A new look for the new term

A very strange summer for everyone hasn’t stopped us being busy here at Edible Rotherhithe. We were generously awarded some funding by Southwark Council via their Cleaner Greener Safer fund, and have been putting it to good use as we have gone about giving the poly tunnel (and surrounding area) and Surrey Square School a complete makeover!

We have been very lucky to work with Peter Balazs, a local community gardener who heads up several projects (anyone heard of Stompie!?). He has replaced four old and unused raised beds with two extra large raised beds with safe step decking that all 500 children at Surrey Square School can use for tending the vegetables, relaxing and listening to sounds of nature.

The netting on top of the beds will be finished soon, as will the planting of the apple and soft fruit tree orchard. Overall 150 ft of new safe growing space will be created.

Peter will also be erecting a picket fence in front of the poly tunnel which will protect the tunnel from foxes and discourage the children from playing from the water tap. There is also 10 mature lavender plants to be planted near the tunnel which will attract the bees (hopefully increasing bio diversty) and will also supply lavender for the after school clubs to make lavender bags. We will also be setting up the hot bin posh composter for the school’s kitchen waste.

By the time the work has been completed there will have been over 400 edibles planted, all ready for the children to start looking after!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *