Gardening in May We are now at the point of almost maximum effort in the gardening year so rather than focus on just one task here is a short list of things to do. Continue with grass cutting, lowering the cut until at the right height; if you suffer from a lot of moss or weeds keep the grass longer in order reduce their viability. Trim the lawn edge frequently with a D shaped cutter for good definition. Bedding plants will probably be ready to plant out towards the end of the month. In the meantime keep them protected during their hardening off period. Perennials, annuals and bulbs can be planted this month. Again don’t be tempted to put out warmer weather crops such as tomatoes, peppers, squashes and cucumbers until mid month. You need to be careful of that late frost! But most popular vegetable crops, carrots, lettuce, potatoes, beans and peas can be seeded and planted in to the ground any time now. Hedges and borders need to be trimmed and tidied. Apply a good mulch of compost, well rotted manure and bark to retain moisture , feed and suppress weeds. Before attacking the hedge check for nesting birds. Remember wherever they grow weeds are a nuisance and are best kept at bay now by regular hoeing. Avoid letting weeds go to seed. As everything grows apace remember to keep up with pruning, shaping, de-budding and trimming and support rapid growth with light applications of good fertilizers and staking where necessary. There will now be plenty of materials for composting: keep the heap moist, apply accelerators and keep turning. Stuart Williams
Cherry Fair Saturday 25th June, 2011 In front of Bewdley Town Hall Civic Society gazebo. 2pm until 4.30 pm Bring a few cherries of any varieties available to show what is growing locally. The early varieties should be ripe. Handle carefully to avoid bruising. To beat the birds pick early and fruits will ripen afterwards. It is hoped to display named varieties for comparison with new and unnamed discoveries to find old and local varieties. A Second Cherry Fair - for the later varieties Sunday17th July Bewdley Museum, 10.30 – 4.30 Coinciding with the Museum Craft Fair. As above bring any cherry varieties for identification (if possible). The above events are an attempt to revive the traditional Cherry Fair in Bewdley. A fair was set up with the Edward IV Charter of 1472. There is no mention of cherries in the charter, but the date, St. Anne’s Day, July 26th, is the nearest of the ancient fair days to the cherry season. So this date seems to have become a Cherry Fair, when or how we do not know, probably in the 19th century.