BHOGG

The Weald Site

By Helen

Brighton and Hove Organic Gardening Group have established a group allotment project on the Weald site in Hove. The project, which was begun about two years ago, comprises of two plots side by side on the eastern boundary of the Weald. Volunteers are invited to join the group and work on site on our scheduled workdays, usually Sunday afternoons. We welcome gardeners with or without experience to join in the general weeding, sowing, planting and harvesting work and everybody takes home a share of seasonal produce for their efforts.

The project aims to demonstrate organic food growing methods and tries to follow guidelines described by Garden Organic and the Soil Association. At the heart of what we do is maintaining healthy soil as this helps to grow healthy plants and healthy people. To this end we compost our own green waste, grow green manures, crop rotate and only use natural fertilisers. We never use chemical fertilisers or weed control products such as Round-Up, which has been found to be toxic to frogs and tadpoles.

The space is divided into beds with pathways covered in weed suppressant fabric. Part of the site is planted with perennial fruit bushes and trees and we have recently planted out an asparagus bed with plants grown from seed. We also have two apple trees on site, which are local to Sussex varieties - Lady Sudely and Forge.

now that most of the site has been developed we are able to use it for events during the summer. last year we ran a basket-weaving workshop and seed swap for our group members and hosted a very successful open day. we aim to make these events accessible to as many people as possible and have laid out good pathways suitable for wheelchairs and a small play space with living willow "igloo" suitable for young children.

During this winter, work is continuing to develop the site: clearing a patch of ground earmarked for native hedging and insect and bird friendly planting and possibly installing a compost loo for which funding is currently being sought.

As we move into the spring period, the work level really gets going as we concentrate on sowing seeds and crop planting and continues apace as we lead up to our annual Open Day in July.

if you are interested in joining the project as a volunteer or would like to visit, please contact helen 01273 239540 or visit our website at www.bhogg.org for more information and details of how to find us.