Among the various vegetables being grown in the raised planters.....

A mistle thrush pays a visit

Among the horticulture workshops conducted so far include....

Among the horticulture workshops conducted so far include; "what you can grow all year" - "growing a herb garden" - "edible flowers, what you can grow to eat" facilitated by Jennifer Lauruol from Carpe Diem Garden Design and meadow management sessions as facilitated by Sue Thurley from Cumbria Wildlife Trust.

Funding to enable the workshops has been provided from a generous grant awarded to the project by People’s Health Trust, using money raised by Healthable Community Interest Company through The Health Lottery.

Meadow management, re-potting spindle

Valued volunteer Alex re-potting spindle as part of the wildlife and meadow habitat management workshops as facilitated by Cumbria Wildlife Trust Officer Sue Thurley.

Funding to enable the workshops has been provided from a generous grant awarded to the project by People’s Health Trust, using money raised by Healthable Community Interest Company through The Health Lottery.

UK State of Nature report 2013

The ground-breaking "State of Nature" report launched today on the International Day for Biological Diversity. 25 wildlife organisations have compiled a stock take of our native species that reveals that 2 out of 3 insects are declining.

UK nature is in serious trouble – that is the conclusion of a ground-breaking report published today by a coalition of leading conservation and research organisations. The report is published on the same day that the United Nations has proclaimed International Day for Biological Diversity to increase understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues.

The report reveals that 60% of the species studied have declined over recent decades. More than one in ten of all the species assessed are under threat of disappearing from our shores altogether.

Sir David Attenborough said: “This ground-breaking report is a stark warning – but it is also a sign of hope. This report shows that our species are in trouble, with many declining at a worrying rate. However, we have in this country a network of passionate conservation groups supported by millions of people who love wildlife. The experts have come together today to highlight the amazing nature we have around us and to ensure that it remains here for generations to come.”

The full report can be viewed here www.rspb.org.uk/stateofnature

Find out more about International Day for Biological Diversity here http://www.cbd.int/idb/

Growing their own.....

A little colour in the undergrowth - herb robert perhaps?

Bluebells flowering in the undergrowth

A little blossom

Adding plants to the communal herb garden planter

Quote for the week.......

"For to the bee, the flower is a fountain of life" - Kahil Gibran

Growing crops in pots

If you have a small garden or patio area or even just window boxes it is still possible to grow a diverse range of plants. A huge variety of herbs, vegetables and fruit can be grown in pots and containers, they are perfect if you have very little room and are just starting out.

Information, advice and tips on container gardening can be found on various sites such as:

RHS - Growing vegetables in containers 
Vertical Veg - top ten crops to grow in containers
Thompson and Morgan - top crops for containers
Allotment UK - container gardening

Vertical Veg – inspiring and supporting food growing in tiny spaces

Are you looking for inspiration and practical advice on how to grow food in containers? 

Vertical Veg offers ideas and and tips to make the most of small spaces at : www.verticalveg.org.uk

Todays horticulture workshop - "edible flowers, what you can grow and eat"

Horticulture training workshop - "edible flowers, what to grow and eat" - as facilitated by Jennifer Lauruol from Carpe DiemGardens. Among the plants discussed included; artichoke, borage, brassica blossoms, calendula (pot marigold), chives, elder flowers, fennel, lavender, nasturtiums and roses.

Funding for the training workshops has been provided from a generous grant awarded to the project by People’s Health Trust, using money raised by Healthable Community Interest Company through The Health Lottery.

Barrow Foodie Fest - 8th and 9th June 2013

Common lizards thriving on the banking

Wildlife and meadow habitat management training

Wildlife and meadow habitat management training sessions for our valued volunteers, Alex and David. The sessions were facilitated by Cumbria Wildlife Trust Officer Sue Thurley. During the sessions our volunteers were taught how to prepare and manage the banking area; thinning out young trees, identifying and removing vigorous grasses and planting a variety of wild flower plug plants. Varieties planted during the sessions included; ox eye daisy, birds foot trefoil, yellow rattle and saxifrage burnet.

Common lizards

Juvenile slow worm

CADAS - Carers week drop in sessions

Wildlife habitat management

Valued volunteer David gently raking and collecting grass cuttings on the wildlife banking area as part of the wildlife habitat management training sessions facilitated by Cumbria Wildlife Trust.

The slow worms are looking healthy

Sacred Heart Junior School tending their raised planter

Age UK Barrow - Zumba classes

Age UK Barrow - Spring Fayre

Adding trellis to some of the new raised planters

These will shortly be planted with sweet peas and nasturtiums.

An angel shades moth joins us in the poly tunnel

New post with hook and eye fixing for the poly tunnel door

Thompson & Morgan - How to sow and grow sweet peas

Our communal herb garden planter

Following interested in working together from several of our community growers we have constructed and prepared a large (2.4 metre square) planter which is to be used as a communal herb garden. Among others a large variety of herbs may be used. For example; rosemary, sage, thyme, lavender, chives, basil, pot marigold, coriander, parsley, fennel and nasturtium.

Advice on growing herbs can be found at

  Garden Organic
Royal Horticultural Society
Thompson  and Morgan
Allotment Growing UK

The FREE wild flower seeds have arrived

The FREE wild flower seeds have just arrived, courtesy of The co - operatives Plan Bee campaign.

A welcomed visit from those involved with Workington Local Food

A welcomed return visit of staff from Home Housing Group Workington and residents involved with Workington Local Food - a community project providing growing sites in the South Workington area so local residents can grow their own food