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Week 10 just refurbished bird able because of glue didn’t work properly so we put pilot holes in and screwed them in secured them 

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Week 10 just refurbished bird able because of glue didn’t work properly so we put pilot holes in and screwed them in secured them 

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There is a real wealth of information here that will be of interest for everyone who is looking at ways to save water, and still enjoy a beautiful garden and wildlife too.

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The following tips will help make your garden more resistant to drought conditions:

Cultivate the soil deeply and dig in large quantities of organic matter to improve soil structure, soil water retention and water availability for plants. Well-rotted garden compost, mushroom compost, composted bark and well-rotted farmyard manure are all suitable forms of organic matter.

Apply sufficient fertiliser as plants use water most efficiently where nutrient levels are adequate. But do not apply too much fertiliser to the soil, as this can encourage too much lush growth which can flop in summer, require extra watering, and become frost damaged in winter.

Choose plants with grey-green or silver leaves as they reflect the sun's rays, helping to conserve moisture within the plant tissues.

Try to choose plants which suit the site's soil type and aspect. They will be more tolerant of varying climatic conditions as well as of pest and disease problems.

Plant things while they are still small. They will develop much greater resilience as they adapt to their conditions from a young age. Ideally plant in autumn so they can do some growing before dry weather arrives.

If planting Mediterranean plants, do so in spring when the soil is warming up. Many of these plants will suffer from root-rot if planted in autumn and become cold and damp over winter.

Before planting, thoroughly soak the plants in their pots in a bucket of water until the bubbles stop rising to the surface.

Thoroughly water in all new plants (and keep them watered in the first season after planting to ensure they establish well). Once established, they will become much more drought-tolerant.

After planting, mulch the bed with 5-7.5cm (2-3in) of gravel or, even better, a layer of compost or straw covered with gravel, to help retain moisture while the plants establish.

Consider making a gravel garden. These are low maintenance and are a good option if you already have sandy or gravelly soil.

Remove weeds regularly to prevent them depriving your plants of water.

You may decide to do without a lawn in your drought-friendly garden, but if you cannot do without this feature in your garden, then you may be pleased to know that lawns are surprisingly drought tolerant, and usually recover well in the autumn rains, even if they have been brown and parched most of the summer. Lawn irrigation should rarely be required, if at all, to keep the grass healthy.

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Drought-resistant gardening / RHS Gardening

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Making our gardens more resistant to drought is not necessarily about digging them up and starting again, but thinking about appropriate soil cultivation, plant choice and garden maintenance.

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Carefully applying linseed oil to the natural wood and the bird table platforms to preserve it without changing its beautiful colour or hiding the natural grain and features of the wood.

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Scarecrow being clothed by John, Alison and Mark. Great to see it taking shape, just needs to a little 'filling out' now! This will go in the allotment garden area at CARE to keep the large crows from stealing all of our fruit and veg!

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Lewis helps to dismantle the old goat platform to make way for the new enrichment toys! He is carefully taking screws out of the old wood with a manual screwdriver so that the wood can be stored safely for another upcycling project.

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Nearly there - the goat enrichment toys are getting their finishing touches, some small adjustments to height and a final coat of woodstain preservative.

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Bird table complete it’s really been a challenge for me,The overall project as realistic bird feeder.well done group 

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Focus Group:  UNESCO Sustainability goals

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Focus Group:  UNESCO Sustainability goals

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Zoe Lowman, Community Learning Teaching and Learning Advisor will be with us today to host a focus group on UNESCO Sustainability goals.

Take a look at the link for more information.

The environmental goals fit in perfectly with our focus for this course on recycling, environmental awareness and especially reducing plastic waste everywhere, especially in our rivers and oceans

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Personal goals and course outcomes on track

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Personal goals and course outcomes on track

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Great to see so many personal goals being covered by our course aims and outcomes and so good to see your progress each week towards them.

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The group added a hinge to keep the two logs together while the concrete sets. Can be removed later if required, really good idea!

