Cortis Avenue Wildlife Garden Update

Posted on 25 November 2020

Over the last six months, the Wildlife Garden has been thriving, blissfully unaware of the pandemic. Although closed to general visitors, the garden has been a sanctuary for our volunteers, and has benefited from their high level of TLC.

Between April and July, volunteers visited in twos for three sessions a week. Since August we have expanded to four volunteers each session, again covering three sessions a week. By appointment we will show visitors around during a session, providing the total number at the garden stays at six or less.

Other Covid safety measures are also in place, including everyone using their own gloves, handwashing and sanitising, mask wearing if people have to get close to each other, and disinfecting tools and furniture at the end of the session. Only one person is allowed in the office hut and tool store at any one time – which brings some challenges with heavy rain showers.

Over the spring and summer the garden suffered with the drought and the pond got very low, despite our work last year to double water storage capacity. Very helpful neighbours did provide us with some water. Drought tolerant plants, like wild carrot, teasel, vipers bugloss and oxeye daisies thrived, but the apple trees haven’t done well this year.

Butterflies were abundant – brimstone, small skipper, peacock (with nettles covered in caterpillars), speckled wood, gatekeeper, and a marbled white. And of course the cinnabar moths, with their stripy caterpillars stripping the ragwort bare.

Just before lockdown we had thankfully just completed the installation of our composting toilet, and in the last month have put in the soakaway. Clearing the area for the toilet has enabled us to plant a new hedgerow of dogwood, alder and common buckthorn, under-planted with red campion and primroses.

For the autumn and winter there is plenty to keep us all busy. We are remodelling the small pond to make it more child friendly, creating bare earth areas in the meadow and seeding for next year, clearing paths, weeding borders, and tackling invasive brambles and bindweed. Let us hope that by next Spring we will be able to welcome the public back to enjoy the garden as we can.

Our Facebook Communities

Comments Box SVG iconsUsed for the like, share, comment, and reaction icons

Some of our team were away today so we couldn't do as many repairs as usual. Apologies to those who couldn't get a booking and we are very full for the next one already on the electrical side, although we will have space for sewing repairs.

Big thanks to all who braved the weather today, especially to our wonderful team who are faced with unpredictable and often very challenging repairs, but handle them with a smile and a cheerful conversation.
... See MoreSee Less

Some of our team were away today so we couldnt do as many repairs as usual. Apologies to those who couldnt get a booking and we are very full for the next one already on the electrical side, although we will have space for sewing repairs.

Big thanks to all who braved the weather today, especially to our wonderful team who are faced with unpredictable and often very challenging repairs, but handle them with a smile and a cheerful conversation.Image attachmentImage attachment+5Image attachment

Have you got a spare 10 minutes to help us protect our coastline?

This Thursday (17 August) we’re hosting a beach clean to make sure that our shoreline is looking its best during the last weeks of summer.

The beach clean will be going on from 10am to midday. No booking is required, and all equipment is provided.

Anyone wanting to take part should meet at the Coastal Office, between the Pier and the Lido on the promenade.

The event forms part of our Big Clean Up initiative, which has seen a series of beach cleans and litter picks take part across our town.
... See MoreSee Less

Have you got a spare 10 minutes to help us protect our coastline?

This Thursday (17 August) we’re hosting a beach clean to make sure that our shoreline is looking its best during the last weeks of summer.

The beach clean will be going on from 10am to midday. No booking is required, and all equipment is provided.

Anyone wanting to take part should meet at the Coastal Office, between the Pier and the Lido on the promenade.

The event forms part of our Big Clean Up initiative, which has seen a series of beach cleans and litter picks take part across our town.
... See MoreSee Less

May Close allotment producing so much this year - this was yesterday's yield, to be shared among our volunteers and any surplus to go to a local food bank.
Big thanks to Tom, Michael and Sally for coming to help. Lovely to see Tracey, her daughter Rachel and to meet Tracey's grand-daughter Evelyn, who popped in to see us.
... See MoreSee Less

May Close allotment producing so much this year - this was yesterdays yield, to be shared among our volunteers and any surplus to go to a local food bank. 
Big thanks to Tom, Michael and Sally for coming to help. Lovely to see Tracey, her daughter Rachel and to meet Traceys grand-daughter Evelyn, who popped in to see us.Image attachmentImage attachment

Very busy day yesterday at the Repair Cafe - 42 items brought in to repair and most of them successful. Big thanks to our wonderful team of volunteers - repairers and kitchen crew - it would not happen without your selfless support and expertise each month.

Now taking bookings for next one - Sat. August 26th: www.ttworthing.org/repair-cafe/
... See MoreSee Less

Very busy day yesterday at the Repair Cafe - 42 items brought in to repair and most of them successful. Big thanks to our wonderful team of volunteers - repairers and kitchen crew - it would not happen without your selfless support and expertise each month.

Now taking bookings for next one - Sat. August 26th: https://www.ttworthing.org/repair-cafe/Image attachmentImage attachment+5Image attachment

with all this rain, everything is growing so fast - our harvest for today from the community allotment! ... See MoreSee Less

with all this rain, everything is growing so fast - our harvest for today from the community allotment!Image attachmentImage attachment
Load more