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News Report Page 1 of 18
Publication Date:-
2022-06-03
 
News reports located on this page = 2.

Why some people may not have cut their lawns over May and into June

HAS your next door neighbour not cut his lawn for a month now? Have you heard of the campaign:- "No Mow May," a national campaign to encourage people not to mow their lawns until the end of May?

Most of us know wildflowers are important to pollinators, such as:- bees, butterflies and moths, as they provide pollen and nectar, but any of us do not realise that they can be helped by not cutting your lawns as often. This could very well be why your neighbour might not have cut the lawn for a few weeks and might still have it long for a few more days yet.

If you have also done this, you will probably know that the long or taller grass, form flower heads and seeds not only attracts pollinators. But it also helps the lawn retain moisture, making the lawn get greener for the summer months ahead! An added bonus of long grass is that it can also provide protects smaller flowering plants that also draw insect pollinators to your garden, helping to boost biodiversity within your local area.

As many of us know, our bees are under threat. Over the last few decades, we've lost 97% of our wildflower meadows and this means fewer bees to pollinate our crops, that will eventually lead to massive food shortages. By doing this simple thing and waiting for the grass to seed, you not only help the environment you live in, save on buying grass seeds, and also help to protect our food supply.
The long grass also has other benefits, as it also helps attract more birds and other insect eating animals, such as hedgehogs.

So if your grass hasn't seeded yet, sit back in a chair. Make a cup of tea, or depending on your mood, a glass of wine… Then sit back and enjoy the sounds of waving gently grass in the breeze, bees buzzing and sounds of birds.

If letting the grass grow mad isn't your thing, you can also plant wildflower seeds. Last year, it is reported the UK planted an incredible 60,000 seeds to help protect our pollinators and increase biodiversity.

Should you grow your grass long, when its time to cut the grass, please remember, take care when mowing and tidying up any wild patches. These areas are an ideal place for a hedgehog's nest, toads and other wildlife.

Many of those who No Mow May participants who have already cut the lawn took part in a nation wide study, that was held on 30 May 2022. Those participants marked off a square metre patch of lawn to count the number of flowers within it. The idea of this study is to help scientists to understand how plants and pollinators appear to be faring within our areas. More information on this and the yearly No Mow May campaign, run by The Wild Plant Conservation Charity, can be found on:- NoMowMay.PlantLife.Org.UK along with many other interesting bits of garden information.

You can also do other things to help garden to help save many of our wild flowers and our struggling pollinators throughout the year, like putting up window boxes and lots more... We would love to hear your thoughts on this topic. Let us know how you are helping our UK wildlife and do you have any suggestions you think we should pass on to our readers? Email our newsroom to:- News24@SouthportReporter.Com and let us know.

It is also with looking at he British Ecological Society and also the Bumblebee Conservation Trust for more ideas on helping your local areas biodiversity,


Bank holiday DIY warning to consumers as bogus ladders available on UK market
Photograph by Keith Mindham Photography...

L to R: Gail Hounslea, Chairman of the Ladder Association; Andrew Fayers, Senior Trading Standards Officer, Cambridgeshire County Council; John Darby, General Manager at Ladder Association Test and Research Centre.

NEW research commissioned by the Ladder Association has raised serious concerns that unsafe and potentially dangerous ladders are being sold to unsuspecting consumers in the UK.

The report, produced in partnership with East of England Trading Standards Association (EETSA) and Suffolk Trading Standards Imports Team, found that over 80% of commercially available telescopic ladders tested in the study failed to meet the minimum safety requirements designed to keep users safe. Worse still, the research found that over half of the failed ladders were marked and sold as 'compliant' in a deliberate attempt to mislead consumers.

While there are manufacturers producing ladders that meet the safety standards, the study showed that a significant number of ladders available on the market; and sold by some of the country's biggest online and trade suppliers; fall well below basic safety requirements. Many of these ladders appear fit for purpose and some even display bogus compliance labelling, giving customers false assurance.

