Campaigners fighting to save Kew Gardens from catastrophic funding and job cuts have handed a petition to 10 Downing Street. Zac Goldsmith, MP for Richmond Park and North Kingston, will join representatives from Prospect, PCS and GMB to hand in the petition, which is about to exceed 100,000 signatures. Mr Goldsmith, whose constituency is home to Kew Gardens, said: "It’s not clear to me that Kew Gardens can sustain its extraordinary work with the level of cuts being imposed. "Kew Gardens is a national jewel, and it would be a tragedy if its work and reputation were to suffer as a result of excessive cuts." Prospect negotiator Julie Flanagan said: "Successive independent reviews of Kew have praised the quality and value of its scientific work and recommended that its public funding be maintained or increased. "Kew has already lost approximately 50 posts, vacancies are not being filled and management is planning the loss of a further 50-70 posts. "Cutting staff reduces Kew’s capacity to fulfil its statutory obligations, to carry out its leading science and conservation, and to generate its own revenue. "It has been heartening to see how much people from across the globe recognise and support Kew’s value. It’s a tragedy that the coalition government can’t do the same." Kew maintains the world’s premier plant and fungal collections, including 30,000 living plants, one billion seeds and the DNA of 20 per cent of the world’s plant species. Without maintaining and developing these collections and expertise, the UK’s position as a world leader in plant conservation stops. Kew announced a £5m deficit for the year and plans to axe about 125 science and public engagement staff in March 2014. The job cuts come after a steep reduction in Kew's public funding from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs first announced in 2010 and imposed year-on-year since.
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Replay Group has appointed James Kimmings as its new Digital and Online Analyst, reinforcing the company's commitment to growing its digital presence and supporting its continued expansion. James joins Replay after almost four years at Pitchcare,…
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Adam Woods replied to Peter sellers's discussion Cordless drill
"THe Aldi and Lidl ranges are good, I havent used their drills, but lots of other battery tools, they work well, and have a battery that can be used in different things in the range.
Theyve also been through the companies German QC processes
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Wednesday
Adam Woods replied to Tim Wallach's discussion Tripod ladder user? Your advice sought please!
"I used to have an 8' 3 leg adjustable when I had the business.... I added a 4' NIwaki a year or so later.... I didnt have any hedges that needed anything higher - I still have the 4', its invaluable"
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Redexim is pleased to announce the launch of the Sandstorm. The Sandstorm is a self-powered topdresser that works without a tractor or hydraulic connection. Simply hitch it to a utility vehicle and spread. It has a 28 ft³ (800 L) capacity and can…
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Geoffrey King replied to Tim Wallach's discussion Tripod ladder user? Your advice sought please!
"Of course they are more akward to carry, but using a regular ladder now feels preposterous.
I thought long and hard about tripod ladders before getting the 12 ft one over 10 years ago.
Well one clear advantage they have, they stand up by themselves.…"
Wednesday
Honey Badger replied to Tim Wallach's discussion Tripod ladder user? Your advice sought please!
"Last year a customer asked me to give him a price to clip over his 18ft tall holly shrub he offered use of his extention ladder so. My reply was 'No that's what the young and the stupid do and I am neither'. Made him laugh.
All ladders are dangerous…"
Tuesday
Graham Taylor replied to Tim Wallach's discussion Tripod ladder user? Your advice sought please!
"I just use an ordinary extending 2 piece ladder with a 6' plank across the top which stops it falling into the hedge..........  never seem to have a problem   These tripod ladders certainly look impressive but they look a right pain to lug about,…"
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Geoffrey King replied to Tim Wallach's discussion Tripod ladder user? Your advice sought please!
"I have a 12ft & 8ft , the 8ft has been really useful especially for picking fruit & pruning fruit trees
The photo shows some one  using the ladder unsafely
Firstly he looks right handed, therefore the ladder should be place the other way around with…"
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