WAITING LIST CLOSED
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WHARNCLIFFE ALLOTMENT
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Liverpool to stage last Battle of the Atlantic commemoration...
...and this weekend Bill Regan, a long time member at Wharncliffe Allotments, will take his place in the ranks during a march of veterans on the 70th anniversary of the Battle for the Atlantic. Bill is a proud man and for his 90+ years he remains as strong and committed to maintaining a productive plot as ever.
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Convoy in two lines approaching the North Channel
Photograph curtsey of the Merseyside Maritime Musium |
Working Party
 Volunteering for the Working Party:
Jimmy, Jan and Jim.
At a recent meeting of Plot Holders, an area of the site was discussed, to repair a section of fire damage to a number of trees. Jimmy Flynn (Tree Surgeon) suggested planting a couple of Hawthorne trees in their place, to create a natural barrier similar to other parts of the site. Jimmy has agreed to coordinate a Working Party and has asked for volunteers to help with the movement of rubble and waste material built-up over the years. Want to help? Speak to Jimmy or contact a Committee Member for more information. Blackburn House Group....
...announces the creation of a Merseyside wide community beekeeping project. Click the image below for more information.
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Scouse Honey Bees Are here!
The Scouse Honey Company have delivered on their promise to providing Wharncliffe Allotments with its own colony of bees. The bees will help to pollinate the site's orchard trees and allotment plants so that yields may be improved. The bees arrived on site Sunday 13th May, a slight delay due to their Czech Republic suppliers.
Photographs of their arrival can be seen by going to the Projects page and clicking on a link to a couple of slideshows. Find out more about the Scouse Honey Company and how to get your hands on their amazing honey based products: http://www.facebook.com/ScouseHoneyCo https://twitter.com/ScouseHoneyCo Allotments Regeneration Initiative (ARI)
Set up to helped revive interest in allotments and food growing across the UK back in 2002.
Although the ARI project has reached its conclusion the website still contains some really useful resources and guides for anyone seeking to regenerate and promote allotments in the UK. |
Allotments at Threat of Closure
The Telegraph have an interesting article on Farm Terrace Allotments. Does cash speak louder than a community caring for its own health and wellbeing? Read the article by the Telegraph here: The Telegraph
Want to help save one of the allotments at risk? Click the link to support their campaign: Farm Terrace Allotment Campaign Theft of Livestock
The Association of Liverpool Allotments Secretary (Rod Massie), has reported the theft of livestock. The most recent incident took place at Ashfield Allotments (Tuesday 2nd April), three Plots were targeted resulting in the loss of all hens. Ashfield Allotments explained that their security is reasonably good and are looking into how the thieves got onto the site.
If you are concerned about the security of Wharncliffe Allotments please contact a Committee Member.
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Scouse Honey Co. Arrival of Bees to Wharncliffe 12th MayN.S.A.L.G. Compost Awareness Week 6th - 12th MayAshfield Allotments May Open Day 18th May
Thingwall Road Allotments Open Weekend 25 - 26 May Wharncliffe Allotment's Open Day 9th June |
N.S.A.L.G. AGM & Conference 1st June
Pitville Allotment Society Plant Sale 16th June Ashfield Allotments Flower and Vegetable Show 17th Aug |
Plot Holder Meetings: Send items for discussion to Jan Bentley (Chair Person) in writing or use the 'Contact Us' form on the Wharncliffe Allotments Website.
Member's, get involved in your Website!
Send your messages in to us and we'll post them here.
Go to the Contact Us page and tell us what you're doing, we'll do the rest it's that simple!
Do you want to include photographs in you message?
Let us know, we can use your images or we can arrange for our resident Photographer to come along and take photos for you...free of charge!
Go to the Contact Us page and tell us what you're doing, we'll do the rest it's that simple!
Do you want to include photographs in you message?
Let us know, we can use your images or we can arrange for our resident Photographer to come along and take photos for you...free of charge!
