Category: Allotments

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“Grow your own” sound good?

Wondering what a Rod is?
Wikipedia says:

The rod is a unit of length equal to 5½ yards, 16½ feet or 1⁄320th of a statute mile. Since the adoption of the international yard on 1 July 1959, it has been equivalent to exactly 5.0292 meters. A rod is the same length as a perch or a pole. In old English, the term lug is also used

Then you will be pleased to hear that at the start of a new growing season a few allotment plots have become available.

Most are five rod plots for which the annual rent is £15 or £9 for over 60s.  A few half size Taster Plots for newcomers are also available.

This is a good time to take up growing your own vegetables and if anyone new to the practice needs help there are plenty of seasoned gardeners to offer advice.

If interested please contact Terry Claydon on 242124 or Email [antibot mailto=”[email protected]”]

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Trees for Years – Free Trees

Colchester's Green Spaces logoTrees for Years Initiative – Free Trees for Residents

Saturday 2nd February 2013

The 7th Trees for Years Initiative sponsored by OfficeIS will be held at Rowan House Council Offices Car Park off Sheepen Road between 10am -1pm.

Free trees will be given away to Borough Residents, Community Groups, Schools and Parish Council’s.  Residents can collect up to 3 plants per household and up to 20 per community group, School and Parish Council.

The following species will be available:

  • Raspberry canes
  • Blackcurrant canes
  • Gooseberry bush
  • Blackberry root
  • Acer campestre – Field Maple
  • Prunus padus – Bird Cherry
  • Betula pendula – Silver Birch
  • Corylus avellana – Hazel cob nut
  • Cornus alba ‘Siberica’ – Red Stem dogwood
  • Cornus stolonifera ‘Flaviramea’ – Yellow stem Dogwood

2013 bare root trees/fruit bushes will be available on a first come first serve basis:

  • Trees must be planted on private property and postcodes will be recorded to monitor the distribution.
  • Cultivation guidance will be available so that trees can be selected, taking into account the ultimate size and form of mature trees.
  • Remember to bring a large bag to put your trees in.

Please telephone 01206 282903 or visit www.colchester.gov.uk and follow the links to see more information on the Trees for Years Initiative

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Allotment Updates

Since the article about vacant Allotment plots in the September Bulletin a number of people have shown an interest in obtaining a plot and in particular the smaller 5 rod plots. At the same time it has become apparent that some of those showing interest are younger residents of the village who have enthusiasm but limited experience of growing vegetables. The Allotment Committee is keen to support such new plot holders and is proposing to introduce a “buddy” scheme whereby those who feel they need advice and help can be paired up with an established and experienced plot holder. We already have one example of this arrangement working well. If interested you can contact Terry Claydon on 01206 242124 or Email [email protected].

Please also check our webpage for updates on November bonfire date and also availbilty of horse manure to allotment holders.

Harry Stone (Chairman of Allotment Committee)

This material has been developed for the West Bergholt Village Website at http://www.westbergholt.net
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Allotments Update

Following their February meeting the Allotment Committee have published their minutes online on the village website.  Find out about inspections, rents and more by checking them out.  There is also a useful link to seasonal gardening tips.

This material has been developed for the West Bergholt Village Website at http://www.westbergholt.net
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Allotment Tips

Gardeners and farmers are never satisfied with the weather. Despite some long dry spells early in the season and then a wet period, it has been a good productive season for most of us at the allotments. The weeds seem to have been harder to control than ever but amongst them all everything from potatoes to cabbages and courgettes have cropped well. With all but the winter vegetables left to harvest plot holders can begin to turn their minds to next season. The manure has arrived and digging can begin.

Tips for the winter months:

  • Begin to lift leeks as required and store carrots in peat or sand.
  • Remove weeds such as the deadly nightshade before they drop their seeds but others such as chickweed can be dug in deeply.
  • Broad beans can be sown in late autumn for an early crop, but might need some protection, otherwise sow again in February.
  • Plant shallots on the shortest day and then harvest them on the longest day.
  • Prune autumn raspberries and reduce the dead wood in black currant bushes by about a third.
  • Plan for next year, using a three year rotation if possible. Peruse the catalogues and order seeds and potatoes.

A good internet link for further advice can be found at http://www.allotment.org.uk/garden_month/garden_october.php

Allotment Holders Site Committee

This material has been developed for the West Bergholt Village Website at http://www.westbergholt.net
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