After some initial confusion about whether visits to the allotment are allowed, we receive official word that we CAN go to the plot. There are new restrictions, but it is a joy to be back at our little patch of earth! When we took on our second plot we just cut new beds right into the grass, always intending to eventually box them in and do away with the grass paths in favour of mulch. With Amy's work hours restricted we had time to start building the new raised beds, and to get the plot on the way to looking like we always wanted.
There is plenty of wildlife at the plot this month, including unusual 22-spot ladybirds. These tiny yellow and black bugs are the smallest of the UK native ladybirds, but they still have a voracious appetite, and help to keep aphids and other small insects at bay. We never use any insecticides or pesticides at our plot. We want to encourage a natural balance of predatory insects and birds to keep the pest insects at bay, and to benefit local wildlife. Encouraging wildlife is really important to us, and so is growing food naturally. One of the main reasons we got a plot in the first place is that we want to eat produce that has been grown conscientiously and not sprayed with anything nasty.
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