Q&A

This is not a forum for profound questions like the cause of global warming, but questions which are nonetheless life enhancing, like how to lie in a hammock.

Things we think you need to know

 

 

How to clean a bird box

 Birdball cleaning instructions

If possible, bird boxes should be cleaned every autumn. Always wear a pair of rubber gloves as the nests can harbour parasites and sometimes fleas. 

 

If there are any unhatched eggs these can only legally be removed between October and January.

 

To clean a traditional bird box, the box should be taken off the tree, the lid lifted and any nesting material removed.  It can be tempting to leave nesting material in place, but this is a mistake as it can encourage desease. And most birds prefer to make their own nest anyway.

 

For a birdball, you will need to make a hook (1) out of a coathanger or tent peg. Use the hook to pull the nesting material through the entrance hole (2) and (3).

Finally rinse the birdball thoroughly with hot water (4)  and return to its hanging position.  Do not clean with bleach or detergent as this can be harmful to the young birds.


 

All bird boxes are best left in place throughout the winter even though they are not usually used until the spring.  This is so that the birds can familiarise themselves with the boxes for when the time comes to start nest building.

  

  

How to Help a Hedgehog

 

Ten things we can all do to help revive the hedgehog population:

 
1. Don’t be too tidy in your garden.  The leaves and dead branches provide important habitats for the things hedgehogs like to eat.


2. Don’t try to kill off the slugs and snails, especially with chemicals and slug pellets.  Let the hedgehogs do it for you.


3. Try to leave an area of the garden undisturbed. Ask the kids to refrain from running through the leaves and kicking them into the air (hard to resist, I know).


4. Make it easy for hedgehogs to get into and out of your garden.  They like to forage over a wide area.


5. In the autumn build or buy a hedgehog house.  You can build one in a couple of hours from an overturned milk crate and some plywood, or you can buy one for around £40.


6. Position the hedgehog house in a quiet part of the garden against a bank or a hedge, with the entrance facing away from cold northerly or easterly winds


7. Don’t treat the inside of the hedgehog house with creosote or similar.  This can be harmful to the inhabitants, particularly any babies.


8. Don’t fill the hedgehog house with bedding.  Hedgehogs are very good at making their own nests.


9. In the early summer when any babies will be born leave out some nourishing snacks.  Cat food and a saucer of water is perfect.  Do not be tempted by Beatrix Potter’s suggestion of cows milk.  It can kill them.


10. In the early autumn, check there are no inhabitants by placing a straw across the entrance for a few days.  If it’s still there it should be empty.  Give it a good scrape out and repair any damage.

How to store garden vegetables and fruit

 

It is that time of year that some of us are trying to work out what to do with all those surplus apples and potatoes.  Fear not, help is at hand!

 

The general guidelines are:


• Store only produce in peak condition


• Handle produce carefully.  Bruised fruit and vegetables may send the whole lot rotten as soon as your head is turned.


• Regularly check and remove anything which looks like it is about to rot (and is probably not worth eating anyway)


• Only store what you think you will want to eat.  If you have produce left over put it in a box by your garden gate with a note asking passers by to help themselves.  Remember to leave some bags too.

 

If you want to know more try Piers Warren’s wonderful guide How to Store Garden Produce.

How to roll a panama hat

 

Step 1. Hold the hat in front of you with the ridged crown running from left to right.

 

Step 2. Carefully push out the indented crown taking special care around the 'pinch' at the front.

 

Step 3. Now you are able to carefully fold the hat in half so that one side curves into the other forming a bowl like shape ready to roll.

 

Step 4. The hat may now be gently rolled into itself with a finger placed on the inside of the crown to avoid the hat being rolled too tight.

 

Step 5. Ease the rolled hat into a panama hat box and close the lid.  Please note that panamas should only be rolled up while travelling.  They should not be left rolled for long periods.


