The winter holidays always carry a symbolic meaning of family, togetherness, and helping each other. People go back to visit their hometowns and spend time with their loved ones. It is the time we look forward to and gladly reminisce after many years. However, many of us don’t have that
THE end of the Brexit transition period has passed, and with it many rules and regulations are changing across the board for many industries – including construction. Jonathan Oram, national framework manager at Pagabo, discusses the changes expected in public sector procurement following the UK’s departure from the EU. What
When creating a new 21st Century community at the scale of a traditional small market town (circa 4500 homes, large enough for a secondary school), the most critical element is its town centre – its beating heart – a thriving social and economic anchor, on which lies its success, writes
Sleep experts Dormeo believe everyone deserves a good night’s sleep and are passionate about finding ways to improve the UK’s sleeping habits. In response to UK Houseplant Week (10th-15th January 2021), Dormeo have gathered everything you need to know on houseplants and their effect on sleep. Search trends for natural
Owing to the pandemic there is a certain amount of uncertainty in the market but there are still opportunities for buyers with the necessary capital to buy new homes. If you are looking to purchase a new house, it is essential to improve your credit score and get all your
Ramboll, BAM and Sweco arrive in Antarctic to start BAS Construction season following strict Covid-19 measures The next stage of building a scientific support facility in Antarctica begins this week [11 January 2020]. To avoid the risk of introducing COVID-19 to British Antarctic Survey’s (BAS) Rothera Research Station, the construction
This month we ask Steve Blacker at award-winning property developers Kebbell to tell us a little more about a day in the life of a site manager. What made you first want to become a site manager? I was actually a carpenter but I was really intrigued about the running
Lakeside living is the dream of most of us, with a dock part of the attraction of moving to a waterside home. Choosing docks for a property should be done with care and with decisions made that suit your region. Whether you have an aging entry to your body of
For some, the life of a trucker is one they could never reconcile with; it’s demanding, tiring, you’re away from home for days, perhaps weeks at a time, and some would say it’s not great for your health either. Others look at truckers with envy, loving the idea that they
Building materials supplier CEMEX is pleased to confirm that the sale of its award-winning Attenborough Nature Reserve to the Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust has been finalised. The Trust has been keen to purchase the reserve for many years, and this has become possible thanks to a £750,000 grant from Biffa Award
The winter holidays always carry a symbolic meaning of family, togetherness, and helping each other. People go back to visit their hometowns and spend time with their loved ones. It is the time we look forward to and gladly reminisce after many years. However, many of us don’t have that luxury. Many are either unable to leave home due to medical issues or have no family members. As much as we want to spend our time with our families, what better time to give back than for the holidays? What Is A Caregiver? If an elderly person is having medical difficulties, both mental or physical, they need assistance with daily tasks. A senior may be unable to walk, has trouble with dementia, or just needs company from time to time, so they don’t feel alone. There are many complex circumstances that make them feel left out and sometimes even afraid. A person who would take care of them part-time or would be fully devoted to them can be two different types of caregivers – a paid professional and a volunteer. Volunteering as a caregiver is not the same as taking this obligation as a professional. Certified professionals are already in the know with all their tasks and various approaches to work. A volunteer, on the other hand, is just that – someone who wants to help someone physically and emotionally but has no educational background. Responsibilities Of A Volunteer Caregiver Having certain skills is very much welcome especially when they need daily assistance such as feeding, bathing, transportation, and others. If you want to be prepared as much as possible, do research and learn before deciding to take responsibility for an elderly person. They have to fully rely on you so consider proper training and certifications. If you plan on helping others in the long run, take up caregiving training such as certified nursing assistant (CNA). However, a legitimate certification in CPR and First Aid is a good start and makes a difference in emergencies. Training such as this one can be attended online, so you can be flexible with your time. Seniors who don’t have any medical issues also need our help. If they have no one to turn to for simple daily errands or for pure company, volunteers from their community take the role of a friend. Here the tasks would be running errands, walking, medication reminders, chatting, playing board games, and so on. Their mental health is equally important, so doing all these activities improves their cognitive function and their mood. Also, there are many cases where the elderly person became a significant part of a volunteer’s life. After some time spent together and sharing stories, caregivers consider them family and include them in important milestones. Benefits Of Volunteer Caregiving Firstly and most importantly, the main reason you should be volunteering is helping a senior in need. They will be thrilled to have you as a caregiver but also as a friend. On the other hand, there are a lot of advantages for the caregiver as well. You will