Allotment update

In January of this year, FoBB took on an allotment at The Rock, overlooking Nightingale Valley. We’ve called it the ‘Secret Garden’: firstly, because it is in such a beautiful, tranquil setting and, secondly, because no one seems to know where The Rock allotments are! It’s just off Allison Road, by the way. Our intention is to turn The Secret Garden (our two large adjoining plots) into a community space. The aim is to engage with local people who wish to work towards a common aim and reap the benefits of being in nature. It was clear from the outset that we had our work cut out. Bristol City Council was aware that the allotment was in a sorry state so offered it to us for free for the first year.

So, where to start? FoBB’s Secretary, James Reed had the brilliant idea of fostering goats from Street Goat to help clear the brambles. Goats are notorious escape artists, so we fenced off one of the allotments. We cleared the glass from that area, along with the rubbish that had accumulated over the years.

Initially, we fostered three goats, but one was territorial over the shelter that James had built for them. The dominant buck wouldn’t allow the doe to sleep in the shelter overnight. Street Goat decided to take him back: the dynamic wasn’t working. The remaining two goats made a good job of clearing the brambles. True, they had a penchant for younger shoots, leaving the tougher stems behind. However, they made the job easier for us. The major challenge in bramble bashing is establishing the root of the plant. Invariably, volunteers get caught up in the brambles while trying to find the major stem. What’s more, brambles sucker, resulting in multiple major stems. The goats remained in the Secret Garden for two weeks. We then moved them to St Anne’s Wood where they are keeping up the good work.

While the goats were nibbling away, FoBB volunteers set about removing the rubbish and clearing the brambles from the second plot. We also dug up tree saplings, some of which were four foot tall, which we replanted in St Anne’s Wood. The clearance resulted in a huge wood and bramble pile that was six foot high! We then dug up the bramble roots, of which there were many. Lastly, we converted the goat shelter into a compost container. I’d like to take the opportunity to thank the Duke of Edinburgh team who’ve worked so hard alongside us.

On Sunday 22^nd March, FoBB held its first allotment work party. FoBB volunteers finished the job that the goats had started by cutting the bramble stems down to the ground. We then started to dig and managed to turn the soil on two-thirds of the second plot. Well done everyone who attended! We made multiple attempts to light the fire over the preceding days, thwarted by the damp but persistence paid off and finally the sun allowed Geoff and Andy the chance to burn the cleared undergrowth.

One of the reasons FoBB took on the allotment was to secure a safe place to situate our container, the result of a successful CIL (Community Infrastructure Levy) grant application. FoBB’s tools are currently occupying a volunteer’s shed. Last week, Geoff Thomas and I went to the allotment to build a frame for the container to sit on. A few days later, Geoff and Andy McBride Coogan prepared the ground and installed the frame. The hardcore is turning up today and the container will be delivered next week. It’s a flat pack 2 x 4 metre container which FoBB volunteers will build on site. Look out for the call for volunteers!

There’s a lot more to be done but planting will begin next week, in the space we have prepared. The seed potatoes are happily chitting away on my windowsill.

If you would like to be involved in the Secret Garden Community Allotment or know of a community group who would like to participate, please get in touch. It’s a lovely place to while away the time.