Latest news with #RichardJackson
Wales Online
09-05-2025
- General
- Wales Online
One easy task in May that will help your lawn 'fight off moss'
One easy task in May that will help your lawn 'fight off moss' Experts say that fertilising your grass now will leave it looking a lot greener too Regular mowing the lawn in spring strips it of nutrients which should be replaced (Image: Getty Images ) For many gardening enthusiasts, achieving a lush, vibrant lawn is a top priority. May is an ideal time to focus on lawn care, as a little effort now can result in a stunning outdoor space that will be the envy of the neighbourhood come summer. According to experts at Richard Jackson Garden, fertilising your lawn at this time of year is key to its success. Not only will it promote a brilliant green colour, but it will also help the grass to combat moss, reducing the need for maintenance the following spring. Regular mowing during the spring months can deplete the lawn of essential nutrients, which is where a good lawn feed fertiliser comes in – replenishing these vital nutrients to create a thicker, stronger, and healthier lawn. Richard Jackson explains: "Good feeding also makes the grass thicker, stronger and healthier, so it is better equipped to fight off moss, weeds and even drought stress in summer and cold and wet stress in winter. "Fertiliser will also boost the colour of your grass as nitrogen will be one of the biggest factors that makes your lawn the greenest it can be." Additionally, incorporating magnesium and iron into your lawn care routine can further enhance the green hue of your grass, reports the Daily Record. Liquid lawn feeds are touted as an excellent option because they "start to work straight away", pose a lower risk of burning the grass compared to granular feeds, and are less reliant on favourable weather conditions. For those aiming for top-notch results, it's recommended to emulate greenkeepers and groundspeople by opting for a "professional" feed. To achieve the best outcome, apply your lawn fertiliser at the rate range advised on the packaging immediately after mowing and ensure there's a minimum three-day gap before the next trim. It's crucial to wait 24 hours post-fertilisation before watering your lawn, but following that period, a thorough watering session is essential. Doing one job in May will help your lawn to fight off moss and look luscious and green for summer (Image: Getty Images ) This watering step is key for the fertiliser to dissolve, activate, and start delivering nutrients to the grass. When considering the best time to water, early morning is identified as the ideal window. Lawn care experts have developed their own fertiliser brand, Richard Jackson Flower Power Premium Lawn Magic, which they claim can produce a lush, healthy-looking lawn and even rejuvenate patchy areas. Available on Amazon with a 4.4-star rating, the product has garnered positive feedback from customers, with one noting a significant improvement in their lawn after just a single use. The fertiliser is offered in two sizes: 1.5L for £19.99 and 5L for £34.99 on the platform. For a more budget-friendly alternative, Pro-Kleen Iron Sulphate 1 KG is available on Amazon for £9.95, reduced from £10.95, and also boasts a 4.4-star rating. Article continues below Customers have praised the product for its effectiveness in removing moss from their gardens. Pro-Kleen, however, claims that the product also enhances the greenness of your grass. The 1L tub can cover up to 1000 sqm for grass greening and it's recommended to mix it with water for a more even spread.
