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estimate of numbers. Each of five or six bands contained about 1000 ants for each 10cm; so that's over 50,000 per metre, extending at least 1km  in each direction. My conservative estimate gives 100 million insects in our short stretch of beach alone. Now

delicious soup). Before I know it I'm dodging blackberries, pears and plums on the towpath instead of ice and snow.Just last night my girlfriend came home with a bag of cherries she'd plucked from a tree in our local park. They were delicious and sweet

are quite big and heavy some sort of staking would be advisable. Keep deadheading through the flowering season and dig up and store the tubers immediately after the first frost. By store I mean put them in a box of dry compost in a shed

of the leaves when I spotted a ruddy brown bundle next to the ivy thicket. There was a fox asleep on the roof of the shed.It turned its head towards me as I cracked open the casement to take a picture. Not a very good one, I have to admit, I need a telephoto

wouldn’t spot her. I’m sure she wondered why I was stealing her fruit. The currants are a well-loved nesting spot for the blackbirds, and she’d be pleased to know that I wouldn’t dream of harvesting from the dense currant bush in which I know there is a

it facing upwards. Cover with compost. Position somewhere cold and dark and check regularly for watering and pests. Once leaves appear in 10-12 weeks, bring the bulbs into the house.AdamTry forcing other spring bulbs, such as Narcissus 'Hugh Town', 'Itzim

you start. When you're ready, remove the spark plug cap so the mower can't start unexpectedly.Petrol lawnmowerRag or clothSocket wrenchSpannerall year round15 minutesOnce the spark plug cap is removed, check to see if the spark plug is dirty, removing

, shed, greenhouse, conservatory or garage. Slimline models are available for smaller gardens.Use water-retaining crystals or gel to retain water in containers so you don't have to water them so often. Organic, seaweed-based options are available. Line

don't waste this valuable resource.Watering can or hosepipeWatering can rose or fine spray nozzleWater-retaining granulesMicro-drip irrigation system and timerWater buttlate-March - early September20 minutesAlways water your plants in the cool

stacked layers of old railway sleepers. It's not large, only 3.5 by 1.5 metres. And although it is over a metre deep in one corner, it shelves to nothing in another. Oh well, I'll just use the rest on the shed roof, where the roofing felt has ripped