As our thoughts wander to warmer days and to gardening, the slugs and snails are dreaming of all the new vegetables we will be planting for them to feast upon. Not wanting to use chemicals, or beer traps, there is a new deterrent on the market.
Kindtoo have developed slug buggers that really work. Made from reclaimed material from the wool processing industry that have no chemicals or other materials added. Scattered around the plants to be protected and once they get wet the pellets form a rough barrier of small needle like spikes that slugs or snails will not cross. Use as mulch as it will protect plants with out the need for bright blue slug pellets; will not kill the slugs and acts as a good source of nitrogen. As a natural product, it is safe near ponds, play areas and for pets as well as wild birds and animals.
Go to www.kindtoo.com who have other interesting ways of turning waste material into fun and very user friendly, sustainable products. More on gardening soon

All I will say is follow the link and spread the word…

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=QeoKQbT8BKs

There is now an estimated 250 million tonnes of waste plastic floating around in the oceans which is starting to wash up on the beaches around the world.  Here in the UK we have seen, in the past four years, an increase of plastic, mainly litre size mineral water bottles, washing up at an astounding rate.  Surveys done by the Marine Conservation Society have concluded that there is a 50% increase of plastic being washed up year on year since the survey began in 1993.  Much of the waste originates from the vessels hugging our coastline including a large number of plastic sticks from cotton buds.  One of the most disturbing facts is the amount of plastic beads that are washing up on our coastline.  The beads number trillions so at first glance look like sand, at sea the beads look like shrimp and small fish causing the decline of many sea birds.   The birds pick them up thinking they are food and, like the Albatross, feed them to their young.  The toxins in the beads and the fact that the young are not eating means they eventually starve. 

So if you have chance to join in a beach clean up please go along, it is a great day out and meet new friends.  If the beach is too far away, look out for local events arranged by the National Trust, Environmental Agency and local councils.  Every thing we can do to clean up the environment, no matter how small, will help enormously.