Page 6 - ALG Issue 2 2017

Head Of ce
fromthepresident
Well the last three years have passed quickly and it’s time for me to nally retire. It has been an interesting time with many challenges. I have been privileged to be a part of this great movement for many, many years and, with your help, we have managed to increase the number of new sites, while also trying to maintain and improve
the supply of allotments for those that wish to have them. Together we have overcome many challenges but there are still others that continue to cause us concern and are as yet unresolved.
I urge you all to continue in your endeavours to secure and improve allotment facilities in your area. The National Allotment Society will continue to aid and support you to achieve your aims, whatever they may be. At times
the struggle seems endless but, as you read the success stories in the magazine, I hope they will spur you on to continue your personal ghts. We are a very special community of allotment holders; not only do you have the expertise of the of ce, regional teams and mentors to assist you, but you can always contact those successful projects around the country who may also be able to offer assistance and give ideas on how they achieved their aims. It is all about sharing experiences to enrich and support each other that makes our Society special.
I have just returned from Luxembourg and the international assembly where
Britain plays an important part in forming International Allotment Society Policy decisions. A report will appear later in the magazine. It is important that we continue this link with the international allotment community so that we may
all grow, share and secure allotments for the future together. Our long history of allotments and our legislation, which allows us some form of protection, can be drawn on to advise other countries, while their expertise in creating and working
with their governmental
departments to secure
funding and support
assists us.
several times. It also produces waste packaging which has to be disposed
of. The transportation causes more environmental pollution and increases the congestion on roads. At the same time, as we support the environment with less pollution, we also support wildlife both ora and fauna as corridors for wildlife and habitats for endangered species.
We must continue to dispel this image of allotments being either shanty towns or for the elite few by regenerating run
down allotments, welcoming people to visit and see for themselves the well run, tidy allotment sites, with good inclusive projects enabling all to enjoy these many bene ts.
Today as I write this, the last of my presidential missives, East Anglia is bathed in sunlight and bodes
well for the future, I believe that with your enthusiasm, the sun may also shine on the allotment movement and lead it into a bright and shiny future.
I thank you all for your support over these many years and I wish you all long and happy years of allotmenteering!
Take care
Karen Kenny
The future is in your
hands so let us continue
to encourage the next
generation to join us on
this exciting journey for
the allotment movement.
Let us continue to
promote the bene ts
of allotments to the
wider society as a whole. Remember that allotments address the health and well-being of all, both physically and mentally, as con rmed in many national and international research reports. It also affects people economically; not only with lower health bills but also in the enormous amounts of food that
we produce which otherwise would be imported, packaged and transported
The future is in your hands so let us continue to encourage the next generation to join us on this exciting journey for the allotment movement
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