Page 6 - ALG Issue 1 2022

President’s
scribblings
As I sit here writing this, my garden is white all over. The snow is 2”-3” deep here in Leeds and it has just started falling heavily again. Eeee! By gum, it’s reet topsy turvy weather. Despite all these seasonal changes, generally the crops have been pretty good overall on my plot this year, and I cannot grumble.
It is pleasing, and reassuring, that our organisation continues to develop with so many new innovations, the latest being the NAS allotments promotional video. It is really good and features our very own Aaron Hickman, the NAS magazine plant doctor. Watch out for the video; I think you will enjoy and be impressed. In addition, the development of some short video or PowerPoint courses are in progress, not only on
the aspects of allotment management but also on general allotment activities aimed at the newcomers to the allotment world, looking at options, hints, and tips. My hopes and dreams for the New Year are to have some face-to-face normality, and hope that all the regional problems can be sorted out and all branches of our organisation singing from the same hymn sheet and working in unison. This has created many challenges in the past and has
taken much of our volunteers’ and our organisation’s time to resolve when that time could have been put towards benefiting the wider national membership.
Challenges: apart from the issues mentioned above I am sure there
will be other challenges that will
arise. Hopefully we will be able, in
the New Year, to reach out to offer guidance to more committees who are encountering difficulties, making them more aware of the correct procedures in running their allotment site. This
in turn should eliminate the conflicts that sometimes arise through poorly drawn-up paperwork and incorrect procedures. This is where our proposed short courses will be of benefit. There will always be the need to protect our allotments, and one way most sites can help to protect themselves now
is to apply to become an ‘Asset of Community Value’ (ACV). Whilst this does not give complete site protection, it can offer a breathing space to tackle any threat to your site. It is a simple process, just contact your local council for an application form. This may also derive some protection by listed as an ACV within your local Neighbourhood Plan.
My hopes and dreams for the New Year are to have some face- to-face normality
I am looking forward to some
normality developing in the New Year and continuing our association with other organisations e.g., universities. Hoping that our new allotment courses being developed will lead to a happier situation on our allotments. And finally, having the benefits of our allotment gardens towards climate change, biodiversity and health and wellbeing
of many in the community being more widely recognised by Government, Local Authorities, and the general population.
Happy New Year and happy allotment gardening.
Phil Gomersall
MAKE THE MOST OF
YOUR MEMBERSHIP!
NAS members benefit from a wealth
of knowledge and resources and have the satisfaction of knowing that they are helping to raise the profile of allotment growing and protecting sites. Benefits include:
• FREE Allotmenteers’ Liability Insurance
for individual plotholders. Has your
association enrolled your group?
• Initial legal advice and support to create or develop sites and site
management.
• Supportive regional network; can
you offer time to promote allotment growing in your area? Contact your Regional Representative to find out how you can get involved.
• NAS members get a 25% discount on Allotment Association insurance from Chris Knott insurance.
• Quarterly magazine and e-magazine/ e-news in members area of the website.
• Individual Magazine subscription
for affiliates just £10 per annum!
• Discounted quality seeds from Kings
Seeds with online ordering facility and extra discounts for large orders.
• Retail discounts from well-known gardening suppliers.
• Gardening advice – members can send in their queries to Aaron Hickman, our Garden Doctor, and check out the monthly jobs on our website growing pages.
Like us on www.facebook.com/ Nationalallotmentsociety and link with other plotholders.
Check out www.nsalg.org.uk for further details.
Association secretaries are provided with log-in details for the members area – ask your association secretary for details today.
6 Allotment and Leisure Gardener