Updated 24th October 2011

Following discussions with the local primary school we are creating an additional area of interest for the students to visit and learn about fauna and flora to supplement periodic walks around the allotments site. We are still in the early stages but with time we hope to create a natural environment where children can observe nature at first-hand.

Winter 2009/2010 – JCB digs hole for pond and landscape area to North and East. Start to accumulate pile of logs to attract insects.

March 2010 – Pump out pond and allow to dry. Order fencing, posts, creosote, hose pipes and fittings and gates.  Rotovate raised area.

April 2010- Erect fencing and 5 bar gate using posts salvaged from county council and telegraph posts which we had left over from an earlier project. Shape pond by hand and create a ledge for marginal planting.  Rotovate raised area.

May 2010 – Cover pond bottom with 2 or 3 layers of carpeting to protect pond liner. Lay underlay then butyl liner and overlay. Cover overlay with sand to hold it in place.  Fill pond with water. Fill orange onion nets with soil and place on ledge to hold liner in place. Mark out path to North of pond.  Cut pathways to South of pond. Make a list plants required to attract bees, birds and butterflies.

June 2010 -Dig out area to side of pond to create a bog garden and line as before. Rotovate raised area.  Plant donated water lily. Cut back pond liner and underlay & overlay. Fill in bog garden area with excavated soil. Fill second layer of green net sacks, marginal planting will go into these sacks. We already have mating Dragonflies and Damsels, Water Boatmen and Pond Skaters and a whole host of insects colonising the pond– things are beginning to happen.

July, August 2010 - Plant donated marginal lilies. Spring bulbs ordered. Cover cut edge with turf to start naturalising process. Sow grass seed on Northern path. Plant iris.

A frog has made its home in the pond.

September, October 2010 – Plant 1400 bulbs including Bluebells, Narcissi, Fritillaries, Anemone, Muscari and Erythronium. Order field & hedgerow mix of annual, biennial and perennial flower seed. Build insect hotel using pallets. Plant perennials. 1^st cut of new path.

Red tailed mating dragonflies hovering over pond. Lots of activity in pond.

November 2010 – Sow flower seed. Plant curly willow hedge.Net pond to catch leaf fall.

The water has remained consistently clear.

December 2010 - Plant 2^nd batch of perennials.

January to April 2011 – Good display of Spring bulbs – Perennials & Hedge/Field flower seed growing strongly –blanket weed cleared – paths cut – net removed. Two common Newts spotted.

 May 2011 - Lay ground cover & plant 50 bird, bee & butterfly friendly shrubs. Install second gate using surplus telegraph posts. Furnish insect hotel with, canes, tiles, straw and bottles. Dragonfly activity.

June 2011 – Footings in for covered social & educational area. Water level very low due to hot dry spring but rising.

 July 2011 – Structure up & cover on. Test run with our Annual BBQ.

October 2011 – Wildflowers cut back, shrubs trimmed & mulched, pipes installed to feed pond with water harvested from storage shed roofs. Insect activity in pond, hedgehog under insect hotel.

To Do - Record activity. Create reference library. Order signage. Locate and purchase information boards. Investigate willow arch/den. Install bird boxes. Apply mulch to shrub area. Bog area plants. Oxygenating plants.