News – Framfield Allotments

Framfield takes top spot

We are delighted to announce that Framfield has won first prize in Cultivating Ealing’s large allotment site competition 2025. The judges were impressed by our “wildlife focus and strong community engagement, as well as excellent communal facilities”. This is all down to the hard work of our wonderful volunteers and we really appreciate all your help over the year.

Hedgehog update

Framfield Allotments are part of Hanwell’s hedgehog highway

Following the successful release on the allotments of seven rescued hedgehogs last year, several local sightings have been reported, including on Shakespeare Road. Hedgehog numbers have declined drastically in the UK in recent years – a third have been lost in the past 20 years alone. They are now on the red list of endangered species. The Hedgehog Street website has lots of information about hedgehogs and suggestions for how to make gardens (and allotments) attractive and safe for them.

Asian hornet alert

The Asian hornet is a highly aggressive predator of native insects and poses a significant threat to honey bees and other pollinators. They can decimate honey bee colonies. Most sightings to date have been in Kent and the south-east, but they have been found in Hackney and Thamesmead, so they could end up in Hanwell. The main identifier is their yellow legs. They are twice the size of a wasp and have a thick yellow band across their bums, not lots of thin stripes like most of other species. Further information can be found on the Non-Native Species Secretariat (NNSS) website.

Hornets are not generally aggressive towards people, but an exception to this is when they perceive a threat to their nest. The official advice is not to approach or disturb a nest. If you think you’ve seen an Asian hornet, take a photo and report it here. Let one of the committee know as soon as possible, especially if think you have found a nest. We will report it to Ealing Council who will destroy the nest. Please do not disturb them.

How to identify an Asian hornet

Photography competition winners

We received some fabulous entries for the children’s photography competition, which we ran over the summer. Steve Pound had the difficult task or choosing the winners. Congratulations to Szymon and Leonardo, winners of the Allotment View category, and to Tom, Isabella and Amberlilly, winners of Nature on the Allotments!

created by dji camera — Allotment View by Szymon, age 10

Leonardo age 9 - view 2 — Allotment View by Leonardo, age 9

amberlilly aged 13 -2 — Nature on the Allotments by Amberlilly, age 13

isabella age 14 nature - 3 — Nature on the Allotments by Isabella, age 14

Tom aged 11 — Nature on the Allotments by Tom, age 11

isabella age 14 nature - — Nature on the Allotments by Isabella, age 14

Framfield Honey

We are delighted to announce the first harvest of honey from the Framfield Allotments community bees. They have not only been busy pollinating your crops but also making lots of honey, which won first prize at the Ealing and Hanwell Allotment Association show. There is a limited quantity of honey available for sale on a first-come, first-served basis, one jar per plot holder in the first instance. You may put your name down for more if we have any spare. The honey will be on sale in the kitchen on Sunday 17 September 2017 between 10am and 11am. Price per 12oz (340g) jar is £7 and all proceeds will go towards the maintenance of the bees. If you are unable to make this date and would like to be added to the reservation list, please email secretary@framfield-allotments.org.uk or speak to Lasa (Plot 158).

Framfield features in BBC World Service advert

Last week we had some unusual visitors at the allotments. They included a Siberian orchestra, astronauts and a dinosaur. There was even an eathquake. No, it wasn’t the AGM, we were hosting a crew filming an advert for the BBC World Service. Sosh and Indranie’s plots (75 and 77) were chosen for a starring role.