The ‘gorgeous' £10 buy that provides pretty colour and lights up your garden or terrace ‘all-year long'
These LED string lights adorned with warm white bulbs and artificial pink roses offer a simple way to introduce light and colour to gardens.
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Retailing for £10 at The Original Factory Shop, the LED rose string lights promise to suffuse gardens, terraces and gazebos with warmer hues.
The product description reads: "It's a great no-fuss addition to any garden, terrace or gazebo, providing light in those darker corners and colour all year long."
The faux foliage and rose detailing aim to replicate the look of real climbing plants without the maintenance.
While not a replacement for outdoor lighting, the set can be a low-effort ambient addition to a space.
The Original Factory Shop (TOFS) is a British discount department store chain established in 1969 by Peter Black.
Its first store opened in Keighley, West Yorkshire, and it originally sold surplus soap produced by one of Black's factories.
TOFS today operates over 180 stores across the UK.
It comes as an expert revealed to The Sun seven ways to make a garden look bigger.
One easy method is to create zones, according to Ivana Agustina, Head of Project Management at ShrubHub, an online landscape design service.
6 ways to get rid of slugs and snails
Agustina said: "The human brain perceives multiple small experiences as more substantial than one uniform space.
'By dividing your garden into zones – perhaps a dining area, a lounge space, and a planting section – visitors mentally 'travel' through your garden, making it feel much bigger.'
Another approach is to train climbing plants to grow up trellises or along walls.
Agustina explained: "Vertical gardening is both practical and visually expanding.
'By drawing the eye upward with wall-mounted planters, trellises with climbing plants, or tall, narrow planters, you create height that makes the garden feel more spacious.'
Meanwhile, Gardener's World recently named trumpet vines (Campsis) as one of the best plants for covering walls and fences that are an eyesore.
A well-kept garden can add anywhere between 5-20% to the value of a property.
Sellhousefast.uk carried out a study and consulted 36 estate agents, garden designers and property professionals from across the UK.
And the experts revealed the garden feature which adds the most value to a property is a shed.
Shed - 82%
Patio or paving - 76%
Secure fencing, walls or gates - 72%
Outdoor lighting - 66%
Sturdy decking - 62%
Water features eg. fountain or pond - 58%
Modern garden furniture - 54%
Artificial lawn/grass - 40%
These deciduous climbers produce striking tubular flowers in shades of red, orange or yellow, typically that bloom from late summer into autumn.
Known for their rapid growth, they can quickly cover trellises or frameworks, though experts recommend pruning annually to keep them in check.
While they thrive in warmer conditions, they are also frost-hardy once established.
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Daily Mail
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Revealed: Inside the ultra-secret luxury Oxfordshire mansion estate frequented by the seriously wealthy where Apple heiress Eve Jobs will hold her wedding reception with Team GB equestrian this weekend
This weekend billionaire heiress Eve Jobs and Team GB Olympic gold medallist Harry Charles will tie the knot at Estelle Manor in the Cotswolds this weekend. Described as 'Oxfordshire's most exclusive hotel', the Grade-II listed landmark house only opened last summer. It has quickly become one of the hottest places to be seen with celebrities, influencers and sports people scrambling to get there for a night away. No pictures allowed, guests are asked to place a sticker over their phone cameras when arriving. There is a 25-metre heated year-round pool, a poolside bar, as well as sitting rooms that host DJs, restaurants and bars and a Roman-inspired spa. Two padel courts, a large state of the art gym and also 60-acres to explore are all part of a stay at the 1901 house. A Japanese restaurant by ex-Nobu alumnus Sergej Leonenko is in the pipeline as is a grill restaurant set in the kitchen garden's glasshouse. Estelle Manor is owned by hospitality entrepreneur Sharan Pasricha of Ennismore, whose portfolio also includes the Hoxton hotels, private members' club Maison Estelle in London, and Gleneagles in Perthshire. However, unlike Gleneagles, it's been created from scratch under the guidance of Sharan and his wife Eiesha, a successful businesswoman and daughter of Indian billionaire Sunil Mittal. With the house booked out for the weekend and 108 bedrooms on offer, it's thought the happy couple will welcome around 200 guests. No details spared, the mini bars come equipped with silk eye covers, collagen masks, melatonin sprays and ear plugs. Described as a 'Soho House for grownups' a membership is £3,600 per year and a stay in one of the smaller rooms starts from £600 a night. Whereas one of their suites costs something more like £2,500 a night. On site, whole houses are able to be rented out for up to six guests, which start at £14,000 night, with a butler who can be summoned via WhatsApp included. In the Blubell House, there's a boot room, a kitchen and dining room, a library, ensuites and a playroom for children. The hotel was named among the 50 best hotels this year and since opening, plenty of celebrities have been spotted there already. Sophie Turner, Rebel Wilson and Kate Moss are a small handful of A-listers who have enjoyed a break there in recent