We believe that the production of crops on a traditional allotment can be undertaken while causing minimum impact to the environment and can provide real benefit to wildlife.

This page outlines some of the ways we will try to practice horticulture in a responsible and sustainable manner.

Site Buildings

All site buildings have been designed to use products from sustainable sources or reuse discarded material. Each building has been assembled on top of material which can be readily removed once the lease expires. The ratio of structure area to plot area is not greater than that already permitted on the private allotments.

Compost Toilets

The compost toilets on site does not produce any liquid run-off that may contaminate the water table.

Car Parking

Any vehicle parking will also be made of recovered or recycled materials laid on a foundation of sand or soil.

Disabled Access Parking

We wish to encourage disabled people to visit and participate at Mudlarks. For their safety it will be necessary to use some recovered concrete paving stones in heavily used areas. We intend to use ground guard made from recycled plastic wherever possible. Non-disabled paths will be constructed from turf or degradable wood chippings.

Screening and Hedging

Site buildings, compost bins and divisions within the site are screened using timber and native plants. Some screening will provide opportunities to grow crops like runner beans.

The existing hedge and boundary of the site will be enhanced with native species.

Fruit Trees

Priority will be given to local native fruit trees which will be contained to a height of no more than 3 metres.

Organic Methods

No non-organic material will be added to the earth on the Mudlarks site. No non-organic pestisides or fertilizers will be used. Organic methods of pest control will be used.

Sustainably-Sourced Compost

Only products proven to have been derived from sustainable sources will be used by Mudlarks. We will use horse manure and our home-produced compost and fertilizer to enrich the soil.

Permaculture

We intend using some of the best practices associated with intensive and sustainable crop production.

Rabbits

It is very disappointing to leave a thriving crop one day to return the next finding it devastated by rabbits. We have used wire fence to enclose our allotment plots as we will not be using poison or snares.

Bats, Birds, Butterflies and Bees

If we are visited by increasing numbers of the 4 B’s it is a very obvious signs that the ecosystem is rich and thriving. We will encourage biodiversity while taking reasonable steps to protect our precious crops.

Beneficial Bugs and Micro-organisms

Encouraging beneficial creatures will allow us to control pests and diseases without resorting to harmful chemicals.

Wildlife Survey and Photography

A permanent feature of Mudlarks will be the quarterly wildlife survey. This will be undertaken by staff, trainees and volunteers to establish the extent and variety of wildlife during the year. The results from the survey will be published on our website as will photographs of the changing scenery.

Rubbish and Litter

The only items left on site will be those gently decomposing in our compost and leaf litter bins. All other rubbish will be removed and recycled.

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