Signs of spring approaching

Maintaining planters, improving soil and planning for the growing season

It looks like Graham has taken to using the facility in a more relaxed "service user" sort of way. Maintaining his planters and planning for the growing season ahead.

Thoughts of summer and freshly grown strawberries

Strawberries are very easy to grow and can be grown nearly anywhere – in planters, containers, hanging baskets and borders etc.

For excellent free advice on growing and harvesting strawberries and how you can help eliminate pests and diseases please visit the Royal Horticultural Society.

Free wildlife watch spotter sheets

Looking for fun and interesting activities while you are out and about with the family or perhaps needing a little help identifying wildlife? The Wildlife Trust may be able to help with their large range of free Wildlife Watch spotter sheets.

To view and download their free spotter sheets please visit the Wildlife Watch

Top tip - identifying seeds trays and plant pots in the poly tunnel

In an effort to avoid confusion that may arise when it become particularly busy in the poly tunnel some of our service users, particularly those who may send down different people from time to time have found it beneficial to add a “ tag” to their containers and seeds trays.

It may not work for everyone but we found this can be a simple yet effective way of identifying which seeds and plants are being tended by which individual or organisation, particularly for members who may be attending the site for the first time.

Our valued friends from Cadas have been busy preparing their planters

Growing onions from seed - step by step guide from Gardeners World

Onions are easy and cheap to grow, whether from seed or from heat-treated sets. If you are unsure how to get the best from your onion seeds follow Gardeners Worlds step-by-step guides below on growing onions from seed 

Gardeners World - How to grow onions from seed

The demolition of 188 Marsh Street continues

A little tlc for our hedging on the garden and it will be back to its best

For those who, like myself, do not really know the best technique for hedge trimming practical guides which may help to demonstrate both how to trim a variety of hedging and how to use your hedge trimmer can be found on the following websites:

Royal Horticultural Society  - how to trim a variety of hedging

Stihl - Top tips and advice

Flymo - how to use your hedge trimmer

How to deal with garden weeds - Free advice from RHS

“Don't be put off if weeds take over areas in the garden from time to time. Certain weeds will flourish depending on the weather and soil conditions and you can tackle these weeds in different ways based on how they grow” – RHS

For top tips and advice on how to deal with a variety of weeds please visit the RHS website here

Wishing a for warm summer and opportunities to use our gazebo again

It may be looking a little dull and empty at the moment but we are optimistic it will be brighter and busier in a few months

......and breathe. Its the weekend

Soon be spring and the garden will be bursting into new life

 

Good to see a varied group confirming their use of a raised planter

The CIC are aiming to have all planter allocations confirmed no later than Friday 16th February

What to sow and grow in your poly tunnel - monthly guides

Growing in a poly tunnel is a great way for you to; extend the growing season, produce salad crops throughout the year and enjoy a variety of early and late fresh fruit and vegetables.

If you would like to learn how to best use your poly tunnel the Allotment Garden has produced a series of month by month poly tunnel growing guided that take you through the whole year. These can be viewed at your leisure on their website here. 

Handover process completed

Following a meeting earlier today with members of our management committee and staff from The Well Communities it was acknowledged that the recent handover process can now be considered completed and we can place the maintenance of the site in the hands of The Well Communities.





Staff and volunteers from the Well can begin in earnest their roles as:
(i) gardeners – responsible for ensuring the garden and its facilities are kept well maintained and tidy (ii) as coordinators – responsible for day to day activities.
They will also be on hand when opening the garden 3 days a week from March, details to be posted here shortly.

It was also agreed to end our current mobile number and greenheartden email address which will be phased out over the next couple of weeks. Contact details for new coordinators were confirmed at a recent management committee meeting as email: ged@thewell2.co.uk and mobile: 07922 222 670

Graham will remain a member of the CIC, continue managing our social media accounts and will no doubt be seen regularly pottering about on the garden and among other things; looking after the wildlife area, relaxing,  photographing wildlife, growing his own vegetables and helping where he can. 

When to sow your vegetable seeds

"The success of growing your own vegetables can depend on various factors, including which month to plant or sow your seeds"

If you are unsure of when to sow, or what you can each month please visit Suttons comprehensive breakdown of when to sow/plant vegetables on their website here 

Using the garden in a more relaxed service user sort of way.......

