An efficient compost heap is a basic requirement in any garden. It needs a rectangular framework of timber, incorporating gaps for aeration. Raise the base off the ground with a pattern of loose bricks, the whole covered in chicken wire to discourage unwelcome intruders. The front of the structure should be readily removable, and a hat of some sort will stop the heap getting too wet. Build up the contents in layers chopped up into evenly sized pieces, and pack it all down firmly. Nature has provided you with a reliable source of the ideal liquid nitrogen activator, for discreet application.
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You can’t always rely on the Great British summer — but you can rely on its watchesBritish watchmakers have excelled themselves in recent months — releasing bright and beautiful timepieces that you'll want on your wrist through summer, and beyond.
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Simon Jenkins: 50 years of saving Britain's buildings, from triumphs and disasters to the great country house we bought for £1In 1975, a new organisation was set up with the express aim of saving Britain's most beautiful and historic buildings from the wrecking ball. How has SAVE fared in the 50 years since then far? Simon Jenkins — who was involved as a trustee right from the very start — looks back on half a century of successes... and one or two painful failures.
