Page 6 - ALG Issue 2 2022

President’s
scribblings
I am at present sitting indoors at home, having sheltered from storm Eunice, and having had to cancel our allotment sites voluntary work party, which we hold for 2 hours twice a month. It is snowing right now, a couple of inches deep already. Quite strange as it was snowing last November when writing this piece for the magazine.
SO LONG, FAREWELL,
AUF WIEDERSEHEN, GOODBYE Following the retirement of Liz McInally, NAS Finance Officer, at the end of last year, sadly now Di Appleyard retired at the end of February this year.
I have worked with Di for many years in the Allotment Regeneration Initiative prior to us both taking up positions in the NAS. She has been a huge asset
to the NAS and has helped modernise, promote, and bring the organisation on in leaps and bounds over the last few years. She will be an extremely hard act to follow. We wish Di all the best in her retirement, which should allow her more time to enjoy her own allotment.
WELL, ONWARDS AND UPWARDS
There is a big change in Scotland, as association and individual members should now join or renew membership directly with NAS as opposed to enrolling via the Scottish Allotment Gardens Society. They will now be entitled to all of the benefits enjoyed
by our members in England, Wales and N Ireland, including the Individual Allotment Liability Insurance cover. The Scottish Allotment Gardens Society will continue to offer local advice and help to their members.
LOOKING WIDER AFIELD
The International Allotment Office (IAO) continue to function well despite the difficulties created by Covid, and all being well there will be a face-to-face meeting in Stockholm in September. The General Assembly planned for 2022 in Berlin is now postponed till 2025. This was unfortunate as NAS had planned to take a representative from Sheffield University to talk to
the assembly about topics from their Allotment Research Papers. Go to www. jardins-familiaux.org, select English and see how European allotment gardeners do their gardening. It is very interesting to see. Whilst there, check out the magazine Hyphen; the UK has quite an input in this magazine. You may wish to consider entering your site for a prestigious International Diploma. I know for a fact that many of our sites would readily qualify. Have a go, the entry criteria are on the NAS website.
PROMOTING OUR PUBLIC IMAGE
It is very encouraging to see that
many of the flower shows are
opening their doors again this year. This is an ideal opportunity for the allotment movement to show the nation the many values of allotments regarding growing your own, saving on food miles, increasing biodiversity, encouraging wildlife, improving the environment, and helping towards climate change, and not forgetting, improving the physical and mental health of many of the population. If you get the opportunity to attend our NAS Allotment stand at Gardeners World Live at the NEC Centre, Birmingham, it is well worth a visit, and there will be lots of interesting talks.
Have a go; it can be great fun and even better if you get an award
MEMBERS PROMOTING OUR CAUSE
Whilst on with the topic of shows, don’t think for one minute it is necessary
for you to sit back and rely upon NAS to promote our allotments; there are plenty of opportunities for individual members and sites and federations
to create a promotional stand. Leeds Allotments Federation has created stands for many years and Harrogate Federation also, to name but two which all helps promote our allotments movement. Individual sites have done very well also when it comes to the smaller gardens categories. Have a
go; it can be great fun and even better if you get an award. Many shows will now contribute to the creation of show gardens and are always looking for the creation of allotment gardens plus NAS can provide members with promotional materials.
Wishing you a very productive and healthy year.
Phil Gomersall
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6 Allotment and Leisure Gardener
PERFECT AS A GIFT!