The Selby District Play Partnership, which brings together a range of organisations delivering services for young people, is celebrating a £200,000 cash injection for five new projects to deliver new facilities for young people across the district.
The money will be used to deliver five new schemes, including improvements to facilities at Eversley Park in Sherburn, a new BMX track at Hemingbrough, the development of Selby Park and a brand new project in South Milford to enable young people to play in the natural environment.
In addition, the funding will also be used to introduce new ‘play rangers’ who will work with young people on particular play projects. These schemes are part of a long-term strategy developed by the Selby District Play Partnership as part of the recently agreed Play Strategy, which aims to ensure that all young people in the area have access to good quality play facilities and the opportunities to use them.
Chair of the Selby District Play Partnership, Cllr. Gillian Ivey, said, “With the funding now secured we can start work on these exciting projects, all of which should be completed by the end of summer 2009. Enabling young people to access innovative play facilities has so many benefits for the children themselves, as well as the rest of the community.
The new ranger service will also help to ensure that everyone has equal access to the investment in play facilities, wherever they live – a really important priority for a rural area such as Selby.”
Young people themselves have been involved in developing the new schemes, as part of a commitment from the Play Partnership to ensure that the new facilities meet their needs.
Head teacher of Athelstan Primary School in Sherburn in Elmet, Karen O’Donnell, added: “It’s great to see that funding is now in place to develop new play facilities across the district. In Sherburn the money will be used to support the further development of Eversley Park with brand new facilities. Good play facilities help young people to develop a range of skills that will help them throughout their lives. Play facilities enable children to stay healthy and safe as well as helping to give young people a sense of achievement and contributing to the development of key language and social skills.”
Bahco Utility Belt (4750-QRLB-1) and holster (4750-KNHO-1) – Product Review
To many of us who work in forestry, parks and countryside management the name “Bahco” is synonymous with quality “Bushman” saws, pruners, loppers and such like. However, they also do a great range of accessories such as a variety of tools belts and holsters. Many people do not know that, though.
The professional and the volunteer Park and Countryside Rangers, as well as countryside maintenance teams, have for a while been looking for a way to carry some small tools, such as pruners, notebooks, cellphone, and other such kit in one convenient though customizable package. I believe that in the form of the Bahco web belt (4750-QRLB-1) and holster (4750-KNHO-1), plus other holsters and pouches that can be added to such a system can be had from Bahco.
The belt and holster under review here is the ideal, in my opinion, combination for the Parks and Countryside Patrol Ranger who also has to do the occasional snipping back of vegetation, and into the holster, as ideal companion goes a pair of Bahco Professional Bypass Pruners.
Belt and holster were kindly provided as samples for review by the representative of Bahco at their stand on the DIY & Garden and Totally Tools Show in January 13-15, 2008 at London's Earls Court 2 Exhibition Center.
While some people prefer leather for tool and utility belts, for the Park Ranger and Park Keeper nylon webbing for belts would be more suitable, in my view, that would be leather even though I do like leather belts and holsters and such, primarily for being a natural material and such. In the patrol environment, however, a belt made from this kid of sturdy nylon webbing, which is often referred to as “ballistic nylon” come into its own. This belt also rides much better just above the trouser belt, I find, than does a leather one.
The holster (4750-KNHO-1), theoretically, intended for a utility knife with retractable blade, takes a pair of pruners well and an additional pouch for notebooks and one for the cellphone complete the combo. The latter two pouches are this writer's own.
Having worn this combination now for a number of weeks, being a professional Park Ranger, I do not even notice anymore that I am wearing this set and the pruners are always at the ready and there where needed to cut an overhanging branch or such.
Initially the belt and holster were worn with a Felco Professional pair of bypass pruners that are well over 10 years old but now, since the Garden Press Event, the pruners in the holster are a pair of Bahco Professional Ergo PX-M2 and more about that one in another review.
© Michael Smith (Veshengro), February 2008
Low maintenance interpretation boards that reduce landfill use too
Champion angler Bob Nudd recently unveiled one of a number of low maintenance interpretation boards that recycled material specialists Filcris supplied to Lincolnshire's innovative REEL project.The Filcris-produced boards were chosen for the REEL project which aims to enhance rivers and drains in Lincolnshire for angling and quiet recreation. Benches are installed for those who want to sit and enjoy the countryside, and information panels are provided to help identify the local wildlife.
The Filcris units are manufactured from sturdy recycled plastic making them long lasting, vandal resistant and maintenance free, while maintaining the appearance of timber. The image is protected against UV so should last a minimum of seven years before there is any sign of fading whilst the shatter resistant polycarbonate image board adds a useful degree of vandal proofing.
Filcris
Greenfingers to get 100,000 children gardening – and raises £80,000
The Greenfingers Appeal is to repeat its hugely successful 'Schools Sunflower Challenge' in 2007, having broken all records last season by encouraging a stunning 100,000 children from 750 UK schools to grow sunflowers for themselves. The project also raised a tremendous £60,000 for UK Children's Hospice gardens and participating schools.Sponsored by B&Q and with seeds donated by Thompson and Morgan, the Sunflower Challenge is a combined educational and fund-raising initiative that brings gardening into the classroom and the home.
