Page 38 - ALG Issue 1 2022

North West
Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Cheshire
REPRESENTATIVE
Mr John Irwin
16 Parkdale Ave, Audenshaw, Manchester M34 5LW
0161 3207779 jirwin.nas@gmail.com
Plans to grow Weaste Allotments
Have you ever wondered about the land along our southern edge next to the motorway? Well, long ago when our allotments were much larger – 400 plots instead of the 85 we currently have, that land beyond our fence
was cultivated: potatoes, carrots and swedes would be growing there instead of brambles and nettles. In negotiation with Salford council, we have been given permission to take back that
land – but it is a huge undertaking, requiring lots of money, probably around £120,000 or more. In 2011 Salford Council looked at the land and deemed it was contaminated because it was once allotments (things that could have been burned or buried are considered dangerous (asbestos and machinery) and not cost effective for them to convert for us. We have to find the money ourselves.
We are in the process of putting in bids to try and source funding to clear the land, reroute the footpath, fence and pave, and because we have to create raised beds above the contaminated land, this is an ideal opportunity to provide easy access beds so that people can continue to grow rather than give up their plots when they find the work is getting too strenuous for them, and for us to collaborate with our local community. In the meantime, we are developing a pilot project using raised beds near the community room – they can eventually be moved down to the new area. We have secured funding
for four raised beds from Salford CVS, have another grant application in for three more and for solar power for
the community room and shop, and floodlighting for the carpark and gates. We plan to purchase new chairs and tables for the community room to create a cosy meeting space, and, with power in there, it will be somewhere to make a hot drink, slice of toast and have a chat.
Don Booth,
Salford Allotment Federation
MENTOR
Vacant
Contact diane@nsalg.org.uk
if interested in volunteering with the Region
Billy’s Lane Allotments flies the flag as one of the country’s best green spaces
In a record-breaking year for the Green
Flag Award, as the scheme marks its Silver Jubilee, Cheadle Hulme Garden & Allotment Association raised a Community Green Flag Award at Billy’s Lane Allotment Site. The award is the international quality mark for parks and green spaces. A Green Flag Community Award recognises quality sites managed by voluntary and community groups.
After 18 months that have seen our parks and green spaces play a vital role for people through lockdowns as a place to relax, exercise and meet friends and family safely, the news that Billy’s Lane has achieved the Green Flag Award is testament to the hard work and dedication
of the team that make the green space somewhere great that everyone can enjoy.
Billy’s Lane joins parks and green spaces as diverse as the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, Woodhouse Park in Peterlee, and Chiswick Old Cemetery in London.
Commenting on the news that Billy’s Lane has achieved the Green Flag Award standard, Green Flag Award Scheme Manager, Paul Todd, said:
“I would like to congratulate everyone involved in making Billy’s Lane worthy of a Community Green Flag Award. To meet the requirements demanded by the scheme is testament to the hard work of the plotholders who do so much to ensure that Billy’s Lane has high standards of horticulture, safety and environmental management and is a place that supports people to live healthy lives.”
The Green Flag Award scheme, managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy under licence from the Department for Levelling
Up, Housing and Communities, recognises
and rewards well-managed parks and green spaces, setting the benchmark standard for the management of green spaces across the United Kingdom and around the world.
In celebration of this year’s announcement, Green Flag Award is asking buildings
and monuments around the UK to #GoGreenForParks today to show appreciation for the spaces that mean so much to people.
Helen Bingham helen.bingham@keepbritaintidy.org
Improvements at Westend and Heysham Allotments
Here are some images sent in by Mr L Croombs that show Westend and Heysham’s latest project, which improved the entrance to the Allotments.
38 Allotment and Leisure Gardener
Welcome to our new members...
Free Lane Community Allotment Society Newton Park Allotment Society
The Seedlings Community Allotment
8 individuals