My Climate Change Garden » Buy water butts

Save the rain

Debbie — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 10:51:52 +0000

The UK is set for some heavy downpours over the next few days which is good news for gardeners – my water butt is almost empty and the ground is very hard.

The Environment Agency have been very concerned about the water supply situation and issued this update just a few weeks ago.

http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/static/documents/Leisure/31_Drought_management_briefing_12_Jan_12.pdf

Its easy to fit a water butt and they can make a real difference in times of drought. Check out these websites for advice and stockists.

http://www.savewater.co.uk/

http://waterbuttsdirect.co.uk/

http://www.dobbies.co.uk/acatalog/Water-Butts.html

http://www.mygreenerhome.co.uk/water-butts-14/750-litre-wall-tank-water-butt-71.html

http://www.crocus.co.uk/products/_/tools/water-butts/prcid.97/

Where can I buy water butts?

Debbie — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 07:30:22 +0000

Severe gales and floodng expected to hit parts of the UK in the next 48 hours as hurricane Katia makes its way across the Atlantic.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/sep/10/britain-braces-itself-for-storms-and-floods

Time to make sure you can capture some of the expected heavy rainfall by installing a water butt.

You can buy water butts everywhere now – on line, in garden centres, supermarkets and even garages .

There are many different types, shapes and sizes – try to buy water butts using re-cycled materials if possible.

Here are just a selection to inspire you:

http://waterbuttsdirect.co.uk/

http://www.waterbutts.com/

http://www.dobbies.co.uk/acatalog/Water-Butts.html

http://www.suttons.co.uk/Shop/Gardening+Equipment/Watering+Equipment/Water+Butts /List/?gclid=CKWf9I2o2JoCFQ0FZgod-xhI2Q

http://www.mygreenerhome.co.uk/water-butts-14/750-litre-wall-tank-water-butt-71.html

http://www.selections.com/garden-products/irrigation/water-butts/

http://www.crocus.co.uk/products/_/tools/water-butts/prcid.97/

Weather and climate – the difference?

Debbie — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 08:40:24 +0000

The difference between weather and climate is a measure of time. Weather is what conditions of the atmosphere are over a short period of time, and climate is how the atmosphere “behaves” over relatively long periods of time.

When we talk about climate change, we talk about changes in long-term averages of daily weather.Here are some interesting websites that explain more about weather and climate:

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/noaa-n/climate/climate_weather.html

http://eo.ucar.edu/basics/

Wherever you live in the world and whatever your climate or weather, rain is crucial to our survival – it feeds our crops to provide the food that is the life source that makes our bodies function.

With more rain forecast in the UK over the next few days, it would be wise to make sure we capture as much of it as possible. and not it simply disapear down the drains.A staggering 100,000 litres of rainwater fall on the roof of every UK home every year.

Buying a water butt is the simplest way to harvest the rain and use it in your garden.

To make the most of your butt, connect it to the downpipe from your guttering. Many water butts come with a simple connection kits and it’s really easy to do.
A water butt can be plastic or wooden. Some have a tap at the bottom of the barrel which makes it easy to fill a watering can or fix a hose.
If your barrel doesn’t have a tap, you’ll have to scoop water out from the top. A lid of fine mesh will stop leaves and small animals from falling in – you don’t want to feed your garden guests in one place and drown them in another!

Check out these sites for more inspiration:

http://www.waterwise.org.uk/reducing_water_wastage_in_the_uk/house_and_garden/water_butts.html

http://www.waterbuttsdirect.co.uk