Anyone know if there is such as thing as a "subsidised" water butt system? We are absolutely skint and in need of the whole kit (butt, lid, tap). Our local council (Lewisham) subsidise compost bins (£5 each) but no butts.
Failing that, if anyone knows where I can get one which is robust but cheap, please do tell. I am happy to order on the net.
Just answered that one in another thread - thames water do them. Not hugely cheap, but cheaper.
You could try local factories - they often have large plastic drums which they would only throw away, we got a huge one with a lid for nothing from a local food factory :) :).
I think the council schemes are way oversubscribed - ours advertised water butts for a tenner and when I phoned it took me about an hour to get through and they told me to go in the next day and pick one up but they'd all gone within a few hours :(
Wilko's have them for £10 & £15 each. I picked up one at the weekend...
Charlotte, if u r anywhere near Worksop, north notts, you can gladly have 2/3 of ours. we've got about seven altogether!!!
Aqui - I'll try phoning Thames Water then.
Unfortunately I'm in London so Nottingham is not practical (littlegem - though thanks for the kind offer!). I have never seen a Wilkos in the South, either. I used to love them when I lived in Loughborough for a while. My family are from around Notts/Staffs so I always visit Wilkos when I'm up there (which unfortunately is not very often).
Thanks all!
Wilkos is the best thing to come out of Worksop since Robin Hood - in fact I think it is the only thing to come out of Worksop since Robin Hood. ;D
LOL, Redclanger.
In case anyone else is interested, the Thames Water subsidised water butts are £14.95 a throw (includes tap, lid, 2 inlets). You can order online -
http://www.thames2u.com/thames/index.htm
Robin Hood was from Halifax, what on earth was he doing in Worksop, perhaps he shopped at Wilko's
Sorry - in family reference to Maid Marion and her Merry Men - children's programme starring Tony Robinsonb - very funny and an absolute crime that it was not on at Peak Time. But then again, I am the only person who liked Sunnyside Farm ;D
Try asking on the - freecycle website- www.freecycle.co.uk
Join the groups (free) that are within travelling distance of you.
People advertise or ask for things, it saves them having to throw things away.
Happy hunting.
Sorry ani - wrong link. Try this:
http://www.freecycle.org/
And, as usual the only Lincolns are all in America.
d**n, d**n, d**n.  Thoroughly frustrated now.  We're served by Southern and Mid Kent Water, both of whom advertise subsidised water butts from Blackwalls at £30 + p&p a throw, including lid, stand and fittings.  Thought I'd done well to find the Kent County Council subsidisy on the very same butt through same company but 5p cheaper and with no p&p (£5 saved).  Note to self: always try Wilko's first.  Yes, they have made it down south, Charlotte S: we've one in Canterbury.
Right, that's it then. I'm moving to Canterbury! :o ;D
freecycle sounds like a fun site, I'll be checking that one out later. 8)
There are Wilkos all over the place now - including London. Check out www.wilko.co.uk (http://www.wilko.co.uk) for their store-finder. We've got a big one in Kingston, that now has a large gardening section - I daren't go in for fear of buying everything!
My last one was a tenner from B&Q but that was a couple of years ago. Big, black thing which gets used a lot.
I wish I could find a source of lids to stop the mozzies breeding in the shed roof butt...
moonbells
Have a day trip to Antwerp and buy large wheely bins for £1.50. I got 4, great water butts.
Quote from: moonbells on June 28, 2005, 12:27:15
My last one was a tenner from B&Q but that was a couple of years ago. Big, black thing which gets used a lot.
I wish I could find a source of lids to stop the mozzies breeding in the shed roof butt...
moonbells
Try a few drops of washing up liquid - breaks the surface tension and drowns the larvae.
Quote from: wivvles on June 28, 2005, 12:37:35
Quote from: moonbells on June 28, 2005, 12:27:15
I wish I could find a source of lids to stop the mozzies breeding in the shed roof butt...
Try a few drops of washing up liquid - breaks the surface tension and drowns the larvae.
You really need to put that in tips if it's not already there!
thanks
moonbells
Quote from: redclanger on June 27, 2005, 17:22:04
Wilkos is the best thing to come out of Worksop since Robin Hood - in fact I think it is the only thing to come out of Worksop since Robin Hood. ;D
Quote from: Merry Tiller on June 27, 2005, 20:38:59
Robin Hood was from Halifax, what on earth was he doing in Worksop, perhaps he shopped at Wilko's
Well, I've been to Worksop and Halifax, but I'm living near Barnsley now.
Much nicer.
;)
Quote from: wivvles on June 28, 2005, 12:37:35
Quote from: moonbells on June 28, 2005, 12:27:15
My last one was a tenner from B&Q but that was a couple of years ago. Big, black thing which gets used a lot.
I wish I could find a source of lids to stop the mozzies breeding in the shed roof butt...
moonbells
Try a few drops of washing up liquid - breaks the surface tension and drowns the larvae.
A few drops of oil increases the surface tension and they cannot get their breathing tubes through - isn't it amazing how twi opposites can have the same effect - a bit like drowing in acid or alkaline I suppose.
Would a dustbin lid fit your water butt? I had an algal bloom in mine one year, followed by swarms of gnats. I dealt with it by sticking an old dustbin lid with a cutaway for the downpipe onto the thing and weighing it down with a brick.