Celebrate National Gardening Week next week 15th – 21st April

National Gardening Week was launched by the RHS to get the Nation Growing.

The benefits of gardening are felt by people of all ages and abilities and from all backgrounds, gardens promote a sense of purpose, and an escape from daily routine as well as providing valuable habitat and food for our wildlife and insects and of course good, home-grown, healthy fruit and vegetables for our table.

Throughout next week there are lots of Gardening events across the country organised by communities and groups as well as the RHS have a look at the RHS website for events near where you live.

It has been said that Britain is a nation of gardeners and I couldn’t agree more so what better way to celebrate gardening by getting involved with community groups, young peoples organisations e.g. Cubs, Brownies and with Schools and share your passion, experience and knowledge of this truly amazing pastime.

Dust off your trowel, put on your warm wellies and a good pair of gardening gloves and get gardening.

Gill

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Bonfire Night Crafts and Fun

Halloween has been and gone and Bonfire Night on 5th November is fast approaching, excitement is building again in our household or maybe it’s all those Halloween ‘treats’.

Here is a great activity for children of all ages to get them in the mood for Bonfire Night.

Make a Blow Paint Firework or Bonfire picture

You will need

• Coloured paper or card
• Runny paints in various colours
• Straws
• Glue
• Glitter

To make your pictures

1. Place spots of paint of various sizes and colours on your paper/card.
2. Use a straw to blow the spots of paint in various directions to make the fireworks or the flames of the bonfire.
3. Put different colours next to each other so that they mix together to make some great effects.
4. When you are happy with your picture let it dry then add some glue and sprinkle with glitter to make your fireworks sparkle.

We all love Bonfire Night, keeping warm by a nice bonfire, watching stunning and often noisy fireworks and eating lots of party food, sweets and treats (click here for some delicious Bonfire Recipes) but …

don’t forget the Wildlife in your garden on Bonfire Night

At this time of year hedgehogs, frogs, toads and newts are looking for a nice, cosy, warm and safe place to hibernate and to them your bonfire looks ideal so a few hours before your party and before it goes dark have a good look inside and at the bottom of your bonfire to check for any creatures and move them to a safe area of your garden.

Position your firework display away from trees and hedges where birds may be roosting.

your pets

Make sure that your pets are kept indoors as fireworks are a common phobia for dogs and cats as they often find the loud noises and bright lights frightening. Provide a safe and quiet place for them to hide, keep curtains and windows closed and leave the TV on or play music to mask the load bangs.

and your safety

Fireworks and bonfires can be very dangerous if care is not taken so click here for advice on bonfire and firework safety and follow the firework code.

Have a happy, safe and fun Bonfire Night.

Gill

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Harvest and dry your own Sunflower Seeds and make a Bug House with their Stems

Hopefully by now, if the weather has been kind where you live, your Sunflowers will have flowered and developed into rings of nice fat seeds.

As you can see mine have grown well but some of them are yet to flower, I hope that this spell of sunny weather will encourage them to flower and set their seeds.

The varieties I have grown this year are Titan and Russian Giant as they have large heads and hopefully plenty of seeds for the birds.

I love Sunflowers, I grow them for their stunning flowers, which benefit the bees and insects, and their seeds, which I save for the birds, if you want to save some of your seeds for the birds or to grow next year here’s what you need to do.

1. When the backs of the Sunflower heads turn yellow cut them off leaving about 30cm of stem attached and hang them upside down somewhere warm, dry and well ventilated (to prevent them going mouldy).
2. Tie a brown paper bag around the Sunflower heads to catch any seeds that drop out.
3. Once the backs of the Sunflower heads have turned brown and dry your Sunflower seeds are ready to harvest, they should pop out when you run your hands over the heads.
4. Lay the seeds out on newspaper to completely dry out and to remove any flower heads/leaves then store the seeds in a cool dry place in an airtight container.

