When we throw food waste away, it can be easy to not think about where it goes. Unlike the single-use plastic we’re all wary of, we know that organic waste will decompose. However, if put into landfill this waste will break down anaerobically, as the weight and compression of the other rubbish starves the decomposition…Read more …
Since Bandstand Beds began in 2013 we’ve held a community feast each autumn to celebrate our growing season’s harvest. Sadly, due to Covid this wasn’t possible last year. But on a brighter note, one of the good things to come out of Covid has been the closure of Clapham Common’s Windmill Drive, the road beside…Read more …
When I first became involved with Bandstand Beds we shared an aim with Lambeth Council to create a composting site on Clapham Common, in the area known then as ‘the dump’. Part of this is now the site of BBA’s community garden on Windmill Drive. Over the years masses of green waste left at the…Read more …
Spring is such a wonderful season, the time when everything in the garden bursts back into life. And although this cold April has slowed things down in the garden it’s wonderful to now see everything burgeoning, especially the fruit trees in blossom. A sure sign that it’s time to start some serious gardening! On Saturday…Read more …
This has been an incredibly difficult year and many people have found great solace in gardening. This is certainly true for those of our members who have managed to get outdoors with their hands in the dirt at our wonderful growing space on Clapham Common. Of course, everyone’s experience is different, so we asked our…Read more …
To say this has been a difficult year would be an understatement, but despite all the challenges our garden has manged to keep ticking along. Back in March, just as we were preparing for the growing season ahead, suddenly everything came to a halt. Covid-19 lockdown kicked in! This meant cancelling all our planned events…Read more …
At the end of the summer people often remark that our garden must be heading into a quiet time – but there always seems to be plenty more to do here at Bandstand Beds. Usually because we’ve fundraised to have some work carried out in the garden in the autumn, and this year’s been no…Read more …
Just as we were about to cast off our shorts in favour of warmer autumn clothing, the summer returned for a final blaze of glory. We’ve had sun, fun and two fantastic events in our garden. At the beginning of the month, Richard Galpin from London Freedom Seed Bank ran a workshop for us in…Read more …
The summer is such a wonderful time in our garden with so much growing and going on, but before you know autumn is on the way… Looking back, though, we’ve had a fab time with our events and activities, kicking off with Common People in May which we organised for CCMAC. The sun shone, there…Read more …
The one thing you expect in spring is lots of rain to help plants with their growing spurt. With climate change, however, the weather is way less predictable, and we’ve had hardly any April showers. The upside to this is that we’ve had lots of dry days for our gardening sessions and planned events, but…Read more …