Gift makes garden grow

A NEWCASTLE school has had a Groundforce style garden make-over, thanks to a donation from employees at Procter & Gamble.

St Lawrence's Primary School received a donation of pounds 1,000 following a fundraising push at P&G's Newcastle Innovation Centre, in Longbenton.

The money has been used to transform a patch of derelict land adjacent to the school into a small garden with storage units to house the school's wheelbarrows, gardening tools and outdoor play equipment. Lynda Edwards, a reception class teacher at the school, said: "We are absolutely delighted the donation from P&G has allowed us to transform the patch of land into a useful storage unit."

SHIFT HEAVY LOADS EFFORTLESSLY!

"Saves hours of back-breaking strain!"

SAVE pounds 20!CARRIES 42 STONE!When it comes to emptying the big 75 litre 'Tub', in one simple motion release the safety catch and lift! Eckman even include a towing hitch - extremely useful if you own a ride-on mower! Built to last with a polypropylene tub and heavy duty powder coated steel chassis. Some simple home assembly required.Thanks to its innovative design with directional front steering, four 10inch diameter pneumatic tyres to spread the weight, and an ingenious 75 litre 'Tipper Tub', even when fully loaded (maximum load approx. 270kg/600lb/over 42stone!) the Eckman "Big Tipper" feels so much lighter to pull and steer around obstacles than a traditional wheelbarrow.180O TWO WHEEL0844 811 6729 Quoting SMG15760Justpounds 89.95inc. FREE P&P (RRP pounds 109.95)www.MirrorReaderOffers.co.uk/760Also, unlike a traditional wheel barrow, there is no lifting involved when moving from place to place - simply pull and steer using the 80cm / 31.5" padded handle-bar which is connected to the front wheel axle and watch how on the four wheels it simply breezes along! Moving compost, logs, soil, paving slabs, building materials, or potted plants has never been easier!4 wheels spread the weight & there's no lifting from place to place!Allow 7 days for free delivery to UK mainland readers only (non- UK call for quotation). Customers have a no risk 14-day approval period. This product is sold and supplied by T2 Direct Ltd with whom you contract when you accept this offerSunday Mirror, Eckman Big Tipper (SMG15760), PO Box 299, Romsey SO51 0WH

Sunday Mirror, Eckman Big Tipper (SMG15760), PO Box 299, Romsey SO51 0WH

Hankering after the good old days; MAILBAG

I REMEMBER the good days when we had the Honley Urban District Council. Councillors were local business men, unpaid, working for the good of the village.

J B LOCKWOOD HonleyThe old council offices have been vacant for many years and, of course, are getting dilapidated. Kirklees MC is much too big, bureaucratic, having many high paid chiefs and few Indians. It's high time we reverted to the good old days.I pass the New Mill bus stop practically every day, and adjacent are two drains, full to the top with rubbish and grass is growing on top.

J B LOCKWOOD Honley

5 Pieces of Equipment Gardeners Can�t Live Without

Gardening is fun and rewarding and may be considered a hobby, talent or both and sometimes it�s just luck. Gardening is not as easy as it looks and involves dedication, time and consistency and many trials and errors. There are many aspects to maintaining a healthy garden, but some aspects are more important than others. An individual who likes to garden can have the knowledge to produce the best garden in the world, but without the right equipment and materials it just wouldn�t be possible.