develop social skills and increase your self-esteem which will work for you later, both in your private life and career. When you look after someone, you may realize you should be caring for yourself more and start prioritizing what is important to you. The amazing feeling of purpose shakes you up and shows you what life is all about – being good to yourself and helping others. We are caught up in the day-to-day tasks, work, school, and fast-paced life. The amount of stress nowadays is immeasurable and it takes a toll on our health. Working as a volunteer caregiver, you clock off from your problems and leave everything behind you, even just for an hour. You focus on the person you are taking care of and make sure your time together is well spent. Through different activities such as a simple walk and a conversation can significantly reduce stress, lower your blood pressure and bring your mind and body into a peaceful state. To Conclude If this is new to you and you want to contribute, start step by step. Go to your local volunteer community. They will introduce you to all the possibilities and how you should start. You’ll meet members who can tell you their background and how it has changed their lives. The experience will benefit both the volunteer and the senior person. With these programs, you’ll be able to help many elderly people this holiday season. The feeling of having someone to call whenever they need assistance or a chat makes them feel safe, welcomed, and important. It is good to know someone thinks you are a reliable, kind, and giving person.
THE end of the Brexit transition period has passed, and with it many rules and regulations are changing across the board for many industries – including construction. Jonathan Oram, national framework manager at Pagabo, discusses the changes expected in public sector procurement following the UK’s departure from the EU. What will change? Jonathan said: “From the beginning of 2021, we are no longer bound by the EU Procurement Regulations, but the public sector remains bound by the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (PCR2015). Initially, the main impact of Brexit on the procurement process is that all future public sector opportunities will be advertised on Find a Tender, which replaces the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU). “No longer bound by the EU’s regulations, the UK government has had the freedom to begin the process of reviewing the current suite of procurement regulations. The government’s ‘Transforming Public Procurement’ green paper – published last month – has some interesting thoughts around trying to bring public sector procurement into something that is more suitable for the sector as a whole, acknowledging that not one size fits all and that there are shortcomings in the current processes.” The proposals in the green paper are at initial exploratory stages, but procurement professionals will watch with interest to see how these will map into new policies in the future. Jonathan continued: “We are expecting to see amendments to PCR2015, most likely over the next 12 to 18 months – being re-released as PCR2022. There are already some additional requirements being implemented alongside the current PCR2015 requirements that tie into the government’s procurement strategies surrounding social value, carbon neutrality and SME engagements – with good examples of this being included in ‘The Construction Playbook’. “However, any future amendments would still have to be in line with the principles of the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA), which is an agreement for World Trade Organisation (WTO) members, including the UK. This would include embedding the principles of public procurement within the law and would expand on the three existing ‘EC Treaty’ principles of transparency, integrity, and fair treatment of suppliers to also include value for money, efficiency, and non-discrimination.” Increased flexibility will be key for the future of procurement Two areas that the green paper proposes are around updating and simplifying procurement procedures, as well as the types of resulting frameworks and dynamic purchasing systems, which will have the most impact. Jonathan said: “Within the procurement procedures, one of the more interesting proposals centres around what is being termed the Competitive Flexible Procedure. This would be similar to the existing Light Tough Regime, which is only applicable to procure specific social, health or other services. It would replace some of the existing procedures and give commercial teams the flexibility to design a compliant procurement process that meets both their needs and the needs of the market, which can only be seen as a good thing. “The green paper also talks about the possibility of open frameworks to introduce more flexibility. As it stands, frameworks are locked, meaning once suppliers are appointed there is currently no mechanism within the regulations to add on new suppliers during the term of the agreement. The proposed open type of framework would, at specified points, allow new organisations to bid, and for already appointed organisations to update their previously successful bid to reflect the prevailing market conditions. “The Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) process is also set to be reviewed once more. The rules were made more user-friendly in PCR2015 when compared to PCR2006, but the expansion of the scope and flexibility of DPS could see it fit for wider purposes, with the creation of DPS+. Dynamic purchasing systems are starting to become more prevalent and are proving to be a very useful tool for public sector organisations in supporting local and social value agendas.” Centralised data to support SMEs and greater accountability Jonathan also predicts a tightening up around the past performance of suppliers and how that may influence a bid, saying: “As it stands, past performance