With summer on its way, it’s time to think about how you want to make the most of this year’s good weather. Sunny days can be fleeting, so plan now how you’re going to make the most of them. We've put together this list of five easy things that can make a big difference to your enjoyment of your outdoor space.
Entertaining
As soon as the sun shows its first rays, there’s a rush to have a BBQ. People love to eat outside, and these days you can also buy pizza ovens, smokers and a host of other outside cooking equipment that make al fresco dining a real occasion. Add a fire pit to keep off the chill as the night draws in, and citronella candles to keep the wasps and midges at bay.
Outdoor Games
Whether you aspire to a cultured game of croquet, the pleasure of tennis on the lawn or a giant game of snakes and ladders there are outdoor games to appeal to all ages and budgets. Bring nature into the picture with snail racing or take part in one of the national wild life monitoring events like the RSPB’s Big Bird Watch.
Grow Your Own
There is nothing like the satisfaction of picking sun-warm tomatoes and eating them from the vine, or sitting with the family and shelling peas you’ve grown yourself. Whether you want to go the whole hog and have a veg patch, or stick with a tub of growing salad, this is a great way to reconnect with nature and eat more healthily at the same time.
Make a Feature
Have a focal point for the garden; depending on your age and stage in life this could be a willow tepee for the kids to play in, a jasmine trailed arbour for romantic evenings outside, a water feature or piece of outdoor statuary to enjoy or a wildlife friendly feature like bird feeders or hedgehog stations. Creating a ‘special’ element to you garden is a great way to personalise it and make it your own.
Go Wild!
Leave a patch to go back to nature; let the grass grow and watch it to see what happens. Create a bug hotel to welcome insects into your garden - homes for bees are much needed now, but attracting useful insects like ladybirds can be a real boon for gardeners battling green or black fly. Hedgehogs are at risk of becoming endangered, so include a hedgehog home or a nest box for birds and sit back to watch who moves in.
When the weather is good, there’s no reason not to use your garden as an extension of your home. We hope these simple steps will have given you some ideas to make the most of this summer.