Formby First

Formby Edible Gardens Project

The Formby Edible gardens Project is described more fully elsewhere on this blog. For those of you who want to know more then follow the link to the explanatory page. If you are interested we are actively looking for people to join us.

As I promised yesterday to several people who tweeted the question "How did you make the raised beds?' This is the answer. At the moment the plan is for 4 of these raised beds on the small plot reserved for this project at Formby Swimming Pool grounds.

In the case of this prototype the wood was supplied by local timber merchants, Total Timber. They were very helpful and obliging in the design and order phase. The handiwork is mine alone.

 

Prototype Raised Beds

I won't go into the reasons here for using raised beds other than the size of the space and the needs of users are paramount. This prototype consists of 2 adjoining beds each 1.2m square (Approx 4 feet). We're intending to try out a form of The Square Foot Garden, follow the link for more information. We're also  using the RHS 10' x10' model, as featured in Carol Klein's Book, 'Grow your own'.

Altogether there are 16 planks cut to 1.2metres in length and 2 planks cut to 1.247metres. The last two are on the end of the lower bed. Each plank has an added short element for attaching each plank together.

For Joining Each Plank

 

In the case of 12 ordinary planks, the jointing element is placed 47mm from an end. When that was attached I drilled 2 additional ready screwed holes to ease the process of assembly in the garden. In the case of the 4 1.2 metre planks for the smaller bed, the jointing element was screwed at the end of the plank. Again I added 2 ready drilled screw holes for on-site assembly.

 

Jointing Element and Ready Drilled Assembly Holes

 

Finally the joining elements for the 2 lower bed end planks were added, also at 47mm from the end and then the prototype was loosely asembled as shown in the first photograph.

If you want to be involved or you already grow your own we would like to know, please contact me using the comment box below or the email link on the right-hand side of the page.

There is also another version of these instructions. This is an audio recording to accompany an animated sequence in which I describe the construction and assembly of the raised beds described above. It's a bit of an experiment of mine but I'd be keen to here your comments. Click Here.

Squirrel Story Trail Installed

Simon O'Rourke - wood sculptor and illustrator, using chainsaws and other power tools has installed the squirrel story trail at the Deansgate Lane open space.

Well worth a stroll around, healthy, fun and a worthy addition to Formby's landscape.

 

Flooding ePetition

Local farmer Kevin Moores has asked if I would publish the following for him:

Lower Alt with Crossens Draft Flood Risk Strategic Plan
 
Are you aware that the Environment Agency is seriously considering cutting back vital flood defence pumping operations across Sefton and parts of West Lancashire due to Government cuts?

They have stated that by Spring 2015 the Environment Agency will make a significant change to current practice, by either reducing or stopping Land Drainage work within the catchment.
They are hoping to stop draining excess water and store it on farmland within the catchment area.

Priority areas within the catchment include:

Formby, Lydiate, Maghull, Thornton, Lunt, Aintree Village, Banks, Crosby, Downholland,  Melling, Hightown, Crossens, Rufford
If they succeed with their plans, all homes, businesses, farms, livestock, & crops within their study area will be at increased risk of severe flooding.

This could have far reaching consequences to residents, property and land owners as there could be serious health and pollution implications with regard to standing water, and flooding of sceptic tanks, cesspits and waste water treatment plants. 

Please find the Environment Agency online Consultation Document at: http://bit.ly/rhyYEC 

Please help to force the Government into a u-turn by signing the epetition at:

http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/21618

This is a 'guest blog' entry if you want to add your views either use the comment form below or ask me for a 'guest blog' entry

Coronation Trees and Recreation Spaces

Last week the Television news featured an initiative by the Woodland Trust to celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee by planting 300,000 trees. They cited an earlier example of a similar project, one to celebrate King George VI's Coronation.

The introduction to the Royal Record says:

Above all the provisions of playgrounds for children and young people is a good sign of our time....But now, in our modern towns, unless playgrounds are provided, children have no-where to play out-of-doors.

The outcome of the project for Formby was a new recreation ground:

There's no hint in the Record of where this is in modern Formby. I wonder who might know? This new national initiative is occurring just as the Swimming Pool Trust announce their latest ideas for the open space around the pool. Also this week a woodcarver is installing a squirrel story trail on the Deansgate Lane fields.

Squirrel Trail Installation

Simon O'Rourke - wood sculptor and illustrator, using chainsaws and other power tools is planning to install the squirrel story trail at the Deansgate Lane open space this week.

Simon writes:

I produce fine pieces of artwork using waste timber or standing stumps, using a variety of power tools and hand tools. These works of art range from beautiful ladies in fine hard-woods, to owls and other animals in hardwoods such as Oak or Ash, or softwoods such as Cedar or Pine.

My chainsaw carving exploits have taken me all around the world. I have now competed in chainsaw carving competitions in the USA, Japan, Canada, Holland, Germany, Denmark and the UK, placing highly in many of them.
(Source Simon O'Rourkes Blog: http://www.treecarving.co.uk/)