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Cricket Club Speedwatch Pre-School News Team Update News
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One-Place Study
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Welcome to Issue 2 of The Ellingham Pump! The past two months seem to have flown by since the relaunch of the Pump. We are keen to thank everyone for their support and the kind comments we have received. Particular thanks must go to those people who showed true community spirit by offering to and delivering hundreds of magazines. And speaking of community spirit… wow! What an amazing Great Ellingham Teddy Bear Festival this year. The team hosted an array of wonderful events, and villagers, new and old, created some impressive bears for both locals and visitors to enjoy. The marvellous amount of money raised is testament to the hard work and dedication of all involved. After what seems like endless heatwaves and a lack of rain, we are looking forward to the cooler months and the option to use our hosepipes again! Enjoy Issue 2 of the relaunched Ellingham Pump. See you again in November for Issue 3! The Ellingham Pump Team
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Community Contact Details Allotment Society Astronomical Society Baptist Church Chit Chat Cricket Club Green Fingers Garden Club Gt. Ellingham Flower club Gt. Ellingham One-Place Study Gt. Ellingham Rec Centre Lt. Ellingham Village Hall Parish Council (Clerk) 51 Pétanque Club Preschool Primary School Priest Associate Shellrock Scouts Sit and Stitch group Speedwatch Team The Crown Village Shop
Chris Arnold Dan Self Hugh Collier Ann Reeve Heather Musk Karen Rosebury Rachael Borenkova Heather Etteridge Sue Gent Sheila Hassock Elaine Tinsley Graham Beales Teresa Overson Sue Taylor Revd Tori Venmore-Rowland Sue Bisley Justine Davies Peter Joyce Will Mason Angela Crocker
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07795 510239 07734 364667 01953 453347 07733 211410 07795 007199 07990 522836 01953 888239 07342 983816 07810 582628 07887 553521 01379 644727 07770 587495 07443 562555 01953 453342 01953 573377 01953 456835 07976 924456 07794 182763 01953 797070 01953 452155
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Great Ellingham Chit Chat Group Location: Great Ellingham Recreation Centre, Watton Road Day & Time: Every Wednesday 10-12 Noon At the time of writing we are all looking forward to our Holt and Sheringham Trip on August 27th. When in Sheringham, some of us will be going to The Little Theatre, whilst others are booked to go on the train. However, some of the group are happy just to enjoy the seaside and, who knows, maybe paddle in the sea! Occasionally we have people calling in to chat to the group and on Sept 9th Amanda from the Red Cross is coming to demonstrate CPR and chat on emergency treatments when confronted with sudden hearts attacks, choking, strokes+. September 23rd, Geoff and Rachel will be coming to the Recreation Centre on their annual visit emphasising the importance of keeping a check on Blood Pressure; for those who wish to participate, they will take individuals’ BP. Looking ahead to October 7th we will be having our annual Cancer Charities Coffee Morning and will be grateful for any donations regarding bottles of anything for our Tombola Stall and bric a brac, books etc.
We are also taking names for the Cromer Christmas Show on December 10th It is inevitable with any group that illness and problems occur and I am pleased to emphasise that the Chit Chat Group prides itself on supporting each other through happy, difficult and sad times wherever possible. Anyone wishing to participate in any of the above events, then please do contact us or just turn up if you have half to spare and say Hello!
