December 2013 and January 2014 work days

December 15th 2013 was a combined work day and cake sale. Essex Wildlife Trust held their Christmas Event and we had a table selling home made cakes. We made a reasonable profit although it would have been higher if the weather had been better. This money will go towards our insurance costs. Although we are a voluntary group we have to take out and pay for our own insurance. The rest of us continued weeding and mulching in the areas planted with native shrubs and trees earlier in the year close to the visitors, centre. We did as much as possible until we were rained off. The pile of mulch doesn't seem to be getting any smaller!

Several hundred  bulbs have been planted each side of the track leading up to the Walled Garden which should provide a nice splash of colour later in the spring. Will also provide some much needed nectar for the insects. These were planted by the SEETEC guys who have been working with Havering Council for some months now both within the park and in the Walled Garden.

Our January work day was on  the 12th. Again we continued weeding and mulching. The pile of mulch still doesn't seem to be getting any smaller ! Also some pruning was carried out on the lime trees along the track that leads up to the walled garden. The 'epicormic' growth on the trunks and around the base of these trees hadn't been cut back for many years and was beginning to encroach on the track. In the afternoon we cleared away a couple of large branches that had fallen over the ditch and across the main drive that leads down towards Lower Bedfords Road. We continued south and around the main lake litter picking. The lake was, unsurprisingly, quite high due to all the rain we've been having.

Sunday 10th November work day

This, very sunny, Sunday we worked with worked with 'Froglife' to build 'Hibernacula' for reptiles wintering within the park. We built 2 in sunny, south facing, spots. These are basically piles of logs covered with vegetation that will provide a place for reptiles such as snakes and lizards, and amphibians that do not hibernate in water, such as newts and toads to over winter safely. These areas will also warm up quickly in the sun to enable snakes to bask and raise their temperature quickly.

A grass snake was spotted nearby while we were working so should be a good spot.

Also spotted in the park, or more accurately, over the park was a Red Kite, one Sparrowhawk, one Kestrel and 4 Common Buzzards. The Buzzards are regularly seen over the park. Also Common Darter Dragonflies were still on the wing.

                                                                      Red Kite

                                                     Common Darter Dragonfly

'Apple Day' Sunday 20th October 2013

Essex Wildlife Trust had their annual Apple Day today. There were apples for sale and you could taste and try before you buy! Also apple juice on sale. The apples and juice were supplied by Lathcoats Farm ( www.eapples.co.uk )  in Galleywood, Chelmsford.

The Walled Kitchen Garden was also open and fresh produce was on sale. Produce will also be on sale on Thursdays from around 10 am.

We had a visit from a group from the  Havering Museum who arrived in style - in a 1960's Routemaster Bus, complete with ticket collector! They had included Bedfords Park in a tour of the Borough and visited the Deer Enclosure, the Visitors' Center and the Walled Garden. Apart from the heavy rain, which delayed their departure, they appeared to have a good time.

Work day Sunday 13th October 2013

Unfortunately due to the very wet weather this work day was cancelled

Latest in the Walled Garden

Saturday 21st September was a great success. Lots of 'new' visitors to the garden. BBQ'd sweetcorn were really tasty. Was great to see so many people enjoying just walking around and looking at what's been achieved in a relatively short time. The garden was only accessible for planting in April this year. We had several stalls, one from Stewart Avenue Allotments in Upminster selling their wonderful jams, chutneys, soups and crumbles. There were teas and cakes and soup on sale. All proceeds were either for The Walled Garden Project or The Friends of Bedfords Park. Also our 'resident' beekeeper was present explaining about the bees and he also had several types of honey  for tasting. Several members of the Walled Garden 'team' were available to answer questions. We also had a group from the 'Challenge Network' giving away free seeds and going taste tests!

All in all a good day.

This week has seen several hundred school children in the park. A collaboration between Havering Council, Essex Wildlife Trust, Clear Village (walled garden) and the Friends of Bedfords Park has seen Heavy Horse log pulling demonstration and talks, petting zoo with various animals, talk with E.W.T and a tour and talk around the Walled Garden. Again a great success.

Bedfords Park Walled Kitchen Garden open 21st September

There is an Edible Gardens Open Day as part of The Capital Growth programme of national events, at the restoration of the Georgian  Bedfords Park Walled Garden Local Foods project on Saturday 21st September.  2pm noon until 8pm.    Come Long and see what we have been up to since the Spring!    Visit our amazing Maize Maze and see 'Cinderella' our huge pumpkin growing quietly getting ready for Halloween.

Work party Sunday 8th September 2013

About time!" did I hear you say? Many apologies for the lack of information posted. No real excuses. Will try to do better.

During the year we've been repairing fencing, litter picking, attempting to keep paths clear, repairing dipping platform, planting saplings and hedging etc. etc.

Today we've been weeding,and mulching, one of the recently planted areas near the Essex Wildlife Visitors' Center which we, together with local Scouts, planted with native shrubs.

This Sunday we had help from 'The Challenge Network' ( www.the-challenge.org) who run youth and community programmes that have the central aim of mixing diverse groups of people with each other. Not only did they help us with the weeding and mulching they also helped in the Walled Kitchen Garden.

We also did an inspection of the 'Round Pond' which has, thanks to all the rain, turned back from a 'bomb crater' into a pond once again. We plan to put a seat, for the use of the public, near to the pond using the money we were granted from Havering Council for successfully retaining our 'Official Friends Group' status with the Council once again.