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Free:
Real lawn turf squares (Hatfield AL10)
Gifted
Lifted Saturday 11th and would need collecting fairly soon. I stacked it neatly in a cool dark corner so it will last as long as possible. Squares of real lawn turf - therefore comes with the standard wild flowers and moss you find in old lawn. Better for filling in small areas than laying a large area of new turf. I.e. cut by hand with a spade, so not in the form of rolls like new commercial turf. A lawn with a mix of clover, yarrow, daisies, buttercups etc etc stands up better to bad weather and foot traffic than pure grass does, as well as being much better for wildlife. Makes an 8ft x 4ft area if you could piece the jigsaw back together. You can have as much or little as you would like.
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Free:
Verbascum/mullein plants (Hatfield AL10)
Gifted
Great mullein aka verbascum thapsus is a large native biennial producing strong, long lasting impressive spikes of yellow flowers in the summer, beloved of insects as you can see. It also has velvety soft downy leaves. Self seeds, but not a problem. The flower spike is very strong and doesn't need staking. Wants full sun and sharp draining stony ground, but I have wet sticky clay and it does fine. These photos in flower are from previous years - what you would get is healthy young plants growing as rosettes - as in the last photo, which is from today. They should make a flower spike this summer. I have at least 4 youngish plants to be given away and I will count if there is demand. I believe they transplant well at this time of year. Ideally they will be dug from the ground on the day you collect - by arrangement - they're not in pots.
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5d
Free:
Jasmine plant (Hatfield AL10)
Gifted
I was pruning a few months ago and I found some rooted stems which I potted up. Jasmine is a vigorous twining perennial woody climber, with slightly ferny leaves and white star shaped heavily scented flowers followed by a few round black berries in a good year. Especially heavily scented on warm summer evenings. Not troubled by pests and not fussy about soil. This is Jasminum officinale (i.e. common jasmine, not winter jasmine [j nudiflorum] or star jasmine [trachelospermum])
11d
Free:
Mint plant (Hatfield AL10)
Gifted
Very easy to grow and good for teas/cooking or just to smell the leaves as you brush past. This one has been in that little pot since autumn - it will grow away vigorously if you pot it into a larger pot or plant in the ground. Break it up into several plants if you want more more quickly. Unfussy but prefers damp soil - it will delight in nasty sticky clay. Mint can be invasive in the ground, so take care if you plant it out with other plants. Very happy in pots as long as you can keep it damp and maybe feed or repot from time to time. Mint does flower - and is good for bees then. If you prefer to keep it for yourself, or whenever it goes a bit ratty, cut it right back for a new flush of fresh bright green leaves.
11d
Free:
Adidas trainers (Hatfield AL10)
Gifted
UK size 9. Given to me as a "while you're here" by a kind freecycler but I found them too small.
11d
Free:
Washing up drainer (Hatfield AL10)
Gifted
Non-slip washing up drainer. Stainless steel frame with white silicone on some of the bars to keep the bowls etc in place. On the small side - 14in. Found this languishing in the cupboard the other day. Nicer than the naff plastic ones I ended up using - but for me this was too small to be practical.
11d
Free:
Sisyrinchium plant (Hatfield AL10)
Propagated from a plant a kind fellow freecycler gave me a few years ago, I've just potted this one up to encourage it to grow away and flower this summer. These are easy to grow perennial grass-like plants with pretty yellow flowers in about June. I think they want well drained soil and full sun but they are happy on my sticky clay in a little bit of shade. Fully hardy in UK.
12d
Free:
Primulae (Hatfield AL10)
Maybe the most cheery representatives of spring, these freely flowering, shade tolerant plants are very tolerant of a bit of shade and cold claggy soil. They shine out at the first hint of sunshine and are visited by the hairy footed flower bee. Related to the native cowslip wildflowers and will sometimes grow into a damp lawn if you let them. (Actually maybe this is what these are? I'm confused by the different primula species.) You can get them in many bright colours, but I like the cream and white ones best so those are the ones I propagate up and that is what these are.
