Out There Blog

B Moore:
My grass looks quite ragged and rough
Using my mower's incredibly tough
Visimo is needed
So once I have weeded
It puts the stripes back into the stuff.

Christine from Leeds:
I couldn't possibly send you a photo of my garden as it is highly embarrasing.  My husband keeps saying we don't need a new mower the one we have is fine (try telling the grass that).  The mower is 15 years old and deteriorating fast.  Love to win a new mower and show my husband how grass should look when it is cut properly with a good mower.

Karen from Crewe:
My lawn def needs TLC - just moved in, previous owners def had a dog which peeeeeeeeeeed on the lawn - please I need help!!!!!!

D Whitmill:
It needs loving because although my darling bunny rabbit jessie does a good job trimming it, she can't manage it all bless her!

F Drinkell:
Our present lawnmower is an old electric one, the top cover has been removed as the blades won't start up independently anymore they have to be coerced into action with the end of your foot physically moving the spinny engine bit.. I swear that one day soon, either me or my husband will come in with less toes than we went out with!

Posted by Bronwyn at 02:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Hi I’m Marion and I always have to mow my mum’s lawn!

Our lawn is something that I wish I could love because its a place for relaxation and chilling out, the thing is it looks worse than a hair cut done by a blind man!!

We have had my lawn mower for quite a while and it has never been up to much. It hardly even cuts grass. It just squashes it and sometimes decides to gauge out chucks of the lawn. Mowing my lawn does take allot of effort but that effort is never clear to see or appreciated because of the utter monstrosity it always seems to end up in!!

I love gardening and take pride in the rest of my garden I just wish I could take pride in my lawn, it really does have potential! Please help!!

Posted by Bronwyn at 02:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Bernard says:
I don’t know where to start on this lawn? Any advice? I think a super Flymo may be needed.

 

Posted by Bronwyn at 01:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Ms A E Adkins from Birmingham:

 We are mourning the recent loss of our dearly beloved lawnmower who had served us faithfully for many years. The lawn is missing our old comrade dreadfully and is in need of some TLC (tender lawn care). Please can you help us with our predicament? All donations gratefully received.

Posted by Bronwyn at 01:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

L Misner:
I used to have a beautiful lawn - with stripes and not a weed in sight and then my boys grew old enough to walk and as they have grown my lawn has shrunk. First one goalpost and then two - a winter of teenagers kicking up the wet grass means that all i have left is what is left of a beautiful lawn and decorated with bare muddy patches.

Now the cricket season has started and the muddy patches have become wickets. My old lawn mower has given up and blown up - we beg you for a new one to make out cricket pitch perfect before the daisies take over! Its the only way I can love my lawn and my children!

Posted by Bronwyn at 01:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

S Imison:

My lawn is not very large but has suffered greatly this last year. It has always been well looked after until last summer when it was dehydrated by Thames Water's watering ban. Then the squirrels started digging and burying things in it. Then the foxes dug a huge hole or two. Then my old trusty friend the Stripemaster gave up the ghost........ Please help before it gets beyond repair.

Posted by Bronwyn at 01:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Debbie says:

The grass is long it's easy to see,
Money's short, I need a mower for free!!
 

Posted by Bronwyn at 01:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

J. Robertson from Liverpool:

My lawn looks so tired and slightly worn out,
with tufts of weeds and old toys strewn about.

A slide, a pool, a table and chairs,
with spots that have gone brown beneath the suns glare.

We take it for granted, I guess you could say,
but it's there for my children, who all love to play.

It suffers the weather, the football and general wear,
but what would I do if my lawn wasn't there?

It would no longer be green or soft to walk on,
it would no longer be welcoming when the sun shone.

I think I would miss it - that thought makes me sad,
it's the only real lawn that I've ever had.

I should take more care of it, I promise - I do,
I'll pick up the toys - and there are quite a few!