Working at height can be risky enough, without the additional danger of shoddy ladders; every 11 minutes in the UK, someone attends A&E after sustaining an injury involving a ladder. A fall from height can cause life changing injury, and in some cases, can even be fatal.

The aim of the report is to shine a light on the very real dangers of poor quality ladders on the market and direct consumers to purchase genuine, certified products to prevent injuries caused by unsafe equipment. The organisations behind the report are also calling for suppliers, large and small, to take the responsibility to be more diligent when sourcing ladders to sell to customers.

Telescopic leaning ladders have become much more popular in recent years, partly because they require a small storage space compared to other types of ladder; they're lightweight and compact, and are adjustable in size and working height. To be certain they're as safe as they should be, they should be manufactured to comply with product standard EN 131-6. It was against the most safety critical requirements of this standard that the sample products were tested at the UKAS accredited independent Test and Research Centre in Soham.

Peter Bennett OBE, Executive Director of the Ladder Association, commented:- "Making sure consumers are safe is our number 1 priority and we are committed to raising awareness of potentially harmful ladders. We are aware of below-standard ladders being sold across the UK to unsuspecting customers, and we are particularly surprised and unsettled to hear that some of our best-loved retailers are stocking potentially hazardous products. The evidence we have found of unsafe ladders being retailed in the UK is astounding. The majority of telescopic ladders we tested did not meet the minimum safety requirements designed to keep users safe. These ladders are dangerous and have the potential to cause serious injury. Our message is clear: do not assume that all products sold by retailers in the UK are safe. We hope our research conducted in partnership with Trading Standards gives consumers an increased awareness around the issue and encourages them to exercise caution when buying ladders, particularly online."

Vicki Burch, Chair of the East of England Trading Standards Association Product Safety Group, said:- "EETSA and Suffolk Trading Standards Imports Team have found it invaluable to work with the Ladder Association on this project. From the samples provided by EETSA, over half failed the appropriate tests to the applicable safety standard. For those telescopic ladders identified as non-compliant, action has been taken to ensure they are removed from sale. EETSA would advise consumers to take time to research before buying, particularly online, buy from reputable sources and check product reviews. If consumers have concerns about the safety of a product before or after purchase, it should be reported to Trading Standards."

Gail Hounslea, Chair of the Ladder Association, added:- "Our research carried out in the Telescopic Ladder Surveillance Survey underlines the importance of putting safety first when it comes to purchasing ladders. It's easy to assume that ladders being sold from a recognisable site or store are 'trustworthy' and these marketplaces would only sell tried and tested products, but sadly this is not always the case. We are calling on consumers to shop safer, and 1 way to guarantee product safety is to buy from a Ladder Association member. We are also urging suppliers, retailers and importers to play their role in sourcing only compliant and safe ladders. If they are unsure of the quality, they should have them independently tested within the UK. No matter their size, retailers and suppliers must take greater responsibility for consumer safety."

The Ladder Association and East of England Trading Standards Association are committed to ensuring customer safety through testing and product recommendations. Following the results of the Survey, both organisations are calling for increased vigilance of the issues on the part of suppliers, marketplaces and social media selling platforms, as well as enforcement agencies and governing bodies, and a joined-up approach with Trading Standards to stop these products at port.

Founded in 1947 and celebrating its 75th Anniversary this year, the Ladder Association is the voice of the industry and promotes the highest standards and competence, while working with major bodies including the Health and Safety Executive. The Association harnesses its own expertise along with that of its member companies to support technical excellence, safety and best practice in the interests of ladder users everywhere. All Ladder Association members are required to make or supply ladders that meet the current product standard.

To find out more information on the Step Up to Safe Ladders campaign and to view the full report, please follow the link:- LadderAssociation.Org.UK.

Statistical information within this report has been gathered from Hospital data from NHS England, NHS Wales and Public Health Scotland.
 

 
      
 
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