Sprouts, shoots and leaves - spring in the garden

It's spring again, and the garden is coming to life. Time for an update!

It's a sunny Saturday and I've just come up to water the polytunnel and see what's going

on. We've had several Saturday morning sessions over the last few months, in sunshine, cloud and pouring rain. We've tidied out the polytunnel and washed the skin with soap and Dettol, and sown the first seeds.

Here is one of our work sessions, back in January, with Aberystwyth Conservation Volunteers..

Inside the polytunnel, last year's rainbow chard is growing luxuriantly, and young carrot and beetroot plants are getting established. Peas are growing in trays, ready to be planted out, and leeks, lettuce, rocket and other greens are just germinating. Outdoors, we have garlic and broad beans growing vigorously.

There are a couple of tomato plants in the tunnel, which will need protecting with fleece against the occasional frosts we have been getting, and sweetcorn, and many of our members are raising more plants at home, ready for a seedling swap in late May.

Over near the seating area, we've planted chives, yarrow, tansy and comfrey around the memorial apple tree. These will attract insects to pollinate the tree, which is just coming into leaf.

Nearby, we've planted a small rose garden. Harkness Roses gave us five bushes of John Ystumllyn, a new variety bred to commemorate the 18th century gardener who was the first well-recorded Black person in North Wales. We're looking forward to the yellow blooms over the summer.

We have a few new seats now for visitors to enjoy the garden - do come and try them out!

From now on we'll be running sessions most Wednesday afternoons roughly 5-6.30 where anyone can drop in. Please sign up for our mailing list so you get updates on this: garden-project@aber.ac.uk.

Are you interested in knowing about community gardens across the Dyfi Biosphere (Aberystwyth, Machynlleth and the Dyfi Valley)? Or would you like to volunteer to share your gardening skills in the community? There are many more projects like ours who would be pleased to welcome new volunteers. To find out more, visit the Tyfu Dyfi website, sign up for the newsletter, or join the Tyfu Dyfi volunteer team with a free introductory course on 28 April and 4 May.

And finally - do listen to the Aberystwyth Food Connections podcast, which features volunteers from our garden.

Jane Powell