Crocodile Trading Ltd

2012 – WHAT A YEAR IT COULD TURN OUT TO BE!

2012-02-28T11:46:00.000Z

Here at Crocodile Trading we like to keep our finger on the pulse with regards to new and exciting events. 2012 is going to prove to be a busy year – not just for us, but for various other reasons too.

This is where a professional marquee or gazebo will come in handy for events taking place later this year such as the Olympic Games, Euro 2012 Football Championships and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee – not just these events but also the usual suspects – St. Patricks Day, Easter, Bonfire Night, Halloween, Christmas and New Year!

Get over to our website now to view our full range of products available for all these fantastic upcoming events!

NEW YEAR, NEW RANGE!

2012-02-24T11:15:00.000Z

5m x 6m Marquee

Crocodile Trading would like to release the following statement regarding their 2012 marquee range.

“Dear Esteemed Customer,

We have spent the vast majority of 2011 listening to your feedback and suggestions on improving our marquee range. As we value your opinions extremely highly, we have made the following changes which will become in effect as from February 2012:

1. The grade of material which was once 180g / sm polyethylene (plastic to the touch) is now increased enormously to 240g / sm a whopping 60g / sm of polyethylene heavier! This in turn will aid the structure in its overall stability and provide a tougher opposition for adverse weather. Please note that even due to the increase in product quality – we have frozen our marquee prices – yes that’s right, no price increase!

2. We had a lot of emails last year regarding our 6m span marquee range – how we only had 6m x 12m available which was far too big for some of our customers. We are proud to announce that from March 2012 the 6m span range will be extended to accommodate TWO other marquee sizes; 6m x 6m and 6m x 8m.

4m x 4m Marquee

We will inform you of more changes to our range in the near future. We would like to thank you for your suggestions as the above changes are imperative to keeping in line with our mission to continuously improve our range in giving you, the customer, the best quality products at competitive prices.

Many thanks,

N. Harrison

Managing Director”

Why not get yourself over to our marquee page NOW to view the brand new 2012 range!

Go Garry!

2012-02-16T16:19:00.000Z

Crocodile Trading are proud to announce their support of 2012 London - Paris bike ride entree Garry Birchall. Last year Garry completed the Paris Marathon in 4hrs and 22 mins raising in excess of £3k as part of a two man team. This years challenge is the London to Paris Bike ride which consists of 4 days on the bike covering 500km. Garry, who works for Yorkshire Bank is proud to be supporting their charity partner Help the Hospices and says that any money raised on the bike ride will be to the benefit of Help the Hospices and the East Lancs Hospice. The East Lancs Hospice requires £2.8 million per year to provide the services it offers and relies heavily on public donations and fund raising.

For more information on the hospice and to view other ways of fundraising click here http://eastlancshospice.org.uk/.

This is the route and itinerary that Garry will be taking:

Day 1: London to Calais

Our challenge begins bright and early from Crystal Palace heading south on route to the coast. Our long journey today takes us through rural Kent- the garden of England. Our path winds though traditional British countryside, along the North Downs Way before we reach the white cliffs of Dover. The ferry takes us across to Calais and our first nights resting place. 95 miles (approx)

Day 2: Calais to Abbeville
La belle France! Stunning picturesque countryside awaits us in northern France as we travel south through some beautiful quaint villages- do not be surprised to be greeted with a Bonjour Monsieur/Madame as you cycle through! Cycle through Desvres, a market town known for its ceramics and continue with the windy roads along the valley of the Canche River. The Artois region is amazing with the Spanish influenced town of Hesdin and its tremendous architecture and close proximity to the battle of Agincourt. We spend the night in Abbeville – steeped in history from the war and despite being destroyed in just one night it has managed to retain its beautiful gothic church. 75 miles (approx)

Day 3: Abbeville to Beauvais
Our route this morning follows the river Somme out of Abbeville. The Somme is perhaps most famous for its battles and you cannot fail to be reminded of the thousands who lost their lives in the war. But the Somme is also a Celtic word meaning tranquillity… so summing up the feeling of the day as you cycle through this superb region. After lunch you can enjoy the countryside with a little less ‘undulations’ than previous days. We finish the day in Beauvais where the market square, Place de l'Hôtel de Ville, is a true highlight. Several of the houses close to the Cathedral date back from the twelfth to the sixteenth centuries. 70 miles (approx)

Day 4: Beauvais to Paris
Our final day of cycling and the big push to Paris, our final destination. We are still treated to some stunning countryside including a lovely lunchtime in wooded area next to the River Oise. After lunch we near the outskirts of Paris and you will start to spot the familiar sights of the Eiffel Tower and the River Seine. We rendezvous in a park just north of Paris before joining together to cycle the last miles along some of the famous boulevards. Our finish point can be seen for miles above the Paris skyline and on arrival the celebration can begin! 60 miles (approx)

Day 5: Paris to London
The day is yours to soak up the Parisian way of life, explore the city, and visit the landmarks that only yesterday you were cycling by. We will meet in the afternoon at the Gare du Nord to catch our Eurostar home, arriving at St Pancras where you will be reunited with your bike and commence your onward journey home.

