Dave Allan
@boddave.bsky.social
🏴I write from home in the Scottish Borders, and have run courses and workshops on 🌱gardening🌱 and home composting.
I've opened an account on Substack where I post some free and some subscribed articles URL: davexallan.substack.com. See you there!
I've opened an account on Substack where I post some free and some subscribed articles URL: davexallan.substack.com. See you there!
There are still a few hazel catkins.off to Devon for a week - hope the weather isn't as stormy as it"s been lately.🌱
February 14, 2026 at 12:52 PM
There are still a few hazel catkins.off to Devon for a week - hope the weather isn't as stormy as it"s been lately.🌱
If you go down to the woods today.....🌱
February 13, 2026 at 5:02 PM
If you go down to the woods today.....🌱
My latest publication on Substack, describing an off-beat discovery on my recent Swiss holiday.
open.substack.com/pub/davexall...
open.substack.com/pub/davexall...
Switzerland - An unexpected discovery.
When visiting Krauchthal, we were expecting to find an attractive little town nestling in a classic U-shaped glacial valley.
open.substack.com
February 11, 2026 at 11:01 AM
My latest publication on Substack, describing an off-beat discovery on my recent Swiss holiday.
open.substack.com/pub/davexall...
open.substack.com/pub/davexall...
What a fine welcome from Switzerland!🌱
February 10, 2026 at 9:05 AM
What a fine welcome from Switzerland!🌱
Another view of the mighty Swiss and French mountain range.🌱
February 7, 2026 at 8:42 AM
Another view of the mighty Swiss and French mountain range.🌱
My larest post on Substack, I've space to say a little more about bird feeding.
substack.com/@davealllan/...
substack.com/@davealllan/...
Dave Allan (@davealllan)
There are, of course, pros and cons about feeding birds in the garden. Hygiene is clearly very important as a dirty feeder could be more dangerous than beneficial. Feeders do need regular cleaning and...
substack.com
February 4, 2026 at 6:58 PM
My larest post on Substack, I've space to say a little more about bird feeding.
substack.com/@davealllan/...
substack.com/@davealllan/...
The bird feeder is a busy and indepensible restaurant just now. But it's quite a commitment too as the restranteurs do come to rely on us so the feeders should probably be topped up all the time, even if we massively reduce the amount the birds get when there's plenty foraging.
February 4, 2026 at 4:59 PM
The bird feeder is a busy and indepensible restaurant just now. But it's quite a commitment too as the restranteurs do come to rely on us so the feeders should probably be topped up all the time, even if we massively reduce the amount the birds get when there's plenty foraging.
My latest post on Substack.
substack.com/@davealllan/...
substack.com/@davealllan/...
Dave Allan (@davealllan)
I've only one more apple tree to winter prune. My pruning technique depends on a tree's location and rootstock, but I'm lazy and stick to moderately vigorous rootstock to make harvesting easy. I've re...
substack.com
February 3, 2026 at 3:46 PM
My latest post on Substack.
substack.com/@davealllan/...
substack.com/@davealllan/...
A view from Bern of Swiss foot hills with the magnificent mountains, like the mighty Jung Frau behind.🌱
February 3, 2026 at 12:02 PM
A view from Bern of Swiss foot hills with the magnificent mountains, like the mighty Jung Frau behind.🌱
Good morning from (still) sunny Switzerland. Commercial mixed woodlands are quite common here - infinitely better than endless miles of environmentally 'dead' Sitka Spruce in the UK. This Silver Fir once had an accident as the lines of sap show here.🌱
February 2, 2026 at 7:00 AM
Good morning from (still) sunny Switzerland. Commercial mixed woodlands are quite common here - infinitely better than endless miles of environmentally 'dead' Sitka Spruce in the UK. This Silver Fir once had an accident as the lines of sap show here.🌱
I've published a new piece on Substack on the need to completely ban the use of peat.
www.substack.com/@davealllan
www.substack.com/@davealllan
Dave Allan | Substack
I’m a gardening writer sharing my garden with you, showing how I respect and work ‘with’ life in the garden, how recent research modifies our methods and how folk used to garden. Free posts here and I...
www.substack.com
January 30, 2026 at 9:41 AM
I've published a new piece on Substack on the need to completely ban the use of peat.
www.substack.com/@davealllan
www.substack.com/@davealllan
If like me you want/need peat to be banned in the UK visit
@peatfree.bsky.social . This voluntary organisation has launched a Petition urging the UK government to introduce legislation banning the use of peat. Sign the Petition now! actnow.peatfreepartnership.org.uk/end-peat-sal...
@peatfree.bsky.social . This voluntary organisation has launched a Petition urging the UK government to introduce legislation banning the use of peat. Sign the Petition now! actnow.peatfreepartnership.org.uk/end-peat-sal...