A Sunflower head that has finished flowering

Make a Bug House with your Sunflower stems

After you have cut the heads off the plants, the remaining stems can go into the Compost Bin or instead if they are hollow why not use them to make an Bug House. Cut the stems into 10 – 15cm lengths and squeeze them into a washed large pop bottle which has had the top cut off (ask an adult to do this), apply tape around the rough cut edge for safety, place at an angle with the open end slightly pointing downwards in a sheltered, dry and shady spot in your garden, this will make an great Bug House for over wintering insects.

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Join The Recycleworks Wildflower Seed Project 2012/2013

We have had a great response to our Wildflower Seed Project 2012/2013 from schools, and community associations that support children, if you want to get involved, start collecting your seeds now before the plants have dropped them all and register your group before 31st October 2012.

Seed storage tins

What you need to do 

If you are not already a member join our FREE Gardening with Children Club, which gives schools and community associations supporting children of all ages access to lots of information to encourage children to learn about gardening, grow their own fruit and vegetables and to care for their environment as well as member’s special offers and discounts.

 

Once you have received your welcome email with your exclusive Membership Number register your school/group FREE for our ‘Wildflower Seed Project 2012/2013’ before 31st October 2012 via email to sylvia@recycleworks.co.uk quoting your Membership Number, School/Group Name, Address, Contact Name, Telephone Number and email address.

 

We will then send you 5 FREE seed collecting tins to store your valuable seed in until the spring, when we will then contact you via email with details of our ‘Wildflower Seed Propagating Kit’ perfect for schools and groups and containing everything you need to sow and grow your wildflower seeds as well as sowing and cultivation instructions.

 

Collecting Seed

Collecting seeds is a wonderful thing to do with children and they will learn where seeds come from. Not only will they be rewarded with free seeds but also lots of free plants too in spring and with the satisfaction that they have grown them themselves from ‘their’ seed.

 

Some of the most rewarding and valuable seeds to collect are from Wildflowers and Nectar Rich plants which provide food for our bees, butterflies and pollinating insects, by growing these you will be giving back to nature and enriching your environment.

 

Here are some of the many plants that are beneficial to insects: Buddleia, Ox Eye Daisy, Borage, Verbena Bonariensis, Evening Primrose, Calendula, French Marigold, Teasel, Thistles, Foxglove, Cornflower.

Ox Eye Daisy

Where to look for seeds

The best places to find wildflowers are in uncultivated areas such as on grass verges, under hedges, on the edges of parks/playing fields (where the grass cutters can’t reach), church yards and farmland that is grazed. Nectar rich flowers can usually be found in gardens. You may need to ask the landowners permission before entering their land to collect seed.

 

How to collect seed

You will need paper bags or envelopes, scissors and a pencil.

Some seed heads will shed their seeds very easily, simply empty their contents into your bag, or cut off the ripe seed head/pod and place in your bag then write the plant name on the bag and also where it was growing in sun/shade or in dry/wet soil this will help you when you grow your new plants next year. If some of the seed heads/pods are damp, lay them out on paper to dry before removing the seeds. If you are not sure of the name of the plant cut off the seed head/pods and a leaf or take a photograph so that you can identify it later.

Evening Primrose

Storing your seed

Some of the seeds will need to be cleaned by removing the husk and extracting the seeds from their pods/seed heads as these may contain small insects too. Place your dry seeds in a cold, dry and dark place until February/March. This can be in a container in the fridge so that they go through the natural cold winter conditions. It can be in a sealed tin (which will protect them from insects and animals) in the shed, but dry, cold and dark is important. If they get wet or warm they may start germinating and if it is too early for spring they will not survive.

 

Some seeds can be toxic, take care when collecting seed and always wash your hands thoroughly afterwards.

 

So make the most of this lovely weather and collect some wildflower seeds.

 

Gill

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Collect Wildflower Seed this Autumn to sow and grow next Spring

Collecting seeds is a wonderful thing to do with children and they will learn where seeds come from. Not only will they be rewarded with free seeds but also lots of free plants too in spring and with the satisfaction that they have grown them themselves from ‘their’ seed.

