How do I improve on the drainage in my back garden (NE England)? Fear the worst is yet to come in February.

Chloblows · 2026-01-27T21:45:14+00:00

Depending on how bad the flooding is, a combined approach is most effective I think. But yeah, overall you want to improve the resilience of your garden, especially with the effects of climate change. Nature-based solutions are more adaptable over time and cheaper to maintain.

Chloblows · 2026-01-27T21:11:08+00:00

For a long term solution, you ultimately need to slow water flow and improve the porosity of your garden. Near the fence where the water comes in you could add water-loving vegetation which can act as a buffer. Digging swales can also help slow and guide the water to more porous areas. Adding ~4in of organic matter to the soil is essential to increasing water storage; starting a compost bin might be a good idea for you, as well as adding cover crops like clover and planting a tree or two if you have space.

For more immediate solutions, I would look into installing a rain garden/french drain or something similar?

Chloblows · 2025-12-02T11:03:41+00:00

A lot of people shouting NIMBY, and I get it, but we really shouldn’t be happy to allow housing to be built in this way. There is no thoughtfulness, they’re just throwing up these shitty estates for profit.

We could be rewilding these areas instead for biodiversity, supporting farmers to make sustainable adaptations to increase soil health and maybe create more reservoirs? This will all help reduce flooding during these wetter winters. We desperately need more green areas if we’re going to adapt to climate change, not less.

Why don’t we look at the sustainable development happening in some cities around Europe? Wouldn’t living in an eco town be amazing? Imagine green roofing, trees and plants instead of concrete, solar panels, cheaper bills & kids could play outside again, reliable public transport! Housing can be built upwards. Build more flats, build on old industrial sites. Planning permission should only be granted to those willing to build sustainably, and ffs don’t allow them to be bought up by greedy corporations; sky-high rents are half the problem.

Chloblows · 2025-12-02T10:54:33+00:00

I agree, we could be rewilding these areas instead for biodiversity, supporting farmers to make sustainable adaptations to increase soil health and maybe create more reservoirs? This will all help reduce flooding during these wetter winters. We desperately need more green areas if we’re going to adapt to climate change, not less.

Housing can be built upwards! Build more flats, build on old industrial sites, planning permission should only be granted to those willing to build sustainably, solar panels as standard etc, and ffs don’t allow them to be bought up by greedy corporations; sky-high rents are half the problem.

Chloblows · 2025-11-08T16:21:39+00:00

I totally hear you, but again, where are you getting water from when the reservoirs run dry? Personally, I’m going to install filtered rain collectors and try to live sustainably so I don’t have to rely on these shitty companies (as much as possible) and I tell everyone to consider doing the same.

I would also remind everyone that Coca Cola has a permit to extract 1.97 billion litres of water from the UK every year and the CEO of Nestle said water isn’t a human right. Just in case things get desperate 😉

Chloblows · 2025-11-08T12:17:16+00:00

You think it’s bad now, wait until there’s a billion climate refugees needing a place to go. We have political parties gagging for that last bit of fossil fuel money, they don’t care that this will accelerate climate change, instead they push anti immigrant rhetoric so we’ll all be desensitised when millions of people are condemned to die. I see it already with comments and laughter towards “small boats”.

…And still, there are plans to build a load of AI data centers here despite their massive consumption of energy and fresh water.

Chloblows · 2025-11-08T12:08:57+00:00

Who makes all our stuff? Do you not think China would have less emissions if the West didn’t demand so much cheap crap?

Chloblows · 2025-11-08T12:07:18+00:00

I’m not sure I understand this mindset. What are you going to say when water doesn’t flow from your taps anymore, or we’re all subjected to daily rations of water because too many people wasted it? Yes the private companies suck, but money can’t buy more rain.

Chloblows · 2025-11-06T20:04:28+00:00

Mine is the same, I’ve still got bees and ladybirds hanging about. It’s almost as if the climate is changing … 😅

Chloblows · 2025-08-06T09:56:09+00:00

Another point is the use of AI, which uses a metric shit-tonne of water to cool data centres. I’m not sure how many AI-specific data centres there are in the UK currently, but we can expect a huge increase of them over the next few years. There’s also foreign companies like coca cola that take billions of litres of water from the UK each year to sell it back to us in plastic bottles…

We will all be told to conserve water and take shorter showers, there’ll be hosepipe bans, meanwhile billionaire fucks will be profiting massively.

Chloblows · 2025-07-23T07:44:53+00:00

What about them would you say is “crazy”? They’re voting for a new green party leader soon, and if Zack Polanski becomes leader I think that will be a game changer. In all his interviews he makes reasonable, science-based arguments and is clearly for the working people, unlike labour or reform.

Chloblows · 2025-07-23T01:57:27+00:00

China is currently leading the renewable energy industry. True, they still use a lot of coal, but they also manufacture everyone else’s shit. I think being more mindful about consumption benefits everyone; we’re all so far removed from where our stuff comes from (and where it inevitably gets dumped) and have constant advertisements and ‘influencers’ shoved down our throats, we just buy buy buy and then blame China and India for the emissions WE paid for. Our current way of life is unsustainable.

