Welcome to the SRT blog No. 76

12th November 2021 – Welcome to our blog post No. 76

Working at RHS Wisley. A team from Hemel Food Garden went to Wisley to help plant up the perennials we grew for Tom Stuart-Smiths, RHS Iconic Horticultural Garden for the RHS Hampton Court Garden Festival earlier in the year. They have been sited in front of the bicentenary glasshouse garden to rejuvenate this area, last designed 15 years ago. Followed by a tour of the glasshouse with all its lovely lush plantings and to see the amazing colours at this time of year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Northchurch have been hard at work sanding and painting wood for their seed and plant labels made from hazel in our coppice. Great work from Hollie and Ellie.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chloe making plant labels as part of the Christmas gift range.

 

 

 

Work continues on the ‘eco caravan’, working very hard to get all pieces measured and cut to the right size.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chard growing in the no dig bed and the broad beans are poking their noses through, already.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Harvesting wonderful beets from the poly tunnel.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

James’ popping in some new plants  into the front office bed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Pumpkin and veg soup making underway last week, as Hemel Food Garden celebrated Bonfire night and burnt their guys.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Everyone joined in with the Guy making

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spot the 2 interlopers on the scene.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They didn’t stay around too long….

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Team orange were out doing a new litter pick route in the old town, in Hemel.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sprucing up the outside café space with winter plantings.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As part of the well-being group sessions, the team have been making vegetable lasagne for everyone. Seasonal veg was used from the homegrown produce in the allotment at Hemel.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tyler & Mike were out in Sarratt at the community allotments, helping for the day to get their hedges cut and trimmed for winter. Flo was over the moon to have the help and kept them supplied with yummy cake!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3 more raised beds were transported by lift up onto the platform at Hemel Hempstead station and planted up. Everything had to be manhandled up there with a member of staff chaperoning everyone. Good job it wasn’t during rush hour. These followed the ones that were placed outside the station the other week.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mark strimming at one of the Mencap garden contracts in Watford…..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And the rest of the team planting up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alex was seed sowing with quality control from the not so feral, ‘feral cat’!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hemel Food Garden as you have never seen it before – threw a drones eyes high above the site

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The first Activity Centre litter pick around Berkhamsted last week. Ian went with Luka, Noreen & Adhar walking 10km in total, covering the canal towpath from Ivy House Lane to Billet Lane, up Northbridge Road, through Butt’s Meadow allotments, along Station Road and back along the High Street.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Luka, Adhar and Suvi on the market stall this week from the Activity Centre. Spot the first of the Sunnyside made Christmas gifts.

 

 

 

 

 

James, Kwasi, Becca and Simon digging around the lavender to clear the weeds, with Anne, one of the Activity Centre volunteers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Becca, Kwasi, Anne and Simon clearing side branches off a birch log. These may become the antlers for the wooden reindeer, made at this time of year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Riz and Sophia sweeping leaves – a never ending job at this time of year!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jacob lying in a comfy bed of leaves after working hard all day!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Riz, Ian Noreen and Luka moving furniture back into the new woodshed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clare and Paul making Christmas puddings.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christmas decoration making with Sophia, Michael and Annette – gnome making ready for the market stall yesterday.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Pumpkin shots from Northchurch

 

Until next week…..