FREE art in the garden workshop

The aim of this free “art in the garden” workshop,  facilitated by Jennifer Lauruol of Carpe Diem Gardens, was to enjoy using soft pastel colours to experiment with drawing people. By the end of the session those attending had explored several ways of using pastel colours and created one or more colourful images of people.

Funding to enable the workshop session was provided from a grant  we have been awarded by The Peoples health Trust, using money raised by Healthable Community Interest Company via the health Lottery.

Among the feedback we received included:

"I have had a lovely morning at the workshop. Lovely people here"

"It is a calming, relaxing place. I made new friends"

"Felt comfortable, welcome and really enjoyed it"

"I feel confident enough to socialise more"

FREE Gardeners drop in service 1- 3 pm Friday 9th May

Our gardeners drop-in between 1 and 3 pm Friday 9th May is a free service to help support you in your gardening and growing efforts.

Our resident expert, Jennifer (from Carpe Diem Gardens), will be available to answer your gardening queries such as; what to grow, when and where to grow your plants, what plants are edible? what plants should you plant next to one another? what plants are good for wildlife? All these and much more - there is no need book just call in!

A welcomed visit from Ramsden Infants School

Quote for the week......

"No act of kindness, however small, is ever wasted" - Aesop

Eight of the best herbs for containers

“Herbs are wonderful for containers. Few crops give you so much from so little space. Often just a few leaves can transform a dish. Many also have flowers that attract beneficial insects – bees love chive flowers for example and hoverflies love coriander flowers. If you like herbs and have space for a pot to two, do try growing a few. They are amongst the easiest in containers. And many like mint, chives, thyme and rosemary will return year after year, so you don’t even have to sow them every year, either. All in all, a real winner in small spaces" Source Vertical Veg

Vertical Veg has posted a new video in which Lorraine, who runs the herb farm Herbal Haven, shares her tips on how to grow - Eight of the best herbs for containers

Today was a bluebell sort of a day

Pupils from Sacred Heart preparing for the mini beast hunt

FREE, interesting and fun "art in the garden" workshop Friday 9th May

Our next FREE workshop is on Fri 9 May, 10-12 noon. Come along and have a go at our 'Art in the Garden' session in a beautiful and relaxing environment. No skills required, beginners welcome.

You can book your places by ringing 01229 876546 or by email to neighbourhoodmgt@barrowbc.gov.uk.

Funding to enable the workshops was provided from a grant we received from The Peoples Health Lottery, using money raised by Healthable community interest company through the Health Lottery.

A good attendance at todays what you can grow all year round workshop

A good attendance at todays what you can grow all year round workshop session facilitated by Jennifer Lauruol of Carpe Diem Gardens . Among the topics discussed included; what kinds of food could we grow? plant families, four seasons gardening and techniques for extending the growing season.

Funding to enable the workshops was provided from a grant we received from The Peoples Health Lottery, using money raised by Healthable community interest company through the Health Lottery.

Slow worms pictured in our wildlife boundary areas

We think this little critter is an angle shades moth caterpillar

So far...so good

Transplanting strawberry plants

A busy morning in the poly tunnel

Island Strollers walking group

Juvenile slow worm on the wildlife banking area

One of our common lizards basking in the Easter sun

Growing sweetcorn - Advice from RHS

In very mild areas you can sow sweet corn outside under cloches or fleece at the end of April - In cooler areas wait until May.

More information about growing sweetcorn can be found at: http://www.rhs.org.uk/Gardening/Grow-Your-Own/Veg-A-to-Z/Sweet-corn

National Gardening Week 2014 (14 - 20 April)

National Gardening Week 2014 begins today (14-20 April)

You can join in the country's biggest celebration of gardening - find out what's going on in your area and how you can get involved at www.nationalgardeningweek.org.uk/

Walney Wildlife Week 12th - 17th April

Our first slow worm sighting of the year

Ladies from Mind in Furness preparing to plant some new crops

FREE workshop sessions at Green Heart Den

Harvesting phacelia seeds in the poly tunnel

Companion planting guide from Thompson and Morgan

Companion planting is a natural way to deter pests from damaging fruit and vegetable crops and can also help with pollination. companion plant?

