The Sketch Book and Shovel

Glasgow South: Stylish Chill-out Garden Design in Giffnock

Welcome to another project article in our Garden Design Portfolio Series.  This garden has been designed by Nicky Patterson and will be built by the team of garden designers and landscapers at GardenImprovements.com.

The design was commissioned by Mark R from Williamwood; in-between Clarkston and Giffnock in the southside of Glasgow in Lanarkshire, Scotland. (more…)

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Renfrewshire Garden Design: New Family Space in Paisley

This contemporary garden design was commissioned by Laura A from the west end of Paisley in Renfrewshire near Glasgow, Scotland. Laura wanted a social area with a sunny aspect where she and her husband could entertain and barbecue.  The new garden should be easily maintained and level where possible with nice deep and wide steps.  As she was expecting she also needed some space for some toddler’s play equipment but was adamant that the garden would be for the family as a whole and not just for kids.

Designer: Nicky Patterson

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Tags: garden designer paisley, gardening paisley, landscaper paisley, landscaping, nicky patterson

Garden Safety for Children’s Play and Learning

If like me you’ve got kids and you’ve got a garden that you like to keep looking good, then you’ll no doubt be wondering how the two will get on with another.  The Kids Garden website has a guide on some straight forward dos and dont’s to help us mediate between the two.  Some points are a tad obvious but most will indeed be of value to parents of children of all stages.

Why not give yourself a head-start this Easter weekend and get the juniors involved in preparing the garden ready for the summer ahead?

If you have a project in mind where you’d like to have an area dedicated to children’s play or if you’d like to build a garden which will act as an activity and education resource for your children, as well as providing suitable grown up pursuits (such as relaxing and entertaining!) then please drop us a line at GardenImprovements.com and enquire about our Garden Design Services.

Hope everyone has a wonderful Easter weekend!

Nicky Patterson, Designer @ GardenImprovements.com

Tags: children garden, garden safety

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• Operation "get back into suit for Christening" kicks off today…man I only had breakfast an hour ago and I think I'm dropping into ke… #
• The kind thing to do would be to put Lafferty down. #
• …of course I'm gettin beat at bowling by my wife AND 3yo girl!! #
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• Surveyd 4a "garden extension" in Mearnskirk; put a wee bit of design spin on it to up the value + hpfully win job…now to watch the 'tic!! #
• Pop-up tent I got for Troon beach today doesn't quite 'pop-down' again…what a riddy man!! #
• Gutterball:: Mr Insurance wants £2000 to insure my other van… and that's with an excess of £600… It's only worth £1200!! #
• Snookered:: hunted for 2 hours for car/house keys – have interrogated wife + kids + ransacked the house…no keys. #
• Brain Bleed:: Michelle "Monotone" McManus on STV. #

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• Just uploaded a new video on Landscape Juice Network http://ning.it/ad4B1q #
• RSA Animate – First as Tragedy, Then as Farce http://bit.ly/cOi2OU #
• RSA Animate – The Empathic Civilisation http://bit.ly/9oQ0xK #
• New on LJN: Staff incentives and keeping Clients happy through a long build http://bit.ly/9ADVLX #gi #
• Watchin:: There Will Be Blood. #
• Feelin a bit queasy about new dyson purchase…how much!? #
• http://twitpic.com/2dydk3 – Preview:: Cubic Living Room garden design in Scotstoun – final day :p #
• http://twitpic.com/2dyeci – Preview:: Cubic Living Room garden design in west end of Glasgow – planting up + snaggings! #
• Please join us to celebrate Thomas' Christening on 5th September @ St Joseph's Clarkston @ 1315 then for a hoolie afterwards: RSVP Gai… #

