Building DIY Gardening

Turn London into an urban park? What a great idea. This is not really some crowd concept, it has to come from legislation on: green aspects of new developments (mostly, green features in the initial artist’s impression stage, all removed when built) front gardens and conversion to drives and mini car parks (use grass-crete, or […]

The weather has been very variable this year, from hot sun to snow! Spring bulbs are dying back and flowers are appearing. This year there have been many heavy rain showers, so the ground is more wet than usual. Butterflies brighten up your garden. Your garden can start to look like a proper garden at […]

Spring has more or less arrived, although still cold on some days. Buds and blooms are out and now is the time to get busy on the garden. Sills needs repairs or repainting. Outdoor fittings should be checked, cleaned, oiled etc, and any work needed done now, before the start of the proper garden season. […]

Weather in February can range from sunny warm days to ice and snow in large qualities. Rain also, wind too. Early sign of spring continue. With England getting warmer, these just continue from early buds in January. SOme don’t die back now, I have a buddleia in the garden which never died back at all, […]

This advice is for England and Europe, or anywhere there is a cold sometimes snowy winter. Bad weather can keep you indoors, especially when ground is too wet or waterlogged, or frozen and too hard. Remove any weeds, and get rid of mouldy or rotting vegetation such as old leaves, twigs etc. This is not […]

There is a summary article about the Green Deal flagship Conservative policy here: Green deal will fail (new window) > The Green Deal is supposed to help regenerate old building stock, by giving loans for work such as insulation, etc. Unfortunately there are financial strictures based around a return of 6.9% which means works have to […]

These are some photos from a recent lawn laying session. The small lawn was killed by overhanging trees provding too much shade, and neglect by tenants in a rented property. Autumn is a good time to lay a lawn as rain will make it bed in better. Laying in Spring is also possible but you […]

My recent visit to the Barnes Wetland Centre in London also included visitis to the hides for watcghing birds. There are many of these scattered around the lakes, which are from an old clay woirkings, next to the Thames. There is also one large hide which is multi story. These are the photos. You could […]

These are very interesting buildings embedded into the flat landscape of the Barnes Wetland centre, west London (south of Hammersmith). Some can be built in your garden, if suitable. The Berkeley Bat house could be an excellent addition. Best to check with a vet or bat expert first though. Here come the bats! Rabies! So […]

These are a selection of images from the fitting out of a new build job. This is a varied collection of outdoor and indoor shots. Above: Architect Ivy Ngeow RIBA makes an inspection visit. These stairs were made onsite by the carpenter Craig, very fine job. Above: Note insulation, cladding (Thermowood) and check tags from […]