'The Plot at Platform One' would be a great title for a detective novel, wouldn't it? In fact, it's the name of one of the sites used by Veg on the Edge, our community gardening group. Their volunteers plant raised beds with vegetables, fruit and herbs that anyone can come and pick once they're ripe. This area is alongside the Leeds-bound platform of Saltaire railway station. I find it's quite enjoyable to feast my eyes (if not my stomach) on all the greenery whilst I'm waiting for a train.
They have three raised beds here. It's too early in the season for produce but there are some herbs. The borders between the fence and the sunny south-facing wall of the old Dining Hall (now part of Shipley College) are a riotous mixture of wild and garden flowers and shrubs, and attract bees, butterflies and pollinators. I rather like the flowering plant I've pictured - the flowers are such a wonderful azure blue. It's called green alkanet and is considered (in some places) to be an invasive weed as, once established, it is pretty hard to get rid of. Its flowers are, apparently, edible and can be used as a garnish on salads.
That's the most "un-English Garden" I've seen...not at all trim and proper! But the idea of having free produce is a great one. I'd just like to see it with some bit of organizing.
ReplyDeleteThe alkanet is quite lovely.
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