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......

Adding a little colour in the poly tunnel

Our Health Lottery funded training activities so far

Final figures for the first phase (2013) of our Health Lottery funded training at Green Heart Den are;

        We have had 99 attendances from 39 individuals across 17 sessions.  

        Some attending on multiple occasions i.e. x2 attending 13 sessions, x1  

        attending 5 sessions x3 attending 4 sessions and x6 attending 2 sessions

        and so on.

        The workshops/activities have included;

        Basic introduction to growing your own

        How to design your own herb garden

        Learning about edible flowers

        Meadow management

        Gardening for wildlife

        Food for free - foraging

        Wildlife identification

        Cook and eat on the garden

        Art in the garden

        Propagation - using the poly tunnel

        We’ve also had three schools sessions as part of the Health Lottery    

        funded training. St Georges School held two sessions within one day on the site,

        with workshops led by Cumbria Wildlife Trust and paid for from our

        funding. This involved 6 pupils and 2 staff members from the school.

        Sacred Heart School had a session on the site for 10 pupils and 2 staff

        members.

        We are currently planning training for 2014 Spring/Summer – the first

        session on meadow management and introduction to wildlife was for 12

        pupils and 3 staff from Furness Academy. Future work with women from

        Women’s Community Matters is currently being planned.

Our training programme has been enabled from a grant we were awarded by The People’s Health Trust, using money raised by Healthable Community Interest Company through The Health Lottery. 

Snowdrops in our undergrowth

A busy start to the year in the poly tunnel

It may be winter but there is plenty to do in the poly tunnel