Amdega Supports Community Garden

Amdega is pleased to announce the official opening of the Brandon Village Community Garden for use by the local community. The village garden committee is combining the opening with the presentation of Amdega’s gift to the Community Garden of a Retreat greenhouse; the first greenhouse the Darlington based conservatory company has built since the Victorian era.

The Brandon Village Community Garden will be officially opened by local MP Roberta Blackman-Woods at 6pm on Thursday 30th September 2010. In addition, to celebrate this event a free exhibition “Art in A Small Garden” with pieces from local established artists and graduates of Sunderland University will be open to the public all week.

The Retreat greenhouse donated by the Darlington based conservatory company will enable the garden to extend the growing season and raise tender fruit and vegetables. It will also provide a social space to sit when the weather is inclement.

The Community Garden, which has been created from a prominent derelict site with a fly tipping problem, aims to be a sustainable, environmentally friendly wildlife haven, vegetable garden and a meeting place where local people can pass on their knowledge and experience and get to know their neighbours better. The garden promotes biodiversity with a substantial area being given over to wildlife with a pond, bog, wild flower meadow, and a mixed native hedge. The pond has a small water feature running over a rock pile designed to increase the habitat for a wide range of insects, amphibians and hopefully encourage bats into the garden. The garden will have a range of flowers to attract bees, butterflies and other insects into the garden plus bird boxes and feeding stations to encourage garden birds. In contrast to the wildlife area, the vegetable garden has a formal structure of raised beds constructed from recycled plastics.

Over the past year, the village residents have worked hard to create the garden, helped by a County Durham Environmental Trust grant, (CDENT PREMIER Award of £14,800), sponsorship from local businesses and organisations, and support from Brandon and Byshottles Parish Council. With the guidance of dry stone walling expert, Peter Dent, the residents enjoyed building the south wall using traditional techniques, a wonderful teambuilding exercise.


The garden has no mains electricity or water, so rain runoff from the greenhouse roof is collected in underground storage tanks and then pumped out using energy generated by solar panels. These also run the greenhouse irrigation system, pond pumps and hopefully a few low energy lights. The garden also has various seating options, including space inside the new Amdega greenhouse to allow people to sit and enjoy the garden and wildlife. From the outset, the garden has aimed to be as inclusive as possible. Children are encouraged to get involved and the area has been made accessible to all by incorporating raised vegetable beds, benches and wheelchair friendly paths.

The Garden Opening is just the beginning. Next year the village hopes to build a herb spiral, increase the number of nest boxes and feeding stations, purchase a weather station and some nest box cams, and eventually run a website so friends and families can keep in touch with the garden.

The Garden Committee commented, “We can hardly believe that just a few months ago this piece of land that was an eyesore has been transformed into a beautiful community garden with the help of a state-of-the-art Amdega greenhouse and the generosity of other sponsors. With the hard work of volunteers, we have created something positive for the village and the wider community that brings people together in a lovely setting.”

Karl Wharton, CEO of Amdega, commented: “We are delighted to be able to offer Brandon Village a greenhouse to support the garden and hope that it continues to be a benefit to the local community for years to come.”
Notes to editors:

Brandon Village Residents Association (BVRA)
The association was formally formed in October 2008. Brandon village is comprised of 53 houses; most householders are members of the thriving Brandon Village Residents Association (BVRA). The aims of the BVRA are to: “Promote all residents rights and the maintenance and improvement of amenities and the environment”; “Promote social, welfare, recreational and training activities for the benefit of members”; “Work with authorities and organisations for the benefit of all members”.

The Greenhouse
The greenhouse constructed in the Brandon Village Community Garden is based on Amdega’s ‘Retreat‘ L Shape design, 1.5 bay medium in Slate Green. The concrete base needed for the Retreat greenhouse was laid by village residents. The greenhouse itself was installed by Amdega and features a timber cladded dwarf wall. It also has an irrigation system installed, bench seating inside the structure and timber staging provided.