Some of the most rewarding and valuable seeds to collect are from Wildflowers and Nectar Rich plants which provide food for our bees, butterflies and pollinating insects, by growing these you will be giving back to nature and enriching your environment.

 

Here are some of the many plants that are beneficial to insects: Buddleia, Ox Eye Daisy, Borage, Verbena Bonariensis, Evening Primrose, Calendula, French Marigold, Teasel, Thistles, Foxglove, Cornflower.

Ox Eye Daisy

Where to look for seeds

The best places to find wildflowers are in uncultivated areas such as on grass verges, under hedges, on the edges of parks/playing fields (where the grass cutters can’t reach), church yards and farmland that is grazed. Nectar rich flowers can usually be found in gardens. You may need to ask the landowners permission before entering their land to collect seed.

 

How to collect seed

You will need paper bags or envelopes, scissors and a pencil.

Some seed heads will shed their seeds very easily, simply empty their contents into your bag, or cut off the ripe seed head/pod and place in your bag then write the plant name on the bag and also where it was growing in sun/shade or in dry/wet soil this will help you when you grow your new plants next year. If some of the seed heads/pods are damp, lay them out on paper to dry before removing the seeds. If you are not sure of the name of the plant cut off the seed head/pods and a leaf or take a photograph so that you can identify it later.

Evening Primrose

Storing your seed

Some of the seeds will need to be cleaned by removing the husk and extracting the seeds from their pods/seed heads as these may contain small insects too. Place your dry seeds in a cold, dry and dark place until February/March. This can be in a container in the fridge so that they go through the natural cold winter conditions. It can be in a sealed tin (which will protect them from insects and animals) in the shed, but dry, cold and dark is important. If they get wet or warm they may start germinating and if it is too early for spring they will not survive.

Some seeds can be toxic, take care when collecting seed and always wash your hands thoroughly afterwards.

 

Seed storage tins

 

Join The Recycleworks Wildflower Seed Project 2012/2013

Schools or Community Associations that support children can register FREE to The Recycleworks Wildflower Seed Project 2012/2013 and they will receive 5 FREE Seed Collecting Tins to store their valuable seed until the spring, when they will receive details of a ‘Wildflower Seed Propagating Kit’ containing everything needed to sow and grow their wildflower seeds as well as sowing and cultivation instructions. Click here for more information.

 

So make the most of this lovely weather and collect some wildflower seeds

 

Gill

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Rays of Sunshine bring hope to our wet wildlife

The prolonged wet weather that we have endured over the last few months has had a devastating affect on our wildlife says the National Trust, Birds, Bats, Butterflies and Bees have all been affected.

Pembroke Nest Box

Birds have struggled to find food for themselves and their young, caterpillars and insects have literally been washed away, we can help birds now by giving them protein rich foods such as live mealworms and putting up nest boxes for shelter.

Double Chamber Wooden Bat Box

Bats have been affected due to the lack of insects on the wing, although we cannot provide a substitute food source we can provide somewhere warm and dry for them to roost and breed by putting up a Bat Box (or two).

Sedum

Butterflies and Bees have suffered as they cannot go foraging for nectar rich flowers in heavy rain and even the flowers that they found were full of water. Bee Keepers and farmers are warning of honey shortages and reduced fruit crops. We can help them by planting nectar rich flowers in the garden such as Buddleia, Scabious, Sedum, Catmint and Lavender, if you have not got a flower border consider growing these plants amongst your vegetables or in containers and window boxes.

Butterfly/Bee Nectar Feeding Station

Why not put up a Butterfly/Bee Nectar feeding Station or a Butterfly and Moth Feeder to provide some instant food, as well as a Bee Hive or Bee Log for shelter and breeding. Have a look here for more advice on attracting butterflies to your garden.

