Page 29 - link magazine

HOME & GARDEN 29

Pretty A Craftsman
Dangerous of the Old
ClareBeaton takes a School
look at plants to be Local decorator could
treated with suspicion create the house
of your dreams!
I was collecting my brother from
the John Radcliffe Hospital in Have you ever looked at the
Oxford after his impacted wis- colour photographs of beauti-
dom teeth had been extracted. fully decorated rooms in a
We were waiting at the hospital housekeeping or DIY magazine
pharmacy for his prescription to and wished you could create
be made up and! was diverted by those effects? The leaflets put
a poster displaying various com- out by paint manufacturers
mon plants that are poisonous. make it look so easy. However,
At the time I was interested in when you have a go, things do
spotting how many of the illus- not go as smoothly as you
trated plants I grew in my gar- dreamt. Ray Stansfield with his display board and 40 year old tools.
den; lords-and ladies (Arum itali- In Ray Stansfield, West Swin- To achieve the results, he uses
cum), hellebores (Christmas and don has an experienced and special brushes, combs and other R.T. Fancy
Lenten Roses), lily-of the- valley, professional craftsman with materials which are over 40 years
Winter aconites and the yet more skills which are rarely seen old; some are impossible to get Landscape
hazardous summer-flowering nowadays. But he is not able to nowadays. Gardener in
Monkshood (Aconitum x bicolour) show them off enough. Living in Every job Ray takes on has to
just start the list. Grange Park, Ray takes on con- be priced individually according West Swindon
On reflection, it has high- tract work with various builders to the customer's requirements.
lighted how dangerous a place A local example of his skill is the He does take on ordinary paint- 20 years of experience.
the garden can be and the care attractive internal decoration at ing and paper hanging work as Turfing, Paving,
that should be taken when chil- The Village Inn at Shaw Village well, though seeing his demon-
dren visit, or when planting and Centre. Further afield, he deco- stration panels can convince you Fencing,
pruning activities take place. rated the Penthouse Suite on the that you should have unique Planting new Gardens
Commonly known poisonous Q.E. II. decoration around you. Rockery Construction,
plants are ivy and laburnum; I "I just can't get enough work Most people do not have the Pergolas etc.
have often heard of these as to use my skills. I served a 7 year time or the experience to achieve New gardens
plants to avoid in a garden with apprenticeship back home in Ray's results. However, he could
young children. Aconites are so Yorkshire after leaving school at create the house of your dreams. TEL: 875174
poisonous that after the roots are fourteen and have been in the
handled when clumps in the trade for over thirty years," said
border are being divided you are Ray. "Special effect painting is PURCHASE OR EXCHANGE
your Gift Token with us.
advised to wash your hands im- coming back into fashion, but
"THE PRESENT FOR
mediately. the skills are dieing out slowly."
However, there are hazards Seeing the decoration of his THE FUTURE"
beyond that of simply eating own house, Ray achieves de- VISIT YOUR
something poisonous. Several lightful effects by sponging, rag LOCAL GARDEN
plants have defence mechanisms rolling, brush dragging, stencil-
similar to that of the stinging ling and graining, both on walls, CENTRE
nettle, but on a more vicious woodwork and furniture. Large Selection of Trees.
scale. I have seen various clumps Shrubs • Alpines • Heathers.
of spurges included in amenity Conifers & Herbaceous
plantings around West Swindon pear in the garden. They all have Perennials.
and all members of this Euphor- attractive red berries in the au- All Your Garden Requirements.
bia family contain a milky sap tumn and may be collected along HAYDON WICK, SWINDON
similar in appearance to that of a with the prized hedgerow black- Tel: Swindon 721221
dandelion. Sensitive skins react berries. Spindle trees in the Entrance Junction Lady Lane
with a rash after contact and if the amenity plantings have attrac- and Westfield Way
sap is transferred to eyes or tive pink and orange berries;
.4; .4,
mouth painful swelling may well violently purgative if eaten [and
result. There is an equally un- poisonous]. The moral is, to be
friendly giant hogweed (Hera- careful; nothing should be eaten Raymond Stansfield
cleum mantegazzianum) whose until positively identified as
hairy stems can cause blistering wholesome.
to a degree that leaves scars. I 000000000 DECORATOR
have, seen this plant recom- with over 30 years experience.
mended for garden use because A GARDEN
of its 'statuesque' quality but I
think it ought to carry a Govern- TO VISIT Craftsman in Paint and Decor
ment Health Warning or be Corsley Mill is south of A3098
banned altogether lit self-seeds at Chapmanslade, which is west SPECIALIST in Paperhanging, Graining, Marble,
invasivelyl. of Westbury, and promises 400 and Decorative Effects & Finishes.
Berries are an obvious danger different roses planted alongside
area. Woody nightshade and formal walks together with a
various bryonies are native to the stream and plantings of primu- Telephone: (0793) 874299
hedgerows preserved through- las, willows and birches; admis-
out West Swindon and can ap- sion £1, open 2p.m.-5p.m.