And Leisure Gardener Issue No 3 • 2011

Allotment and Leisure Gardener Issue No 3 • 2011

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

PAGE 20 GARDENERS’ WORLD LIVE

PAGE 37 KEEPING CHICKENS

PAGE 19 FLOWERS

PAGE 29 YOU AND YOUR ALLOTMENT

National Society of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners protect promote preserve £2 24th –25th September 2011

A Splendid Mix for Food &Gardening Lovers

Celebrity Chef Gino D’ Acampo Box office 01684 584924 www.threecounties.co.uk ASSISTANCE DOGS ONLY

autumn show ad Allotment and Leisure.indd 1 7/7/11 11:37:16 2 Contact details Allotment and Leisure Gardener Issue 3 • 2011 Head Office Secretary: Mrs D McDaid Administration: Mrs K Maher, Mrs E McInally & Mr I Blaikie, Ms Rakhi Arora 19 20 Legal Advisor: Mrs Liz Bunting Officers of theS ociety President: Mr C Nickerson Chairman: Mr A Rees MBE Vice Chairman: Mrs S Fleetwood Treasurer: Mr D Rawlings Local Authority Representative Cllr Mrs J Wood Cllr Mr J Marr Standing Orders Committee Acting Chairman: Mr I Crawford Mr P Lofts, Mr M Merrill PLEASE NOTE: NSALG enquiries should be made to: 29 37 Head Office, O’Dell House, Hunters Road, Corby, Northants NN17 5JE Tel: 01536 266576 Fax: 01536 264509 email: [email protected] web: www.nsalg.org.uk Design, Print and Advertising Sales Crest Publications 20, Moulton Park Office Village, Scirocco Close, Northampton, NN3 6AP Tel: 01604 495495 email: [email protected] www.crestpublications.com

Front cover Alan Titchmarsh and Christine Brown at Gardeners World Live. 49 61 SUBMISSIONS ADVICE Letters and articles for publication should be sent to: NSALG Head Office CLOSING DATES: Issue 4 2011: 20th September 2011 Magazine Submissions: All submissions MUST be typewritten and sent by post or email to Head Office. Articles should be limited to 600 words. We will wherever possible include articles that are sent in by post but cannot guarantee their inclusion. When submitting articles, please provide name, addresss, phone number and e-mail address if applicable. If submitting by email, the subject line should read ‘NSALG magazine’. You and Your Allotment – Photographs and images: In this issue… profile on Avril Buck ��29 Regions & reps ��4 Mike Thurlow Answers your questions ��30 Ideally your images should be of good resolution, 300dpi (photos taken with mobile Chairman’s Comments ��5 Report of the 2011 AGM ��32 phones are not good enough quality). Send Secretary’s Report ��6 Chicken Keeping for Beginners ��37 photos via email preferably or originals in the Information ��7 Garden Sheds – How do you treat yours? post (photocopies / printed copies will not Legal ��8 ��40 be used). Insurance ��9 AROUND THE REGIONS If you need help with any of the Book Reviews...... 12 Northern ��47 above please call Jayne at Crest FEATURES Yorkshire ��50 Publications on: 01604 495495 or email: Growing organically on your allotment ��15 North West ��52 [email protected] Seven Ages of Allotment Holding ��17 East Midlands ��55 NSALG Management Committee, Officers, Editor and Publishers, do not necessarily agree with the views expressed by contributors It’s not all about allotments! ��19 West Midlands ��58 to this magazine and do not accept any responsibility for any errors in transmission in the subject matter of this publication. All Growing for Gold! ��20 Eastern ��59 advertisements are included in good faith and NSALG Management Committee, Officers, Editor and Publishers, cannot therefore accept National Allotment Garden Trust ��22 Wales ��62 any responsibility for any services offered by advertisers. No part of this publication may be reproduced without express written permission of Annual Scottish Allotments Conference �24 Competitions/Giveaway ��40/44 the Society and Publishers.

3 Regions and reps

Northern Northumbrland and Tyne and Wear • County Durham • Cleveland • Cumbria • Scotland Mr Peter Horrocks 6 Moor Road North, Gosforth, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE3 1AD Tel: 0191 285 6412 Email: [email protected] YORKSHIRE North Yorkshire • West Yorkshire • South Yorkshire • Parts of Humberside Peter Horrocks Regional Rep Mr Tony Heeson 25 The Broadway, Balby, Doncaster DN4 9BS Mr Tony Heeson Regional Rep Tel: 01302 851557 • Email: [email protected] NORTH WEST Lancashire • Greater Manchester • Merseryside • Cheshire Mr David Morris 54 Princes Boulevard, Wirral, Merseryside CH63 5LW Tel: 0151 512 3882 • Email: [email protected] EAST MIDLANDS Lincolnshire • Nottinghamshire • Derbyshire • Leicestershire • Northamptonshire Mr D Morris Mrs Shirley Fleetwood Regional Rep 1 Veronica Drive, Carlton, Nottingham NG4 3QS Tel: 0115 952 6920 • Email: [email protected] Mrs S Fleetwood Regional Rep WEST MIDLANDS Staffordshire • West Midlands • Warwickshire • Shropshire • Herefordshire • Worcestershire Mr Maurice Lander 4 Franciscan Road, Coventry CV3 6HB Tel: 02476 502362 • Email: [email protected] EASTERN Buckinghamshire • Norfolk • Suffolk • Cambridgeshire • Bedfordshire • Hertfordshire • Essex and parts of London Mrs Karen Kenny Mr Maurice Lander 197 Cauldwell Hall Road, Ipswich, Suffolk IP4 5DA Regional Rep Tel: 07712 766916 • Email: [email protected] Karen Kenny SOUTH EAST Regional Rep Kent and parts of London • Surrey • Sussex Mr Peter Neame 46 Sunnyhill Road, Herne Bay CT6 8LU Tel: 01227 362321 or 07742915297 Email: [email protected] SOUTHERN Oxfordshire • Berkshire • Wiltshire • Gloucestershire • Hampshire • Isle of Wight Mr Tim Cann 8 Nicholas Avenue, Old Marston, Oxford OX3 0RN Mr Peter Neame Tel: 01865 202104 • Email: [email protected] Regional Rep SOUTH WEST Mr Tim Cann Dorset • Avon • Somerset • Devon • Cornwall Regional Rep Mr Alan Cavill 28 Highfield, Taunton, Somerset TA1 5JG Tel: 07748 178964 • Email: [email protected] WALES Glamorganshire • Gwent • Dyfed • Powys • Clywd Mr Allan Rees MBE 77 Eustace Drive, Bryncethin, Bridgend, Mid Glamorgan CF32 9EX Tel: 01656 721865 • Email: [email protected] Allan Cavill Regional Rep

