Best Places For Backpacking in India

Introduction to backpacking

India is one of the cheapest places to go backpacking for. The tourism is continually rising but even today there are places where you can get accommodation at 100 rupees a day. This only makes India a preferred destination among backpackers. The three basic requirement clothing, shelter and food are absolutely manageable and easily affordable here. For these practical reasons and also owing to the huge publicity it receives as being a land of rich culture, heritage and traditions, India easily lures hundreds of backpackers every year.

There Is Enough to See In India for Years

India is a huge country. Not just in size but also from tourism point of view. If you decide to explore the entire nation you would probably have to come back every year for the rest of your life. Culture wise India is very rich and multifaceted. To understand the lifestyle and people here one needs to invest time, money and emotions. There is such a huge contrast in people, language, dressing and values within the same country that most people feel lost yet attached to this place.

Many backpackers come here for spiritual gains. They go and stay in Rishikesh or any other Himalayan settlement and probably never return from there. Some who like to have a feel of all the sides of India design itineraries that cover all the four direction of the country. Backpacking in India for foreign tourists is a cheap affair. Traveling takes time but each journey is a learning experience, a peek into yet another aspect of Indian culture.

Places for backpacking in India

Depending on what whether you are visiting India you can choose your destination accordingly. Or Vice Versa where you want to go and what’s the temperature like. Either ways knowing the temperatures makes your trip a lot less hassle. These are a few names mentioned for backpackers to explore. But it does not end here. The options are endless.

New Delhi

The capital city New Delhi has an extreme climate. Summers are long and hot, winters last 3-4 months and are very cold. It doesn’t snow here but the temperatures go as low as 0 degrees. As far as tourist attractions go Delhi is a huge city and has many types of entertainment activities for everyone. It also offers adventure sports and great sight seeing places. Delhi is an urban city with shopping malls and star rated hotels.

The culture is cosmopolitan and can suit even foreigners. Delhi is also a city of thugs where you never know who might con you. So when here give priority to your safety. Other things to do while here are shop at Janpath or Rajori bazaar, eat at chandni chowk or paranthe wali gali or see the red fort or India gate.

Mumbai

Mumbai climate is humid due to the sea. It never gets too hot or too cold here. Monsoons come earlier here and end late. Mumbai is the commercial hub of the country. It is cosmopolitan and absolutely a tourist’s favorite. There are many excursions from Mumbai like Ajanta and Ellora caves, Aksa Beach, Pune etc. In Mumbai you can visit the famous siddhi vinayak temple, shop at linking road, Crawford market or Fashion Street. Take a taxi ride on the Bombay-worli sea link or enjoy the chatpata food of Juhu Chopati.

Calcutta

Summers here are humid and temperatures exceed 40 degrees. Winters are short but extremely chilly and rainfall is moderate. Calcutta is a land of artists, literati and revolutionaries. It also has rich spiritual wealth. There is a strong influence of Romans, British and Moghuls. There are many historical monuments of tourist attractions and several adventure activities that you can indulge in. The China town, Howrah Bridges, tiffany’s pub is very famous here. Calcutta is also place where coffee-houses are quiet an old trend.

Shimla

Shimla is a cold place and has moderate warm weather. Snowfall occurs in December. The places to see in Shimla are the summer hill, Annadale, Christ church, Kufri, Kasauli and many more. There are hostels in shimla especially for backpackers. You can go trekking and camping in the Shimla Hills. You can also shop for handmade shoes, dolls, woollen caps, carved wooden sticks, toys in the Shimla Mall.

Things to carry in backpack

Here is a master list things which you can refer to if you plan for a backpacking trip. These few essential things can make your backpacking trip very easy.

• A route map which gives you locations of petrol pumps and toll booths. But this is a personal choice as backpackers generally like to discover places as and when they reach there. A big marker to keep a check on the places covered or any important notes to make. Lots of plain paper and cardboards and paper clips.
• Keep a small foldable umbrella with you. A large towel, toiletry, liquid peppermint soap, toilet paper, deospray.
• A sleeping bag, waterproof compression sack.
• Warm clothes: 3-4 t-shirts, lots of socks and under garments, a jacket, wind cheater, warm woolen leggings, 2 pairs of jeans, sneakers, flip flops, chewing gum, peppermints, water bottle, drinks, books, pack of cards.
• First-aid kit, sewing kit
• Torch, camera, iPod, CD player.
• Your cell phone.