Innovative Ideas
It’s a well known fact that our members continue to be creative and innovative, this has been proven by the way we choose to share ideas, both here on our website and when we meet at the allotment. We're always looking at ways to improve each of our plots and the site as a whole.
Recycling has always been top of our agenda and comes naturally to all growers in terms of recycling plant matter for compost, and the use of containers of all types and shapes to hold and grow things in. So what else have we been doing? Well, Jan from plot 15 came up with the idea of combining recycling with maintaining a tidy plot. Jan found a good use for old wooden pallet trays, which now provide a good place to store wooden pegs and bamboo cane and when Bill from plot 7 saw this he decided to do same. |
Sweet Potatoes give Bernie the slip each time
Sweet potatoes are easy to grow in places with more than a 120-day growing season. They are usually grown in sandy soil, which makes them easier to dig, but they thrive in most soils, even heavy clays.
Bernie Furmedge started growing sweet potatoes last year and after a very successful season he has made preparations this season to grow them again. Bernie followed a quick guide provided by Robyn Harrison on the following website http://suite101.com/organicgardens For more information on growing sweet potatoes follow this link:
http://suite101.com/article/growing-sweet-potatoes-a35292 |
Doubling-up
There is a lot of interest in the news about landshare.
Landshare brings together people who have a passion for home-grown food, connecting those who have land to share with those who need land for cultivating food. We at Wharncliffe Allotments came up with a similar scheme over 3 years ago, we call it Shared-Plots. 
On such a small site as ours the Shared Plots mean we can offer more people the chance of working the land. The benefits to our members include a healthier and more active life and where a sense of community plays an important part in social wellbeing.
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A Night-Mares Tail
Horse or Mares Tail or to give it its Latin name “Equisetum Arvense” the scourge of all allotments spreads like wildfire.
What can we do to get rid of this pest? Digging alone isn’t feasible the routs go down into the soil for up to 1.5 meters (approximately 5 feet). Each autumn the tail like leaves with their waxy coat (resistant to most weed killers) will die back whilst the rout stores its energy before making another appearance the following spring. Some people recommend crushing the leaves to break up the wax coating which can help weed killer to penetrate and become absorbed, but in large areas it is time consuming and not so easy to crush the leaves completely. There are some effective weed killers on the market. However the alternative and preferred method of eradication is surely an organically controlled method. Mr Charles Bailey gives advice on an effective way of controlling mares tail without resorting to harsh chemicals. You can control/eradicate by digging/forking through the soil as long as you do so in the right condition: i.e. not too wet or sticky! |
Once you have removed as much as possible, any new shoots are easily dealt with. Before new shoots reach 3 inches (7cm) high, hoe off an inch below the surface. Eventually the food supply in the root is exhausted. If you let it get bigger than 3 inches high the plant will begin to store energy in the roots again, and the cycle continues, before you know it you’re overwhelmed once more. Never touch Horsetail with a mechanical cultivator. If you do you will understand why it has been around for 60 million years NB. The main purpose of removing the top growth of horsetail is to starve or weaken the underground organs. Disposing of the stems, in the case of horsetail, it is recommended you leave larger pieces to dry and then burn them. It may be okay to compost smaller pieces if you can do this thoroughly but check the compost before spreading it. More advice on the control of Horse/Mares Tail from the Royal Horticultural Society: HRS Website |
Polybags for growing
Some of our members are looking at Polybags for this seasons potatoes.
Bill Kane told me the bags provide ideal growing conditions and offer slightly raised beds which helps to reduce bending and minimising back ache. Bill also explained pulling the potatoes is made easy and because the potatoes are growing in compost they are extremely easy to clean a simple brush and the dirt is removed. Each polybag holds approximately 17 litres. Bill says he expects to yield in the region of 3-5 pounds of potatoes from each bag. We'll let you know later in the season how Bill and others get on. Polybag supplier: www.hydroponic.co.uk |
