Greener by Nature

Feed the birds...!

2013-01-16T11:45:00.000+00:00

The weather has certainly turned very cold and frosty and our little feathered friends may need a little extra help with food at this time of year. It is worth remembering though, that although winter feeding benefits birds most, food shortages can occur at any time of the year. By feeding the birds all year round, you'll give them a better chance to survive the periods of food shortage whenever they may occur.

The RSPB recommend the following advice during autumn and winter -

"At this time of year, put out food and water on a regular basis. In severe weather, feed twice daily if you can: in the morning and in the early afternoon. Birds require high energy (high fat) foods during the cold winter weather to maintain their fat reserves to survive the frosty nights. Use only good quality food and scraps.
Always adjust the quantity given to the demand, and never allow uneaten foods to accumulate around the feeders. Once you establish a feeding routine, try not to change it as the birds will become used to it and time their visits to your garden accordingly."

(Source: http://www.rspb.org.uk/advice/helpingbirds/feeding/whentofeed.aspx)

Greener by Nature has some gorgeous bird houses and bird feeders to put in you garden, take a look.............

Time for a catch up...!

2012-02-17T18:55:00.000+00:00

Goodness! Where has the time gone? It has been a while since we last posted on the blog!!

2011 ended on a real high for Greener by Nature, with our best ever Christmas trading. It definitely seems as if the 'ethical shopping' message is getting out there. It really is becoming so much easier for everyone to find that green and ethical alternative.

We received some great press coverage again, with three of the products that we sell being featured in Dec/Jan issue of The Green Parent magazine, one of our most favourite publications.

The amazing eco-friendly Presso Espresso Coffee Maker was featured in the House and Home section of the Green Gift Guide - it uses no electricity other than that needed to boil a kettle for hot water!

Also featured in 'Five of the best kitchen composting systems' in the Eco Living section, was the very smart compost tin, with a real retro feel - far too smart to hide away under the sink!

Finally in the Green Gift guide for 'Green Parents', the beautiful Preeti droplet earrings made a perfect stocking filler for under £10.....

If you haven't discovered this magazine yet, you really must take a look. Packed full of highly informative information and articles all with the purpose of helping with natural parenting and greener living, all with the family at it's core. And if that's not enough, it simply a really good read!!

Trolley Dolly Shopping Bag - Special Offer

2011-09-12T15:14:00.000+01:00

With the intorduction of a single use carrier bag charge from 1st October 2011 here in Wales, Greener by Nature are offering £5.00 OFF Trolley Dolly Bags until the end of September. Normally £29.95, this means you can 'bag' one (excuse the pun!) for just £24.95. There are five great designs to choose from. Designed to get a realistic-sized supermarket shop back home without using a single plastic bag, here are the details of what is inside -

What's inside the 19 bag pack?
9 x carrier bags
1 x bottle Bag
8 x fruit and veg net bags
1 x handy outer pack
1 x handy token/keyring

The interior bags are even colour coded to help you pack easily! There are also loads of handy extras on the outer pack, like a shoulder strap, pen, list, card and phone pockets, and a large zipped pocket for your keys and wallet.

Click here to take up this great offer!!

Offer ends 30/09/2011

Theatre -in-a-Box in Juno Magazine

2011-09-12T13:21:00.000+01:00

A big thank you to the lovely team at Juno Magazine, who have featured our Theatre-in-a-Box, in their 'Natural Toys' feature. They have described it as "an absorbing toy" and they are not wrong. Inside there are characters, scripts, tickets and different scenes for children to colour and customize as they wish. The box turns inside out to become a three-dimensional stage with pillars and slots for changing the scenery. It is great for children of all ages. What's more it is designed and made in the U.K. using sustainably sourced cardboard.

Recent Press Articles

2011-09-12T12:18:00.000+01:00

We have been lucky enough to have been featured several times in the press lately......