A Guide to Packing Right

There are people who travel just for the pleasure of arriving at a new place and exploring unknown locations. If you enjoy traveling just for the sheer pleasure and the adventure of visiting exciting destinations, one of the first things you should do is get your travel bag in order. Here are a few tips on how to travel light so that you are equipped to handle any situation without relying on assistance.

Whatever you carry, make sure you keep your travel bag as compact and light as possible. Opt for toiletry products in travel sizes. Products like shampoos, conditioners, toothpastes, boy lotions, shaving foams, hair gels and even your contact lens solutions are available in small, portable packs. If you can’t find your usual brand in a travel size, just buy a few small plastic bottles and fill them up with the product you want to carry. Facial cleansing cloths and pre-moistened wipes are useful items to carry along and do not take up too much space. If you need to take several pills or medications, you may want to take a look at pill organizers available at all local drugstores.

Clothes tend to take up a lot of space so choose what you want to take along wisely. Select garments in basic colors that you can easily mix and match. Neutral colors and black go with most other colors so clothes in these shades are a good idea. A scarf or a stole goes a long way in dressing up an outfit without taking up a lot of space. Do not carry a huge number of shoes.

Stick to a maximum of two pairs. A stain removing stick and a laundry detergent tablet are a good idea if you plan on doing your own laundry. If you foresee that you may have to face cold weather conditions, pack clothes so that you can layer them if required. These are simpler to carry than a heavy jacket. Here’s a handy tip: Do not fold your clothes. Roll them so that they take less space and are wrinkle less.

Garments like wraparound skirts, shawls, belts and scarves take up very little space but add a dash of color and style to all kinds of outfits. You could try carrying a foldable bag that you could use for any articles that you buy on your trip.

Make a list of things you intend to carry and stick to it. Do not stuff in things on the spur of the moment. Chances are you will not need any of the extra stuff and you will just end up with heavier luggage. In fact you can retain the list and use it for future trips as well.

Things To Do And Places To Visit In Chichester

The four main streets of the city (North, East, South and West) are lined with bustling shops, businesses, restaurants and pubs. At Christmas the Rotary club in Chichester place a large Christmas tree near the cross at the centre of the city. Colourful lights are also draped high above the streets and emit a magical glow which lights the streets after sun down. A Christmas market is setup in the streets and roast chestnuts and other warm snacks are served.

Chichester is home to some great home-grown shops and businesses, some recommended ones to visit are The Cornish Pasty Factory (North street), The Orchard Tearoom (North street), Bah! Humbug sweet shop (Butter market, North street), The Edinburgh Woollen Mill (West street), Montezuma’s organic chocolate factory and shop (East street), The Surf Grill Shack (South street), Toywizz (South street) and The Slug and Lettuce pub (South street).

The Chichester Gate leisure complex is located just outside the southern gate of the city, a five minute walk from the city centre (opposite to the police station and canal, near Stockbridge road). It features something for all of the family – bowling (Lakeside Superbowl), a cinema (Cineworld), a health club (Cannons), a hotel (Premier Travel Inn) and several restaurants and bars (The Chicago Rock Café, Domino’s Pizza, Frankie and Benny’s, KFC, McDonald’s, Tandoori Nite and The Gatehouse).

Not too far from Chichester Gate is the Westgate Leisure Centre. The Westgate Leisure Centre is a sports centre providing a number of activities including swimming, trampolining, football and squash. Located behind the centre is a skate park for skaters, rollerbladers and BMXers which features a half pipe, fun box, tabletops and spines.

Looking for the perfect picnic location? Priory Park will cater to all of your needs – great for kids and adults, the park is a large green with a playground, a hill where a motte and bailey castle once stood, a priory (now a museum), a cricket pitch, a bird cage and a bowls green. The playground is split into two sections for infants and for older children, both of which are very well equipped and in excellent condition. There are picnic benches in the playground area which are a great place to eat, but many people enjoy to picnic on the green or at the top of the motte and bailey hill. On sunny days one can watch cricket matches whilst picnicking in the shade of the priory or on the green.

The cattle market is open every Wednesday and Saturday, and is host to a number of stalls. From fruit and vegetables, to meats, foreign foods and iPods, you will find it at the market. The cattle market still has traces from Chichester’s roots, and on the Eastern wall you will find metal rings attached where cattle were once tethered hundreds of years ago.

