Hi everyone,

How about we have a short plot allocation/general interest planning get together on Sunday March 11th? I will come to the allotment at 12.30.

Maggie

Ok great 

I ll be there!

Sounds good to us!

Sounds great for the 11th, Asma and I will be there.

Same here. 

I will be there

Great that some of you can come! Looking forward to catching up and thinking about the season ahead. Maggie

Just a reminder that I'll be at the allotments in a hour. Looking forward to seeing some of you there.

Colm, I didn't hear back from you but hope you can come so that we can formally allocate you your plot and show you the tools and the shed. 

Cheers, Maggie

Hi Maggie, sorry to say I'm in bed with the flu so won't be there - hopefully we can meet at another stage soon? 

Plan this morning is to re-allocate these beds: (1) Leo (opp Kim) and (2) Eve and Jacob (opp Nilufer), as I haven't heard from any of them for more than a year. If anyone has reason to think this shouldn't happen, please comment now or text me on 07986599848. Thanks Maggie

Sorry to hear that Colm. Get well and I'll meet you there another time. Maggie

Great to see a lot of you up at the plots and to meet the new members, Emily and Owain.

A little update... Since I got home it has become clear that all four of the people on the playground plots would like to come onto the main plot, following serious vandalism over there. It seems like a priority to 're-home' them, so Kirsty, Sally, Tiffany and Barbara are now all going to be joining us on the main site, and for the moment we are not, after all, able to offer space to more refugees - or for that matter to anyone. 

Mick Guerin has chatted to me about space becoming available for plots in the children's zoo later in the year. If this happens, we can revisit the situation then.

This leaves the question of what to do with the four raised - now vacant - beds in the children's playground area. It seems that anything planted there is vulnerable to being ripped out by invading teenagers, as happened last time. Is it worth planting anything - maybe something prickly like gooseberry bushes? Does anyone have a suggestion? 

Happy gardening! Maggie

Great to see a lot of you up at the plots and to meet the new members, Emily and Owain.

A little update... Since I got home it has become clear that all four of the people on the playground plots would like to come onto the main plot, following serious vandalism over there. It seems like a priority to 're-home' them, so Kirsty, Sally, Tiffany and Barbara are now all going to be joining us on the main site, and for the moment we are not, after all, able to offer space to more refugees - or for that matter to anyone. 

Mick Guerin has chatted to me about space becoming available for plots in the children's zoo later in the year. If this happens, we can revisit the situation then.

This leaves the question of what to do with the four raised - now vacant - beds in the children's playground area. It seems that anything planted there is vulnerable to being ripped out by invading teenagers, as happened last time. Is it worth planting anything - maybe something prickly like gooseberry bushes? Does anyone have a suggestion? 

Happy gardening! Maggie

The date of the capital growth Big Dig this year is Saturday April 21st. 

I can't make that day myself - am running a workshop on Depression in Kings Lynn - so am going to suggest we have our personal Big Dig on the Sunday before, which is

SUNDAY 15TH APRIL, starting at 1.00 and carrying on until whenever. 

As Fausto said today, this is the event in the year where we all do our very best to be there. The Park normally provides sandwiches and wood chips and farm yard manure and we work together to get everything ship shape for the summer.

Can you put the date in your diary if it is possible for you, and post here whether or not you will be coming along?

Maggie

Hi, nice to see you all today. Unfortunately we are away on the 15th so won’t be able to join. 

Hi Helen - and thanks so much for doing this. Unfortunately when I open the map, the names are displaced, i.e. not on their plots. I'm on a Mac, so maybe it works better on a PC. Is anyone else having a problem? Maggie

And this one - on my devices at least - is perfect! Thanks again. Maggie

Not a lot of response to 15th April for Big Dig and I wondered if Easter Sunday or Monday might suit people better? I could do either, morning or afternoon. Can you post as soon as possible please and say which half-day you can do, if any, so that we can finalise the date and I can let Mick know? Thanks, Maggie

I can only to the 15th but not easter weekend. Sorry for my late reply,

kate

Hey sorry for the slow reply. We can do April 15th. Can probably also do easter weekend. Emily & Owain

Easter and the 15th both out for me I'm afraid - back in Ireland for easter and family visiting over the 15th weekend. Maggie are you free this Sunday to show me the tools/plot etc? Or perhaps I should just try work out the tools for myself? :-)

Hi Maggie, I should be available for either. 

Hi everyone!

