Better Homes And Gardens Sylvan Springs

Would you share your garden with a stranger? Let someone camp in it for free? Or rent out garden tools instead of buying them new? Country Living delves into the plant and garden projects finding the value in sharing.

The sharing economy might seem like a modern invention now we have car-sharing apps, crowdfunding platforms and home rental sites, but sharing stuff hasn't always required a wifi connection.

Historically, sharing has played a huge role in horticulture, from the 17th century Diggers movement to the formation of allotments across the UK. Aristocratic Italian renaissance gardeners were keen sharers, freely opening up their grounds for tours, although one had to be a 'respectable-looking' stranger to gain entry, notes Lorraine Harrison in How to Read Gardens. Things got a little more democratic in the 19th century when pleasure gardens evolved into public parks and it was decided that green spaces were good for people living in pollution-choked urban areas.

These days, more and more of us are sharing plants, seeds and space in a bid to save money, connect with nature and grow our own food. So if you want to skip the allotment queue or fancy getting hold of some free plants, read on.

THE GARDEN SHARING APP

AllotMe

With home and garden ownership out of reach for many and allotment waiting lists stretching into the months (if not decades), living the Good Life might seem like a pipe dream. But there are other ways to flex your green fingers thanks to services such as Lend and Tend and AllotMe. Lend and Tend pairs up those without access to land with a local person who has a garden but might not have the time, knowledge or capability to cultivate it.

People like Gill and Ian, an elderly couple who could no longer manage their large Wiltshire garden by themselves. For their neighbour Miriam, being able to share the garden was a Godsend. "I was in a tiny little flat where my 'garden' was walking around the town and public parks and I really just wanted my own little space to dig," she says.

This year Miriam has grown potatoes, beans and leaks and while she enjoys growing her own food, it's the impact on her wellbeing that has really been a game changer. "You know when you put something in the ground you're going to have to wait a few months and it means you look forward to spring, you have hopefulness and optimism, you know spring is coming, so it [garden sharing] got me through a really dark, anxious winter," she shared on a recent Lend and Tend blog.

A successful 'patch match' usually has ground rules each party should respect, (not digging up the owner's favourite shrubs, agreeing on set gardening days etc). Once those are established, garden sharing can have a range of benefits, from improving mental health to reducing social isolation and loneliness to spreading the joy of home-grown grub.

The concept has had renewed interest recently with the arrival of AllotMe, described as 'an air bnb for garden rental'. It works on a similar premise to Lend and Tend except garden owners can charge for the use of their plot.

THE TOOL RENTING PLATFORM

Library of Things

Why fork out on a garden tool you might use once before leaving it to collect cobwebs in the shed when you could rent one instead? Hoping to encourage a circular way of thinking that promotes borrowing over buying, the London-based Library of Things stocks a range of tools ideal for those jobs you may only get around to completing once a year. The tools start from as little as £1.50 a day for secateurs to £36 a week for a hedge trimmer. And with overconsumption leading to overflowing landfills and mounting piles of electronic waste, the Library of Things is a win win, saving us money while lessening our burden on the planet.

THE PLANT SWAPPERS

The Plant Exchange

Plant swaps are a great way to green up your space without breaking the bank. And luckily there are lots of active plant swap groups across the UK. Jane Midgley is a member of the Sheffield Plantswap and has been swapping plants and cuttings for the last three years. She told Country Living she can't afford to buy full size plants so prefers to propagate and swap instead.

And like many others, she enjoys the challenge of rescuing plants: "It feeds my soul and is good for my mental health. Many plants I receive from swaps are poorly or neglected – the ones that people don't want any more as they are no longer shop 'perfect'. I enjoy tending them and helping them to thrive again. You build a bond with plants that you have cared for and rehabilitated. It's satisfying. It also saves plants from landfill. Too many plants end up in the bin from neglect."

But if Reddit is anything to go by, you'll be able to find interesting varieties too (and not all of them will be half-dead). Plus if you only swap in person as Jane does, then you save on postage and get to meet new people. Jane's only regret? "Offering my 6ft Monstera. You live and learn." Try UK Houseplant Swap and The Plant Exchange UK or search 'plant swap' with your area and you're bound to find a Facebook group near you. Why not start one if not?

THE GARDEN CAMPERS

Welcome To My Garden

With holidays abroad uncertain and the climate impacts from flying at the forefront of our minds, interest in camping has shot up by as much as 500% in some parts of the UK, according to travel agent Cool Camping.

Faced with travel restrictions after returning from a 13,500km cycling trip from Brussels to Tokyo, Welcome To My Garden founders Manon Brulard and Dries Van Ransbeeck sensed a gap in the market for slow, sustainable and responsible travel – so they created Welcome To My Garden, a network of gardens that are free to camp in (although donations are encouraged).