There are many pieces of gardening equipment which will make this hobby easier and more efficient, however the ones listed above are recognized as the most important. These pieces of equipment will likely last a very long time.1. Trowel � A trowel is a shovel-like piece of equipment which is used to dig up dirt and set small plants. There are many styles to choose from and type of handle on your trowel will determine how well it works. Easy grip, non-slide and non-slip grips are the best form of handle to choose. These will be easier to use and will require less work than any other form of trowel. A trowel with no grip will be difficult to use and could end up ruining your garden. Try one out in your hand first to ensure it feels comfortable. There�s nothing like having your hand cramp or the trowel slip while using it to dig in a beautiful, new plant.2. Pitchfork � A pitchfork is a gardening tool which has 2-6 prongs and a long handle. The sizes of pitchforks vary, depending on what they are being used for. The space between each prong varies as well. Pitchforks are used to separate, lift and throw loose pieces of material such as dirt and leaves.5. Wheelbarrow � A wheelbarrow is one of the larger pieces of garden equipment. It is a cart with a handle and at least one wheel which is designed for easy transportation of materials from one place to another. Purchasing a wheelbarrow will save you a lot of time and effort, especially if you are off to the compost heap, and will make for a pleasant gardening experience. Another option is the 4-wheeled gardening cart.4. Pruning Shears � Pruning shears are tools which have a long handles and blades. This type of gardening equipment is used to allow gardeners to precisely prune rose bushes and other plants and unruly vines, etc. It can also be used to cut the grass at the edges of walkways and garden beds, in those hard to reach places. It is also used to trim the edges and remove dead leaves or wood on flowers. There is no other piece of gardening equipment which can do the same job as pruning shears. Without the use of this piece of equipment, your garden will end up looking messy and disorganized. Always, always, always invest in good quality pruning shears. Good ones have a lifetime guarantee and low-end ones will make shrapnel of your heritage rose.3. Spade � A gardening spade has a long, thick handle and a heavy flat blade. This tool is used to dig up and move pieces of dirt from one place to another. It can also be used to pack down dirt once the flower has been planted.

There are many pieces of gardening equipment which will make this hobby easier and more efficient, however the ones listed above are recognized as the most important. These pieces of equipment will likely last a very long time.

Taking Care of Your Garden Container

Once you have decided what plants that you would like to place in your garden planters and containers, then you will need to get the container soil ready for each pot. When working with potting mix, always make sure that the mix is moistened before getting started.

One last word to ensure your containers always look their best. At the beginning of the season, pinch back your herbs and those plants that tend to branch out to encourage fuller growth. Then regularly pinch back to keep them compact and to encourage growth where you want it.When your potting soil is ready, fill the containers to one to two inches from the top. Fill your containers with those beautiful plants and then gently firm down the soil. Water thoroughly and you�re all set.There are a few methods to ensure that the potting soil is pre-moistened and ready for your planters. Firstly, this one we call the wheelbarrow method. Place all of your potting mix into the garden cart and then add plenty of water. With your trowel or spade, make sure that the soil is very moist. You can tell when you can make a fist with the soil and it will hold its shape. The soil will then be a dark brown in color and this rich, moist soil is ready for your containers.Regular fertilizing is a must especially in plant-packed containers. All of your material is fighting for those nutrients. Feed your containers at least once a week with water soluble balanced fertilizer or every time you water.Remove flowers as they fade to keep your planters and containers looking fresh. Use sharp shears when cutting back. Groom your containers often to remove any dead leaves, damaged foliage and to check for any pest problems before they become big problems.The second method, and this takes a little longer, is to fill your large planters, pots and containers with the dry potting soil. Then run water into the mix, making sure that the soil does not run over the top, and let it stand. In a few hours, the potting mix will be well dampened and you can moisten again when you are ready to plant. This method works well when you want to place the containers on your deck, patio or in the garden before you get down to planting.If you wish to add water retention material to your soil mixes, the time to do this would be before you dampen the soil either in the wheelbarrow or in the container itself. There are also slow release fertilizers available, the best time to add these granules would be before dampening the soil mix as well.Thirdly, and this is what we cal the �in-the-bag method�, carry the bag of potting soil to your containers. Cut a hole in the top of the bag for your hose and also in the bottom of the bag to let out the excess water. Then place the hose in the bag and run the water through. Once the soil is very damp, leave the bag overnight to ensure that the water is all absorbed before you will your pots. Then open the bag, stir the soil and gently water again if it has dried out before use.

Now you have beautiful planters, containers and window boxes. Enjoy

Top Ten Outside Toys For Kids Under Twelve

If you are a parent then you are likely to know that summertime can be a difficult time. Parents of children under the age of twelve are constantly dealing with children who are bored. There are only so many activities a child can do inside. That is why it is important for children to play outside during the summer.