I might even cut it, a little water maybe,
I could plant some flowers to keep it company!

I do love my lawn, it's part of my home,
A safe little haven all of my own.

Posted by Bronwyn at 12:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

 V. Pownal:

My lovely lawn has seen it all
Cricket bats, the odd football,
My babies grew and flew the nest
Therefore my lawn should look its best!

But late at night, just after dark
Just out of sight, a noise I hark!
(oo how bad is that line! Sorry!)
It’s not a dog, it’s not a cat
Just one thing makes a hole like that!

It’s Billy Badger with his snout
I really could give him a clout!
He digs around without a care
And leaves my lovely lawn quite bare!
(Although, I am exaggerating a bit there! Artistic license?)

It’s full of holes, which once held grass,
Another job for me, alas
But sad tho is this tale of woe
Where else would Billy Badger go?

It’s worth the sacrifice I think
He’s there - then he’s gone - in a blink
He really is a splendid sight
And I’ll sacrifice my lawn each night.

Posted by Bronwyn at 11:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Alison from Chatham:

Our Garden – A Tale Of Woe
Our garden is a jungle,
A little eco-plot,
You may think it's because we’re green,
But actually it's not.

This year we are determined,
To get the garden right,
With a JCB , a hefty crew,
A stick of dynamite.

And then we’ll have our Eden,
A lawn so neat and new
A haven where we can relax,
And rest and barbeque.

But we will have no mower,
No garden tools at all,
How will we keep our Shangri-la,
Without them it will fall.

We need a Flymo Visimo,
But have no cash, I weep,
The money’s going on the lawn,
And JCB’s aint cheap.

We’ll have to win it in the comp,
With Property Finder folk,
They will see and will agree,
Our garden is a joke.

We need to have the work done,
And pay the workmen’s fee,
So they’ll give us the Visimo,
For absolutely free!

Posted by Bronwyn at 11:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Anon says:
I have a pond with thousands of tadpoles and when they mature into little frogs they will need a lovely smooth lawn to hop about on!

K Kitchener says:
Our lawn needs lots of loving because the last tennents neglected it in favour of their dogs and having we have not had a lawn before we do not have a lawnmower.

G Allford says:
My lawn would love to be cut with a nice new mower with nice SHARP BLADES as my old mower is now just over ten years old and needs to be retired to the lawnmower heaven.

W Stretch says:
It needs a good cut to keep it looking good and that just looks ideal for it.

Sue says:
My house is a new build 12 months old, my grass only gets a little sun as my home faces east, it has al died off, i have bought product for greener lawns and so on but still in poor condition
any tips would be grateful thanks sue.

Posted by Bronwyn at 02:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

J May says:

My lawn needs lots of loving because two years ago it was ripped apart by contractors working on a mammoth coastal protection scheme.  Before they dug it all up to pile underneath it was a lovely green lawn scattered with daisies which I love.  Now in spite of the fact that it was returfed it looks dry and unhappy and nothing I do seems to make it look like it did before!

Posted by Bronwyn at 02:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

H Hobden says:

Our lawn has put up with rather a lot over the last few years since we moved into this house; the first day we moved in my husband ripped the previous owners fitted bedroom furniture out and threw it out of the window and onto the lawn, then it put up with the children and swings and paddling pools which left lots of dead patches. 

The second year we were here my husband decided to build an extension which involved lots more things being thrown out of windows onto the already sad looking lawn in an attempt to save time going up and down the stairs.

Now that the extension is just about complete a year or so on, and the rubbish pile has grown as have the weeds the lawn has just been totally destroyed by my husband and a hired mini digger to get rid of the rubbish! So the garden has spent several months looking rather sorry for itself and rather bare without any grass.

I'm hoping that our new lawn arriving next week once laid and settled in will be treated with a lot more respect and will be loved by the whole family, (they say absence makes the heart grow) and a new Flymo Visimo would let our lawn know just what it means to us!

