Vital importance of seeds celebrated with unique ‘Seed Relay’
”… Garden Organic started life in a comfrey patch in Bocking, Essex. It was here that keen organic grower Lawrence Hills began experimenting with the herb as a natural fertiliser in 1954.” https://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/who-we-are/our-history Garden Organic are launching the UK’s first-ever Seed Relay – to celebrate the Heritage Seed Library’s 50th birthday. To mark the Heritage …
‘GROW YOUR GROCERIES’
“Would the public be calmer in crises if it had gardens that grow food, instead of plastic lawns?” Consumers have been conditioned to believe food is simply ‘there’, brought to a supermarket giant near you – but we need people to grow their own food, writes Tim Lang, Professor Emeritus of Food Policy …
England and UK: Beyond GM legal action says “no” to hidden GMOs
Beyond GM has announced important news about a significant legal challenge they have just launched – and how you can help make it happen. What’s going on? In May, the UK government quietly brought in new regulations that fundamentally change how genetically modified organisms are regulated in England. The Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Regulations 2025 …
Are Allotments Protected from Development?
Allotments are a cherished part of the UK’s landscape, providing space to grow food, socialise, and support biodiversity. But with increasing pressure for new housing, many plot holders worry about potential development. So, what legal protections exist? Legal Protections Under the Allotments Act 1925, local authorities must seek permission from the Secretary of State before …
Turn your food and garden waste into treasure
It’s never been easier to compost at home! Alongside the traditional ‘dalek’ composters, Essex County Council now subsidises bokashi bins and a wooden compost heap frame. It is estimated that one home compost bin can recycle up to 150kg of garden and food waste per household per year. That’s the same as over 1,600 banana …
What do WE know?
When the public are told that a field is infertile, or non-profit making, people will probably accept it unquestioningly; what do they know? And this is what needs to be addressed, the fact that there are options, and local people need clear information regarding what those options actually are. Our concern is that people believe …
The Sun-Sorted! Quiz
The Sun-Sorted! quiz will provide children* with some amazing facts, helping them discover why sun protection is important, in a fun and engaging way. Featuring 13 multiple choice questions on the sun, the environment, and their skin, they can check out if they’re a ‘solar starter’ or a ‘solar superpower’. *Designed for KS2 children, but …
Is sun protection in your game?
If you work outdoors with children, you will know that getting them sun protected can be tricky. Although skin cancer is rare in young people, one blistering sunburn doubles the risk of melanoma in later life, so it’s a health and safety issue that needs to be taken seriously. http://www.melanoma-fund.co.uk
Seed Potato Day 2025 / updated 06/02/25 / Free admission!
Seed Potato Day in partnership with Trust Links Saturday 8 February. 11:00-14:00 At Trust Links Rochford, Trust Links House, College Gardens, Rochford, SS4 1YL (updates via this website). More than 20 varieties of seed potato (some organic) sold individually. Plus onion sets, peas, broad beans, French beans, Runner beans, tomatoes, carrots, courgettes and lettuces, potato fertiliser …
What can I compost?
Photo courtesy of Garden Organic….. Anything that was once living will compost, but some items are best avoided. For best results, use a mixture of ingredients and equal amounts by volume of ‘green’ and ‘brown’ items. ‘Green’ items include Grass cuttings / Young weeds / Nettles (not roots) / Comfrey leaves / Urine (ideally diluted …
Membership fees
Membership fees or renewals are usually due in July unless you joined at the beginning of the year, in which case you don’t have to re-join until July of the following year. You can pay by Card Reader at one of our events, Bank Transfer, cheque or cash. Bank details: Account No: 65198805; Sort Code …
How to get to Trust Links Rochford
ADDRESS – Trust Links House, College Gardens, Rochford , Essex, SS4 1YL The site is relatively close to Rochford Square and from Rochford Railway Station. Buses can be taken to Rochford Square on the 7 or 8 bus or bus to Doggetts Close on the No 60 bus from Southend. Walk down East Street from …
Local manure/mulch suppliers
1. Pam Mitchell, The Grange, Murrells Lane, Hockley (Tel. 01702 207491) has a very good, old supply of manure. If you ring her first, giving a couple of days’ notice, she will arrange for a load to be brought to her farm gate to ease bagging up. 2. Debbie Chaplin’s free rotted manure is a …
“We argue that we must invest in gardeners rather than more infrastructure” (an update)
Here’s an exciting opportunity to attend a talk on “We argue that we must invest in gardeners rather than more infrastructure”, hosted by South East Essex Organic Gardeners. The event will be held on Monday 15 September at 8:00 pm at Trust Links Rochford, Trust Links House, College Gardens, Rochford SS4 1YL. The talk will …
Gozo Growing #15, July 2025: ‘Longer, hotter, drier’
So, here we are once again, with soaring daytime temperatures, heat waves, heat domes, heat bombs and (typically) zero rainfall for the next few months, or maybe even longer. In such challenging climatic conditions, we’ve been attempting to keep our recently planted trees alive and harvest some summer vegetables and fruit. It’s fair to say …
Pesticide Action Network’s latest webinar!
Featured image courtesy of https://www.pan-uk.org/ Pesticide Action Network (PAN) UK / Free webinar (Global Glyphosate Study) on Wednesday 9 July, 13:30-14:15 (BST) New, groundbreaking research linking Glyphosate to cancer is forcing governments to review their support for the world’s most popular weedkiller. This webinar is an exclusive opportunity to hear about the most comprehensive, global …
Our day at Writtle!
Wow, what a day! Last Tuesday the Essex Agricultural welcomed over 3,000 KS2 primary school children from 72 different schools across Essex to the Essex Schools Food & Farming Day they held at ARU Writtle. They were joined by Suffolk Farmer & TV presenter Jimmy Doherty (Jimmy’s …
Writtle here we come!
Essex Schools Food & Farming Day! Food Zone! “A composting demonstration to show the importance of our soil and how it affects what we can grow. Learn that there are more living organisms in a quarter of a teaspoon of soil than there are people on earth.” Tuesday 24 June 09:00-14:45 At ARU Writtle, Lordship Road, …
Essex Schools Food & Farming Day!
Tuesday 24th June 2025 ARU Writtle, Lordship Road, Writtle, Chelmsford, Essex, CM1 3RR The event is strictly for KS2 children from years 4, 5 and 6. The Essex Schools Food & Farming Day is a annual event organised by the Essex Agricultural Society giving about 3,000 Essex Schools children aged 8 to 11 the opportunity …