If you’ve ever driven through a freshly resurfaced street or walked across a newly painted pedestrian crossing, you’ve probably noticed how much smoother and cleaner everything feels. What most people don’t realise is that a small but powerful shift in materials is helping to make those roads not just safer, but more sustainable too. Across the UK, councils and contractors are quietly moving away from old-fashioned road paints and turning toward preformed thermoplastic line marking, a material that’s changing how we think about urban infrastructure and environmental responsibility. Thermoplastic line markings are made from a heat-applied material that bonds firmly…
Browsing: Environment
After winning hearts at the Cherry Picked Pop Up in Glasgow’s Saints of Ingram at the weekend, Lucky Swallows — the striking, sustainable wall-mounted birds made from recycled ocean plastic — have officially launched online at luckyswallows.com. The brand is the brainchild of interior designer and BBC Scotland’s Home of the Year presenter Anna Campbell-Jones and Ally Mitchell, founder of Ocean Plastic Pots. Each swallow is crafted in Scotland from salvaged fishing nets, rope and harbour waste, giving marine plastic new life as a decorative, meaningful object. Lightweight and easy to hang, every Lucky Swallow is hand-finished and boxed with…
Summer may have drawn to a close, but your garden will still be carrying the signs of those long, busy months. After weeks of games on the lawn, gatherings on the patio and flowerbeds bursting with growth, your outdoor space might now be looking a little tired. The good news is that autumn is the ideal season to restore order, strengthen your garden and set the stage for a beautiful year ahead. By investing a little time now, you can protect your garden from the worst of the winter weather and make sure it’s ready to flourish when spring returns.…
After more than two decades working in the fast-paced world of City broking, Surrey local Dan Murfet has swapped the trading floor for turf care – taking over Greensleeves Lawn Care Surrey. Officially launching earlier this month, Dan now looks after more than 600 customers across the county – and he’s keen to show local lawns a little extra love. “I spent over 20 years in a high-pressure role behind a desk and, while it served me well, I reached a point where I just couldn’t see myself doing it for another two decades,” said Dan. “I wanted something completely…
As a landlord, you’ve got plenty to manage – rent collection, maintenance, compliance, and tenant relationships. However, one issue that’s often overlooked until it spirals out of control? Pests. Whether it’s mice in the loft, bed bugs between tenants, or cockroaches in the communal bin store, pest problems can damage more than just property – they impact tenant satisfaction, legal obligations, and long-term costs. Here’s what every landlord should know to stay ahead of pest issues and keep their properties pest-free. Prevention Is Always Cheaper Than Treatment A well-maintained property is your first line of defence. Regularly inspect for gaps…
This Spring and early Summer has been a hot one – and temperatures look set to continue to reach the early 30s for the foreseeable future. While the weather may be enjoyable for some, it can be a tricky time for British gardeners trying to keep their gardens looking green and healthy. Now, an expert from Hogshaw Farm & Wildlife Park has put together a guide to help create a drought-tolerant garden. From the right plants to choose that will thrive in drier conditions, to tips on when to water, the guide will help British gardeners to create a healthy haven even…
Travellers are being told of ten of the most peaceful stargazing spots in Europe perfect for unwinding. Experts at WinstonsBeds are highlighting destinations with some of the darkest skies that offer a serene experience under the night’s sky. This comes after research revealed 62% of travellers said they are considering visiting darker sky destinations and seeking starbathing experiences in 2025. The International Dark Sky Parks (IDSPs) has certified Dark Sky areas across Europe which are protected from light pollution. These areas, established in 2001, help to preserve the clear night’s sky, allowing travellers to enjoy star-filled nights. While places like La Palma…
To discover the UK’s solar panel hotspots, we looked at a range of different factors. We analysed local annual sunshine hours from the Met Office to find the best-positioned areas to benefit from solar energy, which we combined with housing figures, including the number of local homeowners and the proportion of panel-suitable houses in England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. The research unveils that: London RankUK RankAreaAnnual Sunshine (Hours)% Owned% Houses1134Havering1644.770%77%2212Bexley1526.470%78%3242Richmond upon Thames1693.263%60%4248Sutton1618.965%63%5256Hillingdon1674.858%69%6267Merton1693.257%60%7276Kingston upon Thames1618.962%62%8290Hounslow1693.248%54%9291Ealing1693.248%51%10299Tower Hamlets1769.726%12%11303Wandsworth1693.244%32%12310Bromley1382.269%69%13319Harrow1556.160%65%14323Redbridge1558.658%66%15326Brent1606.940%43%16327Camden1624.030%13%17330Barking and Dagenham1559.444%69%18331Enfield1559.453%61%19334Barnet1559.454%53%20335Waltham Forest1559.451%55%21338Westminster1586.028%10%22341Croydon1526.456%60%23348Haringey1559.439%39%24350Newham1559.433%47%25352Hammersmith and Fulham1559.434%25%26353Southwark1559.431%22%27354Kensington and Chelsea1559.433%17%28357Hackney1559.427%19%29358Islington1559.428%16%30361Greenwich1526.443%48%31362Lewisham1526.443%42%32363Lambeth1526.435%25%33364City of London1526.437%2% London has the lowest percentage of solar energy uptake By using government data on solar power installations from the last 14 years, we’ve identified the…
· Environmental campaigners have accused supermarket bosses of “deliberately stalling” action on plastic waste to protect their profits · New research has today [Thursday] found Brits are furious over the failure of supermarkets to clean up their act · More than 12 billion single-use plastic bottles are sold every year across the UK, according to the Government’s own figures NEW research from Nature 2030 campaigners has today [Thursday] revealed intense public anger at supermarkets “turning a blind eye” to mountains of plastic waste. Almost 80 per cent (78%) say supermarkets still use too much single-use plastic, with 69 per cent arguing the big…
At The Yards, Covent Garden, there’s always something exciting happening! From exclusive offers to special events across its restaurants and stores, it’s a lively destination worth exploring. This season, The Yards in Covent Garden is buzzing with exciting updates across its beloved dining destinations. From limited edition dishes and exclusive blends to vibrant summer menus inspired by the Amalfi Coast, here’s what not to miss. AllPress Coffee x Dishoom: A New Brew to SavorDishoom has partnered with renowned roasters AllPress Coffee to create a bespoke blend: Baba’s Beans. Roasted in Dalston, this smooth and aromatic coffee features notes of milk chocolate, orange, and jaggery – a nod…