Hillingdon Allotment News 13: General information part 1
Taster sessions
The publicity is now out for the taster sessions to be held at Hayes End and Highgrove sites. Watch out for posters on your site and please bring this to the attention of all plotholders that you think may benefit from the FREE lessons as well as the longer course for which there is a fee. Details on how to enroll are on the posters and included in the Hillingdon Adult Education courses. For further details, phone 01895 676837 or go to www.hae-acl.ac.uk
Starter packs
Starter packs will now be available to new starters this year. While they had been available previously, they have now been updated and are full of information They contain relevant information on who to contact, a copy of previous Newsletters, organic gardening catalogue, a magazine and a host of tips on how to cultivate and grow crops. Copies for new starters are free, but existing plotholders may purchase a pack for £ 4 00 from Green Spaces at the Civic Centre. Phone: 01895 277765 for further details.
This is one I grew earlier
Anyone looking for an unusual gift with a horticultural theme could do worse and look up Penkridge Ceramics who produce a range of fruit vegetables which are very true to life.
Penkridge ceramics can be found at Argent Works, Bott Lane Walsall, WS1 2JJ, or at their website at www.penkridgeceramics.co.uk
Ladybirds
If you would like know more about the 12 most common ones, then try out www.ladybird-survey.org where there is a host of information. It also provides information on the Harlequin ladybird which preys on the British ones.
Enid Blyton’s home and garden
Old Hatch near Bourne End, Buckinghamshire, is a 17th. Century thatched cottage and the former home of Enid Blyton, well known children’s author. The gardens are open at any time by arrangement or on any of the public days from May to August. They also present courses for people interested in gardens and gardening. In 2007 there are two courses, Planting Combinations and a Painters Day.
Further information can be found at www.jackyhawthorne.co.uk or 01628 527518.
Produce news
The Kitchen Garden magazine reported recently on a new peat and loam free compost which has been endorsed by the John Innes Foundation, the first time in 70 years. These composts are made by a new state of the art computer controlled composting plant capable of producing 150,000 cubic meters of safe, sterile growing medium from green waste making a significant reduction in land fill. Genie composts, produced by Vital Earth, are sold in various compositions and should be available this spring. If anyone tries this compost, I would be pleased to hear from you so that I can pass your comments on.
Horticultural advice
Do you have any horticultural problems, practical or technical, that you would like advice on?
Send details to the editor either by e-mail or post to get a detailed response.
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