can be considered when looking at a bidder’s application for tender, but it remains difficult to exclude them because of it. “At the moment we have the ‘prompt payments’ league table, which will see a company reviewed should they fall off it. What we may see introduced in the future is a reversed form of this, with the building of a supplier list whose performance can exclude them from procurement activity.” As well as increased flexibility, the government is working towards a centralised procurement database, on which company details will exist and link together with tender processes. Jonathan said: “In reality, this is something that has needed to happen for a number of years. Making this standard practice will really help to reduce costs, as well as remove barriers for SMEs, and help with government initiatives to engage with these companies more on procurement activity. “There is a proposed requirement to provide more information throughout the life of a contract. This could be via an opensource data standard such as Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS), which is used by more than 30 governments around the world and would allow more transparency and quicker transfer of information. By having this openness, supply chains will be able to run more smoothly and ensure that the correct suppliers can be engaged at the appropriate points. “Overall, any changes that come in the next few years will be positive ones from which the public sector will greatly benefit from. The introduction of much more flexibility is the key and will allow procurement and built environment specialists to work together and ensure that the best results are delivered for clients on a truly case-by-case basis.” For more information, please visit https://www.pagabo.co.uk/
When creating a new 21st Century community at the scale of a traditional small market town (circa 4500 homes, large enough for a secondary school), the most critical element is its town centre – its beating heart – a thriving social and economic anchor, on which lies its success, writes Lord Matthew Taylor. In times gone by, towns would start up at a river crossing, crossroads or market square where travellers could rest and eat or simply wait for the ferry. Traders, innkeepers, blacksmiths, bakers and so forth would vie for the passing and resident trade. As demand grows, the street grows too alongside churches, schools, court houses and squares for markets and places to gather for public events and celebration. Over time, it becomes the High Street and the heart of the new town. England’s market towns are defined by these historic centres, with many traditional, although fewer modern, models to draw on. This was the vision of Ebenezer Howard, and delivered with the still thriving (and popular) centre in Letchworth Garden City, with a nod to Marlborough in Wiltshire or Faversham in Kent. Key Principles Looking ahead, I’d suggest four guiding principles for successful new Garden Communities: 1. A Clear Idea of Success The Garden Community Programme as a whole has to think beyond just attractive ‘homes and streets’. From the start there has to be both a clear vision of what success will look like, and even more critically, a clear, stage-by-stage delivery plan that will enable the sequencing and curation of this vision. 2. Human Scale Alongside this sense of place, communities that are planned with High Streets that are walkable, with densities that have an attractive, human scale urban form, are not just sustainable but also deliver better local commercial outcomes. Designing in focal points at the centre creates momentum of movement and patterns of behaviour, rather than losing people from day one to centres elsewhere. 3. Generating Local Economy Supporting a vibrant range of local enterprises and start-ups means including small premises with low rents, with low fit-out costs, below rateable value and suitable for a variety of uses. The best of these are proving not just resilient to the impact of the internet, but more and more attractive to locals. In Poundbury in Dorset, and Nansledan in Cornwall, an impressive range of shops, cafes and more were factored in at the start, with the early development curated to support and foster them. 4. Vibrant Settlements, not ‘Bolt-Ons’ The fundamental ambition of the Garden Community programme is to create new settlements that grow into vibrant 21st Century towns and villages – not commuter housing estates in the countryside. However, there is a notion that this historic quality and range of facilities cannot be delivered in a new community, and that the limited offer that can only be made viable late in the development, once significant housing has been delivered. Both views are a recipe for failure in place making. A wide range of shops and other facilities can thrive, if well planned, sized and priced for local entrepreneurs. creating the critical mass people will actually use. And this needs to grow with the community to establish patterns of internalisation and community from the earliest possible stages. Summary – Creating the beating heart In short, a successful community has to start with seeding a thriving centre. It will need to be planned from the beginning to grow this way, establishing a sense of place, and movement patterns that build local momentum. However, it does not rely purely on a backward glance to historic centres. New settlements such as Poundbury, with less than 1500 homes, have delivered distinct and successful retail neighbourhoods, coupled with a driving force of local entrepreneurs. Working out what that successful heart looks like, and then defining how it is sequenced and delivered, is the essential task. That is the only way to ensure that any new settlement, or major urban extension, meets the Garden Community ambition, the aspirations of the council, and above all what future residents will expect of a great community in the 21st century.
