It’s spider mating season – and people are searching ‘how to get rid of spiders’ on the internet! But two popular herbs could hold the key to keeping them out of your home and garden.

The experts at GardenBuildingsDirect.co.uk have compiled a list of tricks that can help dissuade the eight-legged critters from hanging around in your pad – indoors and outdoors.

Analysis of Google Trends shows people’s interest in finding out how to deal with spiders rocketed to 100 in September last year with the spider mating season and again this month.

A value of 100 is the peak popularity of a term, with internet users scanning search engines on the Web for inspiration to tackle the pest-y problem.

Credit: Google Trends – search results for ‘how to get rid of spiders’

However, mint and basil could be your unlikely allies if you want to discourage spiders from your house and garden.

A spokesman for GardenBuildingsDirect.co.uk said: “September sees the beginning of the spider mating season, so people will find more spiders in their home than usual.

“It is usually the male species that they see out and about looking for partners to mate with.

“There are some useful household items such as herbs which are traditionally used for cooking which also repel spiders, so people may already have these at home and available to begin to defend their home from these unwanted creepy-crawlies.”

The experts at GardenBuildingsDirect.co.uk offer six useful ‘hacks’ to keep spiders at bay including mint and basil.

Basil is a popular herb used in the kitchen for a range of dishes, but insects don’t like it. It is a good idea to consider keeping a basil plant in a pot to keep spiders away. Ants, mosquitoes and houseflies also dislike this plant.

A domestic house spider

Mint is another herb which repels spiders and other bugs. It is another plant which is popular for a range of recipes in the kitchen so is widely used in households up and down the UK. You can consider buying a mint plant which will also provide a fresh scent in the home and deter bugs at the same time.

Cinnamon is a spice that is an aroma that spiders don’t like, among other insects. Homeowners and tenants can consider choosing products such as cinnamon spice itself, or cinnamon essential oil to get a scent which is off-putting for these insects.

Onions are a popular staple for many recipes in the kitchen and are another natural item that spiders don’t like. There is an added benefit to growing onions outside as they can be off-putting for the critters in the garden too.

Lavender is a scent which deters spiders so investing in a lavender plant inside the home or garden, or maybe a lavender scented candle, can help arm you against these pests.

Chrysanthemums are a useful ally to help discourage spiders from the home or garden. This plant has flowers which spiders don’t like. So it could be either an idea to grow these flowers at home or buy some of these flowers to display inside.

Chris asks…..

Why has the council removed another bin along the river?

That’s two gone in two years now.

I’m sure my council tax has gone up .

They are relying on the river trust and the good people who litter pick to clean up our streets.

The bins that are left are overflowing.

Clare Hopcroft says…

A Nationwide bank card been found outside Glenesk Flowers, on Westgate.

If you think it could be yours please contact the shop.

Paul says….

Yet again I am not able to turn off my drive during school pickup.

Selfish parents with no thought for residents!

The road is narrow and the turn is tight without parked cars.

A new bridge has appeared over the River Witham, close to the railway viaduct near Paper Mill Farm.

By why? What’s it for and who has contructed it?

Wendy Aspland says….,

Looking for a Mrs Hill handed into Tesco Express, Harrowby Lane.

There is a phone number but after several attempts to contact the person with no joy

I’m hoping someone can help us reunite this with the owner.

To start ASAP
Production Operatives x 3
Temp – perm contract
Full time hours 39 per week
Flexible start time
Excellent company to work for
Ideally used power tools before
Must have lots of experience.
All info here www.unitedinrecruitment.com
CVs to jeanette@unitedinrecruitment.com

Job Vacancy
Esso Colsterworth Service Station,
A1 Southbound,
Grantham.
NG335JR.

