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Hi from a very soggy West Sussex tonight!
The very nice people at the Wildlife Trust stand at Hampton Court flower show recommended this site and I've just had a lovely time surfing through your forums. They were right - it's truly fab!
I'm based in West Sussex and am currently developing both our new home garden (solid pan clay - yuck!!) and what can only be described as a weed-fest allotment acquired in March this year.
Amazingly, the bits of the allotment we've cleared have been incredibly productive already. The Charlotte potatoes and Onward peas have been incredible.... but just don't mention onions to me - a total failure! I'm sure they are smaller now than when they went in the ground!!!
Now then, please don't hesitate to say if this is too cheeky but ......
My 2 year old daughter goes to a brilliant childs nursery in a nearby town. It got an 'Outstanding' rating by Ofsted and is a non-profit making charity offering free or reduced fee places to local children of low income families. They have made do with decrepit portacabins for the past few years but finally have scraped together the funds for a new building and garden opening in mid August.
But there are 2 problems:
1. The building has cost twice what was quoted - and that means that funds for developing the gardens are pitiful.
2. The architect had rather imaginatively designed the garden (30m x 20m) with a rectangle of asphalt and a rectangle of grass.
This is where I come in.... cos I opened my big mouth and asked if it could not have more appeal to encourage both kids and staff to actually want to go out and play in it....and have a veg patch, wildlife areas, a mud hole(!) and paths for the kids to tricycle along.
Two months on and 4 weeks before the opening date I am now the volunteer designer - eek!! (but secretly loving it!!)
I have managed to persuade the architect to create paths and dig out a sandpit and install poles for shade canopies but that is now the limit of his funds.
The RHS have a 'Gardening for Schools' programme but they say that although they love my plans they want to concentrate only a primary schools in the short term - which of course I totally understand.
So, basically I am seeking donations of plants which are 'wild & child' friendly -ie no poisonous parts, thorns, or nasty sap.
My pals & neighbours have really helped out with some hedging and perennials but we need more - much, much more to fill the space.
For example, perennial fruits such as- rhubarb, strawberry, currants, autumn rasp, thornless bramble, apple, even kiwi? And perennial herbs - thyme, oregano, rosemary, lavendar etc
Is there anyone out there who might be able to collect a few strawb runners or could take a few cuttings for me?
I'm truly sorry to be so cheeky on my first post but hopefully you might be interested in my project.
Many thanks for taking the time to read this mega thread.
Best wishes
Linda
The very nice people at the Wildlife Trust stand at Hampton Court flower show recommended this site and I've just had a lovely time surfing through your forums. They were right - it's truly fab!
I'm based in West Sussex and am currently developing both our new home garden (solid pan clay - yuck!!) and what can only be described as a weed-fest allotment acquired in March this year.
Amazingly, the bits of the allotment we've cleared have been incredibly productive already. The Charlotte potatoes and Onward peas have been incredible.... but just don't mention onions to me - a total failure! I'm sure they are smaller now than when they went in the ground!!!
Now then, please don't hesitate to say if this is too cheeky but ......
My 2 year old daughter goes to a brilliant childs nursery in a nearby town. It got an 'Outstanding' rating by Ofsted and is a non-profit making charity offering free or reduced fee places to local children of low income families. They have made do with decrepit portacabins for the past few years but finally have scraped together the funds for a new building and garden opening in mid August.
But there are 2 problems:
1. The building has cost twice what was quoted - and that means that funds for developing the gardens are pitiful.
2. The architect had rather imaginatively designed the garden (30m x 20m) with a rectangle of asphalt and a rectangle of grass.
This is where I come in.... cos I opened my big mouth and asked if it could not have more appeal to encourage both kids and staff to actually want to go out and play in it....and have a veg patch, wildlife areas, a mud hole(!) and paths for the kids to tricycle along.
Two months on and 4 weeks before the opening date I am now the volunteer designer - eek!! (but secretly loving it!!)
I have managed to persuade the architect to create paths and dig out a sandpit and install poles for shade canopies but that is now the limit of his funds.
The RHS have a 'Gardening for Schools' programme but they say that although they love my plans they want to concentrate only a primary schools in the short term - which of course I totally understand.
So, basically I am seeking donations of plants which are 'wild & child' friendly -ie no poisonous parts, thorns, or nasty sap.
My pals & neighbours have really helped out with some hedging and perennials but we need more - much, much more to fill the space.
For example, perennial fruits such as- rhubarb, strawberry, currants, autumn rasp, thornless bramble, apple, even kiwi? And perennial herbs - thyme, oregano, rosemary, lavendar etc
Is there anyone out there who might be able to collect a few strawb runners or could take a few cuttings for me?
I'm truly sorry to be so cheeky on my first post but hopefully you might be interested in my project.
Many thanks for taking the time to read this mega thread.
Best wishes
Linda
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