Page 43 - ALG Issue 1 2023

Let’s celebrate... pumpkins, sunflowers, and easy access plots
We had an enjoyable afternoon at our celebration BBQ at Weaste Allotments in Salford on 9th October.
This year the winner of our heaviest pumpkin competition was Aaron from plot 56, whose pumpkin weighed in
at a massive 95lbs! The children’s sunflower competition was scooped by Olivia, whose sunflower measured 115 inches high and 9 inches in diameter. Second and third prizes in the pumpkin competition were Barry (Plot 49)
and Jon (Plot 20A) – all our pumpkin winners received bags of compost, while our young growers received prizes of gardening gloves and seeds.
The lovely food was prepared by the charity, Vegangogogo and our meat- eating guests weren’t forgotten either, as a separate BBQ was catered by Kathryn from plot 72 with food donated by our plotholders.
We had special guests who toured the allotments: Councillor Alexis Shama and Councillor Madeline Wade and Alan
Fern from the Co-op, who came to see how their funding has helped us. We also welcomed our old friends: Steve Dennison, who is Allotments Officer for Salford City Council, and Don Booth from Salford Allotments Federation, who helped measure the pumpkins and give out prizes.
It was time to say thank you to all
the people who helped to create the four easy access plots that are now
on Plot 12 and the solar power in the community room and shop. It has been a wonderful communal effort. Altogether 40 different people have worked on the project and contributed over 350 hours of their own time to make it possible. A special thank you to our plotholders who came to every one of the eight working party days plus coming along in-between times. We couldn’t have done it without the help they all put in.
Sue Browning, New Weaste Allotments & Gardening Society
Webb Lane Stockport site improvements
After a long period of consideration, and judging that it was a really good idea, the committee on Webb Lane decided to approach the council and various other bodies to create a social prescribing allotment on their site.
This is not an instant ‘pop-up’ allotment; they needed proper toilets, a meeting area, a meeting room, extra storage, and flat access for anyone in a wheelchair. None of this would be cheap.
So, where can we get the funds? Fortunately, as the council were on board, contacts could be made with Stockport Housing, who just happen to have a funding officer, Mark Rogers, who then could start the ball rolling to
get as much funding as possible for this development. Once completed the meeting cabin, with kitchen, was officially opened by Cllr Amanda Peers.
We met representatives of George Cox (builders) whose apprentices were building the toilet block, and who were pleased to be giving back into the community.
The social prescription group will be managed from the site by a nurse and a doctor who have plots on the site and although it is early days, I am sure it will be a great success and have long lasting benefits for the clients and the allotment as a whole.
Allotment and Leisure Gardener 43