Our new Posh Plot

[amandaandherveg]

We had no joy in trying to find a field or an allotment so I had a chat with a lovely neighbour about his unused walled garden. He agreed to let my friend Marielle and I take it over. It's in the most beautiful quiet spot in the woods and measures 331 metres square and on the site of an old distillery. Marielle's Hubby Ally made us a lovely gate and the clearing began.

Today was our first day, it had been strimmed and we spent the day clearing and filling black bags.

This is our lovely new walled garden.......



Another view.....



Should we dig or rotovate? Our arms are shredded with pulling up brambles and nettles......

[Alice]

That's just class Amanda. Lucky you.

I wouldn't dig or rotovate. I'g go for a bed system.

The world's your oyster in there.

[Creemteez]

Many congratulations on your new garden! It looks lovely.
Don't rotovate it, whatever you do!!! I know it sounds like a quick way of turning the soil over, but if you've been pulling up brambles and nettles, a rotovator will just chop up the remaining roots and they WILL GROW AGAIN-in double their numbers!!!
I'd advise you to take a small section at a time and turn it over thoroughly with a garden fork removing any weed roots as you go.
It'll be hard work, but worth it as you'll get much less regrowth and smaller areas are much easier to keep under control.
I see you have quite a large tree adjoining the plot. I would suggest you use this are for storage or a composting area as the tree roots will extend well into your garden.
When I was digging over my new plot I couldn't understand why I kept finding huge tree roots crossing the ground until I realised that my "landlord" had cut a small tree back to the ground that had been growing out of the perimetre bank twelve feet away!
Good luck with your new venture.
By the way, if you think your arms are"shredded" now............

[Two_Sheds]

oh lucky you!
and how brilliant that you are able to use an unused bit of land. My outlaws are concreting over their back garden because they "can't manage it" ... I have begged them to put it on landshare instead, but ... stubborn ain't the word

[taff]

what a result, congratulations, it looks fantastic!!

[Flummery]

What a wonderful resource. Wish I had it!

[Pumpkin Becki]

That looks amazing Amanda, congratulations!! Is it easy to get to/park near?

[Mrs Dobby]

Jealous over here! Well done you's! Bet you'll have it looking fab in no time!

[Nicos]

Wow- that looks fantastic!!!!

well done!

( dig beds is my thought)

[jackie j]

How wonderful, easy does it, you will get it how you want it if you take things slowly.

[amandaandherveg]

Thanks for your lovely comments everyone - we are indeed delighted. It is exactly one minute walk from my house (yesterday I carried my tools down and popped back when I had ran out of black bags) and about 2 miles from Marielle's house - there's a public loo 30 seconds away.

If you look closely at the pics you'll see that the Garden is on a slope and is made up of three strips of terrace and has a large diamond bed in the middle. Can you explain what's involved with the 'Bed System' and what we need to do.

There are so many older folk in our village that struggle with their gardens, this is the second year of growing in my elderly neighbours garden - she loves seeing her garden alive again, enjoys a bit of company, likes the fresh veg and fusses over my pooches who come with me.

[amandaandherveg]

No need to be suspicious, we have a great arrangement in place that all parties are delighted with.

[mariell]

yes and i am so knackered but loving every minute of it
if anyone is in the aberdeenshire area is bored we will happily give you a nice spade or fork and some good banter..lol
i feel like steptoe bantering for free stuff im really getting into blagging...got my hubbys pal to help already..lol

[Bramble_killer]

that looks lovely! Loads of space for growing lots of nice things.

[bobleponge]

Echoing all the jealousy pangs here. What a fantastic site, and a good size too.
I would also go with the "dont rotovate" cries, will take a lot longer but so worth it in end.
Enjoy.