Eco Eric

If you haven’t already done so, now is a good time to clean out your nest boxes and put up any new ones. A nest box used for shelter over winter is likely to be used again next spring. Also removing old nests and their attendant parasites makes life a little easier for any birds that use the nest box as a winter roost.

During this season of harvest festivals it’s timely to reflect on the food we choose to eat, where it comes from and how it’s produced. The drought this year has reminded us how weather dependant farming is. In some parts of the world, one failed harvest will literally mean starvation.  The “Green Christian” movement uses the acronym LOAF to promote the ideals of Local, Organic, Animal Friendly and Fair Trade.  Can we incorporate some of these in our shopping basket next week to help local producers and those in developing countries?

Now’s a good time to check if your radiators are working properly.  If they feel hot at the bottom and cold at the top, they probably need ‘bleeding’ to let air out. Use a radiator bleed key, or a flat-blade screwdriver may work with more modern radiators. First turn off the heating, then fit the key or screwdriver onto the valve at the top of the radiator. Have a rag ready underneath to catch any drips and wear protective gloves. Slowly twist anti-clockwise, and you'll begin to hear a hissing which is air escaping as water rises to the top. Shut the valve once the water starts to escape.