Wildlife and Weeds
On this page, it is our attention to give some insight as to what wildlife, weeds and insects you are likely to come across on our site.
Weeds
Below we have listing some common weeds on the plot which you will come across.
Bindweed
Whilst bindweed has pretty trumped flowers and provides important pollen for bees, it's a very difficult weed to control. Winding itself around plants taking over areas very quickly it has a fragile white root systems which easily break and spreads. Bindweed can regrow from the smallest part of a stem, leave or root.
Recommendations you will see on the Internet and social media will advice you to dig up the roots that can go down deep. I personally do not advise you to do this because the fragile roots easily break and before you know it you've got more bindweed than you started with. Instead let it climb up a bamboo cane so you know where it is, instead of it winding its way around your produce. There is a trick with a small water bottle and weedkiller to contain the chemicals. Cut a notch in the top of a small water bottle and fill with double strength duiluted glysophate weedkiller. Feed the bindweed into the bottle and replace the top. Ensure the stem is placed in the notch and is not pinched by the bottle top. Dig a small hole, place the bottle in it and leave for a month. The weedkiller will go through the leaves and down into the root system, and the bottle will stop the weedkiller spreading.
Bramble (Blackberry)
Whether bramble is a nuisance or not is a matter of opinion. For some, they are intentional or free seasonal produce great for tart or jam. For others, especially new plot holders, an absolute pain that spread far too easily popping up exactly where you don't want it to, and difficult to control. Bramble however is easily dealt with. First cut it down to a few inches above ground level, then dig out the central core which is about 6 inches below ground. don't bother with the side roots as most of them won't regrow without the central core. If they do, repeat the process.
Creeping buttercup
Pretty yellow buttercup like flowers with parsley like leaves that spread very quickly through an underground root system. Low growing and fairly easy to remove but even a small bit of its white root left behind will regrow and spread quickly. As these spread through a creeping root system you can reduce their spread with a barrier submerged about 4 inches into the grown such as bricks or pallet wood. Alternatively dig a 6 inch trench around your beds to slow down their spread. The only way to reduce this is to dig up the root and dispose and repeat.
Dandelion
An important early season source of nectar for pollinators such as bees, dandelion leaves are an edible salad leaf with a taste towards bitter. Younger leaves are more delicate and less bitter. Similar to Docks they have a long tap root which snaps and regrows easily. Deal with this (if you really have to) in the same way as docks.
Dock
Also edible in small quantities and with a similar toxicity to spinach. Roots go deep and can be hard to remove. Best way to deal with these is to either pull when they are young, or allow them to grow and cut them about 3 inches underground with a spade at 45 degrees. Pull the top off and leave the root in place so as not to disturb any seed that may have fallen already or in previous years..
Wildlife
Below is a list of wildlife and insects common to the plot which you will come across. This list is still being updated.
Cabbage white caterpillars
Just when your greens are looking health, along come the cabbage white butterflies. They themselves don't do any harm but the eggs they leave behind will develop into hundreds of black and yellow caterpillars that will strip your brassicas (greens) over night. Keep your greens covered when they are about mid to late summer and check the undersides of leaves regularly.
Flea beetle
Tiny black jumping beetles that love to much their way through leaves, leaving your veg leaves peppered with tiny holes. As with slugs, they like to live under undisturbed items such as bricks and pots, so keep your plot as free from debris as possible and move pots often.
Pigeons
These cheeky chappies just love munching through your young greens, cabbage, kale, young peas, and pull up onion sets and completely ruining your hard work. Early in the season your sowings are best covered, but later on when there is more natural food abundant they usually leave you alone.
Robins, Blackbirds and Crows
You will often find robins following you as you turn over soil seeking the worms you have exposed and blackbirds will make a feast of any bush fruit you have when it ripens unless you cover it. Robins will often follow you around the allotment especially if you are digging, but otherwise cause no harm to produce. Blackbirds will strip your fruit bushes in a day when they have rippened.
Squirrels
We have a several grey squirrels that will often be heard and sometimes seen scampering amongst the oak trees that edge the site.
Slow worms (legless lizard)
Slow worms can often be found from around March onwards hiding under undisturbed areas of ground. These are completely harmless and becoming more rare to please leave them alone and they will quickly move our of your way. They also love to eat small slugs.
Slugs
What can anyone say about slugs! They are one of the gardeners worst nightmares and we have more than our fair share of them. Keep your ground free of any hiding places as possible to minimise damage to your crops. They love to hide under wood. Nematodes are a good option but expensive. If you come across large green / brown slugs with a leopard patch type markings, leave them alone. They are probably leopard or cellar slugs. Cellar slugs rarely touch living plants, choosing instead to feed on decaying matter and even other slugs!