Choosing the right hat size

 

The simplest way to work out your hat size is to measure the circumference of your head at the widest part, usually just above the ears.  Most sun hats sold in the UK are sized in centimeters.  Some however will still come in the imperial sizing and you should be aware that for some strange historical reason, US imperial hat sizes are ¼” smaller than UK imperial sizes.

 

A small medium sun hat would typically be size 58cm for a man and a size 55cm for a woman.  A medium large sun hat would typically be a size 60cm for a man and size 57cm for a woman

 

Over time a hat may shrink very slightly so it is better for it to start off too big than too small.  That being said the change should only be slight and it is possible to stretch hats if they shrink.

 

The best sun hats for comfort are handmade in Ecuador and are known as panama straw hats.  The panama name comes from the building of the panama canal rather than Panama the country.  These hats are made of Paja Toquilla straw and can be crocheted or woven.  The crocheted hats are more informal and slightly heavier, but both can be worn all day without any discomfort.  If you want to buy a panama hat always make sure it is made entirely in Ecuador, not woven in Ecuador and finished in China.

 

Famous moments in a deck chair

 

When John Thomas Moore took out his patent for the wooden deck chair in 1886, he couldn’t possibly have imagined that his suspended canvas seat would play host to so may historic contemplations. Poets contemplating life’s rich tapestry, prime ministers contemplating war. No doubt he’d have tried to extend the patent if he had!

 

The most startling deck chair moment was in 1912 when the Titanic hit an iceberg. Despite the panic that ensued, stoical staff were seen rearranging the deckchairs as the sinking boat was beginning to tilt. Can you imagine? Sub zero temperatures, a gaping hole in the hull and you decide to straighten a row of deckchairs! Its one of those iconic images of the pre-war years.

 

Another iconic image from the same period is of young twenty somethings enjoying a bohemian lifestyle of largess and lounging. Virginia Woolf, EM Forster, Bertrand Russell and others were often to be found slumped in a garden deck chair in rural Cambridgeshire, resting after bathing in the River Cam. This image was beautifully captured by one of the group, the poet Rupert Brooke , in his poem The Old Vicarage, Grantchester. It ends with the words, ‘Stands the church clock at ten to three, And is there still honey for tea?’. Sadly Brooke was killed in 1917 so wasn’t able to return to his deck chair after the war.

 

Contemplating a war of a very different kind took place in a deck chair half a century later, this time in the garden of 10 Downing Street. Harold Macmillan would retire to a Downing Street deck chair to reflect on the steady stream of threats and ultimatums coming from Khrushchev. He would entertain visitors in the garden too and liked the fact that his relaxed pose in a deck chair conveyed the impression of a man unflustered by the tempestuous Russian leader.

 

Wind the clock forward another 50 years and deck chairs are as popular as ever. They satisfy the new passion for eco friendly furniture (FSC wood, 100% cotton) and they encourage a slower pace of life which many of us seek. Maybe New Labour should swap the red rose for an FSC deck chair !


How to hang a hammock

 

Hammocks can hang from just about anything.  All you need is enough space and strong enough supports.

 

Our garden hammocks don’t have spreader bars, which makes hanging easier.  They are designed to hang with a dip.  How much dip you have is a matter of taste.  As a rule of thumb, the minimum distance between the hanging points should be two thirds of the hammock’s length.  The maximum should be two thirds plus 50cm.

 

Hammocks are most commonly attached to trees, walls, poles or stands.  Trees should be healthy and at least 30cm in diameter.  Poles should be a minimum of 4”x4” and ideally sunk to a depth of at least 30cm with a bag of post-fix concrete to act as a collar.

 

We find rope is the best way to attach a hammock to a tree or post as it is easy to adjust.  Alternatively hooks with threads are available from most hardware stores, but do make sure the hook is designed to withstand your weight!

 

Baby hammocks clearly need to be hung with care to ensure that baby won't fall out or be able to grasp anything dangerous.

