Page 10 - ALG Issue 3 2021

Reps Q&A
Judith Hill – Wales Regional Rep
WHAT IS THE BEST THING ABOUT YOUR ROLE? Meeting with our allotment members at various sites across the country. Unfortunately, as the region covers the whole of Wales, it is often quite difficult to access all areas, but I’m available online and the phone most of the time.
WHAT ASPIRATIONS DO YOU HAVE FOR YOUR REGION? I would like to see the membership join together, particularly at our quarterly meetings. Now, with access to Zoom, maybe this will become a reality. We are already seeing members from Mid and West Wales joining us, and hopefully, in the near future, others will join in.
WHAT DEVELOPMENTS WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE IN THE ALLOTMENT MOVEMENT? I would like to see allotments more widely advertised
for health and wellbeing and not just healthy food growing. Many have told me, if it were not for the allotment
in lockdown, they would have been seriously affected mentally.
WHAT DOES YOUR ALLOTMENT/ GROWING YOUR OWN MEAN TO YOU? Healthy fruit and vegetables for
the whole family and experimenting with new varieties – and even new vegetables. This year with my granddaughter we are growing cucamelons as a change to just cucumbers.
HOW HAS ALLOTMENTEERING/NAS CHANGED IN THE TIME THAT YOU HAVE BEEN INVOLVED? There are a lot more families and younger people becoming involved, and it is great to see such a mix of ages on-site; also seeing the raw beginners being mentored by our older generation imparting their knowledge and skills.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE A NEW PLOTHOLDER? Don’t try to do it all in the first week! Take it slowly; it is better to prepare a small area and plant it so that you can see the benefit whilst you are preparing the next section. An allotment takes time and effort, and it will all be worth it in the end.
FAVOURITE CELEBRITY GARDENER/GARDENING TV SHOW? I don’t really have a favourite but being Welsh Terry Walton (Radio 2) and his allotment tales are always welcome. Terry also supports the region, and this
Don’t try to do it all in the first week! An allotment takes time and effort, and it will all be worth it in the end.
year is judging our National Allotments Week photography competition.
IS THERE A TOOL OR GARDENING PRODUCT THAT YOU COULD NOT LIVE WITHOUT? My youngest son, who now does all the heavy work on the plot and has helped on the plot since childhood.
IF YOU ARE NOT ON YOUR ALLOTMENT, WHAT OTHER HOBBIES DO YOU ENJOY? I enjoy knitting, reading (though I do a fair bit of this on the allotment in the summer). I am involved with my local church, and
I have eight grandchildren who all live locally.
SPROUTS OR CARROTS? Definitely carrots. I must admit I eat carrots almost everyday, cooked or raw.
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.
10 Allotment and Leisure Gardener