Water harvesting in and brambles out

A healthy ten volunteers turned up to set to and carry forward the site preparation at East Beckham Allotments for the planned Tree Nursery. With an eye on the weather after the previous days longed-for rain the twin tasks were quickly allotted. 

David, Nigel, John and Simon G started work on renovating and enhancing the existing, but slightly dilapidated, water-harvesting installation which, after this summer's drought, is clearly a priority. This will be shared with the other allotment tenants. This was a job that represented more of a challenge than was immediately obvious but the team’s combined knowledge of hydraulics and physics saw, by the end of the session, two storage tanks in place with others to follow next time.

Tree nursery bowser installation

Simon W, Carol, Trevor and Alan continued with the eradication of brambles from the north side of the area and reached a point where mowing is now possible for future maintenance. Trevor and Carol cleared the brambles and rubbish around the useful shed already on site and assessed the small repairs needed prior to the planned painting of a mural on two sides, which will really brighten things up and draw attention to our project. It was decided that the temporary greenhouse is perhaps good enough for another year and an overhanging branch and ivy were removed.

Ivy removal at the tree nursery

Hero #1 of the morning was Jake who cleared umpteen barrow loads of material to the bonfire at the other end of the allotments. We can look forward to that on a cooler day and after much more rain.

Jake barrowing

Hero #2 was Peter who walked up to the top of East Beckham Common only to find that a local dog owner has again spoiled things by not clearing up after her hound(s). Peter duly removed the offending material and another word will be had with the offender - quite disappointing really.

Our next work party is on Thursday September 3^rd – haymaking at the Sustead cluster.

Alan Stevens

August 20^th 2026