Reviews

While it might not be the first place that comes to mind when you think of wildlife, drains can serve as surprising habitats for a variety of animals who have adapted to the dark, damp and often challenging conditions of underground drainage systems. Let’s look at some animals that call drains home. Rats Perhaps the most infamous residents of urban drains, rats are skilled survivors. They thrive in the dark and wet environments provided by sewers and stormwater drains and their adaptability to city life has earned them a reputation as some of the most successful drain dwellers. Image credit Cockroaches Cockroaches are incredibly resilient creatures that can endure extremely harsh conditions. Drains provide them with moisture and shelter, making these insects well-suited for this subterranean lifestyle. Frogs Drain Pipes and culverts can become temporary homes for amphibians like frogs. These creatures may seek refuge in drains during dry spells or as a way to escape predators. Turtles Surprisingly, turtles have been found in storm drains, drainage ditches and sewer systems. They are often drawn to these underground environments due to the water sources they provide. A more surprising animal than the turtle is the alligator, and for many years there have been rumours that they roam the sewers of New York. Fish In certain areas, fish such as minnows and even small carp have been discovered living in stormwater drains. These aquatic residents likely entered the drains during heavy rains or flooding and found the environment suitable for survival. For CCTV drainage surveys Kingsbury, contact a specialist such as www.wilkinson-env.co.uk/drainage-services-cctv-surveys-midlands/drain-jetting/drain-jetting-kingsbury/. Crustaceans Drainage systems can harbour tiny crustaceans like freshwater shrimp and crayfish. These creatures thrive in the submerged nooks and crannies of pipes and tunnels. Insects and Arachnids Drain systems are perfect breeding grounds for insects like mosquitoes and spiders. The dark, stagnant water often found in drains provides an ideal environment for these creatures to reproduce. Image credit Bats Some species of bats, like the brown long-eared bat, have been known to roost in drains and tunnels. They seek shelter and often find it in the dark, secluded spaces of underground systems.

If you are a seasoned festival goer then you will no doubt be pondering the solution to what you can do about all the kit you have to take to have a good, and comfortable time. If you’re a complete novice to festival life then you’re probably having a bit of a panic wondering how you’re supposed to transport everything and do you really need it.

Anything you can do to increase the security of your Bristol home and positively increase its value has to be worthwhile.  With the unfortunate rise in opportunist house break-ins and planned burglaries, anything to prevent these crimes from happening to you and your family is worth the investment.  Outbuildings and garages are one of the most highly targeted areas for thieves so having a professional, experienced, reputable, local company such as http://www.upandoverdoorsltd.co.uk/ who specialise in providing quality Garage Doors Bristol come to your home and install a brand new door for your garage is definitely worthwhile.

Pipes come in a range of sizes and materials, designed to carry different substances with different rates of flow. This means pipe fittings also need to vary to ensure the safest and most effective performance.

Running a business is a challenge and having the right people around you can be a real help. This is why many business owners will find a professional business coach like this Stroud business coach who can help them with all of the aspects that are part and parcel of running a business. Whether you are considering setting up your own business, have just started out, or have been going for a few years, there are many things that a business coach will be able to help you with. These are just a few of the reasons why having professional business coaching can really be a benefit to you and your business… Image Credit Motivation – When you have someone else taking an interest in your business and supporting you, you will also have a clearer idea of your goals and can be more mindful of reaching them. Being accountable to someone gives you that bit of direction and motivation that you need to help your business to grow and prosper, and you will be able to work to clearly defined targets. Someone else’s Perspective – Having someone looking at your business from another perspective is really helpful. Often, when you are caught up in something you can find it more difficult to see clearly what it is that you need to do. With the perspective of a business specialist looking at your business from another angle, it can be much easier then to see what changes you can make going forward. Setting Goals – Knowing what goals to set is difficult – you don’t want to set goals that are out of reach as then you can become despondent and unmotivated, but you need goals that benefit your business and challenge you to aim higher. A business coach can help you to settle on the right goals for your business, and also support you and help you to come up with ways that you can achieve those goals. Image Credit Knowledge – There is a lot to learn when you run a business, and even when you have been doing it a while, you are still learning. A business coach will be very knowledgeable on many business-related matters, and rather than making mistakes and learning from these errors, a business coach will be able to help to give you the knowledge that stops you from making mistakes in the first place!

