Rock ‘n’ roll antics of the rich and famous are being used to encourage those who might be at risk of hepatitis C to get tested and treated.  Hepatitis C is a virus that affects around 200,000 people in the UK, of whom about half could be unaware they have it.

Animated in the style of a graphic novel, the film details incidents from rock history involving stars including Keith Moon and Jimi Hendrix and reveals their unexpected results.  The film uses these rock antics to grab attention and lead into describing the risks of contracting the hepatitis C infection. 

The short Rock Antics online film is being used to encourage people to think about whether they might have ever been at risk of catching hepatitis C and if so to get tested and treated. Hepatitis C is often referred to as the ‘silent disease’ because  it does not usually cause symptoms for many years but may lead to serious liver damage, making it essential that those who think they might be at risk to come forward for testing. 

Singer and rock star Lisa Moorish provided the film’s voiceover to help raise awareness of the virus. She has seen family and friends affected by hepatitis C, and says: “Many people have lived rock ‘n’ roll style lifestyles in their youth and may have put themselves at risk. Take the online self assessment quiz to assess whether you should get tested and treated at www.nhs.uk/hepc.”

Dr Kosh Argawal, Consultant Hepatologist at King’s College Hospital, London, a centre for excellence for liver disease and hepatitis, says:
 “This online film says it all; if you’ve ever put yourself at risk of the virus, by injecting drugs or getting a tattoo abroad for instance, you may have hepatitis C and not know it. The good news is that hepatitis C can be treated, so get tested and get treated.”
 
Hepatitis C is spread mainly through blood-to-blood contact. The most common transmission route is through sharing equipment for injecting drugs, but those who received a blood transfusion before September 1991 or blood products before 1986 in the UK may also be at risk of infection.

Other less common ways the virus is passed on include:
• from infected mother to baby, before or during birth
• through unprotected sex with someone who has the virus
• by medical/dental treatment abroad, where unsterile equipment may have been used
• by tattooing, ear or body piercing, acupuncture, electrolysis and semi-permanent make-up where unsterile equipment may have been used
• by sharing razors or toothbrushes that may have been contaminated with blood from someone who is infected.

Geoffrey Cleghorn, 61, was recently given the all clear after 12 months of treatment for hepatitis C.

“It just happened that I had to have a hepatitis C test for my job, otherwise I would never have known I had the virus. I used to feel tired and run down all the time, but I thought that it was just that I was getting older. Now that I’ve had treatment, I’m virus free and I feel brilliant and younger than I did before I was diagnosed. I’d urge anyone who thinks they might be at risk of hepatitis C to get a test.”
 

For further information on hepatitis C please go to www.nhs.uk/hepc or for confidential information and advice, call the Hepatitis C Information Line on 0800 181 4114 (textphone 0800 0850859). The Information line is open from 7am-11pm, 7 days a week.

To speak to someone who has been through the treatment, or who is living with the virus and for support to all those affected by hepatitis C, directly or indirectly, please phone the Hepatitis C Trust helpline on 0845 223 4424.

The Efamol Scientists
Nearly twenty years ago, scientists at the Efamol Research Institute first discovered that people with Alzheimer’s disease have lower than normal blood levels of the omega-3 fatty acid, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)1.

Over the next two decades, these results were confirmed by other research groups2 including one that found the disease became worse as blood DHA levels progressively dropped3. Others reported low brain DHA levels in patients with Alzheimer’s disease compared to healthy people4,5.

Research that matters
Nowadays, we know that people with low DHA status are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease. One of the first studies to report this involved 1188 volunteers who were followed for 10 years to assess development of Alzheimer’s disease6.

Those with low DHA levels at the start of the study had a 67 percent greater risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease later on. However, blood levels of another omega-3 fatty acid called eicospaentaenoic acid (EPA) which is also found in fish, were not related to disease development indicating that DHA status was most important.

Another study showed that people with high blood DHA levels are half as likely to develop dementia. It included 899 initially healthy volunteers of about 76 years of age7and showed that people with the highest blood DHA levels had a 47 percent lower risk of developing dementia, even when taking into consideration their body mass index, diabetes, high blood pressure, smoking and other known promoting factors. 

This study also showed that eating more fish, and specifically eating more DHA, can reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. Those who ate two or more servings of fish per week were 39 percent less likely to develop dementia, but those who ate less than that did not derive any benefit. Although oily fish contains both DHA and EPA, it was only the DHA that was responsible for preventing Alzheimer’s disease. At least eight additional studies have linked high fish and/or DHA intake to a lower incidence of dementia including Alzheimer’s disease8-16.

