Food For ThoughT
An ever-growing information resource featuring allotments and community orchards in Gloucestershire’s communities
A GRCC Publication Rural Community L ConTenTs ACCELERATOR Project Germinating – The Eastington Allotment Society, Stroud ...... 4 Blossoming – Highnam Allotment Association, Tewkesbury ...... 6 Traditional – Siddington Gardeners & Allotment Association, S. Cotswolds ...... 8 Gloucestershire has a rich heritage of Ever growing – Bisley Chestergate, Stroud ...... 10 orchard and allotment sites. Although Grand plans – Eastington Community Orchard, Stroud ...... 16 these declined in the late 20th century Rejuvenating – Cutsdean Community Orchard, North Cotswolds ...... 20 there has been a revival in the last five years, demand for allotments is How to set up an allotment site ...... 22 increasing and community orchards How to set up a Community Orchard ...... 24 are being set up across the county.
How to deal with surplus produce – waste not want not ...... 26 This publication on allotments and Here to help ...... 27 community orchards has been put About GRCC ...... 28 together by GRCC’s Accelerator Project to highlight the diversity of groups in the county and to provide inspiration for those of you who would like to begin or develop a project.
All the featured projects share the desire to provide community spaces that all ages can enjoy and take part in. They are at various stages of development, from community orchards less than a year old to allotments established for more than 100 years.
We hope that the case studies and information in this booklet will provide you with ideas to develop your own project or inspiration to start a new one. Either way the Accelerator Project could help you. It is all good ‘Food for Thought’ and if you have any queries, please contact: Helen Richards, Accelerator Project Assistant, [email protected] call: 01452 528491.
2 3 In Its Infancy – The Eastington Allotment Society (TEAS) Taking the first steps manageable. In addition, there is a water Before allotments could be marked out, supply at the site in the form of two water Established in 2009 land drainage was installed to prevent troughs and plot holders have been asked water logging. The parish council to identify their allotment with a sign contracted the work which was completed showing their plot number. Finding the perfect place in the autumn of 2009. The plot holders Key Facts The majority of plot holders have sheds Historically there has been an appetite in then turned their empty plots into allotments and within less than a year they with water butts attached to collect rainwater, Eastington for allotments and a group of G 2 acre site were rewarded by their first harvest. so even with water on tap the members are villagers has worked with the Parish Council to trying to conserve water and make use of the G 26 plots on 1.25 acres secure an allotment site. In Autumn 2009 a A helping hand natural supply. The society has a regular slot two acre field adjacent to the Owen Harris G Small, medium & large The Allotment Committee works to help its in the parish newsletter in which it feeds back Memorial Ground was acquired from a private plots plot holders and has divided one large plot information to the community on what has land owner by the parish council and it now into three smaller ones to make them more been happening at the allotments. leases the land to TEAS. G Mains water troughs G £12-24 per annum Best laid plans Throughout the Spring of 2009 the allotment TEAS in bloom society drafted potential layouts for the site, discussed works that needed completing and formed their rules and constitution.
In April 2009 the management committee was formalised, with a chair, treasurer and secretary plus two additional members of the society, and potential plot holders were consulted about the sizes of plots they would like.
The parish council decided that 1.25 acres of the 2 acre site would be given over to allotments. Several layouts for the site were drawn up and the layout shown on the right was chosen. The 24 registered plot holders Moving forward had stated their preference for a small, There is a new allotment committee in place for 2012 with plans to install a poly tunnel medium or large plot and these were allocated on part of the empty field so that plot holders can raise seedlings on site. The via a draw. The remainder of the 2 committee will continue to monitor the allotments to make sure plot holders are acre site could be keeping on top of their plots. The group does not hold formal social events but advice used at a later and tips are shared as people work on their allotment. Experienced gardeners have date with the many words of wisdom to help those new to ‘growing their own’. As the photos above proviso that it show, even on a cold February morning there are cabbages and sprouts growing and must be used as a preparatory work for the new season has begun. community space.