Sleep experts Dormeo believe everyone deserves a good night’s sleep and are passionate about finding ways to improve the UK’s sleeping habits. In response to UK Houseplant Week (10th-15th January 2021), Dormeo have gathered everything you need to know on houseplants and their effect on sleep. Search trends for natural remedies, plants and sleep have risen: SEOMonitor shows that searches for ‘home remedies for sleep’ has shot up 85% from this time last year, ‘natural sleep remedies UK’ has seen a 436% rise and ‘plant for good health’ has seen an increase of 133% ‘Bedroom indoor plants’ has risen 84%, and ‘bedside plants’ has shot up 250% Please find below Dormeo’s top five houseplants you should include in bedroom interior design to help achieve a peaceful night’s sleep: Lavender- Best houseplants for a deep sleep With a long history of medicinal use, studies found it not only improves sleep but energy, vibrancy and general wellbeing. Researchers also found that lavender increases ‘slow-wave sleep,’ often referred to as ‘deep sleep’ which plays an important part in memory consolidation and brain restoration. Perfect for helping you achieve a deep sleep, Lavender is proven to lower heart rate, blood pressure and stress levels. Lavender plants like to be kept warm and in sunlight, so make sure your plant is in a sunny location and don’t overwater! Aloe Vera- Best houseplants to purify the air Aloe Vera releases oxygen at night, helping improve air quality which means we get a better night’s sleep as a result. Aloe Vera is a succulent, which requires minimal watering as it retains moisture in it’s leaves – perfect for those who are less green-fingered. An additional benefit of Aloe Vera is that the gel from inside the leaves can be used to soothe skin irritations such as insect bites and burns. Peace Lilly- Best houseplants for increasing air humidity Peace Lilies are known for purifying our air and removing harmful toxins by clearing chemicals such as Benzene and Trichloroethylene from the air. Alongside this, peace lilies also add moisture to the air and can increase air humidity by up to 5%. This provides a better sleeping environment, as air that is too dry can irritate airways and even increase suffering from colds and other viruses. Peace Lilies grow luscious green leaves and beautiful white flowers, making them an aesthetic and useful addition to your bedroom décor. English Ivy- Best houseplants for allergy sufferers English Ivy is perfect for sufferers of allergies and those with breathing difficulties such as Asthma as the plant has been proven to remove indoor airborne mould, making breathing easier. Placing an English Ivy plant in your bedroom will surely improve the air quality for allergy sufferers but be careful, the plant is poisonous if eaten so keep away from kids and pets. Spider Plant- Best houseplants for a clear head NASA found the Spider Plant is excellent at purifying your air with tests showing that the plant is capable of removing 95% of harmful chemicals such as Formaldehyde, Benzene, Carbon Monoxide and Xylen from the air. Removal of such chemicals from the air can help reduce headaches and help you feel well rested and clearer headed when you wake. Spider Plants are also low maintenance and don’t require a lot of attention.
