Astley Archives

An Artful Gardener - An Artful Blog - A Celt with a burning torch landscape

History The Old Vicarage

November 6, 2020

All Hallows, Samhain and the Grey Lady of Astley Moss

Ghost stories are taken seriously in this part of the world. The Old Vicarage lies at the edge of a wetland wilderness, Astley Moss, now protected as an area of…

Neil Kinsella

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The Garden

September 7, 2020

A Leap of Leopards – in a Manchester Garden

We have a leap of leopards in our Mancunian front garden. It’s okay though, they’re no trouble and it’s safe to approach them. They definitely don’t bite. They’re spectacular performers…

Neil Kinsella

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An Artful Gardener - An Artful Blog - Vivaldi composer of the Four Seasons landscape

The Garden

August 31, 2020

Vivaldi’s Artistic Challenge – “The Eight Wonky Seasons of the Pandemic” (inspired by a Manchester garden in 2020)

If you’ve been in the garden this year, you can be forgiven for being confused by the comings and goings of the seasons. Whilst, at the same time, feeling blessed…

Neil Kinsella

Love1

An Artful Gardener Astley Old Vicarage Garden visitors cake stall and greenhouse

Charities The Garden

June 15, 2019

Which weekend? Or why it’s better to be lucky than good

The Cleverness of Me. "Oh, the cleverness of me". This is my daughter’s favourite putdown whenever I get too big for my boots - gardening or otherwise. So it is,…

Neil Kinsella

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Charities The Garden

May 30, 2019

When will the Poppy Flowers Pop?

We go live with the garden at Astley Old Vicarage in 2 days when we open under the National Garden Scheme . We'll welcome friends and visitors, old and new,…

Neil Kinsella

Love1

An Artful Gardener National Garden Scheme Garden Open poster

Charities The Garden

May 29, 2019

National Garden Scheme Part Two (for us)

It’s that time of year again when 3,500 private gardens nationwide open their gates for the National Garden Scheme and its charities - and our garden at Astley Old Vicarage…

Neil Kinsella

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An Artful Gardener - Old Vicarage front door and windows

History

May 27, 2019

Astley Old Vicarage – A Venerable Old House with a Friendly Ghost

“There is a ‘spirit’, you might almost call it a ‘friendly ghost’, in this house.” So wrote the Reverend William King, the Vicar of St. Stephen’s Church, Astley, after he…

Neil Kinsella

Love1

Astley Archives - An Artful Gardener

All Hallows, Samhain and the Grey Lady of Astley Moss

A Leap of Leopards – in a Manchester Garden

Vivaldi’s Artistic Challenge – “The Eight Wonky Seasons of the Pandemic” (inspired by a Manchester garden in 2020)

Which weekend? Or why it’s better to be lucky than good

When will the Poppy Flowers Pop?

National Garden Scheme Part Two (for us)

Astley Old Vicarage – A Venerable Old House with a Friendly Ghost