“One of our main activities over the winter has been digging an area which was previously un-cultivated, ready for sowing grass in the spring or early summer” reports a spokesperson for Green Horizons.
“The soil was well laced with thistle and nettle roots, broken glass, rubble and other rubbish, which all had to be removed. We used the rubble to fill up space, together with rotten planks of wood, in the bottom of our new waist-high raised beds. These beds have been set up for the benefit of people who find bending difficult or who have mobility difficulties.
“We also spent a lot of time digging out a massive compost heap which was spreading like the lava on Mount Etna. We sieved the compost through an old open mesh wire basket, and so far have filled up three of the four new raised beds with it.
“Throughout the winter, we were harvesting Jerusalem artichokes and leeks, so we had flasks of artichoke soup to warm us up on the colder sessions. We had planted broad beans in the greenhouse before Christmas, and these were ready to be planted out in the poly tunnel in March. They are now flowering, so we expect the first beans soon.
“In April, we planted potatoes outside and sowed tomatoes in the greenhouse, followed by courgettes, cucumbers, cucamelons, sweetcorn, French and runner beans, mangetout peas, spinach, leeks and some flowers in early May. We have sown parsnips in short lengths of tubing filled with soil in one raised bed, turnips in another and Swiss chard in the third.
“We had daffodils in full bloom in April as well as wallflowers along the fence beside the area which is to be grassed over. In May, our apple, cherry and plum trees were all in flower.”
Green Horizons is a community allotment, garden and wildlife area being developed at Storehouse allotments. It’s an open-access wellbeing group and part of the Durham Mental Wellbeing Alliance. It is managed by Home Group staff, with support from volunteers and financed through fundraising & small local grants.
You can find more information at www.durhammentalwellbeingalliance.org or contact Dean on 07796329517
Ferryhill & Chilton's local community newspaper.