But, of course, a visit to Chichester is not complete without a visit to its historic cathedral. The cathedral grounds are open to the public everyday of the week, and there are plenty of places to eat. There is a café in the cathedral and a garden to eat in, but the green at the front of the cathedral provides an adequate spot. The cathedral is in West street by the cross, and is almost impossible to miss. The cathedral’s fascinating architecture and history are found interesting by everyone from children to great grandparents. Trips to the spire are even held occasionally!

If you are planning on visiting Chichester, you may need to book some accomodation in Chichester. Chichester is such a great place to visit for a holiday or long weekend – there is an abundance of accomodation to choose. For the perfect hotel in Chichester, why not visit Crouchers Country Hotel and experience both this fascinating historic town and this beautiful hotel in Chichester at the same time!

Nevada Lawyers

Nevada is the home of one of the constantly evolving environments in the country. Some of the sharpest and brightest legal minds of America have flocked to this state to be a part of the promising bright future of Nevada.

Nevada lawyers can help anyone obtain compensation they deserve. A lot of Nevada lawyers have their own areas of specialization. General practitioner lawyers can handle many matters. In case of general matters, general practice lawyers are very helpful.

A Nevada lawyer’s fee can vary depending on the case and the time they spend for the case. The lawyer and the client should discuss details regarding the fees at their initial meeting itself. This is advisable in order to prevent any kind of arguments later. If the client is not satisfied with the work the lawyer is doing, then they are entitled to terminate his services at any time but the money due for part handling of the case is payable.

There are various types of lawyers in Nevada, categorized depending on the types of cases they handle. A few specializations are bankruptcy lawyers, business lawyers, family law lawyers, divorce lawyers, real estate lawyers and the like.

In order to improve the civil justice system in Nevada, an organization known as Nevada Trial Lawyer Organization has been created. The members of the organization are independent lawyers who represent consumers. They are also involved in various other activities like public service, public education activities, and support of charities.

In Nevada, lawyers are encouraged to participate in activities, which are directed towards improving the administration of justice. In this way, lawyers are actively involved in several public interest cases.

Some Nevada lawyers practice separately as legal advisors. Functioning thus, they are a part of the private firms. Nevada is a home for many lawyers in both public and private spheres.

Unique Wedding Favor Idea

Can’t think of the kind of wedding favor to give away at your wedding? Selecting appropriate wedding favors entails a lot of planning. The entire wedding is a reflection of the character of the bride and groom, even little details such as wedding favors. Wedding favors should be memorable items, tokens of appreciation for the people who came to share this special day with you, for years after your wedding.

Careful consideration must be taken when choosing what wedding favors to give. Is it something your guests would like? Are these gifts that you yourself would like to receive? Pick something that you think your guests would love, remember that these are for everyone. If you’d like, you can choose to give separate gifts for the men and for the women. Bridesmaids and groomsmen usually receive something different from everyone else, handpicked by the bride and groom themselves.

Depending on what your theme is, wedding favors add a last special touch to the wedding.

If you are on a budget, you can choose to make your own wedding favors at home. Do it yourself wedding favors also make the gifts more personal and thoughtful. You can easily make these gifts pretty by using colorful wrapping papers and ribbons:

1. Mixed cd. A compilation of songs played in the wedding is a great way to keep the memories of your special night alive.

2. Home baked cookies. Got a knack at baking? Thank your guests by letting them sample baked goods that you do best. You can use colorful boxes or simple jars to seal them, and add your note.

3. Almond chocolates. Add some colorful packaging, a little tag, and its ready to give.

Some suggestions for bridesmaids’ gifts:

1. Bags with little gifts inside. A beauty set or an out of town kit inside a pretty little bag.

2. A pillowcase and bed sheet set.

3. Champagne glass set.

And for the best man:

1. Personalized flasks.

2. Bottles of wine or champagne.

3. Leather wallets.

If you’re having a small wedding (less than 50), more useful personalized wedding favors are a great idea, and make the whole wedding more intimate to all those who attended:

1. Picnic tote bags. Have a small area stitched with, “Thank you for sharing our special day with us.” And ending with “Love,” and the initials of the bride and groom.

2. Golf tees and golf balls. Especially if majority of the people in your wedding are golf enthusiasts.

3. Caricatures. Hire a caricaturist to draw your guests and serve as a fun and funny wedding favor.

4. Monogrammed luggage tags in different colors.

5. Professional personalized poker kit. Something for your guests to use when they are entertaining at home.

6. Toiletry bags. Packed with goodies needed for going out of town.

7. Shot glasses. Have drawings painted on them, do something that matches the theme of your wedding. You can choose to give away sets of 4 or 6 shot glasses.

