Spring this year being warmer than normal you would expect that the high insect levels would be enough to satisfy even the hungriest of breading wild birds. But slim pickings of wild bird food off the land mean breeding birds need all the help we can give if their young hatchlings are to survive.
Modern farming techniques coupled with increased use of pesticides has significantly reduced the insect levels here in the UK. It is our demand for the quantity and perfect looking fruit and vegetables that has contributed to this increase in pesticides and crop spraying.
Hotter weather, most of us welcome it, but these dry spells really do harden the ground making it difficult for the breeding wild birds such as tits and chaffinches to source food such as worms and grubs for their young.
Feeding Wild Birds is Rewarding.
A great deal of fun can be had from feeding wild birds at any time of the year, feeding wild birds during breeding season is also important. Warmer weather does mean you will need to keep on top of the hygiene, ensure the feeder and the bird table are cleaned regularly as the wild bird food will go off and whilst insects may be good for the birds not many people would want them infesting their gardens.
Not only is live bird food one of the best sources of protein for the hatchlings and mothers, choosing a live bird food makes for entertaining viewing, watching the food wriggle around and see the birds trying to pick it up, just remember to use a live bird food feeder or your bird food will wriggle away before the birds get a look in. Live foods such as mealworms are the popular choice of live bird food, made up of over 48% protein and 40% fat and have a high percentage of moisture which is vital for hatchlings and nestlings.
If you wish to help the wild birds in your area during breeding time but don’t fancy the idea of handling live mealworms, fear not modern technology comes to the rescue in the form of dried mealworms, these freeze dried mealworms offer the same levels of protein and fats but in a less messy package. A tip when using dried mealworms during breeding season would be to soak them in a little water to help the hatchlings digest them easier.
Friday, 20 May 2011
Tuesday, 17 May 2011
The Wheelie Bin Lifecycle
Wheelie bins first started to appear on our streets in the early 80’s their introduction came about due to health and safety legislation updates to protect refuse collectors from carrying the old heavy metal dustbins and to also improve exposure to the actual household waste we throw away.
The standard two wheeled rubbish bins we use at home here in the UK do vary in size and colour dependent on which local authority you live under, however the simple design remains the same.
Wheelie bins are manufactured out of plastic using a process known as injection moulding, the body and head will be formed using separate moulds, the axle will be made of metal and rubber wheels attached to either end, lastly some form of hinge will be required to fasten the lid to the body and allow opening.
Not all wheelie bins are the same, UK and European made wheelie bins are usually higher quality that of those manufactured in China, UK/EU bins will be certified and tested to EN840 standards to ensure safety and quality, another longevity feature that quality wheelie bins have is ultraviolet protection which will help protect the plastic from going brittle.
Old or Broken Wheelie Bins
Ever wondered what happens to your old worn out or damaged wheelie bin, you haven’t? Okay well read on if you would like to know.
Most old or damaged wheelie bins find themselves at local council depots or waste management companies were they are stripped of their wheels and stacked awaiting collection by the plastic recycling companies.
Once the wheelie bins have been collected by the plastic recycling companies they are thoroughly cleaned and all traces of rubbish removed from the inside, they are then loaded into large hoppers which feed into the plastic shredders, from here the regrind plastic is laboratory tested, graded and approved.
Regrind plastic is often supplied and used as part of a production run mix with new plastic or further processed into a recycled compound by melting the clean granulated plastic and extruding in the form of pellets ready to be used to manufacture another batch of wheelie bins
The standard two wheeled rubbish bins we use at home here in the UK do vary in size and colour dependent on which local authority you live under, however the simple design remains the same.
Wheelie bins are manufactured out of plastic using a process known as injection moulding, the body and head will be formed using separate moulds, the axle will be made of metal and rubber wheels attached to either end, lastly some form of hinge will be required to fasten the lid to the body and allow opening.
Not all wheelie bins are the same, UK and European made wheelie bins are usually higher quality that of those manufactured in China, UK/EU bins will be certified and tested to EN840 standards to ensure safety and quality, another longevity feature that quality wheelie bins have is ultraviolet protection which will help protect the plastic from going brittle.
