Page 45 - ALG Issue 2 2025

WALES
Welcome to…
8 individuals
Hafod Walled Garden Group
The Avenue Allotment
We are delighted to
welcome Dave Summers,
our Representative for
Wales.
With a rich background in catering and a
lifelong passion for gardening, he is eager
to connect with allotment holders across
the region. Here’s what he had to say
about his journey and aspirations.
Q Can you tell us a little about your
background?
A I am retired now, but my career was in
catering. I trained and worked as a chef for
several years before moving into senior
catering management and food hygiene
training.
Q How long have you been gardening,
and what drew you to allotments?
A I’ve been gardening for over 50 years,
but I’ve had an allotment for the past five. I
find allotmenteering incredibly therapeutic
– it provides much-needed exercise and a
chance to unwind. After a session of digging
and planting, I love to sit back in my garden
chair and simply take in the surroundings.
QWhat are your favourite things to
grow?
A I enjoy growing all vegetables and some
fruit, but my particular favourites are runner
beans and sweetcorn.
QHow will you support allotment
holders in your new role?
A I recently became the secretary of our
local federation, and I am committed to
engaging with and supporting allotment
holders through meetings and personal
visits. I also plan to promote the National
Allotment Society at local and regional
shows and attend as many training events
as necessary to stay informed and assist
others.
QWhat are your key priorities as a
Regional Representative?
A My top priorities include meeting
as many allotment holders as possible,
spreading awareness about the NAS, and
ensuring that the community has access to
useful resources and training opportunities.
QWhat is the best piece of allotment
advice you’ve received?
A The best advice I’ve received is to take
my time. When I first started, I pushed
myself too hard and ended up with aching
muscles that stopped me from gardening
for over a week! Now, I do a small amount
at a time – perhaps an hour a day. It makes
NEW REP
FOR WALES
the process more enjoyable and much less
strenuous.
QWhat advice would you give to new
allotmenteers?
A Take your time and enjoy the experience.
Gardening should be something you love,
not a chore. Pace yourself, and you’ll find
great joy and satisfaction in tending to your
plot.
We look forward to seeing the
positive impact our new Regional
Representative will have in Wales. If
you see him at an event or on your
allotment site, be sure to say hello!
"I’ve been gardening for over 50 years, but I’ve
had an allotment for the past five."
Allotment and Leisure Gardener | Issue 2 2025 | 45