Role: Customer Service Assistant
Location: Colsterworth, NG33 5JR
Hours: Part-Time Hours Available
Hourly Rate: £9.05 21+ | £7.00 20-18| £0.50p Night Shift Allowance
Bonus Scheme: Quarterly Bonus Incentive!
What will my role look like?
As a Customer Service Assistant you will be the face and voice of our Petrol Forecourts and your main priority will be to ensure that our customers are provided an excellent customer service experience every time. If you aren’t serving our loyal customers at the till then you’ll be busy working the shop floor ensuring our shelves are merchandised, look amazing and well stocked!
Euro Garages owe our success to our employees and we are committed to providing excellent customer service, good value products and a wide range of facilities, and our customers have come to expect high standards from all of our petrol forecourts and retail sites.
If you love to work in a fast paced vibrant store, engage with different in the heart of the community people every day, feel like part of a family and have fun then this role is perfect for you!
What would my main responsibilities be?
Provide a fantastic customer service experience
Be happy, friendly, smile and have fun
Conduct stock takes, merchandise products and promote current offers
Ensure that our Petrol Forecourts look presentable and vibrant
Got what it takes?
Of course you do! If you are customers focused, aren’t afraid of hard work and thrive in a fun environment then you definitely have what it takes!
No experience required
We will train you to the highest standards and upskill you
Candidates must be aged 18+
What’s in it for me?
EG Cares is our Benefits & Rewards Scheme! it’s our way of saying thank you to our EG family in recognition of the continued support and commitment you deliver every day…
Quarterly Bonus Incentive
Employee Discounts
Night Shift Allowance
Work Anniversary Awards
Recognition Rewards
Discretionary Bonus Schemes
Progression & Career Opportunities
Compassionate Leave
Employee Assistance Programme
Death in Service
Learning & Development
Join our EG family
APPLY NOW and start your fantastic career as our Customer Service Assistant! We pride ourselves on training, development and progression.

Grantham Hospital campaigner Melissa Darcey has sent the following to Grantham MP Gareth Davies…

Dear Gareth Davies,

This is an urgent request that you, as my MP,  speak out in the House of Commons today against the Government’s attempt to rush through the Health and Social Care Levy Bill in just one day today, only a week after announcing the policy.

The Hansard Society has published a highly critical statement, pointing out that,

“Parliament’s scrutiny of financial matters is generally poor, and the treatment of the new Health and Social Care Levy demonstrates many of the worst aspects of both the financial and legislative scrutiny processes: acting at speed with insufficient policy detail available for MPs to consider; important constitutional questions brushed aside; and broad powers delegated to Ministers with a lack of clarity about how they are to be used in future.”

It raised four crucial questions about scrutiny and accountability that need an answer:

1. Why is the government rushing the legislation through Parliament? It is not clear why there needs to be such a rush to legislate when important details about the policy implications are not yet clear.

2. How will Parliament scrutinise the way in which the revenue raised by the Levy is spent on health and social care?

3. What are the implications for the devolution settlement?

4. How will Ministers use the broad regulation-making power conferred in the Bill?

 The Hansard Society statement adds

“MPs should be clear about the level of authority they are delegating to government Ministers, and be confident that they will not regret forgoing their ability to fully scrutinise future government decisions or the decisions of future governments of different political complexions.

“Given the significance of the regulation-making power sought in this Bill, MPs may wish to consider whether a higher degree of parliamentary scrutiny should apply to all uses of it, not just to regulations that limit, reduce, or remove an existing relief or exception to the Levy.”

The Parliament webpage says the Bill is now at the Report stage, which is a

“Chance for the whole House to discuss and amend the Bill”

Please use this opportunity to tell the Government more time is needed for a higher level of Parliamentary scrutiny to all uses of the Bill, and ask the four quesions identified by the Hansard Society, above.

Yours Sincerely

Melissa Darcey

Lauran Aimee says…

A Grantham lad who runs LS Valeting had his work van stolen had his van stolen on Saturday and all of his work equipment taken.

His friend Lewis has started the go fund me page to help get Lowell some help in getting some new equipment. It would help massively to get the page out there for more to see in hope that more money is raised to help.

Lowell is such a hardworking lad and to have his livelihood taken from under his nose has really knocked him for six!

He has managed to borrow some stuff for now from friends to carry out some jobs, but this is not a forever fix!