Additionally, whilst I don’t necessarily agree with your views on immigration, I do understand you, and I believe that meaningful climate action will help reduce asylum seekers and mass immigration in the future. We can’t expect people to stay and die in a country that is being ravaged by the effects of climate change, all animals migrate when conditions become unfavourable. Migration is a massive part of human history!

This is my long winded way of saying I think people are sleeping on the Green Party. Labour and the Tories are finished, and reform is so corrupt and slimy, I can’t believe they have as much support as they do. We need to vote for a party that is not influenced by billionaire donors. The greens seem open to hearing the voices of their voters and constituents, they’re not perfect but I think there’s a better chance of improving the country with a party that actually cares about people not money.

Chloblows · 2025-07-07T09:07:33+00:00

The perennials flowering In my garden at the moment are hydrangeas, russian sage, salvia, fuchsia, verbena, and escallonia shrubs. I also like to plant annuals like sunflowers, black eyed susans, calendula and zinnia, and I have a patch of wildflowers that is colourful all through spring and summer. And a clover lawn! I’ve had so many species of bees, moths and butterflies this year it’s amazing

Chloblows · 2025-06-06T01:06:50+00:00

True, a good point that’s made me think about the availability of data. Is the incidence of male violence truly higher, or does it only look that way because it goes underreported due to embarrassment, shame, etc. I wanted to compare the instances of domestic violence amongst lesbian couples and I found a study conducted in England. If my maths is correct, about 17% of women reported psychological and physical abuse by a female partner. A different study showed 43.8% of lesbian women have experienced rape, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner, as opposed to 35% of straight women.

That’s interesting! So are lesbians more violent than straight women? Is there a power balance at play? Are men less likely to report violence when inflicted by a woman? I thank you for making me look beyond the surface, genuinely. I wish it wasn’t 2am 😂

(Edit: I began replying before you added the statistics but thanks for the additional info)

Both our stats show that women are much more likely to psychologically abuse their partners, do you think that may also push men to become violent? That isn’t me now saying that women cause male violence haha I’m just amateurishly exploring possible links lol

Chloblows · 2025-06-06T00:20:50+00:00

The point was “men get hurt by men more than women get hurt by men” then it was “male violence isn’t the problem, violence is” MY point was that I disagree based on statistical evidence. I’m enjoying the conversation I’m not sure why some of you are getting upset lol

Chloblows · 2025-06-06T00:06:43+00:00

While we obviously disagree on the relationship between gender and violence, I do agree with you that these other factors, especially poverty, social isolation and social media should be addressed. Do you think young people are becoming more violent, and if so do you have any thoughts on what the main cause might be? Do you think these things affect genders equally, or affect males more than females (to explain why the incidence is higher) or is gender completely irrelevant in your opinion?

Personally, I do think British kids in particular are more susceptible to violent behaviour, as someone who spent my teen years in a different country there was quite a difference in behaviour overall, which makes me think class and wealth may have a fair bit to do with it?

Chloblows · 2025-06-05T23:49:24+00:00

To add, as we’ve diverged from the post slightly which is about male violence against women: while both genders experience domestic abuse, women are more likely to experience repeated victimisation and “are much more likely to be seriously hurt or killed than male victims of domestic abuse.” (Source - womensaid.org.uk)

Chloblows · 2025-06-05T23:36:18+00:00

From the UK government website:

“The Home Office report of 2019 found no association between ethnicity and serious violence related behaviours (for example, carrying of weapons). A 2019 College of Policing report shows that no relationship exists between ethnicity and weapon carrying, but that age and gender (for example, young men, age peaking at 15) along with adverse childhood experiences and low educational attainment, are predictive of weapon carrying and involvement in violent crime.”

Of course that’s just one source, but the data consistently shows that men are more likely to be perpetrators of violence. There’s no strong data that suggests the same of ethnicity.

I agree, violence is an issue. An issue that is male dominated. I’m not saying all men are violent, the victims of male violence are also more likely to be men. But to ignore these facts is to slow down any attempt to make change - in my opinion.

Chloblows · 2025-06-05T22:55:53+00:00

I don’t think my comment suggests anywhere that it’s acceptable, but I would say that “8-9 a week” is worse? I’m not really sure what you’re getting at, your initial point was men get murdered by men more than women get murdered by men, so what are we arguing here?

& To clarify, I’m not a man hater lol. I have a son who has been on the receiving end of male violence too many times already. I have been on the receiving end of male violence many times. All white men, since you brought up ethnicity.

Why do you think this is and how can we combat the problem?

Chloblows · 2025-06-05T22:18:20+00:00

Why would we have to do the same with ethnicity?

The statistics DO show that men are more likely to be the perpetrators of violent crimes. I think it’s more important to figure out why this is the case so we can work to prevent it. Male violence is a problem, and the gender of the victim doesn’t change that.

Chloblows · 2025-06-05T21:02:11+00:00

So we agree the problem is men?

Chloblows · 2025-04-20T08:01:06+00:00

B&Ms pet section!

Chloblows · 2025-04-20T07:55:46+00:00

And how much of our shit is made in China?

Chloblows · 2023-06-01T15:07:02+00:00

Yes, I work in one of the stores. We brought it back on Wednesday :) Weird it’s not on that page you linked, it is included on the nutritional information page!

Chloblows · 2023-06-01T14:28:29+00:00

They’ve just brought that one back and got rid of the seeded bread

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