Please contact Ann Reeve on 07733 211410 for more details or email: annreeve2008@gmail.com
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51 Pétanque Club
The 51 Pétanque Club are delighted to be able to share our latest news and updates in this issue! Come and Try In July, whilst the Teddy Bear Fete was in full swing, 51PC hosted a “come and try” afternoon. This was very successful and as a result of this and other marketing, another 12 people have joined the club, taking our membership to over 100 for the first time, which is great news. The new members come from various locations, including Attleborough, Watton and Wymondham. Bastille Day Melee On 18th July we held our annual Bastille Day Intra Club competition. Around 30 members took part in this very enjoyable afternoon of friendly competition, accompanied by some delicious food and drink with a French flavour and lots of fun and laughter. Well done to Chris Watering who won the trophy this year! Junior Pétanque Pétanque is played by people of all ages in the UK and in many other European
countries. Over the coming months we are intending to start a Junior Pétanque Academy within the Club and to this end, we’ve secured a £500 grant from MAP (Mancroft Advice Project), which we are using to buy Junior Boules. More details will be published in the next edition of The Pump. Social Sessions - Timetable If you would like to give Pétanque a go, please feel free to come to one our social mornings. You’ll find us at the far end of the Great Ellingham Recreation Ground. The first session is free and, at this time of year, it’s only £10 to join until the next annual subscriptions are due in January. We have plenty of spare boules to play with. The sessions are: Mondays: 10.30am - 12 noon Wednesdays: 10.00am - 12.30pm Saturdays: 10.00am - 12.30pm Mandy Seabrook (Club Secretary) Contact Details: Graham Beales (Club Chairman): petanqueclub51@outlook.com Website: https://51petanque.co.uk Facebook: https://www.facebook. com/51petanqueclub
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New Home for Great Ellingham Pre-School Group You may have noticed building activity at the Methodist Church. This is because the church is partnering with the Pre-School Group to create a new future for young and old. The church is being regenerated to develop a new space for long-term rental that the Pre-School Group can call home and where they will welcome children from 2027. At the same time, the church will have access to the rear hall at weekends for any meetings or events that they wish to
hold. There will be new toilet facilities and a new servery for simple hospitality for both Pre-School and church. The exterior has already been smartened up and work is now going on in the interior. This is an exciting future for both church and Pre-School. Geraldine Allen from the Central Norfolk Methodist Circuit said, “We are delighted to be keeping a Methodist presence in Great Ellingham and to be contributing to the local community by welcoming the Pre-School.”
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Great Ellingham Cricket Club The 2026 season is nearing the end and has been another fantastic and incredibly busy summer, with numerous matches being played from our U9s through to senior and women’s teams. Our Saturday 1st XI has enjoyed a competitive, albeit tough, season in the Norfolk League Division 2 West, while the Sunday development XI continues to provide an important pathway into adult cricket for our younger players. A particular highlight of the season was seeing so many juniors stepping up, performing alongside our more experienced senior players. The standout achievement of 2026 came from our U15 side, who completed a perfect season with 10 wins from 10, finishing unbeaten league champions. Remarkably, this was their eighth consecutive league title, an outstanding achievement and a huge credit to everyone who has coached and supported the group over the years. We also saw our U13s win the mixed softball finals held at Manor Park. An impressive performance saw them as unbeaten champions too! Across the rest of our junior section there have been plenty of wins, close games and great individual performances. 12
It has been a pleasure to see the groups gel and hone their skills as the season progressed. We also hosted an U13 girls’ competition in collaboration with the Norfolk Cricket Foundation, furthering our connections in the Norfolk cricket community. The women have almost finished their debut year in the Hundred softball league and are on track to finish third in their group. A great achievement for their first time out! Although the outdoor season is ending, cricket doesn’t stop for long! Indoor cricket and winter training will get underway in the New Year as we start preparing for 2027. We’ve also been delighted with the support for our All Stars and Dynamos sessions. Look out for details early next year for the 2027 programmes if you have a young person aged 5-11 years old who is new to cricket. We are very proud to be able to offer training and competitive matches for
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everyone. Whatever your age, we have something for you! We’re always keen to welcome new members to the club, whether that’s seasoned players looking to get back into cricket, those who have never picked up a bat or volunteers who feel they have something to offer the club. Please contact us at greatellinghamcc@outlook.com or find out more on our social media channels.
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Great Ellingham (St. James) Scout Group Location: Great Ellingham Recreation Ground, Watton Road
Great Ellingham (St. James) Scout Group has been active in the village for over 47 years and continues to offer a full Scouting programme for all young people aged 4 to 17, with the option of wider Scouting until their 25th birthday as members of Scouting Network/ Leadership Team and beyond as members of the Leadership Team.
