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at the weekend. It was only when I was looking at the RSPB Homes for Wildlife website that I notice they advise not to use tap-water. Since the new ring-main was built through South London about 10 years ago, the chlorine levels in our drinking water have gone

crops are loving it.Despite opening-up every vent in the greenhouse early, jamming the double doors wide open and damping down the floor with a hose, the temperature inside had already 31°C by 10am.At this time of year we need to be particularly

and running now that I've replaced the liner and refilled it, has frogs and newts at certain times of the year, but I've covered it with a wire mesh to prevent certain 2-year-olds taking an accidental dip, and I'm certain it would also foil the attentions

The gentle babble of flowing water from this urn water feature helps to create a calm and soothing mood in the garden. A water feature like this is really simple to assemble and is also a safe choice if you have young children

Plastic-coated grillePlastic reservoirPebblesSpirit level, jug and trowelSpade and ready-mix cementall year round1 afternoonChoose a site for your water hammer and dig a hole that's deep and wide enough to hold the water reservoir.Lay a length of wood across the top

that wildlife would find it soon enough. And they have.Peering into the now clear water, after the initial algal bloom and water-flea dance auditions, I can see some squat mud-coloured gargoyles resting menacingly just below the water line. They are dragonfly

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

The danger of frozen water pipes is on my mind during this freezing weather, but I'm also concerned that garden birds are suffering, too.Water in my bird bath quickly turns into a solid sheet of ice on cold nights, and hasn't been thawing out during

.So, when the kettle boils I make the 20 metre dash down the garden to melt the ice. A whole floating sheet often comes away completely, but occasionally the stubbornly thick ice needs a return visit with another kettle of boiling water to finish the job

Our tomatoes have not done very well this year, a combination of slow start and inadequate watering whilst we were away on holiday. But further down the street someone has done much better. They've obviously had a glut because a cardboard box