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'In Bloom' - Newsletter - September 2007

September 2007
THE PENNINE VILLAGE OF LUDDENDEN
Gold Medal - Yorkshire in Bloom 2007

GOLD MEDAL FOR LUDDENDEN

Once again you guys have done us proud and Luddenden was awarded a Gold Medal in this years Yorkshire in Bloom competition. We also won a special award for the best spring colour. The full result can be found on the website but the judges comments concluded that the village

“ has produced another colourful display in tubs, pots and window boxes throughout the village. The Bloom group continues to develop and maintain strong links with local schools and other village organizations. The improvements made in the playground are excellent and a good example of such links. The research into appropriate plants for specific areas such as the churchyard and Methodist Chapel has resulted in excellent and varied displays”.

The judges were also impressed with the Lord Nelson and as a result of our landlady’s continued support of the village as a whole, Debbie was nominated for, and won, the Sawley Arms Trophy for the promotion of Yorkshire in Bloom. So on behalf of the village and the in Bloom team congratulations Debbie and many thanks for all you do. So all in all it was another successful campaign and all we can ask of everyone is more of the same for 2008.

Finally congratulations to Appleton Wiske who were also awarded gold but were judged as winners of the section. They had better watch out next year!

Ada Brookes Trophy

The full results of the 2007 competition are listed below

Gold

Granby House, Rose Cottage, The Vicarage, Carr Field, 1 Riding Head Lane

9, Carr Field Drive (Overall Winner), Badger Cottage, Bridge House

Silver

Folly Too, Old Lane, 4 Old Lane, 5 Church Hill, 3 Bethel Terrace, 4 Bethel Terrace

1 Spring Bank, 6 Spring Bank, 11 Highfield Drive, 69 High Street, 71 High Street,

74 High Street, 61 High Street

Bronze

7 Church Hill, 5 Bluebell Walk, 20 Spring Bank, 4 Quarry House

What’s been happening around the village

With autumn now here it’s time for the start of the leaf fall season and planning for the competition next year. So over the next couple of months the team will be busy settling the village down for winter. Flowerbeds will start to be pruned back and mulched and all the tubs and planters will be cleared to allow bulbs and spring bedding to be planted. Of course the great Luddenden ‘leaf sweep’ will soon take place so work parties will be organised for anyone who cares to join in.

Bird Life

Goldfinches - a noisier bunch you couldn’t meet - have invaded the fields at the rear of my house. I was wondering why my niger seed feeders were not being used and discovered the finches were busy feeding on the various grass seed heads that grow there. Just goes to show that plants can re-populate areas if they are left free of chemicals and how beneficial that is to wildlife.

Jobs to do this month

Still got pelargoniums (geraniums) and fuchsias growing and want to save a bob or two next year? Then now is the time to take 2-inch non-flowering cuttings from plants. Remove lower leaves and place them in compost rich in grit. Finally cover pots or trays with polythene and place in a greenhouse or on a warm windowsill but not direct sunlight. Leave until spring when they can then be potted on. Ensure the compost is kept damp but don’t overwater or the cutting will rot away.

Clear bedding plants when they have gone past their best and replace with, for example, forget-me-nots and wallflowers for a spring display. Garden centres are now full of spring bulbs such as daffodil, tulip and crocus. As mentioned in newsletters in the past the Pennine area is prone to high winds so check the heights of your selection and try for something around 12 inches otherwise the flowers will just flop over. There is still time while the weather remains mild to sow swede, spring cabbage, beetroot and turnip (for salad leaves), winter lettuce, Swiss chard, spinach beet and winter-hardy spinach. For lawn lovers - keep mowing every week on a high blade and give it a good feed to promote strong root growth for winter.

Don’t forget your garden furniture and decking. Now is the time to treat all outdoor timber. Choose a dry day and remember you will need at least two coats. Try using an environmentally friendly preparation such as linseed oil, castor oil or citrus oil. Check out the websites for other alternative treatments such as www.auro.co.uk or www.biofa.de.

Recipe of the month

Autumn is a good time for jam making. So if you still have windfall apples and can find some rose hips in the garden or hedgerows this might just be for you.

Blackberry and Rosehip Jam

1kg (2.2lb) rosehips

1kg (2.2lb) cooking apples/windfalls or a combination of both, peeled, cored and chopped

900g (2lb) granulated sugar

2 tablespoons of lemon juice

1.2 litres (2 pints) Yorkshire Water

Boil the rosehips in the water, crushing them against the sides of the pan until soft. Strain through muslin overnight. Cook the apples in a small amount of water (just enough to stop them burning) until soft. Add the rosehip juice, the granulated sugar and the lemon juice and heat gently until the sugar has dissolved. Then boil for about 15 to 20 minutes until setting point is reached. Best way to check this is to place a blob of the mix onto a cold saucer and if is doesn’t run it should be ready. Finally, and this is very important, transfer to warmed, sterilised jars place a wax disc on top and seal.