Blog - Sustainable Living in the Heatons

Christmas Day new potatoes

Leave a Comment / Planting and Growing / By Sarah Kemp-Ellis

Now is the time to buy your new potatoes if you plan to grow them for your Christmas Day lunch. They are so simple to grow and taste fantastic! Seed potatoes are available online and in garden centres again in August. They will be ready for your Christmas lunch if you get them planted now. These varieties are relatively cheap, and it’s best to buy them now while they are still fresh and a good selection is available. I am using “Rocket” because it is a fast-maturing first early variety with waxy, white flesh and it usually produces …

Christmas Day new potatoes Read More »

Fallowfield Loop walk

Leave a Comment / Cycling and Walking / By Tom Barker

Walking along the Fallowfield Loop was my most common lockdown choice when it came to passing the time. On this occasion, I started in Fallowfield and walked down towards Levenshulme and Heaton Chapel. As I was going along, I started to notice many different varieties of flowering plants in bloom. I carried on and reached …

Fallowfield Loop walk Read More »

Walk to the meadow

Leave a Comment / Cycling and Walking / By Tom Barker

When lockdown was announced, I started going for regular walks around the Heatons with a friend. I live in Heaton Mersey and he lives in Heaton Moor, so we took it in turns to lead a short walk, usually covering about a mile. The walk below incorporates Heaton Moor and Heaton Chapel, taking in a …

Walk to the meadow Read More »

Plants to attract wildlife to your garden

Leave a Comment / Planting and Growing / By Tom Barker

Lots of people have been asking what to plant to attract wildlife into their gardens. Here’s a list of plants to help you plan your garden or allotment. There are two sections: Wildlife: Plants and flowers to attract wildlife of all varieties Companion planting: Plants to put close to each other to help with pest …

Plants to attract wildlife to your garden Read More »

The Edible Garden by Mel Godfrey, Sustainable Living in the Heatons

Leave a Comment / Planting and Growing / By Tom Barker

It’s a feature of modern life that we only see in shops a limited range of the huge variety of leaves, salads and herbs that grow according to each season. This 15 min feature is brimming full of ideas for both foodies and gardeners. Edible plants that will happily grow in your flowerbeds; Foodie plants and …

The Edible Garden by Mel Godfrey, Sustainable Living in the Heatons Read More »

The June Gap

Leave a Comment / Wildlife / By Tom Barker

Mind the gap Ever heard of “the June gap”? Many beekeepers talk about it — it’s a time between spring and summer when bee colonies are at peak numbers, meaning they require more pollen and nectar. It’s during this time that spring flowers have more or less finished and summer flowers have yet to come …

The June Gap Read More »

Eco-driving fact sheet

Leave a Comment / Cars, Transport / By Tom Barker

Not everyone is ready to abandon their favourite car for an electric vehicle and charging point just yet so this blog offers some tips on how to adopt an eco-friendly driving style in any vehicle. Eco-driving is a simple concept that incorporates safety, saving money and an awareness of the environment. These ideas have always …

Eco-driving fact sheet Read More »

Heatons Climate Action Festival questionnaire

Leave a Comment / Heatons Climate Action Festival / By Tom Barker

There is recognition that all the peoples of the planet are heading for difficult times if we cannot find new ways of living that is in greater harmony with the environment and its biodiversity. Our idea is to have a festival to explore this. It will point to ways that we, as individuals and as …

Heatons Climate Action Festival questionnaire Read More »

Local Cycle Route: Quarry Bank Mill via Bruntwood

Leave a Comment / Cycling and Walking / By Tom Barker

Here’s a route we did in 2018. Route distance/description 18 miles. A large part is off-road and surface is almost all good. There are a few main roads to cross. There are also some busy roads to go along, but as distances are very short, we could walk. Out and back via same route. SEE …

Local Cycle Route: Quarry Bank Mill via Bruntwood Read More »

Heatons Open Gardens Virtual Tour

Leave a Comment / Planting and Growing / By Tom Barker

Thank you everyone for your interest in the free Heatons Open Gardens Virtual online event/webinar. We know some people had difficulties with accessing the event. We heard that there was a UK wide problem with Zoom which may have contributed to the challenges some of you had in getting a connection and getting sound. If …

Heatons Open Gardens Virtual Tour Read More »