Otago Daily Times
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
An expression of conscience
An academic boycott can help Palestine, say some at the University of Otago. Boycotting academic ties with Israel is among the measures included in a declaration to be launched by University of Otago staff, students and alumni next week. "The Otago Declaration on the Situation In Palestine" commits its signatories to an academic boycott as part of the wider Boycott, Disinvestment and Sanction (BDS) campaign "until such time as Palestinians enjoy freedom from genocide, apartheid and scholasticide", they have national self-determination and full and complete enjoyment of human rights, as codified in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The declaration is the work of the group Otago Staff for Palestine (OSP), and by earlier this week had attracted almost 300 signatures from staff, students and alumni. Professor of peace studies Richard Jackson was involved in its drafting and is among the signatories. OSP couldn't sit idly by and watch a genocide happen in real time, he says. "And not just a genocide but also what some call the scholasticide, in terms of the deliberate destruction of the educational system, including all the universities in Gaza." The declaration says that given the International Court of Justice has ruled there is a plausible case that Israel has been committing genocide, and that all states that are signatory to the Genocide Convention must take all necessary measures to prevent acts of genocide, the signatories commit themselves to an academic boycott. BDS is a campaign, begun in 2005, to promote economic, social and cultural boycotts of the Israeli government, Israeli companies and companies that support Israel, in an effort to end the occupation of Palestinian territories and win equal rights for Palestinian citizens within Israel. It draws inspiration from South African anti-apartheid campaigns and the United States civil rights movement. The Israeli government has banned people who support BDS from entering the country. OSP has lobbied the University of Otago senate and council to adopt policies consistent with the BDS campaign, but while it waits for the university administration to act the declaration was something they could do themselves now, Prof Jackson says. It addresses the responsibility they have as academics and scholars to act as critic and conscience of society, a responsibility set out in the Education Act, he says. "It's an expression of our ethical position and our commitment to try to prevent the genocide and support Palestinian national self-determination, to uphold international law. "We just owe, I think, a responsibility to fellow educators who are being victimised, fellow scholars." The declaration will be launched at the Museum Reserve on Thursday, the 77th anniversary of the Nakba, "the catastrophe", when in 1948 about 750,000 Palestinians were driven from their homes.
Daily Record
07-05-2025
- Climate
- Daily Record
Grass will 'fight off moss' if one easy task is done this month
If you tackle your lawn in May, it will be thicker and stronger for the summer, say experts Having the perfect green, healthy lawn is at the top of the wish list for many gardeners. And the month of May is the perfect time to get the grass ship shape ahead of the summer months when we just want to enjoy it. Experts say a bit of effort now can mean you have a fabulous lawn that will make the neighbours green with envy. And the key is to ensure it's fertilised now and gardeners will reap the reward come the summer months. Lawn specialists Richard Jackson Garden said that fertilising your grass now will even help it to 'fight off moss', meaning you'll have less to deal with next spring. The experts said that fertiliser not only helps to banish moss, it also gives it a brilliant green colour which screams healthy and strong. Regular mowing in the spring time strips your grass of vital nutrients and lawn feed fertilisers help to replace these. Richard Jackson said: "Good feeding also makes the grass thicker, stronger and healthier, so it is better equipped to fight off moss, weeds and even drought stress in summer and cold and wet stress in winter.' "Fertiliser will also boost the colour of your grass as nitrogen will be one of the biggest factors that makes your lawn the greenest it can be.' Magnesium and iron are two other elements that will help lawns to look greener. Liquid lawn feeds are a great choice as they 'start to work straight away', are far less likely to burn the grass than granular feeds and are less dependent on correct weather conditions, reports The Express. If you want to get great results, follow the lead of greenkeepers and groundspeople and use a 'professional' feed. Apply your lawn fertiliser at the recommended rate range stated on the packaging straight after mowing and at least three days before the next cut for best results. Wait 24 hours before watering your lawn after fertilising, but it is important to make sure that it receives a good watering session soon after that 24-hour waiting period. Watering helps the fertiliser to break down, activate and begin feeding nutrients to the lawn. In terms of the time of day, the ideal period to water the lawn is in the early morning. The lawn specialists have their own brand of fertiliser, Richard Jackson Flower Power Premium Lawn Magic. They claim the product can give you a green, healthy looking lawn and also helps to revive patchy ones. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. It's available on Amazon with a 4.4-star rating. Customers were impressed with the product, with one saying they noticed an immediate improvement in their lawn after just one application. The fertiliser comes in 1.5L priced at £19.99 or in 5L which is retailing on the site for £34.99. For a cheaper option, you can buy a tub of Pro-Kleen Iron Sulphate 1 KG at Amazon for £9.95 down from £10.95. It also has 4.4-star rating on Amazon. Customers were happy with how it removed moss from their gardens, but Pro-Kleen say the product will help to make your grass greener. The 1L tub will cover 1000 sqm for grass greening and is best mixed with water for more even coverage.
