BBQ fish is a healthy alternative to fatty meats

If you eat more than usual, focus on the meat and dodge the green salad, then you will pile on the pounds. However help is at hand as there are healthy ways of having a barbecue.

Before the summer is over, fire up the BBQ one more time and follow these simple tips for creative calorie controlled cuisine:

1. Reduce the fat. Instead of bangers and burgers, try a bit of trimmed steak or skinless chicken. Fish is another great alternative to fatty meats, chunky fish like tuna is ideal or wrap a piece of salmon or trout in some tin foil with lemon and herbs.

2. Use more vegetables. Swap your pork kebabs for vegetable kebabs. A few peppers, mushrooms, onions, squash and tomatoes all go well on a skewer and taste even better when marinated.

3. Fruit kebabs are delicious. Try threading some pineapple, orange, apple and banana onto a skewer and flame for a minute each side. The smell and flavours make them tasty desert.

4. Marinades for healthy flavour. Not only does a good marinade vastly improve the taste, but olive oil and citrus juices have many health benefits.

5. Greener salads. Potato salads and coleslaw are tasty and popular bbq side dishes but they are not very healthy. Try mixing up a crispy green salad with rocket and sweet tomatoes, or create a tasty morrocan style cous-cous for a fat free feast.

6. Reduce salt. Embrace your creative culinary taste buds and sprinkle on some herbs or shake out some spices. Salt and pepper are not the only way to add flavour.

7. Cook with care. Let the flames die down before adding your meat. This way it’s more likely to cook thoroughly instead of going black on the outside and pink in the middle. Patience will pay off with tasty well cooked food and no upset stomachs.

8. Think hygiene. Make sure your grill is clean before cooking. Keep cooked and uncooked meats separate. Wash hands regularly.

9. Eat less. The simplest way to control the calories. Many people feel obliged to eat more at barbecues but fight the urge. Eat as much as you would normally.

10. Cook less. Most people cook enough to feed a small army no matter how many people are eating. Choose quality instead of quantity. A few hand-made burgers or carefully crafted kebabs will satisfy appetites and taste-buds better.

Hopefully with these top ten tips in mind you can enjoy a more tasty, healthy and satisfying BBQ this summer.

Browse our blog for more BBQ safety tips and BBQ recipes.

Wellies are making a splash in modern fashion

Traditional wellies have come a long way in terms of style. In addition to being available in every pattern and colour imaginable, there are new options like wedge heels, high heels, lace-ups and ankle lengths too. These sleeker designs give wellingtons a more urban feel.

Perfect in both form and function, fashion wellies keep your feet warm and dry while still looking fashion forward. Ankle wellies worn with shorts is a particularly hip combination (though not ideal for those fun puddle jumping excursions). Tall slim-fitting wellington boots look terrific paired with skirts and even shorts for the spring and summer seasons.

Slimmer fits are also crucial for creating elongated leg lines. Chunkier styles break up the silhouette and make you appear shorter. The same concept applies for contradicting colours. For the best effect tuck trousers or tights into wellingtons of the same colour to make yourself appear taller and thinner.

With more modern and playful styles available now, wellies can be worn in slightly dressier ways. Add a funky pair of bright wellingtons to a simple solid coloured dress for a pop of personality. Just as easily you can dress up a simple pair of khakis or cargo pants with a pair of high-heeled wellies.

Men can wear wellingtons with jeans in a dark wash with a polo shirt or a collared button-down for a modern casual style. No matter how you choose to wear them, your wellington boots are guaranteed to keep your feet and your fashion sense happy.

Betsy - one of the stars at Little Pond Farm

Creator Terry Golson has been keeping chickens for over a dozen years and has been writing her Henblog for over four years.

In that time there have been many comings and goings, which have created a colourful catalogue of animal adventures.

Terry is considered a chicken celebrity by many and has become a well-known advocate for backyard poultry keeping. She has penned a well-known children’s book Tillie Lays an Egg together with a handful of healthy cook books.

Accompanying the Henblog is Hencam which provides constant video coverage of Lulu, Buffy, Betsy Ross, Coco, Petunia, Tina Turner and Siouxsie – the stars of Little Pond Farm.

There is loads to see, do, learn and hear with recipes, new ideas, videos, walk-throughs, competitions and chicken ring-tones! Freezing basil paste into cubes is just one of a number of innovative and fresh ideas on offer at the Henblog.

