Well, the slow worms appear to be healthy and flourishing

Maintenance activities with our team of valued volunteers......

Quote for the week........

"Plant a thought, reap an act. Plant an act, reap a habit. Plant a habit, reap a character. Plant a character, reap a destiny" - Confucius

What to plant and sow in Autumn.........

There are a number of vegetables which can be planted or sown directly outdoors in Autumn including:

• Onions – can be planted up until November
• Kale - will produce green throughout the winter
• Brussel sprouts - can withstand a harsh winter
• Winter spinach - can produce large yeilds around christmas
• Garlic – cloves can be planted until early November. They can also be planted in early spring, but will provide a much better yield if it goes through a cold period over the winter
• Winter/Lambs lettuce - a hardy winter salad with a soft texture and mild flavour. Lasts well throughout the winter, and when it flowers next spring the flowers can be eaten too.
• Rocket - a September sowing of rocket will last well into the autumn and can sometimes survive a mild winter
• Mustard greens - have a peppery taste and can be grown easliy in raised beds or containers
• Broad beans – you can sow seeds of early varieties from now until late November
• Peas – you can sow a hardy variety in a sheltered place from now until mid-October

Now is also a good time to plant new strawberry plants – either those you have bought or those you have propagated from runners. The sooner you plant them, the sooner they will get established and the bigger your crop next year.

Living Seas marine conference Friday 19th October

"Living Seas is The Wildlife Trusts’ vision for the future of the UK’s seas. Within Living Seas, marine wildlife thrives, from the depths of the ocean to the coastal shallows". For more information please visit the Wildlife Trusts website here.

Information about the North West Living Seas can be found on Cumbria Wildlife Trust website here.

Courtesy of our friends at Neighbourhood Management

Among today's welcomed pollinators included.......

Our clematis enjoying a little sun in between the showers

50 shades of.........

Barrows Wildside events guide. Oct 2012 - Apr 2013

Gardening with old tyres

Quote for the week.......

"Strong people stand up for themselves, but stronger people stand up for others" - Unknown

Smile.........

Source: ANDREA ZAMPATTI @ WILDLIGHTS.IT

Some of our birds foot trefoil

Birds foot trefoil is an important source of food for creatures, particularly bees, as it produces nectar.

If you would like more information, please visit the Plantlife website here.

Potential site for a composting toilet

Measuring and marking out a suitable site for a potential composting toilet.

We just need to source appropriate funding now......

Preparing for the new, secure gated access to archway C

Gilmour Engineering and Industrial Service arriving on site to begin taking final measurements for the new, secure gated access they are fabricating and installing to archway C.

We would like to thank  Cumbria County Council and Neighbourhood Management for providing the funding to enable this work.

A peaceful, sunny Sunday morning

Preparing for a little lawn maintenance

Common lizards basking in our wildlife boundary areas

Today in our wildlife boundary area

Quote for the week.....

"never underestimate your ability to make someone else's life better - even if you never know it" - Greg Louganis

Transferring some of our strawberry plant runners

Transferring some of our strawberry plant runners from the large planting boxes under the arbour to a raised planter on our new community grow your own scheme.

For more information about strawberry plants please visit the RHS website here.

Well, the strawberries still think it is summer

CADAS sponsorship

We would like to thank CADAS for sponsoring a raised planter on our community grow your own scheme. It is very much appreciated and will make a real difference.

Details of how you could sponsor a planter can be found here.

Furness Building Society sponsorship

We would like to thank Furness Building Society for sponsoring a raised planter on our community grow your own scheme. It is very much appreciated and will make a real difference.

Details of how you could sponsor a planter can be found here.

Vertical gardening for small spaces

For more information please visit Low Impact Living

Can you help - Would you like to sponsor a planter?

Can you help? - Would you like to promote your organisation and help the community by sponsoring a raised planter on our new community grow your own scheme. The planters will be used by local residents, local schools and various local organisations such as; MIND in Furness, CADAS, Crofltands Trust, Barrow dads Group and Age UK.

Several local businesses and organisations have confirmed their sponsorship including; Gilmour Engineering and Industrial Services, Continental Landscapes Ltd, SDG Accountants, Furness Building Society, Salthouse Bowling Club, CADAS Barrow and Drop Zone Youth Project.

If you are interested, please find details of how you can sponsor a planter here.

Our reptiles appear to be flourishing

Common toad flax in our wildlife boundary area

Evaluating the community grow your own scheme

A visit from Groundwork NE Project Officer Stella Kent. Stella was visiting the project to progress grant evaluation documentation for the community grow your own scheme with our Project Coordinator and to deliver plaques from Marks and Spencer and Cumbria Waste Management Environmental Trust who have both contributed towards the scheme.

Gardening with recycling in mind