months. Kate spent Mother's Day with her lookalike mum, Linda Shepherd, and brother Nick at the property. Princess Beatrice is also a fan favourite of the grounds, regularly attending for lunch. Since opening, the Manor has been known to hold elaborate celebrity-filled parties. In 2024 they hosted a Casamigos pool party, the tequila brand owned by George Clooney. Dj La Roux headlined and a huge bbq was put on for guests. At Christmas they had an ice rink installed. Guests get around the place by either using the pink bikes on site, or by jumping in one of the electric Land Rovers at hand. There is also a helipad in the grounds for anyone arriving by air. There are sheep, Shetland ponies, chickens and other farm animals. And for children, there are even mini Land Rover's that they're able to drive around in. Eve, 27, who once was named by society bible Tatler as one of its 'new generation of It Girls', and sportsman Harry, 26, got engaged last September and began dating in 2022, making their debut just a year ago at the Paris Olympic Games. Their extravagant nuptials - rumoured to come at a hefty price tag of £5million - will take place over four days, starting on Wednesday - almost exactly one month after Eve jetted to the Italian isle of Capri for a glitzy hen do. And on the guestlist are a mixture of British sports stars, American politicians and even a sprinkling of royalty. Former US Vice President Kamala Harris is tipped to be among the VIP guests, with Sir Elton John reportedly set to be performing - for a rumoured fee of £1million - and even Princess Beatrice expected to attend. Eve's mother Laurene, left a widow following Jobs' passing in 2011 aged 56 from pancreatic cancer, is said to have gone 'all out' for the wedding with help from renowned society events planner Stanlee Gatti. A-list parties are set to fly to Oxford airport on their private jets, where they will be met by helicopters to transport them to the venue. It's understood some guests will also be staying at nearby Soho Farmhouse, which backs onto the Beckhams' back garden. Also making the VIP guestlist are Kamala's daughter Phoebe and Bill Gates's daughter Jennifer. They will be joined by celebs including Arctic Monkeys star Matt Helders, Bruce Springsteen's daughter Jessica - an equestrian, Apple designer Jony Ive, Sofia Abramovich, daughter of ex-Chelsea owner Roman. 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The Sun
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Three ways to get celebs' looks for less and still be as stylish as Alexa Chung
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I reuse my teabags at least three times and even recycle my HAIR… people judge me but my icky hacks save £9k a year
AFTER making a cup of tea most people chuck the teabag in the bin, but Amanda Duddridge would never dream of being so frivolous. Instead, Amanda carefully squeezes the excess water from the bag and hangs it out on the washing line - to be reused twice, thrice and even eight times over. 7 7 7 This is one of many frugal hacks that save 39-year-old Amanda around £9,000 year. The part-time teaching assistant lives in Pontypridd, South Wales with partner Grafton, 41, and their three daughters, Esmee, 11, Elvie, six, and one year old Elodie. "Instead of bunging a teabag in the bin, I'll peg it to my washing line, let it dry, and then reuse them on a daily basis,' says Amanda. "Yes, the final couple of cups are a bit weaker, but I use less milk in those cups, and my hubby can't even tell. Most people don't realise unless they see me making a cuppa. 'I've even had compliments for my 'right posh brews'. "I did my research, and these methods were used to save during the Great Depression in the 1920s, and they work today. "If the teabags are on their sixth use, I'd add two to a mug. It's just like topping up a pot of tea. Use less milk and let the bags steep for longer, and it's the perfect builders' brew. A box of Yorkshire bags lasts me nine months." Her teabag prowess doesn't stop there. "I soak my mankiest greasiest pots and plates in water containing teabags rather than expensive dishwasher tablets," she reveals. "The tannin in the tea cuts through the grease. Then you grab a handful of teabags and use them to scrub the grease. Ice cold wet used teabags are amazing for sunburn as well.' She even soaks her hair in a solution of warm water and three used teabags for extra shine before a shower. Her other money saving grooming hacks include doing haircuts for her family. She says: "I collect hair from the floor and the brushes to sell to companies who make hair extensions. I make between £50 and £150 for at least 16 inches of even hair." Terrifying time Not one to waste anything, Amanda fishes hair out of the plug-hole, too. "I even use clumps of hair from the drain as a fertiliser for my plants instead of spending £12 on the fertiliser. I bury hairbrush clumps near my veg, and they grow like crazy thanks to keratin in the follicles. 'I scatter hair clumps in the compost bin or soak the strands in water and sprinkle it around the fence line. It's a natural fox repellent because it smells like teenagers." Amanda was shocked into a more frugal lifestyle when the cost-of-living crisis hit in 2021. "That time was terrifying,' says Amanda, who was on maternity leave with Elvie. 'Grafton was bringing home £1,973 a month, and I was on £172 a week in statutory maternity pay. 'Once the mortgage and essential bills are paid, we're left with around £100 a week. Money was so tight I had to use a baby bank for clothes and equipment. "I felt like a failure, but the Baby Bank, just like a food bank, was a lifesaver. 