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How green a gardener are you?
Find out how environmentally friendly you are with WRAP's green quiz
1) What do you do with your garden waste, such as grass cuttings, prunings and leaves?a) Put it in my home compost bin
b) Put it in my recycling bin or take it to a recycling collection point
c) Throw it away in my ordinary bin/take it to the tip
d) I never cut the grass or prune any hedges so I never have any garden waste
2) Do you know what can be recycled in your local area? a) Yes, I know exactly what can be recycled in my area
b) I know some things can be recycled, but I’m not sure
c) Other than the bottle bank at my local supermarket I don’t really know
d) What’s recycling?
3) Do you have a home compost bin for recycling kitchen leftovers like vegetable peelings and used tea bags?a) Yes, I use it regularly
b) No, but I have been thinking about getting one
c) No, I throw it away in my ordinary bin
d) No, but I’m thinking about getting a goat to feed them to
4) Do you encourage wildlife in your garden?a) Yes, I do everything I can to encourage wildlife into my garden
b) I sometimes feed the birds
c) No, I actively discourage wildlife
d) I’ve no idea, there could be anything under all the overgrown plants
5) Do you use peat-free or reduced peat composts containing recycled materials in your garden? a) Yes, I always try to use peat-free or reduced peat compost
b) Yes, where possible I use peat-free or reduced peat compost
c) No, I never choose peat-free or reduced peat compost
d) I have no idea – I’ve never studied the bag
6) Do you look out for recycled products for your garden such as recycled plastic plant pots or furniture? a) Yes, I always try to buy recycled products for my garden
b) I sometimes make my own seedling pots from old yoghurt pots or paper egg cartons
c) No, I never look out for recycled products
d) I have a sculpture in the garden made out of empty beer cans if that counts
7) Do you try and conserve water when watering plants? a) Yes, I have a water butt for collecting rainwater or ‘grey’ water from the house
b) I use a nozzle on my hose to control the amount of water I use
c) Unless there’s a hosepipe ban I don’t really think about it
d) Are you supposed to switch your hosepipe off sometimes?
8) Do you try to be organic in the garden?a) I never use pesticides or chemicals in the garden
b) I try not to use chemicals or pesticides
c) I regularly use chemicals or pesticides
d) There’s nothing in my garden which hasn’t been helped along the way with a chemical or two!
Scores1a: 4, b: 4, c: 0, d: 0
2a: 4, b: 2, c: 1, d: 0
3a: 4, b: 2, c: 0, d: 1
4a: 4, b: 2, c: 0, d: 0
5a: 4, b: 2, c: 0, d: 0
6a: 4, b: 3, c: 0, d: 0
7a: 4, b: 2, c: 0, d: 0
8a: 4, b: 2, c: 0, d: 0
Results21 - 32 points: A keen green gardening machine!
You’re a great example of a green gardener. You are environmentally aware and your green-fingered efforts are really helping to make a difference. Keep up the good work and don’t forget the peat-free and reduced peat composts that you are using can contain recycled materials such as garden material and are great for your garden. Visit www.recyclenow.com if you’re looking for more inspiration about going green.
12 – 20: A lighter shade of green
You’re already taking steps towards going green in the garden. Go the extra mile by recycling all of your kitchen and garden waste by using a home compost bin or your local council services and getting a water butt to save rainwater. Try using peat-free or reduced peat composts – these often contain recycled garden material and are great for your garden. Log onto www.recyclenow.com/garden for more top tips.
0 – 11: The non-green gardener
Shame on you! Your scores suggest that you’re not very green in the garden and aren’t doing as much as you could be to help the environment. Try taking a few simple steps to get started, like getting a home compost bin so that you can recycle your kitchen and garden waste. Alternatively, check out our top tips for being green in the garden - log onto www.recyclenow.com/garden for more information.
This article was created: 4 June 2007.
This article was last edited: 19 June 2007.
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