Connect with us

Oxford News

Four ways to save your garden furniture this spring

Published

on



But with spring around the corner, Brits across the country will be preparing their outdoor spaces for more frequent use. 

One furniture specialist has shared his tips and tricks to help revamp your grubby table and chairs in time for the warmer weather following four simple steps.

Matthew Lock, director of luxurious garden furniture specialists Luxus Home and Garden, said springtime is the perfect excuse to deep clean and prepare your garden for sunny weather.



He says the first step is to inspect and access your furniture before giving it a good deep clean with warm soapy water and a bristle brush.

Then he suggests carrying out any repairs on the outdoor seating to make sure it’s safe and durable for the rest of the year.

Next, Matthew says a lick of paint or covering it in a fun fabric can help make it look brand new again.

Lastly, the director suggests covering the furniture in a protective sealing can help maintain its life and shield it from moisture and UV rays.

Matthew said: “Winter can be a challenging time for garden items if left outside to face the harsh weather conditions. 

“However, spring is in sight and it’s a great opportunity to give garden furniture a deep clean and prepare your outdoor space for the brighter days ahead. 

“Inspect each item carefully for any damage and carry out any work needed to ensure it is structurally sound and rough edges are sanded properly. 

“A deep clean with warm, soapy water and a soft bristle brush can make a world of difference, while an equal parts white vinegar and water solution can be used to tackle stubborn dirt or grime. 

“When the item has dried, it may be worth applying a protective sealer, which is recommended every 12 to 18 months, depending on the type of wood. 

“With winter on its way out, it’s worth taking a little time now to give garden items a new lease of life as we prepare to spend more time enjoying our outdoor spaces.”



Here are Matthew’s four top tips on how to revive your winter-beaten garden furniture.

Deep clean to banish dirt and grime  

Outdoor furniture can be exposed to a range of dirt, grime, algae and bird mess in the darker months. 

Tackle stains with a soft bristle brush or cloth and a solution of warm, soapy water. Particularly stubborn dirt can be banished with an equal parts white vinegar and water solution. 

It’s important not to use harsh chemicals such as bleach, while pressure washers on a high setting can cause chips and cracks, so care should be taken. 

Carry out necessary repairs  

Rough edges, chips and cracks are not uncommon with wooden items, so it’s worth tackling these early to avoid bigger problems down the line. 

Pay close attention to joints to make sure the item’s structural integrity is good, and sand down any blemishes to ensure a smooth finish. 

Metal furniture can be prone to rust, which can often be tackled with a wire brush and rust remover. 

A fresh coat of paint or new fabric  

Exposure to the harsh winter elements can leave outdoor furniture in need of a facelift. 

A new coat of paint or fabric can make a big difference, giving it a fresh look and feel and this can also be useful if you want to give your whole garden a new theme or aesthetic. 

You may also consider purchasing some new cushions to give an old item a new look. 

Don’t forget the protective seal  

Protective seals play an important role in maintaining an item’s lifespan and keeping and shielding it from moisture and the sun’s UV rays. 

Different types of wood can require an oil to add some colour, so make sure you choose one that is suitable for your wood and taste. If you prefer your wood to grow old gracefully, we suggest you keep your surfaces clean, which will enable the wood to possess an even patina throughout. 

If you decide to treat your wood, the general rule is to apply a protective coat every 12 or 18 months, depending on its usage and condition. 





Source link

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Oxford News

Katy Perry forced to cancel gig ahead of Blenheim Festival

Published

on



The 41-year-old pop icon was due to perform at Werchter Boutique festival in Belgium last night, Saturday, June 28, when the event was unexpectedly cut short.

The festival’s committee decided to end the day’s performances early, at 9pm just after a set from Pitbull, due to a weather forecast of ‘severe thunderstorms from midnight onwards at the earliest’ and a government warning.

READ MORE: Jeremy Clarkson’s pub staff ‘walk out after many problems’

Perry wrote on Instagram: “Sadly my set at Werchter Boutique tonight can’t happen due to a government mandated cancellation because of the incoming inclement weather and crowd safety concerns.

“I was backstage at the show in the middle of hair and makeup when this news was delivered, and they gave me no choice.

“I am just as unhappy as you are. Unfortunately this is beyond my control, but the safety of all 55,000 of you always comes first and foremost.”

The performance was due to mark the popstar’s return to the one-day event held in Belgium’s Festivalpark for the first time in more than 15 years.

READ MORE: Sara Cox in new venture as UK charity collapses with £430k owed

Perry added: “I am sorry I can’t change the weather, and even sorrier that all of us can’t be together tonight. I was looking forward to being back after 17 years, I was even gonna wear the same outfit from that 2009 show again. I love you all, and please get home safe.”

