Oliver Jones, an organic gardener working in local gardens including Ammerdown, and offering consultancy gave a talk to Kilmersdon Gardeners.

He avoids synthetic chemicals, tolerates imperfection. Using an observant and proactive approach the key is, ‘little and often’. Synthetic pesticides and weed killers can be indiscriminate with unintended consequences, harming the helpful species as well as those being targeted and staying in the soil for a long time. Many of the headline claims on labels do not stand up to scrutiny. Having a low maintenance regime benefits the gardener and the wider local ecosystem.

The best way to add nutrients to the soil is homemade compost. This is free and the nutrients are bioavailable! It contains fungi and insects which help to improve the soil structure. Keep the heap moist and get it to a sufficiently high temperature to kill the weed seeds. Commercial brands do not have weeds but are expensive and lack insects and microbes. Leaf mould can be added to the compost heap or used as a mulch. An arborist will often give free bark chippings for mulch or brown matter to mix with the green grass cuttings of summer. Some species and pot plants may need concentrated organic food to thrive. These do not improve the soil structure. Animal manure can be free and improve soil structure if rotted down before use.

Ollie is in favour of no dig and endorsed the plan of a Coleford resident with an organic plot in the new village allotments. She plans to wet the area, cover with cardboard, then compost, finished off with wood chips. Cardboard very useful in suppressing weeds and making compost.

An environment where ladybirds can help with the control of pests like aphids or nematodes kill the slugs is ideal. Hidey holes in log piles, wildlife ponds and wild spaces with longer grass and seed heads within the garden can all be attractive to insects and their predators like birds and hedgehogs.

There were lots of questions about compost making and pest control. Gardeners examined compost samples and received advice. Finally, Ollie chose Claire Hicks Mammillaria Elongata cactus as winner of the ‘Potted Plant’ Cup.

There is no talk in August; a garden visit is possible. Next talk ‘Trug Making – by a miserable old trugger’ – Carl Sadler’. Wednesday 13 September - 7.15pm for a 7.30pm start at Kilmersdon Village Hall. Refreshments and raffle on arrival. Visitors are very welcome, see website for further details. www.kilmersdongardeners.org

Trisha Jordan