Glasgow Guerrilla Gardening

For those who came along to the BBC News Interview and filming:

BBC News Website: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/8550101.stm

Monday 15th March BBC Reporting Scotland either the lunchtime bulletin (1.30pm) or the evening bulletin (6.30pm). Monday 15th March BBC Radio Scotland Newsdrive (between 4pm and 6pm). The online text should also be on the website.

Thanks again,

Tags: 2010, bbc, dates for the diary, guerrilla gardening, townhead

A big thanks to everyone who came along on Saturday. For those of you weren’t there I can highly recommend a walk past the site over the next week or so, the first of the crocuses we planted over winter are out and the site is starting to look very colourful. The daffodils look set to bloom next and hopefully the other bulbs we planted will be following suit shortly. We also have a lot of primroses and a few hellebores in bloom just now as well which further enhance the cheerful look of the site. As if that wasn’t enough we had a brief visit from some blue tits as well as the usual pigeons. I felt quite tearful, in a joyous way at finally seeing our hard work over the bleak winter pay off.

Still a gardeners work is never done so we’ll next be meeting on 27th March at 11:30am at our Townhead site to continue planting. We’re hoping to add 1000 Crocosmia bulbs to the site between now and May. If you’d like to help out with this you can either donate via paypal on this site, buy some Crocosmia bulbs (any variety) to bring along or just turn up with gloves a trowel or bulb planter to help us get the bulbs in the ground. Crocosmia bulbs are also sometimes referred to as Monbretia and are available from garden centres and various online retailers. I purchased 250 from R&H Garden Supplies but there are other retailers selling them in smaller quantities. eBay is a good place to start if you’re stuck.

If bulbs don’t appeal we’re still on the look out for more primroses and hellebores. These are available from garden centres, online plant retailers and quite cheaply from Morrisons supermarket.

If you’re sick of Primroses and Hellebores then you might want to consider purchasing some of the following plants, Foxgloves, Solomons Seal, Ramsons, English Lavender, Alchemilla Mollis or Thyme. A word of warning on Foxgloves -you’ll often see these for sale individually in big pots at garden centres -ignore these expensive plants and instead look for the smaller ones sold in trays of six. They’re about half the price of the big Foxgloves sold singly and much better value for money.

Finally if you don’t want to bring a plant there’s still plenty for you to do to help out. We still have an alarming amount of leaves to be shifted, bulbs to be planted and litter needing picked up and help with these is always very much appreciated. Incidentially it would appear that we are attracting a better class of litter lout these days, on Saturday I was surprised to find an empty bottle of Chilean Merlot abandoned on our site rather than the usual Buckfast bottles and Transform-a-Snak packets we’re more used to.

Tags: 2010, dear green place, glasgow, guerrilla gardening, tenthousandbulbchallenge, townhead

Tags: 2010, bulbs, dear green place, glasgow, guerrilla gardening, Spring, ten thousand bulb challenge, tenthousandbulbchallenge, townhead

With winter drawing to a close and spring beginning there’s lots to do up at Townhead. This Saturday we’ll be meeting up at our Townhead site -at the side entrance of St Mungo’s Primary on the lane that connects Stirling Rd and Parson St from 11:30am onwards.

If you’d like to do some planting, please bring either hellebores, primroses or crocosmia bulbs, a pair of gloves and a trowel or fork to dig with. Don’t be put off if you haven’t done any gardening before – someone will be on hand to show you how and where to plant your donation. As we do not receive any funding at all, everything we plant is funded out of volunteers own pockets and much as I’d like to I’m not rich enough to buy all the plants we need so if you can help out by bringing along one of the plants we’re looking for it will be much appreciated. Hellebores, Primroses and Crocosmia bulbs are available from some supermarkets, garden centres and online garden shops, if you’re having trouble locating a stockist please email and I’ll do my best to help out.

Some of you may be aware that 2010 is the International Year of Biodiversity. We’re hoping to be able to use our emerging garden to play our part in that and would ask everyone who volunteers at the site to give serious consideration to bringing along at least one plant that encourages wildlife during the course of this year. During March the Hellebores and Primroses we plant are part of achieving that goal. Arguably they are the most important part because they bloom in late winter -early spring when little else does and are an important early source of necatar for bees. We’re now also starting to sow plants indoors for planting out in late April -May. This is a very cheap way of providing new plants for the site, if anyone would like to help out by growing a few plants at home please email for further details.

If you don’t fancy bringing along a plant you can still help out by picking up litter, all you need to bring is a pair of gloves to protect your hands and a bin liner to bag up the litter.

If neither of those options appeal we need assistance to dig in some very generously donated compost we’ve been given. If you’d like to help with this bring a spade or garden fork, gloves and plenty of energy.

Hi,
A massive thank-you to everyone who turned out on Saturday and also to those who sent their apologies and best wishes. It’s all very much appreciated.
As those of you who braved the cold on Saturday or received the last email will know the BBC will be along on Wednesday to film our activities. This is
a really great opportunity for us to attract some much needed practical support so it would be great if we can all ensure it goes well.

From my limited showbiz experience, I’m guessing that they’ll be looking for a before and after shot for their report. Whilst this isn’t the most realistic
representation of the work both we and nature put in, in trying to establish the garden, it is a neat way of showing visually the positive impact groups
like ours can have on the local environment.

The easiest and cheapest way open to us of making a big impact on the site in a short time is for us all to be planting similar stuff. So for that reason
we’re again asking anyone who is able to bring along primroses/primula or polyanthus on Wednesday. Morrisons supermarket are currently selling these
at £1 each or 4 for £2.29 or 6 for £3.29. They are also available from garden centres and other retailers. This tactic of planting from the same plan served
us well for our big 10,000 bulb challenge as you’ll see from the multitude of green shoots popping up all over the site and in this case will let us make a big
impact quickly.

This is not only a good thing for the TV cameras. Primroses are a natural woodland plant and even cultivated varieties provide a valuable source of
nectar for bees who will be back with us in the next few weeks. Food is really scarce for bees in early spring and with so many species of bee under threat
it is vital that we try our best to provide them with a meal.  As people who have been helping out for a while will be aware this is a planned and designed site
a major factor in designing the site was the hope that we could use the land to create an urban oasis for wildlife. So if you can come along with a primrose
or two on Wednesday you’ll be doing us and the bees a massive favour.

Beyond Wednesday we’ll next be meeting up at 11:30am on Saturday 13th March at our Townhead site and as ever you’re all more than welcome to come along.
We’ll be planting more primula, hellebores and crocosima bulbs as well as picking up litter and relocating a few already established plants to make way for some
new introductions and bring the layout of the site into line with the agreed design. If you’re intending to bring along different plants to those mentioned, can I ask
that you email ahead for advice on suitability and to discuss where on the site it should be located.

Hope to see you all soon

Tags: 2010, bulbs, dates for the diary, dear green place, glasgow, guerrilla gardening, help, planting, scotland, townhead

Tags: 2010, attacks, bbc, dates for the diary, fund raising, gardening, glasgow, guerrilla gardening, help, planting, scotland, townhead