Heating the greenhouse
The following information is available at South West Greenhouses
‘There are a few ways to increase the heat in your greenhouse without using gas or electricity.
The first way to increase the heat to your greenhouse is to add thermal mass. The most common way to do this is to use water barrels. By stacking drums of water in a greenhouse the grower can store daytime heat and release it at night. Placing the water barrels in areas where there is a lot of sunlight will allow the thermal mass to absorb the heat from the sun during daylight hours and radiate it back into the greenhouse at night.
A second way to add heat to your greenhouse is to add decaying compost. As the compost decays it releases heat and helps to regulate the greenhouse temperature.
Finally, you can install solar heaters to warm up your greenhouse.’
Rainwater Project at BGAA
We have added a new page to the site to offer a little more detail on our joint project with United Utilities that has brought over 23,000 litres of stored rainwater to the site.
Please go to Rainwater Project
Allotment Show 2022:
Everyone a winner
The Annual Allotment Show was held Sunday, 4th September. A very successful occasion as we returned, post pandemic, to a loved, local event. And in the process raised a whacking £602 for FairShare, who provide enough food to create almost a million meals for vulnerable people.
And the key appointed winners for the year were as follows:
The BGAA Salver for the Jenny Coombs Top Tray: Nicky Johnson and Phil Pemberton
The BGAA Challenge Cup for most points in the competition: Nicky Johnson and Phil Pemberton
The BGAA Shield, for the runner-up on points: James Feely
The George Gill Trophy for the Best Plot on the Allotment: Ceri Hughes
The Jane Gill Decanter for Best Exhibit in Show: Nicky Johnson and Phil Pemberton
The Elizabeth Pemberton Trophy for the most improved plot: Luke Rutter
Certificates of Merit were awarded to those exhibitors gaining 10 or more points
Janet Slade and Jane Sweet
Zoe Mulford & Bijan Parsia
Andrea Harding
Natassia Meesom
Jenny and Malcolm
Susi Madron
James Crawford
Margaret Smith
Amy and Christina
Photographs of the day’s events can be found on our Facebook page
To see the Trophies please visit this page
Date for your diary: Sunday September 3rd 2023
Slow Worms
Introducing our new gardeners…
Slow worms (Anguis fragilis) are being introduced into the Allotment and we hope that they will find companionship and mating friendships with us.
Slow worms are a perfect addition to have in your allotment as they eat garden pests including slugs. They also rely on insects, spiders, snails and earthworms.
As slow worms eat slugs, it’s really important that you don’t use toxic (metaldehyde) slug controls in the allotment. Such toxic controls are not available at our shop.
For more information (including slug management alternatives) please go to our slow worm page
The Gore Brook
From time to time the Gore Brooke, which runs through the allotment, will flood. We are, after all, situated on a flood plain!
However, this useful link will you take directly to the Brighton Grove debris screen’s level monitoring meter. This is situated alongside the allotment. Reference to the meter levels will be helpful from to time. Visit: Gore Brook water levels
The Department of Environment has more useful information on flooding preparations.
Seed Swap Services
If you save seed and would like to swap your seeds then the website below (a seed swapping on line site) may be what you are looking for:
Garden Organic offers a similar Heritage Seed Library swapping service for members. Taking part will entitle you to receive about six heritage seed varieties each year. https://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/hsl
Notice
SHOP CREDIT
ITEMS TAKEN ON CREDIT WILL NOW BE PAYABLE WITHIN 28 DAYS
Please set up payment by BACS. Bank details in the Cabin
FAO All plotholders: Water Conservation Measures
It is the responsibility of all plot holders to take the correct measures in ensuring water consumption is kept to the minimum as detailed in the Green book Schedule 2: Rule 21 – hosepipes should not be fitted to taps administered by the Council. However, the council will permit use of hosepipes to fill water containers for allotment purposes. Tenants must not water crops directly from a hosepipe. If you are found doing so, you may lose your tenancy.
Please read this link Manchester City Council