4 5 BlossomIng – Highnam Allotment Association Getting bogged down As Bob explains: “The starter plot is offered to The main problem faced by the group was a people when they move off the waiting list if Established in 2007 water logging issue at the bottom of the site. In they are new to allotment gardening. It is a June 2009 the allotment association was smaller area and they can use it to test out From wheelies to wheelbarrows Key Facts awarded a Gloucestershire Community whether they are able and willing to commit For a long time there had been demand for an G 1 acre site Foundation Grass Roots Grant of £3,000 which to maintaining a plot.” allotment site in Highnam but no suitable land could be G was used to install drainage, which in return Once a main plot becomes available the starter found. In 2007 a small field, once used as a skate and 27 plots feeds a pond. This measure has been successful plot holder is the first to be approached. A 27th BMX park, became available. Knowing there was interest G 1 starter plot and the group has been able to add two plots plot has also been created as two plot holders in the parish the parish council placed an article in the G Pond to the site, one of which is a starter plot. have split a plot to make it more manageable. village newsletter about the proposed site. From this the G Mains water troughs Highnam Allotment Association was officially formed and G Water and wildlife began work on its constitution. The wheels were set in Manure supply motion to transfer ownership of the site from Tewkesbury G £20-25 per annum The pond at the bottom of the Borough Council to Highnam Parish Council in 2007. There site was overgrown and dried up, was a delay as the community cleared up after the summer’s floods but the parish council most likely due to a thirsty willow and allotment association drew up their peppercorn lease agreement and work began. tree. By working with the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust (GWT) and raising funds, the By charging a £25 refundable joining fee in group hired a digger to clear and the first year the association was able to deepen the pond and removed install a water supply to the site in the form the vast majority of the willow in of two water troughs. Money is saved by March 2011. A year later the turning off the water in the winter months pond contained several feet of water, a new batch of frogspawn and the This is a nature friendly site. The pond was Getting stuck in Pride of the parish area was populated by numerous birds. developed for the wildlife and a felled A local farmer deep-ploughed the site and the The parish council has used the success of willow is stacked to one side to provide a “We continue to work with Gloucestershire 24 allotments were marked out. There is a the allotment association, featuring it as a micro habitat. The allotment association is Wildlife Trust to develop the pond, creating regular delivery of cow manure from the local case study in the parish entry to the GRCC also experimenting to find out how a gravel bank at one end for marginal farmer, initially run as a honesty scheme of £1 Gloucestershire Village of the Year Award. In different management methods of the plants and to provide access for smaller per wheelbarrow but now water and manure 2008 the parish council used some of the north and south hedgerows affect the animals,” says committee member Liz. are included in the annual rent. £600 prize money to install a new footbridge wildlife they support. and gate to the bottom of the site so that “Tewkesbury Borough Council has been very plot holders could easily access it with their What next? helpful, installing the gate and fencing at the wheelbarrows. The association plans to contact the Barn top of the site to separate it from the footpath Owl Trust for advice on installing owl boxes and planting a Hawthorne hedgerow. This on the site. There are also plans to have a means we still have access for the small orchard by grafting fruit trees onto the manure delivery and for the existing Blackthorn and Hawthorne. They mower to maintain the hope to have plums, greengages, crab paths,” says Bob apples and pears. This allotment association Stembridge, Chair focuses on supporting the local wildlife as of the Association. well as putting food on the table. 6 7 – Siddington Gardeners TradITIonal alloTmenTs Grow and Show and Allotment Association Siddington Gardeners and Established for over 100 years Allotment Association has Key Facts benefitted the whole A rich history G Just under 2.5 acres community and In Siddington large swathes of land are still owned by G Over 100 years old membership is open to all in the village. Funds have estates. The allotment land is owned by The Bathurst G 40 members tending 24 plots Estate which employs a warden to manage and been raised by the G Plots up to 50m long maintain the site. Liz Gardener is a third generation association to refurbish plot holder and the current warden of the Siddington G Waiting list the village hall and for the allotments. She monitors plots and manages the G Annual ‘Grow and Show’ group to have its own notice board. allotment waiting list for the estate office, keeping a G Regular tidy days record of any changes or issues. As the ground has been G £12-22 per annum Plant sales at the village worked for so many years it is a fruitful site and the large fete or other events are plots can produce considerable volumes of food. There are the main method of The Grow and Show Committee uses income from plant 24 plots on the site with full and half sized plots (full are 5 metres by 50 metres). Plot fundraising. They typically holders are encouraged to collect and store rainwater from their sheds but there is also a and ticket sales to buy practical prizes for winners such as raise £100 and if the seeds and small gardening tools brook at the rear of the site that has traditionally been used. money is not needed for any other projects it goes towards This show has grown so much that it running the annual Grow and Show now includes a dog show and local event which was revitalised in 2008. beekeepers’ honey show.
