Page 31 - ALG Issue 3 2023

1. A yearlong partnership with Butterfly Conservation to communicate with allotment holders the benefit of leaving space for caterpillars known as ‘Wild Space’. To draw a link between caterpillars who are often seen as pests and valuable pollinators like butterflies and moths.
2. PartnershipwithClimateCoalitionaspart of Great Big Green Week which includes a plant swap or donation of excess seedlings and plants at allotments. Highlighting the abundance of plots and the benefit to the wider community.
Who are the partners?
Butterfly Conservation – The charity has 40,000 members and 32 volunteer-run branches throughout the British Isles.
Butterfly Conservation employs over 80 people, including many highly qualified scientists, making them the world’s largest research institute for butterflies and moths. They operate 36 nature reserves and are leading
or involved in 73 landscape-scale projects
to conserve habitats and are supported by internationally recognised ambassadors like their President, David Attenborough, and Vice President, Chris Packham.
Climate Coalition is partnered with national and internationally respected organisations like The National Trust, RSPB, WWF, The WI for Great Big Green Week in 2022.
During Great Big Green Week 2022, there were 5000 events in the UK that celebrated how communities are taking action to tackle climate change and protect green spaces. The Climate Coalition board consists of executives from Christian Aid, Oxfam and National Trust.
Why these partnerships?
Becoming a Climate Coalition partner for Great Big Green Week positions the NAS among some of the largest national and international non- profits organisations and charities. It raises the profile of the organisation and there is potential to make connections with other partners.
Both partnerships (GBGW and Butterfly Conservation) publicly demonstrate the NAS commitment to improving and promoting biodiversity. This campaign also supports the Sustainability Charter we launched during GBGW 2022.
Both partnerships publicly demonstrate that the NAS is a forward-looking organisation that is engaging with global issues.
National Allotments Week 2022
– Bugs, Bees and Broccoli
National Allotments Week 2022 created quite a stir, and there was lots of interest from members, the general public and the press.
With coverage from a wide range of places including local press, the Vegan Society, DEFRA, Waitrose Magazine, ITV News and even Twinkl – a nationally recognised resource for schools
and teachers. 32 separate articles were written about this celebration of allotments.
National Allotments Week ran from 8th-14th August and marked the 20th year of the event.
We sent bug hunts to 130 schools to encourage young people to engage in the green space around them and subsequently picked a winning school from each region. These winners that returned the most bug hunts were sent seeds and grow your own salad packs – 60 in total to introduce children under 11 to the magic of food production.
Many regional and national shows were attended by NAS volunteers last year and we would like to say a huge thank you to all those people who gave their time and energy to assist NAS in such a positive way.
NAW 2023
2023 marks the 21st year of National Allotments Week which runs from 7th-13th August with the theme of Soil Health and there is lots to look forward to. Sites up and down the country
will host events, opening their gates to the general public. Leading proponent of the no-dig movement, Charles Dowding, will be joining the NAS during the week to share his wisdom on how to create healthier soil and better crops. Master composter Rod Weston will provide webinars for NAS members to learn all about making their own compost and there will be competitions and giveaways all week.
Contact head office marketing@nsalg.org.uk for your posters and social media content.
Working together for sustainable allotments
Strategic Planning as ever will play a major part of the work the Management Committee, Deputies, Mentors, Staff and Regions will be involved in. We have started the process for our new Strategic Plan 2024/2029.
We do need as many members as possible to be involved in this process. It is your membership society, and we would like to hear from as many of you as possible to help with our future planning.
We have some brilliant work in the pipeline and one area of concentration will be a continuation and expansion of the production of educational resources for our membership.
We are also looking forward to the launch of our new website to provide a great interactive area for members and future members.
At present our patron is still HRH King Charles. We had an invitation to the Royal Coronation Garden Party on the 9th May and our Chairman and Vice Chairman went along. We have
been informed by Clarence House that, after the Coronation, there will be a review of the patronages.
Our main focus will continue to be raising the profile of allotments and their importance for
the wellbeing of our local communities and the environment. Finally, I would like to thank all our member volunteers and NAS staff for their hard work over the past 12 months and look forward to where the next year will take the Society.
Liz Bunting, Legal and Operations Manager
ATTENDEES QUESTIONS, ANSWERS AND STATEMENTS ABOUT COMPANY SECRETARY REPORT
Does consulting on strategy take place with all members?
A We have always consulted with the regions in the past.
Is the evaluation form online?
A We can make it available online.
S There are no individual members for the Eastern region on the table of membership.
A This was an error – it has been corrected on the website.
S An individual member said that Legal was extremely helpful.
Why do we keep dragging our feet on the sponsorship of an apprentice?
A This did not materialise in the way we had hoped. There had been a plan to work with the previous Horticultural Advisor for an apprentice but that fell through. We now need to concentrate on this with more effort going forward.
Where there is disposal of allotment land under Section 8, the procedural/legal part of the process is carried out by NAS. However, the Society needs to develop more campaigning and stronger publicity to assist groups fighting allotments.
A NAS are part of the consultation process with the Secretary of State; we put forward
a written report after consultation with local authorities, regions, and local allotment associations. We will look at how social media campaigns/publicity are used in the future. We are involved in ongoing discussions with central government departments concerning planning issues and we are attending the House of Lords Westminster next week – The Horticultural Sector Committee on Urban Horticulture.
When we work with councils asking for help would it be possible for the local region to be informed?
S Allotment Officer Forums have been very helpful.
Allotment rent increases are very high – can we do a survey of rents across the UK? A Yes that can be done and would prove to be useful.
S The benefits of NAS doing this would bring together a paper more for councils looking at health and biodiversity.
A NAS would be able to produce such a paper and it should be noted that we advise that rents should be put up on a regular basis (smaller amounts).
S Parish town councils have allotments as a
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