One lunchtime last week I stumbled across Dig The City, a gardening festival in Manchester which hosted mini events and plenty of cute market stalls, with amazing ideas on how to get the most out of your garden.
As it was in the city centre where I work, it was great to see an emphasis on how to incorporate gardening into your outdoor space, even if you don’t have the typical grassy area of a suburban house. I wish we’d have known about this event back when we lived in the flat (if it was even going back then! This is the first I’ve heard of the festival), as we only had the balcony and did very little with it. We went for “fairylight-chic” (i.e outdoor lights from Poundland) and left it at that. I imagine this is the case for most people who live smack bang in the city. Really loved these city-specific garden ideas though.
I must admit, I am really not much of a gardening person. I’m not a country bumpkin and the idea of living in a field with acres of land fills me with immeasurable dread. As Austin Powers would say: It’s just not my bag, baby! Saying that, window shopping the wooden huts for ideas of what to do with our slightly larger-than-average garden made for such a lovely lunchtime.
For those who live in Manchester, I think it’s amazing. After all, going to department stores and garden centres – usually in retail parks outside of town – are difficult tasks when you’re not driving there. And I personally don’t think the city centre caters well for the home and garden area.
Joe is going to be the key decision maker when it comes to our garden but that doesn’t mean I can’t say what I like the look of! 🙂
Here are a few snaps I took on my phone of my favourite bits of the festival. Perhaps, when next year’s event comes around, we’ll be getting ready to put these ideas into action! I’ll be back.
Huge wooden crates and chairs to match were everywhere. I love the idea of upcycling something as boring as a wooden box and making it into ‘rustic’ furniture. I think I’d love something like this, if I didn’t think it would be crawling with horrendous spiders. Yes, I’m a wimp.
Also, how awesome is this artificial lawn lounger? Thanks to my lovely work chum, for modelling it! (You can see what she thought of the festival over on her blog, Eat Travel Love)
This was one of my personal favourites of the festival. It was specifically designed to attract bees and whilst this won’t be something we will be doing after they tried to take over our home recently, what did take my eye were the wall displays. We currently have a concrete ‘fence’ on one side of the garden which looks a bit naf to be honest. I love the idea of a decking style, with boxes of greenery and blooming flowers. It might even make a good area for a herb garden. (Would it? I’m pants at gardening so I have no clue!)
Joe loves this kind of design. The perfect lawn with rockery and gravel. Am I right, Joe? Also, I love the retro looking plants in these recycled tins. No blummin’ clue where we could implement this ourselves, but I thought it was cute all the same.
And what would a good festival be without a bit of Manchester pride and a heck of a lot of cake! I treated myself to an amazingly fresh lemonade and a Malteaser brownie. Not the most nutritious lunch I’ve ever had, but amazing.
OH, and there was this art installation too – flowers I believe it is meant to be, made of balloons. Can anyone see it? Anyone? I was unconvinced, but liked the bright colours. Easily amused? Moi? Sure, why not!
Did anyone else go? Meet you at the brownie stalls next year 🙂