If you plan to hold a large wedding, cute and simple wedding favors can do the trick:

1. Refrigerator magnets. You can have these custom made, with a thank you note or one that comes with a photo of the bride and groom, done in cartoons.

2. Personalized tins of mint or chocolate. Delicious wedding favors in cute little tin cans. You can even opt to put you and your fiancé’s photo in the cover of the tin can.

3. Paper hand fans. Something for the warm sunny days, a short message can be hand painted onto the sides of the fan.

4. Jars of goodies. Have an assortment of honey, strawberry jam, or marmalade with a printed note as a label.

5. Cookies or a square slice of frosted cake. Who doesn’t like edible giveaways?

6. Organic soap. Place your short and sweet thank you message onto the sticker of the soap, wrapped in nice soft cloth. You can also have your initials carved onto the front of the soap.

7. Bride and groom notepads. You can find this in your local stationary or wedding favor shop.

8. Bottle stoppers. Pick a cute design like that of a bride and groom, or something to go with your theme.

9. Plant seedlings. Memories of your wedding will surely come alive in your guests’ gardens with this wedding favor.

5 Steps to Keeping Hanging Clothes Organized and Clean

Do you need a way to keep your clothes clean and organized while hanging in your closet during construction or remodeling?

What do you do when you are remodeling your home and need to move everything out of your house or at least cover it to keep the dust off? The hardest part of all this is what do you do with the hanging clothes in your closet? The clothes in your drawers of your dresser or chest of drawers is safe as long as you keep the drawers tightly shut. But when it comes to the dozens of hanging clothes in the closet then it becomes a nightmare and the choices are limited.

You can box all the clothes up and then of course they will have to be freshly laundered and sometimes ironed before they are re-hung neatly in your closet. You can buy expensive cartons just for hanging clothes, or just stuff them into large garbage bags. Then of course the clothes are either stacked or dragged to another location.

Now there is a new way to take hold of this complicated problem easily, and cheap. Buy a box of large garbage bags with the pull handles. Make sure the bags have substance and are not paper thin which will tear easily.

Step 1

While your clothes are hanging on the hanger pick out about 5 pieces of clothing.

Step 2

Grab them from the bottom and bring them all up against your body. Pretend you are dressing a small child.

Step 3

Take the large garbage bag and from the bottom fit it up onto the clothes. The top of the bag will be where the hangers are hanging.

Step 4

Pull the garbage bag up tight at the top of the hangers and tie. Your clothes are completely protected from dirt and dust.

Step 5

Number the bags to keep them in the same order as they were originally.

When you are finished with you closet you will have a row of garbage bags hanging neatly in your closet.

Once the garbage bags are now labeled you can leave them hanging in the closet while the construction is going on, if possible, lay them flat in piles on the bed or hang them on a clothes line in the garage, outside or other area.

Thank you for reading my article. Please feel free to read any of my other articles on various subjects.

Linda Meckler Copyright 2010

Types of Drip and Watering Systems

Okay, not all of us have the time to water every hanging plant, window box and every square foot of yard. Even if we did, it is easy to predict that most of us have had enough of watering once our hanging and potted plants have been tended. So, what are other viable options for our lawn, gardening areas, vegetable beds, and water features? Some are self-tending; all of them are efficient with little maintenance once installed.

Installed systems can reduce water consumption, especially handy in areas where water conservation is key. If you have a concern about the view of your garden with permanent irrigation devices showing, know that there are pop-up sprinklers which remain virtually hidden amidst your landscape to accommodate your needs. There are a number of different irrigation systems to choose from to ensure that your garden is kept sufficiently well-watered.

Drip systems can be installed below ground. They are extremely effective, releasing water directly to the root systems of the plants in your garden or even your greenhouse with no run-off or evaporation loss. As water is applied to the roots, not the leaves of your plants, drip systems reduce the possibilities of fungal and insect damage. They suit all soil, topography, and plant types, too.

Above-ground sprinkling systems ensure the areas that need to be watered are actually receiving the water. A variety of sprinkler heads can be installed. Many have adjustable flow rates.

Tired of spending time each week lifting your watering can or garden hose over your head? Believe it or not, there are also irrigation kits for window boxes, planters, roof gardens, hanging baskets, and more. These kits water your plants evenly and slowly, too, with no run-off water wasted. Irrigation kits can be attached to your garden hose or directly to your outdoor faucet easily – and can even be put on a timer.

