Monthly Archives: May 2019

2nd Guiseley Guides Upgade Suzannah’s Meadow

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2nd Guiseley Guides planting the wildflower meadow

On a beautiful May evening yesterday the 2nd Guiseley Guides and their leaders helped the Friends plant out flowers in Suzannah’s Meadow.  This will help build up a nectar rich habitat to encourage bees and butterflies.

Wildflower plan plugs supplied by Leeds City Council Horticultural Grant

When the Bellway Estate was built the Friends suggested that the meadow at the bottom of the Park was restored  – as it had been in the past.   The area was duly landscaped back into a hillside by Bellway with plans passed for a path to come from the estate, up through the meadow and join the Greenshaw Terrace Path.  The area was then planted up with rough grass,  clover, vetch, birdsfoot trefoil and other early meadow establishing plants.   We called it Suzannah’s meadow after the several ladies of that name who owned and farmed the land in past centuries.

Work on the meadow is a long term project of the Friends in conjunction with Meadfleet: a grass path has been cut along the bottom by the fence, joining it up with the central area of the estate for accessibility by less able residents, the planned gate entrance has been opened up for access to work on the meadow, orchard and lower levels of the Park  (with a kissing gate due to go in over the summer).  And, several local estate residents have put up bird boxes supplied by both themselves and Meadfleet, and planted crabapple trees to help pollinate  surrounding fruit trees – one crabapple is in remembrance of a child who died at birth the others for siblings.

The next step is getting rid of the clumps of coarse grass and the planting and cultivation of more varied meadow wildflowers to build up a nectar rich habitat to encourage bees, which in turn will help pollinate the nearby community orchard .

Johanna and Peter Brooks preparing the ground for the wildflowers

Johanna Brooks of Brooks Ecological and Chris Parapia organized last night’s planting event with the 2nd Guiseley Guides, and prepared the ground over the weekend.   The wildflower plugs were obtained by the Friends through a Leeds City Council Horticultural Grant.  The Guides then spent an hour or so planting the plugs in the prepared ground last night, ensuring they were watered and mulched.

The plants now need to be kept watered to establish them and neighbours on the estate have volunteered to help do that.

 

 

Growing An Orchard

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“Within the woodland flow’ry gladed,
By the oak tree’s mossy root,
The shining grass blade timber shaded
Now do quiver on the foot,
And birds do whistle overhead,
And water’s bubbling in its bed,
And there for me the apple tree Do lean down low, in Linden Lea.”
William Barnes

We are lucky to have the help of The Orchard Project to teach us the skills for looking after the fruit trees in the Park. We have both the community orchard which was planted between 2015 and 2018,  and trees that have been planted in various places over the years.

In the winter we learnt how to do both the formative and regenerative pruning.  We are now taking on the spring tasks of mulching and ensuring the right level of fertility.

A Cider Ladies Finger tree pruned in the winter of 2019 and below in flower in May.

Sadly the old horse-chestnut by the Orchard, planted by Parkinsons, had to come down as it was a danger – but we are now using the bark as a mulch which will protect the trees and feed the soil.

We have also been recording the apple blossom from the various trees to help with identifications – especially those we do not know.  For that we have help from the Northern Fruit Growers Association

The White Blossom of Balsam

Our next task is to learn how to scythe the grass over the coming months, as we have been advised that it is much better than strimming – it is also a good exercise.  :-).  Let us know if you’d like to join us in looking after the orchard and learning the old skills, parkinsonspark@gmail.com.

The Parkinson’s Park Apple Day will be on 20th October this year,  with an apple crusher and press for juice, and apple goodies to taste.