Page 65 - ALG Issue 3 2019

Welcome to our new members...
Bleachfield Allotments
Falcon Lodge Alllotment Association Fenny Compton Allotments Association
6 Individual Members
Birmingham & District Allotment Confederation Annual Show
24th – 26th August 2019; Open 9am to 6pm each day. Free entry. Midlands Arts Centre, Cannon Hill Park
The Show committee has been working extremely hard to ensure the show moves forward and is as successful
as last year. The show venue is a first- class facility set in major parkland with numerous exhibits of its own. The aim of the show is to promote allotments and dispel the perception of allotments being the preserve of grumpy old men. Allotments are a great community resource with benefits for physical, mental and social health.
The competitive vegetable competition is taking place on Saturday 24th August, with 72 Classes for individual exhibitors and four classes for Associations/ Societies. Judging is between 7am and 11am. The competition classes are open to any of Birmingham’s allotment tenants and societies. Entries are open until 9th August. We encourage people to exhibit, but it was felt that having done so we failed to provide any support to the first-time exhibitor process of staging, so this year show mentors
will be on hand to help those new to exhibiting with their staging.
There will be lots to do and see
outside the show arena. Our BDAC show reception helpdesk will have information on the show and advice
for prospective exhibitors and plotholders. The National Allotment Society will be present with a wealth
of knowledge on allotment practice. Jack in the Beanstalk’s team will be back to cultivate children’s horticultural interest in where food comes from,
the connection between food and nature, and answer any questions
they have. We will include a treasure hunt quiz, seed sowing, and a display
of vegetables that they can handle, inspiring the gardeners of the future. For the first time we will have a multicultural display of vegetables from around the world that are increasingly seen on allotments, that, with care,
can be grown successfully. There will be a daily tombola to raise funds for
...this year show mentors will be on hand to help those new to exhibiting with their staging
future shows and in our raffle for plotholders the prize is having their 2020 plot rent being paid by the show committee!
Outside in the park area there will be a “General Public” organisation display with their Cherry-Minding Project. This is an art installation inspired by the sounds of keeping birds off cherries - should be interesting! We also will have a display of Allotment Art by a local artist.
The prizegiving is at 3pm on Sunday 26th along with the results and prizes for the city-wide site and
plot judging, which take place in July each year. This a chance to applaud the skills and effort of Birmingham’s allotmenteers.
B.D.A.C. Show Committee
Allotment and Leisure Gardener 65