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'In Bloom' - Newsletter - August 2006

August 2006
THE PENNINE VILLAGE OF LUDDENDEN
Silver Medal - Britain in Bloom 2005

Butterfly in the Luddenden Valley August has been a relatively quiet month after all the rushing around that has taken place throughout the spring and summer. No major work has taken place in the village but the team has undertaken a continued programme of maintenance such as dead heading and watering. It's the time of year to sit back and enjoy the garden, and if you have planted fruit and vegetables, harvest and eat your crops. While you are soaking up the sun, start thinking about spring planting. If you have recently visited a garden centre you will have seen spring bulbs and winter flowering pansy's on sale. So get ahead of the crowd and buy now.

The Ada Brookes Trophy

This year we were once again lucky to have Stuart Elwin, Calderdale's Horticultural Officer to judge the competition. This took place on Thursday 3rd August. The standard was very high and he saw an improvement on quality from last year. Stuart judged more strictly this year, looking at colour, use of plants & site, neatness and maintenance. The whole of the village was covered and a pleasant afternoon in the sun was enjoyed by Stuart.

Following on from last year we have again adopted a judging scheme based on the Royal Horticultural Society's and are awarding gold, silver and bronze medals with the trophy going to the overall winner.

Here are the results:

Overall Winner: Granby House, High Street

Gold Medals: 7, Church Hill & Granby House

Silver Medals: 9 Carrfield Drive, Badger Cottage, 69 High Street, 4 Thorn View, 3 Quarry House, 18 Highfield Road, 5 Bluebell Walk, Bluebell Lodge, 7 Spring Bank & 6 Spring Bank.

Bronze Medals: 2 Riding Head Lane, Bridge House, 63 High Street, Withernsea Cottage, 1 Riding Head Lane, 19 Richmond Terrace, 3 Bethel Terrace, 4 Bethel Terrace, 17 High Street, 4 Riding Head Lane, 16 Railes Close, 3 Thorn Terrace, 11 Highfield Road, 1 Spring Bank & 4 Bank Terrace.

So congratulations to Granby House and well done to everyone. Certificates have already been passed to the winners and the Ada Brookes Trophy will be presented in the near future. If you get a chance to have a look at some of the winners they may give you some inspiration for next year.

Our congratulations also go out to Eric and Linda Gaukroger, who have plots 1 & 2 of the Luddenden allotments. They gained a well deserved third place in the Todmorden area allotment competition for their plot.

Bird Life

Some of our summer visitors such as swifts and swallows will already be making their way south by now. Native species will be busy laying down fat reserves and searching out the best feeding stations around the village. So continue to put out a good variety of food to help the birds survive the winter especially the smaller species such as wrens and blue tits.

You can also get involved yourself in recording data for this year's BBC Autumnwatch Survey 2006. This program with Bill Oddie presenting, will be going out in October. All you have to do is make a note of the date you first saw within a 10km (6 mile radius) of the village the following:-

Ripe blackberries. First flowering of ivy. Last day you saw a swift. First day you observed ripe conkers. When you saw ripe Hawthorn berries and the first tint of the leaves of common oak. Once you have this information go on line to bbc.co.uk/autumnwatch and input your information.

Jobs to do this month

Deadheading and feeding is still a must to extend the flowering season well into autumn. To increase your shrubs start taking cuttings from non-flowering shoots. Collect seed from your favourite annuals and perennials and store in a dry place using brown paper bags. Don't forget to write the name of the variety on the bag. Keep dahlia's flowering by using supports to hold the plant upright and again feed every week. September is the time to summer prune that Wisteria. Snip back every long whippy side shoot to just 3 or 4 leaves from the base. Tie in the tip of the leading shoot if you are planning to extend the cover of your wisteria. If the plant is in a tub mulch with compost and feed with a high potash tomato feed.

If you have a greenhouse now is the time to sow a few pots of hardy annuals under glass for an early spring display. Winter flowering pansies in plug form are available now and can be brought on this month by re-potting singly and keeping them in the green house until your ready to plant out in the autumn. As we move into September outdoor tomato season ends so you will need to pinch out the tip of the plant as any flowers will not set fruits. As the temperature drops you may also have to remove trusses of green fruit and ripen them in the green house or a sunny windowsill. For those who are already thinking about Christmas flowers now is the time to buy prepared bulbs such as indoor Hyacinths. Three bulbs evenly spaced and placed in a pot or bowl is the norm with bulb fibre filled up to their necks. Water then pace in a warm cupboard (not hot so this excludes the airing cupboard) for about 12 weeks until the growing tip is about 2.5 - 5cms (1-2inches) high. Remove them to a sunny window sill and keep the fibre moist.

Dates for the diary

August 26th - Nellie Blooming BBQ (this may have passed when you receive the newsletter)

September 5th - Yorkshire in Bloom Results

September 9th - Mayor Making - As well as all the usual fun the 'Bloomers' will have a display for you to look at, copies of this years portfolios to read, spring bulbs for sale and a composting display where you can ask questions on the best methods of composting and receive free composting goodies for all the family. The Mayors Fund has supported the work of the Girl Guides in the past, it's a great cause and all the money raised is spent to local people and organisations.

SEE YOU ON MAYORS DAY, 9TH SEPTEMBER
FROM 12.30 IN ST MARYS CHURCH YARD