Especially handy for drier climates, another method for saving time and water is to add a timed irrigation system. Of course, if your area enjoys a surplus of rainfall, you would turn the system off until your local water table (highest level of ground wholly saturated with water) and rainfall levels adjust back to normal.

For any of the drip system and permanent irrigation methods, you will want to plan your garden grouping together plants of similar watering requirements. Remember that more mature shrubs and blooms will need less water than new plantings. An adequate watering system is well worth the investment and will quickly pay for itself in money and time saved.

Easy Guide to Hanging Pictures

Hanging pictures, mirrors and artwork doesn’t have to leave your walls full of holes. Here are some tips and tricks for hanging pictures right the first time and ensuring that they stay level.

First thing to do is find a home for the picture. Once you have a location, determine the height and center for the picture. The height is usually at eye level at the center, but that depends on whose eye level the piece is being hung. Rule of thumb is between 60-66 inches to the center of the piece, but this can vary depending on what is under the picture, i.e. a sofa, credenza, dresser, etc. In this case, between 4-6 inches above should suffice. In this case, use your better judgment.

Once you determine the height and center of the piece mark the wall where the hooks will be inserted.

If using wire, it is best to use two hooks to ensure the picture remains level. Depending on the width of the piece, space the hooks between 12-24 inches apart for the best stability. Hang the picture. Slightly pull the bottom of the picture away from the wall and let it fall back. Do this a few times while moving the picture on the wire left or right until it falls level.

WARNING- Using wire on heavy items is not recommended as the wire causes the top of the piece to lean outward away from the wall and can either cause the wire to break or the hook to be pulled from the wall. It is recommended that wall anchors and/or screws are used on separate D-ring hooks rather than using wire. When using wall anchors, it is not necessary to find studs because all the weight is being pulled straight downward rather than outward. Drywall and anchors can hold a lot of weight. If you are able to find a stud, great. Use it. Again use your better judgment for heavy pieces. If you are not comfortable hanging heavy items, call in an insured picture hanging professional or handyman to get the job done for you.

When grouping pictures, it is best to lay them out on the floor beforehand to make sure you will like the layout. When you are satisfied with the layout, determine where the grouping will be placed on the wall. Again, between 60-66 inches should suffice. While the pictures are on the floor, turn them all upside down in the place. Get a pencil, paper and tape measure a draw a basic layout of where you will place your hooks. Smaller pieces do not require two hooks. If you find yourself straightening pictures often, get a piece a double-sided cushion tape and fix a small piece to the bottom center of the back of the picture. This will ensure the piece stays level.

Ryan Bruzan is a professional hanging and installation serviceman. You can find more information about his services at his home improvements website.

The 5 Best Hanging Exercises to Grow Taller

Make the chin up bar your best friend while you are at working on your height. Hanging exercises are great for decompressing your spine, strengthening the cartilage and muscles supporting the spine, and lengthening it by more than two inches on their own.

There are innumerable horizontal bar exercises that discuss how to become taller but they could easily cause injuries if not done properly. Here is a collection of the 5 best hanging exercises that need you to just relax your body for effective results. Perform all of these exercises with fingers facing ahead.

1) Hanging Bicycling: Hang freely from the chin up bar with hands slightly more than shoulder width apart, and start riding an imaginary bicycle. Relax your body and legs and work the pedals in a large circle. This exercise provides a big boost to the growth of your legs.

2) Hanging Twists: Hang from the bar with grips less than shoulder width apart. Now generate some momentum with your legs and twist from side to side. Continue twisting slowly for one minute keeping your head steady. Do not let your body jerk as you change direction.

3) Hanging Splits: Hang with grips shoulder width apart. Extend one leg forward and the other leg backward. Push them as far apart as you can. Switch leg positions. Now push your legs to the sides and stretch them as much and as high as you can.

4) Chin-ups: Regular chin ups are fantastic how to get taller exercises as they serve a dual purpose. Firstly, they stretch and strengthen the arms, shoulders, neck, chest and back. Secondly, intense sessions boost the release of growth hormones in the bloodstream that stay for more than 2 hours.

5) Hanging Knee Raises: Hang from the bar with a shoulder-width grip. Bend your knees fully and bring them up to your chest while curling your pelvis. Do not arch your back; round it. You will know that you are doing it correctly if you feel enough pressure in your abs.

