Like David Moyles, we are now preparing for the new season up at the allotment. The second plot is now dug over, raised beds constructed and ready for a delivery of top soil and we have pruned the fruit trees. We have also discovered a pond which will help attract wildlife to the South West end of the allotment. We have been told there are frogs and toads in hedgerows…

Innisfree purchased a new Rotovator complete with attachments to help volunteers prepare soil for the new growing season. The rotovator was purchased with Emigrant Support Funding as part of our project to develop an allotment and help people to grow things. The machine can break up and till soil, plough furrows and has an additional planter to help reduce labour. We are now planning to commission the machine before the…

                                   Following a recent meeting with Sam Lehane from Camara, Innisfree asked Sam to explain more about this unique charity working to help recycle used computers to help others. You may be interested and could possibly help! if you work with an organisation who need to recycle PC’s, this may be an option. Camara is a unique Irish charity founded in 2007. We reuse technology to provide a better education and…

   Innisfree hosted a summer of reminiscence recalling stories of emigration from home to set up a new life in London and the UK. With Heritage Lottery Funding, Innisfree worked in partnership with Age Exchange, Irish in Britain, Brent Museum, London Metropolitan University and the Geffrye Museum to re-visit an Irish childhood in the 1950’s onwards. Participants explored their stories of emigration from home to the UK, recalling life settling…

Oíche Samhain (pronounced ‘EE-hyeh SOW-in’) marks the end of the Celtic year. The end of our growing and harvesting seasons. Nights are getting darker and it is time to stay in from the cold. It is also known as All Hallows Eve or Hallowe’en. The deceased are traditionally remembered both in lore and at Catholic Masses during the month of November. In these dark months, we remember years gone past, our families…

Innisfree gardening competition winners enjoyed the last of the Summer weather with a presentation award and lunch at our allotment site in Sudbury Wembley. Matthew Wicks who presented the awards was most impressed with the quality of the entries this year. Jennifer and Foieg Rahman won the 1st place award for their best use of a small space. Judge Vanessa Hampton from Brent Allotment and Spaces noted the Rahman’s utilised space and containers…

Irish in Britain (Federation of Irish Societies) is running an on-line survey to test opinion on issues being put to the Constitutional Convention – a year-long citizens’ review of the Irish Constitution. DIASPORA VOICE raises awareness of the Convention process among Irish groups and the wider community. The campaign is keen to encourage participation of the new generation of Irish migrants. We want to highlight the contribution and potential role…

The Allotment plots at Wembley have been producing some excellent results.   The growing season is a little late. Apples and Pears are still to ripen. Marrow and Pumpkin are growing big.   Tomato and Blackberry are nearly ready to pick!   Our volunteers have done a great job on their first year’s growing from untended scrub to a moderate harvest. And what treasures we have discovered! Two Apple trees, Pear…