garden centres killing the planet?

Sorry its OT but energy conservationists will be interested in the
Daily Mirror page 6; Wed 26th May 2004 feature "Why garden centres
are killing the planet".

It rates the infamous Patio Heater No1and worst than gas-guzzling
American 4x4 off-roaders and 10 times more inefficient than
equivalent room heaters. Remote neighbours have just bought one and
with a gathering of friends stood around it in sad idolic fashion -
with 4x4 in front garden naturally.

Garden lights rated 3rd worse - a single outdoor light 3hrs a night
induced 230lbs of cabon-dioxide into the atmosphere annually [via the
supplying power station].

I've posted a note to my energy efficient LED item at
http://home.freeuk.com/m.gavin/garlite.htm

Maurice Gavin wrote:
Sorry its OT but energy conservationists will be interested in the
Daily Mirror page 6; Wed 26th May 2004 feature "Why garden centres
are killing the planet".

It rates the infamous Patio Heater No1and worst than gas-guzzling
American 4x4 off-roaders and 10 times more inefficient than
equivalent room heaters. Remote neighbours have just bought one and
with a gathering of friends stood around it in sad idolic fashion -
with 4x4 in front garden naturally.

Garden lights rated 3rd worse - a single outdoor light 3hrs a night
induced 230lbs of cabon-dioxide into the atmosphere annually [via the
supplying power station].

I've posted a note to my energy efficient LED item at
http://home.freeuk.com/m.gavin/garlite.htm

Im always appalled at seeing so many TV gardeners encouraging people to
use out door lighting, yet at the same time lecturing us about about
conservation, environmentalism, protecting wildlife and preserving
natural resources. Is there any better way of wasting huge amounts of
energy than flooding your garden and everything else around with light??

sunimage wrote:

I've posted a note to my energy efficient LED item at
http://home.freeuk.com/m.gavin/garlite.htm

Im always appalled at seeing so many TV gardeners encouraging people
to use out door lighting, yet at the same time lecturing us about
about conservation, environmentalism, protecting wildlife and
preserving natural resources. Is there any better way of wasting
huge amounts of energy than flooding your garden and everything else
around with light??

I can't remember if it was the channel 4 or BBC 2 "gardening" program that
converted someone's garden into a construction complete with outdoor
lighting because the owner wanted to have friends around for beers. Not only
is he contributing to light pollution, but I'm sure his neighbours really
appreciate drunken buffoons yacking away til late at night just outside
their back windows!


DaveL

Maurice Gavin wrote

"Why garden centres
are killing the planet".

As a slightly OT appendix, one of my local garden centres recently hired
pest control people to kill a family of robins which had nested in its
cafe (not far from where they sold wild bird food and nestboxes).

Many peoples idea of gardening now seems to be to dig up anything like
grass, plants and shrubs and replace them with concrete, gravel and
decking, adorned with tropical hardwood furniture, security lights,
patio heaters and barbies. Perhaps products (and TV garden makeover
programmes) should carry CO2 warnings.

--
Hil

In message , Hils
writes
Maurice Gavin wrote

"Why garden centres
are killing the planet".

As a slightly OT appendix, one of my local garden centres recently hired
pest control people to kill a family of robins which had nested in its
cafe (not far from where they sold wild bird food and nestboxes).

Name and shame, please :-)
--
Save the Hubble Space Telescope!
Remove spam and invalid from address to reply.

Jonathan Silverlight wrote

Name and shame, please :-)

Wyevale Garden Centre, Milton Heath, with DEFRA also culpable.

http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/displ...36&command=dis
playContent&sourceNode=144919&contentPK=10079642

--
Hil

Hils wrote in message ...

Wyevale Garden Centre, Milton Heath, with DEFRA also culpable.

Personal international observation over some decades suggests that
many garden centres are now nothing more than food & drink outlets
that also sell plants. It seems to be the case that opening a garden
centre café is the quickest route to needing a bigger carpark! You
will probably get a more knowledgable and useful discussion about the
menu than you can about the plants! Real gardeners & plants-people
tend to avoid the café cum garden centers like the plague!

In a world where every other person is constantly sucking like a baby
on a bottle. Or endlessly stuffing their face with sugar-loaded or
fatty rubbish. This world desperately needs a fairly common, higher
predator to cull a few bløødy people! Preferably one that runs after
bigger & slower prey! ;-)

The song of a (living) Robin is one of the most beautiful sounds on
this planet. It cetainly beats the rattle of plates, cups and saucers!
In comparison with the vast death-toll of birds on the roads a single
Robin family doesn't loom large. But IMO it's still killing for (easy)
profit!

