Hello <<First Name>>,
We are keen to keep you informed of what's going on at bc. Please forward this to anyone you think may be interested. We welcome comments and feedback, so please reply to this email if there's anything you'd like to follow up.
27th July 2020, the first cut! A swathe of topsoil removed on the southern edge and heaped for re-use later. photos Peter
23 August; topsoil heaped up in the n.e. corner. View from s.w. photo Hugh
C G Fry & Son is on-site,
& digging in!
On 26th August, the groundworks after a month's activity! photos Peter
Mopping up after storm Francis photo Hugh
A dance of diggers photos Peter
4th September, excavated hole filled with soakaway crates. photos Hugh
The view from Allington Hill
on 11th August
photos Vince
some of the members who gathered for a
Picnic celebration
of Fry's arrival on site, with due observance of social bubbles
and sociable bubbly. 27th July.
photos Hugh, Lin
New Members
*************
Welcome, Hester and Aoife ! ! !
Welcome, Becca and Nola ! ! !
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Field Trip
Forestry Research
Kate M., Laura, Lin and Serena visited the Agroforestry Research Trust’s newest site at Littlehempston. Obtained in 2011, it covers 11 acres.
We toured three new forest gardens (a small garden started in 2012, a medium sized garden in 2013, and forest garden to maximise carbon storage started in 2019/20), a forest garden greenhouse (started 2016) with a subtropical forest garden being established inside, experimental coppice plantings, and the nursery.
The small forest garden looked to be very interesting for considering how BC might want to develop food growing on site in years to come. This was a 400msq site at the back of the large polycarbonate greenhouse.
It did not look like a traditional forest garden as there was not a large tree canopy, but smaller trees like plum, apple, acacia and shrubby alders (for nitrogen fixing). We noted lots of edible plants like miniature hemerocallis (day lily) and raised beds in sunny areas with annual vegetables. The garden was surrounded by a windbreak hedge of Elaeagnus multiflora (Autumn olive) and Rosa rugosa and a small blackcurrant hedge on another side. There was an abundance of groundcover plants like Alpine strawberries and a low growing raspberry. They started this garden by planting trees into grass and mulching in the first year and then planting through cardboard sheet mulching during the next 2 years.
The whole site is sustainable with water collection. Rainwater is harvested from the greenhouse and large polytunnels (similar to a French drain system) and collected at the bottom of the sloping site. Electric pumps get it up to a reservoir at the top which holds half a million litres, and was filled over a winter season!
A solar panel pump on a timer circulates the water through a stone and sand filter which keeps it free from algae and can be used to irrigate the newly planted areas below by gravity feed.
Martin is experimenting with sub tropical varieties in the greenhouse and also with nut trees. He is planting walnuts quite closely together and then coppicing them after 8 years to keep them smaller and still hopefully get a good crop of nuts. He warns that oaks might be stressed by a warming climate and is planting downy oaks and holm oaks to see if they fare better. He stressed that native varieties may not adapt in time and it is good to be planting non native species alongside natives.
He also advised using a soil inoculant like Chaos fungorum for new planting of trees in the middle of the site which will not have a connection via the mycelial network to trees around the borders. The added bonus of this particular inoculant is that in years to come, when the trees die the spores of many edible mushrooms will give a great crop for future generations of cohousers!
Lin
Social Engagements
bc&covid19
bridport cohousing is not holding any indoor events at present.
Most of our meetings and social events are now online using Zoom video conferencing. This makes all the physical, outdoor gatherings that we can arrange so special.
Government advice as of the beginning of September is that outdoor engagements with others are permitted given the risk of transmission is lower in open air. However, you should only be seated with members of one other household and, wherever possible, socially distanced from those you do not live with (or who are not in your support bubble) to reduce the risk of chains of transmission.
In all of our events there is an opportunity to meet potential neighbours and ask questions about becoming a member and buying or renting a new eco-home.
When dates are arranged, details will be announced in newsletter updates and posted on the bc website.
Please see links and contact details in the box at the bottom. Keep safe, keep well, lovely people!
Events in September
Tuesday 8th September, 11.00am - 12:30pm Meet the neighbours zoom chat Members from Bridport Cohousing will host an online conversation.
If you’d like to join us,
please email info@bridportcohousing.org.uk for details of how to log in.
Wednesday 23rd September, 5:30pm - 7pm Meet the neighbours zoom chat Members from Bridport Cohousing will host an online conversation.
If you’d like to join us, please email info@bridportcohousing.org.uk for details of how to log in.
Sunday 27th Sept, 12noon - 2pm Picnic, meet the neighbours
Venue to be confirmed
Come and meet some Bridport Cohousing neighbours for a socially distanced out-of-doors gathering. Regretfully, because of covid restrictions we can't really share food yet, so please bring your own picnic! Weather dependent - please check the website.
Events in October
Tuesday 6th October, 10:30am - 12noon Meet the neighbours zoom call
Members from Bridport Cohousing will host online conversation. If you’d like to join us, please email info@bridportcohousing.org.uk for details of how to log in.
Sunday 11th October, 12noon - 2pm Picnic, meet the neighbours
Come and meet the Bridport Cohousing neighbours for a socially distanced picnic. Bring your own food and something to sit on. Weather dependent.
Wednesday 14th October, 5:30pm - 7pm. Meet the neighbours zoom chat
Members from Bridport Cohousing will host an online conversation.
If you’d like to join us, please email info@bridportcohousing.org.uk for details of how to log in.
Kindly note that although these dates are accurate at time of publication, they are provisional. There may be changes due to circumstances, including the weather.
Before leaving home, please refer to the events page on the bc website for current information. Thank you.
Events are updated on the bc website. Please check on our website or social media for up-to-date information.
Mopping up after storm Francis 
b
