This page outlines the main activities undertaken on a typical day at Mudlarks Cromwell Road Site

Activities will vary depending upon the season, weather conditions, and urgency of tasks, requirements of Personal Development Plans and with the consent and approval of participants.

Session One
Break
Session Two
Lunch
Session Three
End of Day

Session One (0930-1100)

If arriving by bicycle please secure it with padlock and chain.

Report to the site office and register your attendance. If you are a Trainee and are unable to attend please let us know by the end of this session.

Store your lunch bag in the office.

Put on sun cream, work boots and clothes and hat. Sun cream will need to be reapplied periodically.

Plot Inspection

We undertake an inspection of every cultivated plot at Mudlarks, starting with individual and shared plots and then moving onto communal areas. We will list pressing jobs, such as harvesting, pruning, weeding and pest control and return back to the site office. We will discuss and agree on the tasks to undertaken and by whom. If a new skill is to be learnt a suitable mentor will accompany the Trainee, demonstrate the technique and assist the Trainee in becoming accomplished in that skill. Personal Development Plans will be amended.

Plot Maintenance 1

Having identified the jobs to be done in this session we will collect the appropriate tools from the tool store and complete the urgent jobs.

These jobs include:

Watering
Harvesting cut flowers, fruit and vegetables and placing them in a temporary cool and dark storage area
Gathering litter
Adjusting ventilation of cold frames
Cutting out diseased or infected material

At the end of the activity wash and sharpen the tools and return them to the tool store.

This activity may continue after the mid-morning break.

At 10:50 collect tools, return to site office area, wash hands.

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Break (1100-1130)

Break and Lunch are important times at Mudlarks as they allow all participants to socialise and take part in domestic activities. These times also allow us to discuss the previous session and note areas where improvement can be made.

We will discuss and agree on the tasks to undertaken and by whom. If a new skill is to be learnt a suitable mentor will accompany the Trainee, demonstrate the technique and assist the Trainee in becoming accomplished in that skill. Personal Development Plans will be amended to indicate progress.

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Session Two (1130-1300)

Plot Maintenance 2

Collect the appropriate tools from the tool store and perform tasks similar to the following on single and shared plots, and the communal areas.

These jobs include:

Weed beds and borders
Cut grass and edges
Collect items for composting, shred material and turn compost
Direct sowing and planting
Staking and tying
Apply top dressing and fertiliser

Every effort will be made to ensure that participants perform different activities in different sessions.

At the end of the activity wash and sharpen the tools and return them to the tool store.

This activity may continue after the lunch break.

At 12:50 collect tools, return to site office area, wash hands.

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Lunch (1300-1330)

We will discuss and agree on the tasks to undertaken and by whom. If a new skill is to be learnt a suitable mentor will accompany the Trainee, demonstrate the technique and assist the Trainee in becoming accomplished in that skill. Personal Development Plans will be amended to indicate progress.

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Session 3 (1330-1500)

Group Activities

Horticultural, woodworking and craft activities to include:

Sowing seeds and labeling
Transplanting and thinning
Washing pots
Washing and bagging produce for sale
Tree and hedge maintenance
Planning projects
Building wildlife boxes
Building cold frames
Mosaic making
Basket weaving
Landscaping

Individual Training

To include establishing and reviewing the Personal Development Plans.

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End of the Day (1500)

You will be asked to clean all tools and return them to the tool store and register that you are leaving the site.

Please take your rubbish home with you.

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