The Sections and Meetings of the Scout Group are:
The Scout Group meets in the Scout Hut on the Recreation field five nights a week and offers adventurous activities and camps away from the Scout Hut throughout the year.
Cubs: Age 8-10 ½ - Monday 18:00-19:30
We also offer the opportunity to participate in the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme and other Scouting Awards. We are always keen to welcome new adults to the Leadership Team delivering Scouting for young people, operating a flexible volunteering approach, to accommodate busy lifestyles. We also have a Board of Trustees supporting the Group ‘behind the scenes’. The Group runs weekly section meetings during term-time, breaking for school holidays.
Squirrels: Age 4-6 - Tuesday 16:30-17:30 Beavers: Age 6-8 - Wednesday 17:00-18:45
Scouts: Age 10 ½ -14 - Friday 19:30-21:00 Explorers: Age 14-17 - Thursday 19:00-20:30
For more information visit: www.greatellinghamscouts.org.uk Email: gsl@greatellinghamscouts.org.uk
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News From The Ellingham Churches We are pleased to announce that, as from 19th July, the Shellrock benefice has been officially merged with the benefice of Hingham, High Oak, Scoulton and Woodrising. We look forward to the 12 churches working together in the future and to witness how this new benefice develops. We have been informed that the Revd Canon Stella Green has been appointed as Priest Associate to this new benefice. Revd Stella will reside in Great Ellingham Rectory and be supporting Revd Tori in her role as Priest-in-charge. More details to follow in due course. A huge thank you to anyone who supported the Second-Hand book sale at St James in June. Over £500 was raised which will go towards roof repairs. Did you know...
Our churches are sociable spaces and apart from services, there are other opportunities to meet others and volunteer: helping with refreshments, playing music for a service, joining the choir, baking a cake for an event, church cleaning or organising a fundraising stall. Please get in touch if you can offer a small amount of time in any way. Events coming up... • Norfolk Churches Trust annual Bike, Drive and Walk on Saturday 12th September, 9am 5pm. To get involved, collect a yellow sponsor form from inside the church. Snacks available to keep up participants’ energy levels! • Great Ellingham Pop Up Cafes: 12th September and 10th October, 10am 12noon.
• Both our churches have a library? Why not borrow or donate a book.
• Macmillan Coffee Morning at Little Ellingham, Saturday 19th September, 10am - 12. All donations will go towards supporting those with cancer. The next normal coffee morning will be 17th October, where donations will go towards the church fabric fund.
• Both have monthly coffee mornings? Fresh home-made cakes and hot drinks available for a donation.
• Christmas Fair at St James, Friday 13th and Saturday 14th November. Get in touch if you would like a table.
• Both our churches are open daily for visitors? Call in for a quiet space in our busy world.
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Macmillan Coffee Morning at Little Ellingham, Saturday 19th September, 10am – 12. All donations will go
www.theellinghampump.co.uk October 2026 towards supporting those with cancer. The next normal coffee morning will beSeptember 17th October,/where
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donations will go towards the church fabric fund. Christmas Fair at St James, Friday 13th and Saturday 14th November. Get in touch if you would like a table. Ellinghams and Rocklands Church Services
Date Great Ellingham September 10.30am Holy Communion 6 13
9.30am Café Church Service starts at 10.30am 10.30am Morning Prayer
Little Ellingham
Rockland All Saints
10.30am Family Service 6.00pm Harvest Festival
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20 27 October 10.30am Holy Communion 4
6.00pm Prayer and Praise 10.30am Holy Communion
10.30am Harvest Festival
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6.00pm Evening Prayer
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9.30am Harvest Café Church Service starts at 10.30am 10.30am Morning Prayer
Rockland St Peter
10.30am Harvest Festival 6.00pm Prayer and Praise
10.30am Holy Communion 10.30am Holy Communion
Services are advertised on the church notice boards and porch doors; also on the St James Great Ellingham facebook page and website. https://shellrockbenefice.org.uk/
Services are advertised on the church notice boards and porch doors; also on the St James Great Ellingham facebook page and website. https://shellrockbenefice.org.uk/
fundraising events. Any money donated by an individual can be increased through Gift Aid - please consider using the yellow envelopes for this if you are a UK taxpayer.