Failure of any part of your sewer pipe system can have significant financial, health and environmental impact on your property and your household. Sewer technologies have advanced immeasurably over the last few years and there are now cost-effective solutions for addressing any issues with your pipework. Read on to find out why it is important to inspect, maintain and clean your sewer system regularly. Image Credit How do you know if your sewer pipes need maintenance? The most common sign that your sewer pipes have a problem is that water in your sinks or baths is taking too long to drain away. Blocked toilets can also be indicative of a problem, especially if they back up with water or overflow when flushed. In addition, any unexplained leaks in the home could also be because of sewer line problems. What happens when you have your sewer pipes inspected? If you suspect you have an issue with your sewer pipes, it is important to determine whether the pipes are your responsibility or whether the responsibility lies with the sewerage company. Ofwat (The Water Services Regulation Authority) states that the drains or sewers which carry household waste are usually the responsibility of the homeowner up to the point at which they connect to the public sewers at the boundary of the property. When you ask a sewer maintenance technician to inspect the pipes, they will insert a specialist CCTV camera into the sewer pipe to identify where the problem lies. If the problem is caused by a blockage somewhere in the pipe, they will usually remove it with a high-pressure water jet. This should solve the problem but sometimes, the problem may be caused by a crack or split in the pipe. Sewer pipes do not always need to be replaced. A number of specialists provide sewer pipe lining Wolverhampton and elsewhere which offers affordable drain repairs with state-of-the-art sewer lining solutions such as those seen here: www.wilkinson-env.co.uk/sewer-repairs-drain-lining-concrete-cutting/drain-repairs/drain-repairs-wolverhampton. Image Credit What are the consequences of not maintaining your sewer pipes? If you do not maintain your sewer pipes, they may become blocked and sewerage back up into your home. If the problem is left to escalate, harmful bacteria could also leak into your property. If any issues are left unfixed, this may result in a wider failure in your sewerage pipes which would be very expensive to repair.

If you don’t have much living space, whether you have a growing family, or you require a home working area, it’s wise to think about an outbuilding. They are less expensive and faster than installing an extension and there is no requirement for planning permission. Perhaps you’ve already had an extension but still require that bit of additional space. It’s not as easy to move home today as it once was, so an ideal solution is a useful outbuilding, such as a summerhouse, shepherds hut or shed to give you that much-needed space at a fraction of a price. Here are some ideas for what you could use an outbuilding for: A nice addition to your property is an outbuilding used as a summerhouse. This is perfect if you don’t currently have a sunroom or conservatory. You can make the most of your garden on those warm, sunny days and furnish with wicker seating with soft, plush cushions, rugs and curtains in light, summer fabrics. Alternatively, consider a new Oak Orangery from https://www.timberpride.co.uk/oak-orangery Image credit If you need a space for working from home, shepherd huts or upmarket sheds can make the perfect home office. It’s good to have a separate space for working that’s not inside the home as this helps productivity and lessens possible distractions. Inviting guests to stay over will become a lot less stressful and cramped when you have a comfortable room at the end of your garden to put them up in. Guests will appreciate the personal, private space and will undoubtedly enjoy a much better stay and night’s sleep. Image credit Tired of having children’s toys all over your home? If you struggle to find a special place for your children to spread out and play, then a garden room can become the perfect den. It can be a casual and fun space for drawing, painting and other messy play. Create a nook for reading and fill a bookcase with all their favourite reads. This way you’ll rediscover your home interior and might even get some peace and quiet for a while! Another useful way an outbuilding can be used is in the form of a laundry room. If the noise of the washing machine drives you mad and you hate hanging washing around the house in winter, imagine how convenient it would be to have a dedicated space for dealing with laundry. Perhaps you’d benefit from a separate space for any pets you have. A shed or outbuilding is the ideal spot for many pets, such as chickens, ducks and dogs. Maybe your dog would enjoy a dedicated space for them to relax in and to stop them continually getting under your feet inside the house. If you need a space for working from home, shepherd huts or upmarket sheds can make the perfect home office. It’s good to have a separate space for working that’s not inside the home as this helps productivity and lessens possible distractions. Inviting guests to stay over will become a lot less stressful and cramped when you have a comfortable room at the end of your garden to put them up in. Guests will appreciate the personal, private space and will undoubtedly enjoy a much better stay and night’s sleep. Tired of having children’s toys all over your home? If you struggle to find a special place for your children to spread out and play, then a garden room can become the perfect den. It can be a casual and fun space for drawing, painting and other messy play. Another useful way an outbuilding can be used is in the form of a laundry room. If the noise of the washing machine drives you mad and you hate hanging washing around the house in winter, imagine how convenient it would be to have a dedicated space for dealing with laundry. Perhaps you’d benefit from a separate space for any pets you have. A shed or outbuilding is the ideal spot for many pets, such as chickens, ducks and dogs. Maybe your dog would enjoy a dedicated space for them to relax in and to stop them continually getting under your feet inside the house.