A green makeover a large bonfire to dispose of wood or green Tidy up days are used when the common areas matter. The ash from the bonfire is a useful of the site need work; hedges often need by-product which is added to compost heaps or clearing along with pathways and marginal raked into the soil to help decrease soil acidity. The allotments as they were in 2002...... and as they are today, 10 years on land on the site. The workers are rewarded Preparing for new shoots with tea and cakes and the day often ends with This hard work has resulted in all plots being Back from the brink occupied and they are so popular that there is Liz took over as warden of the site in 2001 meets in the local pub, village hall or a growing waiting list which has had to be when there were only five plots in use and community room but does not have a limited to residents. Liz aims to continue to the rest were overgrown and unused. A formal committee. “The wealth of develop and improve the site and ensure plots group of allotment holders got together to information you can gain from talking to are maintained. clear the site and new plot holders were fellow plot holders is incredible,” says Liz. given the first year rent free as an incentive “I want to improve communication and to take on one of the overgrown plots. The association does a lot more than interaction with the local primary school to garden. It is an active group, holding events encourage the younger generation to grow Allotment holders meet twice a year, at the such as jazz and scones afternoons in the their own and be future plot holders. The start and end of the growing season. There summer, flower arranging, Halloween village is very supportive of the group’s are often visiting speakers and the group parties and tidy days. activities and I hope it will continue,”says Liz.
8 9 The ever growIng projeCT – Bisley Chestergate STAGE 2: Bisley Community Composting Scheme, established 2005 In 2003 Lesley Greene was appointed the Parish Council Allotment Warden for the Chestergate site and since then, the site has developed through three stages. Key Facts
STAGE 1: Allotments, established for COMMUNITY COMPOST over 50 years Key Facts G Founded in 2005 The four acre site at Chestergate is owned by the Charity of the Ancient Parish of Bisley and has G 24 plots G Members only scheme been leased to the parish council for over 50 G Families can share plots G £20 per household per annum years. In the 1960s the whole four acre field was from Spring 2012 G Livestock – 2 chicken coops divided into traditional sized allotments measured G Categorised waste bins out in rods. By the 1980s there were only six plot and 1 plastic pig! G From green waste to holders, occupying one third of the site, and the G Annual meeting during compost in 4-6 months remainder had been taken over by the wilds. National Allotment Week Zero Waste G £12 per annum Turning over a new leaf The scheme was suggested by a parish county. The group wanted to promote A working party was formed in 2003 and councillor following a meeting with the the idea of zero waste and community its first task was to clear disused plots and Onwards and upwards Allotment Group and was launched in composting does this as well as providing divide some into smaller areas, creating a November 2005 – the first of its kind in a service for the community. After Lesley and her team have further plans for total of 24 plots. The group secured a the Stroud District and second in the consulting the residents of Bisley there the site. “We plan to maintain and increase grant from the Rural and Community was sufficient interest in the scheme to if possible the interest in and support for Investment Scheme, run by Stroud District go ahead. There were 80 members within Council, and this was used to clear the allotment holders, including finding a way to the first three months and there are now overgrown allotments, hire a skip, make support their latest suggestion for a 120 households in the scheme. and mow 3 metre paths between plots, communal allotment hut where they can plough unused plots and install four water make tea, keep seeds to swap, and hopefully Getting off the ground tanks on the site. They now have an install a toilet. We also plan to participate The site is classed as an exempt waste agreement whereby Bisley-With-Lypiatt again in Stroud Transition Town Edible Open facility which means it qualifies for parish council mows the paths Gardens as that was a success for the Bisley landfill credits of £48.59 per tonne of approximately four times a year. Allotments in 2011.” compost made. “We currently have a turnover of approximately £3,000 a year so the core scheme is currently There is financially self-sufficient. But we rely on now an the free Stroud District Council shredding increased service and have to raise extra funds for demand for repairs, additional labour and plots special projects,” says Lesley.
