Page 34 - ALG Issue 1 2025

YORKSHIRE
Mike Farrell and spikey friend at Rotherham Show
NAS Volunteers at Harrogate Autumn Show in Newby Hall
34 | Issue 1 2025 | Allotment and Leisure Gardener
NORTH WEST
RHS AWARD
FOR WILDLIFE
PLOT
In an earlier edition of this magazine,
we reported about our efforts here at Tindall Street Allotments to remediate and improve our community and wildlife areas following a destructive episode of trespass and vandalism.
Our reward was a level 5 award, endorsed with ‘outstanding’, from the
RHS Bridgewater in their ‘Britain in bloom, It’s Your Neighbourhood’ competition.
The inspiration for the design and implementation of the process was approved by the allotment committee and our joint treasurer, Mrs. Jackie Hamilton, led the process and timetable. She was helped in sourcing materials and specialist skills by Vinny Cawley, a long-time allotmenteer and knowledge base. He is ‘photo averse’ and only appears occasionally, provided MCFC are not on TV at the time.
The presentation ceremony took place at the Bolton University stadium (formerly the Macron) where approximately 500 people attended, enjoyed an excellent lunch and the chance for a chat across a wide range of allotment and gardening matters.
Jackie collected the framed certificate from the RHS assessor, and it now has ‘pride of place’ at Tindall Street.
We are pleased to report that our new wildlife plot has a prolific growth of plants given, donated or purchased in clearance sales across Greater Manchester.We have welcomed many wild visitors, our new
little pond is flourishing and will, hopefully, see some amphibians in residence soon. We have the most splendid show of pelargoniums, with an array of succulents for neighbours and wild salvias transplanted from the border of our car park.
Sometimes an unwelcome event turns out to be a new chance to chase an adventure and we are enjoying playing that game, between plotting on the plot.
Geoff Hamilton, Chairman TSAG