Gary McKraken

Jodrell Bank Observatory holds iconic status in the UK. It was established in 1945 by Sir Bernard Lovell as he wanted to continue his research in to cosmic rays following his work on radar during work war II. Since then the facility has researched inn to all manner of astronomical phenomena. Various radio telescopes and other related equipment are present and the facility is an integral part of the UK's space research.

Do you want to dive with sharks? Well you can at the Blue Planet Aquarium near Chester. But shark diving is just one of the attractions of the aquarium which was opened by HM The Queen in 1998. There are all sorts of fishy things to look at and if you don't fancy the fish and prefer to shop then you are right next door to the Cheshire Oaks outlet shopping mall. Sharks and shopping. Quite a day out.

Ness Botanic Gardens is located very close to the city of Chester and is a popular attraction for tourists visiting Cheshire or anyone with a keen interest in the marvellous plants and gardens on display. So if you are planning some time in the area then a trip to Ness should be on the agenda.

That seems like a silly title, right? How to water your garden – it's easy. Just apply water. But it is not that easy. You need to know when to water, how much to apply, by what method and that different plants have different watering needs. After you have gone to the effort of preparing your garden don't you think you should be aware of how to water it correctly to help your plants grow?

Making your own compost is very easy to do, can save you money and provide a constant source of natural, organic fertiliser and mulch for your garden. And you have access to the raw materials right in front of you such as kitchen waste, food scraps, grass clippings and the like. All you have to do is give it a helping hand. Here is an overview of how you can start to make compost starting right now.

As an organic gardener you shy away from the use of chemicals in your garden and instead rely on natural treatments and remedies to keep your garden tip top. Pest control is no different and you can do this without resorting to the usual commercially available pesticides. You can undertake your garden pest control naturally.

Weeds are the bane of every gardener. It's a stone cold fact. Gardens and weeds – you cannot have one without the other. It is no different for the organic gardener although the approach and some of the things you will use as an organic gardener to tackle your weeds is different to the traditional gardener as you will be using the natural twin attack of compost and mulch.

When thinking about how best to plant seeds in your garden you should consider if planting them indoors first for initial cultivation would be beneficial. This could be because the seed requires it or weather considerations such as cold temperatures. Under the right circumstances indoor planting before transplanting the young plant outside can be beneficial.

You want to start your own organic garden. You have chosen a suitable site and prepared the soil accordingly using natural, organic fertilisers and compost. Now the time has come for one of the exciting parts for the new gardener – actually planting the first seeds. But it is not as easy as throwing seeds everywhere, sprinkling them with water and hoping for the best.

The historic city of Chester in Cheshire is one of the most historic locations anywhere in England with strong links to the Roman occupation and the English civil war. As one may expect, a city with such a long and varied history, much of it preserved, a ghost or two (or more) is said to haunt various places within the city. So if you are attracted by all things spooky then a visit to Chester for a ghost walk is surely something you will want to do.