we buy pallet collars from a local reclamation yard 1.2 metres x1metre for £8 each and its treated wood. you can stack them on top of each other for a deeper bed.

January 2025! I’ve just discovered your channel. Watched the most recent and was curious to see how you began. 😊 Gardening is so therapeutic. I miss my big gardens, terribly. I need to find a community garden, since I have such limited space in our new home. Also, our new location is foggy most of the time. And, anything I sprout is eaten by the next day. Birds? Ground Squirrels? Deer? Sigh. 😔 The price we pay for living in beautiful nature. Thanks for your videos! They’re fun, and a comfort. 🌻💖

A fresh mulch makes such a difference! I wish we had allotments here in the US. We do have some community gardens, but they’re few and far between. Also, difficult to get started. In England, it seems they realize that gardens are a human need. Maybe towns sponsor the allotments? I wonder if I’m correct? I expect food gardens to become more popular here as we seem to be headed for a food shortage and much higher prices at the market. Our frightened farm workers aren’t showing up for work. I’m afraid we’ll soon be feeling the results. I’m glad to have discovered your channel! 🌻🥰

Have you thought about eating the new baby stinging nettles? basically a super food.

It's not the Crows that are the problem Emma, it's the Squirrel's....and seeing as you have trees around I'm sure you have them. They knock the feeders off and empty them in minutes, buy Squirrel proof feeders they ain't perfect but if you are going to fill them regularly as I do it will save a fortune ( also get your feed from Home Bargains it's miles cheaper )...

Good basic points. I ended up following someone (an allotment gardener to get gardening tips, and look at the scenery) online who was unmotivated to put in a garden, bullied his audience, spent loads of money he didn't have on plants, begged for household stuff and gardening supplies, via KZbin and an included 'members' page. What not to do, essentially. I stopped following him.

Good morning Emma or all you lovely gardeners, could you kindly give me the name of the pegs that were used to pin the plastic down and the supplier, thank you.

Post a sign:”No Dumping” or “Smile for the camera”

Turn your compost over from one bay to another, putting the top on the bottom and the bottom on the top.

Make friends with the spiders, if you don’t bother them they won’t bother you.

You could put a second story on your shed for your elevated platform. You would have to reinforce the frame.

Hey Emma those raised beds are fab. Worth the money and last well when treated. I have 3 and they're going strong after 3 years of use. Happy growing in them. Love your channel. Thanks for all your hard work.. and I'm thoroughly enjoying your allotment planner. Well done ❤

That poor fox! You are way scarier lol

Well, if one can't indulge oneself........

Emma the raised beds are great. I’ve bought a few. You can make bigger by using 2 and joining the long sides and same with short sides to make a 2 metre bed. So easy! You will get there!

Your weeding would be easier if you used a hand fork when you are crouching near the ground…just saying!

Awww the birds are going to be so pleased with the new feeders 💕🐦‍⬛. A good food to pop in the metal cage style one is buggy nibbles, they stay in there unlike seeds etc and are a great fat source at this time of year too 👍 Have/ will you film your hour of the Big Garden Birdwatch? It’d be so cute to see who visits your plot 💚 🐦 And don’t worry about who will: won’t visit in that hour, that’s the whole reason for the survey. I had one year when I was living in a flat in London and all I recorded was one wood pigeon.

Definitely not whiterot. That is mycelium which is feeding off the wood particles, it is normal, it is healthy, it should be encouraged. Googling something will always find what you fear, rather than what it actually is.

Emma stop being so hard on ur self ir doing great and ur videos are so uplifting you make is wanna get out in our own gardens and have a go that my girl is some achievement 💗

#getstuffedtrevor

Emma, I'm having a very poorly day with my chronic illnesses and my mind just wants to be on my plot but my body refuses. Instead, I have your two books to crack open and your video to watch. Thank you. ❤

if you have any planks of wood you can edge the boundary of the wood chip/path area by inserting these edge-wise into the soil

Those low willow fences will look lovely against the woodchip. I think they are 7 quid each if you google them.

