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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PGM replied to Gary R's discussion Does moss always = full renovation
"Thank you "
10 hours ago
Peter sellers replied to Gary R's discussion Does moss always = full renovation
"There is not anything to choose between them apart from Top Paddock has a higher sulphur content but you would not notice this in effectiveness, neither need watering in but the Suregrow does seem to disappear more quickly. If you asked me to choose…"
12 hours ago
PGM replied to Gary R's discussion Does moss always = full renovation
"Can I ask about those two fertiliser products please Peter? Do you have a preference for either? Also, what about the practicalities, such as do they need watering in quickly afterwards, do they stay on the lawn for ages or disappear fairly quickly,…"
12 hours ago
Peter sellers replied to Gary R's discussion Does moss always = full renovation
"Graham. These "all in one" products designed for joe public are crap they don't do anything well.  For moss buy pro kleen liquid iron - 2.5 lts in a 12 lt knapsack will do 200 sqmts it comes in a 5lt and is around £16 all in.
For fert we use an…"
16 hours ago
Graham Taylor replied to Gary R's discussion Does moss always = full renovation
"I think this will still come under repairing law and moss problems.  I've some lawns that are in a right state after winter... riddled with moss and lots of bare patches from the dry summer..I always use "Aftercut" weed, feed and mosskiller on…"
18 hours ago
Peter sellers replied to Peter sellers's discussion Ride on mower/ ride on plant are you covered?
"Your liability insurance should cover the hedgecutting,  However if you have drive your ride on across a pavement, road, private road or private/public car park your liability insurance will not cover you. We have just taken out cover at a cost of…"
20 hours ago
Fusion Media posted a blog post
Managing one of the busiest multi-sport facilities on the south coast is no small task – especially in a region increasingly defined by prolonged dry spells and intense seasonal wear. At Bournemouth University, Grounds Manager Alex McCombie relies…
22 hours ago
Tim Wallach replied to Tim Wallach's discussion Tripod ladder user? Your advice sought please!
"Maybe I'm going to be looking to upgrade my old steel platform for an aluminum version...thanks"
23 hours ago
Tim Wallach replied to Tim Wallach's discussion Tripod ladder user? Your advice sought please!
"Thanks...your comment appreciated!"
23 hours ago
Gary R replied to Gary R's discussion Does moss always = full renovation
"Thanks Peter"
yesterday
Peter sellers replied to Gary R's discussion Does moss always = full renovation
"Gary,
The method we use when the client does nor want a full renovation - spray pro kleen liquid iron at a dilution of 2.5 lts in 12lts water this will cover around 200 sq mts if you thoroughly wet the area. After 7 to 10 days repeat but with the…"
yesterday
John F replied to Peter sellers's discussion Ride on mower/ ride on plant are you covered?
"Interesting but not surprised . Makes we wonder about mowing a grass verge outside a customers property and cutting the pedestrian side of a hedge which is a public right of way . "
yesterday
John F replied to Gary R's discussion Does moss always = full renovation
"Not strictly the purists method but had customers who prefer not to use moss killer which discolours the lawn or just prefer an organic approach .
I have used dethatching tines on a Stihl mm56 machine which literally pulls the moss out and a great…"
yesterday
Gary R posted a discussion
Hi.Does a mossey lawn always equal a full lawn renovation? Once you kill (or control) moss the customer is left with brown / black dead moss all over their lawn. So then its needs scarifying to rake it up, then usually a preseed fert, seed and top…
yesterday
Honey Badger replied to Tim Wallach's discussion Tripod ladder user? Your advice sought please!
"I have two tripod ladders, 8ft henchman and 12ft from orchard ladders, both have three extendable legs adding an extra foot and half. Been using them three years now, great ladders.
Ive cut a 10ft hedge with the 12th foot ladder. It not ideal the…"
yesterday
Billybop replied to Tim Wallach's discussion Tripod ladder user? Your advice sought please!
"Yes that photo shows you would struggle to find anything less suitable to cut that particular hedge from. I have a large tripod and it only gets used several times per year, perfect for certain jobs but for day to day use more of a hindrance"
yesterday
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Does moss always = full renovation

Hi.Does a mossey lawn always equal a full lawn renovation? Once you kill (or control) moss the customer is left with brown / black dead moss all over their lawn. So then its needs scarifying to rake it up, then usually a preseed fert, seed and top…

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