10 11 Turning waste into gardeners’ gold In 2010 the The Bisley composting scheme is for members only and residents pay an annual fee per Bisley household to bring their green waste to the site and then collect finished compost to use Community in their gardens or allotments. Waste has to be sorted into one of four labelled bays: Composting G Grass clippings/leaves. Scheme was delighted to G Soft (non woody) waste – herbaceous, annual plant receive the material, weeds. Queen’s Award G Small clippings/prunings – hedge/rose clippings, for Voluntary twigs, ivy etc. Service – the G Branches (under 4” diameter). Community Waste is shredded as necessary and moved through MBE five composting bins, taking between four to six months to transform into finished compost. A rota of volunteers spend Saturday mornings helping people bring in their waste and maintaining the site. Two labourers are employed to turn and move the The group initially obtained funding to set Funding to secure the future compost between the bins and machinery is used to up the scheme, including £1,700 from The group has been successful in securing move large amounts. Stroud District Council’s Rural and funding to continue to develop the project Community Investment Scheme and two in 2012. Wondering what to do with waste? grants of £500 from Gloucestershire A wide range of activities have taken place County Council’s recycling team to “We got our Awards for All Big Lottery application of £4,400 for a new around the scheme. A highlight in 2009 was build bays and buy equipment. ! "#$%&'()$*+,$-%.)$*/-($&%$.* shed/container, with a bit in there for site being named Gloucestershire Zero Waste Week $-",#0*,'(11#2 3 2 More than mulch levelling and pathways,” says Lesley # 3 4 Flagship Village. Activities included: ! "# $ % & The group continues to offer Greene. # " G Dig for victory display. & 5 0.1 5 6 support to other community "# ' ! ! ! $() G “Our Village SOS application for £18,000 $ # " " " # Seed swap. groups wishing to set up ' ## has also been successful so we can ' " *+ ,-. / G ‘Trashion Show’ by Thomas Keble students. ,, 0 +,. community composting commission a special sieve which will turn !"#$% G 1 " 2 Gloucestershire Orchard Group workshops. schemes and it aims to *-3- 2 ! our somewhat twiggy compost into $--(070-(1)",-'($80#+3 G Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust – compost and become financially viable by beautiful fine stuff – then we can bag it up /3 & $()4! (" 5 /3 ," 6 selling excess compost. " arts. and market it for members.” 9 :3 $7 ## /;9 3 & $$772 #7 # # *- G #8' & 9 : ‘Rubbish artist in Residence’ – Gavin 2 $" , ;< # # 4 ! = 4 > " # # McClafferty worked with four families and $--(0$##1-70&-, 70-(1)",-'($80# ;9 3 ' ' & showed them how they could reuse/recycle % ?4 ( 5 ;9 +/3 '& ! &$ # 2 ! '"@ /'(A more. He made a sculpture with the families ! 0 /$ 0
$--(0'."'<0-8$="#"1&5 from their waste. ( " 2!## ! (4 $ # ' +3; G 5 3 Rubbish cookery – Artist Dominic Thomas , >5 ? cooked a fish in the compost heap to demonstrate how much heat is released.
12 133 Putting your BEST foot forward STAGE 3 – Bisley Community Orchard Bisley Community Established 2009 Key Facts In 2012 it was decided to form a Community Interest Company (CIC) which could become Orchard Song the hub for these and future suitable A blessing on our trees G Founded in 2009 community projects. The CIC is named Bisley For our Bisley community. G 17 apple & 2 perry pear Environment and Sustainability Trust (BEST) indigenous varieties and will manage the finances of the May you grow up strong allotments, community composting scheme G Edible hedgerow and community orchard. Any profits will be And give us fruit all harvest boundary planted in fed back to the community. long. February 2012 “The idea for BEST slowly emerged as a We'll plant you firm and G Open to the community result of Bisley’s Zero Waste Week and true because of a number of different May it rain and shine on environmental and community resilience you. Sowing the seeds Led by Bisley’s tree warden, Lyn Hemmings, projects happening in the village. Those During the Zero Waste Week in January the Orchard Group meets on a ‘needs’ involved became aware that an ‘umbrella’ Here's wishing us good 2009, the seed was sown for a community basis to to prune the trees and to mow. body could be structured to generate funds cheer on behalf of these initiatives. This would orchard in Bisley after a presentation by The path to maturity And see you back again next the Gloucestershire Orchard Group. There solve some practical issues such as parish year. were still four acres available on the The orchard will need nurturing until full councils being ineligible to apply for certain allotment site and a community orchard