The first ever Brockley Front Garden sale is tomorrow, 11am-4pm.
More than 50 houses are taking part. You can see the full list of gardens on the BrocSoc website and look out for bunting and balloons indicating participating houses (or children's birthday parties you might want to crash).
Summer gardening workshops with Common Growth
Carlo writes with news about free gardening workshops for kids and adults run by local group Common Growth:
First up is the kid's workshop on Wednesday 7th of August called herb spiral fun. It is suitable for children of all ages and runs from 10.30-12.00, and will involve fun learning activities, games and singing.
After that there will be an adult's workshop on Saturday 17th of August called Herbs and their uses and will run from 10.30 to 12.30. As usual this will be a mix of learning and practical activity.
The workshops are informal and fun, and it’s a great way to learn a few more gardening skills and share tips with other gardeners.
If you would like to attend any workshops, or want more information, then please text Rich on 07901 360321 or email commongrowthuk@gmail.com giving the name of attendees and a contact telephone number. Places will be allocated on a first come first served basis. All courses are free, but we suggest a £3 voluntary donation to help cover the costs of materials.
Common Growth Community Garden, Sandbourne Road (on the corner with Jerningham Rd), SE4 2NS.
First up is the kid's workshop on Wednesday 7th of August called herb spiral fun. It is suitable for children of all ages and runs from 10.30-12.00, and will involve fun learning activities, games and singing.
After that there will be an adult's workshop on Saturday 17th of August called Herbs and their uses and will run from 10.30 to 12.30. As usual this will be a mix of learning and practical activity.
The workshops are informal and fun, and it’s a great way to learn a few more gardening skills and share tips with other gardeners.
If you would like to attend any workshops, or want more information, then please text Rich on 07901 360321 or email commongrowthuk@gmail.com giving the name of attendees and a contact telephone number. Places will be allocated on a first come first served basis. All courses are free, but we suggest a £3 voluntary donation to help cover the costs of materials.
Common Growth Community Garden, Sandbourne Road (on the corner with Jerningham Rd), SE4 2NS.
Lewisham's Secret Gardens
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| UP Projects' "Spontaneous City in the Tree of Heaven" |
Working in partnership with Lewisham Council, we will launch, a series of new public art commissions this summer. Connected by the Waterlink Way, a cycle and foot path that follows the Rivers Pool and Ravensbourne, a series of new, temporary, permanent and digital public art commissions will investigate four parks, responding to their unique characteristics, communities and ecology.
Launching in July 2013, Secret Garden Project Lewisham will manifest in Sue Godfrey Nature Park, Cornmill Gardens, Ladywell Fields and Riverpool Linear & Bellingham Play Park and will encourage people to discover and use urban green space in creative ways. These artworks form part of the pan-London Secret Garden Project, a programme of environmental art commissions curated and produced by UP Projects.
The first commission to launch will be artist in residence, Rebecca Beinart, who will explore Sue Godfrey Nature Park, Deptford, drawing upon its rich history of local activism, trade and the home remedies that has made Deptford High Street renown. Hosting medicine making workshops, monthly shared meals and conversations with local residents, Beinart seeks to question the wider issues surrounding land use/regeneration and departure of plant knowledge amongst urban communities.
Travelling down to the South of the borough, local digital artist duo, Close and Remote, will be taking to the air, water and land on an expedition to offer a new perspective of Riverpool Linear and Bellingham Play Park. Through a series of events, participants will use radio controlled smart technologies, miniature cameras and binaural microphones to capture different vantage points of the River Pool and Ravensbourne. Utilising GPS technology and the captured film footage, they will develop a free mobile app that will lead visitors off the beaten track, to discover the unique soundscape of this ecologically rich park.
Later in the year, two permanent artworks will be developed for Cornmill Gardens and Ladywell Fields, launching in March 2014. Working in consultation with local residents and park users to shape the nature of these interventions, the works will draw upon the unique characteristics of each site.
