Green manure at Parke Walled Garden

In the walled garden at Parke the first crops are starting to appear above the soil, but there are areas that look as though they are being taken over by a blanket of green weed.

Don’t worry. This is actually a mixture of Italian rye grass, phacelia and red clover that has been specifically planted to act as a 'green' manure, a weed suppressant and a nectar source for bees and other insects. This will be ploughed-in later in the year to help fertilise the soil and improve its structure, therefore eliminating the need for chemical fertilisers.