Wednesday, 9 November 2011
Wednesday, 2 November 2011
The plague continues...
Following the great progress of Alitex glasshouse in erecting the aluminium structure to vine house last week, our flock of parakeets not content with stripping all the seeds and berries from the garden decided to remove the sticky foam beading which sits underneath the glass. This beading is placed on the aluminium frame before the sections are erected.
During the weekend, the parakeets used the aluminium structure as a roost whilst assessing their attacking strategy on the sunflowers. In doing so it appears that they have also taken a fancy to the foam and spent their time tearing and removing 80% of the foam which was not held down by glazing. We have been finding the material deposited around the garden.
Vandalism from our green-feathered villains was not something that we had anticipated!
During the weekend, the parakeets used the aluminium structure as a roost whilst assessing their attacking strategy on the sunflowers. In doing so it appears that they have also taken a fancy to the foam and spent their time tearing and removing 80% of the foam which was not held down by glazing. We have been finding the material deposited around the garden.
Vandalism from our green-feathered villains was not something that we had anticipated!
I have discovered a ‘ringing’ operation in the potting shed!
In the last few weeks the potting shed has been used as a location to ring and record birds that have been caught in mist nets within the kitchen garden. This net is erected on the morning of catching, and is monitored throughout the morning. The birds are collected, inspected, a leg ring placed on their leg and recorded. This valuable work is utilised not only to see which bird species are visiting the gardens but also to monitor their movement, health and size.
For information on ringing see the British Trust for Ornithology
http://www.bto.org/volunteer-surveys/ringing/ringing-scheme
Unfortunately the gardens have this year been plagued with ring-necked parakeets and alien parrot species. The history of parakeets in the UK is unsure with a wide and diverse range of theories for their presence. Some sound more like old wives tales!
The Parakeets have been particularly interested in feeding on our sunflowers in the kitchen garden. Their voracious appetite is dislodging the majority of seeds from the sunflower heads which fall to the ground.
The parakeets arrive between 0830 and 0930 daily; their numbers range from 7 to over 70 birds. They remain as a large flock within the garden until around 1100 at which time they disband leaving a dozen birds feeding on a range of foods such as the flowers buds of the foxglove trees, the yew berries and sweet chestnut tree.
For information on ringing see the British Trust for Ornithology
http://www.bto.org/volunteer-surveys/ringing/ringing-scheme
Unfortunately the gardens have this year been plagued with ring-necked parakeets and alien parrot species. The history of parakeets in the UK is unsure with a wide and diverse range of theories for their presence. Some sound more like old wives tales!
The Parakeets have been particularly interested in feeding on our sunflowers in the kitchen garden. Their voracious appetite is dislodging the majority of seeds from the sunflower heads which fall to the ground.
The parakeets arrive between 0830 and 0930 daily; their numbers range from 7 to over 70 birds. They remain as a large flock within the garden until around 1100 at which time they disband leaving a dozen birds feeding on a range of foods such as the flowers buds of the foxglove trees, the yew berries and sweet chestnut tree.
Tuesday, 1 November 2011
Movember 2011
It’s Movember, the month formerly known as November, now dedicated to growing moustaches and raising awareness and funds for men’s health; specifically prostate and testicular cancer. I’m donating my top lip to the cause for 30 days in an effort to help change the face of men’s health. My Mo will spark conversations, and no doubt generate some laughs; all in the name of raising vital awareness and funds for cancer’s affecting men.
Why am I concerned about men’s health?
*1 in 9 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime
*This year 37,000 new cases of the disease will be diagnosed
*1 in 2 men will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime
*26% of men are less likely to go the doctor compared to women
I invite you to join me by registering to grow or by donating to my support of the Mo http://mobro.co/AndrewTurvey
If you want to go old school you can write a cheque payable to “Movember”, reference my name and Registration Number 1939258 and send it to: Movember Europe, PO Box 68600, London, EC1P 1EF
Funds raised will help make a tangible difference to the lives of others. Through the Movember Foundation and our men’s health partners, The Prostate Cancer Charity and The Institute of Cancer Research, Movember is funding world class awareness, research, educational and support programs which would otherwise not be possible.
For more details on how the funds raised from previous campaigns have been used and the impact Movember is having please click on the links below:About Movember Prostate cancer genome mapping Prostate Cancer Foundation research
Global Action Plan
Thank you in advance for helping me change the face of men's health.
Andrew Turvey
Why am I concerned about men’s health?
*1 in 9 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime
*This year 37,000 new cases of the disease will be diagnosed
*1 in 2 men will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime
*26% of men are less likely to go the doctor compared to women
I invite you to join me by registering to grow or by donating to my support of the Mo http://mobro.co/AndrewTurvey
If you want to go old school you can write a cheque payable to “Movember”, reference my name and Registration Number 1939258 and send it to: Movember Europe, PO Box 68600, London, EC1P 1EF
Funds raised will help make a tangible difference to the lives of others. Through the Movember Foundation and our men’s health partners, The Prostate Cancer Charity and The Institute of Cancer Research, Movember is funding world class awareness, research, educational and support programs which would otherwise not be possible.
