Given that so many of my lovely readers are amateur gardeners, I thought you'd be interested in this fab competition that Wilko are running at the moment. There are some great prizes on offer! Wilko is looking for green fingered locals to enter the 2017 ‘Wilko Amateur Gardener Of The Year’ competition. Research suggests the UK is a secret haven of garden enthusiasts – with 88% of UK residents rating having a nice garden as important, ...
Tips for controlling plant diseases
Plant disease: it’s not the most glamorous of gardening topics, but it’s an issue that’s highly likely to have affected your garden at some point. To be honest, in the past I’ve struggled to understand and recognise plant diseases beyond a very basic level. Yes, I could tell when a plant has suffered from under or over watering, and recognise leaf scorching from bright sun, but beyond that I was pretty much out of my depth! I have noticed some ...
Fun garden games to get kids active
The arrival of warmer weather and longer days means one thing in our house: everyone spends more time in the garden. This is a really busy time of year gardening-wise, so I’m always pottering about with plants, and the kids just love being able to play outside and blow off steam. I’m a huge fan of outdoor play. After being cooped-up indoors my kids’ mood visibly lifts when they head outside for some fresh air; it’s no surprise really, given ...
Bringing the outdoors in: Sainsbury’s Garden Room range
Do you try to bring a little bit of nature into your home? The interiors trend of bringing the outdoors into our living spaces has been big news for a while now, and it’s not hard to see why. Interiors brands have picked up on the fact that connecting with nature helps us cope with today’s hectic pace of life, and are extending that connection into the home via accessories, wallpaper, fabric prints and furniture. Add to that the fact that ...
School holidays: ideas for keeping the kids busy
School holidays are always around the corner, as my children keep reminding me, and I’m afraid if I don’t find us something fun and active to do things will rapidly descend into chaos! I’ve been thinking of some ideas that will help all of us relax, learn and have fun during the school holidays this year. Have you got any of these on your list? Create a game If you have to work or don’t have lots of budget to do anything outside the house, ...
Naturally Crafty #34 – a Nature Craft Linky
Welcome to the latest Naturally Crafty nature craft linky, hosted by me and my blogging pal Becky Goddard-Hill from Simple Parenting. This week I'm linking up my post on how to make twig-wrapped flower pots. This is a great craft for putting a stick collection to good use! Wouldn't they make a lovely homemade Mother’s Day gift? Join in with #naturallycrafty Naturally Crafty is the place to link up all your fab nature craft posts. ...
How to choose the best garden building for your home
Do you have an outdoor building in your garden? I would guess that most of us have a shed of some sort, but increasingly we are looking to our outdoor areas to provide additional living space too. Rising house prices, the growing popularity of home working, and the trend towards slower living and re-connecting with nature are just a few factors contributing to the growing range of garden buildings on the market. If you’re looking to replace or ...
Naturally Crafty #32 – a Nature Craft Linky
Welcome to the latest Naturally Crafty nature craft linky, hosted by me and my blogging pal Becky Goddard-Hill from Simple Parenting. This week I'm linking up my post on painted rocks. My kids never get tired of this one! It's a great little nature craft that really encourages creative thinking, and it's perfect for exploring colour, texture and shape too. Have you ever had a go at painting rocks with the kids? Join in with ...
Naturally Crafty #29 – a Nature Craft Linky
Welcome to the latest Naturally Crafty nature craft linky, hosted by me and my blogging pal Becky Goddard-Hill from Simple Parenting. This week I'm linking up my post on fun bird feeders. One of the kids' favourite craft activities is making bird feeders, and this week we've been mixing it up a bit and trying something a little different with oranges and cookie cutters - lots of fun! Join in with #naturallycrafty Naturally Crafty ...
First bike memories & bikes through the decades with Halfords
Do you remember your first bike? It’s such a classic gift to receive as a child, isn’t it - and whether your parents painstakingly wrapped it, led you outside with your eyes closed to find it, or just hid it under a blanket, nothing quite compares to the excitement of that first ‘big’ present. Halfords asked me to join in with their Bikes through the decades feature and share my own first bike memories. I was a mid-70’s baby (showing my age ...