The Allotments and Biodiversity
by Michael O Hare
Monaghan Town Allotments:
On the allotment, rather than removing hedges, the surrounding hedges were incorporated into the allotments and used as boundaries. The hedges consist of native planting including hawthorn, blackthorn and dogwood rose. Mixed within the hedgerows are some species of native trees among them, elder, and ash.
In autumn 2013 and throughout spring of 2014, in a joint project with the Monaghan County Council biodiversity officer, a major planting operation was undertaken and with the help of members of the allotments and members of the local community we planted twenty one native trees including wild cherry, bird cherry, oak, rowan, birch, white beam, crab apple, over two hundred and fifty whitethorn and blackthorn quick’s, mixed hazel and holly hedges as borders, mixed hedging including dogwood rose and spindle.
As part of this programme we created a Biodiversity garden approximately half an acre in size. In this area we included an outdoor classroom bordered by a herb garden for visiting schools and community groups to enjoy. The herb garden is split into three sections, kitchen herbs, medicinal herbs and aromatic herbs. The herbs are mostly flowering and were picked to attract bees and butterfly’s and other pollinating creatures. Surrounding this there is an orchard, a hazel coppicing area, a natural growth area (wild grass, thistle, buttercup, and other natural plants indigenous to the site), an edible hedge (blackcurrant, white currant, gooseberry, red currant) a natural habitat zone ( old hedge toppings and scrub/brush that have been thrown in a heap along an existing hedge), and a Nature Trail ( natural pathway going through a double hedgerow that links the allotments with the Biodiversity Garden) all bordered by the previously mentioned mixed hedging. At the entrance to the Biodiversity Garden a walled mini woodland garden has been developed with holly, hazel, whitethorn, blackthorn and elder surrounding, the woodland garden is planted with native woodland plants including primrose, foxglove, calla lilly, ferns, and wild garlic etc.
The allotment members are encouraged to companion plant on their allotments and many of them grow insect attracting flowers including sunflowers, sweet pea, wild flower mixes and more. The rest of the allotment site has been planted up with a lot of the previously mentioned hedging and native planting as well as a Spruce hedge and willow areas, with hedges strategically placed to create a wildlife corridor that links the whole site and surrounding areas including the local Ulster Canal. There are also bird and bat box and bug hotel projects carried out in partnership with the local Tidy Towns and various other community groups including Monaghan Men’s Shed,
As part of our continued efforts to enhance biodiversity we are planning further projects for 2015 and are currently putting our plan into action
Mullaghmatt / Cortolvin Community Garden;
In the Garden we have planted apple trees along the fencing to encourage pollinating insects. There are raised beds in the garden and some of them are planted with wild flower mixes. There is a children’s garden within the community garden and this is used by summer camps and local youth groups where they companion plant vegetables and flowers to enhance biodiversity, in this area there is also a bug hotel. Native hedges have been planted to create wildlife corridors. Throughout the garden there are bird boxes to encourage local birds to inhabit the garden.
Other projects carried out by the community garden members include; planting of a living willow fence, orchard (cherry and apple trees) and raised beds and planters at the local childcare facility at Teach na nDaoine Family Recourse Centre.
All the projects were carried out in partnership with Teach na mDaoine FRC and members and groups from the local community. Work is continuing in the garden and several projects are currently underway including a herb garden, shrub and flower gardens and further fruit bush and tree planting.
Monaghan Town Allotments:
On the allotment, rather than removing hedges, the surrounding hedges were incorporated into the allotments and used as boundaries. The hedges consist of native planting including hawthorn, blackthorn and dogwood rose. Mixed within the hedgerows are some species of native trees among them, elder, and ash.
In autumn 2013 and throughout spring of 2014, in a joint project with the Monaghan County Council biodiversity officer, a major planting operation was undertaken and with the help of members of the allotments and members of the local community we planted twenty one native trees including wild cherry, bird cherry, oak, rowan, birch, white beam, crab apple, over two hundred and fifty whitethorn and blackthorn quick’s, mixed hazel and holly hedges as borders, mixed hedging including dogwood rose and spindle.
As part of this programme we created a Biodiversity garden approximately half an acre in size. In this area we included an outdoor classroom bordered by a herb garden for visiting schools and community groups to enjoy. The herb garden is split into three sections, kitchen herbs, medicinal herbs and aromatic herbs. The herbs are mostly flowering and were picked to attract bees and butterfly’s and other pollinating creatures. Surrounding this there is an orchard, a hazel coppicing area, a natural growth area (wild grass, thistle, buttercup, and other natural plants indigenous to the site), an edible hedge (blackcurrant, white currant, gooseberry, red currant) a natural habitat zone ( old hedge toppings and scrub/brush that have been thrown in a heap along an existing hedge), and a Nature Trail ( natural pathway going through a double hedgerow that links the allotments with the Biodiversity Garden) all bordered by the previously mentioned mixed hedging. At the entrance to the Biodiversity Garden a walled mini woodland garden has been developed with holly, hazel, whitethorn, blackthorn and elder surrounding, the woodland garden is planted with native woodland plants including primrose, foxglove, calla lilly, ferns, and wild garlic etc.
The allotment members are encouraged to companion plant on their allotments and many of them grow insect attracting flowers including sunflowers, sweet pea, wild flower mixes and more. The rest of the allotment site has been planted up with a lot of the previously mentioned hedging and native planting as well as a Spruce hedge and willow areas, with hedges strategically placed to create a wildlife corridor that links the whole site and surrounding areas including the local Ulster Canal. There are also bird and bat box and bug hotel projects carried out in partnership with the local Tidy Towns and various other community groups including Monaghan Men’s Shed,
As part of our continued efforts to enhance biodiversity we are planning further projects for 2015 and are currently putting our plan into action
Mullaghmatt / Cortolvin Community Garden;
In the Garden we have planted apple trees along the fencing to encourage pollinating insects. There are raised beds in the garden and some of them are planted with wild flower mixes. There is a children’s garden within the community garden and this is used by summer camps and local youth groups where they companion plant vegetables and flowers to enhance biodiversity, in this area there is also a bug hotel. Native hedges have been planted to create wildlife corridors. Throughout the garden there are bird boxes to encourage local birds to inhabit the garden.
Other projects carried out by the community garden members include; planting of a living willow fence, orchard (cherry and apple trees) and raised beds and planters at the local childcare facility at Teach na nDaoine Family Recourse Centre.
All the projects were carried out in partnership with Teach na mDaoine FRC and members and groups from the local community. Work is continuing in the garden and several projects are currently underway including a herb garden, shrub and flower gardens and further fruit bush and tree planting.