Here's an extract from an article in the Amateur Gardening Magazine regarding Water Butts. "Forget petrol shortages - gardeners are panic buying water butts as the drought tightens it's grip on the UK. Haskins, the four strong garden centre chain, with two of it's outlets in hosepipe ban areas, reported that sales of water butts are up by 800 per cent compared to last year. "What makes it even more incredible is that most people wouldn't even be thinking about water butts at this time of year" said Haskins spokesman Gareth John. "Even our Ferndown centre, which isn't in a hose pipe ban area, has seen sales of water butts rise by 100 per cent this year" he added. DIY and garden chain Homebase said sales of water butts were already up to 340 per cent compared to 2011. Homebase spokeswoman Judith Ineson said "sales of accessories such as stands, taps, rain water divertors, and connectors to link water butts together are up by 218 per cent year on year. It was a similar story at B&Q where water butts have been flying off the shelves, leading to a 196 per cent sales rise. A survey by B&Q found that 17 per cent of households would flout hose pipe bans and continue to use a hose. And 85 per cent of the nation would fail to report neighbours who break hose pipe bans. All SEVEN water companies that brought in hose pipe bans on 5 April have now agreed to let gardeners use drip irrigation systems." Well at least it's a sign that people are getting more water conservation minded.
No disrespect intended, but your post could be seen as "making the situation worse" by telling those that had not thought of it to buy a water butt.
I have 4 200litre water butts....the only trouble is all but one is empty and even that one has only got a couple of can fulls left in it Some of my 'not as enthusiastic as me' gardening friends don't have water butts...and drought or no drought...they have no intention of getting one
No offence taken , Water Garden, I assure you. Firstly let me point out that I didn't write the article, which was published in a Nation wide Magazine, but merely made people aware of it in our own Forum. However, you have raised a couple of interesting thoughts!! i.e: is your thinking that such articles would further incite "panic buying" and should be suppressed and not discussed on the Forum?? Or/and that we have Gardeners here that would rush out to panic buy? Water butts and water conservation are much discussed subjects on Gardeners Corner and I am not sure that an article that says more and more people are buying water butts in the realisation that there is a drought and a need to conserve water is an inducement to "panic" buying?? I'm not quite sure why you would think it a bad thing or Surely the more people who buy water butts and use them the better?" Has anyone got any thoughts on the above.
Actually, dim, there was a water company spokesman telling people to do exactly that.... fill their water butts that way instead of spraying their lawns and borders with hosepipes
IMHO I think it's a good idea to spread the word re water butts...i don't think it's a case of panic buying more a case of 'concious pricking' and as Armandii said"surely the more people who buy water butts the better"
the latest must have fashion statement "a water butt"sadly there will be loads on freecycle next year when folks realise no rain =no water in butt
Ive got 2 Big Oak Barrels Ornamental iv just bought some nice taps in the shape of a bird brass with the disstressed look to them ime going to make my own and use them till my Disabled badge comes thru
