raasaygirl

I wonder if the peregrine falcon in Burgess Park was one of the pair who nest on the Salvation Army tower at Denmark Hill. I went for a tour with the resident orthnithologist at the Battersea Tower Station development recently. They had to build a lattice tower (v expensive) as a temporary nest for the pair of peregrines there, until the building work is complete...they have raised their chicks on there for a few years but are going to be relocated back to the tower building very soon. If they decide to sit on a crane, work has to stop! Their main diet is pigeons and parakeets.

I have recommended Keith before when he has done smaller repairs at my house. My neighbour and I have just employed him for a much larger and longer job, which was to rebuild our chimney stack...a complicated business, involving extensive scaffolding, the complete dismantling of the old stack and then the rebuild. This took a lot of planning, as the build involved repairs to our neighbour's property also. Keith carried all of the job out meticulously, with great communication in the weeks leading up and during the work. He showed me photos from the roof at every stage and explained what he would be doing each day. When the scaffolders were dismantling the scaffolding, Keith came to ensure no damage was done to the tiles during that process. A very good job.

I can wholeheartedly recommend Dave too. He did some work for me yesterday (painting a window, putting up a curtain rail, bath seal etc) perfectly, and it transformed the area he was working in. Also it was a pleasure to have someone to do the work who was so courteous, and excellent with his communication in setting up the job.

And maybe checking with your mortgage provider, if you have one?

Recommending Keith Burgess again. This time he has done repointing and repairing brickwork on the front of my house - good work, very reasonable price, and excellent communication.

I also recommend Keith Burgess for general building work. He has done some air bricks in my cellar and has done the work very neatly and with care. He also inspected the timber work under my floor and given me advice abut pipe lagging etc (not an easy inspection as there is very little headroom in most of the area.) I would also say that his price is extremely competitive.

I got some Lakeland Gold bracken compost (from Alleyn Park Garden Centre) and its helped a lot, my garden is doing really well this year.

I can highly recommend Splash Painters and Decorators. Steve and his team do very meticulous preparation, so the end result is great and lasts well http://www.splashdecorators.com/home.html

John Powers. He has lots of recommendations on the forum. http://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/read.php?30,841949

Saturday 26th March 11.00 till 16.00 Make a willow plant support for your garden ?12 Location: Glengall Wharf Garden, 64 Glengall Road, London SE15 6NF Booking and further details https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/intro-to-willow-weaving-tickets-22925983233

I'm in a group of beekeepers at Glengall Wharf Garden (Burgess Park.) We have five hives and there are two there owned by an experienced local beekeeper who has been helping us learn how to look after our hives. We absolutely welcome anyone who wants to come along. We meet on Sundays at 3.30 at the moment. PM me if you would like any more details. (64 Glengall Road, SE15 6NF)

Sunday 12th July 1pm-4pm See bees Have tea (and cakes) Come along and learn about our community beekeeping project Story collecting and activities for kids and adults Glengall Wharf Garden Burgess Park (east side) 64 Glengall Road Peckham SE15 6NH

Sandapaints, 365 Camberwell Station Road http://www.sandapaints.co.uk/index.php/contact

Have you looked at a website called Ravelry?...some of the patterns are free

Might not be exactly what you are looking for but have you thought of doing a few days volunteering?, eg http://www.theguardian.com/travel/2009/may/08/green-ethical-wwoofing-holidays-europe http://www.helpx.net/ My daughter has done wwoofing in California and New Zealand, had a great time and met people of all ages.

Tuesday 28th and Wednesday 29th October Drop in plant-related Arts & Crafts/game sessions for children run twice a day, from 10-12 and 2-4. ?2 per child or ?5 per family Age 4+ Please note: children must be accompanied by an adult Tuesday 28th Oct Make a magical witch's broomstick and ride through our haunted garden, hunting for Halloween treasures. Wednesday 29th Oct Make your own 'Halloween mobile' for decorating your own room or garden. The South London Botanical Institute 323 Norwood Road, SE24 9AQ www.slbi.org.uk tel 020 8674 5787

The Big Botanical Draw Sunday 2nd November 2014 11-3pm A chance to explore the institute, draw with plants from the garden and herbarium with colours made from plants, use nature based materials; create textures from rubbings, have a closer look at seeds and plant structure. Everybody welcome All ages All materials provided With artist Zoe Burt Garden cafe [email protected] www.slbi.org.uk 323 Norwood Road, London SE24 9AQ

A Norwood 'Fun Palace' free event All ages welcome Moss Day The South London Botanical Institute Saturday 4th October 12-5 Folk Band 12-2 Theatre Workshop 12-5 -culminating in a 'rehearsed in a day' performance aimed at families and adults on a loose theme of plants and mosses. Arrive at 12 if you would like to take part in the play, or 4pm to watch the performance. In between times there will be moss displays, mosses under microscopes and a mini moss family to hunt out in the garden...and of course the permanent delights of the Institute and its garden, with the essential tea and cake. In the meantime other Autumn events are going on at the Institute:- Tuesday 7th October Winter Tree ID workshops (5 Tuesday evenings and 2 park visits) Saturday 11th October Herbs for Health (4 Saturday afternoons) Still places available on these sessions, see website for further details South London Botanical Institute, 323 Norwood Road, SE24 9AQ http://www.slbi.org.uk/whatson.htm#

I would also highly recommend Richard - he has just painted a bay window and done some other decorating for me. He took a lot of care to do the job well and for a very reasonable price. He is very polite and came exactly when he said he would.

John McCann plastered a wall for me, it was an excellent job. His number is 07905 044912

Free August summer holiday 'plant fun' activities Come and enjoy a range of fun arts and crafts and games for children age 4+ 10am-12pm and 2-4pm Tuesday 19th August Make your own nature picture frame for your favourite photo Wednesday 20th August Plant memory games Tuesday 26th August Become a plant explorer and discover plants and bugs in our garden Wednesday 27th August Be inspired by nature using a variety of arts and crafts materials The South London Botanical Institute 323 Norwood Road London SE24 9AQ 020 8674 5787 www.slbi.org.uk [email protected]

Even if you only get as far as Harris, you will be visiting one of the most beautiful places in the world! If it was me, I would go to Tarbert instead of Stornoway, and down to North Uist and Berneray...if St Kilda is out of the question due to cost. Have a look at the Calmac ferry site.

The South London Botanical Institute 323 Norwood Road SE24 9AQ Sunday 18th May 2-5pm A Fete of Botanical Delights Entrance Free includes Plant Sale, Book Sale, Garden Cafe with botanical ices. Garden and Library open, with an opportunity to see rare books and herbarium specimens, and also the SLBI's first ever Virtual Hedge.

Plant Sale Saturday 10th May 11-1 Entrance free Sale of locally grown usual and unusual plants and advice on how to grow them. Chelsea Fringe Event: A Festival of Botanical Delights Sunday 18th May 2-5 Entrance free Plant Sale Book Sale Garden Cafe Botanical Ices and a chance to look at some of the SLBI's rarer books and herbarium species. The South London Botanical Institute, 323 Norwood Road, SE24 9AQ

I would agree with everyone here and thoroughly recommend Niko for plumbing work. He's straightforward, very good at communicating, helpful and courteous, and gets the job done efficiently and at a very reasonable rate.