Rustle, Bustle & Squeak

First Havant Girl Guides visited Stone’s Allotments in New Lane, to learn all about how produce is grown for their Rustle, Bustle & Squeak nature badge. Trustee Jim McNaught-Davis welcomed leader Lizzie Chisnell and the group and gave them a tour of the grounds, with the help of individual allotment holders.

First Havant was formed in 1916, and it is one of the oldest Girl Guide troops in the country; and indeed, the world. And the girls certainly lived up to their history, asking informed questions and showing genuine interest in the different types of produce.

I asked some of them what they had learned about, and Guide Emma told me about all the different types of vegetables they had seen. Her friend Abby, added, “We saw some purple potatoes, and a runner bean that I first thought was a potato.”

I then asked if anything had surprised them and Lauren replied, “I was surprised that some flowers turn into fruit and vegetables, I didn’t know they did that.”

The Guides ended their tour by being shown to a small test patch where they saw some bee friendly plants which the allotment holders want to encourage. Mr McNaught-Davis went on to explain how important bees are and their vital role in the ecosystem, then led them to an area which is being set aside for the project. There, Mr McNaught-Davis explained how they were removing the weeds in order to give the bee friendly plants the best chance. “First the weeds are allowed to grow until they totally overrun the plot. Then we cover them in dark plastic sheeting, which stops them from seeding, so they die off. Then we can dig the plot over and plant the flowers we want.”

Hopefully this visit will have encouraged some of the Guides to take a further interest in gardening and growing vegetables, and everyone at Postcode Publications wishes them all the best in their efforts to win their badge.

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