Biodiversity is the ‘buzz’ word at the Chelsea Flower Show

David Bellamy’s obviously agrees when he says ‘Be proud of your solar powered compost heap it buzzes with biodiversity the year round, while reducing, reusing and recycling garden waste’.

 So what are the best ways to increase biodiversity in your own back yard?

1) Small gardens may lack large trees so why not install a nesting box to provide a home to a family of birds?

2) Include plants that flowers through all seasons to attract insects all year round. 

3 Incorporate wet and dry areas, mosses and ferns as well as flowering plants and drystone walling. Tthe more nooks and crannies the better for biodiversity!

4) Put your vegatable peelings and tea bags to good use. Tuck a compost heap away at the bottom of the garden. You'll be pleased you did next year!

5) Plant flowers and herbs that attract bees... where would we be without them? Foxgloves, Sunflowers, Rosemary and Sage are great for starters!

Tags: easy fill hanging baskets | compost | nesting boxes | bees | biodiversity | david bellamy | chelsea flower show

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Tags: plantopia | haning baskets | easy fill baskets | easy fill hanging basets | ideal world hanging baskets

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So many people have been approaching us lately about the Easy Fill Hanging Baskets they have seen on the Ideal World Shopping Channel and on QVC. The baskets that come in 14", 12" and the new wall basket are the easiest to plant up and the healthiest for the plants. The side panels simply click out so that you can place mature plants in the side without damaging the roots by podging through tiny holes in liners. What is more, no moss is needed and as they are made from recycled material that makes them all the more eco!

Globehuggers.com sell these baskets individually but you will also find them a real bargain if bought in threes! Remember, they make great gifts too. Plantopia easy fill hanging baskets from Globehuggers.com. Quite simply the best hanging basket on the market!

Tags: plantopia | easy fill hanging baskets | easy fill wall basket | ideal world hanging basket | QVC hanging basket | cheap hanging basket | hanging basket with side panels

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Tomorrow is Earth Day. Earth Day Network was founded on the premise that all people, regardless of race, gender, income, or geography, have a moral right to a healthy, sustainable environment. Their mission is to broaden and diversify the environmental movement worldwide, and to mobilize it as the most effective vehicle for promoting a healthy, sustainable environment. They pursue their mission through a combination of education, public policy, and activism campaigns. Earth Day Network has a global reach with more than 20,000 partners and organizations in 190 countries. More than 1 billion people participate in Earth Day activities, making it the largest secular civic event in the world.

Add your act of green now at ww.earthday.org

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If you have ever struggled with moss and liners whilst potting up your spring hanging baskets - there is help at hand. Our easy plant hanging and wall baskets put a stop to the use of sphagnum moss - which is unsustainable. They can be used year after year and they are made from recycled plastic. A frost and UV filter means that they are perfect for use all year round.

To find out more, click here.

Tags: easy plant hanging basket | easy planters | wall basket | plantopia hanging basket

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Fairtrade Fortnight 2010 has the theme of ‘The Big Swap’ to rally people across the UK and Ireland to swap everyday shopping basket items such as tea, coffee, chocolate, cotton tee-shirts, pineapples, bananas, cakes, sugar and a host of other products for Fairtrade ones during the fortnight. Fairtrade Fortnight is the annual nationwide campaign to promote awareness of Fairtrade and encourage people to buy products which carry the FAIRTRADE Mark in order to help farmers in developing countries. Attending this evening’s reception will be around 300 Fairtrade campaigners, retailers, manufacturers, producers, consumers and government ministers.

‘This extraordinary support for Fairtrade means we are well placed to make an even bigger difference in 2010. We are redoubling our efforts to expand Fairtrade to more producers, enabling them to sell more on Fairtrade terms,’ Harriet Lamb will say. ‘Fairtrade Fortnight 2010 is focussed on the Big Swap. The message is unequivocal, for producers to benefit, shoppers must actually put Fairtrade products in their baskets – they can only sell more if we buy more.’

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It's here! Our easy fill hanging baskets have been a firm favourite for almost a decade now and we have been repeatedly asked for a half-moon wall mountable version. Finally the plantopia wall basket has come off the production line and we will be taking it to garden shows around the country in 2010.

For more info or bulk prices on our Plantopia hanging basket lines, call 0845 388 1938.

Tags: plantopia | hanging basket | wall basket | easy planters | easy plant hanging basket

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Make pancakes that you can feel good about eating! Try using Fairtrade flour, sugar, bananas and chocolate all available from Sainsbury's! Mmm!

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With severe weather warnings in place across the UK it's a good time to make sure you are carrying essential items in your car in case or emergency. Wind up torches and chargers are essential but it's also good to have foil blankets and food and water in your boot too.

