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When you are designing a pond there are very few rules that actually have to be kept to and you have a large amount of creative flexibility in designing. However, you should ensure that if you have some types of fish that enough sunshine comes to the pond each day. For example if you want Koi Carp then it is best to make sure that the pond receives at least six hours of sunshine each day.

Some types of fish also prefer cooler water, and while it is not going to be practical for you to either cool or heat the water in the pond, you can design it so that the ponds retains a consistent temperature.

For example, if you want to have a cooler ponds, you should make sure it is suitably deep. This will ensure that the fish have a cool place to go on particularly hot days. These deep areas also have an additional advantage as in the winter they stay warmer and so fish have a more consistent temperature to live in.

You should also be very careful about the placement of your pond in your garden. Other than getting enough sunshine, you should make sure that the pond is not near any conifers or other deciduous trees. The falling leaves from these plants can contaminate the water.

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By installing either of these items you are going to significantly increase the number of birds who enjoy coming to your garden and it is going to bring your garden to life in a way that just plants cannot.

Most people don’t realise that there are many different birdhouse designs for different types of bird. While this can make choosing complicated, it does mean that you can pretty much select which sort of bird you want to appear in your garden.

There are also different types of materials that birdhouse is can be constructed from, and if you are keen to attract the most birds, you should go for something that is made out of natural materials, such as untreated wood.

Birdfeeders are a simple thing to install and all you have to do is put them in a place where the birds can feed without being likely to be disturbed. They will also look out for locations that are free from danger, such as dangers they face from predators, so if you have a cat, don’t expect so many birds to show up.

Birds are also attracted by standing water as it gives them an opportunity to drink and wash themselves. When you start installing these things in your garden which are going to attract birds, don’t expect an immediate change, it usually takes a few weeks before birds start coming to your garden and usually a couple more before they start taking up residence in your bird boxes.

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Jubilee structure to be made from discarded plants and materials

A structure to celebrate the Royal Jubilee is going to be created by the sculptor, Caro Sweet who has also recently been asked to be the first residential sculptor of the RHS Spring Gardening Show. The inspiration for the sculpture is going to come from discarded materials and plants and it is going to be created over four days at the event.

Caro is an artist who is as well known for her art as she is for her performance while creating it. Those who visit the show are going to be up to see her creative sculpture and this is bound to be an entertaining process as she has been known to sculpt while wearing high heels.

Commenting on her Spring Show project, Caro said: “Malvern’s Spring Show is the only remaining RHS Show outside London prior to the Jubilee. The sixty-year reign of Her Majesty has seen her grow in strength and move with the times in the same way a tree or plant has to grow.

I’ve long admired the Queen’s more considered approach to life than some Royals and felt that incorporating recycled materials rather than using expensive new ones would be a more fitting tribute.”

Visitors to the Malvern Spring Gardening Show, which is open daily from 9am to 6pm, wanting to see Caro in action will find her in The Show Gardens Arena. For more information on the Spring Show, visit www.threecounties.co.uk/springgardening or call the Information Hotline on  01684 584924

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PCA join the fight to control Japanese Knotweed

The UK trade body  Property Care Association (PCA) has just launched a brand new group, which is dedicated to both the removal and the control of the Japanese Knotweed.

The PCA has been working alongside the RICS, Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, and supported by the Building Societies Association and the Council of Mortgage Lenders, to assist the companies that deal with the control of Japanese Knotweed in the UK and in doing so have developed the Invasive Weed Control Group.

This latest aspect of the PCA also coincides with the new guide from the RICS, written by Phil Parnham, that has just been published with the title Japanese Knotwood and Residential Property.

The guide – along with the development of the PCA’s Invasive Weed Control Group to signpost consumers to professional treatment companies – now offers assurance and certainty in tackling the problem.

Stephen Hodgson, general manager of the PCA, which has its headquarters in Huntingdon, said: “For several months, the PCA has been working with sections of the Japanese Knotweed control industry to provide representation, accreditation and trade association services.

“Ultimately this work has drawn together a set of standards that will ensure consumers can identify companies – through the PCA – that have the skills, infrastructure, knowledge and integrity to eliminate this troublesome weed properly and cost-effectively.

“Our role as an established trade body, with a reputation for high standards, ensures a recognised and effective route for the delivery of this work.“The control of invasive species, such as Japanese Knotweed, also complements the Association’s existing areas of expertise.”

Professor Max Wade, director of Ecology at RPS Planning and Development, has chaired the Japanese Knotweed Working Group, which has led to the development of the PCA Invasive Weed Control Group.

