The Sururban Allotment - what our plot contains
So we've got the five Pods raised off the tarmac, each one full of vegetables, herbs and fruit. We're pretty pleased with those but in order to create an allotment plot we can all be proud of we have worked on a number of projects to enhance our local neighbourhood.
A small a pond has been built using a plastic pond liner someone was giving away on gumtree. This was all planted up with seeds from the BBC Breathing Places project we picked up for free from a big nature festival in Bristol Docks. A bench was constructed out of reclaimed timber.
Next to our pond is a tea pot dug in the ground for bees and a wigwam of sticks for our friendly hedgehog. The pond has a metal grid over to stop them and our babies from falling in. The frogs don't seem to mind and have already made it their home. Watch out slugs!
Along side the pond is an old hedge that is over 100 years and forms a boundary for many houses in Bradley Stoke. Unlike many hedges that seem to get grubbed up, this one has been looked after and was laid traditionally allowing the hawthorn and dog rose to produce an abundance of fruit for the birds and us to use in jellies and chutneys in years to come.
A small a pond has been built using a plastic pond liner someone was giving away on gumtree. This was all planted up with seeds from the BBC Breathing Places project we picked up for free from a big nature festival in Bristol Docks. A bench was constructed out of reclaimed timber.
Next to our pond is a tea pot dug in the ground for bees and a wigwam of sticks for our friendly hedgehog. The pond has a metal grid over to stop them and our babies from falling in. The frogs don't seem to mind and have already made it their home. Watch out slugs!
Along side the pond is an old hedge that is over 100 years and forms a boundary for many houses in Bradley Stoke. Unlike many hedges that seem to get grubbed up, this one has been looked after and was laid traditionally allowing the hawthorn and dog rose to produce an abundance of fruit for the birds and us to use in jellies and chutneys in years to come.
So to do our bit for water conservation we've purchased four 210l water butts and connected them in sequence from a downpipe of one of the garages. In no time at all they were all full.
Next to them is our wormery - a wonderful food composting unit - which again was given to us for free when someone in freecycle was moving house and no longer needed it. Thanks to the worms that live inside it we are provided with excellent compost on a regular basis and from the bottom out drains liquid gold - well brown mucky looking water - once mixed with water though it makes a fantastic tonic for the plants.
We also have a green bin provided by the Council in case we have any green waste to ged rid of. This isn't used much, because we have chickens and worms to feed! Did I not mention the chickens? Two to be precise Bubblegum and Cookie - owned by one of the families but have been adopted by all the neighbours!
Next to them is our wormery - a wonderful food composting unit - which again was given to us for free when someone in freecycle was moving house and no longer needed it. Thanks to the worms that live inside it we are provided with excellent compost on a regular basis and from the bottom out drains liquid gold - well brown mucky looking water - once mixed with water though it makes a fantastic tonic for the plants.
We also have a green bin provided by the Council in case we have any green waste to ged rid of. This isn't used much, because we have chickens and worms to feed! Did I not mention the chickens? Two to be precise Bubblegum and Cookie - owned by one of the families but have been adopted by all the neighbours!
We've acheived alot so far;
Built and planted up five Planting Pods
Set up a rain harvesting system with water butts
Created a wildlife garden, which includes a small pond
Hand crafted a Wood Fire Clay Pizza Oven
Constructed a "Pollinators' Palace" or "Bug Hotel"
Held community street parties
Afflilated to the Royal Horticultural Society
What's planed for the future;
Work with Wheatfield School to develop the Chicken Run Project
Plant up a Forest Garden
Develop the rain harvesting system
Built and planted up five Planting Pods
Set up a rain harvesting system with water butts
Created a wildlife garden, which includes a small pond
Hand crafted a Wood Fire Clay Pizza Oven
Constructed a "Pollinators' Palace" or "Bug Hotel"
Held community street parties
Afflilated to the Royal Horticultural Society
What's planed for the future;
Work with Wheatfield School to develop the Chicken Run Project
Plant up a Forest Garden
Develop the rain harvesting system