For those not aware, our churches If you wish to make a specific donation belong to the parishes in which they were towards the fabric of the building, we’re built. All funds raised in each church go very happy to facilitate that. For towards those not aware, our churches belong to the parishes maintaining the building and in which they were built. All funds raised in each church go towards maintaining thewith building and paying its bills, with aIf contribution costs of donation, a shared priest. paying its bills, a contribution paid you wishpaid to towards make athe regular Funds are raised collections in services, other donations andGiving fundraising events. Any donated towards thefrom costs of a shared priest. thereceived Parish Scheme is amoney simple by an individual can be increased through Gift Aid – please consider using the this if you way to do yellow it, envelopes using forthe QRare a UK taxpayer. If youraised wish to make donationin towards the fabric of theor building, we’re very happy to facilitate Funds are froma specific collections codes below, by collecting a form that. If you wish to make a regular donation, the Parish Giving Scheme is a simple way to do it, using the QR codes services, other donations received and inside the church. below, or by collecting a form inside the church.
Great GreatEllingham Ellingham
Little LittleEllingham Ellingham
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Great Ellingham Speedwatch Team The Great Ellingham Speedwatch continues to meet where possible on a weekly basis around the Village. Under the rules laid down by Norfolk Police each Speedwatch session has to comprise a minimum of 3 people, and each session has to be undertaken at specific locations that have been viewed and approved by the Police. This approval includes ensuring that the teams are not exposed to any safety risks/hazards. Over the period of 21st April to 28th July 2026 the Speedwatch Team have recorded and reported 90 vehicles back to the Police, with the highest numbers being recorded on Watton Road and Hingham Road. The worst offender in this period was a driver entering the Village on Watton Road on 23rd July, who was recorded at 60mph outside the entrance to the Village Hall. This driver will automatically receive a visit by uniformed Police. Throughout Norfolk there are circa 100 Speedwatch Teams operating, and analysis of the data gathered by these Teams shows that only 2% of the drivers caught actually get caught a second time. This really does show that the actions of some 300 volunteers has a positive effect on improving road safety.
The data fed back by all the Teams to the Police also helps them decide on what “hotspots” need the added focus of their Mobile Camera Teams which comprise: 3 large vans - for use on the main arterial roads (A11, A47 etc.) 3 small vans - for use in the parishes 1 motorcycle (new) - for use in Villages where the roads are too narrow to safely park the small vans Over the period January to May 2026, Mobile Cameras operating within the Village have resulted in 60 drivers receiving fines and/or penalty points. The Village Speedwatch Team is still actively looking for more volunteers to keep the Team operational. The appeal in the first issue of the new Ellingham Pump did result in one new member who is now undergoing “on the job training”, but we really do need more people to volunteer for 1 or 2 hours per month. Please do get in contact with the Team Co-ordinator. Peter Joyce CSW Team Co-ordinator p.e.joyce@hotmail.co.uk WE ARE WAITING TO WELCOME YOU INTO THE TEAM
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Great Ellingham Residents For Road Safety In early August, a resident’s comment on the BBC News website prompted a visit from reporter Owen Sennitt, who came to our village to interview residents about the traffic and driving standards on Long Street. You can read the full article here on the BBC News website at https:// www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles - search for Great Ellingham, Norfolk. It’s a concern many of us share. Residents regularly raise the same worries - school children walking to school, dog walkers, pedestrians and wheelchair users all navigating traffic on stretches of road with no footpath. The residents who took part in the interview have come together to form a new group Great Ellingham Residents for Road Safety. Our mission: Residents for Road Safety exists to make Great Ellingham’s roads safer with clear evidence and practical solutions. We are a volunteer, resident-led group committed to roads that work for pedestrians, cyclists, drivers, and all road users-now and for the future. Our objectives: • Collect and review data - gather evidence through Community Speedwatch, traffic monitoring, and resident reports to build an accurate, credible picture of road safety issues across the village.