ITV News
29-04-2025
- Business
- ITV News
Almost 300 jobs at risk at chemicals factory in Barry
Hundreds of jobs are at risk at a chemical giant's Welsh factory. US company Dow has confirmed to the union Unite that it is closing down an area of its plant in Barry, Vale of Glamorgan. Unite say that almost 300 jobs are at risk due to this closure. The company, which produces a wide range of silicon products, has operated from the Barry site since 1971 when it bought the site from Midland Silicones, and now employs 850 people on a 160-acre site. A statement from Dow confirmed that the shutdown of basic siloxanes operations at Barry has been identified as a "potential outcome". It added that this would affect 291 employees at the Barry site over the next three to four years. Unite are calling on Dow to "reconsider its decision" and protect as many jobs as possible. The announcement comes as Dow assess its European assets in a bid to make savings. A consultation on redundancies is now underway but no job losses are expected until 2026. Dow, which has more than 200 manufacturing sites across the world, was among the three largest chemical producers in the world in 2021. However, it says cheap competition from abroad is behind the closure, as its basics product are no longer competitive on the open market. The announcement comes after Dow confirmed potential job cuts on January 31. A spokesperson for Dow said: "As part of Dow's assessment of its European assets, the company has identified the basics siloxanes operations at Barry, U.K. among other upstream portions of Dow's portfolio that will require further action. The potential outcome identified at this time for Dow's basics siloxanes operations at Barry is a shutdown. "The potential outcome to close basics siloxanes operations in Barry would be likely to affect 291 employees at the Barry Site, over the next 3-4 years. Siloxanes production is one of several manufacturing facilities and operations at our Barry site, which in total employs approximately 850 employees and contractors. "This potential shutdown would help strengthen the Company's competitive position in the specialty silicones market in Europe and the U.K. The production of specialty silicones in Barry will continue, supporting key markets such as automotive, electronics, energy, construction, and personal care." Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "It is outrageous that valued workers are being punished for a situation not of their control. The potential loss of so many well-paid jobs in the area will be devastating, not just to our members and their families, but to the local economy as well." Unite regional officer Richard Jackson said: "Unite is calling on Dow to reconsider its decision and work with us, government and other stake holders to find an alternative solution to this closure. Unite is also calling on Dow to work with the union in order to avoid compulsory redundancies and to seek to protect as many jobs as possible. The union will ensure it is involved all the way throughout this process." Operations at the Barry site first started in 1941, then under the ownership of the Ocean Salts company. Ownership of the site has changed a number of times over the years, with the site becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company, now Dow Inc, in 2016.
BBC News
28-04-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Barry: 291 jobs at risk at Dow chemicals site
Chemicals company Dow says 291 jobs are at risk at its Barry site as it plans to close its basics siloxanes said the "potential outcome" was the result of "an assessment of its European assets," and the jobs would go over the next three to four are chemical compounds made of silicone and oxygen and are the building blocks of the silicones found in sealants and areas of the operation in the Vale of Glamorgan factory will be unaffected but the union representing workers has criticised the proposals. The Unite union said the plan to cut jobs was "outrageous" and would have a "devastating" impact on 850 people currently work at the site on Cardiff Road, Barry, which has been producing chemicals since the 2016 it has been wholly owned by the American chemicals company company told BBC Wales that an assessment of its European operations had "identified the basics siloxanes operations at Barry" as requiring "further action".It said "the potential outcome identified at this time for Dow's basics siloxanes operations at Barry is a shutdown".Dow added that the "potential shutdown would help strengthen the company's competitive position in the specialty silicones market in Europe and the UK."The production of specialty silicones in Barry will continue, supporting key markets such as automotive, electronics, energy, construction, and personal care." The union Unite, which represents workers in Barry, said Dow had been confronted by "cheap competition from China" and its products were no longer leader Sharon Graham said it was "outrageous that valued workers are being punished" because of changes in the international chemicals market."The potential loss of so many well paid jobs in the area will be devastating, not just to our members and their families, but to the local economy as well," she union's regional officer, Richard Jackson, called on Dow "to reconsider its decision and work with us, government and other stakeholders to find an alternative solution to this closure."