 

Email your questions or answers to help@henandhammock.co.uk

 

How best to lie in a hammock

 

 How to lieThe most important thing about hanging garden hammocks is to arrange the hammock's suspension loops at head height, and not too far apart so as to allow the hammock to hang down in a deep arc.  This then allows a diagonal lying position, like a real Brazilian.

 

This positions keeps the back straight and is the secret of being able to spend hours in a hammock!

 

Any better ideas please email help@henandhammock.co.uk

 

How to position a bird box

 

How to hang a birdball Nest boxes are needed most where natural nesting holes are scarce and food is plentiful.  This is true of most gardens, especially if you are providing extra bird food (link to sunflower bird food).

 

Your bird box should be positioned so that it is safe from predators (mainly cats) and the worst of the wind and the rain, but accessible enough so that you can enjoy the comings and goings of its inhabitants.   The box should also be positioned so that it avoids the full blast of the mid day sun otherwise the chicks may get over heated.

 

The height off the ground is not critical, so you can select a height to suit you and not the local cat.  Blue tits generally approach their nest site from a distance and fly straight into the nest hole so try to keep the flight path clear.  This flying entry is amazing to watch and the reason why our boxes don’t have perches on the front.  Blue tits won’t use perches to enter but some predators will!

 

The wooden boxes are designed to be attached to a tree or wall with screws or nails.  If your tree is very precious and you would rather not nail into it, bicycle inner tubes make good straps and they will expand as the tree grows.

 

Birdballsare best hung using the wire provided, as shown in the diagram.

 

If you think we've got it all wrong, please email help@henandhammock.co.uk

 

How to make bird seed

 

You can make your own bird cake by pouring melted fat (suet or lard) onto a mixture of ingredients such as seeds, nuts, dried fruit, oatmeal, cheese and cake. Mild grated cheese is a favourite with robins, dunnocks, blackbirds and song thrushes.

 

Use about one-third fat to two-thirds mixture. Stir well in a bowl and allow it to set in a container of your choice. An empty coconut shell or plastic cup makes an ideal bird cake 'feeder'.

 

Food bars or fat hung up or rubbed into the bark of trees is a great help for treecreepers, goldcrests and many other species.

 

Fat, including suet, is particularly welcomed by tits, great spotted woodpeckers, thrushes and wrens. However, do not put out polyunsaturated fats, since they do not give the birds the high levels of energy they require in winter.

 

Pastry, cooked or uncooked is excellent especially if it has been made with real fats.  Why not use your left over pastry to make a bird ball, then hang it on your bird feeder?

 

For blackbirds, song thrushes and other members of the thrush family, put out fruit, such as apples and pears.  These can be put on a bird table, or suspended in a fruit bird feeder.

 

For more tasty bird food recipies, email help@henandhammock.co.uk

 

How to care for outdoor furniture

 

Treating teak with teak oil or other preservatives is really not necessary. It will not extend the life of your furniture and is purely cosmetic.  Left untreated your bench will mellow to an elegant silvery grey.

 

Furthermore, teak oil is not good for the environment.  It is petroleum based and toxic to aquatic organisms.

 

We do recommend keeping your furniture clean though.  An annual scrub with soapy water in the spring is good for the wood and good for the soul at the end of a long wet winter.

 

A customer has pointed out that there are water based treatments which are non-toxic, such as a product called Golden Teak.  However,  my inclination is still to leave well alone as even without the treatment the bench is likely to outlive your grand children!

 

Our teak furniture is made from reclaimed teak, which requires the same treatment.

 

 

How to make a home for solitary bees

 

If you already have solitary or mason bees in your garden you can consider yourself very fortunate.  They are invaluable for pollinating fruit and vegetables and go about their daily routine without any desire to sting.  If you don't yet have any of these modest creatures living locally it may well be that there is nowhere for them to nest.  To change that you can buy one of these unusual garden accessories or make something similar yourself:

 

Take any old piece of timber. An old fence post is ideal. It does not matter if it's old and battered. In fact this will look more like the natural, weather worn wood that many solitary bees nest in.  Avoid wood that has been treated with preservative.

