Page 57 - ALG Issue 2 2018 html

“Whatever else you do, have fun in the garden...”
The first Saturday in February saw us back at Ansley Common, near Nuneaton. Our speaker was Gerald Ingram, the owner of Planters Garden Centre, Tamworth. Raising funds for his chosen charity, Perennial, supporting gardeners who fall on hard times, he gave a fascinating and amusing talk on his love of gardening, which lead to the creation of one of the best-known local garden centres.
Filled with tips and ideas for the coming season, his theme was that you should have fun in the garden. Even in the middle of winter there is work to be done, such as using the lull to clear the plants you don’t like; if you want a spectacular crop get the right seed ready, and have realistic expectations. A lot of people expect to be able to feed a family of four from their allotment in their first year - leading to despair. He urged people not to lose the basic skills by buying everything ready prepared, as much fun is to be had from growing your own plantlets from seed. He also counselled being prepared: if you had a problem last year with pigeons, purchase your netting before you put out your plants, otherwise the pests will be moving in as you leave and, by the next day, your hard work will have been for nothing... When planting a box hedge, buy a few plants, split them, repot and grow on to keep the cost down. Naturally, as
a garden centre owner, he urged that we visit our preferred garden centre once a month to see what is available!
After the interval, the Secretary expressed concern regarding
the fact that some sites seemed to be better than others at raising funds. He encouraged us to write articles for the Allotment Magazine, highlighting our fundraising successes. Fortunately, after that, the Treasurer was still able to report that the Region was solvent, and that the monies in the account were available for funding Gardeners’
Wellesbourne Allotment update
Coventry Diocese has come up with an alternative plan for the allotments.
This proposes to develop half of the site for housing and to relocate members with plots on that half to the field at the back of the allotments. We have yet to understand the full details of what is being proposed, but at our AGM last night there was strong support for not accepting this option.
World Live, Quarterly Meetings, funding for banners and publicity material for sites and rebates for federations.
The Regional Representative, Tom Terrence advised that, increasingly, local authorities were moving to self-management, keeping the Regional Mentor and himself very involved. His advice had been sought regarding the creation of the ‘Garden City’ on the disused Long Marston Airfield, as well as discussing the possibilities of using BT and Network Rail’s obsolete land as allotment sites. The highly publicised move to claw back land from allotment holders at Wellesbourne was considered, and the Regional Representative and the NSALG were actively involved in opposing this.
In 2018 we will be promoting the National Allotment Society at Gardeners’ World Live 2018, the Birmingham Show in Cannon Hill Park as well as shows at Kidderminster and Malvern. Please look out for the stands if you go to any of these shows and say ‘Hello’.
Whilst the Mentor had not been to many sites during the winter months, he was still giving support to the newly self-managed sites in Rugby, due to commence operating at the end of February 2018.
Finally the Deputy Regional Representative explained that the Allotment Society stand was the only vegetable stand at the GWL 2017 Show. This year our stand was larger, with raised beds, and a small seating area, where Mike Thurlow held Q&A sessions and talks. Anyone interested in helping at the Show is asked to make contact.
The next meeting is 12th May 2018 at 2.00 pm at Colwall, Worcestershire.
John McNab, West Midlands
The committee, along with the members, as well as the majority of village residents, regard any development on this side of the village as
the ‘thin end of the
wedge’ which would
eventually lead to
further development,
spoiling this rural area.
We remain resolute to defend our cherished allotments for the future benefit of the village.
You can follow the story on http://www. sowa.org.uk/
Kenneth Manning Wellesbourne Allotment Association
Save Our Wellesbourne
Allotments WWW.SOWA.ORG.UK WE NEED YOUR HELP AND SUPPORT
CHURCH PLANS 50 HOUSES ON 176 YEAR OLD SITE EVICTING PLOT HOLDERS AND DESTROYING A COMMUNITY
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