Emma Underhill, Director, UP Projects said:
“We are really pleased to have the opportunity to take the Secret Garden Project to Lewisham and work in a series of fascinating green spaces that will provide a rich context for artists to respond to both in terms of local heritage and also ecological value. The four commissions that we are developing for Lewisham will be an exciting addition to the wider Secret Garden Project portfolio.”
Councillor Susan Wise, Cabinet Member for Customer Services at Lewisham Council, said: “We are very fortunate to have one of Inner London’s greenest boroughs and our parks are well loved and well used. The Secret Garden Project is a great idea and it should encourage even more people to discover Lewisham’s wonderful green spaces and to look at them from a different perspective.”
Secret Garden Project Lewisham is an UP Projects production, working in close partnership with Lewisham Borough Council, and is supported by the Arts Council England.
Full details of the commissions and associated events will be posted on the project website www.secretgardenproject.co.uk
Flying Ants - Day of reckoning
James Lesko: We knew then, that we were being changed... and made part of their world. We didn't know for what purpose... but we knew, we would be told.
- Phase IV
BC's flying ant eruption occurred last weekend, so we fear this might be a little late (or we have unusually precocious ants):
The Society of Biology is calling for records of flying ants to be submitted online at www.societyofbiology.org/flyingantsurvey Last year they received over 6,000 reports of flying ants and hope to beat this in 2013.
The 2012 flying ant survey unexpectedly revealed two flying ant days, but will this be the same in 2013? Professor Adam Hart from the University of Gloucestershire is part of the 2nd year of the flying ant survey.
He says: “Each summer flying ants erupt from the ground seemingly without warning, as new queens leave the nest to mate and found their own colonies. “They often emerge simultaneously over large parts of the country, and many people know this as ‘flying ant day’, but we wanted to find out whether there really is one single day.
Interestingly, in 2012 there were two main flying ant days, two weeks apart. But is this the same in other years?
Pictures and experiences can also be shared on Twitter using the hashtag #flyingantsurvey, and photos tagged ‘flyingantsurvey’ on Flickr will be uploaded to our Flickr group.
With thanks to Fabhat.
- Phase IV
BC's flying ant eruption occurred last weekend, so we fear this might be a little late (or we have unusually precocious ants):
The Society of Biology is calling for records of flying ants to be submitted online at www.societyofbiology.org/flyingantsurvey Last year they received over 6,000 reports of flying ants and hope to beat this in 2013.
The 2012 flying ant survey unexpectedly revealed two flying ant days, but will this be the same in 2013? Professor Adam Hart from the University of Gloucestershire is part of the 2nd year of the flying ant survey.
He says: “Each summer flying ants erupt from the ground seemingly without warning, as new queens leave the nest to mate and found their own colonies. “They often emerge simultaneously over large parts of the country, and many people know this as ‘flying ant day’, but we wanted to find out whether there really is one single day.
Interestingly, in 2012 there were two main flying ant days, two weeks apart. But is this the same in other years?
Pictures and experiences can also be shared on Twitter using the hashtag #flyingantsurvey, and photos tagged ‘flyingantsurvey’ on Flickr will be uploaded to our Flickr group.
With thanks to Fabhat.
Grow Wild 2: Grow Wilder
Armageddon vs Deep Impact. Dante's Peak vs Volcano. White House Down vs Olympus Has Fallen. Grow Wild New Cross vs Grow Wild UK.
Two gardening groups with the same name have very similar ideas about using flowers to green urban spaces, but very different levels of resources.
Grow Wild UK is offering to fund wild flower gardening projects of up to £100,000 (and more with fund matching). They say:
Grow Wild is an exciting four-year campaign to bring people together to sow UK native wild flowers.
We believe that we can transform where we live – bringing colour and surprise to our streets. By Growing Wild, we can turn our gardens and windowsills into wildlife-friendly wild flower patches.