Old or Broken Wheelie Bins
Ever wondered what happens to your old worn out or damaged wheelie bin, you haven’t? Okay well read on if you would like to know.
Most old or damaged wheelie bins find themselves at local council depots or waste management companies were they are stripped of their wheels and stacked awaiting collection by the plastic recycling companies.
Once the wheelie bins have been collected by the plastic recycling companies they are thoroughly cleaned and all traces of rubbish removed from the inside, they are then loaded into large hoppers which feed into the plastic shredders, from here the regrind plastic is laboratory tested, graded and approved.
Regrind plastic is often supplied and used as part of a production run mix with new plastic or further processed into a recycled compound by melting the clean granulated plastic and extruding in the form of pellets ready to be used to manufacture another batch of wheelie bins
Wednesday, 11 May 2011
Affordable Housing in Peterborough
Larkfleet Group and L&H Homes provide much needed affordable housing in Peterborough
Larkfleet Group, in partnership with Longhurst & Havelok Homes, has finished work on 42 new affordable homes in the centre of Peterborough.
The affordable development includes sixteen two-bedroom houses, eight three-bedroom houses and two blocks of nine two-bedroom flats.
Thirty-three of the properties are now available at affordable rent and nine of the homes are available as Rent to Homebuy from L&H Homes.
The completion of the development, located on land behind South View Road and Lincoln Road, is good news for many local people who will be able to rent a high quality property at an affordable price.
Despite meeting a need for affordable housing, recent public expenditure cuts have meant the number of developments like this is diminishing, making the amount of affordable housing available fall far short of the demand.
Mel Baker, project manager on behalf of L&H Homes, commented: "I am delighted that the development is complete. I would like to thank all partners involved, especially Peterborough City Council for their support in a long protracted fundings build process. The properties are of a good build standard and L&H Homes will now be able to offer a range of energy efficient and innovative homes to meet affordable housing needs in the area."
Karl Hick, managing director of Larkfleet Group, commented: "This development makes effective use of the land available and will provide much needed affordable housing for local people. The environmentally friendly design will be a great asset to the properties and will save occupiers money on fuel bills.
"Unfortunately, affordable developments like this may not be available in the future due to public spending cuts. There is simply not the capital to provide as many affordable properties and those in need of affordable housing will not be able to benefit in the same way as residents of this development.
"Central and local government must urgently consider how we can avoid creating a situation where many people will simply not be able to have a decent home."
All properties are built to Level 3 of the Code for Sustainable Homes. The high environmental standards highlight the commitments of L&H Homes and Larkfleet Group creating affordable, well-built and energy-efficient homes.
The timber frame construction method that was used on the development is an efficient way of building that allows for quicker construction times. Timber frames for the homes were supplied and erected by Kestrel Timber Frame (www.kestreltimberframe.co.uk), based in nearby Market Deeping, Lincolnshire.
If you are still yet to decide on buying your new home or would like to take advantage of a selection of schemes to help you buy your first home or you are looking to move up the property ladder then Larkfleet Homes who have several developments in and around Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire and Rutland have a wide range of award winning new homes
Larkfleet Group, in partnership with Longhurst & Havelok Homes, has finished work on 42 new affordable homes in the centre of Peterborough.
The affordable development includes sixteen two-bedroom houses, eight three-bedroom houses and two blocks of nine two-bedroom flats.
Thirty-three of the properties are now available at affordable rent and nine of the homes are available as Rent to Homebuy from L&H Homes.
The completion of the development, located on land behind South View Road and Lincoln Road, is good news for many local people who will be able to rent a high quality property at an affordable price.
Despite meeting a need for affordable housing, recent public expenditure cuts have meant the number of developments like this is diminishing, making the amount of affordable housing available fall far short of the demand.
