We popped down to the plot this evening to check on the chickens. As we walked down the plot, I spotted a small brown spikey hump moving slowly down the path ahead of us. Upon closer inspection, we discovered it was an adult hedgehog! We know there are hedgehogs on the site but it's been... Continue Reading →
RIP Flora
Sad news from the plot - we have lost Flora. She was a big character in the coop with many hilarious moments. Flora was very sassy and knew just how to make sure she got the biggest share of the treats, or the best spot on a perch in the Nest House. Latterly, Flora had... Continue Reading →
Weeds, weeds everywhere!
At lunchtime, I headed down to the allotment with a vague plan of watering seedlings and feeding chickens. Several hours later, covered in dirt I realised I had not only lost track of time, but had been rather productive! I always check on the chickens first and I was greeted enthusiastically at the run door... Continue Reading →
Spring Sunshine on the Plot
Today I headed down to the plot early with a long list of jobs to do. The sun was out and there wasn't a cloud in the sky. It's been weeks since we had such beautiful weather! My first job was the most important, catching up on all the site news with Cliff and Geoff.... Continue Reading →
Planting in the Greenhouse
Finally, after weeks of delays, we finally managed to get down to the allotment for a decent amount of time. As usual, we are behind everyone else but after a decade, I have resigned myself to this, ignoring my annual resolution to be more organised next year. My first job was to clear out the... Continue Reading →
RIP Trixie
Yet more sad news today from our flock - we popped out to top up the Topknot gang's food and water this evening to find Trixie had passed away. We rarely manage to just lose one chicken - often it's two or three in a short space of time and I have no idea why.... Continue Reading →
Digging out the Coop
This afternoon, wrapped up warm against the cold, I headed out to the allotment to start the huge task of digging out the main coop. It's a long and difficult job which takes ages - and I have a tendency to leave it for as long as possible which doesn't help! First, I checked on... Continue Reading →
The Plot Becomes an Ice Rink
Over the last week, snow and ice have ruled supreme in the UK. The news has been filled with snowy wastelands and amber weather warnings. Yet Crewe was a different story! It seems to have a slightly different micro-climate which is always warmer than the rest of the local area. In the first day where... Continue Reading →
2024 – A Year in Review
Well, here we are at the end of 2024! It's been a very challenging year at the allotment with a spectacularly wet winter and spring which meant we couldn't get onto the plot before May. By which time half the growing season was over so there wasn't too much we could do! and upon returning... Continue Reading →
RIP Rey
Sad news from the plot this evening when my husband went down to check on the chickens at the plot. In the nest box, he found Rey. She had passed away in her sleep. Rey was born the same summer as Leia and was her steadfast companion her whole life. Always flighty, she wasn't the... Continue Reading →
Putting the Plot to Bed
It's that time of year when the plot and life on the site slows. Although there are still lots of people on site, the cold and rain have more than a touch of autumn which will drive everyone else away over the winter except for us chicken keepers. But due to being away quite a... Continue Reading →
RIP Connie
This afternoon, my husband and I pottered down to the allotment. There has been almost no let up with the rain over the past week and it's made it very difficult to get down to the plot and work on it. Armed with the ladder from home, our task today was to prune the tops... Continue Reading →
A Productive Weekend
Over the past two days, we have made huge inroads into the jungle of weeds which used to be our plot. On Saturday afternoon, I headed down and focused on clearing the nettles, doc plants and other weeds from the back of Geoff's plot. The nettles are lethal and it was challenging to cut them... Continue Reading →
Swarms and Weeds
Today I ambled down the plot determined to continue tackling the weeds which are currently on the cusp of overtaking the entire plot. When I arrived, I found Steve kitting himself up in his bee suit - it turns out the weather have it swarm season again! The swarm this time was located on the... Continue Reading →
Caked in Dirt
Finally, we have had a couple of dry days - the weather went so far as to show a hint of blue sky and sunshine in between the clouds. With yet more rain forecast overnight, I headed down to the plot to see if it was dry enough to do some prepping for the new... Continue Reading →
RIP Polly
When my husband went down to feed the chickens he found that Polly had sadly passed away. It's strange knowing she's gone as we've had her for so many years. I had to go a very long way back through this blog to work out how old she was. Eventually, I found the post and... Continue Reading →
Unrelenting Rain
When I walked down to the plot this afternoon, I knew what I would find. Storm Katherine came through yesterday evening and overnight, bringing with it a torrent of rain and high winds. I knew the plot was going to be awful when I let the Topknot Gang out in the garden this morning to... Continue Reading →
Easter Sunday on the Plot
This afternoon, we both strolled down to the plot to get going on some jobs before the forecast washout for the rest of the week. It's frustrating as the plot is only just beginning to drain after the last deluge. Our first job was to check on the new girls in the Main Coop. There... Continue Reading →
RIP Maude
Before work, I headed down to the allotment, blissfully unaware of what awaited me in the Omlet. I always begin with Maude and Mavis when checking the chickens as their coop is right by the shed. When I arrived, I spotted Maude on the floor. I rushed over thinking she might have injured herself only... Continue Reading →
Chickens, chickens everywhere
Yesterday, I ambled down the plot to catch up with everyone and feed the chickens. The sun was out, the sky was blue and there was more than a hint of spring in the air. It was lovely to see the site busy, with people appearing after their winter hibernation. Despite wind, rain and snow,... Continue Reading →
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