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 Ltd at CLA Game Fair at Belvoir Castle 24-26 July

Amdega Blogger is proud to advise that we are exhibiting Amdega summerhouses at the CLA Game Faire at Belvoir Castle near Grantham in Leicestershire this year. It’s our first year at the Show and our attendance this year has created a buzz around the office and factory at Darlington.

For the first time in years, Amdega attended RHS Hampton Palace Court Flower Show earlier in this month, again displaying various garden buildings. On some days the heavens opened up but by no means did that stop people from their RHS day out. Lots of past customers were called in and the comment that was repeated numerous times was “it’s good to see Amdega back”! We were received an RHS Commendation Certificate for presentation of the stand, a tribute to everyone back at Darlington who worked hard to achieve success.

Three best selling summerhouses from our Chelsea range will be on display at the CLA – 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 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 CLA Game Fair was established in 1958 and is nationally and internationally recognised as the greatest celebration of country sports as well as promoting all aspects of country life. The Show runs from 24 to 26 July and it is expected to attract over 150,000 visitors.

Come and visit Amdega at CLA Game Fair, Entrance A, Stand B239.

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