Grow Wild is funded by the Big Lottery Fund and led by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew – and everyone is invited to join in.
You have until June 9th to apply for funding. Thanks to Isabella for the tip-off.
Meanwhile, Grow Wild New Cross is leading a relatively lo-fi project to flower bomb New Cross with 1,000 sunflowers. Their plans reach the critical point in June and they are asking for more volunteers. We've posted full details of their plans on the New Cross forum.
Two gardening groups with the same name have very similar ideas about using flowers to green urban spaces, but very different levels of resources.
Grow Wild UK is offering to fund wild flower gardening projects of up to £100,000 (and more with fund matching). They say:
Grow Wild is an exciting four-year campaign to bring people together to sow UK native wild flowers.
We believe that we can transform where we live – bringing colour and surprise to our streets. By Growing Wild, we can turn our gardens and windowsills into wildlife-friendly wild flower patches.
Grow Wild is funded by the Big Lottery Fund and led by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew – and everyone is invited to join in.
You have until June 9th to apply for funding. Thanks to Isabella for the tip-off.
Meanwhile, Grow Wild New Cross is leading a relatively lo-fi project to flower bomb New Cross with 1,000 sunflowers. Their plans reach the critical point in June and they are asking for more volunteers. We've posted full details of their plans on the New Cross forum.
Vegetable matter
Robin writes:
I was in Russell Square station today and noticed this striking TFL poster...
We've had a look for this project on the Volunteer Team website, but it seems no, you couldn't plant vegetables on Brockley Road: Either it's a hypoethetical example or it's extremely well hidden by their search engine. This is a good initiative, but it's a shame if someone inspired to volunteer locally can't work out how to do what's being advertised. There are, however, opportunities to volunteer with food charity FareShare, The Scouts or Brockley's Montage Theatre Arts.
If TfL and the Mayor of London are keen on vegetable growing on Brockley Road then there is a little corner of Brockley Road that could easily be turned in to a vegetable patch and flower garden. The disused entrance to the upper level of Brockley Station is currently fenced off and a little overgrown. Handing that spot over to the community and allowing people to install planters could created a nice little green space in place of one of Brockley’s ugliest spots.
I was in Russell Square station today and noticed this striking TFL poster...
If TfL and the Mayor of London are keen on vegetable growing on Brockley Road then there is a little corner of Brockley Road that could easily be turned in to a vegetable patch and flower garden. The disused entrance to the upper level of Brockley Station is currently fenced off and a little overgrown. Handing that spot over to the community and allowing people to install planters could created a nice little green space in place of one of Brockley’s ugliest spots.
I'll eat the high road
From Saturday 18 May Forest Hill and Honor Oak will be transformed into an urban orchard for three weeks.
The event is called the Edible High Road; shops and businesses are hosting fruit trees to celebrate urban orchards: 50 Forest Hill and Honor Oak businesses are hosting 70+ trees including The Horniman Museum, Sainsbury's, Canvas and Cream, Stag and Bow, Hills and Parkes and Le Querce - plus every pub in Forest Hill!
The Big Launch: Matthew Wilson - Channel Four's 'Landscape Man' and Gardener's Question Time panelist will be cutting our ribbon at 2pm on Saturday 18 May on Forest Hill Station.
Common Growth workshops for May
Loads of you got in touch with community gardening project Common Growth last time we ran a feature about them, so here are the latest initiatives which you're invited to join. Anniek writes:
Now Spring’s finally here, things have been moving apace in the Common Growth Community Garden. The greenhouse is full of seedlings and a row of various fruit trees and bushes is now proudly lined up against the back wall. Both are thanks to the last two workshops where people learned and shared tips about growing.
The next workshops is next Saturday the 11th of May from 10.30-12.30, Gardening Workshop in New Cross: Weeds and their uses
Also coming up on Wednesday the 29th of May is a children's event called "Amazing and helpful bugs", which is a fun workshop for children of all ages! This workshop is on Wednesday during the school holidays, from 10.30-12.00, and will involve fun learning activities, games and singing.
