National Bean Pole Week: 17th - 25th April 2010

Bean Pole Bundles 
[11 poles, 7ft maximum] 

Price per bundle
Hazel £5.00   Ash £4.50 

For more information or to order, call Judith on (0118) 947 8920

Woodland Management and Woodland Products 
Conservation groups in the Reading area have had permission from Reading Council to coppice hazel from certain areas in Reading’s woodlands as part of their woodland management plans. These hazel wands make excellent bean poles. The groups are selling bundles of 11 [approx. 7ft long] poles to raise money for their tools fund.

The bundles will be £5 each, and there could be pea sticks as a by-product of the coppicing if required. Bundles of ash poles may also be available for £4.50 each.

Coppiced woodlands have been neglected during the last century, so by reintroducing this traditional product we are rejuvenating the woodlands, opening them up for bluebells, fritillary butterflies etc. and the poles are a sustainable product, they grow again within 6 years or so and they are local.

Support local sustainable woodland management!. Call (0118) 947 8920 to order and arrange collection.

An update for 2010

Dear Garden Member,

As a valued member of the garden I am sending this update to invite you to get a little more involved with the garden.

If you have a query about the garden or would like to see something happen or not happen then please email the garden onoxfordroadgarden@yahoo.co.uk and we will discuss your query at the next committee meeting, held on the first Thursday of the month.

What’s going on?

If you would like to hold an event in the garden please check the diary in the garden (on the outside of the cabin) or email the garden and we’ll check it out for you, most events can be catered for (family BBQ, etc) we’re just trying to avoid clashes. For those of you with young children concerned about the pond there is a temporary fence that can be erected, it’s stored in the toilet cabin.  Please remember, children in the garden are the responsibility of their guardian(s), not the garden.

Ongoing through the year Reading Single Homeless Project (RSHP) will be using the garden on Tuesdays from 10-2pm (approx), please take this into consideration when deciding on when to attend the garden, Alison the group organiser will be with the group each Tuesday.

Through the spring, summer and autumn three local schools use the garden (during school hours) so you may find the garden particularly busy, so again, please check the diary before attending.

On Thursday 15^th April volunteers from the British Trust Conservation Volunteers (BTCV) will be in the garden to finish the path extensions around the veg patches, volunteers warmly welcomed to join in, drop the garden an email (or tell a committee member) and mark it “FOA BTCV April  15^th” and we’ll pass on your email, Oonagh is always willing to welcome new faces.

In addition to this, the committee hold work parties every second Saturday of the month 9-12noon, there is always something to do for all abilities, coma along even if it’s just to say hello.

September sunshine (with nasturtiums and beans)

BBQ Today at Noon

12-3pm today at the garden there will be a barbecue. Bring your own food for the grill - separate grills for meat and vegetarian food - and potatoes, salad and drinks will be provided.

See you there!

Bees and Bells for July

There were bees in the lavender...

... and in the bee garden...

And everywhere else, there were bells.