 

Use an electric drill and a standard set of drill bits for wood. Drill a range of sizes up to 10mm diameter. Make sure that there is a good variety of hole sizes, particularly in the range 5-8mm diameter. Drill lots of holes.

 

Make sure the holes are drilled slightly upwards into the wood. This prevents rain water from collecting in the borings. Don't make the borings too steep though!

 

Dig the post into the ground, or attach it to standing posts with wire ties. If you are using blocks of wood just put them anywhere in a sunny position.

 

Other ways to make homes for solitary bees:

Any type of cavity is likely to prove attractive to solitary bees. Collect a bunch of old, dry, hollow stems of plants like bramble and hogweed. You can also use bamboo canes or even drinks straws.

The put them into an old baked bean can, or something similar. Melt some candle wax in the bottom of the can, then stuff it full of hollow stems, or straws. You'll know you've got bees when some of the ends are filled in.

 

For more about solitary bees, email help@henandhammock.co.uk

 

How to look after a sedum bird box

 

Little maintenance is required to care for a sedum bird box. The varieties of sedum used are able to withstand periods of low rainfall, strong drying winds and sun, and they grow with the minimum of growing medium. After a good watering when the plants arrive, they should not need any further attention. A light sprinkling of a slow release fertilizer in the spring should be sufficient.

 

Sedum likes sun so it will flower more readily if positioned where it will receive sun for at least part of the day.

 

The wood that the bird box is made from is untreated.  In our experience, treating it will not significantly add to its life.  However, if you do want to treat it, we recommend that you use a boron based preservative which is water based.  Do not treat the inside of the bird box as this will not be good for the chicks.

 

How eco-friendly is your garden lighting?

 

Gardeners love to wander round their gardens in the evenings, to admire the fruits of their labours and to smell the sweetness of the roses and orange blossom.  For many gardeners this is the best time of the day.

 

But as the sun sets so does the natural light. Unless you live north of the arctic circle, by 10pm on a summer's evening most of us have to reach for a torch. So if we want something a bit more illuminating which will show off our garden without adding to our carbon footprint what are the options?

 

Many of us begin looking for a garden candle. These create a lovely atmosphere and can add fragrance if your garden doesn’t have enough of its own. But to avoid burning fossil fuels garden candles should be made from natural wax rather than paraffin. Natural wax burns in much the same way as paraffin wax, but without damaging the planet.

 

For many people though a light summer breeze will put an end to hopes of a candle lit garden. The only way that candles can cope with the wind and still give off the same light is with the help of a garden lantern. If you have plenty of jam jars or small flower pots, these will do fine. If not then you may want to buy some garden lanterns made from recycled glass. These are available in a range of sizes and can sit on a table, nestle in a rockery or hang from a branch or arbour. They can also look stunning indoors.

 

If you need something a bit more dramatic then eco pine torches are an option. These are small logs cut from fallen pine. You light a small wick and drop it inside, leaving the torch to burn for around an hour. They make a wonderful stirring flame, but they do need to be placed on a hard fireproof base such as a brick or tile as they burn down completely and would scorch grass or decking. Great make a dramatic entrance to a party.

 

For easy maintenance lighting of pathways, solar powered lighting is the best bet. These can be inserted into the ground without any wiring and can be set to automatically switch on at dusk. The downside is that they can make your garden look like a two star hotel with a runway. You want to enhance the beauty of your garden not attract local aircraft!

 

So how much lighting should we have in the garden? Last summer we were fortunate to spend some time on Chole Island, an eco retreat off the Tanzanian coast. There is no electricity on the island, so after dark the only light comes from garden candles, oil lamps and the moon. What it made us realise is that when it comes to outdoor lighting, less is more. A few carefully placed natural wax candles or recycled glass lanterns will show your garden at its best without destroying the planet. And there is less chance of having a 747 landing on your lawn.
 

 





Scarecrow and Pete