Crocodile Trading are extremely proud to be supporting Garry and the East Lancs Hospice. During Garry’s cycling, he will be updating us with his Day-to-Day diary which we will be uploading throughout the journey to notify you of his progress. Crocodile Trading are supporting this event by making a significant donation to the Hospice and also Garry’s riding kit for his Parisian Bike Ride. We will be keeping you upto date with all of Garry's training in the coming weeks and months. Good Luck Garry!

Allotment Gardening and Vegetable Growing in January

2012-02-15T13:23:00.000Z

Welcome to the first of our monthly guides to allotment maintenance and plot growing. We have posted an earlier article to get you all set for the beginning of 2012. Please let us make you aware that the views expressed in these articles are based on: timescale in which to carry out your tasks and also the space in which to implement the methods in this article.

The beginning of a year is similar to the end of the year in terms of climate. January and December are usually months of hard frosts however with global warming meaning the climate in general is getting warmer, the predication is hardly 100% accurate.

Harvest:

Leeks may well be standing ready but if there is a long freeze you can aide them by digging them up and heeling them in to partially dug ground for easy access – this may change if we have deep snow, for example.

Parsnips and Swedes can begin to come up when time suits you, so to stop them freezing solid underground cover with a fleece or straw.

The cabbages should be providing some sustenance and the beet leaves (spinach) and chards will be available.

If we are fortunate enough to get a sunny day it is worth ensuring that potato sacks are emptied and a continuous check for rotting before it spreads.

General Jobs in the Garden:

After reading the first articles about clearing your plot, you should by now have finished digging over. However, digging over on a fine day will also prove beneficial as pests in the soil will be exposed and friendly birds such as the Robin will be able to pick these off for you for their winter food. Throughout the course of the year, the plot will become untidy, ensure this is something to build into your routine – keep your plot tidy at all times – it ensures efficiency and gives more time (overall) to tend to the most single reason of you having the plot in the first place – growing and sewing. Also ensue that your polytunnels and greenhouses are secure against stormy conditions.

Sowing, Planting and Cultivation:

This early in the year is not the time for outdoor planting although purchasing a polytunnel / greenhouse can aid the development of early plantation if you keep it frost free. Providing you have specialist equipment this should be fairly straight forward in its approach however if not – it is always a gamble as you can never estimate just how cold it will get.

Fruit:

Apples and Pears can be pruned this time of year however resist the use of secateurs on stone fruits such as Cherries. Remove any mummified fruits hanging or on the ground under trees as they will most likely be harbouring pests.

Seed Order:
The majority of the time during winter will keep you indoors however, it is not a bad time to sit down with the seed catalogues or seed merchants websites in order to decide what to try this year. You may already have a fair idea of what to grow as a “safe bet” but is also a good opportunity to try new varieties and compare their performance.

Take a look at our range of Allotment Master Polytunnels which will be available from March!

Article used with kind permission from John Harrison @ allotment.org.uk

Choices Choices! Which Marquee will suit me?

2012-02-09T15:03:00.000Z

Here at Crocodile Trading we literally get thousands of calls from customers who aren't sure of the size of marquee they need and / or cannot differentiate between our range. Crocodile Trading stock three types of marquee all suitable for covering a wide range of uses and functions.

Commercial Grade Marquee:

5m x 6m Marquee

Our commercial range of PE marquees covers 20 different sizes across 4 spans (3m, 4m, 5m and 6m wide spans) meaning that we have virtually every size to cater for every event. The commercial range of marquees is our most popular product. The framework is manufactured from white powder coated steel (38mm diameter frame poles and 42mm diameter connectors) that “kwik-slot” and lock together with ease.

This marquee specification comes with white end door panels – at the width span, white windowed wall panels and a white roof canopy – all manufactured from 240g / sm Polyethylene (Polyethylene is similar to the touch to plastic). The windowed walls come in 2m sections meaning that you don’t necessarily have to have an entrance or exit at the width span as simply removing a 2m section can custom make your entrance – this is one major benefit of buying a Crocodile Trading marquee, not all manufacturers use this specification.