crops can be harvested. In the meantime types of grants,” says Lesley. was considered to be ideal use of the the orchard group plans to create a natural space. The Bisley Community Orchard labyrinth on the approach to the orchard, Group formed and £1,000 was raised (£600 by mowing paths into the long grass that from the O2 Fund and £400 prize money separates the orchard from the allotments. from the GRCC-run Calor Village of the Year The labyrinth will incorporate the fruit Competition 2009). This was used to buy trees and hedges for children to play in and indigenous apple and perry trees, planted the group is raising money to install a seat. in 2010, plus supporting stakes and mesh. Digging in In 2011 they were awarded a Woodland Trust Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Award providing 420 edible hedgerow plants including Hawthorne, Rosehip, Elderberry and Hazel. These will form the boundary of the orchard and were planted in February 2012, celebrated by a Wassail of the If it is a special occasion the Orchard Group sing the Bisley Community Orchard Song Bisley Community Orchard Song. and enjoy all things apple – from cider to juice and cake
14 15 grand plans – Eastington Community Orchard (ECO) A helping hand The ECO group now has 86 members from Established in 2011 the village. Members can do as much or as Key Facts little as they wish and activity ranges from simply receiving updates on the group to In Eastington there were once 37 productive taking part in working parties. These G 1 acre site orchards. Many gardens in the village still working parties have so far involved contain mature fruit trees and some G 86 members securing the site, planting trees and fruit households work together in order to gather G 19 Trees (in February 2012) bushes and building soft fruit cages. The a productive crop. But in March 2011 the whole community can be involved e.g. in the G Grants, donations, loans Eastington Community Orchard (ECO) Group summer of 2011 the youth group carried out started its journey to reinstate as many and fundraising raised ‘authorised scrumping’ from established orchards as possible in the village. £5,000 in the first year trees in the community for the first annual G Volunteer orchard warden Apple Day events. ECO has set aside a August 2011: First trees are planted The light bulb moment quarter of the orchard site for Eastington Eastington won the GRCC Vibrant Village of Primary School which they will the Year Award in 2010. “I took inspiration at Instant feedback was gained at the first plant with hedges in 2012 and sow the awards event, listening to what other birthday celebration of the Eastington wild flower mixes. communities were doing and this is what led Community Centre in summer 2010 when to the birth of Eastington Community many people showed an interest in taking Finding Funding Orchard Group.” says Tom Low (Chair). part. Funding and donations have been secured from several sources Getting off the ground including The Co-op, Stroud Valleys Project, Du Pont and a £1,000 loan A business plan was submitted from the parish council. Local to the parish council to utilise people, groups and companies have land at the end of the burial donated equipment or resources Summer 2011: Learning to produce fruit juice ground, previously used by a including Dairy Crest and The local farmer to graze cattle. Charlie Bullock Fund. This support has meant The parish council granted that the group has been able to secure the permission in December 2010 site, plant soft fruit canes (2 varieties of and, after all formalities were Blackcurrant and 4 of Raspberries) and 19 completed, the Eastington fruit trees as well as construct cages that Community Orchard Group should protect the new plants from hungry took over and started to local wildlife. develop the land in March June 2011: Building cages to protect soft fruits 2011. Tom explains how grant The group is very grateful to the nearby money was vital in getting the project off trees and fencing to animal-proof the William Morris House for allowing the use of the ground. site. their juicing facilities and sharing their “Work was started with the help of a “A local farmer donated 100 blackcurrant knowledge. They have also shared their skills grant of £1,500 from Gloucestershire plants and raspberry canes which have to help members, young and old, learn how to safely and correctly press, crush, sterilise County Council (GCC) to purchase apple been housed in protective cages.” The finished juice and bottle the pears and apples collected. 16 17 Proposed Planting Plan – Churchend Orchard
Path eventually lined with espaliers Proposed seating under larger trees: apple, perry, pear In the first year of operation the 2011 Apple Days processed over a tonne of fruit, producing approximately 800 bottles of juice Smaller trees: Shed and raising £1,000 plums, damsons, gages