Please help by sharing the link below

https://www.gofundme.com/help-get-lowell-at-ls-valeting-back-on-his-feet?pc=fm_co_campmgmt_m&rcid=r01-163147731959-32f8d9458b2c4167&utm_medium=social&utm_source=messenger&utm_campaign=p_lico+share-sheet

Michelle Willows says….

Pepper went missing Saturday evening.

He has a distinctive black heart above his left eye.

He went missing from Dudley Road .

If seen please contact Michelle on 07891114923 thank you

For information go to:
https://careers.kids.org.uk/vacancies/187/play-worker–lincolnshire.html?utm_campaign=google_jobs_apply&utm_source=google_jobs_apply&utm_medium=organic

Maria says…

Hi, I’m staying with a friend near Grantham and flying from here on Thursday morning very early to Italy.

I am trying to find somewhere in Grantham that does Rapid Antigen tests that I could book on Tuesday or Wednesday.

I have spent an hour online and can’t seem to find anything,

I can’t believe there is nowhere.

Can anyone advise??

Lilli Teague says …

A young lad is searching for these two horses that he had to reluctantly sell.

He just wants to know they are okay, happy and safe.

He was led to believe that they would be kept together, forever if he sold them, but they were sold by their new owner In the last year.

Horses Passport Names are: Leylans Prince Regan and Saxons Spirit.

UPDATE….. PRINCE HAS BEEN LOCATED.. WE ARE NOW LOOKING FOR SAXON’S SPIRIT

Lou says…

A third cat has been run over and left for dead due to speeding cars top of Dysart Road,

I do wish people would have a bit more compassion and the decency when they run over someone’s beloved pets they at least try to find out who it belongs to.

For the second time in as many months both of my pets have been a victim and left.

Campaigners are calling for dash cams to be made compulsory, as latest UK statistics show an average of 67 people are killed or seriously injured in road traffic accidents every day.

Car rental experts at StressFreeCarRental.com have launched a campaign for the Government to ensure all motorists have a dash cam in place in their vehicles to record incidents while they are driving.

It comes as Department for Transport figures showed there were 24,470 people killed or seriously injured in road traffic accidents reported to the police for the year ending June 2020, with the total number of casualties at all levels of severity recorded at 131,200 people.

Editorial credit: David Cardinez / Shutterstock.com

That equates to 360 people each day being injured in some way or even killed on UK roads, with approximately 15 incidents occurring every hour.

A spokesman for StressFreeCarRental.com said: “Up and down the country every day, there are hundreds of incidents taking place on our roads which result in minor or major injuries, or even death.

“We would like to see the Government make it mandatory for every motorist to have a dash cam fitted in their vehicle as an extra layer of protection for drivers, their passengers and all road users.

“There are on average 67 people seriously injured or killed on UK roads every day – that is 67 lives devastated along with the lives of their loved ones.

“We feel the time for action is now.”

Dash cams are currently legal on British roads and you don’t need any special permission to use them. However, if you install your dash cam incorrectly and it obstructs your field of vision while driving you could be breaking the law.

You could face a fine and the footage recorded on it could be rendered inadmissible in court.

Police are increasingly asking for dash cam footage for incidents that happen on UK roads.

There are many cases in the media of dash cam footage being used in cases to tackle carjacking, road rage, road side road scams and motorists jumping red lights at traffic lights or contravening other road signs.

Motorists who car share within their company for example, must inform everyone they share it with if a dash cam has been installed, as it can often record sound and video record inside the vehicle itself.

It is a breach of privacy if someone in your vehicle is unaware they are being recorded.

Motorists must also be aware that their own dash cam footage could be used against them if they contravene road rules.

But with the StressFreeCarRental.com campaign ultimately calling for mandatory dash cams to improve road safety for everyone, encouraging safer driving across the board should help achieve this goal and drive down road incidents.

Source:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/956524/road-casualties-year-ending-june-2020.pdf

Margaret says…

They have cut the grass or I would say hacked it at the back of my house. on Ravendale Close

They have missed great big part’s of it.

It’s a disgrace. This doesn’t give you the true picture you have to see it to believe it.

Why do we pay council Tax?