In lockdown, gardens have become the new great social divide | Torsten Bell

The Office for National Statistics has discovered huge inequalities in access to private outside space

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The Leaver/Remainer gap was huge but in this pandemic what recently seemed like the Grand Canyon of divides now feels … oh so very last year. But new divisions have sprung up.

This year it’s all about those with gardens versus the rest, unsurprisingly, given that access to outdoor space makes a huge difference to experiences of lockdown. There’s a very good reason why use of parks is up 16%, according to Google – and that was before we lifted the mother of all lockdown restrictions and let people sunbathe.

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An abundance of birthday flowers

My daughter’s birthday means sowing far too many blooms. What better way is there to celebrate?

It is Kala’s birthday this weekend. I am hoping we will celebrate in her garden, with cake and suitable distance. She’d planned to spend it in Denmark. I sometimes feel I won’t cope if we, too, can’t go soon. I conjure the hepatica in my head, the greening of the larch, the lilac-lined cycle tracks, the swallows, the cuckoos, the wild orchids, the swooning lapwing, the sound of sea on sand.

Kala has been ill and isolated, so I’ve been doing daily drops at her door – she lives four houses away. I’d leave packages on the step, ring the bell and then move back to talk to her. Luckily, she made a good recovery a few weeks ago, though we are still very under-hugged.

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An abundance of birthday flowers

My daughter’s birthday means sowing far too many blooms. What better way is there to celebrate?

It is Kala’s birthday this weekend. I am hoping we will celebrate in her garden, with cake and suitable distance. She’d planned to spend it in Denmark. I sometimes feel I won’t cope if we, too, can’t go soon. I conjure the hepatica in my head, the greening of the larch, the lilac-lined cycle tracks, the swallows, the cuckoos, the wild orchids, the swooning lapwing, the sound of sea on sand.

Kala has been ill and isolated, so I’ve been doing daily drops at her door – she lives four houses away. I’d leave packages on the step, ring the bell and then move back to talk to her. Luckily, she made a good recovery a few weeks ago, though we are still very under-hugged.

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11 top tips for choosing the right solicitor Nottingham Estate Agents

How do you go about picking the right solicitor to carry out the conveyancing for your property transaction? Here is OnTheMarket‘s mini-guide to help ensure that the process runs as smoothly as possible. 1. Phone a friend Get recommendations from people you know. People are often very happy to suggest a good solicitor and just […]

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Housebuying is back: but the market’s mood is in need of refurbishment

The return of viewings is welcome news for estate agents, but many buyers are now much less certain of their position

Britain’s property market has proved to be a cornerstone of economic activity for decades. Without buyers and sellers alike booking removal lorries and moving home, large parts of the economy can lose momentum and drag on growth.

The decision to allow property viewings as part of an easing of the lockdown was seen by ministers as a much-needed boost to commercial life. Over the coming months retailers and wholesalers that supply kitchens, carpets and light fittings will join the army of previously furloughed estate agents in getting a boost.

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And here's the kitchen garden: cooped-up Britain moves the indoors outdoors

As lockdown forces us to use every inch inside our homes, those lucky enough to have outside space are going al-fresco

A bench and a slightly wobbly table used to be adequate for sitting and eating outside on warm days. Now the vogue is to turn your garden into a sophisticated outdoor living room, with rugs, cushions, scented candles and fire pits.

Lockdown has forced people to use every inch of their homes to accommodate work, education, exercise and leisure. Since the “stay at home” order was issued on 23 March, retailer John Lewis has seen a 63% rise in sales of its outdoor range, with barbecue sales more than doubling compared with a year ago. Some homeowners are going further and building outdoor kitchens, with fridges, ovens and sinks.

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And here's the kitchen garden: cooped-up Britain moves the indoors outdoors

As lockdown forces us to use every inch inside our homes, those lucky enough to have outside space are going al-fresco

A bench and a slightly wobbly table used to be adequate for sitting and eating outside on warm days. Now the vogue is to turn your garden into a sophisticated outdoor living room, with rugs, cushions, scented candles and fire pits.

Lockdown has forced people to use every inch of their homes to accommodate work, education, exercise and leisure. Since the “stay at home” order was issued on 23 March, retailer John Lewis has seen a 63% rise in sales of its outdoor range, with barbecue sales more than doubling compared with a year ago. Some homeowners are going further and building outdoor kitchens, with fridges, ovens and sinks.

Continue reading...

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