Make sure you know what to do (latest Met Office advice)

Before snow or ice

• If you have to make a journey when snow is forecast, make sure you have warm clothes, food, water, boots, a torch and spade, and let someone know when you expect to arrive and your route. Try to wait until the roads have been gritted before travelling.
• Put grit or cat litter on paths and driveways to lessen the risk of slipping on compacted snow.
• Check on vulnerable neighbours.

During snow or ice

• Avoid travel if possible.
• If you must drive check the Highway Code for advice on driving in ice and snowy weather. A summary of the advice is: Take care around gritters. Don't be tempted to overtake. Slow down — it can take 10 times longer to stop in snowy or icy conditions, so allow extra room. Use the highest gear possible to avoid wheel spin. Manoeuvre gently and avoid harsh braking and acceleration. If you start to skid, gently ease off the accelerator and avoid braking. If braking is necessary, pump the brakes don't slam them on. If you get stuck, stay with your car and tie something brightly coloured to your aerial.
• If you go outside wear several layers of clothing and keep dry to prevent loss of body heat. Watch out for signs of hypothermia — uncontrollable shivering, slow/slurred speech, memory lapse and drowsiness and frostbite — loss of feeling in and pale appearance of fingers, toes, nose and ear lobes. Keep moving your arms and legs to help the blood circulate.

After snow and ice

• Be careful when walking or driving on compacted snow — it may have turned to ice.
• Take care when shovelling snow. Cold air makes it harder to work and breathe, which adds some extra strain on the body and can be the cause of heart attacks in the vulnerable.

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• There are over 250 species of bee in the UK. Only one of these is the domesticated honeybee. There are 27 species of bumblebee and the rest are solitary bees of all shapes and sizes.
• To collect 450 grams of honey a bee might have to fly a distance equivalent to twice round the world. This is likely to involve more than 10,000 flower visits on perhaps 500 foraging trips.
• In a single collecting trip, a worker will visit between 50 and 100 flowers. She will return to the hive carrying over half her weight in pollen and nectar.
• Bees are not fast fliers; while their wings beat over 11,000 cycles per minute, their flight speed averages only 15 miles per hour. In comparison, the Australian dragonfly has been clocked flying at a speed of 36 mph.

For more information or to lend your support visit www.saveourbees.org.uk

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We all tend to feel a bit naughty when indulging in chocolate so it's good to remember that chocolate (especially the dark stuff) contains three mood affecting substances - theobromine, caffeine and phenylethylamine. In other words, a couple of squares a day might help beat off the Winter blues. German researchers have also found that compounds in chocolate increase levels of dopamine which may help people suffering from Parkinson's Disease.

Globehuggers.com features the Chokolit Biting Back Bar that donates 10p per bar to saving Orangutans. It's palm oil free and is the brain child of local chocolatier, Louis Barnett! It might just be time to indulge! 

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(http://www.habitat.org/gov/take_action/world_habitat_day.aspx)

The United Nations has designated the first Monday in October as annual World Habitat Day.

The purpose
On this day, we reaffirm that adequate shelter is a basic human right, and we focus on the housing conditions of cities and towns around the world. We also use this day to remind the world of its collective responsibility for the future of the human habitat.

On October 5, 2009, please join us in support of World Habitat Day, as we raise our voices and declare that the lack of decent, affordable housing is unacceptable.

What can you do for World Habitat Day 2009?

Educate yourself and your friends and family.

• Read Habitat’s World Habitat Day handbook to learn more about the importance of secure tenure and neighborhood revitalization.
• Take a virtual tour of the Capotillo informal settlement in the Dominican Republic.
• Read statistics and research about poverty housing in the U.S. and around the world.
• Link to World Habitat Day 2009 resources page on your social media pages, personal Web site or blog.

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Globehuggers.com will be at the Fold Earth Fest

On Sunday October 4th 10am – 4pm

FREE entrance and parking

Come and celebrate the resurgence of our rich heritage in farming, growing, designing and making. Some of the best products and produce this area has to offer together with advice and inspiration to help live a more sustainable life

FREE Children’s workshops all day – From batik flag making to drumming

Bar with local ales, ciders and wines, over 30 musicians providing free entertainment, great local food.

Brigit Strawbridge and The Big Green Bus will be here advising on all things sustainable.

• Organic vegetables and meats, breads, preserves, antipasta, sweets, honey…
• Ceramics, jewellery, glasswork, woodwork, pottery, sculptures…
• Composting, bokashi, wormeries, local cut flowers, renewable energy…
• Complementary therapies, beauty products, nail and hand products…
• And lots, lots more…

FREE Fold Earth Fest Shuttle Bus – courtesy of First

A great day out for everyone. Quality local food, arts and green goods Easy ways to a rich, low carbon life!

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