Tuesday 30 September 2014

Leaf composting in Redmond Park

Did you know that we have leaf composting bays in Redmond Park? A master composter came to Wexford last year, invited by the Council and Wexford Tidy Towns, to give guidance and to get us on our way. The bays were built and they took their first consignment of leaves last Autumn. They have not, alas, received as much TLC over the past year as they might have. A recent poke around through the decomposing mounds showed that those collecting and depositing the leaves last year also, unwittingly, deposited loads of litter. As a result we have been carefully going through them to remove said litter. This exercise is also giving us an opportunity to tidy up the bays as, with leaves now dropping in ever greater numbers, we will need two bays completely free for incoming deliveries. By next Summer we should have lovely leaf mold available for the municipal flowerbeds. We can also use it for potting in place of the commercially available peat-based compost. And that's a good for the environment!
The two images give some indication of the before and after - one is full of the divil and all, the other is simply decomposing leaves.

Wednesday 24 September 2014

Adding colour to the park


We did a spot of gardening in the park this week. All going well, by late Spring next year we will have a brilliant splash of colour just inside the park railings at the town end. The flowers and herbs we have chosen - largely perennial - should ensure that there are beautiful colours and scents here from Spring right though to late Autumn. There is Helenium, Lupinus ('gallery Rose Shades', Chamomile, Salvia nemorosa Ostfriesland, Digitalis purpurea Dalmation F1 Purple, Anemone x hybrida (Japanese Anemone). We are assured that these will attract loads of bees and butterflies. Thanks to our green-fingered colleague Marie of Wexford Tidy Towns for all her expertise and hard work. Thanks also to the Council for their ongoing support.
I think we are now ready to pledge our support to the "Let's Bee Friendly" campaign at http://www.wexfordtidytowns.com/biodiversity/bees.


See the pix at https://www.facebook.com/loveredmondpark/media_set?set=a.706271079462020.1073741847.100002374025464&type=3

Tuesday 2 September 2014

Another Successful Picnic!


Well I am happy to report that both Picnics went off wonderfully well last weekend: the plugged-in shindig above in Stradbally and our own very much unplugged affair in Redmond Park! There was sunshine and laughter, slush puppies and ice cream, candy floss and ... wasps! And the only reason the wasps were buzzing about was because some young lads decided to stone their nest!!
Overall this was a hugely enjoyable day with loads going on. You could go from the swings to the BIG BENCH, back down to the puppet show; then get active with obstacle races, turbo-javelin throwing and ball skills; get creative at the pot decorating table before moving on to get your hands dirty at the potting and sowing table. The afternoon was soundtracked by DJ Cullie with a special guest appearance by award-winning local band The Ocelots. And all the while the sun smiled down on this fun-filled, end-of-Summer party.

Loads more pix at: https://www.facebook.com/172732832863453/photos/a.501347813335285.1073741826.172732832863453/501371573332909/?type=1&theater