After a spell of hot, dry weather (when the pond demonstrated to us that we will need to make one part of it deeper to give the creatures somewhere to go if we get a longer spell of hot, dry … Continue reading Meeting the exuberance
A lovely May day and a gentle bit of editing: taking out a bit of bindweed and horsetails, uncovering the Water Avens and Ragged Robin, and splitting a few pond plants to put into the pond. Thanks to Karen, Mr … Continue reading Kingcups, Buttercups & Ragged Robin
With the weather getting a bit warmer, there are signs of Spring breaking out all over, and it’s wonderful to see. Continue reading Signs of Life
Whenever there is a hint of snow or a sharp frost, it’s worth a trip to the allotment with a camera (and a flask of hot coffee!). You might even get lucky and snap a fox without realising it is … Continue reading New Year Freeze – and a Fox!
The beginning of September already. The hottest, driest summer anyone can remember ended with a little rain. The rainwater collection tanks and damp meadow gratefully absorbed it, but where the ground was compacted, the rain barely made an impression. Rainwater … Continue reading End of summer working party
It was brilliant to have Mark and his drone back to capture (from the air) our progress on the project site. Here (below) are some of the shots – if you want to see the ‘before’ shots, they are here. … Continue reading Progress seen from the air
Wonderful to see a clutch of Small Tortoiseshell caterpillars on a patch of nettles on the project plot this week. Along with many other butterfly species, they’ve had a rough ride with the recent wet springs, but hopefully the dry … Continue reading Lots of lovely caterpillars!
It’s brilliant to be able to wander round (in wellies!) in the mini nature reserve and spot who is currently living there. The willows that we pollarded at the end of last year are sprouting nicely. The other trees (willow, … Continue reading Spotter’s Guide
Our working party on Friday began to shape the nature reserve. Here we have to tread a fine line which allows us to manage the site with a light touch that enhances what is there – making the space for … Continue reading Shaping the nature reserve
We had a bit of a Bank Holiday working party on the project plots today – just to do a bit of tidying. We trimmed the foliage that was overhanging the driveway, pulled up some of the Willowherb to try … Continue reading A bit of tidying
Urban Allotment: climate resilience & community 