Studies in support of supplements
The first double-blind, placebo controlled trial to measure the effects of omega-3 supplementation included 204 patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease17. 

Patients were treated with either 1.7 g of DHA and 0.6 g of EPA or a placebo for 6 months, after which all received the fish oil treatment for another 6 months.

Brain function was measured using a variety of standardized tests and blood levels of EPA and DHA were measured before and after treatment. At six months, in a subgroup of 32 mildly effected patients treated with omega-3 fatty acids, there was a significant reduction in mental decline rate compared with the placebo group.  A similar arrest in decline rate was observed between six and twelve months in the placebo subgroup when receiving the active treatment.  Blood fatty acid levels of DHA and EPA were significantly below normal at the start of the study, but after six months of omega-3 treatment there was a 2.4 and 3.6 fold increase in DHA and EPA respectively.  After twelve months supplementation, both groups had similar blood levels of these two fatty acids.

This study showed that omega-3 supplementation delays the rate of mental decline in patients with very mild Alzheimer’s disease and stresses the importance of early supplementation as it could halt progression of the disease.

Last year, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study18 included 23 patients with mild or moderate Alzheimer’s disease and 23 with age related cognitive decline (a less severe form of mental deterioration that often eventually leads to Alzheimer’s disease).  They took either 1.8 g/day of Omega-3 (1080 mg EPA + 720 mg DHA) or a placebo for 24 weeks. 

Memory and brain performance tests including those measuring disease severity and progression of illness completed at the start of the study and at weeks 6, 12, 18 and 24 showed that improvements were more apparent in people with age related cognitive decline than in those with Alzheimer’s disease.

Those results tell us that supplementation needs to be started early in life to prevent development of more severe forms of memory decline which respond less favorably.

To conclude
Currently, 24 million people worldwide have dementia and 80% of those with age related cognitive decline are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease within 6 years19.  Omega-3 supplementation may be a cheap and simple way of reducing the likelihood and severity of this cruel and debilitation condition.

Efalex Active 50+, the first fish oil supplement specifically designed for the over 50s, contains a unique combination of ingredients known for their beneficial role in maintaining healthy brain function and performance, including Fish oils, Phosphatidylserine (PS), Ginkgo biloba, Vitamin B12 and folic acid. Available from Boots, Holland & Barrett, independent pharmacies and health food stores and online from www.efamol.com, Efalex Active 50+ is priced from £9.49 for 30 capsules. 

