Kate at the Flourish allotment is enjoying the sunny weather! She has sent us an update on all the activity:
Spring is probably the most wonderful time of year on the allotment! As you approach the plot in the early morning, when very few other people are around, you are blessed with the birdsong guiding you down the pathway. We are sharing the space with robins, wrens, sparrows, tits, crows and magpies, and even a woodpecker! It really is a dawn chorus!
The days are getting longer and warmer and the difference it makes to the plants is actually visible. We have had a few afternoons where the daffodils and tulips have opened up to their full glory as the day has got warmer.
We have definitely felt a spring in our step (pardon the pun) this year! We have been blessed with sunny days and the allotment has woken up with a burst of colour.
We are very busy planting seeds, pricking out seedlings and planting young plants outside in the hope for a bumper harvest later in the year. We are growing more flowers this year to encourage the pollinators in; it has been fantastic to see so many bees and butterflies already.
The insects are not the only busy creatures on the allotment; the frogs have filled both ponds with loads of frogspawn! The tadpoles have hatched already so it will be exciting to see how many make it to adulthood; we could definitely do with a few more to keep the slugs under control.
If the insects are busy, our gardeners and volunteers are even more so! They have worked hard to sow seeds, water the site in the dry weather and preparing the beds so they are ready to pop in the vegetable plants. The job has been made easier this year with an incredibly generous donation of some new tools from Toolbank. We are no longer using old tools or 3-pronged forks! Thank you Toolbank, from everyone at Flourish!
One of our volunteers will be leading a spring wreath-making workshop. Watch this space for future workshops at the allotment.
If you would like to know more about what we do, why not head down to Flourish for our Open Day on Thursday 15th May, 12noon-6pm at Southwood Road Allotments, Rusthall. We look forward to seeing you there!
