Greenspace Scotland’s latest e-bulletin contained this reminder:
“Grow Wild is giving you the opportunity to apply for a free wildflower seed kit, with everything you need to get your group sowing and growing. You don’t need growing experience, just enthusiasm, a shared space to transform and a group of people to help make it happen! Apply using the online form and in March 2019 they’ll take you on a growing journey. Bring more colour and wildlife to your community, school or workplace next Spring! Deadline 8 February“.
These free seeds could help us refresh our Wildflower Garden and seed the North Bank that we have started to develop. I’m delighted to report Ron (Plot 65a) has taken this in hand and put an application in for GFAA.
A wee reminder of how glorious our wildflower area can look.
The RHS has launched a new funding and support initiative called, “Greening Grey Britain with Communities in 2019”. They are looking for new projects that will bring seasoned community gardeners together with young green-fingered recruits. To the right projects, they are offering expert hands-on support and up to £500 worth of plants and materials.
New beginnings full of promise
In their own words, they say, “Imagine forgotten littered corners reborn as vibrant wildflower meadows, car parks lined with trees to slow down storm water or disused areas becoming productive gardens, with food to share with the community”.
Projects have to fit with one or more of three themes.
Grow for people
Grow for the planet
Grow for wildlife
Thinking of our own site, several areas spring to mind as being ripe for development. Is anyone itching to take up the challenge of building a bid or have ideas for possible projects?
It’s always about this time of year that we begin thinking ahead to our new season programme of school visits. Last year was our biggest and most successful so far, with visits from Kingswells and Kaimhill Primaries and Orchard Brae ASN School.
This week Stuart and I had the pleasure of meeting with Professor Donald Gray from the University of Aberdeen’s School of Education and Bob Donald, Director of One Seed Forward.
Bob, Norman, Donald,Stuart.
Bob and Donald are collaborating on a scheme called, Garden Schools and developing an approach they have termed, Cultivating Education.
Here’s the story in they own words:
” The Garden Schools initiative is a collaboration between voluntary organisation One Seed Forward and the School of Education in the University of Aberdeen.
OSF Garden Schools promotes our concept of Cultivating Education, with the aim that every school should be a Garden School, a place where outdoor learning is an integral part of the curriculum even where there is a limited amount of space available on school grounds.
Three schools in Aberdeen took part in the pilot project and an educational programme and materials were created which are now available to all schools http://oneseedforward.co.uk/educational-materials.
More specific objectives of the Garden Schools initiative are: • The creation of, or improvement to, a space in the school that can be used as a vegetable garden. • A developed school educational programme that includes local vegetable growing, health and nutrition benefits, recycling and composting, links to literacy, numeracy, citizenship, science and arts. • Developing links from garden projects to raise awareness of climate change and climate actions and sustainability.
There is also a Facebook group for teachers, parents and interested parties to share knowledge and materials about growing spaces, as well as being able to ask One Seed Forward any questions. If you would like to join this please follow the link above.”
We had a right good natter and shared experiences and ideas. It was very reassuring to confirm that our own wee programme is built on the right principles and come away enthused with possibilities for the year ahead. We have lots to learn from Bob and Donald and hope very much to stay in touch.
May I wish all of our plotters, volunteers and friends a very Happy New Year and a successful growing season.
Since 2014 Garthdee Field Allotments Association has participated in the IT’S YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD campaign run by Keep Scotland Beautiful. Over the past four years we have gradually improved our site environment, consolidated our community activities and improved our gardening achievements.
As a result of everyone’s efforts we have been awarded the highest level of achievement for three years in a row and are encouraged to raise our standards further by applying for a GREEN FLAG AWARD. The green flag award applies to parks and green spaces throughout the UK and our allotment site falls into the latter category.
The closing date for applications is the end of January each year and the Committee’s intention is, that over the next 12 months we make the necessary preparations for an application in January 2020.
If our application is to be successful our allotment site will have to satisfy various requirements and in addition to having a well developed management plan and being financially sound, it must:-
Be a welcoming place
Be safe and secure
Be well maintained and clean
Be environmentally sustainable
Promote community involvement
Have a marketing strategy
We will shortly be making plans for activities and work on site to achieve our aims and the Committee hope that as many plotters as possible will support this project.
There is no guarantee that we will be successful but we’re planning to give it our best shot. If you want to find out more just speak to any of the Committee.
Please be advised that a quantity of 13’ scaffold boards have been sourced for use by plot holders. They are in very good condition and are available immediatel.
In the first instance there is to be a limit of 4 boards per plot holder to ensure a fair distribution. In the event that the demand is limited, greater quantities will be considered.
If you are interested please contact Ron Stephen(Plot 65A) on 07818413999 and we will arrange for delivery to your respective plots.
Happy New Year! Can we possibly hope for another growing season and summer like 2018? Of course, we can!
These poor soul popped their heads up only yesterday and look what they met today.
Luckily, snowdrops are clearly born optimists and know just what they are doing, so I am sure they will be fine.
Talking about born optimists, this is usually the time of year that we plotters turn our attention to buying our seeds for the coming spring. Remember, as GFAA members you are entitled to a 40% discount on all seed purchased from Dobies. Copies of their 2019 catalogue are available in the Octagon along with an order form containing the necessary discount code. If you prefer to browse and buy online, email gfaawebhelper@gmail.com and I will be pleased to send you the discount code.
The Council is about to allocate plots to new plotters, so we will soon be seeing fresh starts made on a number of plots. Phil Wilkie (Plot 35) asks that anyone with a half plot who would like to move up to a full plot should get in touch with him ASAP.
{I am aware of some typos in this item, but for some reason, the new Editor in WordPress does not ‘remember’ edits. Please bear with me.}
