news - Ashford Allotments

Rural Crafts Training

27/7/2014

rural crafts in kentPicture

Ever fancied learning one of the ancient crafts associated with our Kentish woodlands and countryside? A wide range of rural skills is taught by Alan Sage of AJS Crafts, from spoon carving to hedge laying. Courses are held at Godinton House or in Sparkes Gill Wood near Rolvenden, and costs vary from £30 up. Check out the full list by clicking here or on the photo.

'Beginning Patchwork' classes

27/7/2014

If you have the sort of family which does sewing crafts as well as gardening, you may be interested to find 'Emporia' at the top of Bank Street Ashford, with lots of lovely things for sewing projects.

Patchwork expert Mandy Munroe is holding a "Beginners Patchwork" workshop on August 2nd, 10am to 3pm. Call in at the shop to find out if any places remain. Click here to go to the Emporia blog and list of classes.

Allotment Open Day at Hawkinge

27/7/2014

Hawkinge allotments were set up only in 2010, after five years of campaigning. New village sites like this are a lesson to us all, with their enthusiasm and hard work. Hawkinge have just opened their site under the NGS Open Gardens scheme (click on the picture for their report on their website) and the day was a great success, raising hundreds of pounds for charities.

The allotments will be open again for National Allotments Week on August 9th, from 10am till 3pm.

Appledore Village Flower show

24/7/2014

Super displays of fruit and vegetables at Appledore Village Flower Show, including this spectacular collection of vegetables from Graham Selmes (right). The black cloths do set them off so well. A beautifully-put-on show and one that really sets a standard for us.

Support the Pilgrim's Hospice Summer Fair by bringing your surplus produce to our fund-raising stall on August 2nd

23/7/2014

For many years now the Allotment Society has supported the Pilgrim's Hospice with a stall selling surplus fruit, veg and plants to raise funds. Plotholders please take the time to pick some of whatever you can spare for the stall, to make a good show, raise loads of money and show off the lovely stuff we grow.

The hospice Summer Fair is on August 2nd; you all know the hospice, it is just past Tesco Crooksfoot on the A20 towards the garden centre, after junction 10. Set your satnav for TN24 0NE

You should bring your produce direct to the hospice Summer Fair for about 9.30 to 9.45am, where Penny will be waiting to receive it and set it out. You can park in field opposite the hospice, but to deliver only (there is a free 'park & ride' for anyone coming to the fete). Anything sells well, so bring cut flowers, spare plants and of course vegetables and fruit. All the money made goes to the charity.

The Summer Fair is free and starts at 12 noon. (Closes at 4pm) There is a huge range of fun for all. To save traffic chaos, the Hospice is operating a free 'park & ride' to the hospice gates - leave your car safely at the 'Secret Garden' carpark a little further down the A20 at Mersham Le Hatch and hop on the bus! Click here to go to the Hospice website - scroll down the page to see details of the Fair.

A date for your diary!

23/7/2014

Aldington & Bonnington Gardening Society
Autumn Show

We're told this is one of the best shows around and well worth the effort of a short drive or bus ride to Aldington!

Aldington Village Hall
Saturday 6th September
Doors open at 1.00pm with prize giving at 3.30pm. There are no open classes but visitors are very welcome. No entry charge. Raffle and light refreshments. Sales table with surplus produce - vegetables, fruit, flowers and plants.

Ashford Beekeepers Association hold their annual Honey Show in the adjacent hall, so altogether an interesting afternoon.

Report from Stone Fete and Flower Show

21/7/2014

Picture Stone fete and flwer show 2014

Despite the thundery weather and occasionally warm shower, Stone Fete was, as usual, a delightful afternoon and the Flower Show in the marquee well worth seeing. As always, there were some really irresistible-looking cookery entries.

Children's entries are always fun too - on being asked to 'make a named animal out of vegetables' there has been progress this year. Last year, unidentifiable monsters stalked the cloth-covered tables, all of them neatly named in wobbly writing - "Brian" or "Fred". This year, after some clarification in the schedule, each is an identifiable species. The labels this year read "Ryan the Rhinoceros", "Geraldine the Giraffe" etc. Children are very logical creatures.

You too can show!

19/7/2014

Even if you've never shown before, or have never even been to a flower show, this year you can join in the fun. Our standards are never intimidatingly high, and beginners often win. There's just a month to go till our Summer Show, so keep an eye on your produce and think what might be OK to bring along. We don't expect perfection, or anything like it. What we want is lots and lots of people competing.

So go and mark August 23rd on your calendar NOW, and be ready to come along and join in the fun. There are lots of prizes to be won, after all.

Click here to go to our tips for having fun at the show.

Perfect time to clear your plot!!!!

17/7/2014

If your plot needs clearing and digging, you may have been telling yourself "Oh, there's nothing I can do till autumn". But that's NOT TRUE! In a normal year, the heavy rain we had at the beginning of the week would have vanished. But because the subsoil is still soaked from the winter, the topsoil is lovely and moist RIGHT NOW. The surface may look dry, but less than an inch below that surface there's moist dark soil which you will find surprisingly easy to get a fork into.

So instead of waiting for autumn's short, cold days, make the most of the pleasant summer weather and get out there with tools. If you don't like the heat, then an early morning trip, or an hour or two in the pleasant evening temperatures, is a bliss and a joy. There is no need to water any plants you've already got growing (unless they are very newly planted) so you can concentrate your energy on the bits that badly need attention. All the weeds you fork out can be composted (whatever the books say, it all rots down and you need that humus), and in no time at all you'll have ground ready to sow lettuce, spinach, beetroot, late carrots or even pop in a few cauliflower or broccoli plants. Instead of waiting till next year to enjoy the fruit of your labours, you can be eating your own veg this autumn!

Sculpture at Godinton

15/7/2014

Do find time to go to this exhibition, held every year in the gardens. The gardens themselves are worth the trip, as you'll know if you've been. The sculptures are all displayed in carefully chosen settings, often nestled amongst plants or, memorably last year, emerging from hedges or rising from a pond.

Of course, some of the sculptures are large and cost thousands. But others are small and eminently affordable. Last year I bought several coloured glass light catchers for £4 each, and was very tempted by the most beautiful porcelain toadstools at a very reasonable price! The style of sculpture ranges from the monumental to the charming, with some that you may even think decidedly naff - definitely something for every taste. Click on the pic to go to their website for more info.