The BC Blog...

We all know how important it is to look after & help the environment around us.  Sometimes it's as easy as doing our weekly recycling or taking that walk to work instead of getting in the car, maybe it's keeping the green spaces & parks we have around us free from litter.  But what can we do to make our own gardens that little bit more environmentally friendly? and enjoy the benefits it brings as well...

• Think about that outdoor seating space you're trying to create - Do you need to buy that brand new shiny furniture set from the local Garden centre? Maybe you could look at some second hand outdoor furniture, give it a lick of paint, a spruce up with some new cushions and really make it your own! Giving it a second lease of life and saving you some pennies whilst doing it...

• We all love some fresh veggies with our roast dinner or some nice crisp salad in the summer, so what could be better than growing your own!? Having a small section of your garden for a grow house or a veggie patch can be so rewarding... plus it saves on that trip to the local store for some lettuce or tomatoes, great for your purse and the environment! (p.s. You can put any peelings and leftovers in your composter to make it extra environmentally friendly, Win Win!)

• When it comes to weedkillers, fertilisers and pest control in and around the outside spaces you look after, you can always try to choose some of the many organic alternatives available at your local DIY & Garden Centre.  The chemicals that are often found in some of the weedkillers & pest control options can damage soil health, pollute water sources and harm a whole host of wildlife, from bees, birds and butterflies to hedgehogs and frogs.  Luckily there are a few great eco-friendly options that you might already have at home, so why not try some saltwater on those weeds - mixing up some salt & white vinegar (that's right it's not always just for those yummy chips!) in a spray bottle to tackle those troublesome weeds, it can work wonders (and sometimes works faster than those premixed expensive weedkillers, so you might save some money too!)

• We know it's not always easy to get everything right when it comes to thinking about the environment, and there are always new ways that come around to help us to understand and evolve to help the planet.  Just remember that every tiny thing that we can change to help the environment, the wildlife & our planet can make a big impact in the long run.  So keep planting those veggies in your garden, creating your own compost, leaving some gaps around your boundaries for the hedgehogs and even helping those creepy crawlies in the garden with a bug house! We can all make a difference just by doing some small things for the environment....