Sign the petition to end peat sales!
No more delays: Let's get peat out of gardens once and for all. The time for uncertainty has ended.
actnow.peatfreepartnership.org.uk
January 29, 2026 at 11:42 AM
If like me you want/need peat to be banned in the UK visit
@peatfree.bsky.social . This voluntary organisation has launched a Petition urging the UK government to introduce legislation banning the use of peat. Sign the Petition now! actnow.peatfreepartnership.org.uk/end-peat-sal...
@peatfree.bsky.social . This voluntary organisation has launched a Petition urging the UK government to introduce legislation banning the use of peat. Sign the Petition now! actnow.peatfreepartnership.org.uk/end-peat-sal...
I've extolled the benefits of empty toilet roll inners as plant pots. Packed in a tray like this is ideal. Roots start pushing through the cardboard and teasing bottom roots apart is easy. Just sink the pot below soil surface to prevent moisture loss.🌱
January 28, 2026 at 9:33 AM
I've extolled the benefits of empty toilet roll inners as plant pots. Packed in a tray like this is ideal. Roots start pushing through the cardboard and teasing bottom roots apart is easy. Just sink the pot below soil surface to prevent moisture loss.🌱
This old elm log was part of a tree felled many years ago and lying at the side of the burn. Lots of Ramsons, wild garlic, have taken up residence.🌱
January 25, 2026 at 10:10 AM
This old elm log was part of a tree felled many years ago and lying at the side of the burn. Lots of Ramsons, wild garlic, have taken up residence.🌱
There's life in death. This decaying Alder is home to several suckered, a young Holly, assorted fungi, lichen, grasses and the millions of tiny organisms we can't see. Never knock life!🌱
January 24, 2026 at 10:34 AM
There's life in death. This decaying Alder is home to several suckered, a young Holly, assorted fungi, lichen, grasses and the millions of tiny organisms we can't see. Never knock life!🌱
I've just published an introductory article for a series on mitigating some of the effects of climate change in the garden.
open.substack.com/pub/davexall...
open.substack.com/pub/davexall...
Climate change - Coping strategies for gardeners
May - Drought in my garden
open.substack.com
January 22, 2026 at 3:06 PM
I've just published an introductory article for a series on mitigating some of the effects of climate change in the garden.
open.substack.com/pub/davexall...
open.substack.com/pub/davexall...
Winter draws me to beautiful little cameos I often overlook in the fullness of summer.🌱
January 22, 2026 at 9:58 AM
Winter draws me to beautiful little cameos I often overlook in the fullness of summer.🌱
This self sown blackcurrant thrives because of neglect. Grows in soggy, wellie-filling mud and never pruned, it provides more currants than you could ever need every year.🌱
January 21, 2026 at 9:55 AM
This self sown blackcurrant thrives because of neglect. Grows in soggy, wellie-filling mud and never pruned, it provides more currants than you could ever need every year.🌱
A fun little step over on a walk round here!🌱
January 20, 2026 at 10:19 AM
A fun little step over on a walk round here!🌱
There's beauty in age! 🌱
January 19, 2026 at 11:15 AM
There's beauty in age! 🌱
I've updated my home page on Substack:
open.substack.com/pub/davexall...
open.substack.com/pub/davexall...
Welcome!
Welcome to my account, I hope you’ll find some of the ideas interesting and I certainly look forward to seeing any thoughts or suggestions you’ll have.
open.substack.com
January 18, 2026 at 6:19 PM
I've updated my home page on Substack:
open.substack.com/pub/davexall...
open.substack.com/pub/davexall...
Looking upwards always pays.🌱
January 18, 2026 at 9:33 AM
Looking upwards always pays.🌱
I'm completely sold on some Japanese garden tools. 'Snips', a Christmas present, is the latest addition to my armoury. It's a brilliant deadheading and flower snipping tool. Look forward to try it out this summer!🌱
January 17, 2026 at 10:46 AM
I'm completely sold on some Japanese garden tools. 'Snips', a Christmas present, is the latest addition to my armoury. It's a brilliant deadheading and flower snipping tool. Look forward to try it out this summer!🌱
I've a lot of fruit trees to get round over the next few weeks.🌱
January 16, 2026 at 9:34 AM
I've a lot of fruit trees to get round over the next few weeks.🌱
I've just published this article on my Substack account.🌱
davexallan.substack.com/p/broad-bean...
davexallan.substack.com/p/broad-bean...
Broad Beans - Their Hidden Secrets
The broad bean is one of the veg garden’s unsung heroes despite all its advantages.
davexallan.substack.com
January 15, 2026 at 7:53 PM
I've just published this article on my Substack account.🌱
davexallan.substack.com/p/broad-bean...
davexallan.substack.com/p/broad-bean...