Mel Baker, project manager on behalf of L&H Homes, commented: "I am delighted that the development is complete. I would like to thank all partners involved, especially Peterborough City Council for their support in a long protracted fundings build process. The properties are of a good build standard and L&H Homes will now be able to offer a range of energy efficient and innovative homes to meet affordable housing needs in the area."
Karl Hick, managing director of Larkfleet Group, commented: "This development makes effective use of the land available and will provide much needed affordable housing for local people. The environmentally friendly design will be a great asset to the properties and will save occupiers money on fuel bills.
"Unfortunately, affordable developments like this may not be available in the future due to public spending cuts. There is simply not the capital to provide as many affordable properties and those in need of affordable housing will not be able to benefit in the same way as residents of this development.
"Central and local government must urgently consider how we can avoid creating a situation where many people will simply not be able to have a decent home."
All properties are built to Level 3 of the Code for Sustainable Homes. The high environmental standards highlight the commitments of L&H Homes and Larkfleet Group creating affordable, well-built and energy-efficient homes.
The timber frame construction method that was used on the development is an efficient way of building that allows for quicker construction times. Timber frames for the homes were supplied and erected by Kestrel Timber Frame (www.kestreltimberframe.co.uk), based in nearby Market Deeping, Lincolnshire.
If you are still yet to decide on buying your new home or would like to take advantage of a selection of schemes to help you buy your first home or you are looking to move up the property ladder then Larkfleet Homes who have several developments in and around Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire and Rutland have a wide range of award winning new homes
Tuesday, 10 May 2011
Why Use Recycled Plastic in Manufacturing
Many plastic manufacturers have already recognised the cost savings that can be made by adding a % of recycled or regrind plastic to their mix, be this injection or extrusion manufacturing processes the cost savings can be huge especially when a volume run is planned. Considering the cost based on similar grade a regrind plastic will come in at less than half the price of new plastic, even fully recycled plastic whilst slightly more expensive than regrind will still be substantially cheaper than new plastic material. Savings made will naturally vary based on the type of plastic you are using and to what degree you are able to mix.
Of course there are the added benefits to the environment which all manufactures can promote, and any reduction in consumption of new raw materials can only be good for the environment but as an added benefit to a manufacturer who uses recycled plastic will be the marketing message this sends out to their customers, surely this will only help boost sales and profits even further.
Sending out the right message, by using recycled plastics or any other recycled product for that matter shows that the manufacturer has a forward thinking and positive attitude to not only the environment but also to their local community, again all positive votes for your business and brand which will all lead to long term business growth. So what you waiting for, start making savings and do your part to reduce the drain on natural resources today.
Regrind or Recycled?
Reground plastic is much cheaper than recycled plastic in pellet form, due to the lower amount of work involved, basically the old plastic type would need to be identified either by using the a Plastic Identification Codes – or PIC code or by sampling and testing in a laboratory identify it’s type and flow rates before washing to remove debris and labels then finally feeding into a large hopper and running through a shredding or grinding machine, once this is all complete the regrind plastic is bagged and weighed.
Recycled plastic has to undergo further processes to be ready for use in manufacturing, such as melting the clean reground plastic and extruding in to the form of pellets.
To sum up, if you are involved in plastic manufacturing and are considering using recycled material then the benefits are three fold,
• Cheaper
• More Profit
• Environmental Friendly
CK Polymers offer a selection of plastic recycling services and distribute a wide range of rGrade plastic raw materials to compounding and moulding companies across the globe. We are always looking for new
Of course there are the added benefits to the environment which all manufactures can promote, and any reduction in consumption of new raw materials can only be good for the environment but as an added benefit to a manufacturer who uses recycled plastic will be the marketing message this sends out to their customers, surely this will only help boost sales and profits even further.
Sending out the right message, by using recycled plastics or any other recycled product for that matter shows that the manufacturer has a forward thinking and positive attitude to not only the environment but also to their local community, again all positive votes for your business and brand which will all lead to long term business growth. So what you waiting for, start making savings and do your part to reduce the drain on natural resources today.
Regrind or Recycled?
