Category: Nature

The Heatwave Challenge

 

It has been a challenge to all gardeners trying to keep all their plants alive during the heatwave and the community plants are no exception, but some devoted members of our team are managing to do a bit of watering. This lovely weather has its’ downside for we who long for some good solid rain. Watering is hard work, especially at the allotments where hosepipes are not allowed.

At our July meeting all the roses were pruned. No meeting in August.

Our team were saddened to learn of the death of Len Currie, known to us all as Len 2. A long time member of the team, he turned out when his health permitted and it was a privilege to have known him

 

 

Tree Mallow – To Grow or not to Grow?

 

So what might connect a Wenvoe garden with the small island of Craigleith in the Firth of Forth? The answer – Tree Mallow. Gardeners will be familiar with the various Mallows grown in gardens and sold by Garden Centres. Or you might have tasted Marshmallow flavoured originally with an extract from the root of the plant that grows on our coasts, particularly Gower. The Tree Mallow is quite unmistakeable growing typically to 2 metres and even reaching 3. If you are visiting Gower there are a few near the Youth Hostel at Port Eynon and these are around 3 metres. One turned up unannounced in our garden so out of curiosity we let it grow. It is currently 1.40 metres and still shooting up vigorously but not yet in flower. It is native to the Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts, in Britain mainly in the South and South West.

But why Craigleath? This small island near North Berwick and others close by are a haven for sea birds, especially puffins but in the early 2000s it was clear that the numbers were plummeting and the cause was – yes, you've guessed! – Tree Mallow. The plant can grow out of control forming a thick mini-jungle and preventing birds like puffins getting to their nesting sites. Few other plants can survive under the dense foliage. But the good news is that as volunteers have started clearing the Mallow the puffins are returning.

But how does a plant associated with the South West end up on remote islands in the North East? In this case it was introduced by soldiers serving on nearby Bass Rock because it was used to dress wounds. Also lighthouse-keepers elsewhere have planted it for similar reasons, to use in poultices and in ointments to treat burns. So there is your conundrum – if one turns up in your garden do you let it grow and risk it taking over and keeping out the puffins or remove it and lose a useful ingredient in nature's medicine chest?

 

 

The problem of the illegal importing of plants

 

The main problem facing gardens in this country at present is the illegal importing of plants, either by businesses or travellers bringing in specimens they have bought or found. These plants often harbour pests and diseases. In the UK large areas of forestry have been decimated. Southern areas of England are having a huge problem with a disease affecting Fuchsias which will soon spread to the rest of the UK.

A bacterial pest, Xylella Fastidiosa, is the latest threat that is nearing our shores and it restricts water movement in plants. This bacteria will affect up to 350 different type of plants, such as Lavender, Rosemary and flowering cherry.

When buying plants please make sure that they are British sourced and grown and take care when purchasing plants at car boot sales, market stalls, fairs or garden centres. If you suspect there may be a problem please tell the environment dept DEFRA.

The RHS top ten things to do this month:-

1. Prune Wisteria.

2. Don't delay Summer pruning of fruit trees trained in a restricted form.

3. Keep dead heading plants to prolong the flowering season

4. Continue watering, particularly new plants and those in containers, using grey water where ever possible.

5. Collect seeds – it's always worth it.

6. Harvest vegetables as they become ready. There's nothing quite like it.

7. Continue cutting out old fruited Raspberry canes.

8 Lift and pot up Strawberry runners.

9. Keep ponds topped up.

10. Feed plants with green manure.

Pyracantha, along with Wisteria, can be pruned now. Hebe and Lavender can have a light prune after flowering. Quite a few people cut the Lavender back at this time of year to where new growth started but the idea now is to leave well alone and cut back in the spring after the frosts. The seed heads help protect the plants. Glenys makes lavender shortbread biscuits with the flower heads. Rambling Roses need to be trimmed now. Be careful how you do this and think about the way you want it to grow next year.

When planting shrubs and other large plants, especially at this time of year, be sure to give them plenty of water. The Beech Grove Garden recommends a length of pipe 2''-3'' in diameter be placed alongside the root ball with the top of the pipe just above ground level. The water will then go directly to where it's needed most.

August is the time to get plants ready for Christmas. Cyclamen that have been resting can be brought back to life by replacing the top layer of compost and watering. Hyacinths, Paper White Daffodils and Freesias should be planted in bowls now. Once they have an inch of growth, they can then be put in a cool room, then back into the warmth to be ready for the festive season.

Next month sees the village show at the community centre, it's a great day, and amazing how all this super sized veg appears from well hidden plots in villagers back gardens. Brian Foster of Church Rise was picking his first tomatoes at the end of June. How do some of these people manage to be eating their veg when the rest of us are still buying produce brought in from all around the world?