Toy grills are becoming one of the most popular outdoors toys to hit the market. A large number of companies make these grills; therefore, there is a large selection of different styles at most retail stores. The grills can come in all different sizes with talking pieces, plastic food, and other grill accessories. These toy grills allow children to feel like a grownup while they cook right alongside their parents.(1) Sand and Water Activity TablesSand and water activity tables are tables that allow children to play in the sand or in the water almost at the same time. Most tables are divided into two sections. A large number of companies make sand and water activity tables; therefore, you can purchase a wide variety of different table designs. Most sand and water tables are designed for children aged three and up.(5) Inflatable Water SlidesAverage Price: $20 - $60Average Price: $45 - $100Average Price: $10 - $25Currently, sandboxes sit in millions of backyards all across the country. When filled with sand, sandboxes offer hours of fun for the whole family. Sandboxes can come in a traditional box size or they can come as large plastic animals. Large plastic turtles and crabs are most popular with children under the age of five.Average Price: $5 - $20For years now, outdoor water sprinklers have been how many children without pool access have stayed cool during the summertime. Outdoor water sprinklers come in all different styles. Traditional sprinkler systems can be purchased; however, large beach balls, plastic animals, and other popular cartoon characters can be used as a sprinkler system. All outdoor water sprinklers require water hookup through a garden hose.(4) Slip and Slide Water ToysA children's wheelbarrow can be used for a number of fun outdoor activities. Children can use a wheelbarrow to move their toys or help their parents in the garden. Most wheelbarrows can be purchased with additional garden accessories for extra fun. Children's wheelbarrows come in all different shapes and sizes; therefore, children of all ages can have fun with this great outdoor toy.(9) Children's Wheelbarrow and Garden Accessories(6) SandboxesUntil recently, the above mentioned slip and slide water toys were the only water slides designed for home use without a pool. Now large water slides are being sold online and in department stores across the country. These slides are inflatable and they can go as high as ten feet in the air. They come with a miniature pool at the bottom. Due to their large size, most water slides are designed for children over the age of four or five.Average Price: $45 - $75(8) Grill and Grill Accessories(3) Water Guns(10) BubblesAll of the toys mentioned above are the top ten most popular outside toys for children under the age of twelve. The good news is that almost all of these toys are reasonably priced and great for backyards of just about any size. Why let your child suffer through a boring summer when a large number of fun outdoor toys are all within your reach?Average Price: $200 - $300(7) Teeter TottersAverage Price: $40 - $80Average Price: $5 - $30Bubbles have always been considered fun outside toys, but the creation of additional bubble toys have made them even more fun. In addition to traditional bubbles, there are now bubble-making machines. These machines can often produce hundred of bubbles in just a few minutes. There are also machines that can be used to create huge bubbles. In addition to bubble-making machines, there are also other bubble accessories that can create unique bubble shapes and much more.Many parents and children mistakenly believe that teeter totters are only meant for the park. The truth is that there are a large number of teeter totters that are designed for backyards of all sizes. Large teeter totters can often be hooked into the ground; therefore, making it safe for older children or adults to use. Smaller teeter totters that are transportable and designed for children under the age of 10 can also be purchased.Playing outside in the summertime is fun, but many children can easily become bored without a few outdoor summer toys. If you are the parent of a child who is younger than twelve, you have a number of options when it comes to buying outdoor toys. Below is a list and small summary of ten of the most popular outside toys for children under the age of twelve.(2) Outdoor Water SprinklersSlip and slides are known as small water slides. They have been a popular outdoor summer toy for children under the age of twelve for years now. Slip and slides work best on a hill, but with running water a child can have fun even on a flat surface. Many slip and slides are sold with a sprinkler system or a miniature wading pool for extra fun.Similar to the above mentioned water sprinklers, water guns are a fun way for children without a pool to stay cool. Water guns come in all different shapes, sizes, and styles. You can purchase a water gun that fits into the palm or your hand or you can get one that is so big it is about waist tall. Large water guns tend to have more force when it comes to dispensing the water. This means that most large water guns are not safe for children under the age of five.

All of the toys mentioned above are the top ten most popular outside toys for children under the age of twelve. The good news is that almost all of these toys are reasonably priced and great for backyards of just about any size. Why let your child suffer through a boring summer when a large number of fun outdoor toys are all within your reach?

