June in Bloom

It was a rainy Tuesday afternoon and after weeks of glorious sunshine I decided to take myself off to the allotments for the afternoon to do the dreaded weeding. So in between the thunder and lightning storms I had a nice walk around the allotment to see how everyone's plots were doing and to check out the fruit trees.

 The Herb Garden looking really lush and green.

Spuds, Chickens wait chickens!, Oregano, chives 

and a lovely view whilst avoiding the Rain.

 

 

There are tiny little Grapes starting to form

 if you look really close top left, Red Chilli's and the

Tomato plants are growing nicely.

 

 

Gordon Blimey Apples, Plums and Pears galore!

 

 

 

 

Despite the crazy weather today, I really enjoyed myself even the weeding part and remembered how lucky I am to have an Allotment at such a beautiful place in Minnowburn, National Trust.

 

Fidelma Maher, June 2016

New Zeland Flatworm found at Minnowburn

The New Zealand Flatworm has been discovered at the allotments in recent months. Should we be scared.

This animal is regarded as a major predator of our native earthworms and has the ability to devastate populations. However, its impact in agricultural land is unclear as earthworm populations in open fields seem to recover quickly from flatworm predation. There is no doubt that in confined or shaded places such as gardens and small woods, its effect upon earthworm numbers is greater and more permanent. It may also affect soil drainage.

It has spread rapidly in both Northern Ireland and Scotland. It is thought to have spread through plant trade and the first introduction was thought to have been in the 1950s through the trade in daffodil bulbs from New Zealand to Northern Ireland.

Control 

It is thought hot water is a cheap and easy means of disinfection of containerised plants. But research on this method has still to be determined.

 

Further Information and Photographs can be found at the following links:
Invasive New Zeland Flatworm.
CABI New Zealand Flatworm fact sheet


Fidelma Maher

Easter Egg Hunt 2016

EASTER EGG HUNT 2016

It was a glorious Spring day for the Easter Egg hunt at the allotments on 20th March 2016 . The children were out in full force in anticipation of finding lots of eggs. Magda had all the kids working together on the straw lady preparing her painted nails and all for the annual burning ceremony to say good bye to the Winter and hello to Spring. Afterwards some of the gardeners stayed around for a barbecue.

Painting the straw lady 

The girls working hard beautifying the straw lady

Bright red nails!!!!

Nice face

She's all ready

Cutie

Ian making sure every thing is painted brown including himself.

Happy Days lots of eggs

The kids were very civilised and shared the eggs equally

Arthurs collection.

Mini eggs for a mini man.

Louise and Elizabeth hard at work on the herb garden.

Lou spring cleaning the LOO!!! 

There she goes

Kids shouting "die" straw lady. 

All the fun over for another year.

Spring has Sprung

The first event of 2016 got off to a great start with sunshine after 4 months of rain! While the sun shone, the lads shovelled compost and filled in the old sand pit, mulched around trees and replenished some raised beds. The ladies tidied up the fruit trees, fruit bushes and hedges with a light prune and some weeding. 

Fruit trees pruned to perfection

Some TLC for the raspberries, the hedge and Daisy

A well deserved lunch

Some nutritious mulch for the apples.

Everyone had a great morning and worked up a good appetite. Work all complete in time for lunch and afternoon naps.

Here's to a great year and a bumper crop of fruit.

Lorna and Fidelma

International Scarecrow Day

The allotment was alive with celebrations on 19 August 2014 to mark International Scarecrow Day - the day the world over where straw stuffed men are created and sent off to do their duty - well according to Eileen Beamish at least. Find out more below.

Field Marshall Pete Potts in all his glory! 

 Eileen, Anna, Mr Potts and Jill

Jill Kent, the creator of Field Marshall Pete Potts

International Scarecrow Day all started when Eileen's friends, the Kent's from Kent, were visiting and heard all about the allotment. Jill Kent, being very arty and fantastic at all things creative, got quite excited about making a scarecrow. And so it was, Field Marshall Pete Potts is now on duty with Colonel Crow on his arm. With a sense of creation in the air it only seemed right to create International Scarecrow Day. Eileen and Magda are already in discussions about potential celebrations on 19 August 2015!

It also turns out that Jill Kent spent her final day in her 40s making Mr Potts. So Happy 50th Birthday Jill from all at Minnowburn Community Allotments.