Soft fruit: Gathering area blackcurrants for school and raspberries
Current burial ground
1:500 Eastington Community Orchards Group Out in the community Varieties of fruit planted so far include: As a way to repay and thank the community celebrations such as village fetes, which G Apple: Foxwhelp, Berkeley Pippin, the group plans to hold annual Apple Days funds the Eastington Community Orchard Elmore Pippin, Severn Bank, Lakes Kernal, where fruit from villagers’ gardens (and in Group’s work. Transparent Codlin and Ashmead’s Kernel time the orchard) is collected by G Pear: Winter Nelis, Cannock, Onward, willing volunteers and pressed, The group is working to secure more land Green Horse and Sensation pasteurised and bottled by the to create a number of productive G group. Everyone who donates orchards in the village. Cherry: Stella and Lapins their crop receives a Churchend Orchard will G Blackcurrant: Ben Connan and Ben Alder proportion of the juice or remain open to the G Raspberry: Malling Jewel, Tullamine, cider produced. The public for residents Glen Ample and Autumn Bliss remainder is sold at and visitors to walk G Smaller trees of plums, damsons and local markets and at through and enjoy. greengages. 18 19 rejuvenaTIng – Cutsdean Community Orchard Injecting new life In the spring of 2009 the cleared site was Established in 2008 rotavated, a clover grass seed mix was sown, Key Facts dead trees removed and the remaining fruit trees pruned. As the site had been so Seeing the wood for the trees overgrown the apple trees had developed in 1 Cutsdean is a ‘small but perfectly formed’ village in G Approximately /10 of an acre interesting shapes making them perfect for the Cotswold District with much of the land owned G 8 mature fruit trees hanging a swing or hammock. by the Earl of Wemyss. In a quiet corner lies a small G 2 young apple trees piece of land which had been overgrown with Funding of £3,000 was gained through a grant G brambles, almost obscuring the old fruit trees within. 4 fan trained cherry trees from Gloucestershire Community Foundation Jeanette Smith and the newly-formed Cutsdean G 5 pigs used to clear the site allowing the group to purchase plants, attend pruning and grafting courses, buy a specialist Community Orchard Group canvassed interest from G Bees introduced in 2011 villagers and sought aadvice from the Gloucestershire ladder, apple pickers, mower and hive Orchard Group. The group then approached the Earl of equipment. Two local varieties of apple tree Wemyss’ estate to lease and revitalise the site and now (Lady Sudeley and Ashmeads Kernal) were pays a peppercorn rent for the 20 year lease. planted amongst the resident fruit trees, along with four fan trained cherry trees. Pig Support How it works The first job was to clear the site and uncover The orchard group meets monthly between March and the apple, pear and greengage trees. “With a The orchard is the only September to weed, prune and mow as necessary. There is lot of elbow grease the group cut back community space in a plant sale every May and over 50% of villagers are overgrown trees and brambles and the site members of the Cutsdean Community Orchard Group. Cutsdean and so the was then cleared with a little help from some Meetings often attract 12 members and the whole group is friends. One of our members recalled hearing area is open to all to regularly involved. In the summer of 2011 they were able to about how wonderful pigs were at clearing produce and sell 80 bottles of juice from the mature trees come and sit or play overgrown land. Nine couples grouped on site to villagers at cost price. together to buy five Tamworth and Gloucester Old Spot cross weeners and in the summer of The pigs were slaughtered at the end of Wonderful Wildlife 2008 they began to eat their way through the 2008 with each couple receiving half a pig In late spring 2011 a starter cohort of bees was brambles and weeds as well as enjoying a spot and the remaining half pig being sold to the moved onto the site. The group has also re-homed of sunbathing!” says Jeanette Smith. rest of the village. hedgehogs at the site for a local wildlife rescue organisation by providing a hedgehog box left( ) and lots of warm compost piles for nestling in. The environment attracts wildlife with dead wood piles, compost heaps and boxes for insects, bats and birds. The orchard has matured to the stage of only needing periodic maintenance so settling the new bees is the current main focus. Plans for the future include a new monthly mowing rota for the summer and to use one of the village marquees to LEFT: Spring 2008 RIGHT: Spring 2009 hold a barbeque.