Owing to the pandemic there is a certain amount of uncertainty in the market but there are still opportunities for buyers with the necessary capital to buy new homes. If you are looking to purchase a new house, it is essential to improve your credit score and get all your finances and documents in order. The mortgage experts at Rex Homes Real Estate have some additional information on how you can turn your credit score around. Why Is It Is Important to Have A Good Credit Score? Credit score affects the amount you can borrow. Mortgage lenders always take the credit score into consideration when reviewing your mortgage application. A good credit standing is an indication to lenders that you are a good borrower and can be trusted to pay back the loan. An excellent credit score can help you obtain low-interest rates thereby allowing you to save thousands of dollars. How Can You Improve Your Credit Score? Multiple factors such as length of credit history, payment history, credit limit, and the amount you owe can influence your credit score. Here are 5 steps that you can follow to improve your credit score. Check for errors on your credit report Inaccuracies in the credit report can hamper your chances of mortgage approval. Some of the most common credit report errors include incorrect accounts, duplicate or fraudulent accounts, incorrect payment information, or outdated information. You should periodically check your credit score through the credit bureau and get any errors corrected by filing a formal dispute with the bureau. 2. Pay your debts and credit mix About 30% of your credit score is made up of your credit utilization which is based on the credit you have and the amount of it that you have used. If you have more than 25% of your credit amount in debt, then work toward paying your debts to get the amount down to less than 10% to boost your score. In addition to debt payment, a mix of credit also helps in increasing your credit score. 3. Pay your bills on time Your credit payment history usually accounts for 35% of your credit score. Late bill payments by just 30 days can reduce your credit score by almost 100 points. It is recommended to set up reminders and automatic payments to ensure that all your bills are paid on time. 4. Minimize your credit card spending It is best to start paying off your major credit card bills and keep your credit card utilization low in the months leading up to your mortgage application. This will keep your account balances in check at all times as you do not know when the lender will check your credit report. 5. Think before opening a new credit account New credit constitutes 10% of your credit score. If there are multiple credit inquiries in a short period, it may be a red flag to lenders as it shows that you are too reliant on credit. Hard credit checks can also lower your score. Hence, it is best to hold off on applying for new credit cards or taking out any large personal loans. If you are planning to buy a home, seek help from a good mortgage professional who can assist you in improving your credit score and finding the best prices based on your current credit.
Ramboll, BAM and Sweco arrive in Antarctic to start BAS Construction season following strict Covid-19 measures The next stage of building a scientific support facility in Antarctica begins this week [11 January 2020]. To avoid the risk of introducing COVID-19 to British Antarctic Survey’s (BAS) Rothera Research Station, the construction team spent two weeks in quarantine and had three Covid-19 tests prior to making the almost 11,000 kilometre voyage by ship. A 20 person-plus team from BAS construction partners BAM, Ramboll and Sweco is working on the second season of building the cutting-edge science and operations building. Construction can only take place during a short window during the Antarctic summer months, avoiding the harsh, dark winter. This season the team aims to complete the pre-cast concrete foundations, ground floor slab, rock anchors and stub columns, as well as drainage and the perimeter wall, before returning in December to complete the outer structure. The new scientific support facility, named the Discovery Building, commemorates the discovery of Antarctica just over 200 years ago. The project is part of the Antarctic Infrastructure Modernisation Programme (AIMP). Facilities in the new two-storey 4,500m2 building include preparation areas for field expeditions, offices, a medical centre, recreational spaces (music room and climbing wall) and science workshops. The Discovery Building has a unique design, such as a thermally-efficient envelope to minimise energy use, along with heat recovery generators and photovoltaic solar panels. It also has a snow and wind deflector – the largest of its kind in Antarctica – to minimise time spent removing snow accumulation from around the building. Bright, open-plan offices foster collaboration and improve health and wellbeing of staff living in remote locations. Roof lights increase natural light and reduce the effects of seasonal affective disorder (SAD). The project is delivered by the Antarctic Infrastructure Modernisation partnership, which includes construction partner BAM and their team, design consultants Sweco, Hugh Broughton Architects, with Ramboll acting as BAS’s Technical Advisers, with their team NORR architects and Turner & Townsend. Maurice Siemensma, Project Manager at BAM said: “We’re delighted to return for another construction season to Rothera, to undertake the installation of the