If you are experiencing drainage issues at your home or business premises, a drain survey is a simple way to identify the root cause. Often there is a temptation to simply rod the drains to try and clear the blockage, but without knowing what is blocking your drains, where the blockage is occurring or whether there is existing damage to the sewage infrastructure, it is likely that the blockage will occur again, costing more money and taking longer to resolve.

Manufacturing is an area where health and safety is paramount. In order to work effectively, it is important to ensure that you are following guidelines and that staff are trained correctly to enable them to be able to do their job safely. Image Credit Slips are a common risk in manufacturing. Accidents do happen, but there are lots of things that you can do in the workplace to reduce the risk of someone slipping and injuring themselves. Here are some tips for avoiding slips… Use Signs – If there has been a spill, or there is an area of the floor that is wet or slippery, then make sure that you have a sign that can be put next to it to warn people of this. People might not necessarily see an area on the floor that has a spillage, but a sign is much easier to spot! Image Credit Clean up with the Right Equipment – When something has been split it needs to be cleaned up correctly to keep the area safe. Make sure that you have a supply of suitable spill kits like this https://hydepark-environmental.com/spill-response/spill-kits that can be used if a substance spills. PPE – Personal protective equipment is very helpful when it comes to keeping safe, especially in a manufacturing environment where there may be dangerous substances around. Ensure that all staff have the correct PPE for the job that they are doing and that they are well trained on using it in the right way.

According to data from the Land Registry, property prices in Watford have fallen by an average of over Ł2,000 in September. The most recent figures from the government department show that in September 2022, the cost of an average property in Watford was Ł394,417. This fell from Ł396,613 in July, which represents a decrease of 1.0 per cent. It had risen by 6.7 per cent in the previous twelve months. This is the latest sign to indicate the property market is slowing down due to the cost-of-living crisis and ever-increasing mortgage rates. Many are wondering whether the latest drop could be the start of a crash. Image Credit Could this be a sign of things to come? It is not unreasonable to expect property prices to continue to fall over the next few months. Buyers will find it more and more difficult to borrow money or will consider rising mortgage rates far too expensive. This will force sellers to list their property at a lower price. Martin Beck, chief economic advisor said “October’s fall could likely be a sign of things to come. Although mortgage rates have retreated from the highs seen just after the mini-budget, they’re still elevated compared to early-mid September. For example, the current standard variable rate on a Nationwide mortgage is 5.24%, compared to 3.74% pre-mini-budget. Cost of living pressures remain challenging and face being exacerbated by tax rises and public spending restraint in November’s Autumn Statement, and consumer confidence is notably depressed.” Image Credit How much have house prices in Watford fallen? All types of housing saw a decrease in price. Detached houses were down to Ł959,992 from Ł964,925 in July. Semi-detached houses, on the other hand, were down to Ł538,465 from Ł539,095 in July. Terraced houses fell to Ł426,350 from a high of Ł426,918 and average flat prices were down to Ł274,697 from Ł278,665. How do Watford house prices compare to the UK average? Despite the fall in prices this month, Watford is still well above the UK average, with a typical property value in the UK reaching Ł294,559 in September. One of the reasons for this is because it is one of the first major towns outside of London. Watford has also seen considerable regeneration over the past ten years, including the development of the Atria shopping centre which is home to over 140 businesses and the Warner Bros Studio and the Making of Harry Potter experience. Anyone considering purchasing a property should seek legal advice from a reputable firm such as Sam Conveyancing, who can assist with conveyancing and a building survey Watford. According to analysis by research consultancy Dataloft, Watford is the best commuter town for investment. More information on this can be read on the Property Investment Today website. The town achieved this top ranking as a reflection of the excellent lifestyle it has to offer, strong employment opportunities, the high quality education available as well as its extensive open green spaces and transport links. It seems likely that house prices will continue to fall whilst we weather the economic storm, but Watford is flourishing as a place to live and there is every indication that house prices here may well fare better than in other parts of the UK.

Owning and running your own business is something that is hard to do on your own. Having the right help and support around you is crucial if you want to make your business a success.  It is not possible to be able to do everything well in business, as well as have the time to take care of your own needs and time for yourself too.

Changing your lifestyle to live sustainably may seem difficult to begin with, but it can actually be quite easy by simply learning some new habits. By adopting sustainable living practices, you will help the environment and reduce emissions. This way of life is also healthier, reducing toxic chemicals in the body and promoting mindful movement. If you want to live sustainably, here are some easy tips you can start today. To make a difference in the world around you, start with small changes and build up to bigger ones over time.