Even though Terry and her hens have a hectic celebrity lifestyle, stardom hasn’t kept them from making regular entertaining posts and Hencam appearances.

For it’s showbiz, multi-media and most importantly entertaining content, Henblog is our chicken keeping blog of the week.

Kids wellies are perfect for pouncing on puddles

Wellingtons are rubber boots that cover up to the knee or they can be ankle length. Kids wellies come in a range of fabulous colours and funky designs, making splashing about even more fun.

For warmer weather, non-lined wellington boots will keep you kids feet cool. However, when winter arrives you may want to invest in a pair of lined boots or welly warmers to keep those toes cosy.

Wellingtons are a great addition to any kid’s closet because, not only are they hard-wearing, they clean up easily as well. Your little guy can stomp through the biggest mud pile or jump into every puddle on the block if he so desires. All you have to do when he is finished is rinse them off and store them somewhere to dry. They will be as good as new for your next outdoor adventure.

If functional footwear is not your thing, then you’ll probably have to buy them for fashion. Anyone with a style conscious daughter will tell you that wellies are the way to go this year. As wellies are all over the pages of every one of her favorite magazines. They look especially cute when they are paired with jeans or skirts. She will love the funky designs and colors to choose from. Wellies are practical and pretty, during the colder months they will cover the bottom half of her legs and look cute paired with tights.

When choosing a pair of wellies for your kids, be sure that you love them as much as they do. After all, they will not wear out before your child grows out of them and your child will probably want to wear them everyday.

Beware of garden threats to your pets

Some home owners are adding the chemicals to their water features to prevent the water from freezing during the winter months. Water expands when frozen and can create cracks in plastic, stone or ceramic water features.

A spate of deaths has prompted the RSPCA to urge anyone that has put anti-freeze into their water feature or fountain to drain the water as soon as possible. The chemicals are terribly detrimental to the internal organs of a dog or cat, especially to their liver and kidneys, and can quickly kill any small animal.

Unfortunately, the garden hosts many hidden threats to pets. So we have tried to round up the regular culprits to help protect your furry friends.

Slug bait is very poisonous

Snail and slug bait is very poisonous to all pets and can cause death in as little as three hours. There are other options to keep the slugs at bay. Instead of pellets try placing copper rings around pots or planters. Scattering broken egg shells around your plants is another popular slug deterrent.

Cocoa mulch can be potentially deadly

Many varieties of this mulch contain cocoa beans. Cocoa contains theobromine and caffeine, both can be potentially deadly to dogs and cats. It is much safer for pet owners to use mulch manufactured with cedar or other products as these are not poisonous to pets.

Ragwort the toxic weed

This is a common yellow flowered weed found in rough pastures. It is highly toxic to many animals, especially to cattle and horses. It can cause kidney failure and liver damage in cats and dogs, even minute doses can be fatal.

Keep pets away from fertilisers

Pets walking or playing on grassy areas treated with fertilisers can develop skin irritation and rashes. The common symptoms of pesticide or fertilizer poisoning in pets are increased heart rate, unsteady gait, foaming of the mouth, difficulty in breathing, vomiting, seizures and collapse.

Threat from foxes

Foxes are a threat to smaller animals such as rabbits and guinea pigs but they have also been known to attack cats and dogs. They typically enter our gardens through gates and under or over fences, so we can prevent this by securing our gardens. At night always remember to secure small pets safely in their hutches and never leave them unsupervised while out of their cages.

Beware of stinging insects

Wasps, bees and hornets can give your pet a nasty sting. Dogs and cats sometimes eat these stinging insects, and can occasionally be stung in inside their mouth or throat. If you suspect there is a nest in your garden then contact your local council or an independent firm to have it removed.

Toads secrete poison when threatened

When certain species of toad are threatened they can secrete an irritant poison that will hurt a curious pet’s tongue or skin. If cases like this, rinse the affected area with lots of water and phone the vet as soon as possible.

Herbicides harmful when swallowed

Some herbicides and weed killers can harm pets if accidentally swallowed. Pets may absorb the chemicals through the skin, either directly through spillages or indirectly from a walk through treated plants.

Prevention is the key to protecting your pets from any dangers in the garden. Make sure your garden is safe and secure and keep your pets well away from chemicals or poisonous plants.

Ankle wellies - available in fashion conscious fuchsia

They provide all the toughness, comfort and protection of a full length welly but look incredibly chic instead of clumsy. So if you’re not planning to wade through rivers or wallow knee deep in mud, ankle wellies are the sensible lightweight alternative to full length wellingtons.

