Dear friend,
August 8-14th is National Allotments Week, with the theme this year being ‘Bugs, Bees and Brocolli’ – acknowledging the importance of gardening with nature in mind. If you have an allotment and would like to contribute to a citizen science project with Buglife, you can find surveys here for adults, and for children aged 2-12.August is also the season of harvest, and in July we’ve donated 23.6kg of fresh fruit and veg to local foodbanks and cafes, with the help of our fantastic volunteers. If you have a plot on St Ann’s Allotment and would like to donate some of your glut, you can find out more and get involved here.
We wish you a fun and relaxing Summer holiday.
PS. If you’d like to receive news like this in your inbox each month, join our mailing list here.
On the Orchard
Summer holidays: Family sessions, Every Thursday from 28 July, 10:30-12:30Summer holidays: Adventure Play, Every Thursday from 28 July, 13:30-15:00Play, Grow & Eat, Wednesdays 10th & 17th August 11:00-14:00Community Open Day, Saturday 20 August, 12:00-15:00
Volunteering
Volunteering continues as usual, with so much to help with at this busy time of year!
Tuesdays at the Nursery, 10:00-14:00Digging, sowing, pruning, clearing, building, watering, harvesting! All things food and flower focused for a productive garden.
Wednesdays at Oliver’s, 10:00-14:00Help maintain a beautiful display garden for visitors to enjoy, and promote its heritage features.
Volunteer induction, 10:00-12:00 on Wed 3rd AugustThis is an introductory session for anyone interested in volunteering at STAA. Receive a tour of our projects to find out what you might be interested in, and an opportunity to meet people and ask questions.
Wildflower meadow management, 10:00-14:00 on Sat 13th AugustJoin us on Urban Nature to support one of the most important tasks of the year – looking after the wildflower meadows. This involves cutting and raking the grassland, and follows a traditional conservation management technique. We will also spend time looking at the wildflowers for any notable species.
Suitable for all abilities and levels of experience, tools provided. Just dress for the weather! 🌦️
If you have any questions about volunteering, please contact Lucy at volunteering@staa-allotments.org.uk or visit our website.
Guided heritage tours
We run guided tours on the second Saturday and last Wednesday of each month around St Ann’s Allotments – the oldest and largest Victorian detached pleasure gardens in the world. Learn more about its 700-year history and its previous tenants, as well as explore some of the beautiful gardens and ancient hedgerows.
Mr Oliver’s family BBQ
Many of you will know that we affectionately call our heritage display garden “Oliver’s”, after Tom Oliver who was the last tenant there. It is with great pleasure that we’re still in touch with some of his family and were able to host a get-together and BBQ on his plot for them.
“STAA was delighted to join with the Oliver family to celebrate the life of Tom Oliver and his garden. I heard so many stories from his children and grandchildren, nephews and nieces of the fun times they spent on the garden with Tom and how this garden was such a central part of family life. Other plot holders who gardened alongside Tom were also able to join us and shared their memories too. It was a wonderful event, full of love, community and celebration – and a strong reminder of the attachments we can form with gardens and outdoor spaces.” — Jo Lees, CEO
