Lynne Allbutt

A-little-ment Piggies - Ideal for the Allotment!

It’s National Allotment Week and Welsh TV gardener, Lynne Allbutt,  is promoting and selling her little pet piglets as ‘al-little-ment piggies’ perfect for keeping on an allotment or ‘Tiny Holding’.  Currently featuring on BBC Radio Wales with Tales from her own Tiny Holding, Lynne says, “my little pigs are the ideal size to keep on an allotment, large garden or Tiny Holding (or small holding of course) as they are much smaller than a commercial pig but large enough to be useful by ‘recycling’ waste weeds and spent top growth from a garden or allotment.  I have had my three little pigs for 18 months and have found it really useful to be able to throw ground elder, brambles and other weeds from the garden into their paddock, they really enjoy fresh greens and its usually stuff that’s not suitable for the compost heap.”
Lynne hastens to add, “these are not the micro pigs that have been in the press recently and personally although little pigs make great pets, I still wouldn’t recommend them being kept indoors. Why would you want to?  Part of the enjoyment of having a pet pig is to get out in the fresh air and have fun with your pig in its own environment.” She adds, “I also have chickens and bees but I don’t keep those indoors either”
Lynne’s three little pet pigs are about knee height and she is confident that her piglets will be no bigger.  “If anything they’ll be a little smaller as the boar was a little dote of a thing. He is related to Katie Prices’s pet pig Bingle and has a fabulous temperament.”
“There are rules and regulations about keeping pigs, even pet pigs and you will have to apply for a CPH number before registering your piggies with DEFRA, which is simply a method of recording pig owners and it isn’t as daunting as it sounds.”
Lynne also recommends that at least two pigs be kept together as they are such social animals and advises an area of approx 70-80 metres square  would be adequate for two of her little pigs.  “An allotment is usual 10 poles (or rods) which is about 250 metres square, so obviously about a third of this  would be fine for the pigs.  Pig houses or arks are simple to construct (and are even available at DIY stores like B & Q, such is the popularity of pet piggies in the garden) and you will need to ensure the fencing is adequate as obviously you don’t want pigs in with your peas and parsnips!”
“The pigs love being fussed and scratched and they roll over just like a dog for you to tickle their tummies;  I affectionately call it ‘pig tipping’ and it’s extremely relaxing for both the pig and the owner -piggin’ perfect!”  She laughs.
You can find out more about Lynne’s pigs at www.pepperpotpigs.com

'Avon calling' - time on midges,mozzies and ants!

                            For ages I have sung the praises of Avon’s ‘Skin So Soft’ body lotion to repel midges and mosquitoes.  The ‘secret’ was shared with me whilst living in the Caribbean and I was told the SAS use it and fishermen known about it for years as it is one of the most effective mosquito repellents.  But I have only just been told of another use for it - keeping ants out of the house.  Apparently if you smear a thin film of it along doorways, windowsills or wherever ants are entering the house they just won’t cross it.  I’ll be ordering an extra bottle next time!
And according to Folklore, “If the anthills are high in July, Winter will be snowy”

from Lynne Allbutt's Green Scene column for the Western Mail. 7th July 2011