Page 64 - ALG Issue 1 2020

Wales
All counties of Wales
Boot Road
Allotment
Association
Ian Lewis, Hon Sec, Boot Road Allotment Association
On August 10th 2019 members of the Boot Road Allotment Association in Maesycwmmer, South Wales, woke feeling bright and breezy. This was the day scheduled for the opening of their brand-new Lottery Funded Cabin – NEVER to be referred to as the shed!! It was also the day of the annual BBQ, when current and former members and invited guests gather for a most convivial afternoon together.
Unfortunately, the weather was not as bright and breezy as the members. The rain hammered down and the wind was hurricane force. Not the best of days for a BBQ!
Fortunately, several of our more sensible members had predicted that this would be the case and the event had been postponed. Yours truly was very reluctant to take this decision but good sense had prevailed.
The event actually happened on the
last day of August. The day, once again, started with rain but the forecast was good, and this proved to be accurate. Members of the Association were joined by Gina Jones of the Gwent Association of Voluntary Organisations, by Rhiannon Passmore AM, our local Member
of the National Assembly for Wales, and by Dave Rees and Reg Carroll – both officers of the Rhymney Valley Federation of Allotments. Gina cut the ribbon to open our new cabin and this triggered a splendid afternoon which was enjoyed by everybody present. Gina had helped us apply for grants totalling £8000 – £5k from the Big Lottery
Fund (Awards for All), £2k from the Welsh Church Fund and £1k from the
Community Foundation in Wales. Each of the funding bodies were most helpful in all of our dealings with them and we would advise other organisations in Wales to apply if they have identified a need.
Obtaining the grant was just the start of it. Before the cabin could be erected, the ground had to be cleared, a wooden platform constructed and placed on
25 reclaimed plastic pillars (which will never rot). These had to be concreted into the ground. After the cabin was erected it was all hands to the pump with painting, decking construction and the laying of grass. All of this we undertook ourselves and this helped develop relationships on the allotment and strengthened the community.
Our BBQs are always a great success which all members enjoy, and this was no exception. A splendid afternoon was enjoyed by us all with plentiful food washed down with the odd glass of wine or ale. Conversation flowed and views were expressed on a range of topics. New friendships were formed, and old ones renewed.
After the cabin was erected it was all hands to the pump with painting, decking construction and the laying of grass
The cabin shortly after completion
We were pleased to have been joined by Rhiannon Passmore AM. This was her first visit to the allotment, but we look forward to meeting with her many more times in the near future. Chris Evans, our local MP, was unable to join us on this occasion – he has joined us several times in the past – but will be visiting our site in September.
Our new cabin is a great success. So far, we have held several meetings there, as well as a training event on the safe use of equipment; the training was provided by one of our members, Lucy Sellick, who is head greenkeeper at a local
golf club. A homemade soup lunch for members again created the chance for a get-together and we are arranging for a talk on beekeeping in the near future. Let me conclude by saying, once again, that we are most grateful to everybody who has contributed to the success of this project in any way. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.
Several members enjoying themselves on the open day
64 Allotment and Leisure Gardener
Several of our guests together with Ian Lewis
Some of the work being undertaken