There is no limit to the amount of hanging exercises you can do; the more the better for your height. Although you should take enough care not to injure yourself doing these exercises, you will get better and faster results by stepping up the intensity of your workouts. Performing hanging exercises at the end of an aerobic session is the best way to go.

Container Gardening

Introduction

As well as using plastic or terracotta flower pots in your garden, there are numerous others ways to decorate your outdoor space. I have outlined three of them here. For those of you who do not have a garden consider using a trough or sink, using plants that do not need much water to thrive, such as dwarf conifers, succulents and many of the other plants traditionally used in container gardening.

Hanging Baskets

These are good for decorating the out side of the house or flat and can be placed where other forms of garden container cannot, i.e. walls, fences and free standing posts.

Plastic bowls with attached drip tray hold in moisture better than wire mesh but their colour and shiny surface do not enhance the overall appearance of the hanging plant.

Sphagnum moss is used to hold in the compost when using a wire mesh hanging basket by lining the basket first with the moss then using green plastic sheeting with holes in.

Fill up the basket with compost (with added peat to help retain moisture) then plant pendulous (overhanging) plants around the edge of the basket before adding more compost. Then fill in the centre of the basket with upright plants.

When hanging baskets make sure they are held securely by the bracket/hook previously attached to a wall, fence post or pergola or anywhere else you fancy.

Just make sure that the basket is not hanging in a place where passers-by are going to knock it/bump into it.

Suitable plants for hanging baskets:

Impatiens sultanii

Petunia

Lobelia

Window boxes

Window boxes are great for perking up what otherwise might be a dull exterior of a house or bungalow or the outside railings of a balcony.

Things to consider:

Do the windows open outwards? Therefore the window box needs to be attached underneath the sill.

Make sure the box actually fits onto the windowsill before making/purchasing them if that is where they are to be placed.

If the window box is a casement type which holds flower pots rather than soil make sure water-resistant glue and non-rust nails/screws are used.

Always make sure the window box is securely attached to the wall with L-brackets so there is no danger of it falling on someone’s head.

Remember window sills usually slant at an angle to run water away from window. Use wedges underneath window box if drainage holes are in middle of bottom of box.

Plants will look best planted closely together. The roots soon fill the box and water is used up rapidly. Use vermiculite (a spongy granular product that you mix in with the soil before planting) to help retain water.

If you place flower pots inside window box instead of putting soil directly into box then this is handy for changing different plant schemes with the changing of the seasons. As well as removing diseased plants without fuss.

Also, choose plants that will not grow too big and obscure the view out of the window.

Scented plants are particularly good for window boxes as the scent is blown into the room on a breeze when windows are open on a balmy day.

Suitable plants for window boxes:

Annuals: petunias, pansies, lobelia, geraniums

Bulbs

Ivies

Dwarf evergreens

Raised beds

Raised beds are particularly good for the elderly and infirm (especially those confined to a wheelchair) because of the need to stoop low to ground has been removed.

They also add ” height ” to a garden making it look more interesting.

They can be made from brickwork, dry stone walling, railway sleepers or logs.

The width of the raised bed must not be so wide that one falls on it when tending the back of it, 2 foot width is enough. This is not a problem though if the bed is accessible from all sides, 4 foot width is good.

Make sure that wheelchairs can access/pass by and that the ground surrounding the raised bed is of a non-slip surface such as rough slabs. Make sure water is nearby in the form of an outside tap thus making watering less of a chore.

Before adding soil to the raised bed, fill it with two thirds rubble so that there is good drainage and the bottom of the walls do not discolour or rot. Tamp down the rubble before adding soil to prevent unwanted movement in raised bed at a later date.

To prevent the soil getting washed down into the rubble lay upturned turf then old newpapers on top which provides a water retentive mulch.

Thoroughly soak the bed before putting compost into it then leave to settle for a couple of weeks.

Do not put tall plants in the raised beds as this looks ungainly. Instead use compact low-growing shrubs and trailing plants around the sides.

Underplant shrubs with spring flowering bulbs and create herbaceous borders as you would in an open garden. You can also use a raised bed for growing herbs. Also, plug plants into the gaps in dry-stone walling or wooden logs (if these have been used).

Make sure that the wood used in the construction of raised beds is treated with a plant-friendly preservative to ward off fungus/pests.

Scented plants are a good idea because they are nearer the nose and with some, one can brush hands over them as passing by depending on plants used.

Suitable plants for raised beds:

Low growing shrubs such as fuchsia

Miniature roses

Nicotiana (for scent)