Page 50 - ALG Issue 4 2024

SOUTH WEST
South West Round-up
It is always a pleasure to welcome
new associations into the NAS family and in late June I was invited to attend the opening of a new allotment site
in Chulmleigh, North Devon.Allan Cavill and I met with them last year and gave advice on setting up an association.The Chulmleigh Allotment Association has worked hard over
the last year to find land suitable and available for allotments and to create
a functioning association.There are 20 plots 8x8m and there was a real buzz of excitement as people were allotted their plot and set about digging over the turf or laying cardboard and mulch on their land.Also in this issue of the magazine is an article on the Nansledan Allotments, opened in June near Newquay, of a residential development on Duchy land; more sites are to follow as the development expands. It’s good to see our Patron supporting the creation of new allotment sites.
Nearer to home, (well, my home), Broadclyst Parish Council has overseen the opening of several new allotment sites, planned for and funded through the Green Infrastructure Levy in the large residential expansion happening on the outskirts of Exeter.The Parish Council have used the NAS tenancy agreement template and followed the legal advice
on ‘warning letters’ to come up with a well written tenancy agreement with a clear and fair procedure for dealing with non-cultivation and other breach of agreement issues. Best wishes to all these sites for the future.
In the first issue of the ALG this year was an article on the Community Allotment set up by the Chagford Allotment Holders Association. It
was delightful to be contacted by the Axminster Allotment Association, wishing to set up a similar scheme and heart-warming that the Chagford Association were happy to share their experiences with them.Thank you.
On a personal note, this has been a difficult year for me. I thank all of you who supported me through it, from the team at O’Dell House, the members of the SW Region Committee, individuals from various allotment associations, including the Tiver ton Allotment Association, those who helped on
the NAS stand at the Devon County Show and those who contacted me
for advice and support, unaware of my circumstances but whose enthusiasm and positivity for the projects they were engaged in raised my spirits, cheered me up and made me feel valued.Thank you. Mark Joynes
SW Deputy Regional Rep
Obituary:
Jeff Mohum
The South West Region are sad to report the loss
of stalwart volunteer, Jeff Mohum, who died on the 8th August 2024. Jeff was one of the many dozens
of our members who do so much behind the scenes for the NAS and he helped me in my role as Regional Representative on very many occasions.
He used his financial expertise to audit various associations accounts and, if I was supporting the creation of a new self-managed site somewhere, he would come along to advise and reassure a new committee. He would also always help
with shows.
Time after time his quiet unassuming
manner would be there to help me and the allotment community here in the South West – we will miss him so much. Allan Cavill,Taunton
50 | Issue 4 2024 | Allotment and Leisure Gardener