A wet Sunday afternoon and following a rubbish map round in circles wasn't the most auspicious start to our visit to Hulme Community Garden in Manchester, but once we finally found it, I was glad we made the effort.
It was lovely to see members of the local community waiting outside in the rain for the gates to open so they could get the first pick of the potatoes (it was a Potato Day, where you can come along and get your seed potatoes for the season).
I was glad to see that there's not much growing in their polytunnel yet at this time of year either, although it was probably because most of the plants were out on sale.
It's much more a garden centre and wildlife area than an allotment, which is obviously a different emphasis from the Hop Garden, but it was great to get some different ideas and to be encouraged by the fact that it was so popular with visitors.We even timed our visit perfectly to see dozens of spawning frogs in the wildlife pond, an annual event which only lasts a week.
Lovely mellow woodland area.
I'm planning to have a (smelly) comfrey liquid barrel like this above, and also a nettle tea one. Now, where can I get hold of a toilet or two?!
Selling small herbs has always been a plan too, and we've already started bringing on some cuttings from last year's plants.
Hulme is a great garden, with very friendly people running it and a really nice welcoming atmosphere. Great idea to have some homemade soup and porridge on sale!
It's definitely worth a visit if you're in the area (but please don't try and follow their online map - just look up the address in an A-Z or similar otherwise you'll get lost too. I was with two 'locals' who knew the area and they were as flummoxed as me...) If you're not anywhere near, have a virtual look at "Hulme Garden Centre"
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