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Adding the small tables onto the top and positioning them ready for assembly once the concrete has dried.

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Finished garden decoration, concreted into an old tyre for stability and will be used to hang things on in the garden. Looks great and very sturdy design, some great ideas in the plan helped this come together so well.

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Finished planter, assembled and planted with an assortment of flora 😊 The colour really brightens up the garden and everyone should be really proud of the finished item!

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Tyre concrete mix setting

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Bird table ready to be placed and concreted in with fast drying cement 

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Bird table ready to be placed and concreted in with fast drying cement 

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We have received this today in response to our email to Parliament to ask for an update on what is being done to reduce the use of plastics and plans for recycling more to address plastic pollution in the UK/worldwide.

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Reply from Theo Clarke MP re. Global Plastics Treaty

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Thought you might like this link to contact if anyone might need home repairs and/or free training on helping to quit smoking etc:

Stafford Borough Council are offering small repair work and jobs (under £500) for residents for the next 6 months for free, for further details contact: healthyhomes@staffordbc.gov.uk

Everyone Health: Funded by Staffordshire CC; Free NHS Health Checks, Free Smoking Support, Free Weight Loss Support, Free 1-3.5 hour training for public facing volunteers/staff who would like training to support conversations to help people make changes to their physical and mental wellbeing (Making Every Contact Count (MECC) – Royal Society of Public Health accredited. : everyonehealth.co.uk

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Almost finished, painted planter! Liner to be stapled in next and placed in situ ready for the soil to be added.

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Photo taken by Brad at Red Lion Farm May 2024

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Whooooo woke me up!  So much going on that I can't get a wink of sleep!

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Whooooo woke me up!  So much going on that I can't get a wink of sleep!

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Fabulous productive day by all, with so much progress made on every level - projects are coming together all around and so good to see skills being shared, group members discussing and agreeing final adjustments, and lots of smiling faces as the paint begins to dry! Big well done to all, also to Jeanette for our latest first aid session.

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Bases now levelled off, next step is hinging the two pieces together

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Bases now levelled off, next step is hinging the two pieces together

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Considering where the baseline will sit - cutting always easier above the knot

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Considering where the baseline will sit - cutting always easier above the knot

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Placing the wood and checking that the angles between the two are both practical and pleasing to look at!

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Placing the wood inside the tyre, centering it and measuring the height

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New rustic bird table moves from design to production

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New rustic bird table moves from design to production

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Review of progress - blackboard signs for allotment and planning for a scarecrow!

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Review of progress - blackboard signs for allotment and planning for a scarecrow!

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Check out our allotment sign selection for the very best in unique or custom, handmade pieces from our home & living shops.

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Encouraging visitors to our birdtable - what should we feed them on?

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Encouraging visitors to our birdtable - what should we feed them on?

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Advice from the wildlife team on looking after your local feathered friends. From the best bird tables to helping prevent injuries and attacks.

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Filling the new recycled trough - low maintenance drought resistant container plants to consider

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Filling the new recycled trough - low maintenance drought resistant container plants to consider

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Drought-resistant plants / RHS Gardening

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As climate change presents us with the challenge of gardening with less water, choosing plants to suit our growing conditions becomes paramount.

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How to Make a Scarecrow - Step By Step Craft Project

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How to Make a Scarecrow - Step By Step Craft Project

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All teams reflected on their progress so far this sessions, some of the teams have completed their project, some have work still to be done. But a really positive opportunity to step back and look at the wider journey and how individual and team outcomes are being achieved.

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Project finished bird table well done group

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Project finished bird table well done group

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How To Treat A Fracture & Fracture Types - First Aid Training - St John Ambulance

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How to Treat Cuts and Grazes - First Aid Training - St John Ambulance

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How to Bandage A Sprain - First Aid Training - St John Ambulance

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Head Injury Symptoms & Advice - First Aid Training - St John Ambulance