20 21 how To… set up an allotment site... Stages to Success PLOT CHAT Be flexible with the size of plots – Have meetings at regular PLAnnInG & RESEARCH GETTInG ORGAnISED ‘’ better to start off small and not be ‘’ intervals daunted Liz, Siddington 1 Canvas interest in your parish/ 5 Form a committee – it is advisable to have at least a Lesley, Bisley town/neighbourhood. Chair, Secretary and Treasurer. You may also want to Contact & visit groups for allocate an allotments warden. Get the support of the community ‘’ help & guidance ‘’ Liz, Siddington Sarah, Eastington 2 Contact your parish/town 6 Speak to and/or visit neighbouring allotment groups to council – if six or more registered pick up ideas and prevent having to ‘reinvent the wheel’. electors request allotments then the council should take the request 7 Write your constitution – this is where neighbouring into consideration. Section 23 of ‘’Support the groups could be a great help. The key headings to allotment the Small Holdings and Allotments You need four people to include in a constitution are; Objectives, Membership, holders by Act 1908 places an obligation on drive the project to keep Subscription, Rules of the Society, Management keeping the the borough, district or parish ‘’ it focused and on track Committee, Elections, Meetings and Finance whole site neat council to provide a sufficient Lesley, Bisley Bob, Highnam number of allotments for residents who want them. 8 Promote the allotment – contact everyone who expressed an interest at the start. You could have an event to introduce yourselves, your constitution and If it isn’t possible to Allotment seasonal tasks attract more plot holders. Other ways to attract find a suitable site: 3 Locate suitable land – Do you interest include: SPRING Turn compost & sow green manures know of suitable land in the G Do you have local G Hold events such as plant sales and competitions parish/town, either council owned residents with large Prepare plots G If you have meetings with visiting speakers, open or private? Does it have access, gardens they cannot Mulching and feeding them up to the community parking, a water source, sufficient manage alone? They Sow early potatoes & seeds e.g. parsnips G Keep the site tidy and make sure plots are looked & brassicas drainage? may be interested in after in line with your constitution allowing people to G Offer smaller plots at reduced rates to beginners WINTER SUMMER G Have an attractive sign and/or noticeboard on the cultivate a section of Cover compost heaps Hoe weeds & mow paths site. their garden. They Mulch beds Sow crops 4 Plan the space – Consider how could be offered a Protect fruit bushes Cover fruit bushes with nets much land you will need, in case of proportion of crops in Secure cabbages and Early & main harvest increased demand or any future 9 Start digging! return. sprouts projects e.g. community Turn compost composting. Consider half and full G If there is land or sized plots as well as the idea of 10 Keep people informed and involved – Have a vacant plots in a AUTUMN family or community plots. Would website which is regularly updated with photos and neighbouring parish, Last mow of paths your local school be interested? news on what the group has been doing e.g. meetings, could you work Cut back fruit bushes events, stories, photos of odd shaped vegetables! together? Finish main harvest
22 23 how To… set up a community orchard... Stages to Success ORCHARD CHAT Talk to your friends & utilise assets …make personal contact PLAnnInG & RESEARCH in your community when asking for help with ‘’ Tom, ECO ‘’ a working party 1 Canvas interest in your community to see Tom, ECO if there is appetite for growing a community Make them special, grow orchard. This could be as simple as having 2 Suitable land – Talk to your parish council or ‘’ Gloucestershire indigenous varieties informal conversations, but keep note of look at old maps to find out if there is an old Lesley, Bisley contacts so you don’t miss anyone out at orchard site that needs revitalising or suitable land later stages. (council owned or private). Does the site have access, a water source and sufficient drainage?
Find a friendly digger to 3 Once the idea becomes more of a help out with the planting reality it is advisable to ‘’ form a committee. You only need a small one of 5 or 6 and it 4 Get support and advice – Contact the Lesley, Bisley is useful to nominate a Chair, Secretary Gloucestershire Orchard Group for lists of indigenous and Treasurer. varieties of apples and pears in your area. Contact other community orchard groups as they will have a wealth of knowledge to share such as sources of Community Orchard seasonal tasks training or they will provide inspiration for the direction of your project. SPRING Weeding & Mulching 5 Write your constitution – other 6 Create a planting plan – include as much detail Checking fruit guards & cages community orchard groups could be very as you can e.g. water sources, paths, planting and Mowing paths helpful as their constitutions could be any other features you would like to include such as used to guide you. wild flowers, bees and an area for the school. You WINTER SUMMER don’t have to do everything on your plan straight Collect leaves for compost Hoe weeds away. You could split it into stages. Prune top fruit and canes Put straw under soft fruit Plant young trees Remove fruit from young trees 7 Recruit volunteers – use the information gathered when you Process wines & ciders Pick early soft fruit canvassed interest to get people to sign up for working parties. Wassail! Pick pears & first apples Mowing paths
