About the site

The site is sloping and exposed to north westerly winds which have been known to lift wooden compost bins!

The soil varies from top to bottom but is generally good. We do seem to have a never ending problem with broken glass – the area was used as a dump when building the telephone exchange – so take care when digging.

Every allotment has weeds – it’s a fact of life! Weeds can be controlled by regular hoeing – best to do this on a warm day so that the weeds die quickly – on a cool wet day the weed may re-root!

Listed below are the common perennial weeds which can be found at Bridge Allotments – these shouldn’t be put on your compost heap (as you will end up spreading the weed when you use your compost) – you can pop then in your home bin.

Bindweed https://www.rhs.org.uk/weeds/bindweed

Green alkanet https://www.rhs.org.uk/weeds/green-alkanet

Creeping buttercup https://www.rhs.org.uk/weeds/creeping-buttercup

Nettles https://www.rhs.org.uk/weeds/nettles-as-weeds

Docks https://www.rhs.org.uk/weeds/docks

Annual weeds

Unlike perennial weeds, annual weeds last for one year (or growing season) but they do produce lots of seeds that can germinate for years. Annual weeds can be disposed of on a compost heap but only before their seed heads have formed. Hoeing is an effective control for annual weeds – with annual weeds be sure to remove them before they set seeds to avoid further spread to yours and other plots. The common annual weeds are;

Fat hen https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/105499/chenopodium-album/details

Chickweed https://www.rhs.org.uk/weeds/chickweed

Groundsel https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/105523/senecio-vulgaris/details

Hairy bittercress https://www.rhs.org.uk/weeds/bittercress

Yellow oxalis/creeping wood sorrel https://www.rhs.org.uk/weeds/oxalis