12d
Free:
Small variegated ivy (Hatfield AL10)
Gifted
This is a small-leaved variegated white & green variety of ivy. Presumably a named variety, but the original plant was given to me some years ago and I've used it as part of winter pot displays. This variety is more interesting and easier to deal with than the wild green one - being a bit white it will shine out in shady places which is where it would normally be grown. Also not as vigorous as the wild version, so it won't take over your house and shouldn't be too invasive in flower beds. Probably grow it up a shady fence, or trailing down the edge of a pot display (which is how I've been using it). Extremely tough and very tolerant of drought, ivy is virtually impossible to kill (accidentally*) once it's rooted in the ground - won't need watering in the hottest of summers. *doesn't have deep roots, so not actually that hard to dig out in my experience if you do want to get rid or keep it under control.
12d
Free:
Twisted willow (Hatfield AL10)
Promised
This is is a plant with an established plant just potted up for your convenience. Contorted willow or twisted willow is an easy-to-grow hardy deciduous tree. It is grown for its interesting twisted branches which are brightly coloured (yellow-green or reddish orange) in winter. You can let it grow into a small tree, or cut it back hard every spring (pollarding, coppicing or stooling) to encourage even more vigorous young branches. It is a tree, so it will be big, but not massive like an ordinary weeping willow. It doesn't really flower, but it seems to attract its fair share of wildlife. It seems to be pretty unfussy when it comes to soil conditions and sun, but it's good to grow it somewhere the low winter sun will light up its branches. Unfortunately I couldn't find a photo of that, but you can google.
12d
Free:
Seeds (Hatfield AL10)
Slightly random collection of seeds I decided I definitely won't sow this year. Deliphinium and basil are unopened. Tomato were new last year and I have very high confidence (tomato seeds last for ages). Catnep was opened last year and germinated fine. It's a creamy flowered one. The others I'm not so sure and might be too old - YMMV. I have newer non-commercial lovage seeds collected last year, and you can have some of those too if you're going for that. Will split if there is demand, so tell me which packets you're interested in.
27d
Free:
Forget-me-not plants (Hatfield AL10)
Gifted
Forget-me-nots: young plants dug straight from the ground. Nearly starting to flower - will flower freely from April. I always have lots of forget-me-nots and I keep most, but they also come up in silly places such as lawn edges - those ones can be given away. They should move ok now while the soil is still cool and damp. Water in well. Forget-me-not are beautiful clear blue-flowered, easy going biennials, beloved of pollinating insects. Once you have them you should let them seed at least once, and then you will have them forever: they will seed around freely. They are not a problematic weed because they are very easy to pull up and have distinctive soft hairy leaved seedlings. I weed them out during the summer and start moving them to where I want them in autumn or spring.
30d
Free:
Verbena bonariensis plants (Hatfield AL10)
Gifted
(Pictures in flower are from previous summers - these are cut back to their base and not in flower in February. Last picture is now, showing strong shoots from the base. They will flower this summer.) Lots of established verbena bonariensis plants available. Will be dug straight from the ground by arrangement on the day of collection - a little ball of roots and soil. Good in containers and quick to grow, these plants will establish quickly and will flower for you this summer. Leave the flower heads next autumn and they will seed for you too if you're lucky. Verbena bonariensis is a beautiful hardy perennial with purple flowers on tall wiry stems over a long flowering season. Comes back from the base stronger every year and will self seed around if it's happy. Flowers beloved of bees and butterflies. Watch goldfinches try to balance on the seed heads next winter. Wants sharp drainage and full sun to be truly happy, but I have sticky clay and a fair amount of shade and it does fine.
67d
Free:
Plant hormone rooting powder (Hatfield AL10)
Gifted
It's an artificial version of a natural plants hormone they make themselves. You dip the root-end of cut stems in when taking cuttings and it's supposed to make them root much faster/more easily. I use it sometimes, but I have another pot - this one was acquired from my Gran's house. For rooting plants in compost or soil, not water - because the powder would just wash off the stem. It's quite old, but I assume it lasts indefinitely.