The panels attach to the framework by using bungee cords (included) and the roof canopy has leg covers to every leg pole and attaches using tough Velcro straps and steel hooks. All commercial marquees are easy to assemble and come with simple step-by-step instructions, fixtures and fittings to give a basic successful assembly. Heavy duty eyelets around the base of the marquee material allow additional security by pegging or securing around the perimeter which in turn minimises the effect of windy conditions. We supply this product to councils, local schools, police forces and commercial organisations nationwide as well as domestic end users. See our PE Commercial Marquee range.

Industrial Grade Marquee:

4m x 8m Extreme PVC Marquee

The Crocodile Trading range of Industrial Grade Marquees are manufactured to the same standard as our commercial marquees but the main difference is the cover. Our commercial grade marquee material is manufactured from 240g / sm of Polyethylene (plastic to the touch) but on our industrial marquee range the material is PVC (Poly-Vinyl-Chloride). PVC in its very nature is a far more durable and heavier material, a larger lifespan and is more aesthetically pleasing.

The marquee roof canopy is manufactured from a massive 500g / sm of PVC and the windowed walls and end door panels are manufactured from 380g / sm of PVC. This marquee again comes in multiple spans and lengths and has been supplied to shopping outlets, town halls and stately homes. See our Industrial Marquee range.

SpeedShade Party Tent:

9m x 3m Lightweight Party-tent

The SpeedShade party tent is a cheaper more lightweight alternative to the commercial and industrial ranges discussed above. Manufactured from 32mm and 25mm poles and 120g / sm Polyethylene, this marquee is to be used occasionally and not used in adverse weather conditions.

Each panel is 3m wide and can be removed to create an entrance point anywhere along the perimeter of the tent. This marquee comes in a 3m x 6m form or a 3m x 9m kit. See our Party Tent range.

We trust that this has cleared up a lot of confusion surrounding different grades and materials used to manufacture our marquees. However, if you do require any further information please Contact Us.

Relocation of Business Operations

2012-02-08T13:34:00.000Z

New premises at Falcon Mill, Bolton

Crocodile Trading are proud to announce our new premises located on 6^th Floor at Falcon Mill, Handel St, Bolton. BL1 8BL. As well as building brand new professional offices, our warehouse has been extended greatly to accommodate more product lines and range.

Double access lifts make collections for our couriers far more accessible and also allows more of our valued customers to visit our premises to collect / view our range. Why not book an appointment to visit us now, Click Here to do so – we look forward to seeing you! Alternatively, call us on 0844 800 9830 to speak to a member of staff.

Month by Month Guide to Growing

2012-02-01T16:46:00.000Z

Greetings from Crocodile Trading and welcome to our Allotment Polytunnel advice post.

Inside of a Crocodile Trading polytunnel

Starting in January 2012 within our Blog, we will be issuing a small month-by-month guide to what we feel YOU should be doing in and around your growing plot to prepare yourself for a sound growing season (before, during and after). Let us not forget that a growing shelter such as a poly-tunnel is not the only concern within your allotment plot; weeding, flower-beds, cloches, anti-frost netting and gauging your soil content are just a few other areas for consideration. Please be aware that this guide will vary depending on your weather conditions, space in which to carry out your tasks and more importantly, the time in which you have to facilitate the points featured in our guides.

The first question that should be answered first and foremost is “Where do I start?” The beginning is plain and simple - make the space on your plot. This short “Starter Guide” should answer your first problem and pave the way for your own ideas in terms of which space would be best for potatoes, or leaving one section for flowers. Each growing year can vary in terms of the climate, some colder, some hotter – it will ultimately be up to you to determine and adjust your sewing methods accordingly.

If you have neglected your allotment during the winter months or even acquired one from a previous tenant, there are bound to be a ton of weeds using your allotment as their new found accommodation! Browse the type of weeds that are on your plot; nettles, docks, buttercups and daisies all suggest that your soil type is acidic. It is important to note at this point that docks in particular love damp conditions. It’s not all bad though, weeds are a good indication that your soil is very fertile.

A Crocodile Trading polytunnel during Winter

When faced with the problem of ridding themselves of the weeds, people tend to do the easy (but wrong) process of running a rotovator over them. This does not solve the problem but creates an even bigger problem as the “cuttings” will propagate the weeds and cover your plot once again within weeks. There are two types of gardener with regards to clearing, sewing and growing; the chemical and the organic.

Chemical Gardeners:Spray the plot completely with a similar product to Roundup, then simply wait for the weeds to die and then rotovate. This is a more “ease of the bone” method but only use this technique if you’re very trusting of chemical companies and also mindful of the fact that you don’t mind growing food on the soil that you have just sprayed with the chemicals.

