Grow Greener with Garthdee Field Allotments Association

Author: Norman Page 17 of 66

Grass Cutting Marathon

Our sit-on mower is currently out of commission following one of its many breakdowns. We finally decided we could not wait any longer before cutting the grass, so there was nothing to be done but tackle it with hand mowers. Luckily our ace volunteer squad were on hand and willing to take it on.

Thanks also go to Ron Plot 65a, John Plot 50 and George Plot 38 and volunteer Jack who helped out, but missed the photo opportunity.

We started at 10.30 and finished at 15.00. A wee reminder of how much effort is required, how dependent we are on the ride-on mower working and how much thanks we owe to George the Grass (Plot 40) who does the cutting week in, week out, through the season.

Bonnie Borders

We have some affa bonnie borders this year.

Gabe Cook Cider Event

Neil Clapperton has been in touch with the following request:

Dear all,

I’d like to bring Gabe Cook, the Ciderologist north from Herefordshire to Aberdeen to entertain and inform, but also help facilitate the setting up of a network of those interested in craft cider making (or sampling) across the North East, Angus, Tayside and the Highlands. You can find him on Instagram and Youtube.

If you are interested in setting up community orchards, or community cider making, have a start-up cider business or just want to make a batch of cider at home, this is someone well worth listening to, with lots of international experience and passion about both cider and perry. Just like wine in the 80’s and beer in the last two decades, the craft of cider is really taking off across the globe and in places far from traditional heartlands. Gabe has just written an entertaining introduction to it, which you can buy from Waterstones I’m sure.

You may be an existing cider producer or a commercial organisation with an interest in this area, and I’d like to hear from you too. The potential for food and drink enterprises based on apple production is significant and a key focus for the Chamber of Commerce and ambitions to diversify the rural/urban economy.

If you are interested and might come, please tell me. I need to gauge interest to choose a venue.

If you know someone who has dabbled in cider or is serious about it, then please pass it on but also put them in touch with me direct if you can. Are you a member of a group or community body that might be interested? Please share with them too.

And call if you want to discuss.

In any event I would love to hear from you.

Kind regards

Neil

Neil Clapperton
M: 07765 19637

Kids at play

Everyone enjoyed the Kaimhill Kid’s visit yesterday – especially the resident big kids!

A Royal Visit

Sorry for the click-bait heading. Nah, as far as I know, there are no plans for Her Majesty to visit us at Garthdee Field (as yet). I believe this year she chose to go to Chelsea instead. Next year perhaps?

However, we can boast a royal connection. Many plotters will have noticed Malcolm working away on the Move More Aberdeen/Macmillan Plot (36b) over recent years. Malcolm’s efforts have been rightly recognised and rewarded by an invitation to a Buckingham Palace Garden Party.

Malcolm reports that this came via Sport Aberdeen who assist MacMillan with their activities and that he was completely surprised as he didn’t feel he did all that much and was helped so much by others. The ‘others’ he says, include the many GFAA plotters without whose friendly support and advice he didn’t think he could have made as good a go of things.

He reports the garden at BP is immaculate with acres of grass, and 7,000 participants were there to enjoy the borders that showed lots of professional care with irises, roses and flowering shrubs in profusion. It made for an excellent day out and an excuse to put his kilt on!

New Residents

A couple of years ago we started building bird box kits for the Primary Kids to put together on their plot visits (thanks go to Graeme on Plot 48). Since then, a dozen or so have been put in place around our site.

I’m pleased to report that a number are now occupied. Sorry about the photos – not quite in the David Attenborough class!

Up by Anne’s Plot 99A

I put a couple of homemade boxes up at the beginning of the year on Plot 81 and I am pleased to say both have attracted interest.

Oi! Mate – you got permission to take photos?

The box by the rasps is definitely occupied and the Blue Tits come and go every few moments at present.

It would be good to know how many occupied boxes we have on site, so if you know of any others please get in touch.

Page 17 of 66

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