What to grow:

As the weather gets colder and the hours of daylight begin to wane, getting out in the garden perhaps seems a little less appealing than it did in those few heady, sunshiney days we had through the summer. But now is the fun part – start thinking about what you can do to bring your garden to life for the new year. I’m planting lots of colour and choosing plants that bees and butterflies would like too.

This month I’ll be putting my tulip bulbs in. Getting them in between late October and November ensures flowers bloom from mid-March and also that the pesky ‘tulip fire’ disease that can ruin the flowers and leaves, making the plant look like it has been scorched by flames, is avoided.

How to grow:

To get started, choose whether you will be planting them in a pot or the ground. Both work well. For the purposes of this, I’ll refer to planting in the ground (but all the same rules apply).

Choose the spot you want to put them, it is important that you select an area big enough, the general rule for tulip bulb planting is that you must plant at least twice the bulb’s width apart and at a depth of three times the bulbs height.

Tulips must be planted in welldrained soil, otherwise the bulbs rot, they also need sunshine and work best if they are sheltered from the harsher elements we get at this time of year.

Once you have chosen your planting spot and dug the area. Add some grit to the soil– this will provide good drainage. I have noticed the soil in the Borough tends to be of a more clay consistency, so adding a little sand or grit will enhance growing conditions. Also consider adding in some organic matter and mixing in some peat free compost too, this will make the soil really fertile and give the bulbs all the nutrients they need to produce strong plants with beautiful blooms.

Bulbs must be planted with the pointed tip facing upwards towards the sky and must be planted to the right depth and spacing – see above. Once the bulbs have been planted, gently press down on the top of soil to ensure the bulbs will be making contact with the soil and then water.

Green escape: Forest Lane Park

Having lived in our brilliant Borough for almost two years, I’m ashamed to admit that it has taken me this long to discover Forest Lane Park – my new favourite spot and (up until now) best kept secret. It’s everything you need in a green space and more.

Newham Council developed the park 20 years ago, with the ambition of providing an environmentally themed space – they excelled– the park has an (overgrown) pond, raised bed garden area, a small orchard, a wildflower meadow and a little lake that acts as the centre piece of the space. It is also home to surprisingly dense woodland, housing a wonderful variety of beautiful trees including: lime, sycamore, plane and red horse chestnut.

The park isn’t huge, but has a lot to keep everyone entertained, from balance bars, wonderful wooden sculptures, a pretty wooden bridge to cross, swings, slides, an open air workout zone and a number of benches dotted around the area to sit and relax. It is well maintained, very clean and has such a lovely buzz to it. Whether you want to wander, sit and watch the swans and ducks on the little lake, or just explore the forest area, it provides the perfect spot for all. I may have only just discovered it, but over the last few weeks have been making up for lost time.

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