An afternoon of new friends and very stubborn weeds!

Today was our first day (well full afternoon) at the Allotment. So after a detour to ASDA to get ourselves a rake, we arrived at the site ready and excited to make a start. 

We had decided that today, we were going to weed as much as we could of the existing raised beds, remove and replant the small Bay Tree and the Rosemary Bush, and remove the stump of what we know now was a much larger Bay Tree. I also wanted to clear the front of the plot as it was causing a bit of an obstruction on the road.

I tackled the front of the plot first making sure that all of the earth and weeds we removed, this didn't take too long and it was soon all clear. 

After a cup of tea from the flask, we were joined by one of our neighbours. She introduced herself as Pauline and told us that she was originally from Malaysia. Pauline was lovely talked of the people who had the allotment before us and it would seem the the plot has, in the past been very successful in its yield of both fruit and vegetables.

The three of us walked around the plot, and Pauline pointed out that we not only had one Raspberry bush (that we already knew about) but five or six  other Raspberry and Blackberry bushes, an Apple Tree and a Plum Tree, what a result!

Our new faces were attracting attention and it wasn't long before we also met Peter, who's plot sits a few along from ours. Peter was full of brilliant info about the whole site and gave us some great advice about sheds and security, he also gave us a very handy bucket! - Thanks Peter!

Peter and Pauline soon left us to it and myself and the wife set to work, she on the raised beds and myself on the Small Bay Tree, Rosemary Bush and dreaded stump! 

As the ground was quite soft the tree and bush came up relatively quickly and my attention was soon drawn to the stump. 

Pauline had said that the tree that had stood there was a large Bay that over hung the road. So with this knowledge, I knew that digging the stump out was not going to be easy - I had completely underestimated the task.

By this point the wife had whizzed through the first of the former raised beds and was re-planting the Rosemary and Bay into pots. I take my hat off to her (and I do wear one quite frequently) she did a great job of the raised bed she was working on today!  

The former raised bed and the partially dug stump

Meanwhile - I was still digging at the stump...and digging....and digging. This digging went on for most of the afternoon until heavy rain stopped play. 

As you can see we have made a start, if but a small one. But we will be back tomorrow spade in hand ready to take on more of the plot and as I sit here with a glass of Crabbies (Alcoholic Ginger Beer for any international readers) I can't help but look forward to it.

Oh by the way, you can follow me on twitter on @lancehorsey.