The raised beds are awaiting the supply of more soil...

Thieving ******** and the case of the missing teapot

Despite it being glued down, somebody has taken one of our teapots (the blue metallic one). How pathetic is that?

Dribblesome teapots

When teapots dribble, or have reached retirement-age, we find a new use for them...

Some of the team, hard at work!

Here is Helen hoeing for victory!

We realised later that we had laid out over a ton of soil...

The soil is very rich and fertile, with the unmistakable perfume of pig farm...

Flynn encourages passers-by to join in our activities!

He can be very persuasive!

He's checking to make sure the plants are in the correct places...

"I think I've spotted another potential volunteer!"

Flynn closely watches and supervises the proceedings...

As you can see, Flynn has a real eye for detail...

...and nothing escapes his attention...

Local topiary

A gentleman who lives just round the corner from Highbury Grange is a topiary expert - he has a real gift I'm sure you will agree!

Here are some examples of his work which can be found locally...

In the beginning were...tree-pits!

The Highbury community gardening initiative started with tree-pits. Here is one, with tulips.

Another shot of the tulip infested tree-pit. This one has had metal edging added, and the soil has been built up.

Here we have a tree-pit with daffodils.

Another shot of the daffodils.

This tree-pit has a young tree in it. Most of the tree-pits have tubes through which the roots of the tree can be watered in dry weather.

This tree pit has quite a tough base. Soil has been added, but because of the contours, length and shape, it has not been possible to add metal edging.

Another shot with the newly added compost ready for planting out.

One of the challenges is keeping the tree-pits watered in dry weather - although contrary to what some people think, dog-wee is not helpful - it kills the plants!

All neat, tidy and ready for bulbs, seeds and young plants.

This tree-pit features miniature daffodils. Note the black pipe in the centre for watering the tree roots.

This view is taken from the other side. The miniature daffodils work well here.

In this shot the miniature daffodils are just beginning to bud...

Welcome to the Blog for the Highbury Grange, Peckett and Taverner Square Community gardening activities.

These are voluntary activities aimed at making the place where we live more pleasant, our environment more friendly to wildlife, to help knit us together as individuals into a community of friends, to foster a sense of belonging, to learn about nature, and to enjoy ourselves!

It all started when Graham went to interview Naomi Schillinger and Nicolette Jones about their Blackstock Triangle community gardening project which has bloomed (sorry for the pun) since they got it off the ground (again sorry). It has features on TV and radio, been part of the Chelsea Festival Fringe, knitted neighbours together, helped them learn about plants - and become connoisseurs of cakes via the Cake Sunday activities (don't tell Weightwatchers!).

Graham liked it so much he began to join in, at first baking cakes for Cake Sundays (where seeds are given out along with advice, over stickies and tea), then helping distributing compost (which was huge fun, there was so much laughter it's a surprise any compost was delivered).

Graham greatly admires what Naomi, Nicolette and the others in the Blackstock Triangle scheme have achieved and decided to transplant it (can these puns get any worse) on a much more modest scale.

The Highbury Grange activity started in 2012 with plants around some of the tree pits. Then in 2013 Graham asked if he could plant up a patch of waste ground beside one of the entrance roads to the Taverner and Peckett estates. The answer was yes, and plants were duly added. We have now reached an exciting stage, with raised flower beds being added to what was the waste patch (the soil not being very deep in places). Grateful thanks should be offered to the local Tennant Management Association (TMA) for funding the raised flower beds - and especially to Helen  and Gail of the TMA for all her help.

Now we have a modest scheme going. Teresa does a sterling job with watering in dry weather, various people have donated teapots which we've planted up, Bridy gives advice and donates cuttings, Mrs Ahmed is revamping her lawn,  Helen and Graham dig and plant, and the whole operation is closely supervised by John's dog, Flynn...

We're a happy and friendly group - do come and join us!