Hillside Allotments

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Reclaiming Plot 38A into a useful, productive allotment.

The Story So Far

August 2020.

Introduction

Whilst Plot 38A had been dormant for several seasons, grass had been allowed to grow and brambles had spread putting down roots wherever it’s branches met with the ground. Being that it was late summer the coming autumn and winter months were seen as a good opportunity to have the plot ready for planting by the spring of 2021.

About one-third of the plot had at some time been covered with a black plastic sheet, this had halted much weed growth but where there were holes in the sheet large tufts of grass had grown and some brambles were also appearing through the sheet.

From previous trials on other plots a ‘No Dig’ approach was considered the best method to reclaim the area into a healthy productive plot. Basically this means reducing grass levels to an absolute minimum and removing any plant material that will not be needed in future. Other than for the removal of bramble roots a spade was not used. Systematically the plot was covered in cardboard then covered with spent hops, this was to inhibit further weed growth and encourage worm activity. All grass cuttings and any soft green waste was saved to form a compost heap, in turn the organic matter this would produce would then be used to create vegetable beds.

Our first task was to partially reduce the grass level to expose any unwanted debris, bricks, timber etc. It also identified where brambles had put down roots ready for removal. Any other perennial weeds and grass tufts were also removed. Bramble cuttings were removed from the plot to the local recycling centre.

Allowing time to collect covering materials the plot was worked in sections of about 10ft. This allowed for progress to be made ensuring that any remaining grass was now strimmed to ground level.

Our new ground cover was to be an initial layer of cardboard, used bike boxes from cycle shops are ideal and usually free of charge. Cut on one corner and laid flat each one covers an area of almost 10x4ft. On average, laid side by side four boxes were needed to cover each width of the plot we were working on. An opportunity was taken that a local brewery had an abundant supply of spent hops that were free to collect, these were used as an additional mulch over the cardboard.

Primarily, the cardboard does the work as a light obliterating membrane and usually lasts for up to three months, the hops help serve to protect the cardboard from the weather. As the cardboard begins to disintegrate the hops continue to supress any weed growth and feed the soil underneath.

About every 10 to 14 days throughout the weeks ahead the only work to be done will be an inspection for any weed growth which will be hoed off and a rake over of the plot to keep the hops aeriated.

NOTE: It is appreciated that anyone undertaking a similar plot clearance such as this may not have access to a supply of spent hops. In which case any green waste material could be used as an alternative cover.

12 August 2020

30 December 2020

It had been estimated that Plot 38A had not been worked for at least five years.

The left-hand picture above taken in mid August 2020 shows it’s overgrown state. Beyond the long grass brambles are growing in various places.

The right-hand picture shows the year end progress with broad bean seeds sown during late November in the thermal net tunnel.

The first phase is to clear the area by strimming grass and removing any heavy unwanted plants such as brambles along with timber, stones and bricks, disposing of everything to the local Council Recycling Centre.

A close up view of the task ahead

And a reverse angle photo of the picture above

A week later some progress had been made

Looking better, the front verge has been removed and levelled to be re-seeded soon.

But sadly it was discovered that the water butt which had been on the plot for many a year had a large split under the tap and there was no option but to scrap it along with the bags of bramble cuttings, timber and rubbish behind it.

Looking down the plot a line has been added to define the footpath on the left-hand side.

z A natural barrier was needed for the boundary with the lower plot no.39B. The cardboard sheets are old (free) bike boxes from a local cycle shop. One and a half have been used in the picture covering an area 4ft wide x 15ft.

Spent hops are collected from local breweries which they dispose of free of charge. Whilst it is the cardboard that acts as a light obliterating membrane, a liberal layer of hops are to be spread over the cardboard as shown on the next page.

A covering of 2 – 3 inches of hops have been spread over the cardboard from the previous page, about 150 litres in total.

From this the next section of the plot is ready for covering, this is where an open compost area will be created.

Here all soft green waste that has been cut from the plot will be spread. Initially, a layer of thin corrugated cardboard was laid on the area of where the compost pile will be and was saturated with water.

This thin membrane will attract brandling (red) worms as a start of the composting process and they’ll be ready to move into the next layers of green waste as they are added.

Most of the grass and any weeds removed from the first clearance of the plot have been laid as a basis of the compost pile. Also included were some garden cuttings, coffee grounds and about 80L of hops. During the winter months ahead more of the same and cardboard will be added until the pile is between 2 and 3 feet high.

Continuing from the compost pile more cardboard has been laid, our bike boxes have been cut on one corner then opened out. Four boxes have been used in the picture above, each box covers a massive 40 square feet. Covering the cardboard took about another 350 litres of hops.

Mid October Covering has almost reached it’s final stage.

A second compost pile has been started.

See next page‌

It was discovered the last section nearest the camera on the previous page, though not evident in the picture had several dips which needed filling.

Options were to buy-in a large quantity of top soil or similar such as mushroom compost at cost to increase the level. The alternative and much cheaper was to make our own organic matter.

Though not initially planned, a second compost pile was started which will continually be added to during the weeks ahead. Comprising of any green waste including, grass cuttings spent hops, coffee grounds, fallen leaves, straw and cardboard.

The ‘Dalek’ bin has also been used and is filling with smaller items such as any kitchen waste, ie peelings etc.

The compost from this will be used to fill a much larger hole where it stands.

To be continued‌

About six weeks have passed since strimming the first level of grass and beginning to remove the brambles. The final layer of hops have been laid and spare cardboard can be seen partially covering the compost heap in front of the blue bin. The re-seeded front verge as seen on page 7 has now established.

November 2020

The month had been wet and the hops were saturated making it difficult for any work. However, it was decided to try sowing a bed of over wintering Broad Bean seeds.

An area, 4ft wide by almost full width of the plot just above midway was selected. Hops were raked back to the underlying cardboard with the excess placed on the nearby compost pile.

Temporary sides of the bed were added using 4x1inch timber, held upright with pegs, then three barrowloads of homemade compost were added and spread evenly.

After spreading our compost the wooden sides were removed then using a dibber, holes were made through the compost directly into the underlying soil for the seed then lightly raked over.

The whole bed was covered by a tunnel of thermal net for protection of the germinating seeds against birds and excess wind and rain.

December 2020 The month continued to be mainly wet with a few dry days which allowed the hops to be raked for aeriation. In doing this it became noticeable that the cardboard membrane was beginning to decompose.

It was decided, because fruit bushes were needed to be planted into the lower half of the plot where the first compost pile was created as in page 11 this organic matter was transferred to the heap near the top of the plot .

Plot on 30 December 2020

18 January 2021 During the last few days a layer of lightweight corrugated cardboard (collected free of charge from a nearby picture framers) was laid over the compost pile and covered with compostable matter consisting of green kitchen waste, coffee grounds, leaves from last autumn, straw and even potato peel from a fish and chip shop.

Neighbouring plot holders recently helped with a charity Christmas tree collection which were shredded on site, some of this chipped material will also be added sparingly to our compost pile.

The broad bean seeds in the net tunnel have germinated and just started to break through the surface of the compost.

As in December, the hops were raked for aeriation, whilst doing so there was no noticeable weed growth on the plot.

25th January 2021 – A look inside the thermal net tunnel.

12 weeks after sowing broad bean seeds in the tunnel the seedlings have started to emerge.

Throughout their germination the plot has endured periods of heavy rain, high winds, frost and snow.

The protective thermal net has certainly proved to be advantageous. Seedlings from another sowing over a week earlier of the same batch of seeds on a nearby plot are not so well advanced.

All enquiries please email theallotmentshed@gmail.com Copyright Ron Heath 2021