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Wales
All counties of Wales
REPRESENTATIVE
Judith Hill
07724993310 or 02920 758080
A slow worm in Wales
MENTOR
Peter Ryan
Wales
0845 564 1881 pryan.nas@gmail.com
Calls to 0845 numbers cost 3p (ex VAT) per minute plus your telephone company’s access charge
In issue 4 of the magazine, I found the article on slow worms very interesting. I haven’t seen any on my plot, but my neighbouring plotholder had some under a sheet of corrugated tin.
However, at the end of September while out walking in woodland close to our allotments I spotted one basking out in the open, which is unusual. I managed
to photograph it before it disappeared into the undergrowth. Right is a photo of the slow worm basking in the autumn sunshine.
Kind regards
Bri Heath, Secretary of Aberystwyth & District Allotment Association
Welcome to our new members...
Hill View Allotment Assoc
8 Individuals
Greenfield School Merthyr Tydfil
London
London
REPRESENTATIVE
Vacant
Contact natsoc@nsalg.org.uk if interested in the position
MENTOR
Grant Smith
London
0845 478 6351 grantsmith.nas@gmail.com
After the engrossing talk from the ladies, plus the excellent information pack, came the walkabout!
At this time, our Chairman had a small scrape of a pond just a few inches deep, a frog had been spotted here and we cautiously guided our visitors to this
tiny ‘pond’ where we expected derision. None of it! They were delighted at the effort and encouraged expansion; the pond has subsequently been deepened and enlarged and newts have been seen. We then visited our embarrassing collection of abandoned bathtubs. There were all colours from the abandoned cholate, the gaudy lemon to the 1970s classic avocado plus of course the pure white with limescale stains. Although, the ladies on seeing our baths declared: “We love baths.” We looked at the baths, and then back at the ladies, and then back at the baths.
“You must sink these into the ground, remember to put in the plug and tape over the overflow.” said the ladies, almost in unison and glee. A black pond liner can cover the vintage décor.
Encouraged, I dug a pond on my own
Read it, Read it
In January 2019 Chadwell Heath Smallholdings had a visit from two ladies who represented Froglife (www. froglife.org) and the day was all about the world of toads, frogs, newts and, along the way, slow worms and grass snakes. It turns out that the allotments provide the perfect habitat for our amphibian friends. Our compost
bins, log piles, unkept corners and occasional ponds and, above all, worms, slugs and snails, tick all the boxes and result in allotments being five-star amphibian hotels. After all what more could an amphibian want? The folk from Froglife love allotment people; allotment people generally appreciate the wildlife around us and our amphibian friends love allotments.
On the day we thoroughly enjoyed a superbly presented open air talk. We learnt that our Common toad, like other friends, has suffered a drastic population decline in recent years. The decline is even worse than the drop in our hedgehog population and is due
to a combination of factors, a loss of ponds especially deeper water, a loss of suitable habitat and roads across their migration paths.
You must sink these into the ground, remember to put in the plug and tape over the overflow
Calls to 0845 numbers cost 3p (ex VAT) per minute plus your telephone company’s access charge
allotment in summer 2019. I copied and adapted the design which is shown on the Froglife website. Within weeks I was watching newts come to the surface.
It was thrilling and I was transfixed watching diving beetles, pond skaters, damsel and dragonflies and loads of stuff I don’t know enough about. This summer I have been watching the damsel and dragonflies laying their eggs. My neighbour has also become an amphibian spotter and recently saw a common toad on his plot.
The visit to our Allotment changed
the way we regard amphibians on and around the plot, and highlighted the invaluable work they carry out on our behalf to control the pests which harm our crops. All this good work and not a mention of expensive, harmful, toxic and ultimately counterproductive chemicals. Why not contact Froglife and request a training day? Better still, invite the local school environment club and your other neighbours.
Terry Dickinson, The Chadwell Heath Smallholdings Society
64 Allotment and Leisure Gardener
Welcome to our new members...
Cherry Orchard Allotment 4 Individuals
1 Landowner 1 Life