Reground plastic is much cheaper than recycled plastic in pellet form, due to the lower amount of work involved, basically the old plastic type would need to be identified either by using the a Plastic Identification Codes – or PIC code or by sampling and testing in a laboratory identify it’s type and flow rates before washing to remove debris and labels then finally feeding into a large hopper and running through a shredding or grinding machine, once this is all complete the regrind plastic is bagged and weighed.
Recycled plastic has to undergo further processes to be ready for use in manufacturing, such as melting the clean reground plastic and extruding in to the form of pellets.
To sum up, if you are involved in plastic manufacturing and are considering using recycled material then the benefits are three fold,
• Cheaper
• More Profit
• Environmental Friendly
CK Polymers offer a selection of plastic recycling services and distribute a wide range of rGrade plastic raw materials to compounding and moulding companies across the globe. We are always looking for new
Thursday, 28 April 2011
Wild Bird Feeding This Springtime
With this spring being milder than usual you might assume that the high insect levels would be enough to satisfy most wild birds appetites, but the hotter weather also hardens the ground and many wild birds who normally feed of worms such as tits and chaffinches will struggle to find food.
Springtime is also breeding time for wild birds so extra food will always help and can really make a difference to the survival rate of the young, just be mindful that hygiene is important, clean feeders and tables and that certain foods will not last long in the hot weather.
Foods to avoid feeding to wild birds during this time of year include such things as whole peanuts, due to the risks of choking young birds, an exception to this could be through the use of a caged feeder that won’t allow larger chunks of nut through the gaps in the mesh. Other foods to avoid should include bread as this could prove harmful if the older birds feed them to their young.
What can I feed Wild Birds Then?
Some adult wild birds will come and feed from your garden to satisfy their own needs whilst other parents will take the food you have put out back to their young so a plentiful supply of protein rich foods are much needed. Fat products are ideal as these provide the high energy proteins breeding birds require such as fat balls, suet blocks and suet pellets. Fat products also appeal to a wide variety of wild birds so putting these types of foods out in the garden should increase the diversity of wild birds visiting. New production techniques now unable a less messy option in what’s known as Less Mess Suet Blocks, these are ideal as they don’t melt or get sticky in the hotter weather but are still as tasty and appeal to the wild birds.
Live foods such as insects are one of the best sources of protein for wild birds that are breeding, live foods such as mealworms are possibly the most popular live bird food.
Many species go mad for mealworms including robins, blackbirds, sparrows and tits. Mealworms are ideal for feeding in gardens and are made up of over 48% protein and 40% fat and have a high percentage of moisture which is vital for nestlings. Just remember to use special live bird food feeders otherwise your bird food will wriggle away before the birds get chance to eat them.
Don’t like the idea of handling live mealworms but still want to help the wild birds during the springtime then consider using dried mealworms, freeze dried but still containing all the same levels of proteins and fats but much easier to deal with, although during breeding season it would be better to soak in a little water to aid with digestion of nestling birds.
Springtime is also breeding time for wild birds so extra food will always help and can really make a difference to the survival rate of the young, just be mindful that hygiene is important, clean feeders and tables and that certain foods will not last long in the hot weather.
Foods to avoid feeding to wild birds during this time of year include such things as whole peanuts, due to the risks of choking young birds, an exception to this could be through the use of a caged feeder that won’t allow larger chunks of nut through the gaps in the mesh. Other foods to avoid should include bread as this could prove harmful if the older birds feed them to their young.
What can I feed Wild Birds Then?
Some adult wild birds will come and feed from your garden to satisfy their own needs whilst other parents will take the food you have put out back to their young so a plentiful supply of protein rich foods are much needed. Fat products are ideal as these provide the high energy proteins breeding birds require such as fat balls, suet blocks and suet pellets. Fat products also appeal to a wide variety of wild birds so putting these types of foods out in the garden should increase the diversity of wild birds visiting. New production techniques now unable a less messy option in what’s known as Less Mess Suet Blocks, these are ideal as they don’t melt or get sticky in the hotter weather but are still as tasty and appeal to the wild birds.