Posted by Bronwyn at 02:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Anthony from Ashford:

I would love to be given your free lawn cutter! Because it would save me a lot of energy and time all year round. As my lawn needs manual cutting by pushing around a non electric and non motor driven little number. So please take pity on me when you read my story and let me have more time looking at my newly cut lawn. Instead of cutting it all day long!

Posted by Bronwyn at 02:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

T Porter says:

The attached photo is of how our garden currently looks!!  Lovely isn't it?!?!?!?!

We are in the process of re-vamping our garden, but after a bundle of wood was left on our garden from last year's building works, we are now saving to get some new turfs.  Once we have our new turfs it would be fantastic to have the brand new Flymo Visimo to keep it in trim!!!!  Our current Flymo, which was great in its hayday, is in need of hanging up it's blunt blades. 

So, here I am trying my luck on winning a new Flymo for our new turfs to be - then finally my todder can tickle her toes on the fresh cut grass!!

Posted by Bronwyn at 02:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Kathryn:

My lawn is in need of some loving,
my 18 year old mower blew up 1/2 way through ....... LOOK (see the pic)

Posted by Bronwyn at 02:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Austin Dack from Cambridgeshire:

It is a matter of treason that we have reached the grass cutting season
For I haven't got a bean to buy a new machine
 
After moving into my new home
and cleaning up the chrome
It is outdoors I will go
And attempt the first mow

My little hand held mower
Seems to be a no goer
After years of trusty service
I am going to forgo her
 
It would of course take brawn
To call my patch a lawn
But I want to shout out loud
Its my grass and I am proud
 
Believe me I would crow
As I delivered each perfect row
Neighbours gather around to see
my lovely new Flymo Visimo

Posted by Bronwyn at 02:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Anon: 

If I venture to send you a picture
Will you please close your eyes and not look
It won't be the best one I've taken
But I did try by hook and by crook
to fill in those horrible patches
Why won't the grass show its head?
The moss got their first and I'm happy to say
that I've nearly killed that stone cold dead
I have fed it and weeded and watered
and some parts do look very nice
I'm lost for ideas so if you know the answer
I'll be happy to take your advice.
 
A new mower
Mmm

Posted by Bronwyn at 02:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Posted by Bronwyn at 01:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Susan Stockman:

If an Englishman's lawn is his paddock,
Come, dig ours up with a mattock.
It's thick with damp moss,
Plagues of weeds make me cross,
So does the dog poo and piddle.

Despairing he went off to Lidl
Bought lawn feed for scabs caused by widdle
I complained that it now smells of haddock
But my other 'arf told me to shaddup!
And buy it myself if I’m that flush

When it grows bright and lush
I don't want to push
Our geriatric mower;
I'm no Percy Thrower!
So just let me win a Visimo,
Then join us, we’ll sit out with the vino!

Picture of lawn-wreckers in action

Posted by Bronwyn at 12:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

N Hollamby:

I have two lawnmowers on their last legs and I have the mower this amount of grass,pictures enclosed.

Posted by Bronwyn at 12:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

J Payne says:

Hi my lawn needs loving because i havent really got a decent lawn due to my old mower pulling the grass up as its so old and it stops and starts, combined with a pesky squirrel that keeps digging my lawn for nuts ( I think he sees the mess my mower makes and thinks the holes will be a good hiding place.). A new mower would be lovely.

Posted by Bronwyn at 12:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Posted by Bronwyn at 10:43 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Vicki from Lancashire:

I would like a new lawnmower, as we currently have a petrol lawn mower and it has got wet because the shed leaks and is now rusty but my husband has started working away a lot of the time and it is too big and bulky for me to use. I have tried but most of the time I can't get it started and it is to heavy to push, I would love to own a lighter model preferbly not a petrol one, thanks.

Posted by Bronwyn at 10:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Morning to you!

