I’ve just received this off our good friend Bridget Virden who tells us about Capital Growth who are funding food growing in London (there’s got to be others schemes for around the UK).

Capital Growth Funding
Grants round launched to support community food-growing projects in London.

If you are planning to start a community food-growing space or want to expand an existing space and you are looking for money to buy soil, seeds, tools and other materials necessary, this is your opportunity to apply for some financial support!

For more information, including the application criteria, and to complete an application form please visit http://www.capitalgrowth.org/apply/

Grants are available from £150 up to £750.
Grants round deadline: 5pm, 7th November 2011

Thanks very much to Sharon Bassey from the London Beekeepers Association (LBKA) for this excellent photo of a bee swarm taken in Nunhead, South London and for the additional info.

“When bees swarm, they fill their stomachs with honey so they are more lethargic, and their sting is tucked up into their stomachs so are less likely to sting, unless they have been out in the elements for some time.”

A list of major bee foraging plants (there’s loads of minor ones) throughout the year.
April:
Plum & Damson, Cherry, Pear and Oil Seed Rape.
May:
Apple, Dandelion. Hawthorn, Sycamore and OSR.
June:
Blackberry, Field Bean, Raspberry. Sainfoin, OSR and Borage.
July:
Bell Heather, Blackberry, Lime, White Clover, Willowherb, OSR and Borage
August:
Bell Heather, Blackberry, Ling (Heather), Mustard, Red Clover and Willowherb.
Sept/Oct:
Ling and Mustard.

For more info about the LBKA go to http://www.lbka.org.uk/index.php