Devonshire ezine Spring 19
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Westgrove Joinery Limited<br />
LOUISECROSSMAN<br />
ARCHITECTS<br />
From Inspiration to Installation<br />
Crafted in the heart of East Devon<br />
Windows, Doors, Staircases<br />
Tel: 01395 568123 | www.westgrovejoinery.com<br />
Devon 01392 260490<br />
Somerset 0<strong>19</strong>84 640988<br />
www.lcarchitects.co.uk<br />
by JOHN FISHER<br />
Keep the aspidistras flying<br />
OUR VICTORIAN FOR-<br />
BEARS - as well as Devon’s<br />
many garden centres - might<br />
be pleased to know that indoor<br />
plants are making a come back<br />
whilst some plug-in air freshener<br />
manufacturers might not.<br />
A century and a half after the<br />
middle classes filled their<br />
homes with potted plants for<br />
show, scientists are suggesting<br />
we re-introduce particular types<br />
to cut down on indoor pollution.<br />
These work for our health<br />
by breathing in what they call<br />
“volatile organic compounds”<br />
(VOCs). These can come from<br />
paints, new furniture, many<br />
household cleaning products,<br />
copiers and printers and even<br />
dry-cleaned clothes.<br />
The best all-rounder tested, Dr.<br />
Vadoud Niri told the American<br />
Chemical Society recently is<br />
the Bromeliad (Guzmania lingualata)<br />
which was able to absorb<br />
80 per cent of the VOCs<br />
in the air in just 12 hours. But<br />
the plant that nailed first prize<br />
was Dracaena fragrans which<br />
took up 94 per cent of the acetone<br />
in the air in a nail bar.<br />
Our headline is the title of<br />
George Orwell’s classic novel<br />
which includes the line, “There<br />
will be no revolution in England<br />
while there are aspidistras<br />
in the windows”.<br />
PEOPLE HOME DESIGN LIFESTYLE HISTORY<br />
CONTENTS 123
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