Not so much the lawn that needs loving than the owner of the lawn. This lawn belongs to my mum and she has been working very hard on it, unfortunately she is 69 this year and just been diagnosed with an enlarged heart.

Her lawnmower is a huge heavy one that lives in the garage at the front of the house and she has to carry it round to mow this beautiful back garden and it simply isn't viable anymore, this new Flymo looks a lot more able and easy to handle so have an enlarged heart yourself and make her day!

Posted by Bronwyn at 10:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

We've been here for 10 years, when we first moved in the grass and the house were a terrible mess, but after lots of tears, sweat and a little blood occassionally, it has all been worth it, the lawn is still only just OK, how ever we put the house on the market a short time ago, and maybe the lawn would benefit from being given the v.i.p. treatment, and some loving by a nice new Flymo Visimo.

Posted by Bronwyn at 09:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

T Silverman from Essex: 

Having just moved into our dream thatched cottage in the wilds of Essex, I discovered that we had a garden which previously had been hidden by a profusion of thicket, undergrowth and a glut of brambles. The property was empty for over a year and when I finally evicted everything that previously lived there ( don't ask) !! I found that we did indeed have a lawn if you can call it that.
 
I would dearly like to give my new found lawn the loving care it deserves and what better than a Flymo. I would then be able to mow it like any other human being instead of being the village outcast.
 
Please let me have one so that I can then rightfully take my place once again in society.

Posted by Bronwyn at 09:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Miss Jaimieleigh Nelson for my papa from Ayrshire:

Oh if only I could win this lawnmower my life would be complete
My papa’s lawn would feel so soft underneath my bare little feet.
We used to have a lawnmower
It was my papas pride and joy
But one day it was stolen by a very bad boy.

I feel a bit responsible that this offence took place
It’s because of me it happened let me explain my case.
My papa was on holiday and asked me round to help
water all his garden and make sure no one took his elves
I was in the midst of tidying when mum called me in for tea
So off I went without checking that I had turned the key.
I remember very clearly the TV was great
and to miss my favourite programmes is a thing I would hate
So I forgot papas rule before I fell asleep
Before you’re tucked up in bed here’s the laws you keep

Tidy everything away fold down all the chairs
Put away the table underneath the stairs (mum helps with this part)
Gather all the rubbish put it in the bin
Put out all the candles into the big tin
When you’re sure that everything is as it should be
Close the doors, put on the lock, and turn the key

With the one exception this is how it was
so now you see my problem and how I am the cause
Papa doesn’t blame me he just said c'est la vie
But if you like my poem please send this lawnmower to me
So I can say im sorry and make his life complete
By running through the garden in my bare little feet.

Posted by Bronwyn at 10:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Philip says:

My girlfriend and I have recently moved into our first home together, and are really looking forward to enjoy a nice summer outdoors in our garden.

For the last few weeks I have been busy trying to improve the lawn and give it some much needed TLC.  Its very patchy and the weeds are now coming through as the weather is getting warmer.  I've laid down some grass seed over 2 weeks ago, and last week some lawn feed/weed remover, along with keeping it watered. 

Things are certainly beginning to improve.  However, the current mower leaves a lot of grass behind which spoils the appearance of the lawn, doesn't cut very well, and is difficult to manoeuvre.  So it would be great to have the help of the Flymo Visimo to really 'love my lawn'.
 
Here is a photo of what my lawn used to look like.

Posted by Bronwyn at 09:41 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Chrissie from Marlow:

Hi, our lawn needs more than loving!

Myself and my partner have just brought our first house together and the one thing that we are missing is a lawn mover. The house we purchased is in a real mess and buying a lawn mover is at the bottom of the list.

Our neighbour kindly leant me hers as the garden was a mess.  I have managed to cut it all back but after killing off most of the weeds I am left with not much apart from patches of grass.  I have planted grass seed, watering daily and giving it lawn feed (so fingers crossed it will grow).