Firstly, check out our beautiful solid pewter light pull for £11.95, featured on Daisy Green Magazine. Pewter is perfect for use in the bathroom as it is completely rustproof. It is also completely recyclable. Many thanks girls!

Next, our gorgeous and quirky 'Pintie' milk jug was featured in The Green Parent Magazine. It is made from a recycled vintage milk bottle from the days when they used to carry advertising and is £19.95. It gives a great retro vibe to any table!! Big thanks to Melissa and the team at The Green Parent.

House Beautiful magazine were good enough to suggest that their readers try out bamboo duvet cover, in their Living Well News feature. Many thanks guys! We also have bamboo fitted sheets, and bamboo pillowcases to complete our range of bamboo bedlinen. Available in Single, Double and King Size and made from 100% woven bamboo, the fabric has an incredibly fine twill weave. Bamboo has the benefit of being cool in summer yet cosy and warm in winter and has naturally occurring anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. It is also more absorbent, yet quicker drying than cotton. For a truly luxurious sleeping experience bamboo really offers so much more.....don't you deserve a little everyday luxury?

Daisy Green Magazine Competition

2011-09-12T10:52:00.000+01:00

Congratulations to Jackie Hutchinson, Jim Osman & Emily Hamilton who were the winners of our competition, run in conjunction with Daisy Green Magazine. Each is the lucky recipient of a set of our bamboo towels. Hope you love them as much as we do!

Mother's Day Gift Ideas - April 3rd 2011

2011-03-24T11:35:00.000+00:00

Are you searching for the perfect Mother's Day gift? Here at Greener by Nature we have a whole host of ideas to inspire you. Here are some of them below, but you can check out our dedicated Mother's Day department to see more.....!

What about some pretty amber coloured glass earrings as featured in The Green Parent Magazine this month. They come with their own natural cotton drawstring presentation pouch.

£8.95 + P & P

Another great idea could be the fantastic Trolley Dolly Shopping Bag. Designed by a busy mum who felt that there must be a better and more organised way to get her supermarket shopping home without the need to use any plastic bags. Did you also know that the Trolley Dolly Bag has been independently assessed by http://www.carbonsense.org/ to leave half the carbon footprint of a cotton bag and 20x less than plastic ones? There are several designs to choose from and what's even better is, that we have a Special Offer of £5 off until April 3rd.

Special Offer £5 Off - Normally £29.95, Now £24.95 (until 3/4/11)

We also have some beautiful pure linen scarves in a selection of lovely colours, which would look fabulous with any outfit. Linen is a wonderful fabric as it can be wonderfully cool in warm weather but also very warm in cooler weather, so makes the perfect choice that can be worn all year round!

£14.95 + P&P

£16.95 + P&P

It's 'Competition Time'...........

2010-09-21T13:07:00.000+01:00

The nights are starting to draw in and with thoughts already starting to turn to Christmas, Greener by Nature would like to give you the chance to enter our competition to win a year's subscription to Ethical Living Magazine! We have two subscriptions to give away. It would make a great gift for someone or you could just keep it to enjoy for yourself!

Ethical Living magazine is a lifestyle magazine appealing to to the growing number of people who are becoming increasingly aware of global environmental and social issues. Its readers are passionate about style in all areas of their lives and the magazine's unique combination of stunning fashion and beauty, practical lifestyle pages and thought provoking features help provide the information and answers they need to develop their own personal ethical lifestyle. Alongside the inspiring features, it also includes regular articles on travel, finance, work, homes and gardens, food and drink, health and family life.

Entry is simple - all you have to do is pop along to our website http://www.greenerbynature.co.uk/newsletter_signup.aspx and fill in a few details.

The entry deadline is 15th October 2010, after which we will hold a prize draw to pick a winner.

Don't forget you can also become a fan of Greener by Nature on Facebook and keep up to date with all our latest news and exclusive special offers, or you can follow us on Twitter.

Recycled Tyre Tub in the Press!

