Teeming with wildlife

Things are shaping up on site. Many thanks to all of the people that have helped out so far. We have had teams of volunteers in who have been learning how we are turning long term pasture back into productive land for growing vegetables, whilst being very careful to minimise and protect the wildlife that has taken up residence.

Starling (Mike Dimmery)

Sections of the fields have been ploughed in blocks leaving nature corridors. As we go we have been checking for slow worm and other reptiles. We have discovered that the large meadow and overgrown fruit tree glade area is a favourite lunching spot for a flock of resident Starlings. They are become quite rare so nice to see a big family of them enjoying the delights on offer in our field.

All the boundaries are heaving with blossom as they are made up of mature fruit trees. Amongst them are apples, pears, plums and cherry. Most have been unmanaged for years so are full of ivy and covered in moss. This makes a great habitat for nesting birds and potentially the dormice on site. In the evening there are a lot of bats flying overhead. The old barn and ivy-covered trees create great roosts for the bats, and the meadows and overgrown boundaries provide them with an abundance of food.

Spuds, herbs and flowers

Thanks to VaultexUK and KPMG for sending us groups as part of their social responsibility schemes. It has been a great help and now 90kg of potatoes have been planted just in time for the rain.

Vaultex teams have been helping plant an array of beneficial herbs and flowers to be planted amongst our crops. 

KPMG started creating an entrance way feature raised bed which will be the welcome garden. This will be planted up with a range of flowers which will attract beneficial insects and can also be eaten.

First potatoes in the ground!

The first potatoes are now in the ground at the Feed Bristol site! This is one stage in a gradual process of bringing the land back into use for growing crops.
This year part of the site will be given over to growing annual vegetable crops, some of the land will be planted with green manures to increase fertility and suppress weeds, while some will be left for meadow and brought into cultivation in coming years.
Work building our new centre is still underway and there are smaller construction tasks ahead like putting in paths, recovering one of the polytunnels and building raised beds.
With planning and design work still going on it was great to have a down-to-earth day, get back to basics and feel the lovely sandy soil between our fingers, working alongside volunteers planting out 'Orla' potatoes -  an early variety that will be ready to harvest in August. We still have plenty more to put in - 5 different varieties that will give us a potato harvest from July to October.