First Day on the Allotment!

[Ananke]

You've done an amazing job there, well done.

[StaryD]

As for the clay soil, loads of organic matter is about the only way to go.
We have clay soil here and after 2 years of adding loads of organic matter though the years it is slowly starting to break up. We still have a long way to go go get it to a nice fine tilth, but it will get there.

As for the second picture, I will agree with the others, its a slow worm, could possibly be a nest. Wish we had some in my area, but I haven't seen one in years, ever since my sister kept one as a pet when I was 8 years old.

Amazing to see the amount you got done in one day.

[vikkib]

Really well done! You've done an amazing job so far!

I'm very jealous of your wildlife... nothing anywhere near as exotic as a lizard (legless or otherwise) on my plot! Toads, frogs, worms, snails and slugs... lots of slugs

[Jackbb]

Have never seen one, but I don't like the look of that thing in Pic 2 either.

They were definitely Slow Worms. Checked with some photos on Google and they match up. Thought they may have been baby grass snakes or something, there were about four or five of them! Kind of makes sense now because of the amount of empty snail shells around, looks they have been doing a pretty awesome job! Hope they stay and don't move away from my plot, hoping my activity doesn't make them move on...

[Jackbb]

You've done an amazing job there, well done.

Thank you. Thought I was going to ache like crazy today but so far so good! Wish I was out there again instead of going to work.

[Jackbb]

As for the clay soil, loads of organic matter is about the only way to go.
We have clay soil here and after 2 years of adding loads of organic matter though the years it is slowly starting to break up. We still have a long way to go go get it to a nice fine tilth, but it will get there.

I am toying with the idea of going down the raised bed route. Introduce a couple of beds this year and see how I go with both beds and normal approach. I can see how raised beds make things a lot easier through no dig etc.

[Two_Sheds]

Hope they stay and don't move away from my plot, hoping my activity doesn't make them move on...

create a new habitat for them, and they'll stay. As lizards, they need warmth: they tend to go for compost heaps, so never ever stick a fork in your heap.

I used to lay sheets of black plastic out for them (in Brighton), and they'd all snuggle under that.
Or corrugated iron or something. A log pile covered with black plastic would be ideal. They earn their keep and are well worth having.

you may need to educate your fellow plotters though: some people kill them, thinking they're snakes (which don't need killing anyway, but there you go)

[Jackbb]

create a new habitat for them, and they'll stay. As lizards, they need warmth: they tend to go for compost heaps, so never ever stick a fork in your heap.

I used to lay sheets of black plastic out for them (in Brighton), and they'd all snuggle under that.
Or corrugated iron or something. A log pile covered with black plastic would be ideal. They earn their keep and are well worth having.

Great idea - will look to do that! It does look like they are doing a brilliant job. Wouldn't want to be a snail on my plot!

[Jackbb]

you may need to educate your fellow plotters though: some people kill them, thinking they're snakes (which don't need killing anyway, but there you go)

Quite possibly. I tried to introduce myself and start a conversation yesterday with a fellow plotter but was met with complete indifferance. Nowt strange as folk!

[Bigmallly]

Just tell them, if they find any snakes on their plots to give you a shout..........

[mrswadders]

i'm afraid to say I wouldn't kill them i'd run a bladdy mile - huge snake phobia, you'd hear me screamig for miles!!! fortunately I haven't got any slow worms as they just look too much like snakes, they'd give me the colly wobbles no matter how beneficial they are!!! Oh, and i'm the same with maggots, funny though worms don't bother me!!!
Sorry went off on a tangent, great job your doing there, well done!

[Nicos]

Well done- you're clearly doing a thorough job by the look of the bit you've already cleared!

Slow worms?...we have them too- lovely things

[leonmc0708]

Get some well rotted manure in the soil and some multi purpose compst - keep diggin it in and adding little bits.

Raised beds are a good idea, personally I use em everywhere (OCD) on the plot - simple 6" X 1" planks will suffice with some posts or you can raie em higher - but you will need soil then of course.

go on preloved.com and keep an eye out for timber - I get loads off there when people dont need it anymore for buttons.

[Sheneval]

Have never seen one, but I don't like the look of that thing in Pic 2 either.

If they saw you they'd run a mile

[Two_Sheds]

Get some ... multi purpose compst - keep diggin it in

That's an expensive way to improve the soil.

You CAN add MPC in small amounts, by starting your seedlings in it, in pots. When you transplant them onto the plot, you're also adding that bit of MPC