References:
1. Corrigan FM, Van Rhijn A, Horrobin DF. Essential fatty acids in Alzheimer’s disease. Ann NY Acad Sci 1991;640:250-2.
2. Conquer JA, Tierney MC, Zecevic J, Bettger WJ, Fisher RH. Fatty acid analysis of blood plasma of patients with Alzheimer’s disease, other types of dementia, and cognitive impairment. Lipids. 2000;35(12):1305-12.
3. Tully AM, Roche HM, Doyle R, Fallon C, Bruce I et al. Low serum cholesteryl ester-docosahexaenoic acid levels in Alzheimer’s disease: a case-control study. British Journal of Nutrition 2003;89:483-489.
4. Soderberg M. Edlund C, Kristensson K, Dallner G. Fatty acid composition of brain phospholipids in aging and in Alzheimer’s disease. Lipids 1991;26(6):421-5.
5. Prasad MR, Lovell MA, Yatin M, Dhillon H, Markesbery WR. Regional membrane phospholipids alterations in Alzheimer’s disease. Neurochem Res 1998;23(10):81-8.
6. Kyle DJ et al. Low serum docosahexaenoic acid is a significant risk factor for Alzeimer’s  dementia. Lipids 1999; 34:S245.
7. Schaefer EJ, Bongard V, Beiser AS, Lamon-Fava S, Robins S et al. The Framingham Heart Study. Plasma Phosphatidylcholine docosahexaenoic acid content and risk of dementia and Alzheimer Disease. Arch Neurol. 2006;63:1545-1550.
8.  Kalmijn S, Launer LJ, Ott A, Witteman JC, Hofman A, Breteler MM. Dietary fat intake and the risk of incident dementia in the Rotterdam Study. Ann Neurol 1997;42(5):776-82.
9. Barberger-Gateau P, Letenneur L, Deschamps V, Pérès K, Dartigues J-F, Renaud S. Fish, meat and the risk of dementia :cohort study. BMJ 2002;325:932-3.
10. Larrieu S, Letenneur L, Helmer C, Dartigues JF, Barberger-Gateau P. Nutritional factors and risk of incident dementia in the PAQUID longitudinal cohort. J Nutr Health Aging 2004;8(3):150-4.
11. Kalmijn S. Fatty acid intake and the risk of dementia and cognitive decline: a review of clinical ad epidemiological studies. J Nutr Health Aging 2000;4(4):202-7.
12. Morris CM, Evans DA, Tangney CC, Bienias JL, Wilson RS. Fish consumption and cognitive decline with age in a large community study. Arch Neurol 2005;62:1-5.
13. Kalmijn S, van Boxtel MP, Ocke M, Verschuren WM, Kromhout D, Launer LJ. Dietary intake of fatty acids and fish in relation to cognitive performance at middle age. Neurology 2004 62(2):275-80.
14. Morris MC, Evans DA, Bienias JL, Tangney CC, Bennett DA, et al. Consumption of fish and n-3 fatty acids and risk of incident of Alzheimer disease. Arch Neurol 2003;60(7):940-6.
15. Barberger-Gateau P, Raffaitin C, Letenneur L, Berr C, Tzourio C, Dartigues JF, Alpérovitch A. Dietary patterns and risk of dementia: the Three-City cohort study. Neurology. 2007 Nov 13;69(20):1921-30.
16. Albanese E, Dangour AD, Uauy R, Acosta D, Guerre M, Gallardo Guerra SS et al. Dietary fish and meat intake and dementia in Latin America, China, and India. Am J Clin Nutr 24 June 2009, doi:10.3945/ajcn.2009.2758.
17. Freund-Levi Y, Eriksdotter M, Cederholm T, Basun H, Faxén-Irving G, Garlind A, Vedin I, Vessby B, Wahlund L, Palmblad J.  Omega-3 fatty acid treatment in 174 patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer Disease: OmegAD Study. Arch Neurol 2006;63:1402-1408.
18.  C, Su K, Cheng T, Liu H, Chang C, Dewey M, Stewart R, Huang S. The effects of omega-3 fatty  acids  onotherapy in Alzheimer’s disease and mild cognitive impairment: A preliminary randomized double-blind,  lacebo-controlled study. Progress in Neuro-sychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry 2008;32:1538-544.
19. Chiu C, Su K, Cheng T, Liu H, Chang C, Dewey M, Stewart R, Huang S. The effects of omega-3 fatty acids monotherapy in Alzheimer’s disease and mild cognitive impairment: A preliminary randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Progress in Neuro-sychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry 2008;32:1538-1544.

EXTREME FISHING IN KENYA!
Follow In The Footsteps Of Robson Green With Your Own Extreme Fishing Adventure In Kenya.
Escape to Kenya and try your hand at a safari on the water, as demonstrated by Robson Green’s Extreme Fishing adventure airing on Channel 5 on 28th January at 9pm.  Kenya offers some of the finest deep sea fishing in the world with a huge variety of different species close to shore and also has an abundance of magnificent lakes to explore. Robson Green and the Extreme Fishing team visited Governors Mfangano Island Camp on Lake Victoria and Hemingways Resort Hotel, overlooking the stunning beach of Watamu Marine Park, 60 miles north of Mombasa.  You don’t have to be a seasoned angler to enjoy fishing in Kenya, beginners and professionals alike are catered for in the most captivating surroundings.

FIRST RIFT VALLEY MUSIC FESTIVAL – EASTER 2010
The Rift Valley in Kenya will come alive with music during the first Rift Valley Festival in Easter 2010 (3rd – 5th April) at Fisherman’s Camp on Lake Naivasha.  This three-day musical celebration will bring together local and international musicians as well as arts, crafts and culture.  Over 4,000 people are expected at the festival, which aims to secure a thriving future for the local communities in the Rift Valley region.  All profit from the festival will go towards a local project run by Water and Sanitation for the Urban Poor (WSUP), highlighting the importance of securing clean water and sustainable sanitation services for people within the region. www.riftvalleyfestival.com

WORLD’S RAREST RHINOS HAVE NEW HOME IN KENYA
At the end of December 2009, four northern white rhinos were re-homed in the wild in Kenya.  There were eight surviving northern white rhinos held in captivity at Dvur Králové Zoo in the Czech Republic and these four (two females and two males) were transferred to the Ol Pejeta Conservancy to encourage breeding and the hope of survival for the endangered species.

