Page 8 - ALG Issue 4 2022

Annual Development Programme 2022
At the beginning of October, NAS reps, mentors and staff attended Normanton for two days of development. On the first day, the attendees were treated to a talk
about funding from Volunteer Action Leicestershire. The aim was to give NAS representatives information about funding and volunteering that they could pass on to members in the 11 regions they cover. In the afternoon, they headed to a local allotment site
to conduct a site inspection in small teams. It was fascinating to see how a scruffy plot to one could be a ‘no dig’ haven to another. It highlighted some shared niggles but reminded the NAS that allotments and the people that tend them are just as varied as the rest of the world.
The group then headed to Barnsdale Gardens where Nick Hamilton gave a talk on ‘Wildlife-the Good, the Bad and the Ugly’. There was plenty of time to browse the shop, admire the plants and pick up tips from resident gardeners.
The following day, the groups gave feedback on the sites. As well as identifying possible issues, they discussed the pros and cons of site inspections and best practice. One thing that they could all agree on was that people must consider the human element of allotments when performing a site inspection and do a little digging
(not literally!) when they come across a plot that looks uncared for. Illness, bereavement, or other life impacting events could cause an allotmenteer to spend less time on their plot and it was agreed that it was vital to get context before taking further action.
The rest of the second day was full
of talks and conversation as Anglian Water and the National Association
for Social Prescribing (NASP) joined the delegates. Members discussed the health benefits of growing their own food with NASP, the obstacles posed by long waiting lists for allotments and the NHS and considered how allotments can benefit the wider community.
Anglian Water explained the cost and infrastructure of the water we use and how allotmenteers can help to alleviate the demand on water companies through water harvesting. NAS reps asked how they could save money on sites with mains water and what sort of funding was available for associations to promote sustainable water use. Plans were made for a potential collaboration between the two organisations to create an informative leaflet for NAS members around pesticides and water pollution-watch this space!
Before lunch, the NAS launched the ‘21st Century Allotments in New Developments’ guide. The guide forms
It is an important step for the NAS and formalises work that has been happening behind the scenes at Head Office
part of a new service that will work with housing developers to provide allotment land as part of new housing developments. It is an important step for the NAS and formalises work that has been happening behind the scenes at Head Office. It supports the society’s continued commitment to increasing the quality and quantity of allotment land available in the UK. The next step is to circulate the guide to housing developers, local authorities, and national government.
Prior to finishing for the day, GSI Drilling visited to give a final talk on bore holes to complete the event. Attendees explored how bore holes work, the cost and benefits of putting a bore hole
into an allotment site and the possible obstacles. GSI Drilling was able to identify allotment sites on an online mapping service and advise whether a bore hole would be an option and what sort of water quality they could expect.
The events over two days gave everybody plenty of food for thought. The aim was to provide reps and mentors with new information, create potential collaboration opportunities
in their region, to have their opinions heard and to provide a framework for the NAS future business strategy. 2023 looks set to be a significant year for The National Allotment Society and our members.
8 Allotment and Leisure Gardener