Ankle wellies are perfect for puddle protection, pottering in the garden, mucking out the horses or simply walking the dog. On occasions where your usual shoes are likely to get damaged or dirty, but wellington boots are a bit overkill, ankle wellies are the best option.

The beauty of the ankle wellie is it can easily be slid on and off, making it perfect for a quick trip. Ending just above the ankle, they offer protection and support for your feet in slippery, rough terrain. Wellies are wonderfully waterproof, strong and comfortable making a wet walk in the garden or shops a more enjoyable experience.

Ankle wellies are available in a variety of colours and designs from the classic gardeners green to a fashion conscious fuchsia. Prints, stripes, spots and even colourful characters are all used to create personalized wellington boots that you’ll want to wear everywhere.

If your looking for some hard-wearing, all-weather, toe-warming, funky footwear then ankle wellies should be at the top of your list.

Wellies are footwear favourites in all walks of life

The earliest wellington boot dates back to 1817. When an order was made by Arthur Wellesley, the first Duke of Wellington, for a pair of calf-length leather boots.

Today’s rubber version of the footwear had to wait until 1856 to be made. The Green Hunter and Royal Hunter styled wellingtons that are thought of as ‘classic wellies’ were introduced over a century later in 1958. Despite the boot’s modifications during its long and varied life, the name ‘Wellington’ has endured.

For over half a century, the wellingtons’ comfortable dry insides and tough exteriors have been a firm favourite among gardeners, farmers and all those making the most of outdoor life.

The trusty wellington ‘work boot’ has become a fashion statement in recent years. This has been brought about by an eclectic mix of real and fictional characters. It has also boosted the boot’s popularity far beyond the gate latches of Britain’s country gardens.

When Paddington Bear moved from the storybook to the toy store, he acquired his wellingtons to help him stand without toppling. As Paddington reveled in the puddle splashing moments of childhood, the rest of the world recognised him as the teddy with the wellies.

Madonna wore wellies in a music video. A few years later, Kate Moss showed up at the Glastonbury music festival in hers. Festival-goers responded by adopting wellington boots as the unofficial uniform for concerts.

Millions of readers learned that the Weasley family of Harry Potter’s wizarding world kept their wellington boots on steps by the back door. In the final book of the series, Xenophilius Lovegood ’sat down, his wellingtoned legs crossed’ before asking Harry how he could help him.

Wellington boots are now known and loved around the globe. Wellies have become favourites for all functions, from royal regalia to farmers footwear, festival fashion to wizards wellies, they’ve even been used as wedding attire. Anyone who enjoys the outdoors for any reason, finds wellies are fun and functional footwear.

Garden plants brighten your outdoor living space

There are a few things you need to think about before getting your hands dirty.

Knowing the soil type, sun exposure, and irrigation is the key to successful garden planting. Then you need to consider the size and type of garden plants, for maximum coverage and colour all year round.

Soil quality

Before you go to a garden centre to purchase your plants, consider your soil type. Sandy soil tends to drain quickly, clay soil drains water very slowly, and loam soil tends to regulate water absorption depending on the types of organic material found within the soil. Once you have identified the type of soil, you can find plants that will work best in your garden.

Sun exposure

Before choosing garden plants, determine the amount of sunlight your planting area receives. If the area gets a full 6 hours sunlight per day, then many roses and certain perennials such as coleus thrive in direct sunlight.

For areas that receive between 4 and 6 hours of sunlight per day, flowering shrubs such as rhododendron or annuals like chrysanthemums grow well in partial sunlight.

Partial shade areas are only exposed to 3 to 5 hours of sunlight per day, while full shade areas only get between 1 to 2 hours of sunlight per day. Hosta and begonias grow best in full to partial shade.

Watering and drainage

Consider installing irrigation if you choose garden plants that need moist soil. For plants that need drained soil, be sure to provide adequate drainage by either mixing in bulky organic matter, shaping the soil to create ditches or install drainage pipes.

Garden space and plant sizes

Consider the space in your garden and planting area. If the space is rather small, plants such as small flowering perennials may be a good choice. For larger areas, you have many options such as trees, bushes and shrubs that fill the largest of spaces, or simply more plants. It is important to leave enough room between plants so they are not overcrowded once they reach their mature size.