 I am a total novice at gardening, however a lawnmover would be a wonderful addition to the tools that I have and would also help me turn our awful garden into the garden of our dreams.

Read more or enter your story.

Posted by Bronwyn at 04:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I'm at my wits end. No matter how many times I cut the lawn there's always loads of long bits and five days later its back to the same length.

Now my next door neighbour has had her lawn gravelled, mine looks like a tip all I want is a nice garden for my three boys to be able to play in safety as this is the first time they have had a garden to be able to play in.

We do have a lawnmower but its not got a grass box or seem to cut that well.

Read more or enter your story. 

Posted by Bronwyn at 03:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

David says:

I have entered to win one of the fantastic Flymo Visimo's as my lawn is worn out and destroyed this is partly down to using a 20 year old lawnmower that is now totally worn out and does not have grass collection. It should have been sent to the scrapheap a long time ago.

Due to my failing health Heart problems and spinal arthritis I am not able to rake the cuttings and pick them up and they then die on the lawn and rot the grass underneath.

My mower does not cut as it used to it tears and rips the grass out as you can probably see from the pictures I really do need to win one of the Visimo's.
 
I have wanted one from they were first advertised as they will make cutting the grass a pleasure again and my garden will not be the eyesore of the neighbourhood.
 
I really hope I am one of the lucky persons and win.

Posted by Bronwyn at 03:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

60% of Britain's home owners could be undervaluing the potential benefit of a well-maintained garden that could add up to £30,000 for the average home, according to a national survey commissioned by Flymo Love Your Lawn Week.

Nick Leeming, our resident property expert says that simply having a garden will on average, increase the value of the property by up to 15%, and there is a huge green value bonus available to most home owners.

Vendors need to be aware that first impressions count when selling a property. Propertyfinder.com has found that 66% of house hunters are most attracted by well tended gardens.

 Flymo's Daniel Noble comments:

It's worrying that the vast majority of people simply don't appreciate that maintaining a neat lawn and garden makes property easier to sell as well as adding the potential for a 15% value bonus.

It is estimated that there are more than 770 square miles of garden lawn in the UK, a total combined area larger than the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Most of these are in inner city and urban areas where they perform a vital environmental role. Garden lawns are our rain forests, we neglect them at our own peril.

With average UK house prices now approaching £200,000 it's crazy to miss out on the opportunity to gather in a further £30,000 by keeping the outside of the property as neat and tidy as the inside. Love your Lawn Week is the perfect time to start out on a new programme that will bring rewards in a number of different ways.

Posted by Bronwyn at 02:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Leanne from Southampton:
My cat thinks its a jungle out there and gets lost for days.

T Ryder from Durham:
Its a bit of a mess my garden, but I try to keep it looking tidy, the grass is more moss than grass, I've just put some weed and feed on but my mower is a little old and rough. It needs some t l c from a Flymo Visimo.

John from London:
My lawn does not seem to understand that part of its role is to act as a putting green. Our present mower makes the lawn look like the golf ball is lost in the rough.

With a new Flymo mower the grass will help to improve my putting. If I don't win, then I'm afraid that the pitching wedge will come out to play, and then……….. It's goodbye grass, hello mud!!!!
 

Iain from Isle of Lewis:
My lawn needs some loving as with winter over now is the time to give the lawn some tender loving care with one of these flymos.

Belinda from Surrey:
For months I've ignored the small space outside my backdoor remembering back in the summer when my grandson played and the family gathered for barbeques. Then a nice trim lawn with no nettles, today the news was buzzing its a very warm day and its going to be warm all week, so armed with a book and suncream I walk out into my garden.

You guessed it my garden had turned into a wildlife paradise I forgot grass grew in the winter. Now panic stations I ask my husband to cut the lawn but he neglected to tell me that the lawnmower I had lovingly bought him years ago was rusty and broke. So please consider us for a new flymo and I assure you I will look after it and my garden with pride.