FOR PEAT'S SAKE; More gardeners go organic with natural green waste compost

Byline: JADE WRIGHT

Historically, peat-free composts have been criticised for being inferior for seed-sowing. A Which? Gardening report from the Consumers' Association magazine noted earlier this year: "Our trial results show that peat-free composts still have a way to go to match the performance of peat for sowing seeds and growing on young plants - although the picture is rosier for container composts."Sometimes the good peat-free composts will be slightly pricier, Fowler concedes, but it's a small price to pay for saving the earth.However, some peat-based composts are just as inferior as their peat-free counterparts, says Ceri Thomas, editor of Which? Gardening. "Gardeners shouldn't assume that all compost is the same. Whether peat-free or peat-based, the quality of compost varies massively. "Our trials found that it is possible to buy a good quality peat-free compost that performs as well as the best peat-based compost. But there are also a number of peat-based and peat-free composts that simply don''t match these high standards.""Many people are coming into gardening through the 'grow your own' trend, because of health and environmental reasons. It would be sad to take a step backwards by using composting material which is not sustainable, when actually peat-free is getting better and better."Peatlands provide vital habitats for wildlife, store greenhouse gases and release thousands of tonnes of carbon dioxide every year.In its latest trial, Which? Gardening recommends New Horizon Organic & Peat Free Growbag for sowing seeds. Germination rates for basil were on a par with its Best Buy peat-based compost and the quality of the resulting seedlings was good.* BEST FOR GROWING: Gardeners' World presenter Alys Fowler says there's no need to dig up areas rich in peat - such as Connemara in Ireland, inset - when a good quality peat-free compost can outperform a peat-based compost"If your council is making green waste, phone their refuse department which should be able to tell you where to buy it. It's incredibly cheap," she suggests.If you want to go peat-free, avoid buying and using soil improvers as most of these contain peat, Garden Organic advises. Use products such as manure and leafmould to improve your soil instead.Search online for nurseries or mail order stores selling peat-free plants and support their peat-free initiatives.UNLESS you''ve been living in a hole in the ground for the last few years, you''ll know that using peat-based products in your garden is decimating peatlands throughout the UK and beyond.New Horizon Organic & Peat Free multi-purpose compost (pounds 5.99 for 60 litres) was a Best Buy container compost for the second consecutive year, outperforming seven peat-based composts, including three specific container ones, to come joint top.For more information on the campaign and to pledge not to use peat, go to www.idontdigpeat.org.ukCAPTION(S):Start making home compost and buy fewer bedding plants, switching to perennials which grow year after year, meaning you reduce the peat-grown plants you bring into the garden and the need to replant each year.Gardeners' World presenter Alys Fowler, who is fronting the campaign, says: "Whether people think peat is the best option depends on if they''ve experimented with going peat-free. "Increasingly, those who go peat-free and get hold of good quality compost find there''s no argument. I don''t use any peat-based compost and I see no difference. I grow fantastic vegetables. "If you were trying to grow peat bog plants, there's an argument that growing them in peat is sensible, but the amount of people growing peat bog plants is tiny. What's happening is that a lot of people are using peat - up to 70% peat in some multi-purpose composts - for growing, say, tomatoes. But tomatoes don't need peat to grow."Fowler uses her council's green waste compost, called Care compost, sold at her local garden centre, along with peat-free multi-purposes from Carbon Gold, New Horizon and Vital Earth.However, peat is used in compost and soil improvers because it's light, retains moisture and stores nutrients. It's also very cheap. In an effort to raise awareness and encourage gardeners to choose peat-free alternatives, leading organic growing charity Garden Organic has launched its I Don''t Dig Peat campaign, to put an end the 24 million wheelbarrows of peat which its experts estimate is being used unnecessarily by British gardeners each year."It's worth paying a couple of pennies more to ensure a much more secure future for our wider environment, biodiversity and habitat," she says.

* BEST FOR GROWING: Gardeners' World presenter Alys Fowler says there's no need to dig up areas rich in peat - such as Connemara in Ireland, inset - when a good quality peat-free compost can outperform a peat-based compost