Current News
Growing food for London events
Two interesting events to promote the value of fresh foods in the city. There will be a Food for London conference on Monday June 30th. It's organised by the London Food Link in partnership with the London Parks and Green Spaces Forum. Click here for details and a booking form.
There will be a Continuous Picnic at Montague Place and Russell Square, on July 5th. Click here for details.
Flower show returns to the Great Barn
The next Ruislip Central Horticultural Society Flower show will be at the refurbished Great Barn in Bury Street on Saturday June 14th at 2pm. Details available on the local events page.
Hillingdon Allotment Competition 2008
The annual allotment competition is organised by the London Borough of Hillingdon and the Hillingdon Allotment and Horticultural Federation. Teams of judges visit all of the London Borough of Hillingdon allotment sites to select potential winners during the first round in June.
Points are allocated in the following categories: cultivation of the plot; variety of crops; quality of crops; incidence of pest and diseases; miscellaneous. Click here for the allotment plot criteria.
The best 60 – 70 plots are revisited by three expert judges in August (during National Allotment Week). The top fifty plot holders will be invited to a presentation and buffet at the HAHF AGM in November. Cash prizes will be awarded to the top 3.
The judges will also select the best three allotment sites during the competition. Click here for the allotment site criteria. Cups are awarded for the following type of sites:
The best small site (less than 50 plots)
The best large site (over 50 plots)
The best London Borough of Hillingdon site that is either managed by the council or is in a shared management scheme. Details about the local management schemes are on the Allotment sites page.
Chelsea Flower Show Recycling - RHS and Good Gifts Company
The Royal Horticultural Society is encouraging exhibitors to recycle material from their display stands.
The Good Gifts Company will be providing opportunity for community groups, allotment societies, city farms, school gardens and similar groups to receive some of the goods, eg plants, turf, bricks, stone, paving, breeze blocks, plant pots and timber.
Groups will be required to complete an application form from the Good Gifts Company. They will have to provide their own transport. They will be informed when they can collect the goods (between Monday 26th May and Monday 2nd June).
Further information and application forms are available from Alex on 020 77949835 or email people@charitiesadvisorytrust.co.uk.
Growing Your Own
Free taster sessions about growing fruits, vegetables and flowers will be available at Highgrove and Hayes End allotment sites on May 22nd, June 5th and 14th. They will include the following topics: sowing seed; selection of tools; types of soil; control of weeds, pests and diseases.
There will be a five week course from June 19th - July 17th (on Thursday afternoons).
Further information available from Hillingdon Adult Education. Telephone No 01895 676837.
Allotments: a plotholder's guide updated
The revised edition contains is a lot of photographs and interesting information. It is a useful guide for plot holders and anyone who wants to rent an allotment. The Department for Communities and Local Government commissioned the Allotment Regenerative Initiative (ARI) to update and revise the guide in 2007. It contains information about: Tenancy Agreements; rules; rents; funding; health and safety; protection and legislation; livestock; bee keeping; resources and a useful glossary. Copies are currently available from the ARI website. Click here to download.
RHS Radish Trial - online gardeners required
The Royal Horticultural Society is seeking 200 gardeners to take part in an online trial of radish seeds. It will be part of a wider trail of seeds at Wisley gardens. Click here for details. You will also find information about other trails for the RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM).
Hillingdon Allotment News Distribution
The winter issue of Hillingdon Allotment News was published in January. Copies were posted to the allotment site secretaries for distribution to plot holders. The online version is available for download from the website.
International year of the Potato 2008
As many gardeners are preparing their seed potatoes for planting in the UK. It's interesting to note that the United Nations has designated 2008 as the year of the potato. This is mainly to raise awareness of the importance of potatoes in the diet of many people across the world. Click here for information about the event.
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