Long Light Days with Karen Roberts

Long light daysIt’s not

Everything has certainly started growing now. It’s a great time of year with long days, lots of insects buzzing around the garden and it feels as if the bird population has doubled at least. The blackbird nest on our log pile right next to the backdoor was a big success with four fledglings fleeing the nest a few weeks ago. Pond life is also active and with a lot of sun early in the season before the plants started covering the pond I’ve had to research how to deal with algae. Apart from getting in there and manually removing it, barley straw also does the trick. It takes a few weeks to work but it’s so simple. There’s also a natural water dye (endorsed by the Royal Horticultural Society) which is worth a try. The key overall is getting the balance right in the pond, and I favour trying to do things naturally so I’m exploring the pond covering plants such as water hawthorn and getting those going. I’d encourage everyone to get natural water into the garden somehow. Even a little bird bath is a helpful addition. Staking plants is the next project! I had some prunings from currants and using these and a bit of garden twine can make sturdy supports for wavering salvias or dahlias; any sticks will do though. Luckily the lupins are holding their own so far….

Of course this time of year is the challenging time to cope with fast growing lawns. What a good idea it was to stop gathering the lawn cuttings but just leave them on the lawn; it surely helps with making the lawn more of a smooth carpetlike surface as it decomposes and adds nutrients to the lawn, and of course, you don’t have to empty the container every few minutes. Weeding the lawn is another chore, but keep the clover; it collects nitrogen and releases it through root nodules – a natural fertiliser, what could be better.

Another challenge recently has been the dry spell, it makes me think about the benefits of collecting rainwater in water butts, not too tricky to do at all. And I’m also looking into what makes a good area for a rain garden – this is a dip that collects run-off water from the gutters etc and is planted up with plants that tolerate some short term waterlogging. There is a bit more to it than this, so keep an eye out for the next article where I’ll explore this further.

In the meantime, I’m off to research a living roof as the husband is just finishing a shed… more plants… © Karen Roberts Garden Design

QHR Employment Support Tailored to your Business

Welcome back to regular readers and a very warm welcome to any new readers this month! I hope you’re keeping safe and well.

For any new readers, Quinn HR is a small, local business (based in Penrith) that provides employment support and advice to employers and employees across Cumbria and further afield. We offer a professional, pragmatic and friendly service at an affordable price. Whether you choose to let us help you on a retained or ad hoc basis, we believe it’s important the support and advice offered is tailored to your business. There are many companies out there offering support and advice with employment matters, tying businesses into lengthy contracts, but how many of them really understand the businesses they support and actually tailor their service to them? A standard template or standard response may be sufficient in some situations, but that is not only what Quinn HR offers. We like to get to know you and your business and really understand the challenges you are facing and the plans you have. • Maybe you’re a small business that cannot afford to employ an HR advisor, but need advice from time to time?

• Maybe you are having problems with an employee or just need to be reassured you are dealing with a situation in the right way? • Maybe you need some simple letters written now and then or more formal employment documents such as staff handbooks, policies, procedures or contracts of employment? • Maybe you need someone to make sure your business is up to date with the latest employment legislation? Well, whatever you need, Quinn HR is only a call or an email away! We can advise on a range of employment matters and have access to additional, professional HR expertise should it be needed.

The following are typically some of the areas we support businesses with:

• Employee relations – disciplinaries, grievances, whistleblowing, bullying and harassment • Attendance issues – sickness related and other • Performance issues – appraisals, managing poor performance and capability • Staff Handbooks – policies, procedures and standards • Employment contracts – terms and conditions of employment

• Employment Law updates

• Recruitment and selection – recruitment exercises and job descriptions • Pay and benefits – pay structures and job evaluation

• Reorganisation and redundancy