Income from the scheme is split 50:50 between the schools and the Greenfingers Appeal. Last year the Appeal was able to direct some £30,000 towards the provision of new gardens in UK Children's hospices.
Endorsed by celebrity gardener Tommy Walsh the project, now in its fourth year, provides free sunflower seeds and a comprehensive teacher's pack showing how the 'Sunflower Challenge' complements the National Curriculum 'Life Processes and Living Things' section. Children grow the sunflowers at home or at school, observing and recording their progress and learning from the experience.
Hints and tips for growing the seeds successfully, a growth chart and sponsorship forms are included, and the children are encouraged to obtain sponsors from friends and families who pledge an amount for each centimetre of the sunflowers final height when measured at the end of the summer term.
Mrs C Hopgood, Deputy Headteacher, South Norwood Primary School, commented:
'This has been the most successful class fund-raising/sponsorship activity that the school has ever done. Just four classes of 4-6 year olds took part, with one six year old boy raising the sum of £161:00 himself and several others raising well above £40:00 apiece. The Sunflower Challenge fitted in perfectly and certainly caught the children's imagination as evidenced by the magnificent response.'
The Greenfingers Appeal is the charity of the gardening industry and is currently raising funds to build much-needed gardens at children's hospices. Last year the Appeal raised more than £160,000 for the provision of new and improved gardens. Twenty-four projects have so far been completed or are underway, out of the 42 Children's Hospices in the UK running or under construction.
The Garden Press Event 2008
On Tuesday, January 29, 2008 I had the great privilege and pleasure to attend the Garden Press Event 2008 at the RHS Lawrence Hall in Vincent Square, Westminster, London, and a most productive day was had, at least by this writer, and some new – new to me at least – products have been obtained for review, which shall be coming soon.
To begin with I would here like to express my sincere thanks to Neil Gow of GIMA for inviting me to this great event.
Then my thanks goes to Frank Foot of Rollins Bulldog Tools Ltd. who took the time to talk to me and to invite me to contact him for review samples, an invite that I may be able take up in the not too distant future. The press pack that I was given contained a very nice pair of bypass pruners of the Premier Range and for a recommended retail price of just over £12 this definitely is a real nice solid made tool. The head and blade is of high-carbon steel SK-5 and identified as Japanese steel, which, having dealt in knives before professionally, is a very good carbon steel, so it should withstand a great deal of use, and would, I am certain, also be a great pair of pruners for the professional gardener and park keeper/park ranger. The problem with most people is always abuse rather than the intended use that damages their tools and also the fact that they do not look after their tools. Carbon steel does want a little TLC after use, such as keeping the blades oiled and greased.
Special thanks must go to Richard Hayter of Bahco (SNA Europe) and Rachel Collinge, SNA Europe's PR agent, for for taking the time out for a rather lengthy chat and for providing me with two product samples for review; the reviews of which shall be forthcoming soon.
A fine number of gardening-related manufacturers, growers, seed companies, suppliers and vendors supported this event held in aid of the “Greenfingers Appeal”.
Ball Colegrave, the well-known seed and plant company, showcased their range of “Kinder Garden Plants”, the range that is intended to introduce children to the pleasures of gardening. Aside from flowers there is also a fruit and veg part to this range, which is very nice to see. This could be very useful in introducing children at a young age to the growing of produce for the table.
A couple of new and relatively new products could be seen, of which the “Waspinator” and the “Plant Minder” do stand out to a degree and above all what caught my attention was the “Patio Grow”, which could be described as “your allotment on your patio” or, if more than one unit be employed, “in your backyard”, by “Gro Garden Products".
One of the other products that caught my attention was the Greenhouse Sensation's “Grow Your Own Portable Garden”. This is a brilliant piece of kit and definitely something that many people who would like to grow some of their own greens and such in locations without green areas, and even in apartments, and such like, have been waiting for.
Other products on show included another number of innovative products. One was the new and revolutionary “Chambermate”, by Chambermate Ltd. The “Chambermate” is the solution to the age-old problem of how to cover, without asking for problems later, the unsightly manhole covers in gardens, diveways and borders. Another the Backsaver Digging from Backsaver Garden Tools Ltd. in Leeds. While this may just be seen as yet another automatic spade it would appear to be quite a little different in its action and speed. Well worth a look.
Some of the products that I have seen shall, hopefully, be featured in the pages of this journal in the near future, including a couple of product reviews, as already indicated.
© Michael Smith (Veshengro), Jan/Feb 2008
To begin with I would here like to express my sincere thanks to Neil Gow of GIMA for inviting me to this great event.
Then my thanks goes to Frank Foot of Rollins Bulldog Tools Ltd. who took the time to talk to me and to invite me to contact him for review samples, an invite that I may be able take up in the not too distant future. The press pack that I was given contained a very nice pair of bypass pruners of the Premier Range and for a recommended retail price of just over £12 this definitely is a real nice solid made tool. The head and blade is of high-carbon steel SK-5 and identified as Japanese steel, which, having dealt in knives before professionally, is a very good carbon steel, so it should withstand a great deal of use, and would, I am certain, also be a great pair of pruners for the professional gardener and park keeper/park ranger. The problem with most people is always abuse rather than the intended use that damages their tools and also the fact that they do not look after their tools. Carbon steel does want a little TLC after use, such as keeping the blades oiled and greased.
