My New Year manifesto
ORDER books have opened for Mercedes Benz’s svelte new E-Class coupe, pictured, from £40,135, with first UK deliveries in April.
So you can choose your spec even before the elegant two-door’s official unveiling at the Detroit Motor Show.
The initial line-up comprises one diesel, the 220d coupe, from £40,135, and two petrol versions, the E300 from £41,025, and the E400 4MATIC from £50,775. But there’ll be only one trim level — AMG Line — which Mercedes describes as generous.
The E220d’s two-litre 194bhp diesel engine emits an average 119g/km of CO2 and achieves up to 61.4mpg, accelerating from rest to 62 mph in 7.4 seconds.
The E300’s two-litre turbocharged 245bhp petrol engine emits a heftier 160g/km of CO2, averages 40.4mpg and does 0 to 62mph in 6.4 seconds. For even more power, the E400 4MATIC has a 333bhp bi-turbo three-litre V6 petrol engine chucking out 189g/km of CO2 and delivering up to 33.6mpg. It accelerates from rest to 62 mph in just 5.3 seconds.
All models have 19 in, five-twin spoke alloys, LED headlights and tail lights, parking sensors and reversing camera.
A ten-point wish list to make 2017 a greener, richer and better world
None of my new Year’s resolutions for 2016 survived beyond February. So instead of vainly seeking self-improvement from tomorrow, I’m campaigning for a better gardening world. Horticulture is already pretty marvellous. But for the sake of everyone who loves gardening, I want to see it get even better.
So, here are ten suggestions for 2017 and beyond . . .
1. SAVE FRONT GARDENS
MIllIonS have been lost, mainly to car parking. It’s great to get cars off the road, but tragic to lose those gardens. So let’s make space for both.
With careful design, cars can often share space with plants. That would bring beauty — and breathe more oxygen — into urban residential areas.
2. DUMP GIMMICKS
everY year, breeders bombard us with flashy novelty plants. Most vanish in a few seasons. others look great on sale, but do poorly at home. let’s have fewer, better varieties.
3. RECRUIT YOUNGSTERS
THe royal Horticultural Society makes huge efforts to get children gardening. And it’s working. now we need the professional side to be taken more seriously in schools. This is not just teaching youngsters to grow stuff. It’s recommending horticulture as a diverse and rewarding career.
4. LOVE SPROUTS
Would Tv chefs please stop telling us that children dislike Brussels sprouts? our four loved them when they were little — and still do. Home-grown sprouts are healthy, nutritious, delicious, easy to grow and to cook.
5. MORE WILDFLOWERS
energY is squandered by excessive grass mowing. Meanwhile, pollinating insects are dying for lack of flowers. let’s see more green spaces and verges managed to conserve wildflowers. I want to see cowslips, cuckoo flowers, scabious, bees, butterflies and beetles — not just boring grass.
6. PLANT STREET TREES
SoMe councils — london’s Kensington and Chelsea for example — maintain varied and beautiful trees. And the green city of Singapore sets an example to the world. Trees are so important, helping cities to breathe. So let’s see more, in greater variety.
7. BAN BARE WALLS
AlMoST every vertical surface is a planting opportunity. In tiny gardens, walls or fences may provide the only places for plants. I would like more of them to be furnished with climbers, window boxes or hanging baskets.
8. ALLOTMENTS GALORE
gArdenIng is a healthy activity and home-grown food tastes miles better. But since so many gardens are small, people need more growing space. It would be great to see landowners or local authorities making more parcels of land available to allotmenteers.
9. BRING BACK PONDS
MAnY local ponds have disappeared. In our village, there’s a sad remnant that barely holds water. Yet, ten years ago, moorhens nested on it and the banks were lined with yellow flag and water forget-me-not. natural ponds should be preserved or restored. every one is a tiny reserve, rich with interest.
10. COMMUNITY PLOTS
CoMMunITY gardening has enjoyed rapid growth in many parts of Britain.
rundown green spaces can be used to grow crops or flowers. Housing projects or estates with land are great opportunities for community gardens. Where they’ve succeeded, vandalism has reduced. For more information, visit rhs.org.uk/communities.
A happy, successful and prosperous 2017 for all.