Page 40 - ALG Issue 4 2014 Digital Edition

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SAGS Scottish Allotments and Gardens Society Annual Scottish Allotments Conference 2014 in Victoria Halls, Dunblane
The resonance of the Scottish Referendum, the outcome of which will be known as this issue reaches members, did not go un-noted at this year’s well attended SAGS Conference in June.
Ian Welsh, SAGS President said in his welcome speech that SAGS and NSALG are the same age and supported each other in the common cause of competing for areas to be turned into allotments.
Ian advised that the Community Empowerment Bill is currently going through the Scottish Parliament and it includes new legislation for allotments. John Doherty, now retired as NSALG Representative for Scotland and North East, then gave an update on NSALG activities over the last year.
Journalist and Broadcaster Lesley Riddoch was the first key speaker with her “Nordic Comparisons” presentation. This was about Norwegian people upping roots and decamping to their huts in the summer. Unlike UK ‘allotment huts’ the Norwegian Huts are leisure accommodation and they are integral to the Norwegian culture. Lesley could see the benefits and linked their use and availability to the very different land ownership framework in Scotland where 16 people own 10% of the land.
Stuart McKenzie started the Hub Concept session by talking about Community Empowerment. Stuart is
a member of Inverleith Allotments, a
site that started in 1920 to help WW1 servicemen and which now has a big waiting list. He showed pictures of the shipping container they have recently fitted with solar lighting. He emphasised that Community Empowerment was all about communication and partnership between the public, schools and councils.
Karen Clark from Bridgend Community Growing Project explained how their community growing started as an NHS therapeutic project. When the NHS
were unable to continue with the project Bridgend decided to set it up as a
Dick Youngson
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charitable company. Their mission is to bring folk together and 50% of their users are under 21. Karen confirmed the benefits are limitless and for many a visit to their site is the highlight of their week.
Dick Youngson from Nairn Allotments compared their site to Stuart’s as Nairn had a population of only 10,000. Dick emphasised the need to put pressure
on Local Authorities to stick to their requirement to provide land for allotments and how Community Groups are more successful in getting results. He advised that the Scottish Community Alliance are a useful body in this respect.
Lesley Riddoch then chaired a lively question and answer session. During lunch delegates had a chance to visit
the stands including Jennifer Brodie’s, REMIN (Scotland) Ltd, where she was once again promoting to members soil remineralisation with rock dust. After lunch Ken Cox from Glendoick Garden Centre (and also an established author), gave a talk on “Growing on a Scottish Allotment”. As ever, Ken was full of useful
and relevant information. 2009 statistics showed 27% Scots to be obese, 5% had diabetes and that we import 90% of our fruit and 65% of our vegetables. Ken also mentioned the new book he has co-written with Caroline Beaton entitled “Fruit and Vegetables for Scotland”. Ken always put an incredible amount of work into his books and once again this one is well illustrated, comprehensive and stuffed full of very useful and well-researched information.
The ever-growing allotment sector was illustrated by four presentations from around the country. Mark Thirgood started from the “so new turf had not been dug”, Killandean Allotments in Livingston. He took everyone through their long battle to obtain a site which started back in 2011. Lisa-Marie Patton from Eastwood in East Renfrewshire talked about their struggle to get their allotments established because they faced opposition from within the community.
Her biggest tip was to find an ally from within the Council – and to make the point, Councillor Vincent Waters, Convenor for Environment, East Renfrewshire Council
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Ken Cox
Lesley Riddoch