Page 33 - ALG Issue 1 2025

YORKSHIRE
My introduction
to allotments
canes, plant pots, bits of string and two dozen things that might come in useful? A tiny table then, and a couple of chairs for the little patio area where we can sit with a glass of wine on a summer evening and survey our empire? He conceded.They were there for three years, unused, before I conceded that we didn’t have time to use them. I bought myself some lovely designer wellies with colourful stripes, but as soon as I discovered how dirty they would get,
I stopped wearing them to the allotment. My only tiny victory was a pink trug, which I still have. It lives in the green shed, and I am allowed to use it on condition that he is not on site at the time. Meanwhile, he taught me to sow and grow, to dig, and plant, and identify a weed, to water and crop, to keep predators away without chemicals. And to carry home the proceeds for meals bursting with taste, and with satisfaction of knowing that we grew this!Years later we really are old now - 162 years between us - and we won’t be able to manage an allotment for much longer, but my goodness it has been a great ride.
Jean Richards, Kirkbymoorside
AWARD
FOR LEEDS
ALLOTMENT
OFFICER
The rosebowl is awarded by the Yorkshire region to someone in recognition of service to the allotment movement.
Helen Clayton, the Allotment Officer for Leeds City Council, was given the award at Yorkshire Region AGM on Saturday 9/11/24.
Helen attends our meetings and helped out on our stand at Newby Hall (Harrogate Autumn show) in September.
Some years ago, widowed and newly retired, I met a man whom I liked a lot but with more of our lives behind than before us.Would our experience and interests
be compatible? “Have you read War and Peace?” I asked.“No.” “Can you recognise a Norman arch? Have you seen anything at Stratford recently?” “No.” “Can you swim? Conjugate a Latin verb? Use chopsticks?” “No, and now it’s my turn. Have you read Darwin’s Origin of Species?” “No.” “Do you understand the Periodic Table? Can you pick Venus out of the night sky?” “No.” “Can you make wine? Hang wallpaper? Ride a horse?”
Oh dear, this is not going well. But, apparently undeterred, he mumbles something about a dog’s snout. Aha, I
think, pets! At last, we have something in common, and I launch into my preference for short haired, long nosed dogs that don’t slobber. He looks at me witheringly.“It’s an apple. How many apple varieties do you think there are?”“Three,” I suggest boldly. “Coxes, Bramleys, and .... erm.... Pink Lady. Oh, and those nasty things the French grow, Golden Delicious.That’s four.”The pitying look intensifies. “And plums?” “Victorias, of course; are there any others?”
Against all the odds, reader, I married
him. (He hadn’t read Jane Eyre either). And so, I started to learn about growing food. Our (very informal) prenuptial agreement was quite straightforward. He would move from his small house with large garden to my larger house with smaller garden, and we would get an allotment.Which we did. I was delighted to discover that the rent was £12 (bear in mind this was nearly 20 years ago) so he would be entertained for as little at £144 a year. Imagine my reaction when I discovered that was the annual rent! It’s now £30 but still worth every penny and more.We bought a small shed. In my early enthusiasm, I planned to paint it a pretty colour and make chintz curtains for its little window, and perhaps get a door plaque with a silly name.... NO. It is
a law of nature that sheds must be green. And why would you want to do anything different when in three weeks it will be full of muddy boots, dirty tools, netting and
“We won’t be able to manage an allotment for much longer, but my goodness it has been a great ride”
Allotment and Leisure Gardener | Issue 1 2025 | 33
Welcome to...
19 individuals
Blossom Allotments
Killinghall Parish Council
Milton (Peterborough) Estates Co Redhill Allotment Society
St Johns Road Allotment Society Wadsley Bridge Allotments