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East Midlands
Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, Derbyshire, Northamptonshire and Rutland
REPRESENTATIVE
Mr Paul Howgill
37 Meredith Road, Rowley Fields, Leicester LE3 2EP
07803 828 777 allotmentbaron@aol.com
MENTOR
Adam Murphy
East Midlands (North) 0845 4786 352 amurphy.nas@gmail.com
Welcome to our new members...
Bracebridge Heath Allotment Association Creswell Allotments Society
Dovecote Road Allotment Society Harlestone Allotments
Harlestone Road Allotment Association Mackworth Community Gardens & Allotments Raunds Allotments 2020
15 Individuals
1 Life
Broxtowe Borough Council
Burton Joyce Parish Council
Eckington Parish Council
Edwinstowe Parish Council
Harlestone Parish Council
Flourishing Global Allotments in Leicester
With my immigrant partner, Jewell, we intentionally bought a house backing onto allotments. That way we can nip through a back gate and be weeding, sowing, planting and harvesting in
less than a minute. Leicester is a city of many immigrants, so we fit in; I am from the north of England, Jewell from the USA. There is also diversity on the allotments. After working abroad for 25 years in four countries, we came back to Leicester to continue enjoying that international, multicultural experience right on our doorstep.
I was nosey about our neighbouring allotment gardeners, so I interviewed about 30 people over the summer and autumn – the last one yesterday. It’s a delightful way of getting to know people better! My big question was to find out why they had an allotment. What did they say?
“Freedom!” said Paul, Mick, Tony, Elton and Liz emphatically. In each interview it caught me by surprise by the delighted force that each one said the word: “Freedom!” I wondered, is it the freedom of working-class people holding land again at a wonderfully low rent? Is it the freedom to be your own boss, to make personal decisions about when to work, what to grow, plant,
and when to harvest? Paul expressed
Amy
that it was freedom especially in COVID-19 lockdown. You are naturally socially distanced, and the pandemic is forgotten.
For some having an allotment is therapeutic. Michael, a steward, found support as he battled successfully
to recover from cancer. John (from Poland), Julia (from Zimbabwe), Elisabeth (from Poland) and Akram (from Nabulus, Palestine), said the exercise in fresh air was good for them. Two people with diabetes said the same. Soni said: “I relax my mind” as he clipped coriander and methi
for curries. Amy, born and bred in Leicester, reflected: “It’s an escape,
a little sanctuary from day-to-day life.
I lost my dad and grandad in the last few months. Things still go through my mind, but I am better at de-weeding them here.” Norberto, a retired waiter from Spain decades ago, said simply: “It’s peaceful here.” Sonia, originally from Nottingham, succinctly summed up: “It’s good for body and soul.”
For many, like Agrippa among his white maize and pumpkins, there is the satisfaction of growing their own fresh food, with great taste and without chemicals on them. Many times, connection with nature was mentioned, like Burhan, a Kurdish
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Akram from Palestine
Iranian, and H Patel who was born in Kenya. “After working as a lorry driver on 12-hour shifts, it is a huge relief to come to the allotment and hear birds,” he said. His wildlife plot is wonderful to behold in spring, with hundreds of
50 Allotment and Leisure Gardener
Charlie
Allotments through backgate