Being home to 81 black rhinos and some southern white rhinos, Ol Pejeta Conservancy near Mount Kenya, is East Africa’s largest Black Rhino Sanctuary and has been assessed to be the best possible location for the northern white rhino’s breeding project. Besides its proximity to the northern white rhino’s environmental stronghold, Ol Pejeta also offers well qualified and experienced staff to care for these species. The rhinos are fitted with radio transmitters in their horns to optimise security and monitoring.  The re-homed rhinos are: Sudan, a 32 year old male; Suni, an 18 year old male; Najin, an 18 year old female who is Sudan’s daughter; and Fatu, an 8 year old female.
KENYA ON SCREEN – 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF OUT OF AFRICA
Kenya’s wide open spaces and wildlife parks have formed a magnificent backdrop for a string of box office hits and tourism to Kenya has received a real boost from films. 2010 sees the 25th anniversary of the box office hit ‘Out of Africa’ starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford based on the real Karen Blixon’s life in colonial Kenya.

Jake Grieves-Cook, Chairman of the Kenya Tourist Board comments: “One of the best advertisements for Kenya was “Out of Africa” starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford, a box office hit seen by millions, which featured almost continuous footage of Kenyan wildlife parks and spectacular landscapes. Much of the film was shot against a backdrop of the Maasai Mara Reserve and thousands of film-goers who had seen Out of Africa ended up coming to Kenya for safari to the Mara. Today Kenya continues to attract increasing numbers of tourists coming on safari not only to see the Mara but also to visit some of the fifty other parks and reserves.

Tourism to Kenya is one of the country’s biggest foreign exchange earners, creating jobs for many thousands of Kenyans, so the country is keen to welcome more film-makers looking for a great location for making movies.”

ENGLISHPOINT MARINA DEVELOPMENT IN MOMBASA
EnglishPoint Marina is contemporary development on a four-acre beachfront site across the creek from the historic Fort Jesus and Mombasa Old Town on Kenya’s coast.  It will offer apartments, a hotel, restaurant, spa and gym, serviced marina, water-sport centre, boardwalk with retail outlets and underground car parking.
The luxurious apartments each have a balcony and views over the harbour, use of infinity swimming pool,  pool area with deck chairs and Jacuzzi, apartment management service, hotel services available with special arrangement, free membership to the nearby Nyali Golf Club.  The hotel will have 23 air-conditioned rooms, three suites, 24-hour reception, rooftop breakfast restaurant, rooftop meeting room and conference facility.
This complex will have East Africa’s first floating pontoon marina which will be fully serviced with on-berth supply of fresh water, electricity, internet, satellite TV, fuel, pump out facilities and slipway.   It has 88 berths from 6m to 30m with access to full hotel services.   Comprehensive facilities for water-sports including deep-sea fishing, scuba diving, snorkelling, sailing, windsurfing, kite-surfing, sea safaris and creek excursions are available to book through the complex.  Sustainability is key in the development of the complex with solar hot water, grey water treatment and recycling to reduce the demand on fresh water by 50 to 60%. 
www.englishpointmarina.com

ISLAND GETAWAY AT THE MAJLIS IN LAMU
Set on the exotic Manda Island in the Lamu archipelago located in Kenya’s North Coast, the privately owned The Majlis opened in October 2009.  It offers world-class, understated luxury, with 25 elegantly designed superior and deluxe rooms and four private villas.  The resort offers superb views of the beautiful Ras Kitau bay in front of the Shela village and 10 minutes boat ride from Lamu Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Each villa is constructed entirely with local white coral blocks and handcrafted timber, opening onto a private veranda with panoramic sea views.  Each suite is very spacious with traditionally high beamed ceilings, large windows and terraces offering a breathtaking view of the garden, the swimming pool and the Indian Ocean.  On site there is also The Majlis Restaurant which offers the finest food local and imported produce reflecting a subtle fusion of international dishes together with the best local tradition.