Special thanks must go to Richard Hayter of Bahco (SNA Europe) and Rachel Collinge, SNA Europe's PR agent, for for taking the time out for a rather lengthy chat and for providing me with two product samples for review; the reviews of which shall be forthcoming soon.
A fine number of gardening-related manufacturers, growers, seed companies, suppliers and vendors supported this event held in aid of the “Greenfingers Appeal”.
Ball Colegrave, the well-known seed and plant company, showcased their range of “Kinder Garden Plants”, the range that is intended to introduce children to the pleasures of gardening. Aside from flowers there is also a fruit and veg part to this range, which is very nice to see. This could be very useful in introducing children at a young age to the growing of produce for the table.
A couple of new and relatively new products could be seen, of which the “Waspinator” and the “Plant Minder” do stand out to a degree and above all what caught my attention was the “Patio Grow”, which could be described as “your allotment on your patio” or, if more than one unit be employed, “in your backyard”, by “Gro Garden Products".
One of the other products that caught my attention was the Greenhouse Sensation's “Grow Your Own Portable Garden”. This is a brilliant piece of kit and definitely something that many people who would like to grow some of their own greens and such in locations without green areas, and even in apartments, and such like, have been waiting for.
Other products on show included another number of innovative products. One was the new and revolutionary “Chambermate”, by Chambermate Ltd. The “Chambermate” is the solution to the age-old problem of how to cover, without asking for problems later, the unsightly manhole covers in gardens, diveways and borders. Another the Backsaver Digging from Backsaver Garden Tools Ltd. in Leeds. While this may just be seen as yet another automatic spade it would appear to be quite a little different in its action and speed. Well worth a look.
Some of the products that I have seen shall, hopefully, be featured in the pages of this journal in the near future, including a couple of product reviews, as already indicated.
© Michael Smith (Veshengro), Jan/Feb 2008
TACWISE “Ranger” Nailer/Stapler
The ideal cordless power tool solution for the Maintenance Ranger.Whether for putting up or repairing a wire fence, nailing boards to a wooden fence, or what-have-you, the TACWISE “Ranger” Nailer/Stapler is the tool to make the job easy and fast and if you have to chase around a large Park, like a National Park or even a Country Park, an Borough to maintain all the Parks and Open Spaces or, even, and entire county, then this is sure going to beat hammer and nails or, depending on the task, hammer and fence staples.
Yes, sure, a hammer is cheaper and even lighter, much cheaper and much lighter in fact, but while a job with a hammer might take you the best part of the day, with the “Ranger” Nailer/Stapler from TACWISE it is going to be done in less than half the time. Also, even though the tool is weighty, swinging a hammer all day knocking in fence staples or nails sure makes your arm ache. Over time, I am sure, the investment of such a tool that come to just under the £200 mark, would pay for itself in time and effort saved.
The “Ranger” Nailer/Stapler will nail/staple up to 40mm in length/depth and, yes, I do know that 40mm is less than 2inch. So, there will still be times when building a fence, and especially a bridge or stile or gate, that you may have to use hammer, drill and 4inch or even 6inch nails. However, in a great many cases, I am certain, the “Ranger” Nailer/Stapler from TACWISE will make your tasks much faster and easier.
Tacwise Group plc
Sevenoaks, Kent TN14 5DF
England
http://www.tacwise.com
© Michael Smith (Veshengro), January 2008
Gorilla Tubs – Product Review
Is there really anyone out there who does not know the Gorilla Tubs by Faulks & Co. at Barwell, Leicestershire? If so, then let me tell you a little about those tubs and their uses.Tubtrugs are the slightly more “domestic” relations of the Gorilla Tubs. The latter are intended for the more industrial use and are equally at home with the professional gardener as a “basket” in which to deposit weeds from weeding flowerbeds or Rose cuttings or what-have-you, as they are on a building site for mixing cement or plaster or for removing rubble from confined spaces. Anything you can do with a bucket you can do with a Tubtrug and a Gorilla Tub.
In our time now where we all need to think “green” and recycled Faulks & Co have been leading the way for years with the timeless range of recycled tyre rubber products, and the rage of those is just way too large to list here. You can see them at http://www.tyrerubber.com.
With all the ranges of tubs from Faulks & Co. anyone will be able to find one that is just right for his or her job.
The ordinary gardener at home or the allotment will be served well enough with just the standard flexible Tubtrugs, and it has many more uses around the home too, while the professional gardener, whether landscape or parks, would be better served, no doubt, with either the various sizes of the Gorilla Tubs ot by the “baskets” of the “Tyre Rubber” range of recycled products.
For further information see the websites at:
Tubtrugs
Gorilla Tubs
Recycled Tyre Rubber Products
© Michael Smith (Veshengro), January 2008
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