Posted by Bronwyn at 08:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Sandie from Kent:
My lawn needs lots of loving this year because last year my husband spray painted the fence by laying it all out on the lawn. I'm the only one who has a 'Burberry' laid out lawn in orange paint! It still hasn't quite grown out yet!

Mr Sharpe from Colne:
Hey man i need a new mower badly. Mine's kaput - electrics blown out and rotary blades knackered (bit like me) so come on help me out here..............pretty please!!

 
Mr Plusnin from Okehampton:
My lawn needs loving because when we moved to our current address in October 2006 the garden had not been looked after for quite some time.It was not in a very good state - no weeding had been done and more importantly the grass had not been cut, it was long!!! So it definitely needs some loving now, as the weather is just right for doing things in the garden,especially cutting the grass.

Jil says:
My husband spends a lot of time feeding and removing moss, weed killing and edge trimming.  As we have three large lawns and a large old petrol mower I would like to help him but would need a smaller mower.

He would see this as an unecessary purchase and would like to continue to do it himself. Unfortunately at 67 years old and diabetic there are times hes not really well enough to do it but likes to keep up with itall and has great pride in the garden.

Mrs Caria from Osterly:
Because it has suffered after last year - too much sun - not enough water!

Read more 

Posted by Bronwyn at 08:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

We have heard it all now ... from guinea pigs not chewing fast enough to lawnmower sculptures. Bonus points for rhyming entries and photos. Here are some more. I have included some lovely lawn images from Propertyfinder.com for inspiration!

Debra from Kent:

My lawn is desperate for some loving as i have been very unkind to it this year and let my bunny and guinea pig run amock in the hope that they eat the grass to trim it. But alas they are a bit slow and i have given up and realized it needs some tlc,so i will need to get a lawn mower to treat it.so am desperatly saving at present!!!

Tracy from Glasgow: 

I have lived in my house for three years this summer and have a back and front garden. My back garden is a good size square and I have a lot of space. I'm in my 30's with two young children. I would love to put fencing round my garden for privacy and to keepy the cats and foxes out.

I would love to do more gardening its a bit boring and plain my garden it would love some colour and attention if i could do i myself.

Paula from Tadcaster:

It's been burnt in the sun, it needs it's mum, it used to be a go-er now it just needs a mower........

Graeme from Banff:

My Lawn needs some loving because my regular gardener who mows my lawn for me is retiring and just before he told me this I chucked my old Flymo in the skip, so now I am without a grass cutter and without a lawn mower and my camera is broken so I can't even support my case with photographic evidence.
 
Please let me win one!!!!!!!!

Tony from London:

I just moved into new house and doing a bit of tidying up, tree pruning etc, and my tree surgeon phones me and says he can't have the bonfire he had hoped as half my garden was 5" under water.

And I told him, well I was thinking of a water feature but perhaps not on that scale. But the grass that comes up after the water has gone is very lush.

I really need a brand new mower to keep it in check and regularly.

Read more ... 

Posted by Bronwyn at 11:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Lisa from Wellingborough:

My lawn needs some loving because My mum brought me two baby guinea pigs for my birthday and i fell in love with them so much i got some more.However they seem to have obliterated my lawn with their constant munching (no wonder they are called pigs).I could do with making it look like a nice green lawn again for the summer or at least even and not so patchy. 

Robin from Rainham:

Well I'm the not so proud owner of an Elan lawnmower which packed up at the end of last summer.  I haven't had a clue what to buy to replace it (the Elan was rubbish), and you'd be making my mind up for me.  Needless to say, the grass would be appreciative too (as would my dad whose lawnmower I've borrowed once so far this year)!

