TUESDAY 16 AUGUST
10am – 12:30pm
Places still available for what will be
a fascinating morning at
The Apricot Centre, Lawford CO11 2LY
To book a place, or for more information, please leave a comment on the blog and we will contact you directly.
Car share available.
Walk and talk on permaculture for gardens.
Tuesday, 16 August
10:00 – 12:30
Marina O’Connell, who runs the farm, has offered to take us for a wander round the farm and garden. Marina will explain the principles of permaculture and how they can be applied practically in a garden setting. We will then go inside for a discussion and to ask any questions.
Marina keeps things informal and practical – and we hope to get some ideas for re-planting and developing the Quay car-park.
….and the visit is FREE!
As the farm is part of the DEFRA funding scheme, we will need a minimum of six people to confirm booking – please confirm by leaving a comment in the comments section of the blog. Closer to the time we can organise car shares and arrange set-off times.
*Permaculture is the design of more sustainable environments using nature as inspiration. By observing and learning how wonderfully productive eco-systems can be, we can learn from this and consciously design our own gardens, lives, farms and environments to work with nature. To be sustainable in caring for the earth, natural resources and the people whose lives the systems touch upon, and to be fair and equitable, returning rather than retaining surpluses.
The tubs which we planted up behind Roy’s store in town are mostly doing very well – the only exception being the tub which is hidden towards the back wall. Too much shade and not enough water? We shall try to come up with a new solution to that problem.
Meanwhile, the plants we introduced into the beds behind the seats – including a small white lilac – appear to have survived and rewarded us with flowers. We hope that they make a difference to anyone who stops for a little bit of a sit down en route to and from Roys and Waitrose!
A great work party at the Quay on 2 June. A few new faces (and a couple of old familiar faces) to add to the mix, and a lot of good work accomplished – one corner cleared, with space made for a composting bin to use on site.
The area at the far end of the car park is quite over-grown, and it will take a bit of hard graft to get it ready for planting up, but what an amazing start – so much done in just a few hours!
Meanwhile, weeds and grass growing in the seating area also got a bit of a sort out. With all the rain we’ve just had, I expect we’ll be back again soon!
As mentioned previously, the Quay needs a little bit of help removing some of the weeds growing in their outdoor sitting area. The larger prickly ones have been taken out, but there are still some smaller weeds, and grasses, that need to go!
We’ll be there at 11:45 am on Thursday, 2nd June.
So, bring a trowel, gloves, a kneeler (if needed) to get up close and personal with the weeds, plus a keen eye to identify them, and come along! If there is time afterwards, and weather permits, we might also take a stroll along the railway path to visit the Kingfisher Leisure Centre beds.
One of our activities in the last year was a visit to the Quay Theatre to do some weeding to spruce up the seating area at the back of the theatre. We returned to the Quay at the end of last week for an update, and to make plans for what to do next.
Clearly, our first priority is to do some more weeding (see above) to take out any spiky or prickly weeds and those which threaten to swamp the area, and to do a little more planting – our additions to the area have ‘taken’, which is lovely to see. We will let you know a time and date for this very soon.
After that, we will be looking at transforming the patch of ground to the rear of the Quay car park into an area of permaculture, with layered fruit trees, shrubs and ground plants, good for bees and butterflies, and foraging.
While birds are nesting, we will take a gentle approach initially, but hope to prepare the area for planting, and for the inclusion of a composting bin. Please keep a look out for information as to dates and times for this new venture.
We are a friendly bunch, so we do hope you’ll be able to join us!
One for your calendar?
greenersudbury 