Period Features

Car boot sales?

If you are a fan of car boot sales and enjoying finding treasure amongst other people's trash then you might be pleased to hear about a website that lists car boot sales across the UK. It claims to be the fastest growing car boot sale site and allows you to search for boot sales in your area as well as telling you about opening times and entry fees for buyers and sellers. For the real enthusiast there is even a car boot forum where you can share your car boot experiences, review boot sales and even check if the sale is still running on rainy days! For more information visit carbootjunction.com

All about you!

We love home and lifestyle magazines at Period Features. We always have a supply of them next to the coffee machine upstairs for our customers to browse through. We are especially fond of Country Living magazine so we were pleased to see its new website at www.allaboutyou.com It's a combined site for a number of titles and describes itself as a site for smart women. It's an attractive site with some handy features so well worth a visit.

Give your fridge an MOT

Your fridge is the household appliance that uses most energy, according to energystar. But giving it the once-over can make it much more efficient. Replace worn or broken seals to stop cold air from escaping, as this makes the motor work harder. Ensure the coils at the back are free from dust and debris: dusty coils can impact running costs by up to 25%. And finally, defrost and clean your freezer regularly: an icy freezer uses much more electricity than a non-icy one.

Nestboxes for small birds

 

Spring is just the time to think about providing a welcome home for nesting birds. The recent National Nestbox Week organised by the British Trust for Ornithology highlighted the need to provide nest boxes in gardens. This information is from the RSPB's excellent website where you can also find advice on providing food and water for birds and even on making your own nestbox.

Nestboxes are excellent substitutes for the holes found in old trees. In young woodlands and plantations, and in many parks and gardens there may be plenty of food for small birds but nowhere for hole-nesting birds to nest. Over 60 species are known to have used nestboxes. Regular residents include blue, great and coal tits, nuthatches, house and tree sparrows, starlings, spotted and pied flycatchers, robins, house martins, kestrels and tawny owls. Much depends on the type of the box, where it is located, and on its surroundings. In recent years, the fortunes of many birds have varied. For example, blue and great tits have prospered, while house sparrows and starlings have declined. If you want to provide a nest box, try, if possible, to target those birds that genuinely need help.

Siting a nestbox
This depends on the species the box is intended for. Boxes for tits, sparrows or starlings should be fixed two to four metres up a tree or a wall. Unless there are trees or buildings which shade the box during the day, face the box between north and east, thus avoiding strong sunlight and the wettest winds.Read more

 

Country Living Spring Fair 11th - 15th March

A visit to the Country Living Magazine Spring Fair is the perfect way to banish the winter blues and celebrate the bright new season.  Whether you're looking for ideas to brighten up your home, give your garden a new lease of life or want to refresh your wardrobe, it makes for an inspring day out with family or friends.

Transform your home with country fabrics, rustic tableware, and vintage collectables

Invest in some key seasonal pieces for your wardrobe with elegant wraps, top-quality knitwear and tailored jackets and dresses.

Stock up on British produce and sample a range of fine regional food

Make the most of your garden and choose from top quality tools and outdoor furniture
For more information www.countrylivingfair.com

Show-stopping glamour from Farrow & Ball

Colour and pattern are brought to life with the extravagant new block printed wallpaper collection 'The Lotus Papers'. This is their first collection which offers the choice of two pattern sizes across 30 sumptuous colourways, some of which are shown here. The artisanal lotus-flower design is drawn from 19th century French archives and influenced by the Arts & Crafts Movement. The bold and theatrical colour combinations create a striking look, while the tone-on-tone neutrals provide a discreet alternative for those who prefer to make a more subtle decorative statement. And if you cannot choose between the small and large patterns, why not combine them in the same colourway to create an elegant, modern look? The Lotus Papers are available now, priced £71.50 / €138 per 10m roll. Click here for more information.