Page 53 - ALG Issue 3 2020

Southern
Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Wiltshire, Berkshire and Hampshire
Welcome to our new members...
Dump Lane Allotments Medstead Allotment Association
7 Individual Memberships
REPRESENTATIVE
Mrs Jenny Crawford
0845 013 0335 southernregionrep@gmail.com
MENTOR
Paul Neary
Southern
0845 313 8422 pneary.nas@gmail.com
Calls to 0845 numbers cost 3p (ex VAT) per minute plus your telephone company’s access charge
What might have been!
It now seems a very long time since we had a stand at the Frome Potato Day and were discussing the forthcoming season with other allotmenteers and potential NAS members. Despite
the most unusual situation we subsequently found ourselves in,
the growing season has progressed very well for many, having been able to spend valuable ‘exercise time’ at the plot. Over the past months, the allotment has proved to be a most valuable asset to many from both
a physical and mental viewpoint. Guidance and advice provided by the team at Corby has been beneficial
and very much appreciated. Thoughts must, however, be with those and their families who have been less fortunate during this unprecedented time.
This year was to be one of celebration, not only for the 90th Anniversary of The National Allotment Society, but one of the premier shows in the South, the New Forest and Hampshire County Show, was to celebrate its centenary and was planning an exceptional show this year. With the show due to be held at the end of July, the Board of the Show Society was devastated to have
to announce on 24th March that the Show was to be cancelled for 2020. The other show in the South at which we usually have a presence is the Royal County of Berkshire Show, held over the third weekend in September. On 20th March the Board of Trustees, following
The Southern Region stand at Frome Potato Day
careful consideration and due diligence, announced that the 2020 Show was to be cancelled.
The opportunities for promoting The NAS at shows this year were dwindling, but in early April we were invited to become involved in BBC Countryfile Live 2020 to be held at Windsor Great
This year we have had to forego the opportunity to promote the NAS at shows but look forward to planning events for next year
Park in late August. The Production Company was planning more of a focus on gardening and incorporating an allotment plot in the gardening section. Eventually, this event was also cancelled. A couple of other shows at which we might have had a presence in the light of other cancellations
were also, belatedly, understandably cancelled.
This year we have had to forego the opportunity to promote the NAS at shows but look forward to planning events for next year.
Mike Cantillon
Secretary, Southern Region
Allotment and Leisure Gardener 53
Potato Day at Frome