Planting the fruit cage 25/03/2012
 We had some beautiful weather this Saturday for the planting of the fruit cage. With new and returning volunteers all chipping in to get the job done we got it all done in record time. We would like to take this opportunity to thank Leatherhead Residents' Association for bidding for the Green Mole forum grant of £250 and for also using that money to purchase the 38 plants that were planted out this weekend. Also on the job list this week, we moved the potatoes into the sun, planted LOADS of seeds and bulbs, and added some extra strawberries to the strawberry bed. Add Comment Spring is certainly in the Garden 17/03/2012
 It was a rainy day but we still managed to get some new people in the Garden! Radishes, sprouts and herbs were planted plus there was a wonderful donation of left over plants given to us. Some of these went straight out into the flower bed. Also in the box of donated goodies we received a handful of seeds to try out. Looking forward to that! As we wandered arounf the Garden throughout the day we all really noticed all the different plants springing to life. The willow that was planted last year and the new fruit trees in the orchard have strong new buds. The beans and tomatoes are already germinating. The herb beds seem to be getting greener and greener! Phil was getting creative with some of the new planters we have. We are going to experiment hanging planters onto the fence to give us some more planting space. We would like to try some trailing cucumbers and squashes along with herbs and flowers in these containers. Another exciting project for this year. There are some rogue green bits growing in the fruit cage but they will be sorted out next Saturday when we plant all the fruit bushes :)  So much digging has been done this weekend. Lots of holes have been filled with soil and brambles and other weeds have been mown away. The soil has then been covered with some recycled plastic sheeting to kill off any weeds before we plant the wild flower seeds. We also admired the new Learning Cabin that has nearly been finished. Hopefully the electrics and flooring will be done before next weekend :) In the polytunnel, the cauliflowers are going strong and finally some tumbling tomatoes have started to show signs of life. The herbs have sprouted new greenery as have the strawberries. Looking to next weekend we might just move the potato tyres into the sun to get them going a little quicker. Orchard Planting 03/03/2012
 When we turned up to the Garden this morning we were amazed by the amount of work the West Hill students and staff had put in the previous day. Great job guys! Following their example we planted the remaining trees in the same way. Two West Hill families joined us plus an array of local residents. We all jollied each other along and had a go at "perdonking"! (This was what we called making a hole with the hole making tool lent to us by RHS Wisley) Watching the orchard grow during the day was really exciting for me. We are looking forward to the sheltered area that will be hidden among the trees. We have started planning the now famous summer BBQ! We really want a local band or two to join us and to grow the cucumber, strawberries and mint to go with Pimms! Once the trees were planted, the sun came out and we all sat and just enjoyed the Garden. It was a wonderful feeling! Apart from Pat being attacked by the chickens who were trying to eat her sandwich, we all relaxed and sat in the sun for a while before checking the rhubarb, planting some tomatoes, peppers, chillis and leeks, and mowing the grass. We have three extra apple trees to plant next week and then we are done until next year when the cherries and plums will go in (hopefully to be planted by local schools). Lots of seed planting next week :D Scarecrow Competition 2012 25/02/2012
 We had beautiful weather for our Scarecrow Competition Judging and a lovely turn out of adults and children. We had three winners in the Scarecrow Competition. In the category "Scarecrow that would scare itself in the mirror" the winner was "Bones" made by Curie class of West Hill School. In the category "Best named Scarecrow" the winner was "Birdinator 2.0" made by Ian and Ryan Herrick, a father and son team. The overall winner of the competition was "Philip the Bird Scarer" made by Wendy and Tyler Herrick, a mother and son team. I'd now like to thank everyone who made a scarecrow and to our wonderful judges, Claire, Kevin, Gary and Charlotte. Watch the results being annouced on our Facebook page! On top of all the excitement of the competition we managed to put together the bench we started with Ruth Wheeler, and we finished off the new flower beds. I had started some tomatoes on the window sill at work and I brought them to the Garden to be pricked out. Pat brought down some cauliflowers that she had started at home. These were also pricked out. We checked on the rhubarb and were delighted to see some 10cm long pinky stems! Potatoes that had been chitting for a month or so were planted out and some leeks were planted outside. The leeks were then protected by a homemade barrier against the chickens! Another exciting Saturday coming up on the 3rd March. We start planting our orchard!!!! Plus the outdoor classroom should be finished.... Fingers crossed! See you next week! -8.7 degrees!? 11/02/2012
 The ground was frozen, the water in the pipes were frozen, we were frozen!!! Despite the bitter cold we moved ice away from the sides of the polytunnel, refilled the bird feeders, moved some scrap wood to make way for the new ramp and had a nice long chat about the exciting things that will be happening in the Garden in the next couple of months. We did also witness first hand a robin and a blue tit feeding form the new bird tables which was exciting! Next week, we should see the base for the new learning cabin completed ready for the cabin itself the following week. Making way 10/02/2012
 The West Hill students are really getting into the swing of helping out in the Garden! They have now shortened the planting bed and moved the last of the soil into the new flower beds. The students are looking forward to planting seeds inthe Garden after their half term. They have plans in place to grow some bits in the planting beds closest to the chickens. We wait to see what they choose to plant! Thanks for your hard work guys! Our first birthday! 04/02/2012
 It was FREEZING today! When I turned up everyone was huddled in the polytunnel! It was just those few degrees warmer in there but it makes a huge difference. We turned up with cake so that kept everyone happy! We then spent the rest of the day constructing the last of the new flower beds. We also tried to break up the soil in the old flower bed to make it easier to transport but soon gave up as the soil was frozen solid. A few plants were moved into the polytunnel to protect them from the frost and the compost was turned. To top the day off, we put out the new bird feeding tables in the Garden. Each one has a different type of bird feed on it. We have positioned the nature camera to hopefully catch the birds feeding from the tables. We also added some water to the tables which we will have to keep topped to help our feathered friends. New flower bed 2 of 3 03/02/2012
Trans-planting! 29/01/2012
 We will be having a new outdoor classroom built in the Garden! Construction is starting in just three weeks! So... we need to move the L shaped flower bed to a new location in the Garden. We have managed to create one bed today and fill it with soil AND plant it up with lovely bulbs! We also started on a second bed and thought about the third. Hopefully we have enough time to move all the sleepers out of the way before the base goes down during half term. |
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