It comes just a week before the star’s next scheduled festival appearance, at the brand-new Blenheim Festival in Wodostock, Oxfordshire, where she is due to perform on July 4.

The current forecast for that date is sunny skies and temperatures in the mid-20s.





Source link

Continue Reading

Oxford News

BBOWT shares tips for helping wild bees this summer

Published

on



CAN you imagine summer without the sight of bumblebees buzzing from flower to flower, or a summer lunch without juicy tomatoes or strawberries?

If we don’t help our wild bees, this could be a glimpse of the future.

Our bees are in trouble.

Bees pollinate flowers, but also many of our favourite food crops, equivalent to every third mouthful of food we eat.

But they’re losing the habitat and plants they need to survive.

In the countryside, 97 per cent of lowland meadow has already been lost and the dramatic decrease in suitable habitats isn’t just confined to rural areas.

Gardens used to act as ‘green corridors’ for wildlife to move around towns and cities, and into and out of urban areas, but are increasingly being paved over or even covered with fake grass – with no real plants at all.

Helping bees is easy though.

Anyone can take action to help wild bees whether you have a wall for vertical planting, window box, or back garden.

It’s easy to plant a bee haven and fun choosing between bee-friendly beauties like borage, foxglove and honeysuckle.

There are 15 million gardens in the UK.

Put together they cover an area that’s seven times the size of the Isle of Wight.

If we all made our gardens more bee-friendly it would have a huge impact on our wild bees.

So, what should you plant in your garden?

Bees need a supply of pollen and nectar throughout the year, from late winter/early spring when some emerge from their winter hibernation right through until the end of the year.

Plant a selection of perennials, such as bergamot, globe thistle and knapweeds, for pollen through the summer.

These will provide bees with food year after year.

Add a few annuals each year, such as borage, cornflower and sunflower for variety.

Later in the autumn, hebe and ivy provide food when summer plants have gone to seed.

Then make sure you’ve got a few winter-flowering crocuses and hellebores to help bees as they emerge on warmer winter or early spring days in need of food after their winter hibernation.

Did you know there are around 250 species of bee in the UK?

Just one species of bee, the honeybee, actually makes honey.

Then there are bumblebees, which are familiar to most of us, and many different kinds of solitary bee.

Solitary bees are fantastic pollinators for our garden plants.

They don’t live in colonies, but instead the females make their own nest without any ‘workers’ to help them.

Some make their nests in gaps in the walls of old buildings or dig holes in bare ground (look for small piles of earth with a tiny hole in the middle).

You can help some species of solitary bee in your garden by providing a ‘bee hotel’.

Cut lengths of old bamboo and tie together, or drill long holes in old pieces of wood.

Hang somewhere sunny and sheltered and, in time, the bees will move in.

The exposed cliffs at BBOWT’s Dry Sandford Pit nature reserve near Abingdon are a haven for many types of solitary bee, which burrow into the soft, sandy layers.

Look for the ‘honeycomb’ of tiny holes.

You may see the UK’s newest bumblebee in your garden – the tree bumblebee.

These were first recorded here in 2001 but they’ve now spread throughout much of England and Wales.

They have a distinctive ginger-coloured back (thorax) and black and white abdomen.

Some make their homes in old bird nest boxes as they prefer to nest above the ground.

Help ensure our bees’ survival by making your garden bee-friendly this summer.

You’ll be making a real difference to our bees and helping to ensure our summer strawberries are here to stay.

Find out more about bees and how to help them at bbowt.org.uk/different-kinds-bees.





Source link

Continue Reading

Oxford News

Buckland Primary School Weins Homes Badbury Green village

Published

on



Year Six pupils from Buckland Primary School visited Wain Homes’ Badbury Green site to learn about the housebuilding process and future career opportunities.

During the visit, students explored the stages of construction, the importance of green spaces, and the wide variety of roles available in the industry.

James Stevens, class teacher at Buckland Primary School, said: “Thank you to the Wain Homes team for giving our children an enjoyable and informative experience in a way they could easily understand.

“The children now have knowledge of how the homes they live in are built and some of the careers they may be interested in as they get older. They particularly enjoyed looking round the show homes and having a go at laying some bricks.”

The pupils toured two show homes and tried their hand at bricklaying.

A time capsule, filled with children’s notes describing life in 2026, was also buried during the visit, set to be be opened in 2076.

Tim Lund, regional sales director at Wain Homes, said: “We hope the visit inspired some of the children to consider construction as a future career. They were eager to learn and now understand each stage of the process of building a modern energy efficient home.”

Wain Homes is building 125 energy-efficient homes at the site.





Source link

Continue Reading

Trending