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why is it so important?

In recent years, the popularity of wildlife gardening has grown dramatically. Not only are gardeners increasingly aware of our declining wildlife and keen to play a role in its survival, but they are also discovering the joy of sharing a garden with native species.

We share our small garden with birds, frogs, toads, hedgehogs and even the odd fox. Nothing quite beats the magic of breakfast outside on a sunny morning, watching the birds feed, squabble and sing.

Jane Davies.

The past 100 years have seen the loss of some of our most precious habitats. Ecologist Janice Crook explains “Estimates vary widely, but it seems that since 1945 we have lost something like 50% of our ancient woodland, and 95% of our flower-rich meadows.” Little wonder then that many of our most loved wild animal species have also declined dramatically. Even once common species such as tree sparrows are at risk — these lively garden visitors are now on the RSPB’s red data list for endangered species.

Even tiny wildlife areas can help to stem the decline by providing a safe home for native plants and animals. It might seem that one small garden cannot make a difference to such a huge problem, but with around fifteen million private gardens in Britain , covering up to three million acres of land, gardeners really can make a difference. If even a fraction of these gardeners gave some of their land over to wildlife habitat they could provide many new homes for our most endangered species. Gardens have special value because they are arranged into networks of green space, often going into the very hearts of our largest cities, and forming safe ‘wildlife corridors’ along which animals and plants can travel.

As our farmland and other natural areas continue to be degraded or developed, gardens will become ever more important as wildlife refuges.

A Wildlife Food Supply

If you have the space, select a range of plants that can supply different types of food throughout the year. The following guidelines will help you to maximise the amount of pollen and nectar available in your garden:

• plant a range of species that flower at different times of the year;
• include some early flowering plants, as early spring is a critical time for many insects;
• include plenty of species where the nectar and pollen is available near the surface of the flower;
• select simple flowers where the pollen and nectar are easy for insect visitors to reach - avoid double flowers and others that are difficult for insects to tackle. Also be aware that some garden flowers are sterile.

What To Do

Small changes can make a tremendous difference to the amount of wildlife attracted into your garden. For instance, by incorporating native plants carrying scented flowers, seeds and berries you can attract birds, bees, butterflies, and many other desirable animals, as well as predatory insects such as ladybirds. Butterflies, moths and songbirds feed mainly on nectar, pollen and seed. Bees too are attracted by nectar.

You can incorporate ‘food’ plants throughout the garden or perhaps plan a ’service station border’ which contains a mixture of flowering and fruiting shrubs, herbaceous perennials and colourful bedding plants, all chosen to provide food for wildlife. If you only have a small window box select beautiful flowering annuals to attract bees and butterflies, as well as brightening up a window sill.

The following list shows some of the most successful border flowers and shrubs offering pollen, nectar and seeds, but remember that wildflowers can be important too.

Garden plants to look out for include: Christmas rose (Helleborus niger), winter aconite (Earanthus hyemalis), elephant’s ears (Bergenia cordifolia), anenome (Anenome blanda), polyanthus (Primula vulgaris elatior), honesty (Lunaria biennis), sweet rocket (Hesperis matronalis), forget-me-not (Myosotis spp.), leopard’s bane (Doronicum pardalianches), sweet william (Dianthus barbatus), shasta daisy (Chrysanthemum maximum), cranesbill (Geranium spp.), sweet bergamot (Monarda didyma), oriental poppy (Papaver orentiale), valerian (Centranthus ruber), angelica (Angelica archangelica), lovage (Levesticum officinale), yarrow (Achillea filipendulina), hollyhock (Alcea rosa), snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus), teasel (Dipsacus fullonum), mint (Mentha rotundifolia), meadow saffron (Colchium autumnale).

Wildflowers that are particularly good as a source of nectar or seeds include: lesser burdock (Articum minus), hemp agrimony (Eupatorium cannabinum), field scabious (Knautia arvensis), foxglove (Digitalis purpurea), woody nightshade (Solanum dulcamara), wild thyme (Thymus serpyllum), betony (Stachys officinalis), and hedge woundwort (Stachys sylvatica).

Shrubs to attract wildlife include: Buddleia (Buddleia spp.), Chaenomeles japonica, Pyracantha coccinea, Amelanchier canadensis, Cotoneaster frigida, Viburnum tinus, Viburnum bodnantense, Mahonia spp., Cytisus scoparius (broom), and shrub roses of all kinds.

In addition, where possible incorporate native tree and shrub species, such as hawthorn, guelder rose, and elder in the UK, as these are particularly attractive to native insects and birds.

To try a free home study gardening course visit Learning Curve.

For more gardening advice visit The Garden School.

Director of Studies at <a href="http://www.learningcurve-uk.com> Learning Curve Home Study </a>, one of the UK's leading home study providers.

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Step 1: Put in an algaecide

Buy 2 bottles…put in a whole bottle first and then maintain every month with the recommended dose on the label. I like to think of algaecide as Insurance. It gives you more time to play with if your chlorine ever drops low enough for the pool to turn green. The algaecide kicks in until you put in more chlorine. But don’t rely on it! Algae can still sneak up on you. Try to find a copper based algaecide as these ones tend to be the best.

