Now that the sites’ taps have been turned back on, it’s tempting to connect up the hosepipe and spray every inch of our plots. Yet, there are things we can all do as plot holders to reduce our water usage and to use water more wisely.
Author Archives: Nick
Coming out of Covid(?) – Hub spring clean and site improvements
On Saturday of the Easter Bank Holiday, a group of six volunteers from the allotments society came together to form a work party (now that Covid rules allow) to tidy up around the Hub, put up new noticeboards and erect a boundary fence.
Plotholder focus: Arthur
Arthur took on his first Whitehawk Hill allotment seven years ago and was chuffed to get a shed as his Christmas present that year! Four years on, he was fortunate enough to be able to expand on to the neighbouring plot after it became vacant, so he now has two small, but very productive plots.
Animal Focus: The wily red fox
It’s quite common to see foxes on our allotments these days – once a denizen of the countryside this attractive bushy-tailed creature, common throughout the Northern Hemisphere, has also come to make towns and cities its home over the last few decades.
Plotholder focus: Andrew & Max
Andrew and Max have been gardening their Craven Vale plot for the last nine years, growing a range of fruit and vegetables, together with a fair number of ornamentals and flowers too.
Establishing a vineyard – Tips for successful grape growing
If you’ve ever thought of ‘growing your own wine’, then now is a good time to start thinking about ordering your vines and laying out the structure of your new vineyard.
Animal Focus: The remarkable Common Shrew
One animal that is likely to be living on your plot is the Common Shrew (Sorex araneus) which can make a home almost anywhere but is most commonly found in hedgerows, scrubland, grassland and deciduous woodland throughout the UK.
Ten years on from planting an edible hedgerow
When I first took on my plot 11 years ago, I was worried about how exposed the site was, so my first priority was a to plant a windbreak around my boundaries to protect my growing crops. Rather than just planting the usual mix of native hedgerow plants, I thought – why not get something edible out of it too?
What did you see during the #BigGardenBirdWatch?
If you took part in this year’s RSPB Big Garden Bird Watch we’d love to hear what species you saw over the weekend (Friday 29th – Sunday 31st January).
Join in the Big Garden Bird Watch
The RSPB’s Big Garden Bird Watch takes please from Friday 29 – Sunday 31 January. Find out how to take part.
whitehawkallotments.org.uk 