Page 47 - ALG Issue 4 2023

11 and under winner of the Bug House in a tin can and the Miniature garden; L to R adults Mike Ashdown and Martin Pearce, Child Arthur Sherwin 7
Judging the Miniature gardens – L to R – Mrs Helen Pearce and Mr Martin Pearce, Proprietors of the Handy Man shop
in Cross Hills, Mike Ashdown, Steve Rooke
The excellent standard of all the entries made the task enjoyable
Martin was presented with a box of
veg and Helen received a bouquet of flowers with thanks from the allotment holders. Martin was also presented with a certificate to recognise the
value he brings to the village and the allotment holders. The certificate was inscribed with “By Appointment to the Allotments”. Margaret Adams said, “He’s so friendly and helpful to everyone”.
Ian Gibson, Secretary Cross Hills and District Allotments
Association
Mr Pearce with box of vegetables
to have them ready and
everything set up by 10am!
This led to our first open day at
the start of National Allotments
Week last August. We had similar
stalls and lots of visitors. After the event, we made a donation to Manorlands.
Ian Gibson said “We owe Margaret a great debt of gratitude for pushing us
to have coffee mornings. Without her enthusiasm, energy, vitality, generosity and personal example (and cakes!), we would not have embarked on the open day events and probably struggled to hold a centenary event. At 79 she is a real credit to the management team, colleagues to the allotments and the community. She makes us feel that anything is possible – “if you can believe in yourselves and each other and make the effort.” A sentiment shared by many. A donation will be made to Manorlands again this year to show support for all the work done by them. This is also the charity being supported through the Glistonbury event held on Saturday 12 August at Glusburn Park in Cross Hills in memory of Chris Riley from the village who was supported by Manorlands at the end of his life.
Sheila Stephens from the Town
End retirement apartments which overlooks the allotments, had wanted to do something to join in with our celebrations. She had kindly
knitted lots of hedgehogs
including a couple of larger
ones which were raffled
off with a guess the name competition. Sheila looked
after the stall on both
days which also had other
handmade craft items on it.
Mr Martin Pearce, proprietor
of the Handy Man Shop in
the village, together with his
wife Helen, Mike Ashdown
and Steve Rooke, judged the
various competitions. Martin said, “The excellent standard of all the entries made the task enjoyable, though choosing winners was very challenging”. Each winner received a certificate and a prize and all entrants received a small gift.
Allotment and Leisure Gardener 47