Vialii Review of 2014…
The recent cold weather has given us plenty time to stay nice and warm inside and think over what a year 2014 was (aided by a cuppa or two!) Here is our Vialii Review of 2014 and what 2014 was the year of to us…
It’s great to see the community utilising the re-designed Provost’s Park
The year of even more up-cycling
You know us, we’re always on the look-out for ways to utilise items that would otherwise make their way into landfill. In the past we’ve even been known to create an outside lounge for a client, just to utilise a Victorian cast iron fireplace that was found in the house renovations! Back in April we blogged about some other up-cycling ideas we’d tried out at Vialii Towers. We used our old trailer wheels and tyres to make unusual planters. We made a quirky container to display potted plants and encouraged wildlife into the garden by making a bird table from left over timber. We also thought we’d give you step-by-step instructions on how to make your own planters out of pallets. The herbs we planted in ours were a great success last year.
Our bird table was made from left over wood
The year “Lulu’s Garden” grew it’s readership
Our 3 year old blogging daughter writes for our sister gardening company Vialii Garden Services on fun and informative aspects of growing your own veg and wildlife gardening. There were lots of outdoor activities and fun crafts featured in “Lulu’s Garden” in 2014 with the wonderful perk of getting a great array of tasty food to try and colourful decorations around the house and garden. Not to mention lovely Mother’s and Father’s day gifts! With our latest Vialii team member newly arrived (more on that later), Lulu has some help at present from her guest-blogging BFF Euan. As a growing 3 year old boy his focus is always switched on to food so you can be sure there are always children’s cooking and baking ideas to use up home grown produce.
Blogger Lulu getting inspiration
The year of weather extremes
Weather conditions made working in gardens last year challenging to say the least. 2014 had the hottest summer but was also the 4th wettest year on record. The hot weather didn’t affect us too much, we just had to take extra care ensuring new plants and lawns were well-watered (and of course use lots of sun cream and wear a hat!) The wet November however saw an already challenging sloped garden turn into a precarious working environment. Not sure the team really saw the free mud baths as a perk of the job though!
Lulu’s site inspection to check for muddy puddles
The completed patio and summerhouse
The year of a new look at Vialii Towers
Gardens of course never stay static. They are constantly evolving, be that naturally or with a little help. We gave our own garden a simple but effective revamp last year. When we first designed our garden we built troughs around the deck and painted them white. Last year we felt Michael wasn’t being exposed to enough girliness with just a wife and one daughter so we decided to add a bright splash of pink to the troughs in a quick and easy makeover. We also added new pink pots to the patio area and a bright teal coat of paint to our bird table. New upcycled planters added more colour around the garden. Reports that it has helped Michael get more in touch with his feminine side are yet to be confirmed!
Added colour transforms our deck area
The year that the refurbished Provost’s Park opened
The opening of Provost Park in Bridge of Allan by our daughter Lulu was the culmination of almost 4 years of discussion and planning. The design remit was to transform an underused space in the town centre that is situated immediately beside the public toilet into an inviting park that could be used by all. The space needed to be accessed by families, couples and the elderly so path widths and surfaces were important. It also needed to fit in with the Victorian spa town and be easy to maintain. We created a focal point with a cast iron gazebo in the centre of the formal gardens. This was surrounded by symmetrical planting and topiary- both favourites of Victorians. Metal laser-cut screens displaying iconic Bridge of Allan features such as the Allanwater Bridge, the local celebrity heron, the Paterson Clock and a church window help camouflage the toilet block as well as creating a great back drop to the garden.
The completed Provost’s Park was officially opened
The year we went through a kitchen
Whilst it was a relatively small project, the build of one garden in Stirling was challenging and memorable due to the only access being through their kitchen. I think it’s a first for Vialli that the team were carting through materials whilst the client made macaroni cheese for her family. It did seem to make them work even faster so they could get to their lunch though!
This was the only access to the garden
It was a particularly satisfying build because prior to finding Vialii the client had been told by another uninterested landscaper that “if you ever get anybody to do your garden for you then they will be cowboys”. This was a red rag to the proverbial bull and we were chuffed to deliver the family a beautiful garden of which they are delighted with. And not a cowboy in sight! Yee-ha!
The finished garden
The year of the staycation
We were lucky enough to have 2 family holidays in 2014. We headed to Northumberland and to Kingussie in the Scottish Highlands. That gave us great opportunity to visit some lovely gardens in the UK. Up in the Highlands we visited Blair Castle Gardens. The extensive grounds contain a wooded grove, a walled garden, a babbling burn (Banvie Burn), a ruined kirk, a sculpture trail and a red deer park.
The Banvie Burn is a gorgeous water feature!
The year of the “green extension” trend
With the summers of 2013 and 2014 being particularly good, a lot of our clients have been looking to make their gardens into an extension of their houses. They’ve been especially keen to ensure they had outdoor spaces where they could play, relax, entertain, dine and have fun. Summerhouses, offices, pergolas and large dining patios have all been created. All members of the family have been catered for with new lawns (both real and artificial) created for kids and pets to enjoy.
