Keelings International At The Daylight Veggie Patch!

On the 28th and 29th of June 2022, team members from Keelings International joined us on the Daylight Veggie Patch as part of their volunteering programme to support the local community.

On the first day, Keeling International team members helped to plant a wide variety of seeds, including tomatoes, sweetcorn, peas, beans, potatoes, carrots, parsnips, and leeks! Many hands made light work and we were soon onto weeding and preparing the ground for more seeds to be planted. In the afternoon, the team members split into two teams and competed head-to-head to build the best bug hotel, which will allow wildlife such as hedgehogs, mice, bees, spiders and other insects to live. The hotels used 100% natural materials from the alllotment, including repurposed materials which were removed from the stream. Below is a picture of both teams with their completed bug hotels.

The winning team with their bug hotel called ‘Bahama House’.

The second place team with their bug hotel caled ‘Bee & bee’.

On the second day, more team members from Keelings International join us to plant the remaining seeds, including sweetcorn, onions, tomatoes, pumpkins, parsnips, carrots, and much more. We also transplanted fruit trees from our small orchard to our main orchard at the top of the allotment. In the afternoon we worked together to assemble a shelter made from 100% repurposed materials which would have gone to landfill. This shelter will provide our clients with a comfortable space to shelter from the weather whilst they enjoy the Daylight Nature Garden.

The new shelter on the Daylight Veggie Patch, made from 100% repurposed materials.

After this, we began our final head-to-head challenge with two teams competing to assemble the best Bee Spa, which is a large tray with rocks and water where Bees can safely land to drink without the risk of drowning.

The winning Bee Spa, aka The Bee-Tyre-Ment home, shown under the repurposed umbrella, next to the award winning Bahama House bug hotel.

Below we have a selection of photos taken at the Keelings International volunteering session at the Daylight Veggie Patch. Thank you so much for supporting us!

If you would like to volunteer on the Daylight Veggie Patch, please contact VeggiePatch@daylightcf.org or call 01933 446490.