Live foods such as insects are one of the best sources of protein for wild birds that are breeding, live foods such as mealworms are possibly the most popular live bird food.
Many species go mad for mealworms including robins, blackbirds, sparrows and tits. Mealworms are ideal for feeding in gardens and are made up of over 48% protein and 40% fat and have a high percentage of moisture which is vital for nestlings. Just remember to use special live bird food feeders otherwise your bird food will wriggle away before the birds get chance to eat them.
Don’t like the idea of handling live mealworms but still want to help the wild birds during the springtime then consider using dried mealworms, freeze dried but still containing all the same levels of proteins and fats but much easier to deal with, although during breeding season it would be better to soak in a little water to aid with digestion of nestling birds.
Wednesday, 27 April 2011
First Home DIY Advice
Moving into your first home give you the opportunity to show off your great design skills, this means that unless you’re a lotto winner you will be doing some if not all the diy jobs around your new home.
Learning new DIY skills takes time so it’s worth being realistic when tackling your first few jobs, if you have a parent or friend who’s knowledgeable then consider cooking them a meal one evening while they show you how to change plastic light switches for chrome ones. Plus it gives you chance to show off your culinary skills, beans on toast anyone?
Buyers of brand new homes will have a much easier time with a lot less time being devoted to repairing cracked plaster or stripping old wallpaper. Having nice smooth wall to start with really speeds up the transformation from a house to a home.
What can appear an easy diy job isn’t always the case, take hanging pictures on the walls, simple enough you would think choose the location and hammer a nail in to the wall, job done! and 99 out of 100 times you will be fine, but be aware of hidden pipes and cables within the wall, experience will help but even tradesmen get it wrong sometimes, a wiser person might invest in one of the many low cost electronic detectors available in all the leading diy stores, place one of these against the wall were you intend to put the nail or drill and it will show if something is beneath the plaster surface.
Carpets and flooring are expensive items, our advice is to try and buy the best you can afford. If you fancy cutting corners ( no pun intended ) on cost it’s far better to do a couple of rooms at a time with good quality rather than having the whole house fitted in cheap stuff or worse still buying remnants and fitting them yourself. Many new home builders offer deals that include carpets throughout the whole house, at first glance this probably doesn’t sound that great, it will when you go down your local carpet shop and get some estimates.
If you are still yet to decide on buying your new home or would like to take advantage of a selection of schemes to help in buying your first home or you are looking to move up the property ladder then Larkfleet Homes have several developments in and around Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire and Rutland. Larkfleet Homes are a company with an enviable reputation for producing high quality sustainable developments using innovative technology and construction methods, delivered to exceed customer expectations.
Learning new DIY skills takes time so it’s worth being realistic when tackling your first few jobs, if you have a parent or friend who’s knowledgeable then consider cooking them a meal one evening while they show you how to change plastic light switches for chrome ones. Plus it gives you chance to show off your culinary skills, beans on toast anyone?
Buyers of brand new homes will have a much easier time with a lot less time being devoted to repairing cracked plaster or stripping old wallpaper. Having nice smooth wall to start with really speeds up the transformation from a house to a home.
What can appear an easy diy job isn’t always the case, take hanging pictures on the walls, simple enough you would think choose the location and hammer a nail in to the wall, job done! and 99 out of 100 times you will be fine, but be aware of hidden pipes and cables within the wall, experience will help but even tradesmen get it wrong sometimes, a wiser person might invest in one of the many low cost electronic detectors available in all the leading diy stores, place one of these against the wall were you intend to put the nail or drill and it will show if something is beneath the plaster surface.
Carpets and flooring are expensive items, our advice is to try and buy the best you can afford. If you fancy cutting corners ( no pun intended ) on cost it’s far better to do a couple of rooms at a time with good quality rather than having the whole house fitted in cheap stuff or worse still buying remnants and fitting them yourself. Many new home builders offer deals that include carpets throughout the whole house, at first glance this probably doesn’t sound that great, it will when you go down your local carpet shop and get some estimates.
