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Foxy Business
Foxy Business
September 2025
There’s nothing quite like ending a day at the allotment with a little unexpected company. After a busy afternoon harvesting and tidying, one of our regular fox visitors dashed in for a play, full of energy and zoomies, leaping between the beds as if the garden was its own playground.
While foxes often divide opinion, they can actually be wonderful neighbours. They help keep rodent numbers down, clear up scraps, and play their part in a balanced ecosystem. For me, it’s a reminder that a healthy garden isn’t just about plants, it’s about sharing the space with the wildlife that belongs there too.
Watching this cheeky visitor enjoying itself was a small reward after a day’s work and a lovely reminder of why sustainable, wildlife-friendly gardening matters.
Putting Down Roots!
Putting Down Roots!
September 2025
Using rooting powder made such a difference – the salvia cuttings are strong, healthy, and ready to grow on. A simple step for great results in the garden.
It’s always a little nerve-wracking leaving new cuttings while on holiday, but these came through brilliantly. Strong root systems mean healthier plants that are far more likely to thrive once planted out. I’ll be potting these on soon so they can establish before the cooler months set in.
Tip: if you’ve never tried taking cuttings, salvia is a great plant to start with – easy to root, rewarding to grow, and full of colour.
Squashes Galore!
Squashes Galore!
August 2025
These beauties thrived over summer and are now ready for harvesting. Squash are not only great for storage but also a reminder of how rewarding it is to grow your own food.
Favourite uses: soups, roasting, or simply baking them whole.
The Wild Wist...eria
The Wild Wist...eria
July 2025
Today’s task was tackling a wild old wisteria growing through a prickly huge pyracantha and two neighbouring large trees plus an abundance of holly lower down!
It was a real jungle tangle, but with careful pruning the wisteria can now flourish without smothering the other plants.
Lesson learned: tackling vigorous climbers early makes the job far easier in the long run.
Dahlia in Waiting
Dahlia in Waiting
August 2025
The dahlia is nearly there – just about to burst into bloom. Always worth the wait for such vibrant late-summer colour!
Dragonfly Visitor
Dragonfly Visitor
July 2025
Even the smallest pond can be a magnet for wildlife. While tidying the garden yesterday, I spotted this stunning female brown hawker dragonfly resting on the ivy, a real treat to see up close.
Brassica Battle
Brassica Battle
July 2025
A sunny morning spent checking over the brassicas, which have been very popular with caterpillars this year! A few cauliflowers have become their staging post, but that’s all part of sharing the garden with nature.
Caterpillars may nibble their way through leaves, but they’re also an important food source for garden birds, so a few losses are never wasted. Hand-picking is often the simplest way to keep numbers under control without chemicals, and covering plants with fine mesh can also help reduce damage.
Tip: If your brassicas are being munched, try planting nasturtiums nearby, caterpillars love them and will often leave your crops alone for the more tempting feast.
Busy Bees
Busy Bees
July 2025
Bees love gardens and gardens need bees! Watching them at work is always a reminder of how vital pollinators are to healthy plants and good harvests.
Tip: plant single, open flowers such as lavender, cosmos, or borage to give pollinators easy access. Skip the pesticides and let a few herbs flower – your garden will soon be buzzing with life.
Compost in Action
Compost in Action
June 2025
Plenty of fresh green matter added to the compost heap yesterday. It may look like a pile of waste now, but microbes and worms will soon work their magic, breaking it down into rich, crumbly compost.
Nothing beats home-made compost for feeding the soil and keeping the garden thriving season after season.
Tip: Balance is key, aim for a mix of “greens” (kitchen peelings, grass cuttings, fresh prunings) and “browns” (cardboard, straw, dried leaves). Too much green makes compost soggy, while too much brown slows it down. A good mix keeps everything breaking down quickly and without smell.
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