Outdoor Bench at www.japanese-home-gardens.com

The principles involved in constructing the tree seat are easy to modify to a homemade unit. Straight-edged wood can be used to construct a planter or tree seat if a more formal appearance is required. If there is no suitable tree in the garden, it may be worth planting one and building the seat around it, leaving room for the trunk to grow as the years go by. Alternatively, you could use the seat as a planter by filling it with soil and adding small shrubs, or trailing plants. A simple outdoor bench can be constructed by erecting two piers. The bench top can simply rest loosely on the piers, or can be attached with screws driven into wallplugs.

THE QUALITY of light will have a major influence on your garden design. Shade is usually more of a problem in urban areas than rural, as next-door buildings and neighboring walls and fences tend to cast shadows for at least part of the day. If only a corner of your backyard receives sun then it makes sense to reserve this area for an outdoor bench, patio, or greenhouse. Do not waste the sun you do have.

The timetable of the House of Commons is determined partly by formal procedural rules and partly by informal arrangements between the party whips on each side. About 50% of parliamentary debating time is devoted to matters initiated by the government, 30% to matters initiated by the opposition front bench, and 20% to matters initiated by back bench (or "private") members. One day each week usually is set aside for private members' business.