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Decking has proved an enduringly popular feature in gardens and outside spaces for obvious reasons. It looks smart, it delineates areas for specific purposes, and if it's made from wood we feel it's a natural, sustainable choice of material.

On the whole, says north London gardener Patrick Wagstaff of The Plot Doctor, 'nearly everyone who wants their garden done wants some decking - usually it's an area for a table, chairs and some pot plants. Decking is neat and it makes the area feel like an extension of your living space.'

In Finland, just about every eight year old child can mend a hole in their socks. 'Finland has a great legacy of fixing and repairing', says  Sara Martinsen, co-curator of FIX. 'It’s part of our cultural heritage and leads back to our history, especially to the post-war times of the 1920s and '50s when there was lack of everything.' She says the skills to fix and repair garments, houses and furniture have been passed down through the generations and the fact that woodwork and handicrafts are still part of our primary school curriculum helps keep these skills alive.

EKO has developed new, large fully compostable bags for household bins.

The bags have years in development to ensure the product is strong enough for non-recyclable household rubbish, yet will completely decompose once it leaves the home.

The Oil Machine reveals the hidden infrastructure of oil from the offshore rigs and the buried pipelines to its flow through the stock markets of London. As the North Sea industry struggles to meet the need to cut carbon emissions, oil workers see their livelihoods under threat, and investors seek to protect their assets. Meanwhile a younger generation of climate activists are catalysed by the signs of impending chaos, and the very real threat of global sea level rises.

Annie Sloan's book Colour Recipes for Painted Furniture, published by CICO Books, takes you through 40 projects, showing you how to transform old furniture, floors, walls and ceilings, using eco friendly chalk paint. It covers French, Swedish, contemporary and shabby chic styles. With pictures and text that tells you what to do step-by-step, it's a useful, practical book. need a hobby for 2024? take up furniture upcycling