Chris.B

On a brighter note I see that someone has come up with a small wind
turbine for roof mounting. It is claimed to be silent and to be about
the size of a satellite dish. Now that IS good news. I'll be able to
charge up my multicoloured, flahing garden lights to show off my
concrete patio ornaments and plastic Heron! Arrgghh! ;-)

In message , Jonathan Silverlight
writes
In message , Hils
writes
Maurice Gavin wrote

"Why garden centres
are killing the planet".

As a slightly OT appendix, one of my local garden centres recently hired
pest control people to kill a family of robins which had nested in its
cafe (not far from where they sold wild bird food and nestboxes).

Name and shame, please :-)

See the thread in uk.rec.gardening
Or try BBC R4 archives of the Today programme.

Regards,
--
Martin Brown

- And on Thu, 27 May 2004 18:44:57 +0100, it was spake thus said in message Jonathan Silverlight :

In message , Hils
writes
Maurice Gavin wrote

"Why garden centres
are killing the planet".

As a slightly OT appendix, one of my local garden centres recently hired
pest control people to kill a family of robins which had nested in its
cafe (not far from where they sold wild bird food and nestboxes).

Name and shame, please :-)

The same message I posted to uk.rec.birdwatching which stired things a bit !

Taken from http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bristol/3738671.stm

RSPCA questions killing of robins

The RSPB says there are 8.4m robins in the UK
An investigation has begun after a garden centre in South Gloucestershire was
allegedly allowed to kill nesting robins considered "a pest".
Wyevale garden centre in Milbury Heath near Thornbury reportedly destroyed two
chicks, an adult and the nest.

It was given permission and a licence for the killing by the Department of
Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

But the RSPCA has raised concerns and the government department is now looking
again at the action.

RSPCA Inspector Glyn Roberts said he was called to the centre after being
tipped off.

'Really necessary?'

He was told by the centre's manager that the birds had been flying in and out
of the cafeteria via air vents and were considered a health hazard.

He said the manager added that he had been called out in the night as the
birds were triggering burglar alarm sensors.

RSPB spokesman Grahame Madge said: "The question that really needs to be asked
is, was it necessary to cull the birds?"

A Defra spokesman said the application was considered by an experienced
wildlife management adviser.

The killing of robins is only permitted where there is considered to be a
genuine threat to public health or safety and where all other practical
alternatives have been tried and failed or are considered ineffective.

The RSPB said the bird, of which there are an estimated 8.4m in the UK, was
not under any threat.

The garden centre manager said he could not comment and the national chain, of
which the centre is a part, was unavailable for comment.
--
Nick in Northallerton
Also nickw7coc on both Yahoo Messenger & on MSN Messenger
And http://www.whelan.me.uk

In message , Nick
writes
- And on Thu, 27 May 2004 18:44:57 +0100, it was spake thus
said in message Jonathan
Silverlight :

In message , Hils
writes
Maurice Gavin wrote

"Why garden centres
are killing the planet".

As a slightly OT appendix, one of my local garden centres recently hired
pest control people to kill a family of robins which had nested in its
cafe (not far from where they sold wild bird food and nestboxes).

Name and shame, please :-)

The same message I posted to uk.rec.birdwatching which stired things a bit !

Taken from http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bristol/3738671.stm

RSPCA questions killing of robins

The RSPB says there are 8.4m robins in the UK
An investigation has begun after a garden centre in South Gloucestershire was
allegedly allowed to kill nesting robins considered "a pest".
Wyevale garden centre in Milbury Heath near Thornbury reportedly destroyed two
chicks, an adult and the nest.

It was given permission and a licence for the killing by the Department of
Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

But the RSPCA has raised concerns and the government department is now looking
again at the action.

RSPCA Inspector Glyn Roberts said he was called to the centre after being
tipped off.

'Really necessary?'

He was told by the centre's manager that the birds had been flying in and out
of the cafeteria via air vents and were considered a health hazard.

He said the manager added that he had been called out in the night as the
birds were triggering burglar alarm sensors.

RSPB spokesman Grahame Madge said: "The question that really needs to be asked
is, was it necessary to cull the birds?"

Interesting that the RSPB uses the nice neutral word "cull". And time
for a new sig :-)
--
Boycott Wyevale!
Remove spam and invalid from address to reply.