2010-09-21T12:27:00.000+01:00

Earlier this summer we were thrilled to have had requests from the press regarding our recycled tyre tub and as promised here are the features in the flesh!! Big thanks to Spirit & Destiny magazine and also to Saga magazine.....

SALE Now On!

2010-07-21T22:05:00.000+01:00

The Greener by Nature SALE is now on!! Many items reduced and up to 55% OFF. Bag yourself a bargain, whilst stocks last. When it's gone, it's gone..........

ITV's This Morning - Green Week

2010-07-13T22:24:00.000+01:00

Woohoo!! Greener by Nature are featured on none other than ITV's This Morning website as part of their Green Week. There are links to our Funky recycled purse, recycled tyre tubs, recycled bottle glasses, our gorgeous tin lantern and our recycled embossed metal picture frame!

Recycled Tyre Tubs

2010-06-29T12:45:00.000+01:00

It has been a busy few weeks here, with several press requests for our recycled tyre tub. We're really looking forward to seeing the features and we will post the details here when we get them!

FREE Starter Garden from Rocket Gardens - Offer Deadline Extended until June 30th.......

2010-06-29T12:09:00.000+01:00

You still have time to take advantage of the great offer from Rocket Garden, to receive a FREE Starter Garden if you redeem your voucher code by June 30th. What's more you can get an extra 25% off from Greener by Nature - just go to http://www.greenerbynature.co.uk/catalog/free-mini-starter-garden.aspx?cid=16335 and type in RG0610 in the Discount Code box at checkout. Offer ends 30/06/2010.

Below are some of the pictures of the Greener by Nature 'Patio Container Garden'. We only have a small outdoor space and a tiny city centre garden, so the Patio Container Garden was perfect to get us going. With very little gardening experience to speak of (cress on blotting paper and my daughter's grass hedgehog can't really count!), Rocket Gardens are the ideal solution for those of us who are less confident gardeners or for those who don't really know where to start. We have already started to pick some of our salad leaves and opur first strawberry flower has appeared. The peas and beans are on their way and the cougettes and tomatoes are doing well too. We have rather grand visions of a raised bed somewhere now.......not quite sure where we will squeeze it in, we will keep you posted!

Grow your own with and instant organic 'Rocket Garden'....

2010-05-07T22:15:00.000+01:00

Have you, or do you know anyone who has ever dreamed of growing your own organic fruit and vegetables but don't quite know where to start? Well a Rocket Garden Gift Voucher could be the perfect answer and you don't need a huge garden or allotment either! There is a Rocket Garden to suit all sizes of outdoor space, from window boxes and patio containers to larger vegetable gardens.

Upon receipt, one simply redeems the gift voucher to then receive a beautiful box brimming full of potted plants, ready grown - lovely - much tastier than anything you'll find flown in from thousands of miles away and sitting in a plastic bag on a supermarket shelf.

All plants are organically grown in Cornwall without the use of chemical pesticides, fertilisers or sprays. No plastics or uncompostable packaging will be included within any Rocket Garden. The contents of each garden may vary slightly depending on the season.

Gift vouchers can be redeemed online at http://www.rocketgardens.co.uk/redeem .Alternatively the recipient can complete and return the freepost card included in the voucher. The gardens are delivered from Spring onwards, ensuring the plants are at their best. Rocket Gardens will send you a notification shortly before your plants are ready to be despatched for you to prepare for the new arrivals.

Rocket Gardens available:

What's more if you redeem the voucher before June 1st 2010, Rocket Gardens will send you a Mini Starter Garden completely FREE to pass onto someone else.

World Fair Trade Day 2010 - May 8th 2010

2010-05-07T21:45:00.000+01:00

To celebrate World Fair Trade Day, we are offering 10% OFF EVERYTHING for one week - Offer ends 14th May 2010. Enter WORLD10 at checkout to receive your discount.