If you are still yet to decide on buying your new home or would like to take advantage of a selection of schemes to help in buying your first home or you are looking to move up the property ladder then Larkfleet Homes have several developments in and around Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire and Rutland. Larkfleet Homes are a company with an enviable reputation for producing high quality sustainable developments using innovative technology and construction methods, delivered to exceed customer expectations.
Thursday, 21 April 2011
First Home Energy Saving Tips
Moving in to your first home is a fantastic feeling, it’s all yours (well let’s forget for a moment about the mortgage) your very own first home.
No doubt you will have loads of ideas and plans to make it unique and reflect your personality and tastes, that’s great can’t wait to get started on the diy?
Before you start slapping red paint on the walls to match your yellow carpet spare a thought for a few energy saving tips, were not trying to sound like your dad here but sometimes they make sense ( though not always!)
Those of you who have bought a brand new first home will always have the upper hand when it comes to lower energy costs, quality built new homes are so well insulated that once they are heated up they retain their heat all day and enable you to either turn the heating off or significantly reduce the thermostat temperature.
Light fittings in your first house will probably be one of the first things you will want to change, not many people like the plastic dangly things that the builders fit, although they are better than taking down something your granny would have had fitted if your first home isn’t a new one.
So before you go out and buy those chrome effect or black down lighters check what bulbs they accept, having six 60 watt bulbs on in your living room at night will cost much more than six x 7.5 watt low energy bulbs over the course of a year and the new LED spot light bulbs can use as little as 1.5 watts each, although the brightness is sometimes less than that of the full power bulbs. After all the savings will pay for plenty of pizza deliveries for all the parties you are planning.
Loft insulation, again new home buyers can forget about this as your loft space will have been well insulated by your builder, if your first home isn’t a new one then the loft is best insulated to a 200mm depth if possible and get this done well before the colder weather sets in and it’s advisable to avoid very warm days. Either call a reputable company in or have a go yourself, insulating your loft isn’t difficult but it’s not a pleasant DIY job as the fibres do irritate the skin, so have a quick measure up and head down the DIY store.
If you are still yet to decide on buying your new home or would like to take advantage of a selection of schemes to help you buy your first home or you are looking to move up the property ladder then Larkfleet Homes who have several developments in and around Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire and Rutland have a wide range of award winning new homes
No doubt you will have loads of ideas and plans to make it unique and reflect your personality and tastes, that’s great can’t wait to get started on the diy?
Before you start slapping red paint on the walls to match your yellow carpet spare a thought for a few energy saving tips, were not trying to sound like your dad here but sometimes they make sense ( though not always!)
Those of you who have bought a brand new first home will always have the upper hand when it comes to lower energy costs, quality built new homes are so well insulated that once they are heated up they retain their heat all day and enable you to either turn the heating off or significantly reduce the thermostat temperature.
Light fittings in your first house will probably be one of the first things you will want to change, not many people like the plastic dangly things that the builders fit, although they are better than taking down something your granny would have had fitted if your first home isn’t a new one.
So before you go out and buy those chrome effect or black down lighters check what bulbs they accept, having six 60 watt bulbs on in your living room at night will cost much more than six x 7.5 watt low energy bulbs over the course of a year and the new LED spot light bulbs can use as little as 1.5 watts each, although the brightness is sometimes less than that of the full power bulbs. After all the savings will pay for plenty of pizza deliveries for all the parties you are planning.
Loft insulation, again new home buyers can forget about this as your loft space will have been well insulated by your builder, if your first home isn’t a new one then the loft is best insulated to a 200mm depth if possible and get this done well before the colder weather sets in and it’s advisable to avoid very warm days. Either call a reputable company in or have a go yourself, insulating your loft isn’t difficult but it’s not a pleasant DIY job as the fibres do irritate the skin, so have a quick measure up and head down the DIY store.
If you are still yet to decide on buying your new home or would like to take advantage of a selection of schemes to help you buy your first home or you are looking to move up the property ladder then Larkfleet Homes who have several developments in and around Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire and Rutland have a wide range of award winning new homes
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