On Saturday 12th June the Tattenhall Allotments Association held a plant swap and social event. All plot holders had been working hard and the whole site looked great. After a cold and wet spring, planting out was set back a couple of weeks but everything caught up quickly with the warmer weather. The plant swap was really successful and many plotties were able to fill in gaps or try growing something new. Many thanks to all for the generous sharing of both veggies and flowers. The donations given for plants will go some way towards paying for the urgent repairs to the mower. The children present had fun planting out pumpkin plants. Hopefully there will be a good crop for them to carve at our Halloween social. The bbq’s were fired up and the afternoon was spent feasting and chatting, sharing tips and relaxing in the sunshine…..all in our socially distanced groups.

The work party was well attended with lots of volunteers digging over plots for allotment holders that were unable to do so themselves. Fencing was erected around the pond to ensure a safer environment for our younger plotters. The community plot was cleared and many of the raspberry canes and other fruit bushes found new homes on various plots around the site. Hedges were trimmed and brambles were cut back from boundaries. After two to three hours of grafting there was an opportunity for everyone to catch up over a socially distanced cuppa.

It’s time to start thinking about the season ahead….

Our pond on site was in much need of attention. The willows had bullied their way into the pond and completely taken away all the light. As a result the pond has become stagnant. We decided to take action. A small work party formed and before we knew it we had all sorts of handy helpers. Martin and Sarah Chalk wish to thank the Whaley family, especially Charlie for his superb raking skills. Gemma, Dave and Pheobe Jones, Sue Falla, Annette Quinlan and Adele Curran for their support and help. Hopefully we’ll have a healthy pond back very soon.

A collaboration between the Tattenhall garden Society and TAA saw the village horticultural show being held at our allotments site for the very first time. It was a highly successful day which attracted a lot of villagers. The marquee was full of fine exhibits and we even had a scarecrow competition. Well done to Charlie Whaley for taking the first prize position. The day before hosted the allotments 10th year anniversary. The Scratchband provided some wonderful music entertainment and Jim Makin (our resident chef) provided 3 beautiful soups for everyone to enjoy. BBQ’s were lit, picnic baskets were cracked open and everyone and sat back and enjoyed the sunshine. What a wonderful weekend!

Ian MacDonald has built us two bat boxes which Martin Chalk has installed in the orchard. Bats play an important role in many different environments such as wetlands, woodlands and farmland. Bats are pollinators and seed spreaders as well as helping to control pests by eating nocturnal insects. Watch out bloodsucking mosquitoes! Their droppings are also valuable as a rich, natural fertilizer.

Tattenhall Allotments have welcomed a pair of hedgehogs, a boy and a girl. They came from the Wirral Hedgehog Hospital who take in injured hedgehogs and restore them to good health before rehoming.

The hedgehogs have been released in the orchard – an environment made secure by a team of Allotment volunteers, overseen by Chalk Contractors who also sponsored, constructed and supplied the materials for their new home. They should have enough food by foraging in the orchard but initially supplementary food is given over a few weeks; allowing them time to settle in their new environment. The supplementary food comprises cat/dog biscuits and tinned food, preferably with jelly, but no fish or milk. Clean water to drink only.

After a few weeks of settling in, a hedgehog escape hole on the perimeter of the orchard will allow the hedgehogs to freely roam about the allotments, hopefully eating all the annoying pests such as slugs and snails. We had a competition to name them. Welcome Pins and Needles to our lovely allotments!

One plot holder decided to create their very own quarry using Lego characters.

We managed to locate some very well-rotted box muck and one Saturday morning a tractor and trailer delivered 30 tons to site. Everyone has been busy filling up wheelbarrows and topping up their plots ready for the season ahead.