World Fair Trade Day is a worldwide celebration of Fair Trade and the initiative of the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO). Fair Trade is a tangible and efficient response to poverty, economic and global food crises and climate change. The Fair Trade movement shares a vision of a world in which justice and sustainable development are at the heart of trade structures and practices, which allow for decent work and a dignified livelihood for small producers.

On World Fair Trade Day, hundreds of events will celebrate Fair Trade and trade justice in more than 70 countries around the world. You can find some ideas of how to get involved at http://www.worldfairtradeday.org/ . You can also visit http://www.wfto.com/ for more information.

We have a winner!

2010-04-10T13:08:00.000+01:00

Congratulations to Julie from Liverpool, who was drawn as the winner of our competition to win a year's subscription to Ethical Living magazine!

We will be running more competitions through the year, along with exclusive offers and discounts for our valued customers, Facebook fans and Twitter followers.

You can click here to become a fan of Greener by Nature on Facebook:

or you can click here to follow our Tweets:

Alternatively you can click here to sign up to receive our newsletter, which we will be launching very shortly.

Earth Hour 2010

2010-03-09T21:22:00.000+00:00

Organised by the WWF, Earth Hour 2010 takes place on Saturday 27th March at 8.30pm (local time) and is a global call to action to every individual, every business and every community throughout the world. It is a call to stand up, to take responsibility, to get involved and lead the way towards a sustainable future. Iconic buildings and landmarks from Europe to Asia to the Americas will stand in darkness. People across the world from all walks of life will turn off their lights and join together in celebration and contemplation of the one thing we all have in common - our planet. So sign up now and let's make 2010 the biggest Earth Hour yet!

It's showtime! Show the world what can be done.....

Animal Tails at the Oscars

2010-03-08T21:38:00.001+00:00

In a bid to honour many celebrities' environmental campaigns, the gift bags that were given to celebrities at this weekend's Oscar ceremonies had a strong organic and ethical focus. British fashion brand Animal Tails, with its full organic and ethical status, and focus on protecting endangered species was especially selected for inclusion in the celebrity gift bags.

The collection is UK Soil Association certified under the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), which assures that the garments are, not only organic, including the dying process and silk screen inks, but also ethically manufactured. The company takes a fresh approach to clothes for babies and children, and feature amazing silk screen images, developed from their own original artwork of endangered species. Each garment has a unique story label telling fun and amazing facts about the endangered animals. Animal Tails give 1% of its turnover to organisations that seek to protect endangered species.

Greener by Nature is a stockist of Animal Tails and is proud to be associated with their work. They have even had a mention in Livia Firth's (Colin Firth's wife) blog on Vogue's website.

Well done guys!

Win a year's subscription to Ethical Living Magazine

2010-03-04T14:53:00.000+00:00

With Spring now starting to bloom and thoughts turning to new beginnings, Greener by Nature would like to give you the chance to enter our new competition to win a year's subscription to Ethical Living Magazine!

Ethical Living magazine is a lifestyle magazine appealing to the growing number of people who are becoming increasingly aware of global and environmental and social issues. Its readers are passionate about style in all areas of their lives and the magazine's unique combination of stunning fashion and beauty, practical lifestyle pages and thought provoking features help provide the information and answers they need to develop their own personal ethical lifestyle. Alongside the inspiring features, it also includes regular articles on travel, finance, work, homes and gardens, food and drink, health and family life.

Entry is simple - all you have to do is pop along to our website and fill in a few details. The entry deadline is 31st March 2010, after which we will hold a prize draw to pick a winner. No purchase is necessary. If you are already registered on the website and one of our valued customers, you can also enter by becoming a fan of Greener by Nature on our Facebook page.

Fairtrade Fortnight starts today....

2010-02-22T14:00:00.000+00:00

Fairtrade Fortnight - The BIG Swap

Fairtrade Fortnight starts today and lasts until 7th March. This year, the Fairtrade Foundation is asking the nation to join in The Big Swap. For two whole weeks they'll be asking you to swap your usual stuff for Fairtrade stuff. Your usual bananas for Fairtrade bananas, your usual cotton socks for Fairtrade cotton socks, and your usual cuppa for a Fairtrade cuppa. Whenever you pop to the shops you can use your wallet to make a stand. All swaps can be registered on their website and the target to reach is one million and one!