Now that Graham is no longer responsible for ensuring the garden and its facilities are kept maintained and no longer responsible for coordinating day to day activities he is thinking more and more about enjoying the space and using the garden in a more relaxed "service user" sort of way.

It all seems like a long time ago now

The official naming ceremony conducted by Greengate Junior School - 04.07.2008

Grow your own scheme ceremony 30.04.2012

Checking on the condition of our mini beast hotels

Details of how to build a mini beast/bug hotel can be found on the RSPB website here.

Helping our native bumblebees

"The Bumblebee Conservation Trust was established because of serious concerns about the ‘plight of the bumblebee’.In the last 80 years our bumblebee populations have crashed. Two species have become nationally extinct and several others have declined dramatically. Bumblebees are familiar and much-loved insects that pollinate our crops and wildflowers, so people are rightly worried. We have a vision for a different future in which our communities and countryside are rich in bumblebees and colourful flowers, supporting a diversity of wildlife and habitats for everyone to enjoy".

If you would like to learn a little more about our native bees and how you may be able to help them please visit the Bumblebee Conservation Trust.

Plant pot holders perhaps........

Thank you to contractors working on behalf of Network Rail who have rescued these chimney pots. And Graham thanks you for helping to carry them as he is getting on a bit now.

We are not just about gardening and growing your own

Our garden site can be used for a variety of activities, not just for gardening and growing your own.

Not something we are greeted with on most mornings

Lawn care tips and advice

"From time to time, your lawn  might need some extra care to keep it in peak condition.When lawns start to look a bit lacklustre, it's amazing how quickly they respond to attention. Watering in the summer can turn a brown lawn green again. Spiking to aerate the trampled areas works wonders to get the grass growing, while raking out the dead growth can turn a thin, threadbare lawn back into a soft, green carpet" - Gardeners World.

The following sites provide guides which may help you get the best out of your lawns

Gardeners World
Love the Garden

Note: with safety in mind:

Generic petrol lawnmower risk assessment

Cordless grass strimmer risk assessment

Rusland Valley Horticultural Society - Potato Day Sunday 21 January

Easy to grow vegetables for beginners

Are you are thinking about growing your own vegetables but not sure which plants to try? From pots and planters to allotments and gardens, there are vegetables to suit spaces large and small. Growing your own doesn’t need to be complicated. 

If you need a little advice and inspiration Thompson and Morgan may be able to help you as they have published details of their top 10 easy to grow vegetables on their website here.

Enjoying nature and wildlife through photography

Photography is one of the many ways that can give you anther good excuse to get outside and enjoy nature and wildlife.

“If you find yourself looking for some photographic inspiration but don't have time to trawl the thousands of blogs, streams and feeds on the internet, well don't worry – Countryfile have done the research for you. “

They has listed a selection of some of the best nature and wildlife photography blogs, full of inspiration and tips that are useful for those just starting out with their camera” 

If you would like to know more please visit their website here.

Hopefully it will be another busy growing season in the poly tunnel

It is looking empty and quiet in the poly tunnel at the moment.......

We much prefer it being used more and looking busier just as it usually does during the growing season

A productive onsite meeting with the Well Communities

A productive onsite meeting with staff and volunteers from the Well Communities to review our risk assessments, instruction manuals and maintenance schedule. It also offered an opportunity to answer any other questions that may arise regarding maintenance of the site.

The meeting has helped to conclude the handover process and allow the Well Communities to begin their new roles in earnest, particularly the maintenance of the site. 

Next step: to arrange a meeting between the staff and volunteers from Well Communities and our management committee to clarify some topics related to a working partnership and to ensure everyone involved has the same information to hand when making decisions and agreeing a way forward.

A guide to health and safety on community garden site

We have recently come across this excellent free guide to health and safety on community garden sites and thought it may be of interest to others, particularly those who may be considering developing one. It has been produced by The Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens using their vast experience in the field.

Looking forward to another productive growing season in 2018

Taking stock of our basic first aid supplies

Taking a little time while onsite to check our first aid supplies.

Although we do provide basic first aid supplies we would encourage groups and individuals using the garden and grow your own scheme to consider issues such as access to a first aid kit, risk assessments and appropriate supervision etc.