In June this year (2015) I moved from my four bedroomed, modern detached house, home for 16 years, to a three bedroomed cottage in a small village in Cheshire. I have dreamed for most of my adult life of a home in the countryside and after many false starts I finally managed to fulfil my dream. The new house is called Dove Cottage and is, in fact, a good, solid, three bedroomed house with small front and back gardens, there is […]
A photographic diary of the progress on our Allotment in Knotty Ash, Liverpool. August 2016 Yet another year had gone by without any entries about the allotment! The main reason for this is that we didn’t really change anything this year. We planted seed potatoes in black plastic bags to keep them out of the ground which has resulted in eel worm in the past. The harvest wasn’t very good in terms of overall weight but we got a few […]
There has long been a real concern regarding the dangers of a British garden dweller, although it’s probably not what you would expect. While it hasn’t got sharp claws or long fangs, and isn’t going to attack you in the middle of the night, this devil-in-disguise can pose quite the risk to your livelihood; in particular, your home. Knotweed, commonly known as Asian or Japanese knotweed, is a large, herbaceous perennial plant that has successfully established itself in and around […]
Christmas is fast-approaching, and although this is a wonderful time to celebrate with your family, it can be somewhat daunting trying to come up with gift ideas for everyone. It doesn’t have to be flashy, it doesn’t have to be expensive, but it should be something you’ve taken the time to think about. If you have a gardener in the family, you’re in luck. There are many different things you can buy them that will help with their hobby and […]
Quality of life is a key consideration for the elderly – making sure that their golden years are as stimulating and enjoyable as possible. Dementia is a general term, describing a group of symptoms related with a decline in memory or other thinking skills severe enough to reduce a person’s ability to perform everyday activities – 1 in 6 people over the age of 80 in the UK live with dementia, with one person being diagnosed every three minutes. Creating […]
With the warmer weather upon us, what better way to celebrate than to get out into the garden and throw a barbecue for your friends and family? It doesn’t get much better than getting everyone together, enjoying refreshing drinks and indulging in some alfresco dining. However, outdoor eating has its hazards – you need to be mindful of the fire risks throughout your barbecue including how to safely dispose of coals and fuel at the end. Taking small but practical steps can minimise […]
As the summer is now well and truly upon us, this means many gardeners will be looking to increase the amount of gardening they do. Caring for the lawn is an important step at this time of year, as the grass is growing more quickly than during the colder months – and proper lawn care requires a high-quality lawn mower. Read on for advice on how to get your lawn mower working like new again. Lawn Care Lawns require more […]