For more information about what you can do and how you can get involved can be found on the Fairtrade Foundation website at www.fairtrade.org.uk/thebigswap/ . There are also details of all the Big Swap events that are going on around the country, so why not check it out and find one near you now.

Sign the Petition......

2009-12-17T22:35:00.000+00:00

Right now world leaders are gathererd in Copenhagen, Denmark for an unprecedented 60 hors of direct negotiations to save the global climate talks. Experts agree that without a tidal wave of public pressure for a deal, the summit will likely collapse and nothing will be done to stop catastrophic global warming.

The Tck Tck Tck campaign is an unprecedented collaboration among over 250 environmental, poverty, human rights, global development, religious and labour organizations from around the world. Follow the link below to sign the global petition for a real deal in Copenhagen - the campaign alrady has a staggering 12 million supporters - help make it the largest petition in history.

If enough of us stand up, our leaders will listen. Every single name is actually being read out at the summit right now - sign on the link below and be part of history.

Click here to sign the petition.

Five, Six - Pick up sticks!!

2009-11-15T20:22:00.000+00:00

Not to be put off by the weather this weekend, the family managed to make a trip out to some local woodland to collect fallen sticks and kindling. Managed to get quite a reasonable haul - just have to wait for it to dry out now!!

Busy, Busy, Busy!!

2009-11-12T13:51:00.000+00:00

Well, where do I start? It has been a very hectic few months here at Greener by Nature, with lots of changes going on behind the scenes, hence the inactivity on the Blog!! I have been busy tying up lose ends in my other job to make the leap and commit myself full-time to Greener by Nature. Very exciting and a life change for the whole family - in a good way!!

You may have seen that you can now follow us on Twitter, but did you know you can also become a fan of Greener by Nature on Facebook? You can keep up to date with all our latest news, be the first to notified of new product arrivals and watch this space for some competitions that we have planned for the New Year!

Soil Association Organic Fortnight 5-20 September

2009-09-17T21:40:00.000+01:00

This year’s Soil Association Organic Fortnight (5-20 September 2009) will focus on why organic products offer great value for both your wallet and for the planet. As thrifty shoppers look to make every pound go further, the benefits of going organic on a budget stretch far beyond great-tasting, additive-free food and drink.
Organic is first choice for consumers who want products which don't just taste, look or feel good, but which are environmentally-friendly, ethical, healthy and have the highest animal welfare standards in the UK too. To understand why organic offers genuine good value check out our ten good reasons to choose organic and to make your shopping basket work harder check out our ten top ways to go organic on a budget.Pass it on: for those passionate about the issues they can raise awareness of the benefits by hosting an ‘Organic credit crunch dinner’ for friends.

Soil Association Organic Fortnight kicks off with the Organic Food Awards – a celebration of the very best in organic food and drink. If this whets your appetite, the winners will be exhibiting at the Organic Food Festival 2009, Europe’s largest showcase of all things organic, on the 12 & 13 September, at Bristol Harbourside.

.....as featured in 'The Green Parent' magazine!

2009-09-12T21:36:00.000+01:00

It's pamper time for baby, with Trevarno Olive & Almond Bath & Body Oil - selected by Green Parent magazine, and at a special offer price of £8.76.

Handmade in the U.K, this organic baby bath and massage oil with gentle and nourishing oils of olive and almond will moisturise and leave delicate skin feeling silky smooth. The delicate fragrance of Lavender and Camomile essential oils will help relax and soothe baby. It can be used by adding 1 or 2 capfuls to running water at bathtime or to give baby a relaxing and calming body massage at bedtime. This product is suitable for vegans.

Thanks to all the team at 'The Green Parent'.