Timber Decking Tiles

Yesterday I went to Wicks to look at their 500mm x 500mm decking tiles and they were not square and the timbers on the underside were not on the edge and were not parallel or even the same offset from the edge. 

They were priced at £13 and were made of thicker timber but would not work as replacement as I built concrete upstands at 250mm centres for the tiles to bear on, as a previous owner had laid the slab underneath to falls towards the house and I had to install an acco drain that runs along the back of the house, to prevent rising damp when I bought the house in 1991  

Today I went to my local B&Q to look at their tiles and ended up buying a trolly load, selecting the best of what was in the two stacks on the shelve. 

They didn't have 42 in stock when I got there more like 30 ish 

.I sorted out the best of the pile and filled the trolly with 14 of them 

The boot will easily take more than 14 tiles and I could always get more on the back seat, I just need to find another B&Q who has stock as I need 82 tiles in all to do the whole deck.

They were carried through the house and into the back garden, and as if by magic my daughter Kelly stop on one of the iffy looking ones and it broke under her. 

Back Garden Allotment

The photo above, is a view from the kitchen back door, The wicker furniture will be going and I will be replacing the timber decking on the patio this year, but for the moment the furniture is supporting scaffolding boards that I can drill and screw ready for assembly.

I have been fighting to convert my allotment into a more disabled friendly place, but finally I have decided I will have to give up half of my allotment Plot 1A or the whole allotment Plots 1A & 1 at the end of this growing year in October.

What's made me come to this decision?

A number of factors I guess, I have early signs of cataract in my right eye and my diabetic eye exam noticed a little bleed behind my eye. The government is targeting 70 year old drivers, and I'm only two years away from being 70 and although my eyesight is Ok at the moment it's going to get worse and if I can't drive, my allotment is just too far away from home to get to and from easily.

With the impending fuel shortages, cost and availability of fuel may again prevent me from filling the car allowing me to get to and work my plots.

WWIII is here and the government is targeting our farmers and trying to destroy our ability to feed ourselves, and I believe there will be food shortages, and as in WWII one will be encouraged to grow food in the back garden, so I want to be ahead of the game.

And finally I love to grow vegetables, and have no practical other use for the back garden, these days.

I have cut scaffolds boards to make more raised bed at the allotment but they are stacked on a number of raised beds. that are already constructed. I will need to remove these boards so I can actually use those beds, this year.

So I've made the decision to bring those scaffold boards home and set up a mini allotment in the back garden. The photos taken this morning in this post show how far I have got over the last couple of days, building raised bed frames and laying out the beds.

I will be putting paving slabs either side of the beds so I can get out there all year round. I have been collecting paving slabs off Freecycle for the last 12 years, so they may as well come home with me as well.

The row at the back that has three beds allows me to locate the beds such that a path of paving slabs can be placed parallel to the retaining wall. A storm broke the post in the fence where the trellis has been removed either side in 2023 when I was being treated for cancer and I'm going to replace it this year, now I have regained more mobility.

We have not used the umbrella washing line for around 15 years and that will be going, if I can manage to extract it from the concrete base! 

First batch of woodchip to fill the first level of frames to reduce the amount of compost and topsoil required. I need to bring blue water pipe hoops and debris netting home before I start filling as there are too many cats that come and use our garden as a litter tray. I have loads of cardboard filling my greenhouse on the plot, that will come home to cover the grass in the beds before the woodchips and old timber I have goes in the bottom of each bed.

Photo taken from the back of the garden up by the greenhouse at about 3:15pm 

The sun rises at the front of the house and gradually comes around to the rear of the house, which means I can keep out of direct sunlight in the early morning and then the apple trees offer some shade until early evening when the garden is once again in direct sunlight. 

The medication I'm on advises me to keep out of direct sunlight, and I have taken to wearing long sleeved T-shirts and a Winne the Poo hat with neck flap, but having the allotment in the back garden will allow me to work in areas of the garden that are in shade throughout the day. 

This was another factor that made me decide to do this, as following the building of the flats and the removal of the trees at the back of Mill Green plot 1A, I no longer have a source of shade, other than the potting shed which is normally 10C - 20C hotter than the outside temperature.  

Site Inspections Today

 

This morning I went to visit Emma and grandson Digby, who was very loving and wanted to sit with grandad for lunch. 

 
Then it was off to the allotment to meet Jane from idverde who was doing the site inspections today, and surprise surprise, so many plot holders were there as I had let them know she was coming and even the father of one of the plot holders came to strim the grass and weeds.

There are a few plot holders that will be getting no cultivation notices, but less than last year and a couple of the usual suspects will be getting notices. 

The last few days I have been loading the car with the scaffold boards that were going to be used for raised beds on the allotment, but will now be used to make a back garden allotment. This will allow the beds I have already created to be used on plot 1 and I will be clearing the bindweed on plot 1A and growing on there, and have decided to give up plot 1A at the end of the year if not the whole of Avalon.  

