Page 56 - ALG Issue 4 2021

South East
Surrey, Kent, West Sussex and East Sussex
REPRESENTATIVE
Vacant
Contact natsoc@nsalg.org.uk if interested in the position
MENTOR
Paul Neary
South East
0845 313 8422 pneary.nas@gmail.com
MENTOR
Andrew Bird
Kent
0845 313 8462 abird.nas@gmail.com
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Welcome to our new members...
Uckfield Town Council 9 Individuals
Letter from the South East England Agricultural Society
APPEAL FOR VOLUNTEERS
Dear NAS members,
As one of the trustees at the South of England Agricultural Society, we are looking for volunteers from the Surrey, Sussex, Kent area to help get our Horticultural Committee up and running again after COVID. The main aim is to steer and organise the Society in
the main shows in May and June. We hope
to have our first meeting in early September. Since the onset of COVID, the public are more interested in growing plant and vegetables and are more concerned where their food comes from. If you think you could help in this project, I would be very grateful to hear from you.
Yours hopefully,
Alan Smith
Tel: 0134 271 3291
Email: alanandjill@me.com
Southern
Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Wiltshire, Berkshire, Hampshire and Isle of Wight
REPRESENTATIVE
Mike Cantillon
07742 391364 mike.cantillon.nas@btinternet.com
MENTOR
Paul Neary
Southern
0845 313 8422 pneary.nas@gmail.com
Welcome to our new members...
Barn Green Allotments
Barton Stacey Allotment Society William Fowler Allotment Trust Lyneham Primary School
9 Individuals
Bisley’s National Allotments Week
Allotment holders celebrated
National Allotments Week 2021 on Saturday 14th August, exploring the contribution allotments CAN make to our future. A few members of Bisley Community Orchard and from BisCAN’s ‘Biodiversity, Nature Recovery and Food Group’ joined us, and we all enjoyed the workshops in brilliant sunshine:
Andy and Jeannie, organic smallholders from Horsley (they lived in Bisley a few years ago) gave a great presentation on
fermenting, pickling, canning, bottling, and drying their vegetables. It’s not so difficult to have homegrown food all year – no plastic, virtually energy-free, and no waste – all good for a more sustainable food future.
Ian, BCCS Director, explained why peat should not be used for gardening. He listed commercial outlets (on BCCS and Allotments websites) where good quality peat-free compost is available (in addition to BCCS’s own peat-free compost of course). Note that our own Stancombe Farm shop is now stocking SylvaGrow, a recommended peat-free compost (limited supplies until next spring).
Caroline showed everyone her organic allotment designed for wildlife. Her plot, with its gorgeous display of wildflowers, demonstrates we can all grow our
own food – vegetables and fruit – and help nature. The ‘Growers Question Time’ session turned (quite rightly)
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into informal chats with delicious homemade cakes and tea.
This event showed that ‘Growing Your Own’ food, on an allotment, or in your own garden, is a positive way we CAN help address climate change, biodiversity and nature’s recovery.
Lesley Greene, Bisley Allotments Allotment Warden
56 Allotment and Leisure Gardener