Welcome to the SRT blog No. 86
28th January 2022 – Welcome to our blog post No. 86
Wow, that month went quickly – it’s February next week already!
All the sites have been getting ready for the RSPB Big Birdwatch -. There is still time to sign up and take part. Here’s the link.
Take part | Big Garden Birdwatch 2022 – The RSPB
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At the Activity Centre, Jacob continued with the pruning of the espalier apple trees, started last week.
Paul has been making lunch and Clare is looking after the bubbling jam, as it thickens.
Luka, Annette and Michael H in the fruit area, winter pruning the fruit bushes and tidying up.
Michael S also working in this area.
Another team, another day….. tidying the dead leaves from the strawberry plants in the polytunnel and also pruning the blackcurrant bushes so they make a nice open fan shape.
Noreen, Becca and Adhar.
Tim and Simon weeding on an outside contract.
Making fat balls for the birds using collected fir cones.
Tim & Jacob on the market stall – eggs all sold out by the looks of it.
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This week it was Burns Night (Tuesday) so Hemel Food Garden had a lunch of traditional haggis, neeps and tatties.
The bakery team produced a variety of shortbreads to sell in the café to also celebrate Burns Night. Lemon flavour, plain, and chocolate dipped. Which would be your favourite?
Just started propagating.
Orange team potting up some houseplant cuttings
Bug hotel building in progress
Superb teamwork cleaning HFGs tools whilst enjoying the sunshine.
The benches have been having a make over and the orange team were finishing them off with a layer or two of varnish.
Joe brought his camera in to take some pictures of the birds on site – more to follow after the Big Birdwatch weekend coming up.
And Jodie was practicing with the binoculars ready for Fridays bird watch day.
More homemade fat balls for the birds have been distributed around site – they get bigger each week but go quickly!
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Northchurch’s big project to convert the bottom bubble green house into a veg sale area is well under way. They are really excited about this and more will be revealed about what this means.
The work has included raking over the exposed and weeded ground to remove as many stones as possible and to level and flatten it out.
Then the black mypex, weed control membrane was lain and the green matting will be added on top. Coming together nicely.
Annette, one of Northchurches regular veg box customers over the last few years, has been helping out on the volunteer work party days – here, pruning the apple trees. She really enjoyed herself! Thanks Annette!
The chickens love their newly painted sheds – they are laying eggs galore! ready for sale in our farm shops.
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Until next week