January 2019 Heritage Park

Ferrymead Heritage Park report

* After the recent storm I should imagine there will be tidying up to do. Our strategies for the bunnies seems to be working. It is quite clear that they don’t touch what they don’t like, ie prickly leaves, tomatoes – which are thriving – buttercup pumpkin, rhubarb, potatoes, raspberries and marigolds. I continue to sprinkle a little blood and bone …..
* The church garden is looking a little sick as are the gardens around the picket fence. They look rather bare, whether plants have died or been eaten is a mystery. I have been waiting a year for the hedge in front of the church to grow so we can attempt to level it, and lo and behold, some idiot has trimmed it at the different levels, instead of levelling it off – beggars belief …..
* I think we have to give some thought to planting more hardy plants around the church. The roses don’t do that well because they get little sun and the two in front of the church are barely alive – it was pointed out to me they live in an almighty cold vortex, which doesn’t help. So put your thinking caps on please, any ideas on hardy plants. I find self sown plants all over my garden and have transplanted many plants from this source, ie Solomon Seal, ferns, marigolds, daisies, Mabel Island Lily, and I have transplanted veggies and strawberries, surplus to requirements, as some of you have also done. I have grown some hydrangea cuttings that are ready for planting, plus I am trying to grow some wisteria and jasmine cuttings.
Anyone else with green fingers that can grow some cuttings from hardy plants in your garden, or know anyone with host as that need splitting up, or anything hardy that can be split – all welcome!!

The very excellent news is: Justin told me that lots of people are stopping at the cob cottage garden and make positive comments, the park management is exceptionally happy with our progress, and at the recent U3A Co-coordinators Meeting this morning it was noted that our super duper work promotes the values of U3A by taking part in a community service. So pat yourselves on the back folks!

We would love more people to help out, weeding, planting, raking, chatting and a lot of laughs is the order of the day – 1-2 hours a month.

Diane Campbell