 

 

 

5 Community Green Flag Awards

 

So Wenvoe has its 5 Community Green Flag awards with the addition this year of the Wild Orchard at St Lythans. This puts us ahead of many towns in Britain and even several cities. It is a great achievement and down to the efforts of a small handful of volunteers and our principal partners, the Reader family, the Community Council and the Vale of Glamorgan Council. Dare we go for 6 next year? The site is there but we will have a lot of work to get it ready to meet the exacting requirements of the Green Flag judges – see photo.

The dry weather has taken its toll of the trees and shrubs, although most of the fruit trees should survive provided we get some proper rain – soon! The Victoria Plum at the Community Orchard has succumbed and will be replaced in the Autumn. A new bare-rooted hedgerow at Goldsland has not survived and we are still waiting to plant out the wildflower plug plants (which have been potted on) when the ground softens up. The pond in the Community Orchard has never been so low and there is insufficient water in the adjacent stream to top it up.

With the focus on fungi, funded by Grow Wild, we have constructed and filled a series of raised beds at Goldsland and seeded some with mycelium which should sprout up into mushrooms in the Autumn. Some, we hope, will turn up naturally. Next month we shall be announcing the details of some competitions – photography, art and crafts with fungi as the theme.

 

 

Star of Bethlehem

 

You will see the logo of the Wildlife Group on noticeboards, leaflets, posters and social media. But what does it represent and why? The 6-petalled flower is Spiked Star of Bethlehem, also known as Bath Asparagus. It is related to garden asparagus and used to be eaten. More common in the Bath area there are records of it being for sale in greengrocers up to the 1970s – elsewhere it is localised from Wiltshire up to Huntingdonshire. Some say it was introduced by the Romans, hence being common around Bath. So why the link with Wenvoe? It is well-established growing in a hedgerow near Greave Farm and this is probably its main, if not only, site in Wales. Whilst isolated records do appear elsewhere these may be garden escapes but the Wenvoe plants were first recorded in the 1990s and are spread over 100 metres of hedgerow. It is a mystery how and why they should have become established here but there are many plants, the quick count for 2018 showing up around 20 spikes. It is also known as French Asparagus, Prussian Asparagus and Pyrenean Star of Bethlehem.

 

 

Wenvoe Spring Craft Fair

 

Huge thanks go to all of you lovely people who came along on the day and made the Wenvoe Spring Craft Fair on 18 May such a roaring success. The weather could not have been better and this was especially good news for the Vale Cider Company and Tricycle Treats Ice Cream who were working flat out all day. All of the traders did well and thoroughly enjoyed chatting with their customers. The proceeds of the raffle (and some of the Village Gardeners plant sale), which came to a whopping £421, was donated to the very deserving Wenvoe Wildlife Group. Their table was busy all day and the free saplings and wildflower seed packs were very much appreciated, as was the information that was passed on during the day.

Tables are now almost all allocated for the Wenvoe Christmas Craft Fair which takes place this year on Sunday 18 November. Save the date and start your Christmas ( I’ll wash my mouth out with soap for saying the C word in June) shopping with a day of hand crafted and unique items in a friendly, festive atmosphere. We will be delighted to see you.

If you have any queries please contact the organisers, Glenys and Mike Tucker, at pukkatucker @gmail.com or on tel. 07922109721

 

 

Hot Tips for July

HS tips for July

1. Check Clematis for wilt.

2. Care for house plants while on holiday.

3. Keep tubs and new plants well watered.

4. Dead head bedding plants

5. Pick Courgettes before they become Marrows.

6. Treat Apple scab.

7. Clear algae and blanket weed from ponds.

8. Order catalogues for next years Spring flowering bulbs.

9. Give the lawn a Summer feed.

10. Harvest Apricots, Peaches and Nectarines

During the Summer most house plants benefit from being outside on the patio. It will save them from baking behind glass and lessen some pest and disease problems. House plants will need regular feeding during the growing season as with all plants. Damp down the greenhouse on hot days. Any old leaves or side shoots of Tomato plants need to be taken out of the greenhouse, as this can be a major cause of disease spread. Pelagonium and Fuchsia cuttings can be taken now and kept in the greenhouse.

Cuttings of Choisya and Hydrangea will take now. It's also time to prune Philadelphus and Weigela after flowering.

A long spell of dry weather can weaken the grass, so raise the cutter height on the mower. July is the last month a summer feed should be used. New grass will need extra watering. Most lawns will be covered in ants nests at this time of year. Just brush them off before you mow.

Trim back Dephiniums and Geraniums after the first flush of flowers to encourage new growth, and then feed. Blackspot on Roses can be prevalent at this time so treat straight away. Leaf cutter Bees like to alter the shape of your rose leaves in particular, but I'm assured by an expert that this is not a menace and it is kinder to live with it for the sake of the Bees.

Dyffryn Gardens, under the ownership of the National Trust, has come on in leaps and bounds and is a good day out. My only gripe is the price of their plants because, as good as they are, they are not worth the prices charged. It certainly is a good cause but they surely can't justify those prices.