• Propose solutions - assess measures recommended by government agencies and road safety charities, and identify what is genuinely likely to work for Great Ellingham. • Educate - help residents understand the rules, rights, and responsibilities that apply on our roads, and share clear, factual information rather than assumption or rumour. • Act as a link to existing organisations - work alongside the Parish Council, Norfolk County Council, Norfolk Constabulary, and national road safety bodies, so that resident concerns are properly represented and acted upon. Our focus: Residents for Road Safety formed in response to concerns on Long Street, which remains our starting point. Our focus is the roads within the village boundary - inside the gateway signs - where our evidence-gathering and campaign work will be concentrated. We recognise traffic concerns exist elsewhere in the parish too, but our remit is specifically the village core, so that our evidence and campaign stay focused and effective. Contact us at: geresidentsforroadsafety@gmail.com Find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ geresidentsforroadsafety
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Little Ellingham Village Hall Location: Church Road, Little Ellingham, NR17 1JN
Nestled in the heart of the village, Little Ellingham Village Hall is a clean, bright and welcoming space suitable for a wide range of occasions. The hall can seat up to 100 people and has a modern, fully equipped kitchen, heating and air conditioning, free Wi-Fi and on-site parking. Private hire prices start from £13 per hour. Several regular groups meet at the hall each week, including two Pilates classes, a postnatal Pilates class, two yoga classes and the Mardle coffee morning. Please contact us, or check our noticeboards and Facebook page, for further details. The Village Hall Committee also organises regular events. The bar is open from 8pm on the first Friday of every month, providing an opportunity to catch up with friends and neighbours.
We recently held another of our popular Quiz & Chips evenings and are planning a further one later in the year. Other events are also in the pipeline, so watch this space. Hall hire and our fundraising events help to meet the cost of maintaining and improving this important village facility. Last year, we installed acoustic panels suspended from the ceiling, which have markedly improved the sound quality within the hall. Contact Sheila Hassock for more information or to arrange a viewing. Email: levillagehall@gmail.com Facebook: Little Ellingham Old School Hall
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Trivia Quiz How much do you know about your local history? 1. How much did Samuel Le Grice pay for the tower mill & other premises on 12th October 1854?
Credit: Joan Barnard
2. Who stole John Yeomans’ trousers in 1853? Credit: Christine Fuller
3. Who sold his windmill with half an acre of land in West Field, Great Ellingham to John Browne in 1685?
4. Who built the house in Long Street which is now known as ‘Roselands’?
5. What village organisation provided the bus shelter along the Attleborough Road, and when?
The answers can be found on the Great Ellingham One-Place Study website greatellingham.org and will be in the next edition. Answers to the Trivia Questions in the Jul/Aug edition: 1. Joan Howson & Caroline Townshend | 2. 1822 | 3. The Bell and The Rose & Crown | 4. The Reverend James Cragg | 5. Minced beef patty with potatoes & cabbage. Stewed fruit & custard. To Advertise In This Magazine email: sales@theellinghampump.co.uk
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The Great Ellingham Teddy Festival 2026 Community • Friendship • Fun What a fortnight it was! The Great Ellingham Teddy Festival has once again brought our village together for two weeks of friendship, fun, laughter and community spirit - and, as we celebrate 23 years of the festival, we are delighted to report another hugely successful year. Our heartfelt thanks go to everyone who helped, supported, sponsored, donated to or simply visited the festival. Every contribution, however big or small, helped make 2026 a truly memorable occasion. Of course, no Teddy Festival would be complete without the legendary Teddy Bear Trail. This year, 82 registered bears appeared around the village, many of them lovingly and imaginatively created by villagers, including a number of new residents who enthusiastically joined in the fun. The creativity on display was incredible, with trail hunters discovering everything from David Attenbear and World Cup Footbearers to Spacemen, Time Travellers, Fairies and Libearians! Visitors were invited to vote for their favourite bear, and this year’s People’s Choice Bear was Rumi Bear, the 26