foundations, the concrete perimeter walls, the underground drainage and completing the earthworks for the Discovery Building. Although this year’s construction season has been shortened, we have put together a programme to ensure we can continue progress on this crucial piece of infrastructure, which will support the construction works in the coming season substantially”. David Brand, Senior Project Manager at British Antarctic Survey said: “By working in collaboration with our construction partners and colleagues at BAS, we have planned this year’s construction season and overcome a number of challenges, including logistics and maintaining safety for our staff. This short season will see the completion of a vital stage of construction for this new facility at Rothera, which will help generations of scientists understand the future challenges of climate change.” The Antarctic Infrastructure Modernisation (AIM) programme is commissioned by UKRI-NERC (Natural Environment Research Council. It aims to keep the UK at the forefront of climate, biodiversity and ocean research and will last between 7-10 years and is worth an estimated £100m. Find out more information on the Antarctic Infrastructure Modernisation programme on the British Antarctic Survey website: https://www.bas.ac.uk/polar-operations/antarctic-infrastructure-projects/
This month we ask Steve Blacker at award-winning property developers Kebbell to tell us a little more about a day in the life of a site manager. What made you first want to become a site manager? I was actually a carpenter but I was really intrigued about the running of a site and how it all came together so I progressed to an assistant site manager position and have been a site manager now for 20 years. What skills do you need to be a site manager? A trade background gives you a head start. You need to be knowledgeable about the build process and have some IT skills, to understand what works commercially, be good at problem solving and have a good eye for detail. Strong communication skills, being a team player and a people person are really important. What are your main responsibilities? I am responsible for the day-to-day running of a particular construction project being developed by Kebbell. I have one eye on the timescales and another on the budget of a project, and I manage any delays or problems encountered and deal with all the sub-contractors. I like to get the best out of the people on site and our designs. Encouragement and quality are key. I keep a close eye on snagging and do daily inspections. Tell me about your typical day? Really every day is different depending on things like deliveries, weather, snagging, who is on site, the stage of the development and so on. There is a lot of travel involved because I live in Welwyn Garden City and drive every day, and occasionally at the weekends, to whichever site I am working from. I get to site usually about 07:20 and spend the first part of the morning checking all of the tradespeople are okay and are aware of what the priorities of the day are. I order materials, I might deal with local residents or councillors or health and safety officers. Building inspectors do frequent visits at key stages. At about 16:45 I finish on site having made sure everything is locked up and is secure and I then head home and start looking forward to the weekend. I enjoy a clay-pigeon shoot! What are the best and hardest things about the job? The best thing is definitely taking a development from muddy field to building amazing new homes and then seeing buyers and their families move in. I enjoy seeing it all the way through. The hardest thing is when unexpected delays occur. Sometimes contractors or suppliers can’t meet deadlines which means schedules get pushed out which can be frustrating. Kebbell have an exceptionally high requirement level for quality and sometimes tricky conversations have to be had with tradespeople. What have you been working on lately? I have worked at Kebbell for five years, most recently on a new development of 8, two bedroom apartments called Misbourne House in Gerrards Cross which is set to complete in early 2021. One of the main issues I had to deal with on this project was getting hold of the materials we needed during both national lockdowns. I am shortly moving to a new site at Iver which will be a bigger build as a collection of 39, two and three bedroom luxurious apartments in three blocks with basement parking. The bigger project means more tradespeople on site. I like the variety but don’t really have a favourite project although I enjoy high end developments because of the even greater attention to detail needed. What has been your proudest moment? I was chosen for an NHBC Pride in the Job Quality Award in 2019 for the work I did as Site Manager at our Aubury Place development in London. We got top marks from an inspector and then I was chosen as award winner by a director of NHBC. We went to the awards dinner in Brighton and it was one of my proudest moments. How long do you stay on a project at any one time? It really depends on the size and build of the project. For example, I spent three years working on Aubury Place but just one year at Misbourne House. How has Covid-19 affected your job? It has mostly affected our suppliers and several times we have been close to the wire like nearly running out of roofing materials! As Misbourne House is made up of eight apartments social distancing was easily achieved by the tradespeople working separately in each