Lamu’s history is as mysterious and fascinating as the winding streets of its medieval stone town. The narrow streets remain unchanged and in the markets and squares around the fort, life moves at the same pace as it always has. There are no vehicles on this island and the donkey and dhow remain the dominant forms of transport.  After basking on one of the pristine beaches, visitors can take to the seas on a traditional Dhow boat which are still used by the fishermen today.  www.themajlisresorts.com

NEILSON’S NEW BEACHCLUB IN KENYA
Neilson opened its new ‘Beachclub’ in Kenya, the Mnarani Club in November 2009.  Located 50km north of Mombasa on the cliffs of Kilifi and overlooking the Indian Ocean, it is an idyllic location for a laid back beach holiday.  It also offers activities for adventure-seekers such as waterskiing, kayaking, deep sea fishing, mountain biking, golf, scuba diving and game drives. Neilson is also opening the first Royal Yachting Association recognised training centre in this area offering further watersports on tap including windsurfing and dinghy sailing complete with the best equipment, inclusive tuition and RYA courses.

The hotel itself offers 100 beds exclusively to Neilson clients, children’s activity clubs, a secluded and private sandy cove, an infinity pool and vibrant beach bar.  www.neilson.co.uk/kenya
For more information, visit www.magicalkenya.com or all the Kenya Tourist Board on 0207 367 0926.

The beautiful Cook Islands comprise of 15 islands randomly scattered across the heart of the South Pacific creating a breathtaking paradise for holiday makers wanting to get away from the everyday hustle and bustle back home.
With any visit to the Cook Islands be immersed with South Pacific passion. Cook Islands dancers are described as being among the best in the world and the traditional dancing is considered the most sensual and energetic dancing of the South Pacific. Visitors can see the best dancers during the annual Te Mire Kapa ‘Dancer of the Year’ festival for the junior and intermediate dancers taking place from 16 to 23 April and Te Mire Ura for the senior dancers on May 6th.
On July 11, the Cook Islands sees the natural wonder that is a Total Eclipse of the Sun. Visit the South Pacific island of Mangaia, laze on the beach and marvel as the phenomenon traverses a narrow corridor of the Southern Hemisphere.
The Te Maeva Nui Celebrations will be held on Rarotonga, the main island of the Cook Islands at the National Auditorium from the 2nd - 7th August 2010. This is the major annual cultural event of the Cook Islands and includes dance, chant and choir competitions as well as demonstrations of traditional arts. This is an event not to be missed.

Explore the Cooks during the 33rd annual Round Rarotonga Road Race, taking place in September. The Race attracts many overseas participants as it presents a selection of varied and fun events for all the family.  Apart from the 31km main race around Rarotonga, many further races are organised such as the 5km fun run which opens the event and where dressing up is essential! The main objective of the whole event is to have as much fun as possible and not to take anything too seriously.

From 19-26 November visitors can watch 200 paddlers from all over the world from countries such as Hawaii, Italy, NZ, Australia and Tahiti at the Rarotonga ‘Vaka Eiva Canoeing Regatta’.  This is a chance to see paddlers sharing and valuing the traditional significance and importance of the canoe to Pacific culture in a week of competition in one of the largest annual sporting events in the Cook Islands.
If you happen to miss any of the Cook Island’s annual events, never fear as every day is a party in the Cook Islands and visitors can catch a glimpse of the Cook Islands culture by attending an Island Night, which are run by most resorts. These events are a magnificent display of the local native costume and dance routines will get every visitor clapping. So no matter whether you want to take on the locals at their own game or simply marvel at the magnificence of their diverse culture, the Cook Islands are sure to deliver.

For further information on the Cook Islands go to www.cookislands.travel

A major crime operation which contributed to a significant number of caravan thefts in the last three years has been disbanded following the prosecution of a gang of four travellers.  HPI, the UK’s leading vehicle information expert, provided key information from the NCC’s (National Caravan Council) Caravan Registration and Identification Scheme, CRiS. Wiltshire Police, working alongside CRiS, uncovered a host of criminal activities which yielded a total of £970,000 of stolen vehicles, cash and jewellery.

“The evidence for the court focused on around 50 offences relating to caravan theft but there were many other offences we considered and did not pursue due to insufficient evidence”, comments Detective Inspector Matt Davey of Wiltshire Police. “We started the investigation after a spate of local offences but it soon became apparent there were further thefts throughout the United Kingdom”.

Valuable details of the stolen caravans provided by CRiS, assisted the police in attributing a small number of local caravan-related offences to a wider scale, national operation.

“CRiS is a crucial component of Police Force investigations into leisure vehicle crime”, comments John Lally, Director General of the NCC.

