Grosvenor Road Allotments

Grass Cuttings July 2026

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by

Jayne Slim
in

Chair’s Report

Hi everyone,

I hope you are all staying well and keeping cool in this recent heat. The weather is a clear reminder of our changing climate, and with a hot summer ahead, it has me reflecting on our water usage, crop choices, and local wildlife. I am beginning to look at more sustainable water practice, how to support pollinators and what I should be doing to support my soil health and water retention. If anyone would like to discuss this any further, or have ideas they would like to share with the membership, please reach out. 

Launching Our Biodiversity Project (Volunteers Needed!)

While the heat helps certain vegetables, it puts a strain on our usual crops and local wildlife. Having secured a grant for our biodiversity project, Tina (Secretary) and I are ready to roll it out.

  • We are setting up a dedicated WhatsApp working group for this project.
  • We have tasks for all ages and abilities, including creative sessions, and activities for children and families – of course, they’ll be weeding!
  • How to join: If you can support us, please email me at chair@shas.org.uk

A huge thank you to Rosemary, Anne, and Martin for their incredible work creating the new site-specific information hub in the hoedown. If you haven’t visited it yet, please go check it out!

Hope to see you on-site soon,

Lou

Plant Exchange 10th May

Our annual plant and seed exchange, held alongside the Sunday Social, was a great success. Plot holders brought and swapped lots of plants and seeds plus shared their knowledge and experience. As a bonus, the weather was kind to us and the biscuits and cakes were delicious.

New Plot Holders

Welcome to our new plot holders:

  • 43B Martyn Taylor
  • 49A Alex Kelly
  • 49B Anastasia Newlove

We wish you a long, productive and enjoyable allotment experience.

Picnic 5th July

What a fantastic turnout for the picnic and the what an amazing day.

Following feedback, Anne suggested moving the picnic to near the Hoe Down, with easy access to toilets, more options for shade and to encourage more of a community feel where people could share things they had made. What transpired was even better than anyone thought so thank you to everyone that helped set up, Hilary for her gorgeous flowers, everyone who came, the band (Arthur’s Class Act), all that shared food, and those who helped tidy up.

A huge thanks to Anne for her organisation and planning. It is a huge piece of work to organise such a big day and it is much appreciated by the whole community. An additional thanks to Martin for his support. We can’t wait to see what next year brings!

See diary dates for news of future social events …

Trading Hut

The Trading Hut closes for a summer break on Sunday 19th July. If you require any items during the closed period please email Janet on tradinghut@shas.org.uk

When we re-open on Saturday 5th September, subject to delivery, we will be selling Senshyu Japanese autumn planting onion sets and Thermidrome White Garlic bulbs. Further details to be emailed to members nearer the time. The last opening day for this growing season will be Sunday 27th September.

Westland Farmyard Manure 50 litres £6.25 per bag

Farmyard manure is an excellent way to improve the structure and fertility of your soil and is a great mulch for rhubarb in early spring. There are a number of sources of horse manure available around our area, however, you need to go and bag this up yourself and bring to site.

As not everybody is able to do this, we are considering stocking Westland Farmyard Manure at the Trading Hut in September for anybody to buy. The cost would be £6.25 per 50 litre bag. We will only do this if enough plot holders show an interest/commitment to buy this product.

If you are interested please email tradinghut@shas.org.uk and let Janet know how many bags you would like to buy, that way we can gauge if this is something which plot holders would find useful.Text here

Maintenance and Planting of Fruit Trees

The SHAS Committee would like to issue a friendly reminder regarding the maintenance of trees on our allotment site.

  • While we love having an abundance of incredible fruit trees on site, they do require regular care. Overgrown fruit trees can become a safety hazard and cost a significant amount of money to restore to a manageable state. Please ensure your they are regularly pruned and maintained.
  • The SHAS Committee are developing a policy for the planting of new fruit trees which will be available around October. If you are intending to buy trees before this is published, please contact the committee before buying so we can agree appropriate rootstock and location for planting via allotments@shas.org.uk

Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our site safe, fair, and beautiful for everyone.

Hoe Down Photo Boards

Please take sometime to visit the Hoe Down to look at the new Photo Boards which show Flowers, Birds and Nuisance Weeds. We hope they will help you identify plants and wildlife. All the species have been seen (or heard) on the allotments, but some of the photos were taken elsewhere.

We’d love to get everyone’s kids involved by sharing photos they’ve taken around the allotment including bugs, butterflies, birds and plants. We’re creating an Allotment Kids Corner where their photos can be displayed with a first name only (unless you request no name). Please send photos to anne@shas.org.uk

Identifying Wildlife

The following Apps are used by committee members. We hope you find them useful.

Pl@ntNet (plants via photo) https://plantnet.org/en/

Merlin Bird ID (birds via song) https://merlin.allaboutbirds.org/

ObsIdentify (wild animals, birds, plants via photo) https://observation.org/apps/obsidentify/

Allotment Photos

We’d like to include your photographs from around the Allotments in Grass Cuttings, Newsletters and the SHAS Website. Any people in the photos must have given their permission to be included. Photo credits will be given if you’re happy to have your name shared. Please send photos to jayne@shas.org.uk

Committee Contacts

Diary Dates

19 July 2026, 10:30 AM: Trading Hut Open & Sunday Social

5 September 2026, 10:30 AM: Trading Hut Open & Saturday Social including Tool Swap

20 September 2026, 10:30 AM: Trading Hut Open & Sunday Social

First half October 2026, Autumn Seasonal Event including food. Date & further details to be confirmed in next Allotment News