Glasgow Guerrilla Gardening

Hi All,

Townhead site: 6:30 pm - Thursday 24th June

Map link: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=parson+street+glasgow&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=51.621706,79.804688&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Parson+St,+Glasgow,+Lanarkshire+G4,+United+Kingdom&ll=55.864764,-4.237633&spn=0.002255,0.004871&t=h&z=18

The majority of the bulbs that were in bloom a few weeks ago have now finished flowering and the Townhead site needs a wee bit of a clear up and some new plants planted in. There will be some weeding needing done as well. If you want to bring a plant along we’re after Columbines, Oriental Poppies, Hostas, Foxgloves, Hollyhocks, Mexican Fleabane, Sweet Woodruff, Ferns, Solomons Seal, Scabious or Campanula or see ‘What to Bring’ here. I’ve noticed in my local B+Q that they may not have all these plants but please bring along what you can.

I’d defiantly suggest bring gardening gloves, a bin bag (for any rubbish) and maybe a bottle of water as the site is a bit dry (this will now mean that between then and now it will rain, but please bring along some water).

I hope to see some of you along in Thursday evening,

Thanks,

Michael

A big thanks to everyone who turned out at the weekend to get the rest of the bulbs planted. The site is looking great just now and hopefully everyone’s continued hard work in 2010 will keep the site colourful all through summer and into autumn.

In addition to bulbs we also added Brook Thistle, Anemones, French Marigolds, Garden Pinks and a very generously donated conifer. The conifer wasn’t our only donation, a passer by impressed with the job that we’ve done over the last couple years on the site stopped to hand over a fiver which was used to purchase the Garden Pinks.

We next meet at Townhead on Saturday 24th April at 11:30am. There’s lots to do with plenty weeds and litter needing removed from the site. We will also be starting to plant out seeds -if you’d like to bring some seeds along we’re looking for poppies, nasturtiums, nigella and dwarf sunflowers. If you are bringing seeds you must also bring some water along to water them in with otherwise it’s highly unlikely they’ll germinate. As I do not drive I have to carry everything along to the site and cannot carry enough water for everyone so if everyone can bring along some water hopefully we’ll have enough for our seeds.

If you’d prefer to bring a plant we’re looking for Campanula, ferns (ideally Soft Shield Ferns or Common Polypody), Aquilegias (Columbines), Oriental Poppies, Foxgloves, Mexican Fleabane and Sweet Woodruff. Please note the links above are just for information for anyone unfamiliar with the above plants -I’m not suggesting you use these suppliers -though they are very good, if pricey. You should also be able to find most, if not all of the above plants and seeds from big DIY stores, garden centres, supermarkets, poundshops and the like.

A big thanks to everyone who came out to garden this morning. Despite the sporadic showers it wasn’t a bad day and we got lots done with a selection of perennials, crocosmia and seeds planted. The bulbs we planted over winter are still looking good. The crocuses are beginning to die down but are being rapidly replaced by Winter Aconites, Snowdrops and Daffodils.

Not much to report in the way of wildlife this week just one large Queen Bee, a Wood Pigeon and a gaggle of ordinary Pigeons.

We next meet on 10/04/2010 at 11:30am at Townhead to plant Crocosmia bulbs, continue removing leaves and sow nasturtium seeds.

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

Once again a massive thanks to everyone who came out on Saturday, despite falling short of the number of volunteers we were hoping for we still managed to plant an amazing 600 Snakeshead Fritallaries, 200 Tulips, 30 Daffodils and 50 bluebells -just short of 900 bulbs.

That still leaves us with lots of bulbs to get in the ground before new year. I shall be doing some planting at some stage on Christmas Day, inbetween the usual family commitments. As a group we only have a further two planting sessions before the New Year. We’ll next be meeting at Townhead on 26th December at 11:30am and again on Wednesday 30th December at 12pm to get the planting finished.

In order to get things finished and move on with the site it is important that anyone who is available to help out with the planting comes along -even if it’s just for 10 minutes.

If you’ve never been to the site before it’s just over the road from the Glasgow Royal Infirmary on the lane that connects Stirling Rd and Parson St -at the side entrance to St Mungo’s primary. As we have bulbs to plant all you need to bring is a pair of gloves and a hand fork, trowel or a bulb planter.

Any help you can offer with this really would be much appreciated, if you’d like to attend please email us to let us know if we can expect you along on either day.

A wet Wednesday in November might not seem like the most obvious time to be giving thought to helping out bees but like many gardeners I always have a beady eye on the next season.

There is a great deal on the internet about making your garden attractive to bees but much of tends to be long lists of flowers without much information on when they bloom and where is best to plant them. It’s good advice and well worth following however my attention for the time being is firmly focused on the bees lean season in the early spring.

Gardens don’t become a riot of colour, offering abundant nectar and pollen sources for bees until the summer but the poor souls still need a meal in the spring and hurrah for nature, there is lots to plant that will bring a bit of early colour to your garden and keep the bees well fed.

Crocuses and Snowdrops are a good source of early nectar and pollen and provide one of the years first signs that there might be an end to this terrible darkness, misery and cold. Winter flowering heathers should still be in bloom very early in the spring and provide another source of food. As indeed do my personal favourites the Hellebores which provide both nectar and pollen as well as treating us to flowers from winter to spring and beautiful, glossy leaves all year round.

To bridge the gap between early spring and summer Grape Hyacinths are a very pretty, easy to grow choice that will keep the bees coming. Grape Hyacinths are particularly impressive planted in vast drifts which if done properly will seem from a distance more like a mysterious blue haze hovering over the ground than flowers. Planted at fortnightly intervals from September to December these should be in bloom up until May after which the choice is endless for keeping bees happy.

There are of course many, many more varieties you can plant throughout the year. Nevertheless with very little effort you can keep our Bumblebees fat from Spring to Autumn. A little simple planning is all it takes to ensure you have a bit of early colour and the bees have somewhere to feed. This is one of the best online guides I’ve found for ensuring your garden has a wee morsel or two for the liitle gentleman in the striped fur coats.

Whilst we’ve always aimed to garden in a bee friendly fashion on all our sites and been rewarded with some very impressive bees. Next year we aim to do even better with all our fundraising and activity being directed towards establishing at least one new bee friendly garden in each quarter of the city as well as maintaining what we have. 2010 will be our busiest year since starting up in 2008 and there are lots of ways you can help out from propagating to planting to general garden stuff. If you’d like to nominate a site for a bee garden in your part of Glasgow or help out with our existing sites please email here for further details.

Location:   http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=parson+street+Glasgow&sll=53.800651,-4.064941&sspn=18.388688,30.717773&ie=UTF8&ll=55.864915,-4.237901&spn=0.00425,0.007499&t=h&z=17

Just south of the A on this map, on the path that links parson Street to Stirling Road.

What to bring???

Taken from North Kelvin Meadow:

“Hi all

Your all invited to a bulb planting event at North Kelvin Meadow on
Sunday 11th October at 2pm. That’s a week this Sunday so mark it in
your dairies.

We’ve got 400 bulbs all ready to plant. If all goes well the Meadow
should be a wash with colour next spring / summer.

Things to bring?
Yourself! Bulbs should be handled with gloves so bring an old pair.
Bring a trowel or spade if you have one (we have a few spare). That
it.

How long will the event last?
Don’t worry about coming down for a long time  - 30 minutes to an 1
hour is all that’s required.

How to plant a bulb?
Each bulb needs to be planted to a depth of 3 times its size. So dig a
small hole and place the bulb with its top facing upwards. If not sure
what is the top then plant it on its side. Cover with soil making sure
there are no obvious air pockets. If you need some decent soil to
surround the bulb then take some from the big white bags in the far
corner. Its as easy as that! What’s more, many of them should flower
year after year.

Can’t make that time?
Feel free to plant bulbs at other times if you have them. The more the merrier!

What’s the latest with the Land?
Not really that much! The Council still want to sell it, but haven’t
found a buyer. The local community increasingly see it as a place that
shouldn’t be built on. As the land is used more as a green space by
the local community the case strengthens to keep it as such.

Hope to see you then”.

For more information, please visit http://northkelvinmeadow.com/