Page 17 - ALG Issue 1 2014 Digital Edition

Potato Days 2014
Did you know that more than 200 different potatoes are listed on the British Potato Variety database http://www.varieties. potato.org.uk/menu.php?
Garden Organic held the first ever National Potato Day in 1994 to give growers access to a much wider variety of tubers and promote the diversity of British potatoes. Since then many other local Potato Days have been held, offering growers an ever-expanding choice,
Somerset Potato Day
Sunday, 9th February 2014, 10.30am-2.30pm
The Constitutional Club Station Road
Castle Cary, Somerset BA7 7BY Refreshments and Bar. Free admission.
Weston Village Potato Day
Saturday 15th March 2014, 10.00am-2.00pm
The Scout Hall, High Street, Weston, Bath BA1 4BX
RHS Potato Day
In conjunction with London Plant & Design Show
21st-22nd February 2014
RHS Horticultural Halls
Vincent Square, Westminster. Free to RHS Members.
East Anglia Potato Day
Saturday 8th February 2014, 9.30am-1.30pm
Mid-Suffolk Showground
Stonham Barns, Pettaugh Road, Stonham Aspal, Nr Stowmarket, Suffolk IP14 6AT
Hereford Potato Day
Thursday 20th February
The Royal National College for the Blind, Venns Lane, Hereford, HR1 1DT
For more information - http://dev.be-different.co.uk/events.
The Garden Museum
Sunday 10th March 2014, 10.30am-4pm Normal museum charges apply. Lambeth Palace Rd, London SE1 7 LB
advice about dealing with blight and the opportunity to talk potatoes with fellow enthusiasts.
Although officially the last weekend in January, we found events listed throughout January February and March; here are a few examples - there are many more – why don’t you have a look for one near you?
Are you holding a Potato Day on your site? Let us know and we can advertise it on the NAS website.
Shropshire Potato Day
Saturday 8th February 2014, 9am-3pm Montford Village Hall, Montford, Shrewsbury, SY4 1AD
Shropshire Organic Gardeners.
For more information- www.shropshireorganicgardeners.org.uk.
Marple Potato Day
Sunday 9th February 2014, 10am-3pm Senior Citizens Hall, Memorial Park, Marple, SK6 6BA
Marple and District Allotment Association. For more information www.marple-uk.co.uk/allotments
Mold Potato Day
Sunday 16th February 2014, 9am-1pm Church Hall, King Street, Mold, CH71LA The North Wales group of Plant Heritage (NCCPG).
For more information - Judy Jesse, christopher.jesse@btinternet.com.
Caldbeck Potato Day
Sunday 23th February 2014, 10am-3pm Caldbeck Village Hall, Caldbeck, Cumbria Caldbeck Gardening Group
For more information - Liz, mounsey. r4btinternet.com.
Lytchett Matravers ‘Pop-Up
Allotment Shop and Potato Day’ Saturday 1st March 2014, 10am-2pm Lytchett Matravers Village Hall, Poole, Dorset BH16 6DF.
For more information - Peter Cantwell, 01202 632631 or lmallotsoc@yahoo.co.uk.
tips&titbits
Members’ Forum
Our lovely new website has been
up and running for nearly two years now and we can see that lots of you spend time browsing through the gardening advice and downloading our useful new information leaflets in the Members Area about How to get an allotment, Dealing with flooding
on the plot, Creating a new allotment site, Planning a new plot, Clearing an overgrown plot and Compost, bonfires and waste disposal.
We’d like to draw your attention to the Members’ Forum – a members-only space that gives you the opportunity to ask questions and share ideas
or problems with fellow members. There’s lots of expertise out amongst our members and this is a great opportunity for you to share what
you know and help to strengthen the allotment movement.
To reach the forum log in to the members area of the website – your site secretary will have the log in details and click on the tab on the left hand side.
If you have ideas about how the forum could be improved (have you used the forum?) or any feedback about the website in general please let us know by emailing marketing@nsalg.org.uk.
Shed security over winter
With less people on site and short, sometimes dark days, winter makes your shed and its contents a vulnerable target for thieves. It’s a good idea
to remove the more valuable items; any that you must leave mark with Smartwater® and check your security measures are sufficient; repair broken panels, strengthen door fittings and fit tamper resist screws. An alternative measure is to leave your shed unlocked and have nothing of value inside it. ®http://www.smartwater.com/home/ your local neighbourhood watch should have details of this product. Coming Soon: detailed booklet on security available to members.
17