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:

https://seedswap.org.uk

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