As the year draws to close, Rye Community Garden celebrates the achievements of 2019. During November, the conservation volunteers worked with some of the garden committee on installing the all-weather access path leading from the entrance across to the sheds and gazebo.
The laying of the all-weather self-binding gravel – which is also required for the pathway around the toilet – will take place in the spring, giving the existing substrate sufficient time to bed in. Our thanks to the Lund Fund for financing this much needed upgrade to the garden.
In one of the autumn storms, the willows around the gazebo suffered some damage so, thanks to Nigel Jennings, all of these branches have been cut away; the resultant wood pile is impressive!
Looking ahead to 2020 we are also happy to report that our application to the Little Cheyne Wind Farm Fund to fund Anna Pole’s 2020 contract has been successful. The garden will now be able to come to life in February under Anna’s expert eye! Between now and Anna’s return, we can all cogitate around the winter fires and plan/plot future development projects, such as a wild flower meadow between the apple trees and the central path which will encourage greater biodiversity in the garden.
The hoped-for increase in insect numbers will assist in pollination of the fruit trees and shrubs. In addition, not having to mow the area three time a year will reduce the maintenance load. Work on scarifying the area and clearing out the invasive oxtongue will start over the winter so that the first sowing of yellow rattle can take place. Meanwhile, Dominic Manning will be meeting with Garden Gems, in Fairlight, to get advice on the best seed sowing mix/schedule.
Thanks to a windfall delivery of woodchip from tree clearance on the school grounds, we can now press ahead with upgrading the pathways.
In the vegetable garden, we can complete the work on the walkways and also realign the stretch of wire fencing facing the sheds/gazebo to create a weed/grass free boundary with the new entrance path. The woodchip surface not only makes for a safer working environment for our volunteers but also controls any invasive weed growth. The intention is to have the work on the pathways in hand before Anna re-commences work in the early spring.
If you would like to get involved with Rye’s community garden, e-mail ryegarden@hotmail.com or write to Rye Community Garden c/o 14 Love Lane, Rye, TN31 7NE.
You can also like us www.facebook.com/groups/rye.communitygarden or you can get more information on www.transitionrye.org.uk/community-garden
Image Credits: Kevin McCarthy , Rye Community Garden .