Frogitat Ceramic Frog and Toad House

Frogs and Hedgehogs have actually benefited during the wet weather, they have had a plentiful supply of food including worms, slugs, snails and the insects that have been washed to the ground. It is worth looking after these true gardener’s friends during the winter months by putting a Frogitat or a Hogitat in a quiet, wild corner of your garden.

The Hogitat Hedgehog House

Lets hope that the change in the weather and the new position of the Gulf Stream remains throughout the summer, as we and our wildlife so desperately need some sustained sunshine.

Whilst it’s here let’s get out and enjoy it.

Gill

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Get out this summer and visit one our fabulous National Parks

Finally, (dare I say it), summer is here and what a difference it makes to everything in the garden as well as to ourselves, we definitely all feel better and happier and just in time for the school holidays and of course the Olympic Games too. Whilst we have this warm weather we should get out, explore and enjoy our environment. 

 

The walk to Ingleborough Caves

Next week 30^th July – 5^th August is National Parks Week, why not visit one of the 15 National Parks in the UK, there are:

• 10 in England – The Broads, Dartmoor, Exmoor, the Lake District, the New Forest, Northumberland, the North York Moors, the Peak District, the South Downs and the Yorkshire Dales
• 2 in Scotland – Cairngorms and Loch Lomond and the Trossachs
• 3 in Wales – the Brecon Beacons, Pembrokeshire Coast and Snowdonia

they are areas of protected countryside that everyone can visit, with four main types of habitat:

• Moorlands,
• Woodlands and Forests,
• Wetlands, Lakes and Rivers
• Meadows and Grasslands.

Visiting a National Park can be as energetic or as relaxing as you want with endless activities to choose from: Walking, Hiking, Dog Walking, Cycling, Mountain Biking, Horse Riding, Water Sports and Boat Rides and even Hot Air Ballooning, have a look at the National Parks website for more details of which parks support these activities.

Little Egrets

Don’t forget the Wildlife! National Parks are teeming with animals, birds and insects and some rare ones too including Red Squirrel, Otter, Water Vole, Osprey, Bittern and the Swallowtail Butterfly (which only lives in the Broads), take your binoculars and your wildlife diary with you and see what you can spot.

Wildflower meadow

National Parks are also host to some spectacular and rare wildflowers, some of which can only be found in the National Parks, such as the Snowdon Lily in Snowdonia and the English Sandwort in the Yorkshire Dales, take your camera with you to record our stunning native wildflowers.

Whether you are at home or on holiday make a visit to a National Park near you, there are lots of things to do as well as organised events throughout the summer.

Love your environment

Gill

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School Jubilee Tree planting and holiday preparations for the school garden

Last week the Eco Committee members at Thomas’s School were invited by the Parish Council, in co-operation with the Borough Council, to plant a tree as a final act in the local Jubilee celebrations. The tree, an English Oak, was planted in open space land in the village so that it can be enjoyed by future generations and there will be a plaque put next to it to commemorate the Queens Diamond Jubilee. The children (including Thomas) put the top soil around the tree and sprinkled wildflower seeds around the base.

Thomas and the Jubilee Tree

Thomas has been on the Eco Committee this year and has thoroughly enjoyed being involved in the Eco work at school as well as providing his own input with regards to the wildlife that is in the school grounds. The School has put up bird boxes one of which has a camera, a bird table for feeding the birds, a nesting material holder, fat ball feeders and other bird feeders as well as insect houses.

Pembroke Nest Box

The school gardening year has come to an end and preparations have been made for the summer holidays. All the young plants in pots have been planted in the ground, climbing plants have been tied in and supports provided, and the raised beds have been weeded and covered with netting to deter unwanted visitors.

Enviromesh Netting

During the holidays Thomas and I will make regular checks to keep the garden ticking over until September this ties in well with feeding the school chickens as Thomas has been put on the ‘chicken rota’ again which I have to say I enjoy doing as much as he does. We are both looking forward to those super fresh boiled eggs!