Step 2: Shock the pool regularly

Shocking the pool can kill any algae that is ready to multiply. Plus its just good practice as it will bump up the free chlorine to kill any bacteria that maybe present in your water. Try to shock once every 3 weeks.

Step 3: Make sure the filters clean

this goes without saying. If your filter is clean and filtering your water properly this will solve a lot of your problems.

Step 4: Proper circulation

If your water is still it will become stagnant. It wont matter how much chemicals you throw at your pool. If it has poor circulation you will always run into problems. If you can point your water return jets to make the water swirl around like a whirlpool this will make the water less of a problem. Plus any debris will be pushed to the center of the pool so it will be much easier to pick-up.

Step 5: Maintain proper water balance

Always keep your water chemistry as close to perfect as possible. I shouldn’t have to tell you this because it is the most important thing you should do.

Step 6: Test water every day

Yes…everyday! If you test your water chemistry every day nothing will sneak up on you. It will be easy to maintain because you will have tested the day before and you wont have to do much to keep it perfect. Only test with test kits that use drops or tablets. The strip tests are not accurate and can give you a false reading. It will be good practice to go into your pool shop weekly/fortnightly to get your water professionally tested just to make sure your doing ok.

Step 7: Keep the pool clean

Regularly take out leaves and any other foreign matter in the pool. Things like leaves and sticks from trees and put a significant strain on your chemical balance and give your chlorine a hard time. The less things in the pool the better. Regularly skim the water with a net and scoop the leaves from the bottom of the pool. Or better still…get an automatic pool cleaner.

Michael Silvester is a Pool Water Expert, he personally oversees the water quality of over 670 domestic pools. It is normal for him to have a line-up of people eagerly waiting for his advice at his store In Sunny Queensland Australia. Michael Would like to invite you to download his free report at http://www.GreenPoolTips.com that explains how to never have a green pool again (a $37 Value)

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First Steps

Wildlife gardeners can provide breeding places and shelters for a wide range of animals including insects, amphibians and mammals. It is possible to buy nest boxes and shelters for all manner of creatures, from mason bees, bumble bees, bats and hedgehogs to ladybirds and lacewings. It is also possible to construct effective shelters economically using materials found around the garden. For instance, a great hibernating or breeding shelter for hedgehogs can be made by piling up some dry leaves in a quiet corner and leaning a sheet of plywood over it to keep the worst of the rain off.

Similarly, shelters for insects and other invertebrates can be made in a variety of simple ways, for example by drilling holes of different sizes into a piece of hardwood and leaving it undisturbed in a sunny corner of the garden or by bundling together a number of hollow stems, e.g. bamboo canes that can be left in a quiet corner. Log and stone piles also provide myriad breeding and shelter opportunities for wildlife.

Commercially produced bird nest boxes are now available for a wide range of species. Take the time to investigate the wild bird species found in your area and you can then be sure to buy the right box.

A log pile is a fantastic habitat for a whole range of creatures. Not only does it provide shelter, but as it rots many wild animals and plants will find it a rich and welcome source of food. These include stag beetles, wood wasps, woodpeckers, tree creepers, shrews, wood lice, hedgehogs, mosses and fungi. In addition, a damp log pile can provide an ideal habitat for amphibians such as toads and newts.

A Log Pile

The best time to construct your log pile is autumn. By late October many animals and insects will be looking for a safe, damp place to hibernate before the really cold weather sets in. Any wood can be used in a log pile, but native hardwood will support the widest range of insects. The size of the logs is not important, but to make a rich habitat bury the bottom layer of logs in the soil - preferably to around 10 cms deep. Many insects, such as the stag beetle, will only lay their eggs in damp, decaying wood deep in the soil. The log pile does not need to be very tall, since the top of the pile will be dry and less attractive as a habitat. It is better to have two or three low piles than one high pile. Once your pile is established it is important to leave it undisturbed. Moving the pile disturbs wildlife and can undo all the good work you have done. A log pile may take years to rot away, but it remains an important habitat throughout its life cycle. For instance, when the stag beetle eggs mentioned above eventually hatch, the larvae may spend up to five years chewing their way through wood rotting beneath the soil. Stag beetle larvae look rather like huge white maggots. The beetles are still common in the south-east of England although they are declining dramatically due to lack of habitat. Wherever you live, you will find a wide variety of beetles inhabiting your log pile.

Some gardeners add soil to their log pile, creating a ‘loggery’ - the wood equivalent of a rockery. This idea works best in a cool, shady area of the garden, where it can provide an ideal habitat for ferns and other shade-loving plants .

Try a free home study gardening course from Learning Curve.

For more gardening advice visit the Garden School

Director of Studies at <a href="http://www.learningcurve-uk.com> Learning Curve Home Study </a>, one of the UK's leading home study providers.

