Lots of seed sowing and huge progress made building the raised beds

April 30, 2019

The greenhouse is essentially finished, we await only guttering and staging and the final Health and Safety sign off before we can start using it for sessions with patients. It has been wonderful to see it filling with plants from seeds sown by patients which are now growing rapidly. We are at the point where have a surplus particularly Brassicas, Tomatoes and Chillies, and so hoping to have our first Farm Shop shortly. The planters around our Village Green are gradually being planted up with an assortment of vegetables, and the Elephant Garlic from Headley Court is still going strong.

Grafting

The apple tree cuttings taken from Headley Court grafted onto the rootstock have mostly taken, and await their final planting position pending relevant permissions.

WoodBloX

Andy has started piecing together the WoodBloX and the first side of raised beds has almost been built. It has been a very intricate operation and Andy has been ably assisted by a couple of patients who have really helped progress the build. We have had a very kind donation of top soil from British Sugar, delivered just this week waiting to be barrowed in so we can start filling the beds and finally plant them up. The pergola from Headley Court will take pride of place over one of the seated areas in between the raised beds enabling us to grow the grapevine donated by Hortus Loci also moved from Headley Court. This will provide welcome shade and screening from the adjacent running track.

Neuro Group

The Neuro group today was a hive of activity taking place in the Neuro Courtyard Garden. We sowed Courgette, Sweet Pea and Aubergine seeds, took Pelargonium cuttings, and potted on Courgette and Tomato plants. Sweet Peas, Peas and Broad Beans were all planted out together with some Potatoes. We also sowed some Radish, Turnip, Swede and Nasturtium seeds directly into the planters and have now run out of space!

Apothecary plant research

The seeds from Chelsea Physic Garden have arrived and have all been sown ready to plant out in the apothecary plant bed.

Gardening Volunteers

We are hoping to start with the Gardening Volunteers from next week, and will gradually incorporate this with our daily routine.

Overall this month has been about consolidating patient referrals and moving on with regular patient therapy sessions. We have been getting referrals from all the different departments so all bodes well…

First side of raised beds almost complete

Patients helping to build raised beds

Topsoil delivery arriving

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