Page 49 - ALG Issue 4 2023

Blackleach Allotments, Salford, and the Northern Star Garden at RHS Flower Show Tatton Park 2023
For the Tatton Park Flower show in July, the RHS Communities team and BBC North West Tonight invited five community groups to produce
a horticultural community hub showing how communities, religions and gardening styles can be brought together. One of the group was Blackleach Allotments.
In January 2023, the groups were invited to take on one part of the ‘Northern Star Garden’, designed by
TV presenter and garden designer, Lee Burkhill (Garden Ninja). Each group had their own border of 2 x 4 metres, so that they could convey their own distinct message. Joe Hunt, Blackleach Allotments, said that they went to Tatton with trepidation, excitement and enthusiasm.
Five months later, Lee ran a mentoring day at RHS Garden Bridgewater, introducing the groups to the show garden world by demonstrating how
they could plant their own part of the ‘Star’ design. Lee chose the plants for the themes that the groups had chosen. He said that allotments were difficult
to include in a show garden and so it proved!
The weather was dreadful during the preparation days before the opening. Not only were the plants getting windswept but the enthusiastic volunteers were wet and nervous about how to build and plant the allotment, but we needn’t have worried. The whole community worked together thanks
to Lee’s patience, knowledge and his ability to convey how the planting would work. Blackleach Allotments created
a ‘grow your own’ garden, suitable for small urban spaces with plants easy to
With help from other volunteers, the allotment started
to come together
grow from seed. With help from other volunteers, the allotment started to come together and, by opening day, it looked excellent.
The Northern Star was a team effort. By team, I mean not just Blackleach Allotments but the whole of the Star community who gave physical support and verbal encouragement. It was an experience, at times hard work, but we came away with pride and a smile as we had had a new experience and met similar minded communities.
The bed of each group will be rehomed at the five community sites.
Joe Hunt,
Blackleach Allotments, Salford
West Midlands
Shropshire, Staffordshire, Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Warwickshire
REPRESENTATIVE
Tom Terrence
17 Stonefield Close, Walsgrave Keep, Walsgrave, Warks CV2 2PZ
02476 621350 tterrence@btinternet.com
DEPUTY REP/MENTOR
Colin Bedford
07592 822195 cbedford.nas@gmail.com
Welcome to our new members...
Branston Parish Council
Cameron Homes Ltd
Evesham Abbey Allotment Association Kington Allotments Association Swindon Allotment Society
Windsor Avenue Allotments
2 Individuals
Allotment and Leisure Gardener 49