68d
Free:
Verbena bonariensis (Hatfield AL10)
Gifted
(Pictures in flower are from previous summers - these are cut back to their base and not in flower in January. Last picture is now, showing strong shoots from the base. They will flower this summer.) Lots of established verbena bonariensis plants available. Will be dug straight from the ground by arrangement on the day of collection - a little ball of roots and soil. Good in containers and quick to grow, these plants will establish quickly and will flower for you this summer. Leave the flower heads next autumn and they will seed for you too if you're lucky. Verbena bonariensis is a beautiful hardy perennial with purple flowers on tall wiry stems over a long flowering season. Comes back from the base stronger every year and will self seed around if it's happy. Flowers beloved of bees and butterflies. Watch goldfinches try to balance on the seed heads next winter. It wants sharp drainage and full sun to be truly happy, but I have sticky clay and a fair amount of shade and it does fine.
74d
Free:
Hormone rooting powder for plants (Hatfield AL10)
Withdrawn
It's an artificial version of a natural plants hormone they make themselves. You dip the root-end of cut stems in when taking cuttings and it's supposed to make them root much faster/more easily. I use it sometimes, but I have another pot - this one was acquired from my Gran's house. For rooting plants in compost or soil not water - because the powder would just wash off the stem. It's quite old, but I assume it lasts indefinitely.
75d
Free:
Foxglove plants (Hatfield AL10)
Gifted
Digitalis purpurea. I love foxgloves, but I've planted as many as I can find space for and some have seeded themselves in unwanted places and will need to go. I also have some less strong foxgloves in pots - ask for details if you're more interested in those. I believe I also have a huge packet of home-collected see too if you'd like to try that way. Established strong rosettes that should push up a strong flower stem this summer, flower and then set masses of seed. The pictures in flower are from previous year. The picture showing only leaves is now. Very good for wildlife - you will always find bumble bees disappearing up the trumpets. Strong upright stems need no support and can reach 8ft in ideal conditions. Not fussy about soil type (they're fine on my heavy clay) and cope with a bit of shade or sun. Once established they are fine in dry soil and will not need watering.
81d
Free:
Small houseplant tools (Hatfield AL10)
Gifted
Probably meant for doing fiddly houseplant thing like tidying inside a terrarium or top dressing pots with grit - salvaged from my Gran's house. You could probably also use them for potting on seedlings. Mostly stainless steel, but one double ended one has a bamboo handle. The "trowel" end has come out because the bamboo is slightly cracked. I believe it could easily be fixed by putting PVA wood glue on the shaft and clamping tightly until it's dry. I will do that for you if it's a deal breaker. All washed in warm soapy water for your convenience. I assume I would give all four to one person, but will consider splitting between two if there is enough demand.
81d
Free:
Gardener's plastic trug (Hatfield AL10)
Gifted
Convenient for picking fruit/veg/cut flowers or carrying around tools. Plastic, so easy to keep clean if it gets wet/muddy. I washed it in warm soapy water for your convenience. Quite old and has a slight crack, but it doesn't really make any difference to how you'd use it.
81d
82d
Free:
Verbena bonariensis (Hatfield AL10)
Withdrawn
(Pictures are from previous summers - these are cut back to their base and not in flower in January. They will flower this summer.) Lots of established verbena bonariensis plants available. Will be dug straight from the ground by arrangement on the day of collection - bare root or with as much soil as will stick, not potted up so you will have to plant within a few days. We will need to arrange a dry-ish day when I have time. Good in containers and quick to grow, these plants will establish quickly and will flower for you this summer. Leave the flower heads next autumn and they will seed for you too if you're lucky. Verbena bonariensis is a beautiful hardy perennial with purple flowers on tall wiry stems over a long flowering season. Comes back from the base stronger every year and will self seed around if it's happy. Flowers beloved of bees and butterflies. Watch goldfinches try to balance on the seed heads next winter. It wants sharp drainage and full sun to be truly happy, but I have sticky clay and a fair amount of shade and it does fine.
89d
Free:
Used washing up drainer (Hatfield AL10)
Withdrawn
Works fine and undamanged, but would need a clean as you can see in the photo - I put it off for years and eventually bought a new one. Will have to landfill this unless someone claims it.
89d
Free:
Small plant sprayer/mister (Hatfield AL10)
Gifted
For spraying water on plants to keep humidity up. I can't stop you putting nasty chemicals in it if you must. Hand operated. I cleaned it inside and out with warm soapy water so there is no residue of whatever was in it before (I assume nothing nasty, but it was my Gran's so I don't really know). Visually it didn't come quite as clean as I hoped.