The plot is looking great Emma. Please carry on. Just a small tip if you dehead your polyanthus they will keep flowering for ages. 😊

Emm”s you are such a beautiful creature and very unique 🎉I’ve just ordered your amazing book! You inspire me every day to get out in my garden on my bad days which gets harder as I’ve been diagnosed with a nasty illness 😢keep going and listen to your inner self xxx

Wonder if there is an alternative to wood chip. Like, bags of stones. Or maybe sand .Or lots of stepping stones .

Love a good wood chip day!! Plot looking great!

Hi Emma, I am definitely in agreement and will be getting some nice new wood chip for my plot due to lack of delivery from council. Really freshened the plot up and makes you feel better, plus it will pay off in the long run with helping keep the plot nicer. I've got those B&Q beds too. You can actually connect 2 beds together to make an even bigger bed if you want and then use the spare pieces to make a smaller square bed if you have a small space somewhere. Just be aware they have to have the same corner fittings to lock together (count the number of metal "groves" in corner pieces). It was my sons idea when we assembled them in 2023 when the beds looked a bit small on my plot. Originally we were going to place 2 beds back to back, but by my son suggested by connecting 2 beds you can use the spares to make a new bed. 4 big beds connect to make 2 even bigger beds, plus the 4 spare sides make 1 smaller square. Hope that makes sense. They are awkward to move due to the corner pieces and size if you want to move, but mine are still good.

It is so satisfying to see the woodchip go down. It looks great

Put your hand flat on the wood to feed

I think the white bits in the soil might be beneficial mycelium, the soil life that feeds plants

Perhaps people. I would hate to think so

Emma you are right the seasons just arent the norm the last two years our weather not good for plants to wet not good need sun hope this year more settled ne england not good summers overcast bees not many to many slugs snails destroyed garden last two years ,hope 20 25 year good i will try again good luck

I budget my allotment spending thus.....how much is gym membership monthly? An equally good investment!

Try chipdrop for woodchip especially if you have an area accessible fir them to drop easily

Bought a couple pf those raised bed last year. You can buy matching liners for these btw so mo need to treat the wood.

Great video, I'm so proud of you for working on your plot during the winter months. Adding fresh wood chips to the garden paths looks fantastic! Could you please put a link in your video for the new garden beds that you got for 18 pounds? Also, for that area where you were thinking about an edging....have you considered digging a trench and burying those long boards (from your slug hotel) lenth-wise into the ground to act as an edging? It would be a zero-cost fix.

What a difference! It is beautiful, Emma. Little bites are easier than trying to do the whole thing all at once. I hate spending money sometimes too, but if it makes it easier, brings you satisfaction, then go for it. You work so hard on your allotment. You deserve things to help diminish the overwhelm.

Wood chip makes everything look better 😊

Awe Einstein needs a new feeder platform.

Hiya Emma enjoyed the visit. Have a wonderful weekend. Ontario Canada 🐝🇨🇦👋🏻

Never cross a crow Emma they have excellent memories and are very intelligent, they can recognise and remember human faces and may hold a grudge , potentially leading to harrasment and mob attacks if you upset them 😟

So happy you treated yourself to some things. Can’t wait to see what you do with the raised beds.

Make friends with the crows - they remember kindness and unkindness. Also they clear up all the dead animals. Love your advice about dealing with one bit of your plot at a time - going to start putting that into practice on my overgrown garden so thank you.

Hi Emma, have you ever thought about taking your channel on tour? I have a brand new plot never grown on before. The soil is pretty good a complete blank canvas! Full size plot. I would love your input.

How is the tap situation going?? Did I miss your solution?

Be brave Emma, please let Einstein land on your hand. It's such a magical experience, I am so envious. I have a Robin in my garden every day, but it's proper wild, won't come near me. Einstein is starting to trust you. Just stand up straight, and stand still and enjoy, he wont hurt you.❤

Where I live up in the north we have never received a wood chip delivery at our allotment but I would take anything if there was 😂

Received your book today. Its brilliant.

Oh Emma, how lovely if Einstein does land on your hand! I've had one land on mine once and it was the most beautiful experience, be brave! To have a wild bird trust you that much is rare 😊 Enjoy it x