Peter Clarke was guest speaker for the first ever HCFA workshop on soft fruit planting. One year and eight months, and a lot of weeding and mulching, on and Peter returned to survey the fruit and explain how to support and train the plants to produce a good annual crop. Above all we learnt that if soft fruit is well cared for it will last 10 years and is certainly not just for Christmas.

Weeding, mulching, applying potash, thinning out, supporting and of course harvesting are some of the main considerations gardeners need to take on board before taking on the responsibility of a raspberry plant. 

– which we hope to have once Peter Clarke has shown us how to prune, support and nurture soft fruit; and which we could do, on the bonfire, after the soft fruit workshop, but probably won’t – we’ll leave that to Heston.

Join us on the 26^th November from 2pm for the last HCFA workshop in the 2011 calendar. This will be followed by the delayed HCFA bonfire night – from 4pm.

If you would like to attend the workshop and, afterwards, mull over soft fruit at the HCFA BBQ just bring yourself and a drink of your choice to the HCFA site on the 26^th of November - details below:

Subject: This will be Peter Clarke’s fourth appearance as guest speaker at the HCFA workshops. Peter has been fruit farming for over 20 years and is also a horticultural advisor. Peter will be explaining how to prune and support raspberries (summer and autumn), blackcurrants, gooseberries, loganberries, tayberries, blueberries and white/red currants. There are also examples of pests and diseases and Peter will be explaining the causes and appropriate remedy.

Guest speaker: Peter Clarke, Denham farmer and consultant for Western International Markets

Date: 26^th November

Time: 2pm – 4pm – please note the revised time

Venue: Faggs Road allotments, Feltham - www.hcfa.org.uk/faggs-road-site

Cost:£5 entrance fee

We look forward to seeing you there.

For further information contact Alex Morrell – This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

An inspiring introduction to the principles of wildlife gardening and interesting anc creative ways to encourage wildlife in your garden or growing space. 

There is a discounted price of £10 for London Wildlife Trust or Capital Growth members. 

to book your spot call Celia Hammond on 0207 2529186  or email  Lucy: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

When: Sun 13th Nov, 10h-13h30
Where: Centre for Wildlife Gardening SE15 4EE

If you are planning to start a community food-growing space or want to expand an existing space and you are looking for money to buy soil, seeds, tools and other materials necessary, this is your opportunity to apply for some financial support!
For more information, including the application criteria, and to complete an application form please visit http://www.capitalgrowth.org/apply/
Grants are available from £150 up to £750.

Grants round deadline: 5pm, 7th November 2011

 

With reports of a biting cold winter on its way spring is the last thing on the mind of most people. However, it is always prudent, for gardeners, to think at least one season ahead. Not only does this result in plants going in the ground at the right time of year but it also provides a welcome antidote to the shorter, colder days that lie ahead.

And so it was a warm autumn day, with winter looming in the foreground, that HCFA turned its thoughts to a colourful spring bulb display. Mary Thorp provided the words of wisdom, planting advice and a wonderful spring bulb information sheet – available at www.hcfa.org.uk/docs/factsheets - (with pictures of spring flowering bulbs for us to hold in our minds eye over the bleak months ahead). Thanks to Mary, and this bit of planting forethought, we now have another reason to look forward to the spring thaw. 

Buteo buteo

The commonest UK bird of prey, it is quite large with broad, rounded wings, and a short neck and tail. When gliding and soaring it will often hold its wings in a shallow 'V'. It is variable in colour from all dark brown to birds with pale heads and breasts, most have a "necklace" of darker feathers over their throat and breast. All have dark wingtips and an un-banded tail. The call is a plaintive peea-ay, similar to a cat's meow.

Courtesy of naturesport - www.naturespot.org.uk

What’s the point in acquiring meadow planting know-how when there aren’t any meadows to plant in Hounslow? At the HCFA site on Saturday the 24th September there were seven people who thought they would try and break this circular thought process and demonstrate why it might be worthwhile sowing a few wildflower seeds. And under the expert tuition of Leslie Williams, Conservation Officer for Brent Council, we sowed a meadow as well as a few seeds of change. 

As we were flagging under the late September sun Leslie gave us a few incentives to finish the job; almost 90% of wildflower meadows have disappeared in the UK over the last 50 years, meadows can be planted on any scale (even window boxes), meadows add to our sense of well being as well as biodiversity and they also reduce run off and the pressure on the drainage systems during periods of high rainfall. 

The seven attendees aren’t going to significantly increase the wildflower population of Hounslow on their own. However, following this workshop it is seven times more likely than it was prior to 10.30am on Saturday the 24th of September. And, should those seven inform another seven as well as Leslie informed them (and the trend continued), we would have the whole of Hounslow talking meadows in roughly six and a half weeks time. 
 

On the 24^th of September it is HCFA’s open day which will comprise of a wildflower meadow planting workshop (details below) followed by a BBQ and tour of the site. If you would like to attend any of the below please contact Alex at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it so we have an idea of how many to cater for. We look forward to seeing you on the 24^th. 

Wildflowers and meadows 

Subject: meadow planting – some might say not a subject for the suburban gardener used to growing dahlias and roses all in a straight row. David Perkins, Head of Education at Roots and Shoots (www.rootsandshoots.org.uk) will help us think again. David has created an inspiring haven for wildlife on a quarter of an acre of land in central London. He will be talking us through wildflower meadow preparation, planting and maintenance and hopefully help more londonites do more for wildlife. David will also have slides, examples of plants and pictures to help guide us through the merits of meadows.

Guest speaker: David Perkins, Roots and Shoots

Date: 24^th September

Time: 10:30 to 12:30

Venue: Faggs Road allotments, Feltham - www.hcfa.org.uk/faggs-road-site

Cost: £5 entrance fee

We look forward to seeing you there.

For further information contact Alex Morrell – This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or visit www.hcfa.org.uk

Aeshna grandis

This large dragonfly is easily distinguished. Both sexes are a rich brown and have a distinctive golden-brown wings, which is often the most striking character of flying individuals. The male has two small blue spots on segment 2 and blue spots along the sides of the abdomen. Both sexes have yellow thorax stripes which are very bright yellow in males but duller in females.

Courtesy of Naturespot - www.naturespot.org.uk