Organic Gardeners:The hard work begins here. This is the first time you will need to judge how much time and energy you will have in order to clear sections of your plot. To clear your allotment in one go or even a week is very unrealistic. The best advice we can give is do small sections bit-by-bit. Worried that the weeds will continue to grow whilst you’re only working on small sections? No problem; simply cover sections of the plot with thick plastic, carpet or tarpaulins to hold back the growth until you’re ready to tackle that particular section.

If you leave a certain area covered for around a year, there is a good chance that the weeds will die. Please Note: Not ALL gardeners will want to utilise this method as covering for such a long time hinders the production process.

Begin by taking off the surface grasses and short rooted weeds with a spade – the “turfs” can be stacked to form a loam. The deeper rooted weeds like docks will need their roots digging out completely. Once completed you can chop them (to weaken) and then add them to a hot compost heap. Another method which works is drowning them in a barrel of water for 3 weeks.

Internal shot of a Crocodile Trading poly-tunnel

Once you have completed the clearing, it is advisable to dig the soil over with a fork – this process breaks up the soil and exposes any weed roots for you to clear. As you clear you patch, consult your overall plan and prepare the ground accordingly. If it is getting late in the season then you should consider a green manure. As you get towards the end of your plot you will probably find weeds all around you – most of which will be annual weeds which seeds have been germinated by your clearance exposing them – these can be hoed off.

The Next Step...:

Finally once you have a fresh allotment plot at your disposal – it is key to utilise the space as best as you can. A good tip is to determine what crops are the most important to which you want to grow for the forthcoming season and section off parts of your allotment using stakes and string to effectively work out how much space you will have left for other less important crop ideas. Not only this, but some crops may need to be housed in a greenhouse or allotment poly-tunnel, so the remaining space could be used for one of the types of outdoor structures.

Whilst greenhouses are a good shelter, they can be subjected to vandals and cannot be easily disassembled – not only that – they can prove to be quite expensive. A lot of gardeners are starting to use garden poly tunnels to house sections of their crops around their allotment. Polytunnels can be far more efficient especially as they can be taken down at the end of the season when not in use.

Also, as a structure they are far less expensive than a greenhouse and will not smash as the structure is steel frame with a polyethylene (plastic) covering. Alternatively, if you want to grow in the close season, you may use artificial heating and lighting within your poly-tunnel to extend your hobby into the winter months. They also give you the flexibility of working inside them when the weather outside is poor using pots to grow herbs, cultivate strawberries or even hang flower pots from the roof bars.

A Crocodile Trading poly tunnel with additional flooring

If you haven’t already purchased your polytunnel ready for the season, now is the time to do so. Please visit the Crocodile Trading range of titan allotment polytunnels and accessories which we feel will encourage the cultivation of fresh, natural produce perfect for home cooking. Please feel free to post comments on this post as we welcome all ideas and methods on polytunnel growing.

Stay tuned for our first part of our mini-guide to successful growing coming late January 2012.

Kind regards,

CROCODILE TRADING LTD

Information used with kind permission from John Harrison @ allotment.org.uk

Happy New Year! New Info regarding Crocodile Trading!

2012-01-30T16:33:00.000Z

Crocodile Trading would like to wish our customers past and present a very (belated!) happy new year for 2012! Be sure to keep checking our Blog and also our Facebook and Twitter pages for more news coming throughout the year. 2012 is expected to be an exciting year for everybody here at Crocodile Trading - with new product lines (more info to follow), and our brand new social networking pages being built (Blogger, Facebook and Twitter) to keep you all abreast of everything happening in the world of Outdoor Leisure! Within our social network pages, we aim to keep them updated and maintained on a regular basis - here is a brief list of what to expect this year...

Month by Month Allotment Growing - this handy month by month guide helps our customers who have purchased an allotment polytunnel from our site in recent years - well now we can provide a guide to growing and maintaining your plot
New product lines - new product lines within our marquee range are due to hit our warehouse very soon, more news on this during the forthcoming weeks
General information - relating to pages created on our website such as; instruction pages, background on our products, seating plans and much more!

Don't forget to keep checking our website also for the brand new product pages that will be popping up in the near future! More information will be provided over the course of the next few weeks. Stay tuned!

Bye for now!

CROCODILE TRADING LTD

Welcome to Crocodile Trading Ltd

2011-11-15T14:41:00.001Z

Welcome to our first Blog post! At Crocodile Trading we want to go back to basics by providing a suitable and informative Blog packed full of advice, news and views.