The site now has around 3,200 gardens all over Europe, with 15 in the UK. While there are no fees to book a site, there are some stipulations. In keeping with the sustainable ethos, campers are not allowed to travel by car. Instead public transport, bicycles and kayaks are encouraged – Manon tells us someone has even travelled by donkey.

Additionally, there is no obligation for garden lenders to provide amenities beyond the space they've listed, so don't pitch up expecting a fully equipped glamping site. But for those embracing slow travel, the benefits are clear. "Because the platform is based on the principles of solidarity and curiosity towards one another, people truly connect and exchange stories with each other," Manon tells us. "Welcome To My Garden is a fantastic opportunity to travel nearby, meet and learn from new people and get new perspectives on what surrounds you. Slow travel makes you happy, just do it!" she adds.

THE SEED SWAPPERS

OmVed

Seeds belong in the ground, yet many of us are guilty of filling our drawers with half empty packets at the end of each growing season. Building on the work of the Open Pollinated Seed project, Open Source Seeds and the Campaign for Seed Sovereignty, The OmVed Seed Saving Network in North London is a community of growers saving open-pollinated seed with the aim of "learning which plants work best for both human needs, and the needs of the earth."

Sonia Rego told us the group welcomes both first-time and experienced growers, with seed collecting advice provided by the network. "In our first year, we provided people with seeds that we saved from our garden in Highgate, then asked that they return a portion of their seeds to be redistributed the following year to more growers. As we head into our third year, we have growers sending back seeds from all over the UK."

Joining a swap is a great way to meet like-minded plant people and switch up your veg varieties, but more than that, local seed swappers have a vital role to play in ensuring we can feed ourselves in the future as Anna Kilcooley, communications manager at the Sustainable Food Trust highlights: "Diversity is essential for sustainable food systems, and seed diversity has been in rapid decline since the 1900s. Relying on just a few plant species for our food means we are vulnerable to pests and diseases, and less resilient to climate change. Seed swaps within local communities are one of the best ways of preserving heritage seeds and encouraging greater diversity in plants."

No pressure then, seed swappers! Look for seed swap groups online or attend events in person. Brighton's longrunning Seedy Sunday is coming up in February.

10 solar outdoor Christmas lights

Solar Garden Water Drop String Lights

Whether you're looking to cover your entire home in dripping icicles or keep it subtle, we have the solar lights for you. These water drop lights have 40 LED bulbs and eight different modes. They also have an IP65 waterproof function – meaning they can work safely when it rains.

Solar Christmas Meteor Shower Lights

Are you looking for something more unique this Christmas? Why not go for some meteor shower lights to create the effect of falling snow. They can be used in a variety of locations within your garden. You can hang them from tree branches or use them to frame your house.

Solar Christmas Lights - Small Reindeer

Lumify have created a sustainable light-up reindeer that will leave your neighbours green with envy. This solar-powered product stands at 62cm and includes 600 Lumify DualWhite LEDs. It also contains a USB charging port to allow you to fully charge your lights in time for a party or special occasion.

Solar Christmas Lights - Large Tree

This tree is wrapped with 960 LED lights and has four different lighting effects. It also stands at 97cm and includes a power-saving mode which reduces brightness slightly to double the runtime of the lights. Lumify's power-saving mode is designed for those that don't have a great solar panel location available and aren't able to USB charge.

Solar Christmas Lights - Large Star

If you're looking to create your very own starry night, try this Christmas star. This product has a dual power charging system to ensure you are never without light. The Lumify star will work for 12 nights from a single USB charge with little help from the sun.

Solar String Lights Outdoor

These snow globe Christmas lights can make even the most basic of gardens shine. Built with a large 2V/400mah solar panel, these lights will work for 10-12 hours after being fully charged. These lights are also waterproof, ensuring they will work in snowy, rainy and stormy weather.

Snowflake Solar String Lights

You don't need snow to have a white Christmas this year. Spanning across 11 meters these snowflake lights have 60 LED bulbs and eight different modes – making them perfect for lighting up your garden.

Outdoor Solar Christmas Tree

Christmas trees embody the festive spirit like no other decoration. However, decorating your garden with glowing Christmas trees can be expensive and environmentally harmful. So, why not opt for a metal solar-powered alternative. Each of these trees will turn on automatically at night and off during the day.

Star Solar Light Curtain

These curtain lights are the perfect addition to your winter display this Christmas. You can use the included remote controller to turn your lights on and off, choose different lighting patterns, select various brightness levels and set the timer mode. These lights also have a memory function that will allow you to select your favourite mode for the lights.

Solar Spotlight Kit

This Premium Solar Spotlight is a hassle-free product that requires no ladders or difficult installation. All you need to do is point the LED light toward your home to brighten up your display. Plus, you can use the handy remote from the comfort of your home to adjust the brightness, set a timer and turn the lights on and off.

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