Articles

A survey one year found more than 30 newts on our site. They're a protected species, so take care to return to a pond if you find any. This year's Springwatch series has featured them again.

If you want to find out more, here's a link to their report a couple of years ago: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfhHmrvIBnY

And this has background info on the kind of newt we host - the smooth or common newt: https://www.arc-trust.org/smooth-newt

Newcastle allotment holders are invited to send entries for a range of award categories. The deadline's 30 June - you can print off a copy of the entry form from the Urban Green news story here.

The Classes for this year are: 

Two Newcastle events have displayed exhibits inspired by gardening and growing. Plotholder Peter Kellett has shown a stunning work at Newcastle Contemporary Arts Gallery - it's called "Keep Digging! Allotment Archaeology" and is pictured here.

The usual spring inspection took place in early March. This checks that the Plotholder Agreement is being complied with (available in Resources section of website). This outlines the rules (including types of use, tidiness around plot, amount of ground that must be cultivated).

Have you seen this recent stag visitor? The National Allotment Society is interested in general changes to deer presence and the tactics we're using to protect crops. Many of you shared your 2022 experiments with Olwyn - any updates will be welcome (her contacts are on our About Us page).   

Newcastle Council offers a discount scheme to buy bins and wormeries - council info here. It links to this website where the offer can be used, by entering your postcode.

Our neighbours - Jesmond Dene - are having a volunteer day for treeplanting. It takes place on 23 February, between 10 and 3pm. A number of our plotholders have an interest in trees, so if you'd like to take part, more information is available here from Urban Green, the charity that runs all Newcastle allotments as well as the parks.