Our "Chocolate Garden" as at 27.05.09

My next one-day project will be to extend the decking to left of the exisitng area, to create a small space for a "Bistro" style table and 2 chairs ( I already have my eyes set one one, which has choc-coloured woven effect detail, to match my lounger). :-)

Feel quite nostalgic as lived in York now no Rowntrees or Terrys all this chocolate reminds me of what we re missing ..of course what you really need is some chocolate pests in your garden David.

Terrys used to make the most delicious chocolate snails .. rich dark chocolate with a dark whipped centre of course they would be heavily predated upon so wouldnt do too much damage ! lol

it looks fantastic David

I know you miss Rowntrees, Bb! Posted pics earlier of chocolate slugs, snails and (friiendly) spiders, sent here by Arlene! :-)

Shes a real treasure isnt she ? Only miss it David as a large part of our social history and these chocolate barons did so much to improve the lot of the working man.

They actually cared for their workforce and were totally fair in their approach if you were a company director with no children you lived in a smaller house than the guy who swept the factory floor but had six kids !

Certainly encouraged loyalty and large families lol

She sure is! Will be meeting up with dear Arlene for the first time in 2 weeks (can't wait).

I saw so much of what you describe, from our visit to the Cadbury factory last August, and the Cadbury-planned workers' village of the 19th century

Current employers should pay heed. reduce sick time/unexplained absence,, job boredom, etc. There's nothing new in all this, after all. :-)

Aye David built towns schools hospitals and still made a profit ..set up Trust funds that still investigate social needs to this day .

Recognised that the smallest cog was needed to keep the biggest wheel turning.

There is a link between Rowntrees and Bourneville David as Rowntrees owned property there and often gave social lectures at Bourneville.

All being Quakers they were closely connected.

Very creative as usual David, and of course how can you miss with 'Chocolate!!!!

Lovely garden, David, you have done so much there. Interesting to read about Cadbury/Bourneville. Somewhere I would like to visit sometime - will have to drop hints to my children :)

Many Thanks, Pollyannaever! Yes, chocolate could be nothing else but a "hit" !

Gee, aren't Bb's writings adding so much more interest to this? Many. many Thanks, Bb, coz I love history just as much as gardening :-). Do drop huge hints, Gee, as Bournville village is really lovely.

Many Many thanks Bb, for all the valuable info! :-)

I sometimes buy the Fairtrade chocolate....do the large companies use the fairtrade brand cocoa?

Mouthwatering......................

looking fantastic David, coming along now isn't it?

Youre welcome David .. really got interested as always assumed Cadburys and Rowntrees would be rival manufacturers .The more interested I became I found that as both families were Quakers they were quite closely linked .

Rowntrees owned a large villa at Bourneville and often gave lectures there.

The villages of Bourneville and New Earswick York were founded on similar principles .

Although Rowntrees as a company swallowed by Nestle - the Joseph Rowntree Foundation is world recognised for its continued contribution to social welfare.It still provides housing and reports on changing social conditions.

At a time when employers saw employees as exploitable commodities these companies were at the forefront of improving workers health education and welfare and quite humbling to think that they gave their employees more rights than many enjoy today.Children were provided with schooling rather than become small workers at tender ages.

Loved the system of equality they operated and were instrumental in recognising the value of women in the workforce and comparable pay.

They insisted that workers should have fresh fruit in their gardens and to this day New Earswick is ablaze with apple cherry and pear blossom each spring.

Would assume the same in Bourneville.

My only problem with all this was the Quaker principle of temperance and no pubs were ever built in these villages !

Hi Lindak. - The famous Cadbury Dairy Milk chocolate bars will, from Autumn this year, be displaying the Fairtrade logo. Cadbury has decided to buy cocoa from Ghana under fairtrade terms. Don't know, yet, about the rest of this company's products, or whether other manufacturers do same.

Hi Sid and Sewgingkilla. - Am very pleased with how the garden is taking shape, many thanks.

Hi Bb. - Many Thanks for this further gr8 info, and can understand your problem, haha! I don't suppose they even made liqueur-flavoured chocolates in those days, then?