Amdega Greenhouses
Long renowned for creating some of the finest conservatories, orangeries and garden rooms around the world; Amdega has reintroduced, by popular demand, an extensive range of covetable and state of the art greenhouses to the Amdega Garden Rooms collection, brought into existence especially for the discerning gardener.
Comprising of four designs, Den, Nursery, Retreat and Vinery, the Greenhouse range comes in 52 size variations with a number of features that makes Amdega stand out from the competition. Benefits include a low maintenance aluminium roof for ease of cleaning. There is the option of base walls in brick or stone instead of cedar to blend further with surroundings and supply only, supply and install and full build services. Staging is higher than that provided by others to ensure the gardener can prepare seedlings in comfort. A timed irrigation system is available that can be set weeks in advance if required for remote control gardening. There is also cedar bench seating for the gardener to relax in the sun.

Amdega has been designing and handcrafting timber and glass structures from the original workshops in Darlington since the Victorian Era. The Amdega Garden Rooms range comprises of Chelsea, Hampton, Manhattan and Portland summerhouses, as well as the prestigious Royal Horticultural Society Special Edition Collection and modular Greenhouse range.

Amdega Conservatories Hires Apprentices

Conservatories company, Amdega, is pleased to announce a new draft of apprentice employees to its workforce in Darlington, County Durham. By bringing in four junior apprentices the company endeavours to support its proactive approach to business, by developing talent for the future.

New recruits include 19 year old David O’Neill, Apprentice CNC Operator. Christopher Cartwright, 19, and Rebecca Worley, 17, have been hired as Apprentice Project Coordinators assisting in the management for bespoke conservatory projects, and 16 year old Joe McMullen as Apprentice Fabricator/Welder in the Machin aluminium conservatory team.

Apprentice recruitment is the next step in the Amdega Academy, Amdega’s ongoing commitment to learning, training and developing current and new staff. Amdega has also offered staff the opportunity of undertaking a four year Business Management degree to fit into their schedules, and gives practical training to fitters before they install Amdega traditional and contemporary orangeries and conservatories and also beautiful wooden summerhouses and greenhouses.

Chief Executive Officer of Amdega, Karl Wharton, commented: “The company’s vision for the future is to encourage and assist the development of all employees through a culture of training and learning.”

Amdega is renowned for excellence in design and quality across its range of bespoke conservatories, orangeries and pool houses. All commissions are individually designed to suit the specific needs and lifestyles of each client.

Amdega also supplies a range of quality summerhouses and greenhouses and automated blinds and window shades for conservatories and also all around the home.

For further information and to arrange an appointment with a sales designer along with a no obligation conservatory quote, please call 01325 349589, visit www.amdega.co.uk or email inform@amdega.co.uk.

Amdega Garden Rooms

Amdega’s recent launch of timber greenhouses coincides with the publication of its Book of Garden Rooms, which is now available and features the Chelsea, Hampton, Manhattan and RHS timber summerhouses and gazebos along with the Portland DIY summerhouse range all together for the very first time.

As well as featuring an array of stunning Amdega garden rooms with detailed specifications, the Book is highly stylised with bold typography, fuses a tactile old fashioned feel with contemporary floral imagery and interesting snippets of general information.

Established in 1874, Amdega is the oldest conservatory company in the world, renowned for excellence in the design of beautiful conservatories, orangeries and pool houses along with its extensive garden rooms and greenhouse offerings.

The Company still operates from its original hometown of Darlington in the north east of England, from where bespoke timber conservatories are shipped out across the globe. With the Company name originally derived from three key words, ambition, determination and gain, Amdega remains fully committed to these longstanding values; focussing on driving continuous improvements, quality and service, investing in people and maintaining an environmentally friendly ethos.

For a copy of Amdega’s Book of Garden Rooms please call 01325 349586 or visit www.amdega.co.uk and click on garden rooms.

