Collect and reuse water

Collecting rainwater is really easy - it doesn't cost much to do and means you can keep watering during the summer or whenever there are water restrictions. Most plants prefer rainwater to tap water.

Using rainwater you use less tap water, which will save you money if you're on a meter.

Top tips for collecting rainwater:

• Buy a water butt from your water company, gardening or DIY centre or online
• Fit a water butt on every downpipe on your house, shed, garage or greenhouse
• Increase your storage by connecting several water butts together or just get one big butt if space allows
• Remember: be safe with your water butts - always follow the manufacturers'  fitting instructions and ensure they have tight-fitting lids and cannot topple over

Longer term solution - rainwater harvesting

If you have the space and money, you could think about installing a rainwater harvesting system at your house. You sink a large tank in your garden, which you could then pave or deck over. This collects water to use in your garden and in the house to flush toilets.