Welcome to the Green Heart Dens blog page.......
Developed and managed by Marsh Street Arches and Garden Community Interest Company.
Wednesday 5 February 2020
Preparing a raised planter for the new growing season
Preparing a raised planter for the new growing season. Clearing out old plants and weeds and turning over the soil.
Tuesday 4 February 2020
Companion planting guide from Thompson Morgan
Companion
planting is about creating plant combinations which have mutual benefits to
each other and is a more natural,
organic way to deter pests and improve productivity in the fruit and vegetable
garden.
If you would like to learn more about companion planting
please visit Thompson - Morgan
Monday 3 February 2020
Top tips and advice on growing your own from the RHS
If you are not sure what to grow this coming season top tips and advice found on the RHS (Royal Horticulture Society) website here may be the place to begin. Their monthly growing guides cover a variety of topics such as: growing fruit, vegetables and herbs, and growing in
limited space such as containers.
Sunday 2 February 2020
How a wildlife-rich environment benefits both physical and mental health
"Evidence shows that a
thriving, wildlife-rich environment benefits both physical and mental health.
People with nature on their doorstep are more active, mentally resilient and
have better all-round health. Every day, we are working to bring wildlife to
more people, and more people to wildlife. Get involved and make
socialising, volunteering and exercise in natural places central to
your daily life". Source The Wildlife Trust website
I have to agree as I have and still do enjoy my time in the natural environment generally and being involved with the wilder side of the Green Heart Den, looking after the wildlife area, watching and taking photos of the variety of species on the site. I find it very therapeutic and good for my physical and mental well being - Graham
Growing tomato plants from seed
If you would like to learn how to sow, plant and harvest tomatoes Gardeners World have may be able to help you with their free practical growing guide which includes; expert advice and a video guide to planting tomatoes in grow bags.
For top tips and free advice please visit the Gardeners World page here
Thursday 30 January 2020
Why the site required a terram non woven geotextile membrane
As
part of the grow your own planning and construction process and a requirement
of the land lease a terram non woven geotextile membrane plus anti dig mesh was
required to areas planted during the construction process. This included;
planted borders, lawn areas and the north banking area. Planters were also
lined with the membrane. As it was established before the construction process began that the previously created banking adjacent to the railway line may; hold contaminants, is home to protected species, and
would remain unchanged and not be disturbed or replanted in the future the banking adjacent to the railway line
did not require the membrane.
Local
environmental officers advised that the membrane had to be installed to all areas
which would be planted during construction to provide an easily
visible separation of potential contaminants from the old ground mixing with
the newly introduced uncontaminated soil in the planted areas, lawns and raised
planters. It would prevent the upward movement of any potential contaminant
particles. As a condition of the land lease care has to be taken not to
compromise the membrane and not to disturb the surface of any pathways. Each
delivery of imported soil had to be tested before use to ensure it was to the
correct standard.
Reference: Site Remediation Survey and Strategy
Wednesday 29 January 2020
Always enjoy my time maintaining the wildlife friendly banking
"Always enjoy my time maintaining the wildlife friendly banking area adjacent to the railway line on the grow your own scheme, hopefully putting to good use the experience I gained during the onsite phase 1 and phase 2 habitat surveys, the reptile survey and from habitat management training and wildlife ID workshops facilitated by officers of Cumbria Wildlife Trust and the Barrow"s Wildside Project. The habitat management training workshops, along with various other workshops during between 2013 - 2015, were provided with funding the project received from The Peoples Health Trust" - Graham
Thursday 23 January 2020
Wednesday 15 January 2020
Free, easy to follow growing guides from Garden Organic
Free easy to follow growing guides from Garden Organic covering a
variety of vegetables, herbs, edible flowers and fruit.
Each individual guide is set
out with growing instructions, growing calendar and facts and figures to help
improve your growing success.
The growing guides can be
downloaded from the Garden Organic website here.
Saturday 4 January 2020
Exciting time ahead for Green Heart Den in 2020
"2020 will be a year of regeneration of Green Heart Den. Poly tunnel repairs in January along with University of Cumbria planting and lots of exciting partnership working opportunities with Network Rail, The Well, Mind and the complete refurbishment of the garden side of the Green Heart Den. The objective is to recreate a vibrant space for all the local community to use" - Project Coordinator Ged Pickersgill.
