Paul Randall started with us as Community Allotment Plot Lead in November and has been busy over the winter months getting the plot prepared for the growing season.

Paul has been focusing on areas such as the biodiverse flowering area, the polytunnel, and creating a new large growing bed for potatoes. We have been busy using our funds to purchase items such as Vermiculite, Liquid Plant Feed, Chicken Manure Pellets, Fruit & Vegetable Grow Bags, Vegetable Collection Seed, Seed & Cutting Compost, Bark Chippings, Scaffold Boards, Compost, Complete Seed Mix and Bamboo Canes. This is all helping us prepare for the new growing season and also have increased growing areas. We have recruited three new volunteers to support our existing four volunteers and preparation is going well. We hope to be able to provide Smethwick Foodbanks and Pantries with produce later in the year. It is really encouraging to see further developments and we look forward to sharing updates with you once the growing season begins.

 

We are now working in partnership with the Country Trust which connects children with the land that sustains us all. As a result, we will be coming local school children down to the plot so that they can make use of the plot and all of the educational benefits it brings. Our first school will be Bearwood Primary in March.

 

The Play Plot has also continued throughout winter with sessions held in December, January, and February. The decision to have sessions on the first two Saturdays of the month has proved positive with sessions often fully booked (even in the cold weather). We have also themed the sessions in line with the time of year. Keep an eye on our events page for details of forthcoming sessions.