Page 44 - ALG Issue 3 2021

East Midlands
Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, Derbyshire, Northamptonshire and Rutland
REPRESENTATIVE
Mr Paul Howgill
37 Meredith Road, Rowley Fields, Leicester LE3 2EP
07803 828 777 allotmentbaron@aol.com
MENTOR
Adam Murphy
East Midlands (North) 0845 4786 352 amurphy.nas@gmail.com
Ashbourne Road Allotments open for the NGS
Allotments! The very mention of the word invariably conjures up a picture with your imagination, of what was created in your mind from childhood books by authors such as Beatrix Potter’s Mr McGregor’s Garden. Row upon row of neatly tended vegetables – pristine and erect and not a net nor slug in site. Muddy, rugged paths
and wellies, and men in flat caps. Dilapidated sheds containing rusty old tools and little else, but a few sacks of potatoes and... Cut! Stop! And let’s get to reality; today’s allotment site may contain a few traditional plots and even the men as described, but certainly they are the minority now within the 166 plots at The Ashbourne Road and District Allotments (ARDAA) in Derby city centre.
Scrap that previous image and move into the 21st century with us in Derby. Beautifully painted sheds stand proud dominating the plots like beach huts at the seaside. Close by (and dotted about) are grand polytunnels crammed with plants, and seedlings six weeks ahead of their namesakes outside in the raised beds. Fruit trees are in full blossom that dominate the skyline, underplanted with remnants of spring flowers which can
be seen along the well-mown paths in each direction of the site. New growth is about to burst through the fine tilthed soil on plots, which themselves have been chopped in size to make way
for the creation of the more modern, manageable, enjoyable family plot.
This is a picture the majority of our plotholders have been able to relish every day through lockdowns in the last 12 months, and how grateful have they been? Very! So, how do they show their gratitude to others? By agreeing to open the allotment gates and work with The National Garden Scheme (NGS). This allows visitors into the nine-acre oasis so they can share gardening secrets of success with anyone who can stand and listen long enough!
The story of what happened next is quite simple: having telephoned the regional NGS co-ordinator last July, he and his wife agreed to visit the
site. A few hours later and then a tour of the plots, he thrust the beautiful black and yellow coloured folder in my arms, advised of some minor points of improvements for the day, and handed over his business card. That was that! The committee agreed to work on two
Calls to 0845 numbers cost 3p (ex VAT) per minute plus your telephone company’s access charge
What was the message we wanted visitors to take away from their experience with us on the open days?
event days with NGS in the following summer for the work to go ahead, and with a little group of volunteers set to with planning. The biggest challenge was in the end quite simple: What was the message we wanted visitors to take away from their experience with us on the open days? That question formed the foundation of the work – at the same time remembering that we were an allotment site.
We decided we wanted people to enjoy what we had for the last 12 months;
to appreciate the views within the site and be able to share experiences with other like-minded people. As with most allotments, the ARDAA has been very fortunate to have been able to continue plotting regardless of what has happened in the wider community.
44 Allotment and Leisure Gardener
Welcome to our new members...
Boulton Moor Allotment Tenants Association Church Road Allotment Society
Eyres Monsell Allotment & Garden Society
1 Individual
Harby Parish Council
Ockbrook and Borrowash Parish Council