| Archive for Downsizer For an ethical approach to consumption |
| Mrs Fiddlesticks |
wildlife friendly plot area - ideas neededOur bees are now situated in new square plot on the allotment and we've had the idea ( backed by other plot holders) of using the space as a wildlife area rather than crops.Its 10poles - so that's about, dunno, 30ft x30ft ish with flat rough grass at the moment only. On one side its flanked by a high bank of nettles which we intend to leave for butterflies etc. There is a gooseberry bush and a bit of rhubarb in one corner. Its been fenced off with wire net and post. We aim to get about 4-5 hives in the area max we think between us all. But what else should we put in there to encourage biodiversity without being hazardous to us beekeepers. A small pond is a given, which will fit in one corner and we're on the look out for shrubs, and hedging plants in the autumn, to clothe the fence and provide shelter and screening. What sort of plants would you add? what else? |
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| bernie-woman |
I would plant native wildflowers but if you have a plethora of nettles you may need to strim off the top soil first to get soil poor enough for them to thrive - alternatively you could just spot plant some plugs of flowers which may have more of a fighting chance
A good site for seeds and plants is here I would definitely put in a native hedge if you have the room - they are one of the best things for wildlife and also a log pile for all sorts of invertebrates 
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| Mrs Fiddlesticks |
thanx Bernie-Woman I've ordered a catalogue, like the look of the trays of wildflower plants.
Just realised I've a picture of the plot - hang on 
bit tussocky isn't it? The nettles are to the right of the picture and the gooseberry is in the far righthand corner. As you can see other than that its just grassy and probably couch grass at that. Don't want to make us beekeepers trip up though or end up in a pond or something.. 
Someone else said that as they'd discovered a newt under a stone on their plot maybe we should put something to encourage them? Don't know anything about newts (other than they're protected and untouchable) |
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| Chez |
Have you looked in Ted Hooper at the section on 'bee friendly plants'? | ||
| bernie-woman |
Lovely plot
Are the trees beyond the fence yours too? My hands are itching to plant a native hedge where the fence is  (just think of all the future hedge laying possibilities )
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| lettucewoman |
I think you are lucky to have an unused plot! We have been on the local allotment list for 4 years 
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| Mrs Fiddlesticks |
its the photo behind the fence is a slightly more 'rustic' plot barely tended then there is a low stone wall and then the lane so those trees are the other side of the road on the verge opposite. If you mean the very high looking bit amongst the nettle bank then I think that's a stray elder which is staying. The nettle/weed bank is about 6ft wide and it shelters the whole area from the car park of the site - if you can call a grassy and stony bit of old ground with room for 4 cars on it a car park.
LW - there are a handful of free plots on here although they're the most 'challenging' ones. One I can think of is full of 5ft nettles and raspberry canes... Its all run by the parish council and the site has had allotments on it for nearly 100 years. It is a lovely area, really is. |
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| Mrs Fiddlesticks |
we have plans to look around in the autumn for bare rooted things to do just that. |
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| vegplot |
Don't forget to make provisions for insect diversification. Beetles piles are easy to make (just pile of some twigs and sticks in a corner somewhere) | ||
| Slim |
Toss some logs in a corner to rot slowly, maybe underneath your pile of twigs for the beetles?
Maybe a buddleia? |
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| cab |
I like having an overgrown soft fruit area; I think that longer grass and weeds mask the presence of redcurrants and suchlike, and having a pond in there for frogs gives them shade and protection. | ||
| Mrs Fiddlesticks |
agree with you there. We've been picking strawberries for a couple of weeks and have had about 10lb, in part I'm sure because the grass around the strawberries masks where they are. There is minimal netting needed as well - and everytime we go up the plot we have to nip over to someone elses plot and free some poor blackbird or other from neighbours elaborate fruit cage affairs |
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| dpack |
shroom logs and frass heap | ||
| sean |
Sorry, is 'frass' a typo for 'grass' or a word I don't know? | ||
| dpack |
frass is the ex alive bits n bobs one can put in a heap | ||
| sean |
Thanks. | ||
| TAVASCAROW |
Native honeysuckle to climb through the fence & your hedge.
Native berry bearing trees. A few flat stones or paving slabs for the frogs, toads, newts & slow worms to hide under & the ants nests that they like to feed on. A bird table. Nesting boxes. Bundle of short pieces of bamboo for bumble bees to nest in. Pile of twigs & leaves for hedgehogs to hibernate under. Sunflowers for the bees & the birds.
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