Wildlife allotment

[reedos]

I currently have a couple of allotments, one for veg, the other was vacant for years as it was "hopeless as a garden" according to the allotment secretary. To cut a long story short, I am vacating it - not because it's hopeless garden, but because the local kids decided to nick stuff, smash things etc - to take on one which has a big greenhouse on it (wahay).
The problems with the kids got me thinking. I was planning on planting a hawthorn, blackthorn & bramble hedge to try to keep the liitle buggers out, and I thought that this native kind of hedge would have the added bonus of attracting wildlife. I then thought that if this plot was going to be empty again, why not go the whole hog and have a wildlife garden. I'm happy to dig a pond, plant a wildflower meadow, plant a hedge and so on, but less keen on having to fork out for said items. Does anybody know whether there are any grants available for this kind of thing ?
I also haven't sold the idea to the Committee yet, but have a few ideas on how to do that, my wife is a cub leader and I thought she could get them involved and ask the local school if they'd like their kids to plant stuff etc.
Any thoughts or ideas would be most welcome. :)

[reedos]

[flower]

Hi reedos i suggest that you try getting in touch with your local community volunteers office ,whilst i was a secretary for the allotment group  I started at my previous lotties I raised money for the group by going to the above suggested group who provided me with all the info on where and who to apply for to get some dosh for the lotties including a huge book which provides all the lottery fundings available ,cut off dates to apply and numerous smaller organisations who hand out dosh hope you get some money sounds a fab idea :D

Ann-Marie

[Piglottie]

Hi reedos

I work in volunteering and although am not involved with any lottie projects (despite trying to slyly get some volunteers to dig over my jungle  ;) ), there are a few projects in our area where people are doing conservation work on lotties.

The BTCV are doing work on allotments here in Hull, turning them into wildlife gardens.  Try this link http://www.btcv.org/ppawards/  - I know they have finished the latest round of funding but think you can apply again later in the year.  Haven't been involved directly so not sure of criteria etc.

Not sure if this next link will help but for our town there is a strategic group set up to promote biodiversity and there are various organisations involved.  http://www.hull.ac.uk/HBP/   Maybe you could contact some of the people listed there (relevant to your area) - people such as English Nature, Wildlife Trust, RSPB.

I would also contact your local council, as there are loads of different pots of money around for this sort of project - in relation to both conservation but also improving deprived areas. 

You could also contact suppliers to see if they will donate to the project.  Get a bit of publicity (local papers love to report on this sort of thing - especially if kids are involved like the cubs), and we all know how much business love publicity particularly as being seen as a moral/ethical/caring employer is the buzz word at the moment.

HTH
Piglottie

[wardy]

Wonderful idea - go for it!  Do you have a local "Groundwork Trust"? as they give plants for such ventures.  Our local group gets donations locally, eg Rotary Club, Civic Society, local pub who has a charity for local causes, etc.  The only criteria really if receiving money is that the finished article has to be open to people to visit.  Lottery money is available in all shorts of guises and your local council should have an officer who can point you at the relevent money pot.

Your hedge idea is a good starting point.  My lotty has a lovely hedge (well it is now after lopping of massess of it) and we've had thrushes nesting in it, oh and a wren who had lots of babies.  Watched them fledge on the manure pile  :)

[Robert_Brenchley]

Buckingham Nurseries have a really good selection of native hedging plants if you're interested.

[reedos]

Thankyou all for your suggestions, I'll definately look into them. Just got to sell the idea to the committee. I'll let you know how I get on