Richard:

My poor poor lawn
Needs to be properly shorn
This wet winter it ended under water
The weather gave no quarter
The dogs now want to play ball
The grass looks sad, not happy at all
My Flymo is now ten years old
New ones in B&Q shine like gold
So help me perk up my grass
Make this entry top of the class
(If I don't win this I will have to buy
But first I will give this comp a try)

Mrs Paine:

I need a new lawnmower because my grass is so long and my poor old mower cannot cut it any longer.  My old mower only cuts a few feet then all the grass gets stuck, my husband gets so frustrated with it.  Please let me win a new one so I no longer have to suffer my husbands tantrums!

Tony from Southampton:

Because it hasn't been looked after as well as it should have been in the past and we added some new grass last year and really need to make a big effort to bring the garden back to good condition. 

 Read more ...

Posted by Bronwyn at 10:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

David:

Hi! I would love this Flymo lawnmower as the lawnmower I have just does not do my back any good any more. I have one of those push ones which to be honest is a nightmare to use as I hurt my back in work in 2002 and since I had my operation in 2004 to remove two discs in my lower back it is almost impossible to keep my grass in the perfect condition which I like. As I can't work anymore and on benefits I just could not afford a new lawnmower like the one you are advertising so I would love to win this Flymo to give me a great summer to look forward to.

Ryan:

We didn't have a garden untill eight weeks ago when we turfed a new lawn. When we moved to our flat two years a ago it was dead grass and mud. We are now ready for the summer so our son aged two can enjoy his own outdoor space to play in. We are just missing a Flymo Visimo.  So please please make us the winner x

Lucy:

My lawn needs loving so that my resident Pigeon can impress his partner with an easy to see slap up worm!  Apparently they mate for life, so I really think she deserves a treat!

John:

Because from now until the Autumn its an integral part of our home and a really enjoyable experience. In good weather.

Miss Hewitt:

Hi, there my lawn needs loads of loving I have got three children under the age of eight and my lawn has taken a lot over the past 2+ years, I do try my best to look after it but having two energetic boys and one distuctive angel its hard to keep up with them, my lawn most definatly needs some TLC thanks...

Read more ... 

Posted by Bronwyn at 10:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Jason:

Oh I don’t know where to start, we moved into a new build three years ago, after weeding and removing the stones, we laid turf down and for the first few months I watered it and looked after it like a new born baby.

Our lawn was my pride and joy. We had a great first summer playing and sitting and having parties on our lovely grass, then that winter the weeds came back twice as strong and twice as big, also with the rain we got some really boggy patches and standing water. We had to wait really long after spring to get on and do some work on the lawn as it just stayed wet.

We weeded and then made a new boarder for plants and tried to solve the drainage problem. It looked to be working, we sprinkled some grass seeds down on the patches where we removed the weeds and they too started to grow and things once again looked like they would be OK. Then this winter we got moss all over the lawn, not a patch was moss free. So this Easter weekend we have been moss killing and raking and trying one again to have a nice lawn for summer. It would be lovely to have a nice new lawnmower to cheer me up, as everyone knows gardening is fun but its hurts your body so so so much!

Many thanks for listening to my moans.

Sarah from London:

I can't see the WOOD for the GRASS :( !!!!!

Victoria:

I have a wreck of a garden.  I have one female dog!  I have had numberous lawn movers.  I would like a lawn mover and grass that the dog will not attack!

Laura from Ledbury:

I need a lownmower because my little dog keeps disappering in the long grass and its getting to the point where I am thinking of calling air sea rescue to find her!

Su from Accrington:

The poor thing has been neglected all winter as it's been too soggy to walk on never mind mow. I finally got to it last weekend and there's moss down one half and lots of dead grass still needs raking.

I need to reseed it soon too. Even the guinea pigs are unimpressed this year and preferrd to eat hay when treated them to an afternoon on the lawn.

Read more ... 

Posted by Bronwyn at 10:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

 Rita:

My lawn is officially the worst lawn in the world! I have been trying for seven years, yes seven years! to revitalise it, I have tried every type of seed every type of fertilizer and I have spent hours mowing it and even talking to it! yes it has driven me mad and its only 10 foot by 10 foot!! If anyone ever mentions my lawn I almost cry!! Maybe a nice new mower would help my sanity?

