This Month In The Gardens

This month, we have an interview with Ally and Mark, some rare visitors, and a list of birds recorded in the gardens.

Hello to Ally and Mark.

So what got you involved with the gardening group?  Ally, During COVID, with support for Mark, we were still allowed to go out and do stuff. We happened to have a walk through the gardens and saw the sign, so I stopped and had a chat about what they did, confirmed it was okay with Mark's dad, and then we started.  

How long have you been volunteering?   Ally,  Since COVID,  about five years

 Do you have a favourite part of the garden? Ali,  I like the rockery in front of the houses. I do like that one. I love that in the spring, when it's all in flower, I think it looks lovely, really pretty. So I think, yeah, that's my favourite part of the garden.  Mark. I like the fountains

What one gardening skill do you think you've learned?  Ally, you know what weeds are and what plants are. Well, a lot of the time, but I do like to confirm a few things just to make sure I'm digging up something I think shouldn't be there.   Mark, I’ve learnt a lot about gardening that I didn’t know before.

And what do you enjoy most about taking part in community gardening? Ally, I'm single. I don't see many people, so it's the social side I like. I get to speak to people, that's what it's all about, I think. It's as much about the social side as the work part.  Mark, Its good to work with a group of people.

And so, what does volunteering mean to you? Ally, On a personal note, I probably wouldn't have done it, but because I support Mark, that's my impetus to go out and find things for him to do, which obviously then benefits me, because it's a bit of exercise, socialising, and it's the same for him as well. My main aim is to support Mark and get him out doing stuff. He's come out of his shell so much. When I first met him, it was hard to get a conversation out of him. Now I can't shut him up. It's very sociable, and he likes that, and he likes to be a part of things. I can just leave him to get on and be directed by other people instead of it always being me.

Mark, I think volunteering is quite rewarding.

At last, we are into spring, the clocks change this weekend, and we have started a bit of planting rather than weeding and tidying, although important, planting and getting ready for summer are always good times.

Eddie and PerdanticPete have been doing a bit of bird recording. As the lists are the same, I’m using Eddie's list as it has pictures, and we love pictures.

Plum has photographed a couple of rare visitors

Alice tells us Google says it's a Comma Butterfly, and Peter W says it's quite rare!

No name has been given for this one, as yet.

Some pictures of our Monday Gang.