If you would like to attend any of the courses, or like more information, then please text Rich on 07901 360321 or email commongrowthuk@gmail.com
Now Spring’s finally here, things have been moving apace in the Common Growth Community Garden. The greenhouse is full of seedlings and a row of various fruit trees and bushes is now proudly lined up against the back wall. Both are thanks to the last two workshops where people learned and shared tips about growing.
The next workshops is next Saturday the 11th of May from 10.30-12.30, Gardening Workshop in New Cross: Weeds and their uses
Also coming up on Wednesday the 29th of May is a children's event called "Amazing and helpful bugs", which is a fun workshop for children of all ages! This workshop is on Wednesday during the school holidays, from 10.30-12.00, and will involve fun learning activities, games and singing.
If you would like to attend any of the courses, or like more information, then please text Rich on 07901 360321 or email commongrowthuk@gmail.com
Sunflower bomb New Cross
One thousand sunflowers and nectar rich flowers coming to your New Cross High Street and other unusual localities this summer!
Help us create much needed forage sites for local bees by lending a hand at a planting day, growing some sunflowers at home, or assisting with site care or watering. Helping hands needed this Saturday 20th April from 1-3:30pm to prepare the ground for planting our sunflowers.
Pick up a fork and join the crew on the corner of St James and New Cross Roads (Next to the Cowbins)
All tools and equipment provided. See you there! There will also be a variety of related events throughout the summer so keep an eye out for activities happening soon!
To find out more about how we’re transforming this urban landscape into an extraordinary bee-friendly environment see the Grow Wild website.
Free gardening courses in Telegraph Hill
Common Growth has teamed up with Grow Wild to offer a further series of permaculture workshops at the garden on Sandbourne Road (Telegraph Hill, SE4 2NS) this year. The workshops will cover a variety of topics, and some will be specifically aimed at kids, so there’s something for everyone.
If you would like to attend any of the courses, or like more information, then please text Rich on 07901 360321 or email commongrowthuk@gmail.com giving the name of attendees and a contact telephone number.
Sat 13 April 10.30 - 12.30 Get sowing and growing!
~ Propagation by sowing seed, conditions required
~ Benefits and problems with growing in greenhouse/ indoors as opposed to direct sowing
~ Hardening off before planting outside
~ Practical activity: seed sowing in pots, trays and modules, pricking out and potting on
Sat 20 April 10.30 - 12.30 Growing fruit in containers
~ How to grow fruit in containers
~ Things to consider such as site, root stock, container size
~ Pollinators, pruning and maintenance.
~ Practical activity: planting of canes and trees.
Sat 11 May 10.30 - 12.30 Pond planting
~ Wildlife gardening
~ Benefits of habitat creation for the garden, vegetable growing and community
~ Planting in the pond and around its margins
Places will be allocated on a first come first served basis. All courses are free, but we suggest a £3 voluntary donation to help cover the costs of materials.
Also, don’t forget that the garden is open on Sunday afternoons from 2.00pm to 5.00pm, where you’ll often be rewarded for a spot of garden work with a bowl of fresh warm soup!
Que? The Winged Serpent
William writes:
Any other sightings of a huge heron/crane-like bird in Brockley? I just saw the most enormous bird by my neighbour's pond. This is the only photo i managed to get before it flew away.
Are these guys regular visitors to Brockley?
Breakspears Mews Community Garden Project: Soup and Enthusiasm needed
Clare Cowen from BrocSoc writes:
We are getting a stage nearer to creating Breakspears Mews Community Garden! The rubbish will finally be cleared next week -- so we need serious help on Saturday and Sunday 9 and 10 March from "builders" and DIY enthusiasts with hard landscaping and filling the raised beds with soil.
