The Balcony Gardener Blog

Country Homes & Interiors

Thursday, January 26th, 2012

Country Homes & Interiors February issue featured our Seed Paper Tea Biscuits.

Amazon Rainforest Walkway

Thursday, January 26th, 2012

Photograph: Amazon Rainforest, Alamy

We were enthralled when we saw designs for an incredible walkway through the Amazon Forest. Plans are in place for a 9.6km walkway stretching through the Amazon rainforest with a science centre at the heart of it. The pioneering centre and walkway will give visitors spectacular views across the forest and right into the heart of the Amazon.

Plans for Environmental Centre, Marks Barfield Architects and Amazon Charitable Trust

The centre is being funded by a British charity and will be a crucial research base for scientists working in the area. “This will be the first scientific research center to be built in the jungle proper’ explained Robert Pasley-Tyler speaking from the Amazon Charitable Trust who are funding the project. Researchers will be able to use the walkway to study the rainforest canopy whilst tourists will be able to look at the stunning views across the forest.

Amazon River, free-extras.com

Most importantly the centre will provide jobs and opportunities for local tribespeople, it will be located in in Roraima, an isolated province in northeast Brazil. It’s expected to take two years to construct and will boost the local economy. As Robert Pasley-Tyler says ‘It will employ the local river tribe, giving them a way of making a living without destroying the forest, and also boost awareness around the world.”

Treetops Walkway, Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew Gardens. www.kew.org

The site will be designed by Marks Barfield Architects, the firm behind the London Eye and the treetops walkway in the UK’s Royal Botanical Gardens. They are consious of the design and construction being appropriate for the natural surroundings. “It doesn’t support a lot of people in the natural state. You have to be very careful about what you bring in,” said David Marks, from Marks Barfield Architects, adding that the site could be constructed from bamboo.

The team are even trying to get James Cameron involved, it really will be a real-life Avatar experience!

Monday, January 23rd, 2012

We are getting very excited about our new book released next month. See a sneak peek here and watch Isabelle talk about ’The Balcony Gardener’ and share some great tips for gardening in a small space.