Man Dies From Rabies Caught From Bat Bite

A 43-year-old man in Indiana died recently of rabies caught by a bat bite. It`s the state`s first death from rabies since 2006.

It seems that although the man hadn`t any obvious wounds or marks, the tests clearly showed it was a bat that infected him.

Let`s not run away with the idea though that all or even most bats in the wild are rabid. In fact it`s fewer than one percent, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

People can be exposed to bats in places like attics, on porches or in parks. Along with bats, animals such as raccoons, foxes and skunks and even dogs can transmit rabies.

The key is to get shots to prevent the disease once a person thinks he may have been bitten by a rabid animal, and in the case of a bat they should always seek medical advice just in case.

Remember in some places bats are a protected species. In the UK, for instance, UK law prevents bats from the following-

1. Deliberately capture, injure or kill a bat
2. Intentionally or recklessly disturb a bat in its roost or deliberately disturb a group of bats
3. Damage or destroy a bat roosting place (even if bats are not occupying the roost at the time)
4. Possess or advertise/sell/exchange a bat (dead or alive) or any part of a bat
5. Intentionally or recklessly obstruct access to a bat roost

You should never try to pick a bat up, it could be carrying disease.

It`s good to remember that bats do a lot of good for the eco-system, eating insects which are bad for crops for example.

Weeds on Bare Patches of Soil

You'll never be able to completely stop weeds from popping up, but there are ways to ensure they have less places in which to grow.

Bare patches of soil are ideal for growing weeds. Creating a well-stocked border is less likely to support a thriving population of these pesky plants. If you have gaps in your borders, plug them by planting ground covering plants.

Some ways to prevent weeds` growth in bare soil are-

Use mulch with a thick, 8cm (3in), layer of bark chippings, well-rotted manure or leaf mould in the spring. This prevents weeds from growing,and another advantage is it helps to retain moisture in the soil.

For larger areas you could even cover with plastic, landscape material or even old carpet to prevent weeds from germinating.

Garden Waste Collections - Behind The Times

Garden waste collection rounds have now rolled into action across South Somerset - pleasing the first of over one thousand new customers who have signed up to the expanded service.

The offer of fortnightly garden waste collections - now available to households in even the most rural areas of the district - proved popular with residents who had previously relied on travelling to household waste recycling centres and arranging private collections.

The wider service was announced by Somerset Waste Partnership in August.

South Somerset District Council subscribed nearly 1,200 new customers within the first five weeks and has contacted hundreds of people already on the waiting list.

Is this a joke? They`ve been doing this in many parts of the country for years - and for FREE!

Japanese Maples Under Threat

Global warming will threaten London's wildlife habitats by increasing the risk of flooding in the winter and drought in the summer, according to a new report.

Despite being one of the world's largest and most densely populated cities, the capital boasts a wide diversity of habitats that are hugely important to the wildlife that depend on them.

The London Climate Change Partnership has warned that a global increase in temperature could expose London's scarce wetland areas to drought and fire in the summer months.

Assessment of almost half of the 16,000 specimens of different trees at the Westonbirt Arboretum, Gloucestershire, by the Forestry Commission has found almost a quarter do not seem to be tolerant of drought.

The site's Japanese maples - the largest collection of the tree in Britain - are particularly vulnerable to the hotter drier summers and more frequent and severe droughts expected with a changing climate, the commission's research agency Forest Research found.

The maples are at risk because of their shallow roots and a preference to be in soils which retains water.

The problem faced by the 350 types of Japanese maple at the arboretum - and those popular in gardens and parks - is not of immediate concern, but could become an issue in the coming decades.

Free Basil Seeds

This is a good way to encourage people to start growing their own.

"To receive your fantastic free packet of Grow Your Own Seeds simply fill out your details in the form provided below. We are giving you the chance to get your hands on some free basil seeds to plant and enjoy the produce!

These free seeds are brought to you by Northamptonshire Let Yourself Grow, each packet comes with full planting and harvesting instructions to help you make the most of your free seeds."

Lawns Growing Well

The grass is still growing strong as the combination of sun (albeit not that much of it), and rain create great conditions for growth.

I suspect that this time next month the grass will be at a virtual standstill, and the mower can be put away until next spring.

Watch, my prediction will be bound to be wrong!