apartment. What do you think makes Kebbell different from other housebuilders? Everyone at Kebbell is a team player and we always strive to deliver the best homes possible. We are always looking for any opportunities to enhance a house. For example, if it is possible to create a little more storage or change the position of a TV point, to maximise the flexibility of a room, we will take the time and effort to do that. It is often me who sees these opportunities whilst we are building so I will consult with Nick Kebbell, our Managing Director, and the rest of the team and together we perfect the change. We always think about how people will actually live in our homes and constantly question “would I be happy with that in my house?” If the answer is no then we make any changes necessary to turn it into a yes! What do you think makes a house a home? Family is what makes a house a home. To find out more visit https://kebbell.co.uk
Lakeside living is the dream of most of us, with a dock part of the attraction of moving to a waterside home. Choosing docks for a property should be done with care and with decisions made that suit your region. Whether you have an aging entry to your body of water that needs to be replaced or is shopping for docks for the first time, you will need to follow some simple rules. The options to consider include your plans of use and the type of weather you face. Consider your Plans Before you start shopping for docks, you should take some time to decide what you plan on using your entrance to the water for. There are several reasons why this is a good option for you and your family, including the chance to enter the water safely. Mooring boats is not the only reason why you will want to install docks at your lakeside property. Swimming in a lake is safer when you have a properly installed entrance point to the water. Cabin Life reports the inclusion of a sundeck and ladders to allows easy access to the water are popular additions to docks around the U.S. Other reasons why you could want to install docks at your property include having a secure location for fishing. Enjoying the ease of access to the water for fishing, photography, and access to the water provided by docks can add value to your lakeside home. Homeowners looking for a place to moor and store a boat need to make sure the chosen addition is long enough to house your chosen boat. Consider Rules and Regulations There are many rules and regulations at lakes around the nation regarding the installation of different docks. If you have chosen to live at a lakeside home in a private community your choices are limited by HOA rules. The rules and regulations at private lakes cover many areas, from size to construction materials, with floating designs the most popular. State and local regulations can change the way you approach the construction process. In some areas, you can ask a neighbor or your realtor about the rules of living on the lake. A call to the local government will improve your chances of avoiding problems when you apply for a permit to start construction. What Type of Dock to Choose? Once you have decided why you are looking at docks and what type you can install, your attention should turn to the options you can choose. The first option is the floating dock, which is popular in areas of the country where the water levels of a lake fluctuate by a large amount. Floating docks are used in lakes where the bottom is mud and unstable. Deepwater lakes are the site of floating docks because of the difficulty of installing other types, according to Cottage Life. The most expensive option for you to install at your lakeside home are permanent docks. These are expensive because of the difficulty of installation that must be carried out by a qualified professional. Permanent docks are a good option for parts of the nation where there is little risk of ice. Damage can be caused by the buildup of ice around permanent docks that shifts the metal frame drilled into the bottom of the lake. Other options to consider include pipe options built from aluminum materials. These docks are popular because they are constructed in straight lengths. Pipe docks can be constructed with sundecks and entertaining areas that suit your needs. In parts of the nation where ice and snow are a problem, you need to consider the use of lift-up docks. Docks are installed in areas where ice and snow are a problem requiring the ability to be winched out of the water each winter and their deck removed. Think about the Shoreline The shoreline around your lakeside property plays a role in any decision you make regarding the installation of docks and other additions. Some construction specialists use their skills to create a permanent base on the shoreline to ease the installation process. The installation of a stone wall on the shoreline of your lakehouse will make it easier to install docks of any form held firmly in place with a metal plate. The use of a metal plate is a good option for those areas where a lift-up structure is desired. A qualified construction expert will examine your property to make sure the correct choice is made for the type of docks you are considering. A long, sandy beach allows experts to install several kinds of docks that are placed permanently. The choice between different docks is one that needs to be explored in detail before a final decision is made about your property. Choosing between different docks is made simple when you are sure about the options working best for your needs.
