Hedgehog Gutter and Drain Guards

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clear gutters, gutter care, hedgehog guard, hedgehog gutter and drain guard, leaf filter, recycle works, recycleworks

The Hedgehog Gutter and Drain Guard

When we choose the products for the website we are careful to think about you. Many times I believe that you are a bit like me. So if something bothers me I do not feel I am alone. As you know we have recently introduced the Hedgehog Gutter and Drain Guard and it is quite amazing how popular it is. Last year I paid my window cleaner something like £60.00 to clear my gutters and downpipes when they had got pretty bad. I knew as soon as rivers of water ran all down the outside fabric of the house from the blocked gutter whenever it rained that I had trouble. If I leave it now, it will not be long before the damp penetrates the outside wall and causes mildew on the painted walls inside. Yes I have been there. The insurance company made such a song and dance I lost heart with them and never completed the claim for redecoration.

So guess who is lined up as the first customer when we receive the next delivery of Hedgehog Gutter and drain brush? Only I am hopeless with these jobs and it did not take long to realise that when the window cleaner comes to fix it I have no plastic ties at home so the job would end up being a half mess. So we have introduced FIVE 550 x 9mm plastic ties into each pack of Hedgehog Gutter and Drain Guards to keep me happy. Another good buy at this time of year is the ubiquitous pair of Handy Hands to keep those wet leaves away from your paws.

Love Your Gutters!

Spring Bulb Collection – Buy Now With Free Delivery

It’s that time of year again and our wonderful collection of bulbs are now available to order and don’t forget that as an extra special offer, ALL our  bulbs come with FREE delivery!

Bulbs currently available include:

• Hyacinth
• Aconite
• Anemone
• Daffodils
• English Bluebells
• Narcissis
• Lilies
• Lily of the Valley

Choose from a whole array of different flowers and each listing will tell you when that particular bulb is available until, however please don’t delay in ordering as most are only available for a very limited period.

Love Your Bulbs!

Cut Your Bills – Draw The Curtains!

Curtains Cut Bills!

As promised, we said we’d share another wonderful tip with you, kindly supplied by the ever wonderful Friends of the Earth!

Now the nights are drawing in, draw your curtains. Close them when it gets dark and consider curtain lining to further reduce heat loss through windows – or get a second pair of curtains from a charity shop to act as lining material.

Avoid putting curtains in front of a radiator – they will block the heat and funnel it straight out of the windows.

Love Your Environment!

Save Money – Check Your Radiators!

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Friends of the Earth, money saving tips, radiator, radiator bleeding, recycle works, save money, Sylvia Hopwood

Friends of the Earth suggest we check our radiators – With the arrival of autumn, it’s a good idea to make sure your central heating is working efficiently. Air pockets can build up in radiators, which means they won’t be as warm on the top as they are at the bottom.

You can easily sort this out by ‘bleeding’ the radiator to allow the air to escape. If it’s your first time, search online for guidance on how to do this.

Later on in the week we’ll share with you a really good suggestion that was well followed during the last war!

Love Your Environment!

Storing the Harvest for Winter

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gardening, grow your own, gyo, harvesting, harvesting fruit, harvesting vegetables, how to store fruit, how to store vegetables, recycle works, recycleworks, storing fruit, storing vegetables, The Recycle Works, wooden fruit storage box, wooden storage trays

Gathering in the harvest for winter is a special time, and with a little bit of know-how it is possible to keep the harvest in tip-top condition for eating later on.

Root crops such as parsnips and beetroot can be left in the ground quite successfully for harvesting later in the winter.  However it’s worth checking them regularly, as we have a field vole in our allotment who does nibble the beetroots if they are left for too long. 

Carrots and potatoes will be eaten by the slugs if left in the ground. 

Instead they can be stored in this handy Wooden Storage Box. 

The Wooden Storage Box is also perfect for orchard fruits such as apples and pears, it has been designed for good air circulation and large storage space. 

What’s more when the harvest has been eaten it can be dismantled until next year.

Garlic and onions are best stored hung up. 

Try plaiting their stems, and then tie with string ready for hanging.  Alternatively hang them in an old pair of tights!

 

Winter squashes are best stored hung up in a net.  This prevents their skin from bruising.

Enjoy the Autumn Delight that is Poached Pears in Chocolate Sauce!

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cooking fruit, cooking pears, grow your own, how to cook pears, how to poach pears, orchard fruit, poached pears in chocolate sauce recipe, recipe, recipe for pears, recycle works, recycleworks, The Recycle Works, vegetarian recipe

Autumn is here and along with misty, cobwebbed mornings and crunchy leaves underfoot there are the delights of the orchard fruit season to enjoy.  …and there is no better time to savour delicious English pears.  So with that in mind why not try our deliciously indulgent poached pears.

Ingredients

4 Comice pears
350 g golden caster sugar
400ml water
1 vanilla pod
Some orange zest
Double cream to serve

For the chocolate sauce:

200g dark chocolate
splash of brandy
150ml double cream
100ml milk

Method

1. Peel and remove the core from each pear, leaving the stalk intact
2. Slice the bottom of each pear to make a flat base
3. In a large pan melt the sugar in the water with the vanilla pod and orange zest
4. Put the pears upright into the pan and poach for about 20 minutes until cooked
5. Remove them from the pan and keep the liquid
6. To make the chocolate sauce, heat the double cream and milk in a pan
7. Melt the chocolate in a bowl above steaming water
8. Add the melted chocolate, brandy and two tablespoons of the pear liquid to the pan of double cream and milk
9. Gently heat the mix and stir to make a sauce
10. Pour chocolate sauce over each pear and serve with cream – yummy!