Page 36 - ALG Issue 1 2025
P. 36
EAST MIDLANDS
THE
ROBIN’S
SONG
There was not much birdsong around in January at Bagthorpe Gardens Allotments here in Nottingham but robins are one of the few species of bird that sing throughout the winter.
The unseasonal outpouring of song, particularly at dawn, is a sign that the bird has survived the night, and has enough energy left over to defend its territory. It’s an act of defiance against the cold. As the weather improves, day by day, the song lengthens, and a robin’s thoughts turn to attracting a mate rather than simple survival.
Bagthorpe Robin
I sing my title deeds:
an unseasonal outpouring
to stake my claim upon the soil, and all that lies within.
From old pear tree to tumbledown shed,
from hawthorn hedge to wooden gate;
All this is mine;
don’t let anyone tell you different.
I have no interest in mineral rights, or planning permission;
livestock is my sole concern.
Grubs, larvae, caterpillar, earthworm. These are mine, and mine alone.
I prefer fresh, simple food, unseasoned.
This is an organic allotment.
You may dig here, on one condition: leave the pest control to me.
Mike Clifford
Groby Allotment Fence
We are a devolved management association, managing two sites in
the village of Groby, about five miles north-west of Leicester. Our larger site
is about 5.25 acres with 165 plots on it,including raised and wheelchair beds, whereas our other site is much smaller with only 21 plots and we rent both these sites from the parish council.
The larger site is bisected by a public footpath, a well-used shortcut in the village. The external boundaries are maintained by the parish council, but we have to maintain the footpath fence boundary and around the car park.This boundary only consisted of chestnut paling, as that was all we could afford, and we had to have sections of it replaced at frequent intervals as it rotted.
Sadly, in recent years though, it has been repeatedly vandalised.This removed any security on site and meant that, until mended, anything or anyone was free to roam into and over our plots at will.
So, we decided to replace all of this fencing (230 metres plus 3 gates) with
1.5m high robust metal security fencing and associated metal gates and obtained quotes. We were rather shocked when they came
in as they varied from £20,000 to £30,000! We had always known that we required some grant funding but now a significant grant was needed!
Luckily the National Lottery Community Grant fund came to our aid.We filled out the online application, outlining exactly what we wanted and why, and amazingly received the full grant of twenty thousand pounds. We obtained the most cost-effective quote from the three firms asked to tender and we were very pleased that the quote from a local firm proved to be the best value. The firm was very efficient, removing vegetation in the way, even grinding out old tree roots for us and it was finished in a week.
We now have a smart secure site (with hedgehog access points) and all tenants can now feel safe, no matter where they are on site. We couldn’t have even thought about this upgrade without the help of the National Lottery Community Fund though, and so we are very grateful to them for their generous support.
Carol Lincoln, Secretary, Groby Allotment Society
36 | Issue 1 2025 | Allotment and Leisure Gardener
Welcome to...
19 individuals
Breachlands Allotment Association Crabtree allotments
Dronfield Town Council
Stamford Town Council