'There were mums and dads from all occupations who needed help. I realised then I was wasting thousands buying everything new. That experience changed me forever." With more than 8 million people in the UK estimated to be using Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) services for purchases under £50, and outstanding credit card debt exceeding £70 billion, Amanda believes her methods offer a path to financial freedom. 7 "I reckon many people who are in debt could have avoided it by trying my frugality methods,' she explains. 'The occasional hack won't cut it. It takes commitment to be a tightwad. The savings and money for holidays and treats are worth it." Amanda's super scrimping impacts every part of her family's daily life. "I never throw water I've boiled veggies or pasta in," she says. "I use it to make soup stock. I also let it cool and use it to wash the garden path or water the plants. Tricks like this cut my water bill in half." 'Every crumb counts' She also ensures no bath or shower water goes to waste. Amanda says: "I always have a plug in the bath, so showers and bath water are saved. I'll use the water to then wash the floors, windows, clean the car, or fill the bucket and flush the toilet with it." And even rainwater is saved - a money saving and environmental tip for summer. "I collect rain off the guttering in water butts and put out buckets in the garden as well,' she says. 'I can use that water for cleaning floors, flushing the loo, washing the car, or watering the plants. Fresh rainwater is amazing for hair washing and costs nothing. 'The kids use it for water play outside, and I save it to fill up the blow-up pool in summer. It cuts my water bill, and that's brilliant." Kitchen essentials like foil and parchment paper are also given multiple lives. "I haven't bought kitchen foil or parchment paper for at least six months,' she says. Each time I use a piece of foil, I wipe it down, flatten it, and pop it in a box to reuse. 'I reuse it for lining the oven, cooking baked potatoes in a campfire, a scrunched-up ball is great as a scrubber for the oven grill, and the kids use foil for home crafting. 'I'll also reuse the parchment paper at least four times to wrap lunches. Then it goes into the compost bin, or I use it to start BBQs or rip it up as fertiliser in the garden." To cut her grocery bill, Amanda can buy enough meat for two people and stretch it for a family of five using her DIY "magic mix." She says: "I believe every crumb counts. So I turn used bread, half-eaten toast, and leftover crackers into a savoury crumb mixture in a blender, add in herbs and spices, and keep it in an airtight container. "I add three cups to half a kilo mince with chopped onions, carrot, and mashed potato, and it makes four times the minced patties for burgers. "I use leftover vegetables, pasta, grated vegetables, even the diced stalks of broccoli, as well as rice and dried beans to bulk out meat casseroles. 'Super scrimping' 'I can get at least four uses from cooking oil, and it's more flavourful because of the meal it has already cooked. I keep oil used for different meats in different jars in the fridge." Amanda also takes full advantage of freebies. 'We get free breakfast and snacks at a church baby-group twice a week,' she says. "I've also signed up for the Too Good to Go App. It helps users like me rescue food from going to waste from supermarkets, cafes, and restaurants.' Amanda uses the app and pays between £3 to £5 for surprise bags of food. She says: "I get fruit and vegetables, meat, snacks, and other food. I then incorporate the food into my batch cooking or that day's evening meal. It's posh dumpster diving.' Thanks to the app, her grocery bill, which used to be £100 a week, is now down to £60, saving her almost £2,000 a year. A keen outdoors lover, Amanda tops up her larder with wilderness foraging. She says: "In summer, we fill buckets with blackberries and blueberries. I turn them into jam or preserve the fruit for pies. Blackberries can sell for up to £3 for 100 grams. I get kilos for free." Toiletries and hygiene products are a big expense so Amanda will reuse when she can "I strain used mouthwash to get rid of food bits' she says. Then soak a paper towel in the liquid. Pop the towel into bins. It makes them smell nice. My super scrimping now means our family is debt-free. A few years I was in £3000 debt 'Flushing mouthwash through the loo will leave it sparkling, too.' Amanda also uses towels several times, hanging them on the line so the sun can 'disinfect' them between uses. And old underwear and socks are cut up and used as rags. Despite all of these cut backs, Amanda insists she is not tight-fisted. "I'm not just a mum who tries the occasional money-saving hack," Amanda explains. I am fighting the cost of living with fierce frugality. I'm not being mean; I'm economising." Her dedication has paid off. "My super scrimping now means our family is debt-free. A few years I was in £3000 debt.' Many Brits are stuck in "financial inertia" according to a Paragon Banks study, but Amanda says she is taking action. "I used to be lazy and just buy new,' she says. 'We've all seen hacks on YouTube and thought we'd try them. I decided to stop thinking and start doing. Commit to it for a month, and I guarantee by the end you'll be a convert." Amanda doesn't care knowing that many people find her methods 'gross and icky.' She says: 'I have hacked my way into a money-saving habit, and I'm also saving the planet. I don't care if I am trolled because of my super saving." 7 7