Having talked about some of the better known gardeners in Wenvoe in the last issue. I would like to draw your attention to some other gems. For a garden with a difference, Mr Breese in Greave Close has a plot that needs closer inspection. If he's in the garden ask him about its history. He has objects from practically the beginning of time and it all blends in so well and is so interesting. Things are not always what they seem. Betty James does a brilliant job keeping her garden lovely to see, along with Frank Miller of Grange Close. It just goes to show that being over thirty is no hinderance to having a lovely garden. Opposite Frank is Rita and Rob's quite formal garden and it doesn't matter what time of year it is, it's always neat. Next to Rita is the famous Audrey, whose front garden is a picture with

the Roses in bloom. Brian & Sandra of Walston Road, have a cottage garden that would be on any gardeners list of must sees. If you like well looked after, neat and tidy then Mr & Mrs Lawrence of Gwenfo Drive have a garden that is worth a look. Roses are always lovely to see and if you want to see them at their very best then those belonging to Mr & Mrs Cottle of Gwenfo Drive are not to be missed.

Take care and happy gardening.

 

 

June Activities

A busy month started with the village craft fair where it was good to meet many Wenvoe residents who visited our table which was shared with beekeepers Barbara and Howard. We gave away 100 packets of wildflower seed and 30 tress including Downy Birch, Oak, Ash, Bay Sycamore. The proceeds from the raffle were generously donated to the group and we shall be using the money to produce a leaflet showing the locations of our sites along with a project with the school covering life cycles. Thank you also to individuals who made donations.

In association with Keep Wales Tidy and Wenvoe Primary School we painted a number of Yellow Fish alongside street drains in and around the school. This nationwide campaign which was described in a previous issue of Whats On is aimed at reminding people that anything that goes down these drains goes directly into our streams, rivers and oceans causing potential pollution and poisoning fish and other wildlife. Detergents from cars cleaned on drives and litter commonly contribute to these problems.

The specimen tree walk we arranged at Insole Court as part of its Heritage Open day was well-attended. Led by Chris Powell around 40 trees were identified and described including several champions. Amongst these was Kowhai, Myrtle and a stunning Benthams Cornel. The Loquat is also unusual although you can see one in Wenvoe close to the library. If you have not visited this gem of a house in suburban Cardiff (with a cafe!) it is well worth finding the time. New rooms are being opened up in the next couple of months.

Open Farm Sunday at Goldsland Farm attracted its normal sunny weather along with many visitors thanks to the tireless efforts of the Reader family. Our stand was again shared with Barbara and Howard who talked about bees and beekeeping. We led wildlife and lichen walks and set up a colouring table for younger children. This is Wenvoe's biggest event and needs our full support.

 

 

The Marble Gall

We often refer to the Marble Gall at our talks and on our walks and usually comment that they are regularly confused with Oak Apple Galls which we have never seen. On the Orchard Walk in May we saw one for the first time and this was on the border of a patch of woodland near New Wallace Farm. Seen in the photo it was as described in the books – much larger than the Marble Gall (about 4 to 5 times its size) and soft and spongy rather than the hard and smooth of the Marble Gall. Parts of England still celebrate Oak Apple Day and this is often associated with the restoration of the Stuart monarchy after the Commonwealth period under Oliver Cromwell. Towns and villages like St Neot in Cornwall, Upton Gray in Hampshire and Upton upon Severn all celebrate the occasion in different ways but often involve parading through the village, wearing or carrying oak sprigs and ending up at the local pub. It is sometimes referred to as Shick-shack day (a term for the Oak Apple) or Oak and Nettle Day. The gall is caused by a wasp which lays its eggs in the tree and the larva injects chemicals which cause the gall to form and provide the larva with a food supply.

 

 

The Orchard Walk

 

Improving weather has helped us to get out and about and we were very lucky to have ideal walking conditions for our Orchard walk which took place as part of the Vale of Glamorgan Walking Festival. 32 walkers (plus 3 dogs) joined us for the day coming from all over South Wales as we wandered up to Burdons Hill, down to Goldsland and back via the St Lythans Burial Chamber and the Welsh and Wild Orchards. A grass snake at the Elizabethan Orchard and Oak Apple not far from New Wallace Farm were both new wildlife records for the area. It was nice to have with us a good number of Wenvoe residents who were keen to see how things were progressing in the orchards.

We have been concentrating on keeping the sites tidy for Green Flag judging and we await the results with interest. More recently we have been planting up the new Farm Orchard at Goldsland and its surrounding hedgerow. We have planted wildflower seed in a number of locations and donated seed to groups in Dinas Powys and Cowbridge along with over 100 packets to individuals who turned up for the Craft Fair. With funding from Grow Wild we are planting wildflower plug plants at Goldsland Farm and setting up areas where we shall be growing fungi – not for consumption but to help to tell the story of how important fungi are to our lives. If you come to the Open Day at Goldsland on Sunday 10th June you will be able to see what we are up to. And what a free day out for families with lots of other things going on!

 

 

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