Professor Wade said: “The working group set out to understand lender requirements, support RICS in producing an Information Paper for surveyors and establish the PCA as the trade body for the industry, with the necessary standards and skills in place to offer assurance with respect to the completion of treatments.

“We also set out to communicate the fact that Japanese Knotweed has an inflated reputation. It is just a plant. There are other plants that can cause significantly more damage to properties, such as sycamore trees for example. The problem can be dealt with, and now there is a recognised framework to remedy it.”

Philip Santo, Professional Practice Consultant, RICS Residential Professional Group, represented RICS on the Japanese Knotweed Working Group and facilitated the RICS Information Paper. He said: “What we can do now is promote certainty. We have standardisation, consistency and best practice standards in the treatment industry.”

Further information is available at www.property-care.org where a list of professional Japanese Knotweed control contractors is available.

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If you install lights into your pond then you are going to be astonished by the difference it makes. Not only will it illuminator part of the garden so you can sit outside at night, but it will also make the pond very attractive.

Surface lighting is a popular option and as long as it is not shining onto the water itself, it is a wonderful addition. Underwater lighting is a bit more complicated, but it can really add a great deal of atmosphere, it can illuminate the wildlife that you have in your pond, such as plants and fish.

There are some considerations you need to take into account when illuminating the pond however. For one, many fish might not appreciate it if the pond is too brightly illuminated. This can also be convenient for the pond owner as it means they do not have to run a high-voltage supply to the pond.

It is important that you buy a transformer to lower the voltage before you attach it to your lighting system, this is safer and more friendly to your fish. Even if you have a large pond to illuminate, you should run several low voltage supplies, rather than one high-voltage solution.

You should also make sure that you install switches both outside, and inside. Not only will this make switching on and off the pond lights more convenient, but it can also be an important safety measure. The outdoor switch should be encased in a waterproof shell.

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If you’re looking to buy a bird box, there are a wide range of options available for you. Most people are unaware that there are different bird boxes that will appeal to different species of bird, so it is possible to choose one depending on which sort of bird you want to attract to your garden. For example, Blue Tits are a smaller bird and therefore require a very small hole in the side of the bird box.

If you want to attract a larger bird, such as a woodpecker, then you are going to need a significantly larger hole, often over twice the size. There are even some bird boxes that have open sides which are appropriate for bird such as Wrens and Blackbirds. If you are very specific about what sort of bird you want to attract, do plenty of research into the right sort of bird box.

Once you have decided which bird box you want, you’re going to have to decide where you want to put it in the garden. One of the most important things you should do, is make sure that the bird box is high enough to keep the birds away from predators.

You should also look around for various things that the predator could climb up in order to get in the box, such as a tree. Again, depending on the species of bird you want to attract will determine where you put your bird box, so do research beforehand.

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The last century has seen many species lose their habitats so it is not surprising that some of the most common wildlife species have dwindled in number such as tree sparrows and other common back garden visitors.

While it may seem that one small garden will not be enough to save a wildlife species from extinction, the truth is that even one small wildlife area will help to prevent the decline in animals by offering a safe habitat for native animals and plants to call home.

As other natural habitats and farmland continue to be developed or paved over gardens are only going to become more important to wildlife in local areas as they will become the only place of refuge for many animals. Therefore, if you have space in your garden you should think about making some small changes so that it will attract wildlife into it.

Sometimes all you need to do is make a few small changes to get wildlife to take a second look at your garden. For instance, adding some scented flowers, berries, and seeds is enough to attract many different species of butterflies, birds, and bees.

You also might want to think about adding fruit shrubs and flowering shrubs along the perimeter of your garden to help offer shelter to animals that visit your garden while also offering them a safe place to stop and eat a meal or two

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By building your garden to be wildlife friendly you will not only create a happy feeling for yourself when you see them, but you will bring a lot of happiness to the animals that eventually call your garden home.

One great way to attract animals into your garden is by adding some trees since trees serve a dual purpose in your garden. First off, they create great habitats for birds and mammals to call home, but they also offer a food source for birds and insects that will last year round.

For smaller mammals such as squirrels they also offer a place to store food which is equally important. In addition, trees offer shelter which means that many mammals that are not climbers will choose to build their homes underneath the trees adding to the amount of wildlife that you attract into your garden.

If you have space, you might also think about building a pond as this will attract a lot of wildlife your way. However, even if you do not have the space you can always take an old bath or sink and place it into the ground on a slope so that creatures can crawl in and out of it as they want. The new damp spots will help attract dragonflies, frogs, toads, and newts and of course will attract other species that are just looking for a place to cool off or get a quick drink of water.

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