“When working alongside HPI, who can provide a wealth of exclusive information essential to the success of a massive operation like this, the results speak volumes.  HPI are committed to tackling vehicle crime”, commented HPI Alan Bishop, Industry Relations Director. “We would advise anyone looking to buy a caravan to carry out a number of essential checks beforehand. Undertaking a CRiS Check will uncover any discrepancies such as outstanding finance, if it has been previously ‘written off’ by an insurer or any discrepancy in keeper registration. The CRiS number should be etched on the windows of the caravan. We would also encourage buyers not to pay in cash, but rather through bank accounts for a more secure and traceable transaction.”

Laurence Beeken

Publication Date: 4th February 2010
RRP: £19.99, Format: Hardback, ISBN: 978 1 84425 729 4

The Chicken Manual provides a complete and easy-to-follow reference for those wanting to keep their own chickens for both food and pleasure.

The ideal companions to have in your back garden, chickens will provide you with an interesting hobby, plenty of fresh free range eggs along with the occasional roast bird. This combined with low maintenance costs (weekly feed bill is on average £1.50) and natural pest control is what makes chicken keeping more popular nowadays than at any time since the Second World War.

Aimed at the novice but also containing plenty to interest the experienced chicken-keeper, the Chicken Manual presents clear advice, tips, facts and step- by-step sequences, as well as plenty of relevant photographs and diagrams to ensure healthy, happy chickens that are both productive and cost effective.
Topics covered include:

* Getting started:  Choosing a breed, hybrids, other poultry, hatching your own.

* Daily care: Seasonal care, feeding and watering, housing, security from
predators, vermin       control, laying (types of eggs, selling, regulations),
first aid.

* Specialist information: Anatomy and plumage, colours and markings, breeding, incubating, showing, conservation, dispatching and dressing.

* Common diseases:  Includes simple diagnosis aids, biology, health, nutrition.

* Step-by-step procedures: Building a hen house, preparing birds for showing and using an incubator.

The author
Laurence Beeken has kept poultry for 20 years both as a back-garden hobby and for exhibition and showing. He has previously judged at National level and has sat on several international breed club committees. He has contributed to several magazines, covering all aspects of poultry-keeping, from egg to plate.
Laurence lives in Spalding, Lincolnshire.

Also available in the series.The Home-Grown Vegetable Manual, Steve Ott, £17.99, ISBN 9781844256495

The Chicken Manual and The Home Grown Vegetable Manual are available to order from Haynes Publishing on 01963 442030 or can be ordered online at www.haynes.co.uk.

In 2009 Keukenhof celebrated its sixtieth year and was visited by a record number of visitors (870,000). This year, from 18 March - 16 May, it is expected that approximately 800,000 guests from around the world will come to admire this beautiful spring garden in Lisse, Holland. ‘From Russia with Love’ is a multi-dimensional theme, hence presenting the Keukenhof with the enormous challenge of bringing this fascinating country with its imperial past to life in the gardens. Russian landscapes, a Russian inspirational garden, Russian wildlife in the children’s play area, the inevitable dacha and the matryoshka dolls will all provide the necessary ambience.

Authenticity and creativity will have a high importance in the exhibition, with three specially designed pavilions offering visitors sixteen permanent and varying indoor shows. Each garden will display a kaleidoscope of colours and designs, varying from romantic pastels and bright bursts of colour to powerful deep tints and patterns. Other highlights include ‘Ellen’s Outdoor Room’ garden which will contain a garden house straight out of a Russian fairy tale. Most of the flower bulbs will bear Russian names and the black tulip ‘Baba Yaga’ can be seen for the first time in Holland at this exhibition.

Since the park opened in 1949, over 43 million people have visited the Keukenhof. It has become one of the most popular attractions in Holland, attracting people of all ages. The nine week exhibition in 2010 promises visitors a unique ‘spring experience’, with thousands of tulips, hyacinths and daffodils in bloom alongside other carefully selected spring bulbs.
www.holland.com

The RHS Entomology team, based at RHS Garden Wisley, have compiled their annual list of garden pests, based on the enquiries by RHS members during the last year.

In second place were harlequin ladybirds; third place went to the infamous scarlet lily beetle; with vine weevil and chafer grub in fourth and fifth place respectively.

                                          
Harlequin Ladybirds                                                                                  Scarlet lily beetle

The cool, wet conditions of the 2009 summer were ideal for snails and slugs.

