Articles written by Imogen Hardy

What is Helium

About me - Imogen Hardy

I live in the south of England, and work in the publishing sector - publishing other people's work!

I have recently completed a BSc with a focus on earth and environmental sciences, and now have the time write about a little of what I have learnt and share

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Home & Garden > Gardening (Other) Planting to encourage butterflies: 1 of 6
Nothing enhances a summer garden more than a host of colourful butterflies fluttering about between the beautiful flowers. However, urban spread, modern gardening techniques and use of non-native plants has resulted in the loss of habitat for many of our once common butterflies and some species have notably declined, so anyth... More..
Home & Garden > Trees & Shrubs Tips on maintaining a privet hedge: 1 of 5
A standard privet hedge can provide a useful and attractive border to your garden, acting not only as a backdrop to colourful flower beds, but also serving as a windbreak or shade from the sun where needed. Good maintenance of your privet will mean the difference between a loose straggly bush or a beautiful dense and neatly s... More..
Food & Drink > Fruits & Vegetables Vegetarianism: Is it difficult?: 5 of 24
Being a vegetarian is very much a personal choice, and you only have to examine your reasons for wanting to become a vegetarian to know whether it will be difficult or not. I think it is as easy as you want it to be, if you are committed to your choice, it can be a fun, interesting and healthy lifestyle decision.I have been a... More..
Home & Garden > Perennials The best drought-resistant perennials: 3 of 13
When seeking out new plants for a garden that is susceptible to drought and hot dry conditions it is a good idea to look to those plants that grow naturally in these extreme conditions, you don't have to be limited to desert cacti or prairie grasses, although these are lovely in their own right. Inspiration can be gleaned fro... More..
Food & Drink > Fruits & Vegetables The best apple: 3 of 11
The best apple you could ever eat is the one that you have just plucked from the tree in your garden on a late summer's day; a fresh, crisp, sweet and juicy apple, bursting with its own refreshing and unique flavour.It doesn't have to be a perfect, shiny, uniformly shaped and sized apple like you'd find on your supermarket sh... More..
Hobbies & Games > Board Games Tips for playing Scrabble: 4 of 14
Scrabble is a board game for people who love words, the interaction of words, and people who enjoy a challenge. While a good vocabulary and the ability to spell are definitely an advantage, there are also a few tactical skills that help in winning at Scrabble. I often play against my father, whose general knowledge and vocabu... More..
Sciences > Atmosphere & Weather Why are oceans salty but rivers and lakes are not?: 2 of 6
Anybody who has swum in the sea and accidentally taken in a mouthful of water will be able to testify to its salty taste, making it both unpalatable and unsuitable for use as drinking water. Water found in rivers and lakes, however, is usually fresh, and mostly fit to drink. The reason for this difference lies in ongoing hydr... More..
Creative Writing > Reflections Reflection: Diary of an online degree student: 10 of 25
A day in the life of an Open University degree student:Got up early this morning to get some reading in before the family woke up, although I was still tired as I was up late trying to finish a module. I don't want to fall behind now, as I need to get in 16 hours of study time per week around work and family commitments. That... More..
Food & Drink > Cooking Fruits & Vegetables Tips for using leftover potatoes: 2 of 5
The humble potato is one of the most versatile vegetables of all. As one of our staple foods they are high in essential vitamins and minerals (especially vitamin C, iron, folate, potassium and zinc) and are a good source of fibre and carbohydrate, but are actually lower in calories than pasta and rice. It's a shame to throw t... More..
Food & Drink > Dairy Products & Eggs The new trend of "ethical eggs": 2 of 5
We are constantly bombarded with new trends and fads in fashionable foods, made popular by celebrity chefs or TV personalities. Recent years have seen a trend towards ethically produced foods, such as fair-trade products, organic and locally produced foods, which can only be a good thing for all concerned. Ethically produced ... More..