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ALLOTMENT VISITORS

I love my allotment, it may not be the tidiest on our site but I get a great deal of pleasure from working the earth and growing my own vegetables, fruit and flowers.

Don't get me wrong its very hard work digging it each year and then the sowing and planting, and the best part the harvesting of good organic produce.  This is the cycle we 'allotmenteers' go through every year, is it worth it ~ oh yes it is.  The fresh air, the exercise and another bonus, the different pieces of nature thats going on all around me as I tend my plot.

Taking a break from allotment tasks with my camera at hand, I have gathered a collection of 'visitors' to my plot which |I hope you will enjoy.

Allotment Visitors
Allotment Visitors
.This little butterfly over-wintered in my greenhouse. He looks a little ragged and tired but he flew away in the early spring sunshine
Allotment Vistors
Allotment Vistors
This lovely marmalade hoverfly stopped off to feed on my autumn raspberries. Such lovely colours.
Allotment Visitors
Allotment Visitors
Robins are always around especially when digging. This little fella decided to check out my greenhouse as I was cleaning it out in autumn. I managed to get this picture before he got out.
Allotment Visitors
Allotment Visitors
This is another hoverfly resting on the sole of my wellington boot hanging up in the shed. I think it is a bombardier hoverfly
Allotment Visitors
Allotment Visitors
Millipede are classed as minor pests in gardens.. This one took a fancy to one of my greenhouse tomato's, but there was plenty of tomatoes for me so I can spare the odd one.
Allotment Visitors
Allotment Visitors
I have a natural spring on my plot, (sadly not Peckham water). I have found some leeches in the overflow but frogs are common and most welcome as they love slugs and I seem to have an abundance of slugs. The problem with frogs though they jump out when you disturb them causing me to jump as well!!!!
Allotment Visitors
Allotment Visitors
I spent a good two days in hot sun treating my fence one summer, two days later I noticed masses of wasps 'feeding' on the paint ~ weird
Allotment Visitors
Allotment Visitors
One Christmas the family went to a Forestry Commission centre to get a tree, we also went to see Santa Claus with my young nephew and niece, Santa gave out little pine tree plants to the children, my three year old nephew wanted a proper present... I took the little plant and put it in my allotment, its now about 25ft tall and the goldfinches love it for the seeds from the cones
Allotment Visitors
Allotment Visitors
Cardinal beetles are classed as pests but what a lovely colour they are
Allotment Visitors
Allotment Visitors
Blackfly aphids, oh how they love broad beans, thankfully Ladybirds love them. This picture shows an ant feeding on the liquid emitted by the blackfly, isn't nature wonderful
Allotment Visitors
Allotment Visitors
These are delicate Lacewing eggs, very small.
Allotment Visitors
Allotment Visitors
My buddleia bush is loved by butterflies especially Peacocks
Allotment Visitors
Allotment Visitors
Not sure if this is a cricket or a grasshopper
Allotment visitor
Allotment visitor
These little guys covered one of my compost bins one day, not identified them yet
Allotment Visitors
Allotment Visitors
Sometimes you hear sparrows having a 'ruckus' in the hedges. They are very noisy when they get together.
Allotment Visitors
Allotment Visitors
These guys are very welcome on my allotment, they are brandling worms in one of my compost bins. I don't know how they get there but they work wonders on vegetable waste and turn it into lovely compost.
Allotment Visitors
Allotment Visitors
This is a Harlequin ladybird 'hatching' from the pupa. I watched it emerge over a period of five minutes, amazing
Allotment Visitors
Allotment Visitors
This is the Harlequin 'hatched'. They are yellow for an hour or so and then the spots develop.
Allotment Visitors
Allotment Visitors
Song Thrushes seem to be getting used to us humans, you can get quite close to them
Allotlment Visitors
Allotlment Visitors
There are few things that can beat the sound of a Blackbird in full song while working on my allotment.

© Penny Vickers

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