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Hi everyone!! I guess you’re looking for some tips on how to buy crib bedding of the net. This article is for parents that are looking for a great bargain or would like to save some money. Finding crib bedding on the net is very easy, but finding the best bargains can take some more time. Most parents will just use their favourite search engine and think that the websites that show up on the first page are the top websites to buy mini crib bedding from. This is not so!! These are the websites that have done the most work to get their websites in the top positions within the search engines.

More than likely you’re not going to get the best bargains with these sites. Yes you can keep going through the search engines rankings and you will get a good idea of the price ranges on offer. But buying anything over the net can be a daunting experience. I know how people feel about handing over credit card information especially over the web. I feel the same way too but I done my research on it and Personally I just use pay pal as a method of payment, if the site I’m looking at doesn’t provide pay pal as a payment option, I move on until I find what I want with a pay pal payment option.

I just want to let you know you can use your credit card without someone stealing your personal information. I’m not saying other payment systems aren’t good, its just “personally” I have found most websites have a pay pal payment option. You just type in your user name and password and it’s done.

Ok back to mini crib bedding and how to find that bargain. One method I use is check out blogs [this goes on everything I’m trying to buy cheap or purchase over the net] you can find great sites that other parents have found and recommended. This can be especially good if you’re after someone to custom build your crib bedding. If you social bookmark type in your keywords on your favourite book marking site and see what turns up. Use different search engines. Take note of the websites you have been to and compare prices.

Then if you find something do some more checking. The site I use is ripoffreport.com its just basically a site I use for free to find out if anyone isn’t happy with the service or product they purchased. If your been ripped off or would just like to tell everyone how bad some sites are with there service’s then this is the site to do it. If the site or product your looking at doesn’t turn anything up there’s a pretty good chance that is legit and has a good reputation. [Another great site to check before buying anything on the net].

And of course there’s eBay and Amazon you can really pick up great bargains from these sites. If you do happen to buy your crib bedding from these sites please discard the mattress and get a brand new one. Many experts in the field have tracked Sids back to second hand mattresses so just get rid of it!!!
Make sure you sanitize the crib really well when you first receive it just to be sure.

Great Bargains on mini crib bedding can be found on the net if you are prepared to look around and do a bit research. It doesn’t just include mini crib bedding. It go’s for anything you can purchase on the net. Surfing blogs can provide a lot of good information on baby products and safety. Most baby blogs are just from your average mum sharing their babies experience with you. There are experts that have their own blogs as well they tend to give you all sorts of information from crib bedding to baby food and baby toys. I have provided this information so parents can check out all sorts of products and sites so they can make an informed decision when it comes to there child’s health and safety.

Using the technics above you should be able to shop with confidence for just about anything on the net. Finding a bargain is quiet easy once you know how.

If you would like to find some huge bargains on <a href="http://minicribbedding.blogspot.com/"> mini crib bedding</a>. Please come and check out my site. I have done the research for you and it doesn’t stop at crib bedding. It covers just about anything to do with baby products. Come and get your bargain at http://minicribbedding.blogspot.com

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1. How To Clean Your Cane Suite

Cleaning your cane suite is a great idea, as can is very resilient.

To clean cane and prevent it from yellowing, douse a stiff brush in a solution of warm water, lemon juice and salt, and scrub the cane well.

Tighten up sagging cane chairs by sponging the top and undersides of the seats with hot and soapy water to which you’ve added a few spoonfuls of salt.

Rinse with a clean wet cloth and allow drying in the sun.

When almost dry, cover the cane with a towel and run a hot iron over it.

Walls offer the most exciting design possibilities.

A vast variety of wall papers are available on the market, be it exotic futuristic or traditional.

2. Tip on Curtains

Curtains do not have to be that expensive to have an appealing look.

Buy inexpensive off-white cotton. Have it quilted and thickly interlined. It looks luxurious and the effect is great.

Small details are important. So often we use tiebacks or push backs on curtains. Make sure not to put them too high. Fix them low, and the look is much more elegant.

Quilted fabrics can be used on chairs and sofas too.

3. Wallpaper Idea

It is not necessary to cover an entire wall with wallpaper — a section or narrow wall at an odd corner can offer interesting possibilities to add a focal point to an otherwise boring wall.

Apply a border at dado rail height or where the ceiling and walls meet.

There are many imaginative borders on the market and these can make an ordinary room look stylish.

4. Change Ordinary Bottles Into Something Special

Get hold of a few bottles with unusual shapes. Wash it with warm soap water, and let it dry. Take any remnant lace with matching colors, or if you want to be more decorative, color it with cold water dye in the colors you fancy.

Fit it around the bottles in the patterns you prefer, and cut off any excess material. Glue it at the seams to the bottles with modge podge and let it dry.

This way you can produce stunning vases of all shapes, colors and sizes.

Remember, interior decorating is fun and do not have to be expensive to achieve great results!

For more information and ideas regarding interior decorating, you can visit <a title="Interior decorating" href="http://Interior decorating1.blogspot.com">Interior Decorating</a>

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