Sharon's Gardening Snippets

Sharon's Gardening Snippets Gardening the Organic way.....every little helps! SHARON'S GARDENING SNIPPETS:
This page is for everything related to gardening in the community.

Articles, advice and community workshops/talks on pruning, planting, digging, pests and diseases, composting, month by month gardening jobs and more………. I came to Horticulture later in life, retraining at the age of 40 and was one of the best decisions I ever made - you will find us gardeners are a group all of our own (sometimes to the point of obsession). I have always been interested in Organic

Gardening and encourage this approach where ever I go. I also write regular articles for C.O.G.F. (Cumbria Organic Gardeners & Farmers) and our local magazine In-Focus. I also volunteer as a RHS North West in Bloom Judge and RHS Green Plan It mentor, am a guest gardener on BBC Radio Lancashire’s gardeners question time on a Sunday. I teach gardening skills and more at schools and help lead regular local community gardening events, including talks and In Bloom. I have always said, I am a Jack of ALL trades in gardening and a master of non, as it is such a wide subject from all sorts of plants: Trees, Shrubs, Perennials, Veggies, Pests, Diseases, Tools, Gardening Techniques, Good Husbandry, Pruning etc., etc. Most of the work I do these days is voluntary but, I love to pass on what knowledge I have, to those that are interested (hence the creation of this page), as Horticulture is such an important subject, especially in todays ever changing climate. So, I hope you enjoy this page and do feel free to ask any questions, as it adds to the pool of information for the group!

Should be a fun night:
13/09/2026

Should be a fun night:

Keep those eyes peeled, as they are getting more and more closer to home:
11/09/2026

Keep those eyes peeled, as they are getting more and more closer to home:

06/09/2026

UPDATE: 4th September

The Animal and Plant Health Agency's National Bee Unit (NBU) has confirmed further credible reports of the yellow-legged Asian hornet.

As of 3rd September, there have been 167 sightings in 2026 resulting in the identification of 53 nests.

The nests confirmed this week are recorded in the following locations:

Dorset
Osmington Hill (primary)

Essex
Sycamore Tree (secondary)

Kent
Dover Priory (secondary)

Somerset
Berhill (primary)

The following nests are awaiting destruction: Petham, Byways Secondary and Dover Priory in Kent and Sycamore Tree in Essex.

Multiple sightings continue to be monitored by the NBU, local beekeepers and Yellow-legged hornet teams at locations across Dorset, East Sussex, Essex, Greater London, Greater Manchester, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Kent, Lincolnshire and West Sussex.

Thanks to all the bee inspectors who are out there working on eradicating this invasive species and thanks to everyone who is helping to raise awareness, especially the AHT members.

Please report any sightings immediately. The quickest way is via the FREE Asian Hornet Watch app available for Android and iPhone. Details available on our website. Link in comments.

Keep an eye out………
05/09/2026

Keep an eye out………

Yellow-legged Asian Hornet Week is almost here - 7th–13th September. 🐝

The Yellow-legged hornet is an invasive predator that preys on honey bees and other insects. First found in the UK in Tetbury in 2016, it's now well established across much of Europe and keeping it from gaining a foothold here depends on people spotting and reporting it.

That's the whole point of next week: the more of us who know what to look for, the better protected our bees and pollinators are. Whether you keep bees or simply enjoy your garden, you can play a part.

More on how to identify via the link in the comments.

We are much more aware of our changing climate and the need to adapt, but do you ever take the time to record your findi...
15/08/2026

We are much more aware of our changing climate and the need to adapt, but do you ever take the time to record your findings and feed thrn through to the National Monitoring Statistics or other key sites?
Well here is the first one:

Pollinating insects play a vital role in our environment, ensuring that many of our crops and wild plants are able to set seed and produce fruit. We need to know how pollinator populations are changing, and with your help we are gathering data on a wide range of flower-visiting insects.

Well, our merry little gardening community group have just started putting together their Garden Maintenance Plan (GMP)....
15/08/2026

Well, our merry little gardening community group have just started putting together their Garden Maintenance Plan (GMP). That may sound very simple, but when drawing up a plan, it can be for a year, 3 years, 5 years or more. It is not just about pruning and mowing, it’s much much more , it includes new projects, Integrated Pest Management (IMP). Eco-friendly practices, the list goes on, but most importantly it makes sure tasks are not missed, that are crucial to the health of the garden. It doesn’t matter whether it is just a small garden , or field upon field- they still need managing.

What is probably classified as a newish idea ( and it really isn’t - nature has been doing it for millennia), is ‘cut and drop’.

With our climate changing, and wildfires, everywhere, we really need to look at how ‘cut and drop’ can help. It not only provides nutrients as it breaks down, it helps retain moisture.

Here is an article that I feel helps us understand why this is of benefit in our changing climate……….and as always there are ‘do’s and dont’s’.

Discover chop and drop: a sustainable gardening practice to boost soil health, retain moisture, and enrich your garden with natural mulch.

11/08/2026

Here is a worker wasp coming for some meat to feed the larvae back at the nest, to get its reward of a sweet secretion in a form the wasp can then digest!

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