Royate Hill Community Orchard

18/07/2026

Hey Plum Pickers - it's 🫐 time! Drop by during Saturday work-parties 11'ish to 2'ish - bring a container 👍 Loadsa to pick too 😋

04/07/2026

Sunday 5th of July from 2pm to 4pm: Herbal Sharing Circle - Tea Tasting with Wood Betony
Info: The Herbal Sharing Circle is an occasion to get together, have a mediating tea tasting and share experiences, knowledge, uses, recipes and stories about and around a plant.
event, donations always welcome.

Feel free to bring preparations to show and/or share. If you don't know much about the plant or herbal medicine, don't worry, you are very welcome as well!

For this Herb Circle, Wood Betony will be the teacher. This mint family plant with its strikingly pink flower is well love in herbal medicine, but not as widely known as it deserves!

We will also talk about Flower Essences with Sophia, and if the sun is out we can try make one with the flowers of Royate Hill.

Any Q's? Please post into the discussion (which we moderate).
Organisers: Sarah - herbal medicine student and long term volunteer at Royate Hill; and Sophia - facilitator for therapeutic gardening sessions and plant connection, long term key member of The Haven project (our neighbours!)

Note to find the Herbal Sharing Circle - come to the gate at Royate Hill where the Community Orchard is; then continue to walk down the lane (away from the viaduct) to the last access gate on the left of the allotment site.
(NB: Royate Hill allotments BS5 6RN - just off Royate Hill, go down the track beneath the Viaduct and walk circa 400m from the viaduct, and you'll find the event on your left!)

04/07/2026

Lovely day for a work-party at the Community orchard today ☺️ ...so come join from about 11am onwards!

04/07/2026

It's July - carry on ! Advice here from the lovely Real Seeds 👍

Thankfully it's cooled down a bit for us here in west Wales, and we've had a little rain too.

It's perfect weather here for some direct sowing, & I'm planning on getting some beetroot & fennel (for eating!) into spaces on the field where we've harvested early seed.

At home I need to sow more herbs (basil & coriander) and I'll also start some salads in modules ready for when my Green Beauty mangetout peas finish.

How are your gardens looking - and what are you planning on sowing over the next couple of weeks? Anything I've missed off the list in the graphic? I feel like my brain has been thoroughly cooked over the last little while, so there's probably something!

06/06/2026

There'll be some fascinating & eye-opening stories of struggle in at this walk on Sunday with Bristol Radical History Group - and it's free!

History Walk: 'The in Bristol' - free event! Check out the key strike locations in Bristol and the hidden stories of the strike. Info - https://www.brh.org.uk/site/events/patriots-volunteers-and-scabs-2/

06/06/2026

Useful tips/reminders for June growing work from the National Allotment Society! Article - https://thenas.org.uk/Allotment-Jobs-June

What Should You Be Doing on Your Allotment Right Now?

June is a busy month on the plot, with crops growing fast, the first harvests arriving, and plenty of jobs to keep everything thriving. From planting out tender vegetables and sowing succession crops to watering, mulching and managing pests, now is the time to stay on top of essential tasks.

Our latest blog explores the key jobs for June and highlights how every task is an opportunity to embrace this year's National Allotments Week theme, Grow to Learn.

Read more 👇

https://thenas.org.uk/Allotment-Jobs-June

06/06/2026

Work-party on today😊 ...bit damp, but we have indoor work in the greenhouse and in the newly refurbished - work lovingly completed by a core group of our vols 💚❤️ (see pics)

23/05/2026

Lovely day for a work-party today😊☀️🌱 from 11am!
Plus we have a new 🚽🧻you can use - here's images of the build, using recycled and tatted materials...

19/05/2026

Lots of around...

Nettle soup is one of those old-fashioned meals that feels both comforting and practical at the same time. It’s warm, hearty, full of simple ingredients, and has been made in different forms for generations anywhere nettles grew wild and plentiful.

Stinging nettles are often thought of as just another w**d until you realize how nutrient-rich they are. They contain vitamins and minerals like iron, calcium, magnesium, potassium, and vitamin C, which is one reason they’ve long been used in traditional foodways and herbal practices. Once cooked, the sting disappears completely, leaving behind a flavor somewhere between spinach and earthy greens.

This soup is easy to adapt depending on what you have on hand. Add extra vegetables, swap the rice, use chicken or vegetable broth, or keep it simple and rustic. A little crusty bread on the side doesn’t hurt either.

If using dried nettle instead of fresh, use about half the amount since dried herbs are more concentrated.

And yes, for anyone wondering, cooking the nettles neutralizes the sting.

Nettle Soup

• 3 tablespoons butter
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 3 to 4 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1/2 cup uncooked rice (wild rice works well)
• Several large handfuls stinging nettle tops
• 8 cups chicken or vegetable broth
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt, or to taste
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• Potatoes, chopped (optional)
• Leeks, sliced (optional)
• Mixed vegetables (optional)

1. Heat butter and olive oil in a large pot over medium heat.
2. Add onion and cook until softened.
3. Stir in garlic and cook for about 1 minute.
4. Add rice and stir to coat.
5. Pour in broth and bring to a gentle boil.
6. Add potatoes and leeks if using, and simmer until starting to soften.
7. Add fresh nettle tops and any additional vegetables.
8. Simmer until everything is tender and rice is fully cooked.
9. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Always do your research before introducing into your diet, especially if you have any underlying or pre-existing conditions, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or are taking medications.