As winter approaches, it’s the perfect time to start getting your home and garden ready for the colder months. Whether it’s ensuring your home stays warm, preparing your garden to support wildlife, or managing local flooding risks, there are many simple steps you can take to make winter more comfortable and sustainable, without the need for expensive upgrades or purchases. This guide provides practical, no-cost and low-cost tips to help you stay warm, save energy, and protect both your property and local wildlife.
1. Practical Home Tips for Winter: Staying Warm and Saving Energy
Winter in a rural parish can be harsh, and while heating bills can add up, there are plenty of easy and cost-effective ways to keep your home warm without spending a lot of money:
- Draught-Proofing: One of the easiest ways to keep your home warmer is by sealing draughts. Use rolled-up towels or old blankets to block gaps under doors, and use newspaper or cardboard to fill cracks around window frames. If you have an unused fireplace, seal it off with a cover or even a sheet of cling film to stop cold air coming in.
- Layer Up: Instead of cranking up the heat, wear extra layers indoors. A warm jumper, thick socks, or even a blanket over your shoulders can keep you cosy without needing to use the heating as much.
- Maximise Natural Heat: During daylight hours, open curtains to let sunlight in and warm up your home naturally. When the sun goes down, make sure to close curtains or blinds to keep that warmth in and reduce heat loss through windows.
- Use Hot Water Bottles or Heated Pads: Instead of relying solely on central heating, a hot water bottle or electric heated pad can provide targeted warmth, especially on cold evenings or during the night. These are inexpensive and effective ways to keep warm in bed or while sitting.
- Cooking and Baking: During the colder months, use cooking and baking as an opportunity to warm up your home. The heat from your oven will naturally spread throughout your kitchen and nearby rooms. Plus, you get a warm meal or treat to enjoy!
2. Winter Garden Preparation: Supporting Wildlife and Biodiversity
Even in winter, your garden can play an important role in supporting local wildlife. Here are some practical steps you can take to help your garden thrive and provide shelter and food for local creatures:
- Leave Leaves: Instead of clearing away all fallen leaves, leave some in corners of your garden. They provide shelter for insects and small mammals like hedgehogs. If you have a compost heap, add leaves there to break down and enrich the soil for next spring.
- Create a Wildlife Habitat: Piles of sticks, twigs, or logs in a quiet part of your garden provide excellent shelter for small animals, including hedgehogs, frogs, and insects. If you don’t have a lot of space, even a small pile tucked in a corner will make a big difference.
- Feed the Birds: Birds need extra food during winter. You can make your own bird feeders by smearing peanut butter on pinecones, hanging them from trees, or filling old yoghurt pots with bird seed. You can also offer leftovers like breadcrumbs or apple cores. A shallow bowl of water will also help birds stay hydrated during frost and snow.
- Mulch Around Plants: Mulch made from leaves, grass clippings, or even straw can help insulate the soil around your plants and protect them from frost. It also keeps moisture in the ground, so plants are better prepared for the dry winter months.
- Prepare for Snow and Frost: If snow or frost is expected, cover tender plants with old blankets, sheets, or even cardboard to protect them from the cold. You don’t need to buy fancy covers; simple, free materials from around the house can do the trick.
3. Managing Flooding and Water Issues: Reporting and Preventing Flood Risks
Winter rains can cause flooding in rural areas, especially in low-lying fields and near watercourses. If you live in a flood-prone area, it’s important to take action and be prepared:
- Clear Drains and Gutters: Even in rural areas, blocked gutters and drains can quickly cause water to pool around your home. Take some time to clear out gutters and downpipes, removing leaves and debris. This helps prevent water from overflowing and causing damage.
- Use FixMyStreet to Report Local Issues: If you notice blocked drains, flooding, or waterlogging in your area, you can report these problems via FixMyStreet. The website allows you to easily report local issues such as flooding, road damage, or blocked drains to the relevant authorities. To report an issue, visit FixMyStreet, enter your postcode, and select the problem you want to report.
- Sandbags and Flood Barriers: If you are at risk of flooding, using sandbags or old sacks filled with earth can help to divert water away from your home. These can be placed around doorways or along garden walls to stop water from entering. In rural areas, where professional flood barriers may not be available, these DIY solutions can make a big difference.
- Create a Flood Plan: If your property is at risk of flooding, make sure you have a plan in place. This includes knowing where to go if you need to evacuate, keeping important documents in waterproof bags, and having an emergency kit ready. Keeping your wellies, a torch, and spare batteries in an easy-to-find place can also help in the event of an emergency.
4. General Winter Safety Tips for Rural Living
Living in a rural area can mean more exposure to severe winter weather, so it’s important to be prepared for the cold and potential storms:
- Prepare Your Vehicle: If you drive, make sure your car is winter-ready. Check the antifreeze levels, make sure tyres have sufficient tread, and keep de-icer and a scraper in the car. Rural roads can be icy, so it’s important to be cautious.
- Stock Up on Essentials: Rural areas can sometimes be affected by snow or storms that make it harder to get to the shops. If possible, stock up on non-perishable food, batteries, and basic supplies (such as toiletries and medicines) so you’re not caught short if a storm disrupts travel or deliveries.
- Keep Paths Clear: In winter, icy or snowy paths can become a safety hazard. Salt or grit can be used to prevent ice from forming on walkways. In rural areas, where pavements may not be regularly treated, this is especially important for your safety and that of visitors or deliveries.
- Check on Neighbours: In rural communities, where people may live further apart, it’s good to check on elderly or vulnerable neighbours during harsh weather, especially if they may struggle with getting out or staying warm.
Conclusion
By making a few simple, practical adjustments around your home and garden, you can make winter a lot more manageable without having to spend much money. From draught-proofing your home and supporting local wildlife to managing flood risks and keeping safe in rural conditions, small changes can have a big impact. Prepare your property and your family for the colder months, and you’ll be able to enjoy the winter season more comfortably, while also looking out for your community and the local environment.
