Penge Green Gym continues to be active every Wednesday from 11am-2pm working to improve and maintain Winsford Gardens. Arguably we are busier in the Autumn than over the summer. Here is a summary of our recent activities and plans for the future.
Using Leaves
As gardeners we have a bit of an obsession with muck! Earlier this autumn we wheel-barrowed one year-old leaf mould onto the beds and borders across the garden. We have noticed a massive improvement in soil health over the years from adding this organic matter. Every week we sweep and collect more leaves helping to keep the paths clean and safe.
Repairing raised beds
Several of our raised beds have begun to crumble. To address this, we’ve been sourcing new sleepers to replace the damaged ones in both our growing area and other parts of the garden. Raised beds are essential for growing plants that might otherwise struggle in our heavy clay soil. Many of the structures around the garden, including benches and signposts, are also maintained by volunteers in the most environmentally way plausible. With leftover wood we are making a new sign explaining the wildflower meadow.
Investing for Spring
We have begun planting many more spring bulbs around the garden as well as planting out seedlings that started in the growing area. Most of the daffodils are in the ground and will continue with tulips, hopefully finished before the ground freezes. We have lots of hedges and shrubs around the garden that are loved by wild life but need pruning back. Despite mulching and using ground covers you cannot escape unwelcome weeds and now is a good time to get as much of the roots out as possible.
A moments pause...
The garden is looking particularly beautiful at the moment. If you have a few minutes to spare or need a restorative break, why not visit and see what’s growing?
When I last visited a flock of coal tits was picking insects off the fruit trees as they started to drop their leaves.
As well as the deep reds and autumn yellows, there are more subtle flowers like these autumn crocuses below and other shrubs.
Looking forward
We have several exciting projects planned for 2024/25, which we are currently discussing with our partners. These include the installation of bike racks and other enhancements to the garden.
Interested in joining in?
If you’re free on Wednesdays from 11am to 2pm and would like to volunteer, we’d love to have you join us! No gardening experience is necessary—there are tasks to suit a range of interests and abilities. Just get in touch or pop along to see us!
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