popular comic character from KPop Demon Hunters. But the Teddy Festival is about much more than bears. At its heart is a desire to bring our community together, and the packed programme of events provided something for everyone. From the ever-popular Garage Sales Day to Wine Tasting, Festival Quiz Night, A Night at the Races, Afternoon Tea and Bingo, there was plenty of opportunity to meet friends, make new ones and enjoy everything our village has to offer. The festival came to a wonderful finale on a glorious sunny weekend, with the traditional family fete followed by a Teddy Bears’ Picnic and the spectacular Teddy Bear Zipwire – always a firm
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favourite and a fittingly fun way to bring the fortnight to a close. Behind all the fun lies an enormous amount of hard work. The Teddy Bear Committee and our many volunteers give countless hours to planning, organising and running the festival, and their efforts have once again paid off. We are absolutely thrilled to announce that £8,000 has been raised! This fantastic sum will be distributed between our nominated charity for 2026, Nelson’s Journey, and local community groups. We know this money will make a real difference, and we are incredibly grateful to everyone who helped make this possible. As we look towards next year, we would love to hear from you. What did you enjoy most? Are there things we could improve? Do you have an idea for a new event, or a suggestion that could encourage even more people to visit and take part?
And perhaps you’ve enjoyed the festival so much that you’d like to become part of making it happen. The Teddy Bear Committee is made up of dedicated volunteers, and we would warmly welcome more people from the village. You don’t have to join the committee - helping with an event on the day, lending a hand behind the scenes or simply sharing an idea can make a real difference. After 23 years, the Teddy Festival continues to prove what can happen when a community comes together. £8,000 raised, 82 wonderful bears and countless smiles - a fantastic celebration of Great Ellingham and the people who make it such a special place. Here’s to the next Teddy adventure! To get involved or share your ideas, contact: hello@teddyfestival.org
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The Importance of First-hand Recollections of Village Life Great Ellingham One-Place Study
My Great Ellingham One-Place Study is a mix of local and family history. I enjoy researching the history of Great Ellingham’s houses as well as identifying significant village key dates. However, it is the day-to-day lives and routines of our past village people that gives us a sense of community, a belonging and a connection. These include people’s daily practices, their routine behaviours, habits, relationships and cultural activities. We will find reference books covering the lives of some of the more prominent members of society but there are fewer personal accounts of the lives of ‘ordinary’ people. Accordingly, a family’s way of life and their traditions can be lost forever. Long-time resident William R Lebbell (1884-1965) wrote down some of the 28
history of the village as he remembered it - or had been passed down to him. This is an invaluable source of information. Old newspapers can also be an excellent source in discovering past village events and family happenings. Not so long ago, newspapers contained many lists and reports of ‘hatches, matches and despatches’. Some of these articles can be very detailed. Wedding reports not only provided details of the wedding attire but routinely included a list of the wedding gifts given to the newly-weds. Reports of funerals too once included the names of many of the attendees - not just family mourners. Fetes, fundraising, school activities, Christmas treats, village clubs, and societies are among the events that were once covered in newspapers; We
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Credit: Ewin Family.