Click here for our top 10 tips for caring for the school garden during the holidays.

Love your environment and enjoy your holidays

Gill

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Take part in the Big Butterfly Count

This year from 14^th July – 5^th August take part in the Big Butterfly Count a nationwide survey run by the charity Butterfly Conservation. It was launched in 2010 and over 10,000 people took part, counting 210,000 butterflies and day flying moths, in 2011 more than 34,000 people took part.

 

Butterflies react quickly to change in their environment and are excellent biodiversity indicators making butterfly declines an early warning for other wildlife losses. This survey helps to identify trends in species as well as to understand the effect climate change has on wildlife and how to protect butterflies from extinction.

 

All you need to do is to count butterflies for 15 minutes preferably on a sunny day recording the maximum number of each species that you see at a single time and submit your sightings online before the end of August. You can submit separate sightings for different dates and places: parks, school grounds, gardens, fields and forests. This is a great family activity that you can do in the summer holidays, whilst you are on holiday or you could do it as a class activity at school if you have time before the end of term.

 

For more information have a look at the Big Butterfly Count website  there is also a handy Butterfly Chart to download and print which will  help you to identify and record the species you spot.

 

We all love butterflies, they are unique little creatures of varying shapes and sizes with dazzling vivid colours, but our native butterflies need our help. Butterflies are far less common now than they were 50 years ago, much of their natural habitat, wildflower meadows, heath land, woodland and peat bogs has been lost to industrial and housing developments and intensive farming. Your garden, however large or small, could be a haven for butterflies, providing food and shelter; even a window box garden can help.

 

Red Admiral Butterfly

 

To attract butterflies into your garden you will need to provide nectar rich flowers throughout the butterfly season, as well as food plants for the butterfly caterpillars to eat, click here for advice on which nectar rich plants to grow in Spring, Summer and Autumn and tips on gardening for butterflies. 

 

Peacock Butterfly Caterpillar on Nettles

Love your environment

Gill

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Summer floods on the allotment

We should never underestimate the power of nature and for once the weather forecast was right, last Friday (22 June) it rained and it rained, it was relentless, heavy and windy too. The rain began at 9am and I believe continued until 1am Saturday morning. Amber weather warnings were issued and flood alerts were put out. Living in Ribchester, which is situated in a valley on a flood plain, we are used to flooding, it is an annual occurrence, but this one was quite bad.

A flooded road in Ribchester

On Monday and Wednesday last week I managed to get on the allotment knowing that rain was forecast for the end of the week (but not just how much) I weeded the onion and garlic beds and also between the potatoes all these were growing well and I was very pleased with their progress. I dug over the small bed and planted out my four courgette plants and also dug the large bed at the back and planted my pumpkins all were nicely tucked in with a liberal sprinkling of chicken manure. I was pleased with my efforts and the plot was looking great although there was still plenty to do, as always.

Flattened Onions

My allotment is in a lovely spot, surrounded by the River Ribble on one side and Duddel Brook on two of the other sides, making it very prone to flooding, usually this occurs in Winter which is not too bad but the Summer floods affect the crops the most, last August we had a flash flood, the onions which were nearly ready for harvesting and the potatoes were the worst affected. Water got into the onions and with the warm temperatures they started to rot, I picked them and put them in the greenhouse to dry out but over half had to be thrown away, soon after potato blight spread through the potato crop.

This time the flood water had covered the allotments up to a depth of 6 foot, it was not a pretty sight on Saturday morning, plants had been flattened, debris was stuck in trees and fences, sheds had been moved and everything was covered in a layer of muddy silt, our shed had been lifted up and was now resting on the bench. There is not a lot that can be done we will have to wait and see how our crops respond and hope that we get a hot dry summer. I am lucky that it was only my allotment that was flooded and not my house it must be a devastating and frightening experience for those affected in this way.

Although it is very disheartening I still love my environment and gardening

Gill

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