Tag: outdoor spaces

Outdoor volunteering opportunities

Outdoor volunteering opportunities

I’m not one for making new year resolutions; however, I often muse on things I can do to improve myself and my surroundings. Since getting a puppy in October, we’ve begun spending more time outdoors again. In so doing, we’ve been getting fitter, getting to know our environs better and meeting new people… and dogs.

I’ve been thinking that stepping it up a notch and getting into outdoor volunteering opportunities is something I can do in 2022.

  • The Wildlife Trusts
    There are 260 different opportunities available at present on their website; from tree planting in Devon, livestock checking in Hertfordshire to Peatland Restoration Conservation Days in Cumbria.

    The Wildlife Trusts is a grassroots movement of people from a wide range of backgrounds and all walks of life, on a mission to restore a third of the UK’s land and seas for nature by 2030. We believe everyone, everywhere, should have access to nature and the joy and health benefits it brings.

  • RSPB
    They offer residential opportunities such as 4 weeks in the Lake District dry stone walling, mending fences and helping in the tree nursery and with the badger hide or 6 months in Surrey surveying & managing heathland where species such as woodlarks and nightjars call home.
    If you only have a day or a few hours per week there are many things all around the country in which you can get involved. For instance, one of the opportunities not far from us is practical habitat management at the nature reserve, Ynys-hir. There are even opportunities suitable for under 18s.
    Check out some of their volunteering stories over on their Facebook volunteering page.
  • Trash Free Trails C.I.C.
    I was so excited to come across this project – I’ve already signed up!
    For years, seeing litter while out on dog walks and rambles put a dampener on the otherwise pleasurable experience of being in the great outdoors. I usually took it upon myself to collect it all up to take home to put into the recycling/rubbish bin. And now I have found a community getting together to share what they do! It something you can do on your own, with friends or as an organised group.

    …To reduce plastic pollution on our trails and wild places by 75% by 2025 and (re)connect people with nature through purposeful adventure.

Simple ways to create an inviting garden space

Simple ways to create an inviting garden space

Improving your garden can feel like a big project. Perhaps gardening isn’t your favourite hobby and you’re not sure where to start. The truth is, gardening doesn’t have to be difficult; with the right tricks and tips there are so many ways that you can make the most of your garden space.

1. Garden décor

One of the best ways to make the most of your garden is to focus on garden décor. Decorating your garden can help you to add personality to your space, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. To start off, think about the colour scheme that you might like to use. There are plenty of ways that you can decorate your garden including:

  • Add decorative water features or bird feeders.
  • Use colourful festoon lights, bunting or hanging plants.
  • Try accessories like mirrors, outdoor rugs or garden ornaments.
  • Paint your fences in a bright colour or opt for a feature wall.

2. Improve your lawn

Improving the health of your lawn is one of the best ways to create a beautiful garden. If your lawn looks sparse and neglected, this really affects the look of your outdoor space. To ensure that your lawn is as healthy as can be, you’ll need to feed your lawn regularly. Epsom salt dissolved in water works well as a natural lawn fertiliser, it contains magnesium and sulphur and these ingredients can give your grass a boost.

3. Create a vegetable garden

Looking to get more out of your garden space? Creating your own vegetable garden is a great option. Growing your own vegetables can help you to improve your diet, learn new skills and reduce your carbon footprint.

As a beginner, you’ll probably be glad of a few tips. To learn a few things about growing vegetables, try applications like Veggie Garden Planner, When To Plant and Garden Plan Pro. Here you can find advice, articles and tools to plan your garden space.

4. Extend your living space

Our gardens are gradually becoming an extension of our homes. Many home-owners are designing outdoor dining areas and outdoor lounges to expand their living space. The UK weather isn’t always great and it can be useful to construct a wooden gazebo in your garden. You can create an outdoor living room underneath this wooden structure, so you can enjoy your outdoor space, even if there’s a little bit of rain. To check out a few great options take a look at these Oak framed gazebo kits.

5. Maximise space

You might not have the largest garden, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t make the most of what you have. To maximise space in a smaller garden here are a few key ideas:

  • When adding new plants, it’s best to plant vertically.
  • Consider adding mirrors to your walls.
  • Prune back overgrown shrubs that are taking up too much room.
  • Measure all furniture and structures before adding to your garden.

These five ideas will help you to make the most of your garden. From garden décor to growing vegetables, there are so many different ways to create a beautiful garden.

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Tips for improving your backyard

Tips for improving your backyard

Your backyard is one of the areas of your property that you don’t want to overlook. It’s an excellent space to enjoy when the weather is good or when you have guests over that you want to entertain.

There are a few useful tips that will help you when remodeling backyard areas to make it look better and be more usable. You’ll love it so much when it’s done that you won’t want to come back indoors and will be wondering why you didn’t start this project sooner! Have fun with it and make sure you take your time and do it right so it’s impressive and beautiful when it’s completed.

Create a hangout space

One tip for improving your backyard is to create a hangout space and perhaps a designated spot to grill and eat. Now is a good time to replace or install a new patio or deck. It’ll be perfect in the summertime hangout area for enjoying the sunshine and having an al fresco meal. Ensure easy access in and out, especially if you’re carrying trays or plates, by making your sliding door automatic. This way, it’ll be easy for you and visitors to pop in and out of the house as and when needed. Also, have comfortable and durable furniture for sitting and eating and think about including a fire pit or brazier for when night-time rolls around.

