Grapes Hill Community Garden - Spring Is Officially Here- 22 April

Spring is definitely here at Grapes Hill Community Garden and there are lots of flowers to see - Primroses, Daffodils, white and purple Anemone blanda and a beautiful Clematis armandii on the trellis. Our raised bed tenants have started to sow vegetable seeds and I'm gradually filling my windowsills and the greenhouse at home with seedlings to plant out at Grapes Hill and on my allotment when the weather is warm enough. 7-Spot Ladybirds are out in force, along with early Bumblebees and Bee-flies.

We are having garden tasks every fortnight on Sunday afternoons (2 - 4pm) and the next ones are on 8th and 22nd April and 6th May. Please come along to see the garden and, if you like, do some planting or light weeding.

Sunny weather is enjoyable but we desperately need some proper rain. The soil in the garden has quite a lot of clay so retains moisture but it will dry out rapidly as temperatures increase, especially from May when the ash trees come into leaf. We have planted many drought tolerant plants and have mulched the soil but there may be a tough summer ahead.

The garden is open to visitors free of charge every day (9am - 6pm in British Summer Time). For more information see our website and Facebook page.

Jeremy Bartlett.

Photo by Jeremy Bartlett - 7-Spot Ladybirds on the compost heap