Wildlife gardening with the RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
If you are looking for a new project in the garden perhaps you could consider making the space a little more wildlife friendly. The RSPB has some excellent free advice such as which plants can help encourage a variety of wildlife into your garden and creating different habitats.
For more details please visit the RSPB website here.
Gardeners World to tips for a low maintenance vegetable plot
Free advice and practical tips from Gardener's World on how you can produce a low maintenance vegetable plot, particularly useful for people with limited time. Topics include: space saving crops to grow, vegetable crops for beginners, growing in raised beds and companion planting.
Details on the Gardeners World website here
Thursday 2 January 2020
Rusland Valley Horticultural Society Annual Potato Day
On Sunday 19th January
2020, Rusland Valley Horticultural Society
will hold the 5th Annual Potato Day in Greenodd Village Hall.This will be a great opportunity to purchase your seed and
plant requirements for 2020 with, dozens of species of potato sets as well as
onion sets and large selection of fruit trees, plants and shrubs.The event opens at 10 am till 2 pm. Soup and cakes as well as
hot drinks will be on sale in the Hall. For further details, contact: jon@woddy.co.uk
Sunday 22 December 2019
Tuesday 17 December 2019
Making and using leaf mould
Making and using leaf mould:
After collecting fallen leaves place them in a bin liner, moisten them if they are dry, then pierce holes in the
bag with a knife or garden fork, tie the top loosely and stack the bags out of
sight for up to two years. If you have a lot of leaves you can make a simple heap and to stop them blowing away, build a frame round the heap using posts and netting.
Well-rotted leaf mould over two years old can be
used as seed-sowing compost, garden compost and good quality soil for use as
potting compost.
Leaf mould, less than two years old can be used as mulch,
a soil conditioner, or a winter covering for bare soil.
A quiet time of the year, but there is always something to do in the garden
December can
be a relatively quiet time on the garden but there are always a few jobs you
can be getting on with. For example:
Digging over
and prepare your soil for next year’s planting and growing season. At the same
time you can add organic matter such as well rotted manure and/or contents from
your compost bin.
Cleaning bird feeders, stock up on fat balls and making sure birds have access to fresh water.
Making a log pile or mini beast hotel which will help to provide
shelter for wildlife.
Washing, cleaning and servicing all of your garden tools and giving them a wipe with oil to help prevent
rusting.
Pruning and trimming fruit trees and hedging.
Turning over your compost heaps to let air in and
then covering them with a piece of old carpet or some plastic sheeting to prevent the compost becoming too cold and wet to rot down.
Collecting fallen leaves and
adding them to the compost bin and/or
save separately to make leaf mould.
Removing weeds and adding
them to the compost bin.
Clearing any fallen or diseased fruit.
And from the warmth and comfort of your armchair you could perhaps begin planning for next year.
And from the warmth and comfort of your armchair you could perhaps begin planning for next year.
Wednesday 11 December 2019
Sunday 20 October 2019
Thursday 10 October 2019
Saturday 28 September 2019
Friday 27 September 2019
Thursday 19 September 2019
Monday 16 September 2019
A little early morning maintenance
Cleaning the air box, replacing the missing air filter on the mower and lubricating some of the padlocks.
Sunday 15 September 2019
One of our inhabitant common lizards on the wildlife friendly area
A year in the life of a common lizard…
Spring - Adult lizards emerge from their hibernation sites in early spring. Mating takes place around April.
Summer - Females incubate the eggs inside themselves and ‘give birth’ to up to 11 live young around July/August. Juvenile lizards are tiny – less than 5cm long – and are darker in colour than the adults.
Autumn - Lizards spend the next couple of months feeding up on invertebrates in preparation for winter. They feed on worms, slugs and insects and give their prey a good shake, to stun it, before swallowing.
Winter - Common Lizards hibernate, often in groups, amongst rocks or dead wood generally between November and March. They may take advantage of milder patches of weather to come out and forage.
Common Lizards are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. It is an offence to kill, harm or injure them sell or trade them in any way
Wednesday 4 September 2019
Tuesday 3 September 2019
Free trees from the Woodland Trust
The Woodland Trust want to make sure everyone in the UK has
the chance to plant a tree. So they are giving away hundreds of thousands of
trees to schools and communities.
For more information and details of how to apply please visit their website here.
Monday 2 September 2019
Saturday 10 August 2019
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