Grow an edible garden

Another tip for improving your backyard is to grow an edible garden. You’ll enjoy taking care of it and will love being able to use fresh herbs and vegetables for cooking. Consider making it a relaxing spot you can go and spend time by creating water features like a pond nearby and having a sitting bench in the area. Tending to a veg garden is a healthy hobby to have and will make you feel proud when you can see and experience the benefits of all your hard work.

Focus on your landscaping

Improve your backyard by focusing time and energy on enhancing your landscaping. Plant trees, colourful, scented flowers and have a vertical living wall you can add some height to you garden. Consider laying stone or gravel paths that will provide a ‘journey’ around the space. Prune, water , mulch and fertilise your trees and plants as needed and opt for a perennial ground cover that’s easy to care for and looks beautiful year after year. The right landscaping choices and a well-maintained backyard will make all the difference in the appearance of your outdoor area.

Make it relaxing & fun

Make your backyard relaxing and fun as a way to improve the look and feel. For instance, you can install a swimming pool, add some loungers and hang outdoor lights that you can switch on when the evening rolls around. Add colourful cushions to your outdoor furniture and lay an area rug on your patio. If you have kids, you may want to think about creating a separate play area for them – perhaps constructing a sandbox for their enjoyment. Also, hang a swing or hammock that you can relax and read a book in when the weather is pleasant.

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Top tips on how to maintain the outdoor space at your workplace

Top tips on how to maintain the outdoor space at your workplace | H is for Home

If you’re the owner of a business or manage a workplace, then you’re likely very concerned about the state and appearance of your office. From making sure there’s enough space for everyone to work together to ensuring that it’s kept clean, maintaining your office space is important. However, do you have an outdoor space at your workplace that you’re neglecting to take care of properly or utilise to its full potential? Many employers fail to see how useful and beneficial an outdoor space at the office can be to both the employees and the business as whole. It can be a great place for staff to enjoy their lunch breaks, but also somewhere unique that you can showcase to clients that come to visit.

While maintaining the outdoor space at your office may sound like a big job, we’ve put together this guide with our top tips to make it even easier for you!

Woman looking at flowering plants

Examine plants before buying

If you’re a bit of a novice in the garden, then you may find yourself buying any old plants and putting them in the office or potting them in and around the outdoor space. However, this could actually cause you more problems if you aren’t checking the plants before you buy them. Some plants can carry disease, which means that if you don’t check them before putting them in your garden, you’ll soon notice disease spreading to your other plants.

It can be difficult to learn what a healthy plant looks like, but to make it easier, you should do some research in books, magazines and online articles that display clear pictures of what a healthy specimen should look like. You should usually be able to tell a healthy and unhealthy plant apart by inspecting the roots and leaves.

Hands holding soil

Use healthy soil

A guaranteed way to make your outdoor space look more beautiful and well-looked after is by using healthy soil. You want to make sure that your soil is always fertilised so that you’re giving the plants the best chance of growing and thriving. You’ll see a huge difference in the appearance of your plants and garden as a whole if you swap your standard earth for a healthier soil.

Dandelion clocks

Keep out the weeds!

While we admit that weeding the garden isn’t one of the most exciting jobs you’ll find to do, it’s one of the most important when trying to maintain your beautiful outdoor space. Having weeds emerging between plants will cause competition for essential nutrients and quickly make the space look untidy and not at all somewhere where employees would want to enjoy their lunch.

Letting weeds take over in your garden will eventually result in the death of some of your plants, so it’s important that you’re diligent in keeping your garden weed free. Unfortunately, weeds are an inevitable part of gardening and there’s no miracle cure for getting rid of them. Instead, you should ensure that you’re keeping on top of any unwanted weeds as soon as they appear.

Undercover garden with path and benches

Get in the professionals

Now, if you’re reading this thinking that you don’t possibly have the time in your busy work schedule to keep on top of your gardening, then don’t panic. You can hire professional gardening services to come to your office and do the work for you. Services such as those provided by Regional Services, found at https://www.regionalservices.co.uk/services/gardening-services-london/ can take away the hassle of trying to maintain the outdoor space yourself, and they can offer anything from lawn mowing and general care, to seasonal planting and rubbish removal.

Man watering a garden with a hose

Water your plants properly

This may sound like a very obvious garden maintenance tip, but watering your plants is by far one of the most important. While your outdoor space needs to be kept irrigated in order for it to grow and flourish, watering it incorrectly can be detrimental to your plant’s health as it can cause weak and dry plants and lead to mould formation. Avoid watering the plant’s foliage – especially in full sun – instead focusing on the roots of the plants and the surrounding soil. This will help to ensure that your plants are getting the hydration that they need to grow and flourish, while also limiting the bacteria and disease that could spread throughout your garden.

In business, it’s important that you’re different and stand out. So, if your office has an outdoor space available to you, it’s important that you make the most of it for both employees and clients. By following our maintenance advice, you could create the perfect outdoor space at your workplace to seal the deal with new clients!

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