The non-native harlequin ladybird produced the second largest number of enquiries, although it is not a pest in the conventional sense.  Since its arrival in 2004, it has caused a nuisance by coming into houses to hibernate in the autumn.  It has also been given a bad reputation as a destroyer of native ladybirds and other aphid predators. 

RHS Principal Entomologist, Andrew Halstead, says ‘’Adult harlequin ladybirds and their larvae feed mainly on greenfly and other aphids, so are helpful to gardeners.  They will eat other insects if aphids are in short supply but it remains to be seen whether the arrival and spread of this new ladybird will have an undesirable impact on other aphid predators’’.

The plants that produced the greatest number of pest enquiries:

1 Lawns
2 Apples
3 Viburnum
4 Lilies
5 Pears

Lawns are usually the number one trouble spot in a garden.  The main problems are chafer grubs, moles, leatherjackets, ant nests and worm casts. 

Andrew Halstead says ‘’ Chafer grubs can be a severe problem for lawns, especially on sandy or chalky soils. The beetle grubs sever the grass roots, allowing foxes, badgers and crows to rip up the loosened turf in the autumn and winter.  These animals eat chafer grubs and so provide some control but the lawn can end up looking like a badly ploughed field’’.

The top 10 pests of 2009

 2009        

1 Slugs/snails     

2 Harlequin ladybird    

3 Lily beetle 

4 Vine weevil     

5 Chafer grubs    

6 Viburnum beetle   

7 Pear leaf blister mite   

=8 Ants    

=8 Rabbits     

9 Rosemary beetle

10 Capsid bugs  

The RHS offers a unique advice service to all its members. Gardeners can write, email or phone the Advisory service, or visit one of the four RHS gardens (Wisley, Hyde Hall, Rosemoor, Harlow Carr), to discover the answer to any horticultural question that is plaguing them. In the case of a pest, the Entomology department can offer gardeners a solution to their problem and advise them on the necessary action.

The RHS Entomology team are asking people to take part in an on-line survey of scarlet lily beetle, berberis sawfly, hemerocallis gall midge  and rosemary beetle.
For more details go to: http://www.rhs.org.uk/Science/Plant-pests

And the ease with which the Polanter (www.polanter.co.uk) delivers low- maintenance all-year-round blooming colour will ultimately establish it as the UK’s wall or fence-hanging planter of choice.

British-based horticultural innovators Nick Porter and David Ash came up with the Polanter  during a chance Winter discussion about dreary flower-free soil- filled hanging baskets. And as the discussion progressed, they quickly drew up the basic idea for a year-round low-maintenance vertical planting system.

Nick said,

“We knew we were on to something the moment we realised the hanging basket needed re-inventing.  We were looking out at neighbour’s houses in a winter street.  And it was a typically grey British day. And we remembered how the same street was a contrasting picture of floral colour for so many of the summer months.

“We commented that the hanging basket has been around for years without changing.  It’s a classic solution, but perhaps the time was right to devise an updated better solution?  And the Polanter was born.

The Polanter is making it’s world media debut at The Garden Press Event
(www.gardenpressevent.co.uk) The RHS Lawrence Hall on Thursday February 4th.
The UK manufactured product has a simple three-step process: Fill the Polanter with compost, insert Plants into the planting holes, and water using an innovative integrated watering system.

Polanter’s design allows for a host of all year round planting be it summer or winter bedding, alpines, herbs, vegetables or salad plants.  Also, its unique modular design feature makes Polanter easy to extend and adapt to suit your requirements.

Nick adds,

“We believe gardeners of all abilities, who get pleasure from hanging baskets, will be amazed at how much easier and more spectacular a Polanter is. It’s easy to assemble and plant up, low maintenance and easy to water.

“Polanter provides the perfect floral solution to any garden area, patio or balcony at an affordable price. And thanks to the unique modular design the sky is literally the limit when it comes to designing vertical plant arrangements to suit any sized wall or fence.”

Polanter is available in a range of four kits from 0.53m (21″) up to 1.85m (6ft) and in a choice of eight colours; blue, lime green, pink, lavender, black, white, terracotta and dark green. The kit comes complete with full instructions for siting the Polanter and all necessary brackets/fixings. With prices from MRRP £21.99 to £45.99.

Polanter is available to buy online from www.polanter.co.uk or telephone 0845
619 7266.