The year has started well for our group of intrepid gardeners! The greenhouse has been spring cleaned and put into a semblance of order. Seed trays and pots have been washed to prevent transference of bugs and bacteria from lastGardening season.

Joe Firman has led a small team and dug over the raised beds in our allotment area. Once we have given them a good dose of soil improver, they will be ready for planting in March/April. As soon as the weather has dried up a bit we will turn over our compost heaps, and check on our bags of leaf mould.

The geraniums given to us last year by ‘Halstead In Bloom’, are covered in bushy leaves! Are we green fingered or what? In the greenhouse we have planted garlic in pots and are chitting potatoes in egg boxes. The potatoes will be grown in big plastic recycling boxes (donated to us), and we are trying Duke of York red and white first earlies varities.

We look forward to re-commissioning the polytunnel, and filling it with plants in April/May time. Once more, new members are always welcome. Astronaut Tim Peake is currently looking after our Rocket seeds at the International Space Station. They will be parachuted to us after Easter for us to plant and observe. - Mr S Pittuck