Visiting RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival

On 3rd July, The Community Garden team have been invited to the RHS Community Volunteering Forum. Because it is on press day, we get first look at all the gardens. Also, gain some pointers about engaging people, groups, and others to volunteer in the garden.

Keep your eye out over the next few days. we will post pictures and information about our amazing day out. Let’s hope the weather stays nice for us

Harvest Time

What a strange year it has been…

But that hasn’t stopped the volunteers enjoying the bounty at the community garden this year.

It’s nearly September now, so now is the time to make chutney’s and preserving the taste of summer long into the autumn and winter months.

Bug Hotels, Wildlife Ponds and NCS Volunteers

We have had a busy August, hosting volunteers from NCS from ages 15-17.

They battled 32 degree days to plan and start digging a new wildlife pond and had to avoid torrential summer rain and 50 mph winds. We really have had it all this month.

WILDLIFE POND CREATING

The volunteers researched and planned the new wildlife pond, measuring and digging on a very hot week in August. We are fundraising for the pond liner and hope to have the wildlife pond operating soon.

TYRE PAINTING

During one of the rainy days, the volunteers hid in the Petersfield Community Centre and painted designs on some donated tyres from ATS in Petersfield.

BUG HOUSE BUILDING

We hosted a bug house build as part of the bug house competition. Many great ideas were explored and the results were imaginative and the bugs will surely have many nights of happiness asleep in their new homes in the garden.

PCG Bug House Competition 2020

Petersfield Community Garden Bug Competition 2020

About the competition

This year, in a bid to raise awareness of biodiversity and native species decline, the focus of the Petersfield Community Garden bug house competition will be on creating homes for bugs.

Pre-schools and primary school children in and around Petersfield are invited to get creative and design a wildlife home for display at the community garden and be in with the chance to win a cash prize.

Whether you choose to build a bug hotel, bee hive, dormouse nest, bird box, butterfly or hedgehog house, we want you to get your creative minds whirring for this year’s competition.

Key information 

  • Entries are welcome from all pre-schools and primary schools children (up to age 11 or year 6) from Petersfield and surrounding villages. 
  • Entries must not exceed 1m long x 1m wide x 1m high. They should have no loose or easily detachable parts, no plastic or glass.
  • Entries must include an element of plant material which can be fresh, dried or living 
  • Entries are encouraged to use recycled material to build their bug home. They should be able to withstand all weather conditions 
  • You may use props or accessories to enhance your entry
  • Entry costs: £2 per entry
  • Closing date: August 28th. All bug houses must be dropped off at the community garden ready for judging by 5pm. Winners to be announced September 1st.

This year, in a bid to raise awareness of biodiversity and native species decline, the focus of the Petersfield Community Garden bug house competition will be on creating homes for bugs.

Pre-schools and primary school children in and around Petersfield are invited to get creative and design a wildlife home for display at the community garden and be in with the chance to win a cash prize.

Whether you choose to build a bug hotel, bee hive, dormouse nest, bird box, butterfly or hedgehog house, we want you to get your creative minds whirring for this year’s competition.

Prizes 

TBC 

There will be a cash prize for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place with winning entries being displayed at the Petersfield Community Garden.

Entry and registration >>>>> HERE <<<<<<<

August Bank Holiday stall

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We had a stall at the Petersfield summer festival again this year. Sunday was a wash out with driving rain, but we did have some good conversations with the few who sheltered under our awning. Monday was drier and busier. The picture shows our stall near the end of the day. after all the preserves and much of the produce had been sold. Many people had never seen patty pans before!

New year

Another year starts in the garden, and we’re hard at work moving compost bins to make way for our new ‘social shed’

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Its also time to prune out old raspberry and tayberry canes, tied in to the supports, and tie in this year’s fruiting canes, currently straggling over the path

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We’ve also been taking out some of the tree lupins in the prairie garden

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August Bank Holiday stall

Our stall in Rams Walk, as part of the Petersfield Festival, selling books, bric a brac, plants and jam, and raising awareness about the Garden. We also had a flying visit from Adam, back south from Norfolk

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The Garden in April

Things are moving and stirring for another year in the Garden. Plum blossom has now almost finished and apple blossom is about to bloom
Community Garden in april

The Tayberries and Loganberries have started new growth, and the first ladybirds have appeared

Community Garden in april

Meanwhile we’ve been active: here are Sue & Louise planting onion sets

Community Garden in april

while seedlings in the greenhouse are coming up:

Community Garden in april