Learn about winter pruning of your fruit trees and bushes from an expert - George Anderson of the Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society and 'Beechgrove' presenter.
To be held on Saturday 4 February 2012 10am-12pm at Bridgend allotment site on Old Dalkeith Road, south of Cameron Toll roundabout at the end of the old cottages, opposite the Inch Nursery, meeting on the RCHS demonstration allotment at the entrance.
This year George Anderson will be showing plotholders how to prune the fruit bushes on their own allotments.

I visited my allotment on Monday 16th and the ground was covered in a deep frost and rock hard which meant that my plans to dig in the stubble from my green manure (mustard, phacellia and rye grass) sown in August last year, were shelved. I settled instead for tidying my greenhouse and shed.

Bridgend Growing Communities has received funding from the Big Lottery's "Awards For All" scheme to offer free training in organic gardening throughout 2012!

12 week programmes taking place on Mondays from 10am to 1pm and Thursdays from 1pm to 4pm at Bridgend Allotments, 41 Old Dalkeith Road, Edinburgh EH16 4TE - accredited by Oatridge College.

For further information please call Rob on 07974 077179 or 0131 664 9559 or e-mail robf.bgc@gmail.com

Bridgend Growing Communities and the City of Edinburgh Council are offering a grow your own course for anyone with an allotment or aspiring to grow more of their own food. 
The course will be delivered in 12 monthly sessions throughout 2012 - each three hours long - at the Inverleith and Dumbryden allotment sites. This means you could literally turn over a new leaf next year...and learn how to grow more of your own food.
The course costs £95 - or £55 if you are a new allotment holder. 
Contact Rob Ford on 07974 077179 or e-mail him at
robf.bgc@gmail.com

Click here for the November 2011 edition:
http://www.sags.org.uk/docs/NewsLetters/Nov2011.pdf

Tending to tomatoes, raising runner beans and caring for cabbages could all reduce stress and encourage healthy ageing, according to new research released by Cardiff Metropolitan University. Researchers at the Cardiff School of Health Sciences have been investigating whether outdoor physical and leisure activities may offer more benefits to health in later life compared to indoor activities.

The good weather in November has allowed steady progress on winter tasks. As crops have been harvested the cleared ground has been dug over. This means less to do in the spring.

Holders of allotments owned by the City of Edinburgh Council are reminded that the consultation period for comments on the Draft Regulations Concerning Allotments will expire on Monday 5th December. You should have received a copy of the regulations a few months ago.
Contact the Allotment officer via this page:
http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/info/497/allotments/1159/allotment_news_in_e...

Here's an exciting new opportunity for allotment owners in the Edinburgh area. You are invited to take part in the Big Biochar Experiment. This is a UK-wide, not-for-profit initiative that enables allotment owners to set up sample plots on their patch (one using a substance called biochar, and one without) and to report back the results of the experiment. This often has great appeal to allotment owners, as biochar is a very environmentally friendly substance, that can both increase your crop yields and also have a positive impact on carbon emissions.

The City of Edinburgh Council is developing a local development plan for Edinburgh and wants your help. This sets out policies and proposals to guide development and land use. The provision of allotments fits into this in a few ways, mainly to do with housing development and environmental concerns. These are covered in the local plan. The deadline for comments is 27 January 2012. Further details here:
http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/info/178/local_and_strategic_development_pla...