LITTLEHAMPTON ALLOTMENT & LEISU

LITTLEHAMPTON ALLOTMENT & LEISURE GARDENS ASSOCIATION

Affiliated to the Royal Horticultural Society and the National Society of Allotment

and Leisure Gardeners Ltd.

We are organising a day trip to

Hever Castle & Spa valley Railway

On Sunday 15^th April 2012

Cost £26 per person Tip for drivers included

Itinerary

The Timetable is as follows

PICK UP POINTS

Wick Dew Drop 08-20hrs

Littlehampton Anchor Springs 08-30 hrs

Littlehampton Cuff Millers 08-40 hrs

Travel to Hever Castle - arrive 10-30

Visit Gardens and Castle with time for lunch

Leave 15-00 hours for

Spa Valley Railway at Royal Tunbridge Wells

Travel on the railway to Eridge were we will join the coach for our journey home arriving at 18-30 approx

We have already filled one coach so if you are interested

Please return the booking form with payment as soon as possible to:-

TOUR ORGANIZER, Tony Squires, 24 Belloc Road, Littlehampton, BN17 7EZ Telephone 01903 714271 E-Mail

tony41squires@yahoo.co.uk

........................................................................................................

Ironbridge

Forty two members of the Association and friends enjoyed another of Tony's 'weekend trips'. After shepherding all his flock on board the coach and not losing anyone this time Tony could then sit back and relax and enjoy the journey. After a couple of 'comfort stops' we arrived in Stratford upon Avon before lunch and we all spent an enjoyable few hours exploring the town. Most of us visited the house in which Shakespeare was born, walked the cobbled streets and walked by the canal. After lunch we left for Telford where we were staying for the 2 nights at the Park inn Hotel.

There was little time to unpack or change before we had to go down to dinner (although several found time to go to the bar first!!!). The hotel was very near Telford shopping centre and several of us decided to go for a walk to explore the shops - only to find that the only shop open was Asda!!!! There was no choice - we just had to go back to the hotel for a drink!

The next morning everyone was up bright and early (even Chas Haskins!) and made the coach for our short trip to see the Ironbridge Gorge museums. After a a first glimpse of the Iron Bridge we headed for the Victorian open Air museum at Blist Hill. This is an incredible place with many Victorian shops (although the prices were of course 21st century) and we all spent several hours wandering the streets. It was hardly a 'wander' for some of us as we were pushing my mother and Tony's Auntie Chris around in wheelchairs and the ground was very uneven and steep in places. Thank goodness for the Inclined plane lift which travelled between the two levels and also some nice young men who helped over the sticky bits. Other fascinating exhibits included a ride down to the clay mine and the blast furnaces.

After lunch we headed back towards Ironbridge and stopped off at the Coalport China Museum where there were many displays and demonstrations explaining the history and techniques of china making. We then went to Ironbridge where we could see the famous Iron Bridge and Tollhouse and wander round the village for souvenirs etc. It was then back to the hotel to rest our weary feet and then have dinner (and of course a drink in the bar).

On the Sunday we travelled down to Swindon for the mandatory visit to a steam railway - the Swindon and Cricklade Railway. We had two short rides over the 2 ½ miles of running line with lunch in the railway carriage in between. There was also plenty of time to look round the shop and other visitor attractions.

We headed back to Littlehampton and arrived in the early evening after another very interesting trip.

More Photos

Harvest Supper

About 70 members and friends spent a very enjoyable evening at the Harvest Supper. Everyone was very ably entertained by the Group "Sussex Halves" who played a wide range of music which encouraged people to get up and dance.

Littlehampton Town Show

Our illustrious Life Member, Chairman and the Trading Hut Secretary Enjoying themselves at the Littlehampton Town Show.

More Pictures

Gardening at Flora McDonald School.

Lee Farquhar, the LALGA Membership Secretary, has been responsible for setting up a garden project at Flora McDonald School.

4 Groups of 8 children from year 3 were involved with the project. The garden was to be in a small courtyard in the school and they first of all had to clear out a very old, very large, clematis. Because there was no depth of soil it was necessary for Lee to make some raised beds which were filled with recycled media (topsoil) from Stubbs Copse Wood yard.

Before the project started the children had sown carrots and runner beans in pots. Unfortunately, the carrots could not be transplanted but the runner beans were very good plants and were planted in the garden and produced a good crop.

Unfortunately there was no water supply hand and so a hose had to be run from one of the classrooms to do the watering. Lee has supplied a water butt and it is hoped that the gutter will be fixed ready for next year.

They grew leeks, onions, new potatoes, runner beans, peas, carrots, tomatoes and strawberries. The seeds and topsoil were paid for by the LALGA.

Lee hopes to repeat the project next year as the teaching staff have been very positive and supportive of the project. He is hoping to grow more vegetables that will be harvested before the end of the summer term.

Lee with a nice crop of carrots Lee with the superb sunflowers

More pictures

Tips from Old Gardeners

This little table my help you see at a glance some of the plants which help others by being grown close by and other plants which should not be grown close together.

Plant/vegetable	Helps	Does not like
Marigolds	Cabbage family Peas, Potatoes, Tomatoes
Thyme	Cabbage family	Potatoes
Parsley	Beans, Carrots, Asparagus, Turnips, tomatoes
Asparagus	Tomatoes, Parsley	Onion family
Beans	Carrots, Peas, Courgettes, Leeks, Turnips, Parsley, Strawberries
Beetroot	Onion Family
Cabbage Family	Thyme	Onion Family, Strawberries
Carrots	Beans, Peas, Leeks, Lettuce, Turnips, Onion Family
Courgettes	Beans, Peas
Leeks	Beans, Peas Carrots, turnips
Lettuce	Carrots, Strawberries
Onion family	Carrots, Beetroot	Beans, Peas, Strawberries, Cabbage Family
Peas	Beans, Carrots, Leeks, Turnips, Courgettes	Onion family
Potatoes	Beans, Peas, Strawberries	Tomatoes
Strawberries	Beans, Lettuce	Cabbage Family
Tomatoes	Asparagus, Parsley,	Potatoes
Turnips	Beans, Carrots, Leeks, Parsley