The pergola gives added privacy in this family garden
The year that Tilda joined Team Vialii
Our biggest highlight in our Review of 2014 has to be the arrival of baby daughter Tilda at Vialii Towers in November. Lulu’s proving to be a wonderful big sister and is looking forward to Tilda being able to get outside and start gardening. Keep your eyes peeled for a cute pic of all the family in their Vialii t-shirts coming to your screens soon 🙂
The youngest Vialii team members
We can’t wait to see what this year is going to bring…
Here’s to a wonderful 2015 everyone.
All at Vialii
The “Lulu Burt Best of 2014 Awards”
Mummy says we’ve started a New Year called 2015 and it will be the year of the Sheep in the Chinese calendar. That’s fab as both me and my BFF Euan LOVE our toy sheep (both called Baa Baa!). I had an amazing time in 2014 so am hoping 2015 will be just as exciting. Here are my favourite things from 2014, otherwise known as the “Lulu Burt Best of 2014 Awards”.
Best product I used in garden
I had lots of fun last Spring using the fabby kids gardening tools from Twigz. I used them to grow veggies and flowers from seed and to look after the seedlings and plants as they got bigger. My favourite item was the watering can.
Twigz do a wonderful range of garden tools for children
Best things I grew (apart from taller that is!)
Regular readers will know that I LOVE a big bright sunflower. I even gave them away in the party bags from my birthday party last year. Two of my others faves to grow are tomatoes and potatoes. Imagine my excitement at discovering the TomTato plant. It grows tomatoes above the ground and potatoes below, all at the same time, cool huh? The big crop of sweet tomatoes was really, really yummy but the crop of potatoes didn’t stretch very far when it came to feeding a growing girl. It still wins the prize for yummy sweet tomatoes and being really different.
Best books I reviewed
The contest for best book was a close run thing, I gave 5 Lulu Burt gold stars to 2 fun books in 2014. So in this category we have a tie between fellow blogger Dawn Isaac’s “101 Things for Kids To Do Outside” and “Findus, Food and Fun” from Hawthorn Press.
Both books have really fab activities that little-uns like me can do.
The book is PACKED full of lots
(well 101 to be precise) of awesome ideas
Best places I visited
This is a no brainer. It just has to be Provost Park in Bridge of Allan. I (Lulu Ann Burt, aged 2.5 years) was the very important person who got to open the newly designed park. Mummy and Daddy were involved in this design project even before I was born (I still can’t believe anything of importance happened before I arrived!) It was great to see the site being turned into a low maintenance, Victorian themed place to meet friends or just relax.
Me officially opening MY park!
Best things I’ve made
Mummy tells me it is better to give a gift than to get one. This year I had lots of fun making presents for Mummy on Mothers Day and Daddy on Father’s day. Since I’m just little I didn’t have many pennies to spend so made do with up-cycling things from our kitchen.
Pansies in cheese boxes makes a lovely gift
My decorated tin can planters
Best thing that happened in 2014
BIG DRUM ROLL PLEASE……. the overall, most wonderful and exciting thing that happened to me in 2014 was that I became a big sister. My very cute and cuddly (but not very good at playing hide and seek yet) little sister Tilda was born in November 2014. I can’t wait until she is old enough to do some gardening with me!
Tilda and I – double cuteness!
Wow, I did have a very busy year. What did you get up to in 2014? I’d love to hear all about your adventures. Let’s have even more in 2015!
Lulu xx
Bridge of Allan Times
An article on the official opening of Provost’s Park which Vialii designed and which was opened by our very own Lulu.
Stirling News
The official opening of Vialii’s Provost Park in Bridge of Allan by our very own Lulu Burt.
I Declare Provost’s Park Officially Open!
I had an awesome day yesterday as I, Lulu Burt, (aged two and a half) had the great honour of officially opening Provost’s Park in Bridge of Allan! M&D have been working on the re-design of the Park from even before I was born (wow!) but it was really worth the wait to see the finished park and see so many people come out for the opening. Here are some pics from my big day along with a little bit about the park and the new design…
I unveil the plaque with Gavin Drummond
and declare Provost’s park officially open!
The site of the park used to be a church, waaaaay long ago. Even before M&D were born! The corner beside the toilet has been made into the Ecclesiastical (fancy name for church) garden to reflect this and features pews from a village church as well as ecclesiastic type planting.
The crowds gather in Provost’s Park
A Victorian theme was chosen for the new park to reflect Bridge of Allan being a Victorian spa town.
Lots of seating and wide paths in the park was important so locals and visitors can use the garden comfortably.
Low maintenance planting that tied in with the Victorian theme was important so that the park remains easy to manage by the wonderful Friends of Bridge of Allan who look after it.
