A summer update from the Green Horizons Allotment – Over the summer, we sowed from seed and later planted outside a wide variety of vegetables, including purple sprouting broccoli, Romanesco cauliflowers, French and runner beans, spinach, leeks and onions. In the polytunnel, we currently have courgettes, cucumbers, cucamelons, tomatoes, mangetout peas and sweetcorn. We were so successful with the courgette plants that we had to plant some outdoors when we ran out of space inside.
Our flower beds have also been full of colour. Clary sage, French marigolds, zinnias and cosmos, all grown from seed by the group, began flowering during August and have provided a welcome boost for both people and wildlife visiting the site.
The harvest has been excellent this year. Throughout the summer, we enjoyed plenty of broad beans, potatoes, onions, spinach, mangetout peas, runner beans, French beans and courgettes. The first cucumbers and a few tomatoes were ready by the end of August, while the rest of the tomato plants remain full of fruit still waiting to ripen. Our Jerusalem artichokes and purple sprouting broccoli have grown well, and we are still hoping that some Romanesco cauliflowers will appear.
The raised beds have also been productive. We harvested some impressive turnips, and the parsnips are showing great promise, although we have yet to see what is happening beneath the soil. Even where crops did not go quite to plan, we made the most of the space by planting additional vegetables.
Our fruit harvest has been one of the highlights of the season. Group members enjoyed fresh strawberries and raspberries throughout June and July, while surplus fruit has been frozen for future jam-making. We have gathered plenty of blackcurrants and plums, with the plum tree producing such a heavy crop that its branches needed supporting. Unfortunately, the birds beat us to the cherries this year, but we are looking forward to picking our apples in early October.
One of our biggest achievements has been completing the new grassed area. After months of digging, raking and preparation, the grass seed was sown at the end of August. Within just three weeks, a healthy, dense lawn had begun to establish. We have also started preparing the allotment for next year by improving the soil with well-composted donkey manure, kindly donated by two local residents from Hett Village.
Green Horizons continues to be a welcoming place where people can connect with others, enjoy the outdoors, learn new skills and support their wellbeing. We would like to thank everyone who has volunteered, donated or supported the project throughout the year.
Green Horizons is a community allotment, garden and wildlife area based at Storehouse Allotments. As part of the Durham Mental Wellbeing Alliance, it provides an open-access wellbeing group managed by Home Group staff, supported by volunteers and funded through fundraising and small local grants.
For more information or to attend the allotment, please visit www.durhammentalwellbeingalliance.org or contact Dean at 07796 329517.
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