For some, the life of a trucker is one they could never reconcile with; it’s demanding, tiring, you’re away from home for days, perhaps weeks at a time, and some would say it’s not great for your health either. Others look at truckers with envy, loving the idea that they can have complete solitude as they work, enjoy a great deal of flexibility, and get paid well for the privilege. If you’re thinking of becoming a truck driver, it’s wise to work out which of these two camps you fall into – or rather, which of these two camps is correct. In truth, there is a little bit of accuracy on both sides, which is why trucking isn’t for everyone. Read on to find out if it might be for you. Early Starts And Long Days If you like driving, and you’re able to do it for long stretches at a time, you may be well suited to the trucking lifestyle. Truck drivers often work 70-hour weeks (over eight days, that is). You can’t, of course, drive for more than 11 hours each day, and you have to have a 10-hour break each night. This means some early starts to get in enough driving hours, especially if you need to get to a destination before it closes for the night. Although this might seem like a hardship, the fact that, to some extent (and certainly if you’re freelance), you are free to run your own schedule as long as you stick to the rules is always a benefit, and having to take 34 off between working weeks also means that you can have plenty of downtime. Beautiful Views Even if you’re going to be in the cab of your truck for a number of hours each day, the fact that you can enjoy some of the most stunning views from an elevated position means that you really can enjoy every second. For some, driving is a bore and something that they will only do when they absolutely have to, but for a truck driver, it’s a pleasure. Driving a truck is much more enjoyable today than it has ever been. With so much automation and driving tools included in each vehicle, and so much attention to detail given to the design (the designers know that those using these trucks will be sitting in them and driving for long periods of time, and often sleeping in them too, not to mention cooking and eating), driving a truck can be a highly comfortable experience. In High Esteem Truck drivers are often held in high esteem. There is something exciting about them, especially as they can see so much of the country and experience so many things as they go about their daily work. There are even specialist truck accident lawyer companies that will help truckers if they are involved in an accident, as well as a national appreciation week. If you like the idea of always having a story to tell and of being appreciated wherever you go, maybe the life of a trucker will suit you perfectly.
Building materials supplier CEMEX is pleased to confirm that the sale of its award-winning Attenborough Nature Reserve to the Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust has been finalised. The Trust has been keen to purchase the reserve for many years, and this has become possible thanks to a £750,000 grant from Biffa Award and public backing for the Trust’s Attenborough Lifeline Appeal. Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust, which has managed the site for over 50 years, launched its Lifeline Appeal campaign for funding to purchase the reserve in November 2019 – following the end of CEMEX’s commercial sand and gravel extraction which helped shape the site for almost a century. It is now a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest. Such is the popularity of the nature reserve, an area of restored former sand and gravel quarries alongside the River Trent south of Nottingham, that the charity reached its ambitious £1 million target in a matter of weeks – enabling negotiations over the sale of the site to begin. “After more than half a century of partnership, we are enormously pleased to see the transfer of this amazing and award-winning site to the Trust being completed. To see Attenborough evolve into such an important nature reserve in such close proximity to major population centres has been most rewarding. Our partnership with the Trust – which has included the establishment of the impressive Visitor Centre with support from the company’s own Landfill Communities Fund – has been a major success and we look forward to the Trust taking ownership as the site moves on to the next phase in its development,” said Stephen Redwood, Land Development and Permitting Director for CEMEX Europe. Now, with contracts signed and exchanged, Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust is planning for the long-term future of the site, which provides a safe haven for over 1,000 species including otters and bitterns and welcomes an estimated half a million visitors each year. Since being opened by Sir David Attenborough in 1966 Attenborough Nature Reserve, situated on the edge of Nottingham, has become one of the best loved nature reserves in the UK. The Trust has worked closely with CEMEX over this period to create a reserve which is an excellent example of how industry can work with conservation bodies to create a site high in biodiversity which is of national importance. Speaking on behalf of the Trust, Chief Executive Paul Wilkinson said: “The support of Biffa Award and the backing of the public and our supporters has delivered a prize that we have been working with CEMEX to achieve for some time. Attenborough is a cherished site, where so many come to connect with nature. Our aspiration has always been to take the site into our ownership so that we can plan for its long-term future and that future begins today. We would like to say a heartfelt thank you to everyone that has made it possible including Biffa Award, our supporters and CEMEX.”