93d
Free:
Bird nestboxes (Hatfield AL10)
Gifted
Three old nest boxes ready for you to put up before National Nestbox week on February 14th (). Have sat in my garage for a while, so hoping someone here would have more likelihood of putting them up than me. Dusty and some could do with a bit of TLC, but serviceable. The top right one was occupied by bluetits and/or greattits in the past (probably both, but I can't remember which). It could do with better waterproofing/fixing on the lid, but I think it's the best of the three. I would say that because I made it. The string/rope one is probably meant for wrens who like to be hidden away in shrubby undergrowth. The internet will tell you about how to site a nest box.
93d
Free:
Very old Marmite and Bovril (Hatfield AL10)
Expired
Anybody want these jars of vile brown paste before I dispose of them as a biohazard? They are *very* old: years past their best before date, but it is "best before" not "use by" so should not be a food safety issue. You decide. I also can't imagine any sensible microbes choosing to grow in such vile filth :)
95d
Free:
Round metal biscuit tins (Hatfield AL10)
Gifted
Clean round metal biscuit tins. The two taller ones and the silver one are relatively new and I say are food safe. The white one has been in a garage for years holding plant labels, so better for that kind of thing rather than food. It's not commercially branded, but rather it has pictures of Leicester Square. It's much older. The silver one was for posh hot cholocate not biscuits, but I won't complain whatever you put in them. All are clean and dry - washed in warm soapy water.
95d
Free:
Kenwood food chopper (Hatfield AL10)
Gifted
Kenwood Gourmet food cutter/chopper FC100. Electric with various drums to shred/cut/slice food - fruit and veg - in various ways. Old but unused: as new. I washed all the bits and assembled to check it's working. Blades sharp and clean. In original box with all original parts and manual. Sat in my Gran's house for years but it seems she never used it. (electric tin opener also still available at time of posting)
103d
Free:
Electric tin opener (Russel Hobbs) (Hatfield AL10)
Expired
Working Russel Hobbs electric tin opener. Intended for people with dexterity issues I think. From my Gran's house. You clip the can to the cog/blade and then press down on the lever on the top (very easy). There's a small magnet intended to catch the top when it comes off. I checked the motor works and I cleaned it up nicely.
109d
Free:
Raspberry canes (Hatfield AL10)
Gifted
Rooted summer-fruiting raspberry canes. These were pulled today (Sunday) with roots attached because they were running into other fruit bushes nearby. You can see from the photo they have nice healthy fibrous roots. I'm storing them in a bucket of damp spent compost until collection. Thornless variety "Glen ample", which does well for me. I cut them back a little to help them survive being moved, but I left as many buds as I dare, which qualifies them as "long cane" plants - with any luck you will get fruit in the first year. Raspberries like moist fertile soil and at least some sun, but they can take a little bit of shade. There's a fair number of canes, so - within reason - I will share between several people if there is demand.
207d
Free:
Basil plants (Hatfield AL10)
Expired
My last batch this year, these are the most common sweet basil, probably the best to try keeping alive as the year slips away. Basil doesn't like it as it gets cold and dark, you should bring these inside now we have chilly nights. Give them your brightest windowsill or conservatory.
207d
Free:
Forget-me-nots (Hatfield AL10)
Expired
Forget-me-nots: young plants dug straight from the ground. Not in flower now. Will overwinter and flower in April-May-June. I have to clear this bed to plant other things over winter. If not given away, I would need to compost the forget-me-not plants that are currently there. It is the perfect time of year to move plants because there is still warmth in the soil, but the autumn rains have begun. They should not notice being moved if you water them in well. There are small foxglove seedlings mixed in there too, and you can plant them together or weed them out. Foxgloves also transplant well now, and should flower next summer, but I find them less reliable, especially since these ones are on the small side. Forget-me-not are beautiful clear blue-flowered, easy going biennials, beloved of pollinating insects. Once you have them you should let them seed at least once, and then you will have them forever: they will seed around freely. They are not a problematic weed because they are very easy to pull up and have distinctive soft hairy leaved seedlings. I weed them out during the summer and start moving them to where I want them in autumn or spring. Very tolerant, of garden soil and aspect.
210d