Thanks for replying and it looks as though we will have a good turnout for April 15th. Definitely on now, starting at 12.30 p.m. and going on to 3.00 p.m. or thereabouts. Will see if park can provide wood chip for paths, manure and maybe a bit of afternoon tea. Meanwhile no need to wait if you want to get planting. I started at the weekend with rows of radish, lettuce, carrots and chard. There are leftover seeds of all of those and more in the shed, so help yourselves - and see you on April 15th if not before.  Maggie

Hi Maggie - won't be able to make the big dig on the 15th but keen to get going with the plot - I guess all I need to know now is how to access the shed! Let me know!

Hello, I'll be there for the 15th and looking forward to it! See you then, Helene

Looking forward to seeing those of you who can come - looks like there will be a dozen or so of us - on Sunday at 12.30. Mick has promised wood chip and the famous FYM and maybe refreshments - but yet to be confirmed.

The area around the allotments is extremely muddy - some of the grass is under water - so wear boots and waterproof trousers if you have them. If you are thinking of bringing children, please bear in mind that it will be slippery when we have walked on it for a bit, so they may fall and are in any case likely to get covered in mud. 

Happy days! At least the forecast is dry for Sunday!

See you there, Maggie 

Hi again everyone,

Just to say that Mick Guerin has now confirmed refreshments for us in the cafe - soup, sandwich or cake and a drink - so we can take a break when we feel like it. See those of you who can come on Sunday. Looking forward to it. Maggie

Can you bring hand tools, gardening gloves and, if you can manage it, a large fork or spade on Sunday? Don't worry if not - but there won't be enough tools for everyone so it would be helpful. Look forward to seeing you, Maggie.

Hi Maggie - sorry I can't make it tomorrow as my brother is visiting this weekend from Ireland - but can we meet soon so you can formally allocate me the plot and show me the tools etc? let me know!

looking forward to it! Philippa and I will come with one spade plus trowels, Leo

Is it OK with everyone if photos taken at the Big Dig get used on our brochure page in the Queens Park Open Studios and Gardens brochure? 

Can you post here within the next couple of days if you are NOT OK with it. Silence will be taken as consent...

Great day on Sunday! Thanks for all the hard work and good fun to those of you who made it (and bad luck for missing out to those of you who couldn't.) Maggie

Hi Colm,

Apologies for delay. Busy with Big Dig preps. I will be in the Park again this coming Sunday, weather permitting, at around 12.30. Let me know if that works for you and we can fine-tune. My mobile number is 07986599848. Maggie

Should be fine - will text you on the weekend to confirm! 

Hi everyone!

The top to the outside tap was left on the tap when Phil and I were at the allotments on Wednesday evening. We took it off and gave it to the guy in the tennis hut. Not sure if it was an allotment member or one of the park staff, but if it was you you can reclaim it from the hut.  Maggie

Hi everyone. Urgent alert! Another bag of wood chip at mini plots this weekend, for us to finish off the paths. Nice job of bucketing/barrowing and spreading. Phil and I will be there 2.00 p.m. Saturday and 12.30 p.m. Sunday. It's a big task for two people though, so if anyone can come along give us a hand... Maggie

Thanks Barbara! Has anyone else got a bit of time Saturday or Sunday afternoon to help with the wood chip? 

Hi everyone!

I finished planting up the two shared double height beds today. (The spring onion seeds etc that someone had planted didn't germinate, I'm afraid, due no doubt to the very cold spring weather.) 

In there now:

rhubarb

blackcurrants

parsley

oregano

sweet corn

runner beans

french beans (seeds planted)

lettuce (seeds planted)

coriander (seeds planted)

broccoli (plug plants)

Think that's it! They are all for everybody. Please don't plant anything else there now. The beds are full...   Maggie

Hi everyone!

I finished planting up the two shared double height beds today. (The spring onion seeds etc that someone had planted didn't germinate, I'm afraid, due no doubt to the very cold spring weather.) 

In there now:

rhubarb

blackcurrants

parsley

oregano

sweet corn

runner beans

french beans (seeds planted)

lettuce (seeds planted)

coriander (seeds planted)

broccoli (plug plants)

They are all for everybody to share. Please don't plant anything else there now. The beds are full...   Maggie

Also... I'm going to Glasgow in a few days and will be there until the beginning of June. Can someone keep an eye on my beds, please, and the shared beds, and water my plots if it gets dry. (Not looking too likely at the moment!)   Thanks, Maggie

Thanks a lot Kim. Yes it’s the kale one a do the long thin bit next to it along the fence. Plus the two shared high beds... x