Features
 Duvets filled with recycled PET plastic, wall pots for keeping mini cacti on display, here's much to whet the appetite of the discerning eco-minded shopper this month |
 Outdoor rugs made from recycled polyester or plastic are great for impromptu picnics or sprucing up your deck or terrace for that al fresco lunch party |
 Take an old sail and turn it into fabulous contemporary outdoor furniture |
 You've got weddings or civil partnerships coming up. The happy couples have eschewed a list at a department store, saying airily that 'anything recyclable, bio-degradable or generally CO2-lite will be simply divine!' Rejoice, there's much that fits the bill |
 Succulents were the height of bohemian chic in the '70s and they're enjoying a resurgence thanks to a focus on easy-care plants and the need to do something about our indoor air quality. Grower Fiona Weymss of Kent-based Blueleaf Plants gives us the lowdown on these adorable little creatures |
 Mattress ads are everywhere..and many of us are rejoicing that the mattress has gone from unwieldy monster to being delivered in a box, ready to unroll and voila. But mattresses at the end of their lives invariably get dumped in landfill, so what are manufacturers of this new breed doing to lessen their products' environmental impact? |
 We Brits have some of the smallest homes in the EU, as builders and developers give us tiny rooms, invariably with no built-in storage. And as buying property remains unaffordable for many so we're going back to being a nation of renters. In which case don't deny yourself good furniture, just make sure it's easy to pack up and take with you when you move. |
 It's the wipe clean sensible choice - yet lots of us think vinyl flooring is decidedly un-eco-friendly, not to mention a bit low-rent, so don't choose it so much these days. But Kay Hill finds many stylish designs and a product that's recyclable |
 There's no doubt kids like furniture that's child-sized. But while it's generally not worth going overboard and buying munchkin-sized everything..you'll have a large and lumpen teen before you know it.. some pieces are worth investing in |
 Lots of us are bemused and confused about what renewable energy products are suitable for our homes and what the gains of installing them are. Carl Benfield of Prescient Power in Leicestershire aims to enlighten us |
 The decline in the number of birds seen in British gardens could be stemmed if they have regular food supplies.. so put up a birdhouse and do you bit for nature |
 Works by members of The Pastel Society celebrate the medium of pastels, as well as pencil, chalk and charcoal. |
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