us too soon.”
If you would like to donate, volunteer or fundraise for the memorial garden visit the Baby Rainbow Memorial Gardens website for more information.
Posted 25th Mar 11:29am
Read more >
Important notice: order delays possible
On Thursday, 17th March, P&O ferries announced that they were making up to 800 seafarers redundant and have suspended all upcoming sailings, as you may have already seen in the news.
The leading ferry firm between Dover and Calais is one that Johnsons of Whixley use on a weekly basis. We don’t currently know when these services will resume, and our transport department is working tirelessly to resolve and rebook other ferries. However, millions of businesses are in the same boat meaning substantial delays are imminent.
If you have an upcoming order that is likely to be affected, your sales rep will be in touch regarding possible implications for your consignment.
If you have any immediate concerns, please get in touch with your sales representative directly, or call the mainline on 01423 330234.
Posted 18th Mar 8:54am
Read more >
Staff at our nursery and in our office have pledged to walk 10,000 steps each during March as they take part in Cancer Researches, Walk All Over Cancer Challenge.
Throughout March 28 staff members at Johnsons from different departments will walk a total of 280,000 steps combined which equates to approximately 140 miles per day, 980 miles per week and an overall estimate of 5,000 miles for the month.
The company’s marketing manager, Eleanor Richardson has organised the internal challenge, where staff members will aim to do 10,000+ steps each day during March. The staff will be divided into teams of four and the team with the most steps during March will win a prize from the company.
Staff at the horticultural nursery taking part have received a Johnsons water bottle and a cancer research t-shirt. They will record their steps on their smartphones and pedometers for the month and will share photos of their weekly walks on their social media platforms.
Staff at Johnsons involved with the team challenge include Andrew Barker, Adrian Price, Rob Forrester, Terry Cooper, Sarah Greenwood, Hannah Smith (Sales), Vicky Newell, Tony Coles, Hannah Holland, Hannah Smith (Transport), Katie Short, Frances Whyte, Ellie Richardson, Rachael McPherson, Chris Davis, Tracey Richardson, Katalin Dacre, Martyn Osbourne, Steven Morton, Matt Campey, Isaac Onions, Claire Horner, Jonathan Richardson, Dmytro Orlov, Tom Chilton, Mick Huby, Russ Berkley and Alex Harmon.
Cancer Research is the world’s leading cancer charity dedicated to saving lives through research, influence and information. The funding supports anything from a new research centre to glass slides that are used to analyse cancer cells.
Globally cancer research invests £400 million each year across prevention, diagnosis and treatment. Over the last 40 years, cancer survival rates in the UK have doubled. In the 1970s just 1 in 4 people survived their disease for 10 years or more. Today 2 in 4 survive. Cancer Researchers’ ambition is to accelerate progress and see 3 in 4 patients survive the disease by 2034.
Discussing the fundraising, Johnsons of Whixley marketing manager, Eleanor Richardson said: “Statistics show that 1 in 2 UK people will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime.
“Sadly, we all know someone we have lost to cancer or know someone who has survived it. Without the cancer research carried out, we wouldn’t have the treatments and have the information we do today to treat and survive cancer. The steps challenge is a great way to fundraise for the charity and a great activity for team building and general fitness there are many benefits to walking 10,000 steps per day.”
If you would like to support Johnsons walking challenge, you can visit their fundraiser and donate here https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/johnsonsofwhixley all money raised will go directly to Cancer Research.
Posted 2nd Mar 4:04pm
Read more >
Congratulations to Rachael Mcpherson on her new role as Stock Assistant, Rachael is a great addition to the team, and her experience in the retail department has put her in good stead for this new role where she will be making sure stock levels and locations are correct. See what she had to say about her new role below:
1) Where did you work previously?
I worked in retail on the line prepping all the plants for the garden centres.
2) Where did you work before Johnsons?
I worked for Jigsaw, a clothing brand.
3)What does your new role involve?
My new role involves counting and checking all the stock making sure everything is where it should be as well as putting all production orders onto to the system and making stock saleable as quickly as we can.
4) What have the challenges been so far?
Definitely getting my head around the computer side of the role anyone who knows me knows I’m the least tech-savvy person going.
5) What do you like most about your career in horticulture?
I love that I have the option to work outside amongst the plants, its such a nice environment to work in.
6) What do you like to get up to outside of work?
Hiking, camping, travelling anything outdoorsy really.
7) Tell us something we don’t know about you?
I am a florist and run my own business alongside my full-time job.
8) Favourite holiday destination?
To date, Iceland.
Posted 2nd Mar 11:32am
Read more >
Winter is on the way out this month as the first signs of spring start to appear, with bulbs such as snowdrops starting to emerge. There’s plenty to be doing this month in the garden, from planting to final winter pruning and cleaning out the bird boxes for #BirdFeedingMonth. Check out our hints and tips put together by our chairman and Horticulturist, John Richardson below.
Make sure the roses are pruned by the end of the month, hard pruning promotes growth, and will benefit any weaker growing plants or varieties. Ensure that you cut back to white healthy wood.
Sow seed of bedding dahlias at a temp. of 64 deg.F and prick off seedlings into boxes or pots. Take cuttings from tubers started into growth in February when rooted (3-4 weeks) pot them individually into 8-9 cm pots.
By the end of the month ensure that pruning of all woody trees and shrubs has been completed, remembering that plants that flower early, such as forsythia and weigela, should not be pruned until after flowering. Prune Buddleia and Perovskia late in the month to prevent frost damage.
For trees and shrubs being purchased late in the planting season, it may well be more successful to purchase root balled or container-grown plants to prevent drying out in a dry and windy month, alternatively, establish a watering system that can water the root systems morning and evening.
Complete the planting of new hedges, remembering that plants will require watering whenever conditions are getting dry. Hedge plants are often sold ‘bare root’ which can dry out quickly.
If you did not take heather cuttings last year, you can produce extra plants by layering in late March when the weather is suitable. In a shallow trench beneath the plant, refill the hollow with a compost and grit mixture and peg down the shoot with a suitable stone or peg. Leave shoot tips visible. It may be up to a year before transplanting is possible, but plants should be strong and well-rooted by then.
Late March is the best time to move snowdrops in spite of the foliage remaining green as well as the odd flower. They should soon recover when watered.
When indoor flower bulbs are finished, do not remove the leaves as photosynthesis continues to provide nutrition until leaves turn yellow. This helps build up the bulb for the following year.
Give increased ventilation and more frequent watering to alpine plants in sunny conditions. Leave glasshouse doors open on mild days.
Read a manual on the annual pruning and care of fruit trees as their requirements relating to tree age and species vary considerably.
For most fruits, the danger of damage to young shoots occurs in early April to mid-May. We have had a few cold spells this winter and spring, and growth may be advanced compared with most years. In the event of severe frost warnings, cover strawberries and other early fruiting plants overnight with hessian or thick polythene, but ensure it is removed during the day. Wall trained fruit trees may require to be protected from early March as buds break early under the protection of the wall.
Mow the lawn for the first time this season with the blades set higher than normal to prevent hitting worm casts. Choose a day for the first cut when the grass is dry and the weather is mild. If worm casts are very numerous it may be necessary to spray the lawn with worm killer such as Chlordane. Brushing the lawn horizontally with a besom brush will make a good job and prevent the need for chemicals.
Posted 3rd Mar 3:11pm
Read more >