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Weekly word on the Tweet

• I've never seen RZA in a film in my puff and here he's been in 2 films in a row tonight! RZult! #
• My Blackberry has decided to have a kit-kat so I'm off comms until Tuesday morning – email me: nicky@gardenimprovements.com or phone G… #
• Betty's talking away to herself but not sounding her Ts; Gail says "Speak properly!"; Betty says "I am! I'm speaking Spanish!"…!! #
• Betty's talking away to herself but not sounding her Ts; Gail says "Speak properly!"; Betty says "I am! I'm speaking Spanish!"…!! #
• Gr8 nite out Saturday @ west-end's new Hillhead Book Club: ping pong + cocktails out a gramophone!! Well done Paul, great place! @hhbookclub #
• Putting finishing touches today on a contemporary stylish garden design in Bellshill #
• Slated Wet Wall water feature being installed today in our Cubic Living Room design in west-end Glasgow…hopefully plants in on Friday! #
• Waiting on sleepers delivery to finish off 8 wk build of Giffnock's very steep (and muddy) Family Angles garden design #
• Also nearly finished is our build for Multi-Functional Squares garden design in a new build property in Bearsden #
• RT @LandscapeJuice: "Sponsoring Landscape Juice gives Marshalls a great opportunity to… http://bit.ly/aWTyo7 #
• Countrywide Residential Lettings/Slater Hogg have just charged us £60 for extending our lease…doubleyoo-tee-eff is that all about? #
• Just been commissioned for a fantastic full garden re-design in Bishopbriggs, north Glasgow :D #
• WeLikey:: Small Fully Functional Home Office in a Courtyard | DigsDigs http://bit.ly/cNcjUe #
• That's me back on the grid with a shiny new replacement Blackberry: you can all relax ;D. #
• Watching:: Generation Kill #
• WeLikey:: Birdsong Radio, Live Dawn Chorus Bird Song Station, Birdsong DAB Station, Increase productivity and relax! http://bit.ly/9tg1Cr #
• Mon the Hoops!! #

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Weekly word on the Tweet

• JD Flynn is looking for a player for indoor 5s tonight, Eastwood high 7 bells. #
• Garden Detectives – fun for kids in East Kilbride | s1play.com http://bit.ly/do7yu5 #
• Anybody know an easy way to convert powerpoint to flash? #
• WeLikey:: New Ergonomic Outdoor Chairs – Formula 40 by Area Declic | DigsDigs http://bit.ly/99fCti #
• WeLikey:: Sun Loungers by Harbour Outdoor | Design Milk http://bit.ly/asmLJM #
• 2 designs nearing completion 2day: presentations 2moro. 3 projects near finished too…progress at last!! #
• 35deg sun + Samaras up front…not sure this will go well…!! #
• WeLikey:: Coolest Space Saving Staircase Designs | DigsDigs http://bit.ly/bAvDMY #
• Watch Online Sports, News and Entertainment for free http://bit.ly/dh34TH #
• Watchin Sherlock on iPlayer with Mrs P + Tommy P…Betty P in her beddy bos…the 'tic were a loada' P. #
• Mrs P has started getting an organic veg box delivered from Grow Wild – http://bit.ly/c81cf2: the difference in taste is quite remarkable!! #
• RT @urbangardens: Plant Photo Tagging, cool! http://ow.ly/2ivxM #
• Glad Pat McCourt has signed new deal with the 'tic…and we still signed Kayal despite being dumped outta Europe…!! #
• Scots face five years of spending slaughter – Scotsman.com http://bit.ly/b0Z0BL #
• Man…Fridays are stressful!! #

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Weekly word on the Tweet

• Finished The Wire this week: It was the sheeeeeeeeeeeee-eet obviously but now I need something good to follow it…?? #
• sometimes i think, maybe they COULD make a film about my MW2 exploits, other times i think, naaaah… #
• The Scottish Midge Forecast http://bit.ly/c9alPa #
• Spinnin' this week pop-pickers: Vampire Weekend – Contra, Maximo Park – …trigger + best of the Smiths. #
• I play real sports, not try to be the best at exercising. #
• Escapa! Helps Build Your Concentration http://bit.ly/b37fPD #

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Weekly word on the Tweet

• It's been a mad 2 months for the Patterson family but things returning to normal(ish) a little + I'll be back to tweeting soon ;D #
• We're currently building 5 fantastic gardens in Glasgow – the most we've ever had @ once +I'm still getting used 2the management acrobatics! #

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Weekly word on the Tweet

• RAH Paisley – baby no. 2 on its way!! #
• It's a boy!! 7lbs 14oz @ 18:55 tonight!!! Mum + baby well!! #
• Thank you everybody for all your kind messages – Gail and I (and Betty) are made up with them and chuffed to have some great peeps about!! #
• For anybody not going to TinthePark this weekend, I'm gonna be properly wetting my boy's head on Saturday night!! #
• em according to who?? #

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Weekly word on the Tweet

• Excitement of seeing my guitar on River City in the end totally numbed by watching the film Obsessed from start to finish. #

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Weekly word on the Tweet

• Frankie has run out of patter with a splatter. #
• Have so far accumulated a massive 1 point in the WC sweep-stake…nicht gut!! #
• Pullin' an all nighter to catch up on some work…god bless internet TV!! #
• Zoom Lolly T-shirt Tan. #

Tags: garden designer, gardener, landscaper, nicky patterson