Nick

First Mini Beds completed – and let – ahead of schedule!

On Saturday 20 January, we were very pleased to be able to let the first few completed Mini Beds to people on the waiting lists for Whitehawk and Craven Vale allotments, some of whom have been waiting more than 5 years to get food growing.

Work progressing well on the CVWHAS Mini Bed plot

Thanks to all the volunteers who got stuck in on Saturday 9th December to help further clear the site in preparation for our Mini Bed Scheme, due to launch in spring 2024. Despite very dodgy and wet weather first thing, it remained dry for the rest of the day and we got lots done, includingContinue reading “Work progressing well on the CVWHAS Mini Bed plot”

Calling plot holders! – Join us for our next Mini Bed workday

Work is continuing apace to clear and develop the plot, taken on by CVWHAS in September, to convert it into around 18-20 ‘Mini Beds’ that can be taken on by people looking to downsize from larger plots and to help people on the waiting lists for both sites get started with some growing. If you’reContinue reading “Calling plot holders! – Join us for our next Mini Bed workday”

First Mini Bed Scheme workday a great success

On Sunday 24 September, volunteers helped clear much of Craven Vale plot 47 – home to the Society’s new Mini Bed Scheme – including pulling up masses of brambles, rotten fence posts and weeds, much of which was burnt on a very satisfying bonfire! Although everyone felt exhausted by the end of the session, itContinue reading “First Mini Bed Scheme workday a great success”

Introducing the Craven Vale & Whitehawk Hill ‘Mini Bed’ Scheme

Craven Vale & Whitehawk Hill Allotment Society (CVWHAS) have taken on a new plot near the Beresford Road gate, which will be divided into 18-20 ‘mini beds’ ready for sub-letting in Spring 2024. Who will benefit? These will be initially offered to existing plot holders in September/October 2023, as an option for downsizing. Reasons forContinue reading “Introducing the Craven Vale & Whitehawk Hill ‘Mini Bed’ Scheme”

The Big Spud Weigh-in reveals a new winner!

Plot holders from Craven Vale and Whitehawk Hill allotments gathered with anticipation on Sunday 3 September to find out who had been most successful in the site’s Spud-in-a-Bucket competition, the fun and friendly annual potato-growing championship organised by CVWHAS. Starting on a level playing field, 24 entrants were given just one seed potato and aContinue reading “The Big Spud Weigh-in reveals a new winner!”

Ap-pleasant time was had by all!

What seemed like a ton of apples were washed, chopped, scratted (and re-scratted), pressed and poured into sterilised and rinsed bottles to produce some litres and litres of lovely scrumptious apple juice at our Apple Pressing Day on Sunday 26 September.

Attracting blue butterflies to the allotments

I find it very hard to love a Cabbage White butterfly but there are many others I enjoy seeing on my allotment. Among my favourites are the four blue butterfly species which are to be found on the ancient chalk grasslands of the Whitehawk Hill Local Nature Reserve along the boundary of our allotment site. These are the Common Blue, Adonis Blue, Chalkhill Blue and the Small Blue, which is Britain’s smallest butterfly and has the delightful scientific name of Cupidus minimus.

A good turn-out and interesting discussions at our 2021 AGM

On Sunday 1st August, the committee members of the Craven Vale and Whitehawk Hill Allotments Society, together with several other plot holders, met at The Hub for the Society’s Annual General Meeting 2021. Because it had not been possible to have an AGM in 2020, due to the pandemic, there was a lot to catch up on!

Recipe ideas – dealing with the courgette glut

At this time of year it’s easy to find yourself completely overwhelmed with courgettes – and of course, turn your back and they’ve quickly turned into marrows! – but don’t despair, here are some great uses for them.