Bindweed on Plot 1

 
This was the view on the 17 April of the bindweed on plot 1 on the 17th when I used a whole bottle of weedkiller to hopefully kill the roots. Four days later a few leaves looked sun scorched, but the weeds didn't look in distress like I had hoped. 

I took my strimmer down and attacked the bind weed in an attempt to slow it down so I can deal with it. 

Please Vote For Mill Green Allotment

 

Mill Green Allotment is in the 40 plots or less category and is currently 2nd for the most votes and we only have 20 plot holders

Please  Vote Here 

As of this weekend these are the results in the £500 voucher category Yellow pins 

1. Kimberworth Park Allotments 
2. Mill Green Allotments 
3. Three Pits Allotments 
4. Carter Royd Allotments 
5. Sydney Street Allotments 
6. Tullos Crescent Allotments 
7. Castle Hill Allotments 
8. Community Plot (Gavin Morgan) 

Kimberworth Park Allotments

Mill Green Allotments

Mill Green has less plot holders than Kimberworth Park Allotments

Plots 9 & 9A out of Action due to Japanese Knotweed

Back Garden Allotment

 

Since seeing the bindweed burst into growth on plot 1A, I have been wrestling with perhaps giving up that plot at the end of this growing years and have even been considering perhaps the whole of Avalon (Plots 1 &  1A) 

With the price of petrol and the availability that will only get worse if not rationed as WWIII expands, and the ability to grow food at home where it will be harder to steal unlike the allotment, it's a no brainer to set up a garden allotment.    

I have the cut scaffold boards already on the allotment for 1200mm x 800mm raised beds. 

Bloody Bindweed

The Bindweed has come back on plot 1 with a vengeance. I hate to do it but I have sprayed it all with weed killer as it's going to get away from me, if I don't.  

Bindweed and mares tail is popping up in newly completed bed H1 Before weeding photo.

After weeding Photo of Bed H1

Bed 15 that was weeded a week ago was sprouting bindweed and mares tail, so that got weeded 

Bed 15 covered back up 

Climbing Frame Greenhouse beds need weeding and bindweed is growing up the mesh. 

Please Vote For Mill Green Allotment

 

 

Mill Green Allotment is in the 40 plots or less category and is currently 2nd for the most votes and we only have 20 plot holders

Please  Vote Here 

As of this weekend these are the results in the £500 voucher category Yellow pins 

1. Kimberworth Park Allotments — 89 votes
2. Mill Green Allotments — 62 votes
3. Three Pits Allotments — 57 votes
4. Carter Royd Allotments — 44 votes
5. Sydney Street Allotments — 42 votes
6. Tullos Crescent Allotments — 34 votes
7. Castle Hill Allotments — 0 votes
8. Community Plot (Gavin Morgan) — 0 votes

Kimberworth Park Allotments

Mill Green Allotments

Mill Green has less plot holders than Kimberworth Park Allotments

Plots 9 & 9A out of Action due to Japanese Knotweed

Be Hedgehog Aware

We are now tidying up our edges and hedgerows, which is fabulous. Please check before you strim and mow.

Sowing Tomatoes

This morning I've sown 3 of the following varieties of tomatoes, the Big Mother Fucker and Tennis Ball were given to me to harvest seeds from by a fellow plot holder who had no idea what they were called, so I named them after their size. They grew well last year and didn't get blight.  

Burlesque
Crimson Plum

Big Mother Fucker
Tennis Ball
Crimson Crush

Crimson Cocktail

Crimson Blush

Arielle F1 

The Crimson Range is Blight Resistant and I intend on planting these out on the allotment in Beds H1 and H2 (if I get H2 built in time) 

Raise Bed H1 with the footprint of Bed H2 on its right, 2.4m long so room enough for four plants along the bed. 

Back British Farming

 

In April 2026, Tesco announced record profits of £2.8–3.1 billion while British farmers went bankrupt supplying their shelves. Keir Starmer's government has done nothing to stop a supermarket oligopoly that controls 80% of UK food retail, allowing three chains to dictate terms to every farmer in the country.

In January 2026, a Devon cattle farmer lost his long-term Tesco contract. That contract was worth £324,000 annually—78% of his farm income. Not because he failed. Because Tesco found cheaper beef elsewhere. The contract was terminated with no protection, no compensation, no government intervention.

This is the scandal of Britain's food system. More than one in three UK farms reported losses in 2025. Average returns on capital in farming have been negative for a decade. Meanwhile, Tesco announces record profits every quarter. Farmgate prices for milk sit at 28-47p per litre while retail price is £1.00-£1.50. The squeeze happens at the farm gate. The profit lands in supermarket headquarters.

The government had choices. Introduce price floors. Mandate fair payment terms. Regulate the oligopoly. Break up market concentration. Protect British farmers from being undercut by cheap imports. They chose none of these options. Starmer's government inherited a farming crisis and made it worse. They took office promising support. Then they introduced inheritance tax that forces family farms to sell. Then they allowed supermarkets to keep squeezing. Then they stood back.

On April 16th, Tesco announces Q4 results. The numbers will be strong. Profit guidance likely exceeded. And British farmers will go deeper into the red, knowing their government won't protect them from supermarket extraction.

