EDUCATIONAL TALKS

We are pleased to offer a series of educational talks, FREE to Allotment Association Members

The following EDUCATIONAL TALKS are planned for 

the remainder of 2026:

🕒 Time: all talks and workshops start at 1:00 pm. We aim to make them interesting for both beginners and seasoned gardeners.
Venue: unless otherwise stated: Searchlight Trading Hut, 84a Haslemere Avenue, W7 2AUV

 

15 August: 🌍 The impact of climate change on the garden/allotment plots 🌍

Climate change causes hotter, drier summers and wetter, milder winters for gardens and allotments. These shifts disrupt traditional growing seasons, increase the risk of pests and diseases, and pose challenges to the water supply.

However, they also give gardeners the opportunity to grow new, warmer-weather crops.

How can we adapt some of our tried-and-true old-school methods to stay resilient as gardeners?

19 September: 🌱 Soil management and crop rotation🌱

Whether you’re growing vegetables, flowers, or fruit, healthy soil forms the basis of a thriving garden. Join us for a practical workshop where we’ll explore:

• How to understand your soil type and what it needs

•     Should digging, double-digging, or no-dig be considered?

•     When and why to use products such as lime, manure, and mulch

•     What soil pH means, and how to test and adjust it

•     Practical tips for improving soil structure and fertility

•    Which crops are rotated?

•     The use of green manure

Bring along a soil sample from your garden or plot (optional) and any gardening questions you may have.

17 October: 🦇 Bats 🦇

An introduction to the fascinating bats found in the UK, providing useful tips for spotting them in your area. You can also learn how to build your own bat box.

This talk/workshop is suitable for bringing interested children along. If they like it, they can even have a bat face painted.

14 November: 🪏Workshop: Care for your tools 🪏

Give the garden tools that have helped you all summer a thorough clean before storing them. Scrub off mud, scrape away rust, and sterilise pruners to prevent disease. Sand wooden handles, then oil the metal and wood to repel moisture. Finally, hang your tools in your shed for a well-earned rest.

That makes sense, doesn’t it? We know. And to truly accomplish this, let’s be honest, why not do it together this year!

Please bring your tools; we will provide what’s needed for their TLC, and we’ll go for it.