For more details on how the funds raised from previous campaigns have been used and the impact Movember is having please click on the links below:About Movember Prostate cancer genome mapping Prostate Cancer Foundation research
Global Action Plan
Thank you in advance for helping me change the face of men's health.
Andrew Turvey
The outing
Last Wednesday the gardeners and volunteers travelled to The Sir Harold Hillier Gardens near Romsey, Hampshire. This was a day-trip to celebrate and reward all the hard work and dedication they have shown to the gardens over the years, working to ensure the restoration and future development continues at pace.
We were also going to visit Nereida, our Historical and Botanical Garden Bursary Scheme Trainee Gardener from last year. We surprised Nereida and presented her with a book which highlighted her year in the garden. Nereida started at Hillier’s as a Gardener in September 2011 following a year training at Myddelton. Nereida is working in Magnolia Avenue, an area of the garden in front of Jermyn's House.
David Jewell, Head of Collections, gave us a tour of the gardens. It was most entertaining and enjoyable. We didn’t arrive back at Myddelton until 7pm.
For information on The Sir Harold Hillier Gardens
http://www3.hants.gov.uk/hilliergardens
When we arrived back at Myddelton all the gardeners went to close the glasshouses and put the chickens to bed. We all congregated at the rapidly-developing glasshouse to see what progress had been made while we were away.
This was the progress that we were presented with (by torch light).
The autumnal tints were a blaze of colour, one particular beauty was Enkianthus perulatus
We were also going to visit Nereida, our Historical and Botanical Garden Bursary Scheme Trainee Gardener from last year. We surprised Nereida and presented her with a book which highlighted her year in the garden. Nereida started at Hillier’s as a Gardener in September 2011 following a year training at Myddelton. Nereida is working in Magnolia Avenue, an area of the garden in front of Jermyn's House.
 |
| The presentation of the book |
David Jewell, Head of Collections, gave us a tour of the gardens. It was most entertaining and enjoyable. We didn’t arrive back at Myddelton until 7pm.
 |
| David Jewell |
For information on The Sir Harold Hillier Gardens
http://www3.hants.gov.uk/hilliergardens
When we arrived back at Myddelton all the gardeners went to close the glasshouses and put the chickens to bed. We all congregated at the rapidly-developing glasshouse to see what progress had been made while we were away.
This was the progress that we were presented with (by torch light).
The autumnal tints were a blaze of colour, one particular beauty was Enkianthus perulatus
Friday, 14 October 2011
The Strength of Glass
The glass arrived this morning for glazing the lean to section and already quarter of the roof glazing is in place. I was amazed to see one of the workmen kneeling upon the toughened glass. He was saying that it can easily take the weight and explained how they test the strength of toughened glass by dropping a mini from the height of 30 cm and it will just bounce. I'm sure he was referring to the glass and not a glasshouse structure!
 |
Roof vent gearing and motor |
Thursday, 13 October 2011
Wednesday, 12 October 2011
The progress of this structure is truly remarkable
This stage of the construction is happening very quickly and I find myself in a quandary. Should I get a deck chair and position my self for a day of entertainment or do I avoid the Kitchen Garden for as long as possible, and be amazed at the end of the day.
The true size and scale of this glasshouse is now visible. It was difficult to imagine from plans how magnificent this structure is and how it would transform this area of the garden.
The true size and scale of this glasshouse is now visible. It was difficult to imagine from plans how magnificent this structure is and how it would transform this area of the garden.
Tuesday, 11 October 2011
The Victorian style Glasshouse
Yesterday late morning Alitex Glasshouse arrived on site with the first delivery of material. They promptly started unwrapping and erecting all the powder coated aluminium. This modern interpretation of the glasshouse that once stood on the original footprint. I hope to update daily with photographs of the progress
I will blog in the near future about the construction of the foundations and services.
I will blog in the near future about the construction of the foundations and services.
Sunday, 9 October 2011
Prize Money
Last week the gardens exhibited plant material at the Royal Horticultural Society Autumn Flower Show held at their halls in Westminster. We believe last year was the first year we had entered the competition since Mr Bowles' death. This year we won two first places, two second places and a fourth with the prize money coming to an astounding £32! This is double last years winnings.
It is very enjoyable staging exhibits. Although saying that on this occasion, to ensure the material was fresh, I was collecting plant material at 5am on the morning of the show. I was armed with a head torch, a pair of secateurs and long-handled pruners and was expecting the neighbour to call the police at any moment after seeing lights flickering though the trees and shrubs.
 |
| The Lawrence Hall |
 |
| The Lindley Hall |
It is very enjoyable staging exhibits. Although saying that on this occasion, to ensure the material was fresh, I was collecting plant material at 5am on the morning of the show. I was armed with a head torch, a pair of secateurs and long-handled pruners and was expecting the neighbour to call the police at any moment after seeing lights flickering though the trees and shrubs.
 |
| Sternbergia lutea |
 |
| Colletia paradoxa |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)