Tinkers Allotment

Pond and Butlers Sink Water Feature

A week or so back, prior to all this toe numbing late snow, I decided on putting in a pond directly under the windows of my allotment hut. One of my favourite websites is freecycle, and I managed to get hold of a couple of butlers sinks and an old Victorian chimney pot.

Below is the progress made on the day. It didnt take long to take shape, but I have to say, lifting and moving the sinks, on my own, was a bit of a gruelling task. The plan is to rig up a basic solar pump, which will pull water up a small length of hose, hidden behind the sinks, into the top one, with the water then making its way back through the open plug holes, with the lower sinker overhanging the pond.

Ive removed the old picket fences, which Id initially put there to kind of section off the area, but having a long wooden deck spare, Ive now placed that adjacent to the pond, and Ive chosen to have tall upright posts with jute rope, with the plan to encourage climbers, creating a green wall to attract wild life.

From the wet weather, the pond is nearly full, but due to my efforts focussed on setting up a new polytunnel, I havent had chance to take some new pictures, but I will be keeping this thread updated throughout the season.

 

Hi @Tinker86

It would look better with out the picket fencing and that's with out seeing it ...with some lovely plants surrounding it also...like other members are doing you would have a lovely looking piece there

Further pic's please as your progressing

 

Yeah I quickly got rid of the fence. The way of the allotment is to cadge whatever available and the fence came from a cousin who was having a new front fence put in, so I quickly offered to extend its use. Originally, I had an idea to fence it off as a small specific area, but Id much rather use plants to border it, as natural as I can manage.

Cheers Gail, I will keep this thread going as much as I can, I have some bold high hopes for the season, although, the weather will most likely define how well things go. Fingers crossed

 

@Tinker86 if you had left the fence in it would have enclosed the beauty of what your achieving ...and when the weather starts to pick up and you start adding your plants, you'll be showing it as a beautiful side piece...add a few lilies as they make a pond and also mix some nice grasses in with your plants, as @Verdun recommended them to me losing 5 bottle brushes and it was the best thing i did as they're hardy plants.

Blue or Elijah blue are lovely



Carex elata Aurea (Bowles Golden Sedge)





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@Tinker86 a link on the top ornamental grasses

17 Top Ornamental Grasses

 

Youre a star!!! Thank you! I love the grasses, they bring colour and structure. Its easy to get carried away, but I think for the surrounding areas, I am going to keep it simple and not suffocate the space and let it develope slowly. Being close to my allotment hut, the aim is to create an area where I can park myself and admire nature at her best! Thanks for all your help Gail, really appreciated..!

 

@Tinker86 you think i'm a star i'm nothing to what some members knowledge is...they're ace in their own rights ...regarding knowing their plants ...my gardens gravelled to ease the work a bit
You don't have a over do an area to make it look lovely plus when members click on you'll get lost with the names and like yourself i like an area where you can park yourself and enjoy the tranquility around you

 

I’ve been back at the plot for the last 2 days making the most of a couple of dry days. I managed to haul the butlers sink onto my wheelbarrow and cart it to the back of the pond and reposition. I’ve placed the Victorian chimney pot as a centre piece to the pond, and as luck would have it, a hanging basket pot fits snuggly in the hollow, so I’m hoping for a colourful cascade hovering above the water come summer.

I’ve also turned over and framed a space, and erected a 4m x 2m green polytunnel. You get what you pay for at £65, so if I can squeeze the minimum of 2 seasons I’ll be content.

The original picket fence that was placed around the pond has found a new job on the plot, propped across 2 pallets I have temporary staging to start off seeds.

I’m off up there now to get some seeds sown!

 

Good god @Tinker86 you don't mess about mate i'll give you that ...it's looking good already and no plants added yet...nice one mate

for adding the pic's as your doing it

 

Thanks Gail. We’ve had a fairly decent run of kind weather in Birmingham, which is enough to fuel the fire to get stuck in.
I took on this particular plot midsummer last year, and it was a state, so I didn’t get much chance for growing. So this year I’ll be making the most!

 

I had another few hours up the allotment yesterday ticking off more boxes, while Spring is sat in limbo. The sunshine was gorgeous at times, teasing and hinting at better days to come.

I managed to bring a handful of trays with me so that I could get stuff kicked off in the polytunnel. My potting shed at home is full to the brim so it was good to get properly setup, or at least make a start.

When I dug out the pond, I sieved every spadeful and then it went into one of those cylindrical compost bins with the hatch at the base. Yesterday I emptied the bin and put the soil back around the edges of the pond ready for planting. I did a 5 minute plot walk and collected a pile of pebbles, which over the coming weeks should hopefully increase.

Slowly but surely I’m making progress. I can’t wait until Spring is fully sprung!!!

 

Taking shape nicely Tinker
Taking your time to get it right is the way to go!
I share your impatience for spring to come....mind you, yesterday was like summer and today is pretty good too

 

Ah that pond is too cute! Love the chimney pot and the picket fence wish we could have a pond on our site but we're basically on a hill!

Great to get going again isn't it!

 

Cheers..!

You’re right we’ve been in luck the last handful of days. It’s been a treat... It looks as though the rain is coming looking ahead the next few days. I’m going to play it by ear, but luckily I have plenty of sowing I can push on with in the polytunnel. Roll on the stable weather I say haha

 

Hi @Tinker86 it's taking shape nicely mate and to say you couldn't do nothing really last year...your not doing to bad now mate and it's coming a long fine.

Just look at the light you have in your shed ...your dabbling here and there but still achieving your goals