In the chart below Thompson and Morgan have put together “the best known partnerships in flowers, herbs and vegetables to help you improve the health of your garden plants without needing to resort to pesticides”.

Companion planting chart

Companion plant 1	Companion plant 2	How does it work
Cabbage, kale,cauliflower	Nasturtium	Plant Nasturtiums as a sacrificial crop. Cabbage white butterflies will lay their eggs on Nasturtium plants, keeping caterpillars away from your Brassicas.
Cabbage, kale,cauliflower	Mint	Mint helps to deter flea beetles, which chew irregular holes in the leaves.
Courgette	Calendula(English Marigold)	Calendula flowers are highly attractive to pollinating insects which will in turn pollinate your courgette flowers.
Broad beans	Summer savory	Summer savory helps to repel blackfly, a common pest of broads beans.
Carrot	Spring onions	Sow spring onions amongst your carrots - the smell of onion deters carrot root fly. The smell of carrots also deters onion fly from onions.
Carrot	Leek	The smell of leeks deters carrot root fly. The smell of carrots also helps deter leek moth from leeks.
Carrot	Mint	The aromatic leaves of mint help confuse carrot root fly, who find their host through scent.
Chrysanthemum	Chives	The onion scent will deter aphids.
French /Runner beans	Nasturtium	Plant Nasturtiums as a sacrificial crop - aphids love them and this will lure them away from your runner beans/French beans.
Onion	Mint	The aromatic leaves of mint help to confuse and deter onion fly.
Radish	Mint	Mint helps to deter flea beetles, which chew irregular holes in the leaves.
Roses	Garlic	The smell of garlic helps to deter aphids.
Roses	Mint, Chives ,thyme	The strong scent of these herbs deters aphids and blackfly.
Runner beans	Sweet peas	Sweet peas will attract pollinating insects which will in turn help to pollinate your bean flowers.
Sunflower	Chives	The onion scent will deter aphids.
Tomatoes	Mint	The smell of mint deters aphids and other pests.
Tomatoes	French Marigold(Tagetes patula)	The pungent smell of French marigolds deters whitefly.
Tomatoes	Chives	The onion scent will deter aphids.
Tomatoes	Basil	Basil reportedly improves tomato flavour and the strong scent of their leaves also deters aphids. A perfect partnership in the kitchen too!

For more detailed information please visit the Thompson and Morgan website here.

Planting the agenda from yesterdays "Celebrating Barrows Wildside Project" event

Planting the agenda from yesterdays "Celebrating Barrows Wildside Project" event on the wildlife banking area.  Perhaps not as mad as it first appears - the paper is impregnated with native species wild flower seeds.

Preparing the banking area for sowing native species wild flower seeds

Health Lottery funded training workshops at Green Heart Den

Following the successful first phase (2013) of our Health Lottery funded training at Green Heart Den we are currently in the process of organising similar training workshops for Spring/Summer 2014. Sessions to include topics such as “What to grow all year round” – “Art in the garden” – “Cook and eat sessions” 

...................Please watch this space as we aim to confirm dates over the following few weeks.

Cadas allotment group - all are welcome

Growing together at Womens Community Matters

If you’re a women who’s interested in learning more about gardening and growing and getting some hands on experience then Women’sCommunity Matters is the place for you.

An invitation to celebrate Barrows Wildside Project

Small tortoiseshell butterflies enjoying the March sun

Springs here......

Meadow management and introduction to wildlife workshop

06.03.2014 - Our first training session for 2014 - Meadow management and an introduction to wildlife for 12 pupils and 3 members of staff from Furness Academy. The session was facilitated by Cumbria Wildlife Trust Officer Sue Thurley.

Warming up nicely......