Page 43 - ALG Issue 4 2021

May 2019
Member cabin/equipment store
New plots cropping well, August 2017
Subsequently and with the help of NAS, we formed ourselves into a Cooperative Society and the process of reshaping both the governance of our society and the reorganisation of our site began.
We gave up almost half of our previous site but everyone who wanted to continue on the ‘new’ site was given one of the new plots. These now range from 50 to 150 square metres rather than
up to 300 square metres as they did previously. On our slimmer site we’ve had to make every drop of soil count. We no longer have grass paths separating plots and we’ve given up sheds. Heaven forbid, I can hear some of you say! On the other hand, every plot now has
a substantial tool chest provided by
the Society and the funding from the Diocese was sufficient to provide us with a large communal cabin and equipment store.
Everyone likes the new site and there haven’t been any complaints about loss of land leading to loss of productivity. The smaller plots seem to encourage making the most from each square metre.
The greatest positive though is simply having a secure future. So far, we’ve developed a ‘group orchard’ and have
plans to plant hedging around all sides of the site once the adjacent housing has been built. A pleasant, peaceful, productive, and environmentally friendly allotment oasis is our ultimate aim.
Bruce Stainsby, Secretary, Bedale Allotment Society Ltd
If we can be of help to any other allotment group with discussion / advice on how we went about things we are very willing to give it.
Allotment and Leisure Gardener 43
New site being prepared October 2015
Site cleared ready for contractors 20/09/2015
Old site 2012