A clever lady called Claire Gibbons designed the screens around the toilet block. They feature lovely details from around the village such as the bridge, heron, Paterson’s clock and a church window.
The entertainment on the day was from:
- Beaconhurst School who had a brilliant folk band. Like properly awesome. I loved dancing to them.
- Dance Connection who had pretty ballerinas in tutus and wellies at the actual opening and then there were lots of dance performances in the church hall after. Carla is the teacher – she is very talented and I go to her classes too. They are LOTS of fun!
- A slide show of old photos and the BofA Coronation film, put together by the lovely Janie Meikle Bland.
- A talk from Malcolm Allen who is a local historian and expert on all things BofA
- Lovely tea and biscuits from the wonderful Friends of Bridge of Allan.
The plaque with my name on it
Me, M&D. What a proud day!
Provost’s Park Blossoms
The completed park
Being based in the village, we have been delighted to have been involved in the project from its initial concept right through the funding process and throughout the build and are thrilled to be able to give something back to the community for residents and visitors to enjoy.
Since the controversial new toilet block was finally completed in Bridge of Allan, the space around it, known as Provost’s Park, had largely been left untouched and was a sad space in an otherwise beautiful and prosperous village. The Provost’s Lamp had been renovated and given a new life but its surroundings had yet to be brought up to the same standard.
Before: the park was not befitting of beautiful Bridge of Allan
We were approached in late 2010 to discuss the possibility of being involved in the renovation of Provost Park. As a local company based in Bridge of Allan, we were delighted to be able to provide advice and designs for the benefit of the community.
Initially, Michael and Jill Burt met with some of the Community Council to discuss the project. Jill recalls:
“It was in the middle of a cold snap in the winter of 2010 when we first met up Gavin Drummond and Liz Rankin from the Community Council. They were putting up the village Christmas tree in the park to try and add some sparkle to what was otherwise an uninspiring space. At least the thick covering of snow hid the lack of interest underneath! At the meeting Liz and Gavin discussed some of the ideas that had been considered for the space and asked if we were able to pull together some thoughts.”
The design for the new Provost’s Park
Jill explains the inspiration for the design:
“There were three main requirements which jumped out at us from the outset. Firstly, the community required a practical area where they can relax and enjoy the world going by. The space needed to be usable by everyone in the community whether that’s families, couples or elderly so path widths and surfaces were important. Plentiful seating was clearly important too. Secondly, the area had to look good. The Friends of Bridge of Allan, who look after many of Bridge of Allan’s public gardens, carry out fantastic work in the community and Provost’s Park has been a contentious issue for some time. We were keen to design a space that the community could all be proud of and be happy to use. It’s a great space, right in the middle of the village so it needed to have the “wow factor” and be fitting of its focal point in such an attractive village. Lastly, we were keen to reflect the Victorian inspiration which surrounds the park and the spa village and design a garden which would be appropriate for the space.
The gazebo makes a wonderful focal point
“The main focal point for the design is a stunning, cast iron gazebo, situated in the centre of the formal gardens. Victorians loved symmetry and topiary so we made sure these were key features of the space. Vintage style bricks edge wide pathways suitable for all members of the community. Decorative metal screens surround the toilet block providing a nicer backdrop to the gardens and include details inspired by the village itself. In the corner closest to the toilets, an ecclesiastical garden has been created, reflecting the park once being the site of a church. Liz managed to obtain beautiful pew benches from one of the village churches which sit in this area looking onto a centre bed of perfumed plants. The central focal point of this area is the existing stone fountain.
The wall which runs the length of Provost Park will boast new interpretation boards highlighting some of the key features and historical information about Bridge of Allan. To the front of the park, a grassy area has been included, allowing space to sit out and relax and watch the world passing by.
The ecclesiastical garden and the new screens
View down onto the new Provost’s Park
The official opening will take place on Sunday 28th September 2014 from 3pm. The official opening will be undertaken by Gavin Drummond and our very own Lulu Burt. There will be music from Beaconhurst School and dancers from Dance Connections. Malcolm Allan will be giving a short talk on the Park and there will be refreshments, a slideshow and a performance by Dance Connections in the Parish Church afterwards. All are very welcome and we hope you can join us to celebrate this wonderful project.
Lulu preparing to open the new Provost’s Park
You can read more about Provost’s Park and our other garden transformations on our website.
Best wishes,
All at Vialii
Stirling News
An update on the Provost’s Park revamp as the initial landscaping works start to take shape and bring Vialii’s design to life.
Bridge of Allan Times
Our article on the re-design of Provost’s Park in Bridge of Allan.
Stirling News
Work on Provost’s Park which Vialii designed finally gets underway after several years of designing, consulting and fund raising for the make-over.
Allanwater Herald
Bridge of Allan Community Council apply for funding to turn Vialii’s design for Provost’s Park into reality.
Allanwater Herald
Our design for Provost’s Park has been revealed by Bridge of Allan Community Council and the local community have an opportunity to provide their feedback on the design.