can also find references to squabbles, sudden deaths, as well as some of the wrongdoings carried out by a few of the inhabitants. Nevertheless, it is someone’s personal recollection that gives us their perspective of life, their experiences and what they witnessed during their lifetime. If we are lucky enough, we may come across personal diaries or journals. However, until the late 19th century, many people struggled to read and write. I have been fortunate to have been given some first-hand recollections of village life. These include wonderful descriptions of a few village houses at a particular point in time. We also have an idea of what it was like inside some of the houses, as well as the Smithy which was once in Long Street. Recently, I been given the recollections of another long-time resident, Harry Rix (1920-2001). At the age of 80, Harry decided to write down his boyhood
memories of Great Ellingham. His memories of many of the village streets and inhabitants are a priceless addition to the website. Without the recollections, these details would all be lost in the mists of time. If you have any memories, recollections or photographs of life in the village which you would be happy to share, please contact me. A reminder that the next One-Place Study Local History Exhibition “Everyday Histories - Everyday People” is in the Function Room at The Crown, Church Street, Great Ellingham on Saturday 12th & Sunday 13th September 2026 11-4. Free Entry. Hope to see you! Heather Etteridge Great Ellingham One-Place Study Visit: www.greatellingham.org Email: hello@greatellingham.org
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Garden Jobs For September And October As summer draws to a close and autumn begins to take hold, September and October are two of the busiest and most rewarding months in the gardening calendar. The hard work carried out during these weeks will not only help keep the garden looking tidy through winter but will also ensure a strong start when spring arrives. From harvesting crops and planting bulbs to protecting tender plants and improving the soil, there is plenty to keep gardeners occupied. September is often one of the most pleasant months to work outdoors. The soil is still warm from summer, rainfall is usually increasing, and plants continue to grow steadily. One of the main tasks is harvesting fruit and vegetables. Apples, pears, plums, beans, courgettes and autumn raspberries are often at their best during this time. Regular harvesting encourages plants to remain productive and prevents fruit from rotting on the ground. September is also an excellent month for planting spring-flowering bulbs. Daffodils, crocuses and hyacinths can all be planted now to provide colour when 30
the garden awakens next year. Choose a well-drained position and plant bulbs at a depth roughly three times their height. Containers can be used for attractive displays on patios and balconies. Another important task is dividing overcrowded herbaceous perennials. Plants such as hostas, daylilies and geraniums benefit from being lifted, split into smaller sections and replanted. This helps to rejuvenate old clumps, improve flowering and create new plants at no extra cost. Lawns often recover well from the stress of summer during September. Repair bare patches by reseeding, aerate compacted areas with a garden fork and apply an autumn lawn feed if required. Continue mowing as needed, although the frequency can usually be reduced as growth begins to slow.
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As leaves start to fall, ponds should be protected with netting to prevent excessive leaf litter entering the water. Greenhouses and cold frames should also be cleaned and organised so they are ready for use during the colder months. Keeping glass clean allows maximum light to reach overwintering plants. By October, the focus shifts from maintaining summer displays to preparing the garden for winter. Cooler temperatures and shorter days signal the need for action before the first frosts arrive. One of the most valuable jobs is collecting fallen leaves. Rather than discarding them, store them in a simple wire enclosure or perforated bags to create leaf mould, an excellent organic soil improver. October is a good time to cut back many perennials that have finished flowering and started to die down. However, gardeners should consider leaving some seed heads and stems in place. These provide food for birds, shelter for insects and attractive winter interest, particularly when covered with frost. Tender plants require special attention before cold weather arrives. Pelargoniums, fuchsias and other frostsensitive plants should be moved into a greenhouse, conservatory or other sheltered location. Containers should be raised slightly off the ground to
September / October 2026
improve drainage and reduce the risk of waterlogging during wet winter weather. The vegetable garden also needs attention. Remove spent crops and clear away diseased plant material to reduce the risk of pests and diseases carrying over into next year. Adding a layer of compost or well-rotted manure to empty beds helps protect the soil and improves its structure. Garlic and autumn onion sets can be planted now, while overwintering vegetables such as spring cabbages can be established before winter arrives. October is also an ideal month for planting trees, shrubs and hedging plants. Cooler temperatures and moist soil conditions encourage strong root development before the growing season begins again. Gardeners considering changes to the layout of their garden will find autumn one of the best times for planting. Finally, take the opportunity to clean, sharpen and maintain garden tools. Repair damaged fences, stakes and supports, and check sheds and greenhouses for any repairs that may be needed before winter storms arrive. By staying on top of these essential tasks during September and October, gardeners can enjoy a tidy, healthy garden throughout the colder months and look forward to a vibrant, productive garden in the spring.
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