AnD nOw THE PHySICAL wORk BEGInS… AUTUMN 8 Set up working parties with specific tasks Harvest main crop & late soft fruit 9 Promote the orchard 10 Get planting! Press fruit such as animal proofing boundaries, access, using the parish council, Plant and protect Celebrate the harvest preparing the ground, building cages and schools and local groups. your crops and look Mulch and weed planting. In future these will include Put updates and stories in forward to your first Last mow of paths maintenance such as mowing, pruning and newsletters and on notice harvest! harvesting. boards. 24 25 how To deal wITh surplus produCe: waste not want not here To help... useful contacts
Rural Community The GRCC Accelerator Project supports communities to build their what can we do with our produce? L ACCELERATOR skills and knowledge to develop ideas and turn them into effective Project One of the issues with orchards and allotments is a glut of produce. Below are some ideas of how action. We organise a range of activities and events to inspire to take advantage of your surplus. communities and can then follow this up with bespoke advice and technical consultancy for groups. The project is funded by the Rural Development Programme for England. Apple Days – If your village used to have several orchards you are likely to find that the remnants of these are now in people’s gardens. Contact: [email protected] tel 01452 528491 or visit www.grcc.org.uk Bring the community together by holding a day or weekend where their fruit is collected, pressed and bottled by volunteers, with an agreed proportion going back to those who donated their fruit. Label Gloucestershire Orchard Group aims to conserve, promote and and sell the remainder at community events to raise funds. celebrate traditional orchards in Gloucestershire. This is a volunteer run charity and provides information on setting up a community orchard as Jams, jellies and chutneys – There is rarely a local market that does well as training in pruning, grafting, budding and cider and perry making not have a stall with jams, pickles and chutneys from a variety of fruit Contact: info@gloucestershireorchard group.org.uk or tel 01452 855677 and vegetables. Bake off! If you have a community with keen bakers hold a competition where contestants bake their finest offering NSALG is the national representative body for the allotment using as many local ingredients as possible. It could have a movement in the U.K. The Society is owned, managed and funded theme. Appoint judges from a range of ages in the by its members to protect, promote and preserve allotments for community and give prizes or maybe the title of Baker of future generations to enjoy. As well as a representative role it provides advice, information, an the Year. insurance scheme and discounted seed purchasing. Contact: [email protected] or tel 01865 202 104 Still got some left? G Informal Swap between allotment holders/ How do we let people know about gardeners. our surplus produce? G Set up a ‘donation station’ where people can G Word of mouth leave their surplus produce. This is often self- G Attractive signs on the allotment or monitored so that produce does not spoil. orchard entrances G Donation – Contact your local shelter, care G Village and/or church newsletters a BIg Thank you... home, hospice, day centre or luncheon club. G Village websites ...to representatives of all the featured communities who contributed to G Take part in local markets – Surplus produce G Village noticeboards G Social Media – Create a Facebook page this publication by giving up their time and providing information and could be sold to raise money for the photographs. The phrase ‘ever growing’ has been used to describe this allotment association or orchard group. booklet as there are so many examples of innovative and positive ways Local groups managing surplus produce I Down Ampney – surplus produce from communities are working together to protect and invest in their vibrant I Horsley Orchard Project – started in 2004 gardens is given to the village community villages. with the aim of increasing the availability of shop to sell, either solely for the shop’s profit locally produced fruit. There are three sites or shared between the shop and villager. and produce is given to volunteers on a ‘work- I Bisley Old Road–members of the allotment crop share’ basis with surplus given away to site regularly have a stall at Stroud Farmers locals. Market to raise money for their project.
26 27 About GRCC Professional advice and support for Gloucestershire’s communities GRCC has over 80 years’ experience of supporting the development of community led initiatives in rural Gloucestershire
GRCC provides advice and support in the following areas: G Community and social enterprises delivering local solutions G Funding advice for projects, communities and groups G Parish, town and community-led plans G Organisational and project development and business planning G Localism and Community Rights G Neighbourhood Planning
We have dedicated projects to support: G Management of community buildings G Health and Social Care G Older people, including the nationally recognised Village and Community Agents Scheme G The provision of affordable rural housing
GRCC has a representational and influencing role, working in partnership locally and nationally.
CONTACT uS Address: Community House, 15 College Green, Gloucester, GL1 2LZ Telephone: 01452 528491 Web: www.grcc.org.uk Facebook: www.facebook.com/GlosRCC Follow us on: Twitter@GlosRCC
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