This is government failure. Complete failure. A case study in how Westminster abandons British agriculture while corporate profits soar unchecked.

This channel investigates how Westminster's policy decisions destroy British farming when no one's watching.

Please Vote For Mill Green Allotment

 

Mill Green Allotment is in the 40 plots or less category and is currently 2nd for the most votes and we only have 20 plot holders

Please  Vote Here 

As of Easter Monday these are the results in the £500 voucher category Yellow pins 

1. Kimberworth Park Allotments — 74 votes
2. Mill Green Allotments — 53 votes
3. Carter Royd Allotments — 42 votes
4. Tullos Crescent Allotments — 34 votes
5. Sydney Street Allotments — 32 votes
6. Three Pits Allotments — 1 vote
7. Castle Hill Allotments — 0 votes
8. Community Plot (Gavin Morgan) — 0 votes

Kimberworth Park Allotments

Mill Green Allotments

Mill Green has less plot holders than Kimberworth Park Allotments

Plots 9 & 9A out of Action due to Japanese Knotweed

Weeding Bed 15 & SFG Bed 2

14C and sunny today on the allotment. I've added labels to the potatoes chitting in the potting shed. I cleared to weeds from Bed 15 and Square Foot Garden Bed 2 this afternoon. Only John on the allotment when I arrived, Two more allotment holders came in the afternoon, I really expected to see more people down there today.

Bed 15 Before weeding.

Bed 15 After weeding.

Bed 15 watered and covered with Debris Netting.

Potatoes with Labels I created this morning. 

Potatoes with Labels I created this morning.

SFG Bed 2 Before, Lettuce bolted. 

SFG Bed 2 mid- weeding.

SFG Bed 2 weeding complete.

SFG Bed 2 watered and covered with debris netting.

Hydrating Blocks Of Coir

 

Hydrating 13 blocks of Coir now that the water has been turned on ready for planting First Early Spuds in Buckets 

What To Grow In April

 

Wilkinson Sword Long Reach Pruner

 

If you follow manvslug.uk you will have seen that I was looking for a lightweight pruner mainly for cutting back all the bindweed that is now growing at a rate of knots, and I have purchased the Wilkinson Sword Long Reach Pruner, which has an Ultralight Bypass Design, Grab and Hold System, Rotating Easy Grip, High Carbon Steel Blade. 

It's Light weight is 755 Grams and the tag says its up to 50% Lighter but does not specify lighter than what? When looking at the Wilkinson Sword Gardening Tools web site it states this......

The Long Reach Pruner measures 650mm long and 100mm wide and will cut up to 22mm diameter material 

 

About this item

• CUTTING MECHANISM: Ultralight bypass pruner design with high carbon steel blade featuring non-stick coating for clean, precise cuts
• GRAB AND HOLD SYSTEM: Innovative gripping mechanism securely holds dead heads and cuttings after cutting, preventing them from falling to ground
• ADJUSTABLE GRIP: Easy-grip handle rotates to provide optimal cutting angles and better access to hard-to-reach foliage
• LONG REACH DESIGN: Extended length aluminium shaft allows for pruning at height while maintaining stability and control
• PREMIUM CONSTRUCTION: Wilkinson Sword quality with ultra-sharp steel blade ensures lasting performance and clean cut.

Key Takeaways from Reviews

• Design & Weight: Part of the "Ultralight" range, it features a 65cm (approx. 2ft) aluminium shaft that is very light, reducing fatigue during long pruning sessions.

• Grab & Hold Mechanism: A standout feature, this mechanism holds onto deadheads or cuttings after they are severed, preventing them from falling into awkward spots.
• Cutting Action: The bypass blades are sharp, high-carbon steel with a non-stick coating, handling green growth and stems up to 22mm thick with ease.
• User Experience: Many users find it "excellent" for cutting through tough or thorny shrubbery without stepping into flower beds.
• Adjustability: The handle rotates to allow for different cutting angles

Pros:

• Extremely lightweight and easy to handle.
• Excellent "grab and hold" feature keeps mess to a minimum.
• Strong enough to cut through thicker, established stems up to 22mm.
• 10-year guarantee.

Cons:

• Some users reported that the mechanism can jam or break with very heavy use.
• It is a 650mm tool; it provides extra reach but is not a full "long-reach telescopic" tool that extends many feet.
• It can pinch fingers if not used carefully.

Is it worth it?

Yes says AI, it is considered excellent value for money for routine gardening, particularly for trimming, pruning roses, and cutting back perennials, offering a good balance of performance and comfort. It is often described as a "must-have" tool to add to the garden shed, especially for those looking to avoid using ladders. I however want to use it mainly for cutting bindweed and mares tail as I can no longer bend or get down on my hands and knees. 

Based on the above information from an AI Google search, I shopped around and purchased for £28.99 with Free Delivery. I will give you my personal view on the Wilkinson Sword Long Reach Pruner, once I have taken it to the allotment and used it for a while. 

Weeds!

 

With a root the size of a decent carrot