Press enquiries:
Sarah Gilmore, Marketing and Communications Assistant
Tel: 01325 349 518, email: sarah.gilmore@amdega.co.uk

Amdega Ltd at RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show

Amdega Blogger is proud to advise that we are exhibiting Amdega summerhouses at the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show this year. Amdega is a previous RHS Gold Medal Winner and our attendance this year has created a fantastic vibe around the office and factory at Darlington.

Production is well underway on four of our best selling summerhouses – with the emphasis being on just how versatile a garden room can be. Furnishings and fittings have been sourced for garden buildings decked out as a home office, a chic dining for two, a relaxing garden hideaway and a Japanese themed gazebo - there is certainly something for everyone!

Amdega Blogger tracked down Paul Cruddace, Amdega’s Sales & Marketing Director, for the following comment: “Amdega summerhouses and gazebos are in constant demand and our portfolio of garden buildings is very comprehensive, encompassing shapes, sizes and options to suit all gardens, discerning tastes and possible uses. Some models even have the ability to rotate and follow the path of the sun.”

The RHS is the UK’s leading gardening charity dedicated to advancing horticulture and promoting good gardening. Some interesting show titbits – it runs from 7 to 12 July and is expected to attract around 170,000 visitors. During show week visitors consume 13,443 rounds of sandwiches, 12,721 glasses of Pimms, 16,569 glasses of champagne, 4,277 slices of cake and 53,176 cups of tair-trade tea and coffee!

Come visit Amdega at Hampton Court stand A/85, near the Thames entrance.

Amdega is famous for supplying bespoke timber conservatories and orangeries all over the world. We also provide blinds for all around the home.

Dragons’ Den … The Apprentice … Amdega Academy Summer School!

Amdega Blogger asks you to think back to last August when Amdega, the premier bespoke conservatory manufacturer, announced details of the Amdega Academy. Ten members of staff were given the opportunity to undertake a three year business degree and the scheme was open to all employees with a view to developing junior to middle management at the oldest manufacturer of timber conservatories and orangeries in the world.

Well, after a very successful first year the Academy has now introduced a summer school for its members to put what they have learnt so far into practice. Split into two teams, they are tasked with investigating opportunities for the company and to evaluate, plan and hopefully implement key initiatives. After seven weeks they will formally present their proposals to Amdega’s board of directors; hopefully not “Apprentice” style and prizes are up for grabs!

Remember, Amdega is renowned for excellence in conservatory design and quality across its range of traditional and contemporary orangeries, conservatories, summerhouses, gazebos and conservatory blinds. Paul Cruddace, Sales & Marketing Director advises “by introducing the Academy we hope our staff will continue to be motivated, hard working and committed to taking Amdega forward”.

Stay tuned for next week’s blog about the forthcoming upgrade of Amdega’s web site.

All good stuff.

Amdega set for launch of new conservatory brochure

Amdega Blogger is proud to advise that on 6 April 2009 Amdega launched its new, exclusive, deluxe brochure of orangeries, conservatories and garden rooms. In response to demand the brochure features a stunning array of contemporary and traditional conservatory designs. With traditional conservatories now enjoying a big resurgence the new brochure features plenty of stunning Amdega rooms giving many varied examples of what Amdega designers can create for every discerning taste, be it contemporary or traditional, large or small.

The bold lines and classical detailing on Amdega’s contemporary orangeries give a modern perspective to the traditional orangery and Amdega’s orangery designs are now a hugely popular choice for modern executive developments as well as period properties.

Blogger tracked down Paul Cruddace, Amdega’s Sales & Marketing Director, for his comment. Paul responded “This brochure is an exciting landmark for Amdega, it has been quite a while since we have displayed our full product range within one all encompassing brochure. At a time when moving home may not be viable, a common approach is to extend instead. It makes complete sense to commission a bespoke conservatory from Amdega, investing and adding value to the home. Each design is individual and they are not just built to extend living and dining spaces. Some people want to create a kitchen conservatory, or space for a home office or even a pool house, the list is endless. You’d be surprised what suggestions can come from an Amdega design consultation, which is free with no obligations and we’ve also got various sales promotions and finance offers in place.”