Brendan:

Out from my lawn the other day came a japanese guy asking me if the war was over!

David:

Where do I start? Part of my lawn is hard-baked by the sun and on poor soil, part of it shaded by fences and trees and seemingly always damp. There’s an ant mound, coarse grass, dandelions, moss, self-heal and oregano. A large part of it, shaded by a big buddleia, now trimmed, never grew back properly after reseeding…

It’s a major disaster!

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Posted by Bronwyn at 09:41 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Moving abroad is a massive step. Whether it be to Paris or Prague, even the most knowledgeable of people find that the change in culture throws up all kinds of surprises.

Aside from your new home, considerations concerning family and friends as well as issues about pensions, tax and health care all add up, so it's imperative to ensure you're well prepared and have all the essentials covered. DirectGov have provided a checklist to make sure you've got the essentials covered:

Where Can You Move To?
As a UK national, you have the right to live in any European Economic Area (EEA) country. Moving further afield will require you to speak to the British Consul in your intended country and its foreign consulate here in the UK.

The EEA is made up of countries who are full members of the European Union (EU): Spain, Portugal, France, Ireland, UK, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Austria, Germany, Italy, Greece, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Cyprus and Malta.

Tax, Benefits and Pensions
Before you move you can:

• Get a State Pension forecast - btain form BR19 from your local Jobcentre Plus or HM Revenue & Customs if you are already living abroad entitlements can vary according to the country of residence.

• Ask HM Revenue & Customs for information about your tax liability on any income over the UK personal allowance, UK tax payable from abroad can vary depending on where you decide to live.

• Seek independant tax advice about any benefits to you in offshore banking if you are retiring abroad, as this could reduce your tax liability depending on where you are living.

• Inform your social security office, HM Revenue & Customs National Insurance Contributions Office (International Services) and the Department for Work and Pensions when you move and provide your contact details abroad - you should also tell them if you change address again or return to the UK to live.

Health
To protect your healthcare needs there are several things you could do:

• Find out about welfare rights abroad; some UK benefits are not payable outside the UK, others apply only in the EU or in countries which have agreements with the UK.

• Find out about healthcare costs in the country you want to move to.

• You are strongly advised to take out health insurance if appropriate to cover private medical and dental treatment, as well as medical repatriation to the UK.

• Inform yours and your family's doctor, dentist and other relevant practitioners.

Your Home and Family
Things to remember:

• If you decide to keep your property in the UK and it's going to be empty or rented out, you will need to let your mortgage lender, insurance providers know.

• Contact your local council - their Council Tax department and electoral registration unit will need to know when you are leaving and a forward address.

• Notify your utility companies that you are moving in order to get your final bills and provide a forwarding address for them to send you any outstanding payments or refunds.

• Tell your bank, building society or any financial institution that you have a policy agreement with that you are moving abroad.

• Have your mail forwarded by asking for a re-direction form at a Post Office - allow enough time for this to be set up as it can take a few weeks.

• If you have children, notify the school and the local education authority of the date when you will be withdrawing them from school.

What To Do Upon Arrival?
When you arrive in the country, there are several steps you can take to help things go smoothly. It may be an unsettling time for you and your family, so any preparations you can make will be a real benefit.

• Register with the local authorities - this may give you access to the local welfare services after a short period of time, if you are in doubt then ask.

• If you are moving to another European Economic Area country (EEA - is the European Union countries plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) country you must apply for a residence permit within three months of arrival.

• Register with the British Consulate, this will help the Consulate keep in touch with you if you get into difficulties.

• Ensure your passport is valid and fill in the next-of-kin details on the back page - if your passport is about to expire apply to the British Consulate to have it renewed.

• Open a foreign bank ac