Perennials and annuals

Annuals typically live only one year. They are inexpensive and popular plants, often found in packages of 4 or 6 plants. They are a quick and easy way to add colour to any outdoor space and can have a longer blooming cycle if the flowers are removed as they fade. Common annuals include periwinkle, marigolds, petunias, and sweet peas. Annual garden plants grow best in rather rich soil with a minimum amount of fertilizer.

Perennial plants return each year, growing in size and maturity. After approximately 3 or 4 years, many perennials lose their vitality. Perennials can be divided in order to grow and produce new plants or can be grown from cuttings or seeds. Common perennials include carnations, delphinium, peony, and salvia. When planting perennials, remember that the plant will continue to grow in the same spot for many years. The soil must be rich enough and have proper water and drainage to sustain the plant for several years.

It’s usually best to plant a mix of perennials and annuals for flowering throughout the year.

House plants add colour and create a relaxing environment

Many house plants can adapt to challenging indoor environments. If your home is short of sunlight or you have little time for watering, there is still a house plant for you. The secret is to choose a house plant that fits both with your lifestyle and your home.

Considerations before buying

First, you should determine how your lifestyle will effect the care of the plants. If you lead a busy life, you should choose more hearty and resilient plants. If you are home more often, you can choose a house plant that requires more maintenance and care.

Second, consider the lighting in your home. Some plants prefer a place with direct sunlight, others will thrive with only artificial light.

Third, consider the size of the plant when mature. Your plant may look great in a hallway when purchased, but it could soon become an obstruction as it grows.

After you carefully consider these factors, you can pick out plants that will look great and grow well in your home.

Plants for a busy lifestyle

If you have a very busy schedule, consider house plants that require little maintenance, such as a jade plant, spider plant, or ZZ plant. These plants are striking and require little watering, fertilizing or natural light.

The jade plant produces beautiful foliage that only becomes more attractive with age. The spider plant produces small white flowers and prefers bright but indirect sunlight. The ZZ plant is a great accent plant and tolerates low light, rarely needs fertilizing, and is very forgiving if you forget to water.

These plants are a pleasant and great alternative to the traditional cactus plant, which are commonly thought to be the only plants that grow with little sun or water.

Plants for low or artificial light

Low light simply means very little sunlight. Low light locations often get only morning sunlight, which is much cooler than afternoon sun. Areas of the home such as the bathroom, hallways, and poorly lit rooms may only give plants artificial sunlight.

In areas that are poorly lit, try using fluorescent lights. They provide the type of light necessary for photosynthesis. Using artificial light, you can grow many beautiful flowering houseplants. Plants that thrive on low or artificial light include dracaena, orchids, calathea, and haworthia.

Size of plants

House plants vary in size from a tiny cactus to a rather large yucca. Many house plants will need to be re-potted over time as they continue to thrive and grow within your home.

Before purchasing any house plant, consider the space where it will be in your home and determine the maximum size your plant can grow healthily. Once you have decided upon the maximum size, you can confidently choose the perfect plant for your space.

The world’s biggest BBQ is now British. At over 16ft long, 4.9ft wide and 11.5ft tall this ‘God-grilla’ can cook over 1000 sausages or 500 burgers at the same time.

The world's biggest BBQ is portable, if you have a truck

Jack Henriques, an engineer who runs the Bespoke BBQ Company, took three months to build this behemoth. The ‘God-grilla’ has seven coal trays attached to Jack’s trademark scissor-jack system, helping to raise and lower the grills without having to move the meat.

This bespoke barbecue can roast the inhabitants of a small farm in an afternoon. It can cook seven whole lambs, three pigs or two cows in any one sitting. So it’s perfect for performing it’s current job of catering for wedding and party guests at Cripps Barn in the Cotswolds.

Roast the inhabitants of a small farm in an afternoon

If you want to impress your friends with one of these giants there are a few things to consider:

• ‘God-grilla’ costs £10,000
• The BBQ needs three chefs when running at full capacity
• It requires 14 bags of charcoal to get started
• The coals generate temperatures of 500 degrees centigrade
• This two tonne barbecue is not designed for most home patios

So if you have the cash, the manpower, a lot of charcoal, the space and a lot of hungry friends then this is the grill for you.

There are other monster barbecues including the larger truck BBQ in Texas, but it’s considered to be ‘a smoker’ rather than a traditional fixed charcoal BBQ. So for now Jack Henriques is the proud creator of a record breaking barbecue.