Big blue horizons
The welcome return of a once-extinct butterfly
What's big and blue, and can now be seen again in the UK? The Large Blue butterfly at National Trust site Collard Hill in Somerset, the only accessible place where visitors can view this marvellous sight during the height of summer. This exquisite creature became extinct in 1979 but was successfully reintroduced into the UK in the mid-1980s. Careful land management and habitat improvement has made Collard Hill and three other sites suitable again for the breeding needs of this vulnerable species.
For more information go to www.nationaltrust.org.uk.
Q&A
My family loves a summer picnic,
but how can we make it greener?
Jen Owen, Northamptonshire
Wrap sandwiches and other
food in greaseproof paper,
which can be recycled.
Pack picnic utensils, plates
and glasses which can
be reused time and
again, rather than
throwaway items.
Take all your bottles, cans, etc home and recycle them at your local Tesco.
Water wisdom
At this time of year, when some areas may have little rain or even a drought, new ways to save water – and money – are welcome. Tim Wolfenden, of utility bills comparison service uSwitch.com, says, 'If you have more bedrooms than people in the house, you are likely to save money by installing a meter because unmetered bills are calculated on the rateable value of a property, which takes into account its size. Householders could easily save an average £125 a year by switching to a meter.'*
Houses with a meter use on average 10 per cent less water, according to Ofwat. Most companies have an online calculator to help customers decide whether a meter makes sense, or try www.uSwitch.com.
Liquid assets
If you filter your water in a jug but don't know what to do with the cartridge afterwards, you could take advantage of the new Brita recycling scheme. To find your nearest recycling point, which includes selected Tesco stores, visit www.brita.co.uk/recycle and tap in your postcode.
Down and out with clutter
Unsure how to get rid of your unwanted items responsibly? Sustainable living expert Tracey Smith (www.DownShiftingweek.com) recommends, 'The wonderful Freecycle movement on the internet, where people give away thousands of household objects and more every day.'
The scheme is all about people recycling items for reuse and keeping them out of landfill. For information on signing up and finding your local Freecycle community, go to uk.freecycle.org.