The brochure also features of taster of the various garden buildings that Amdega has to offer showing quality timber summerhouses and gazebos in various styles, again for modern and traditional tastes. Who would guess that the Manhattan garden building is ideal space for a home gym or a garden office!

Blogger was surprised to find out that Amdega is actually the oldest conservatory manufacturer in the world and was established in 1874 in Darlington, County Durham in the north east of England – where it still operates from today. This new brochure definitely reflects Amdega’s unrivalled heritage, expertise and general know-how and inventiveness in all things conservatories - extremely good stuff!

Amdega Blogger

Conservatory Planning Permission

Are you being shrewd in the current climate and thinking of adding a bespoke timber conservatory to your home instead of moving property? If so you may be confused or even worried about obtaining planning permission, Building Regulations and Listed Building Consents that could be required to allow you to proceed. If that’s the case then Amdega Blogger is pleased to advise that you should look no further than Amdega where we have longstanding expertise in conservatory design and the associated planning process which is second to none in our marketplace.

Regardless of if your preference is for a classic conservatory, contemporary orangery, modern conservatory, glass house for a home office or even a conservatory roof for a pool house we all know that obtaining the necessary consents can be time consuming and a bit of a chore, to say the least. That’s where our in house Planning Division comes in. Basically they handle the whole process on behalf of our clients, something that we know not every conservatory supplier will do.

When I spoke to Gareth Elvidge, Amdega’s longstanding Planning Manager, this week he had this to say. “Good news on the planning front! Last year’s rules governing extensions to properties including conservatories and orangeries obviously affected everything we do. However, these have now been relaxed by the Government which means that clients who have previously been denied the addition of beautiful glazed structures on their properties can now have them without requiring formal planning permission.”

Gareth continued “Regardless of this relaxation, we do appreciate just how important peace of mind is for our clients so every single conservatory and orangery order that we receive is immediately subjected to our rigorous technical and planning checks here at Amdega. As part of this process we also ensure that we obtain written confirmation from the local authority that planning is not required. In the event that it is, we don’t let this delay matters – we appreciate how our clients are eagerly anticipating owning an Amdega and being mindful of this we now make sure that the full planning application is submitted within days of receiving the order – in fact, practically just after the customer’s ink is drying on the order form!”

I’ll be speaking to the Sales & Marketing Director next week to advise what to expect after you have received our conservatory brochure and you would like to meet with our local conservatory designer. All good stuff.

More about the new adverts

As I have already mentioned in an earlier posting there has been a major buzz of anticipation about the place with the January launch of our new advertisements for the timber conservatories and orangeries. We’ve all been buying the Times, Telegraph, Guardian, Observer and Sunday Times over the past two weeks to see how they look on the page and yes, they have exceeded our expectations!

The new ads are based round the concept of being proud to own an Amdega, each individual ad features a different person assigned to a different conservatory or orangery together with the strapline “My Amdega” in bold, prominent text – people who are proud to own their bespoke conservatory or orangery. One ad features the character we have nicknamed ‘Traditional Pearl’ with her traditional conservatory that is used to house an array of plants. Another ad features chic “Amy” and her contemporary orangery living space.

Since we launched the new style ads we have enjoyed a continuously high level of enquiries for brochures as well as people looking to arrange their free, no obligation visit from one of our local conservatory designers. We have already used the concept of My Amdega for summerhouses … but more of that later!

New Year - New Conservatories - New Orangeries – New Summerhouses

Like a lot of people, I return to work with more than a touch of the post Christmas blues, especially with all the miserable weather that we have at this time of year – just how cold and grey is this January 2009?

However, our marketing department has now put the finishing touches on some extremely exciting new creative for conservatories, orangeries and summerhouse ads that will be appearing across the UK national press and home interest magazines from January onwards. Bold and totally different to what has appeared before, these new ads will ensure that we stand out from the rest of our market place and reclaim our rightful place as the market leader – exciting stuff.

Amdega Conservatories

Welcome to the official blog of Amdega Conservatories.