4 Mr A Rees MBE Regional Rep Head Office Chairman’s Comments

Before embarking on my quarterly rave, I hope that I speak a Member of Parliament? We will let you for everyone within the NSALG in sending our best wishes to know in the next edition who we have Deborah Burn who is leaving her position as Project Manager secured. As the AGM is always the first on the Allotment Regeneration Initiative to embark on a Master’s Saturday in June, next year falls on the Degree. Deborah is taking an MA in Sociology and Social Research 2nd. With this being an extra public Methods at the University of Newcastle and will go on to complete holiday, it was suggested that we hold it a PhD. Deborah has obtained academic research funding for this, on the 9th June. which proves that the allotment movement is going from strength to strength. Good luck from us all with your future studies and if we International Meeting Luxembourg can assist you in anyway we will be more than happy to help. Since I have been attending these meetings I have found that as we were a little stale so was the It has been an extremely hectic year with the Government trying to international. Things have changed and although some member influence change. Thanks to all who assisted in sending objections states do not attend, it is interesting to note that there are similar to the Department for Communities and Local Government problems throughout Europe. One country has renamed the (DCLG) in relation to the Statutory Duty Review. We are constantly community gardens and called them square gardens and have told that strength comes from numbers; this is true and we, as taken them under the protection of allotments legislation; this an organisation, are always at the forefront of protecting what is may be a way in which we can promote alternative gardening our right to have an allotment. Other like minded organisations on allotments within the present legislation. Not by calling them should be aware that there may be moves from other agencies square gardens but perhaps using the co-operative part of the to influence changes to allotment provision in the future. I urge allotment acts! everyone to be aware of what is happening locally and nationally. Remember – united we stand, divided we fall – everyone involved I am pleased to say that those in attendance were very congratulatory in allotments must work together to fight the good fight. about our website but in particular our magazine. The member states do take an interest in what we do and again one country has asked There is a strong demand for allotments and Community Gardens for our seed scheme details, which I will be passing on to Kings. do have a part to play but they are not allotments as defined within the legislation and do not fulfil the same role. All too often During a discussion with the French delegate I was made aware in the past and sometimes even recently allotment land has been of a project involving France, Russia & Kings College London; the sold off; this is now leaving us with massive waiting lists in many project will involve contacting Local Authorities and Allotments areas. However, in Wales the Welsh Government has obtained Associations. France is receiving funding from water and gas European funding and have allocated almost a million pounds to companies for projects on allotments (perhaps we should promote growing in Wales. We want allotments and so do those consider a project coordinator). on waiting lists. We are constantly told that Local Authorities have no money yet why is this funding not used to provide allotments? In Finland they are continuously planning new sites in various parts of the country. Helsinki have plans for enlarging and providing At a recent meeting of a Community Council it was pointed out that new sites, as in most areas growing one’s own produce is getting there was funding for a community garden but not for allotments: more popular. Travel was organised to attend areas in Europe and why? This to me is discriminating against a very popular recreational attend a Garden Fair in Stockholm. leisure facility that we have legislation for. If there is funding available then let’s ensure it can be used to provide allotments. In the last few years the Swiss have had problems with proposed development of sites. The International has been involved; One question that is raised frequently, relates to the sizing of they have petitioned their Government to review their planning allotment plots; the current standard plot size is 250 sq metres or procedures and provide alternative sites if development takes place. 300 sq yards and is the equivalent of 10 pole/rods or 1/16th of an acre. Paths should be 1.4 metres wide to enable disabled access Denmark talked about their involvement with renewing the sewage and haulage ways should be 3 metres wide. system as some sites are not connected to the public systems. They have adopted a policy of restructuring the organisation, also We have been made aware that under Weights and Measures looking at and developing new concepts regarding small gardens, legislation, transactions involving sale, rental and leasing of again adopting the French square garden. property, floor space and land, any reference to quantity must be made in metric units. Austria have built new offices in Vienna. Within their Federation they are creating Community Gardens of 70 sq metres i.e. basically Finally, our Annual General Meeting held this year at Stoneleigh Park an allotment for individuals. These Gardens have to be cultivated was a huge success. The two speakers, Pippa Greenwood and organically. Vienna University have taken on board a trial garden Brian Dennis from the British Beekeepers Association made it an involving the federation and are using trained technical advisors. enjoyable day for those who attended. Next year we are having our AGM at Garden Organic (Ryton) and hopefully we will be able to I reported on various activities within the UK, Edible Food, and engage some more interesting and stimulating speakers, perhaps continued contact with the Government plus our involvement

5 with like minded organisations, our Website and Magazine. It In 2012 the Swiss are hosting a study session on the 23rd to was explained that rents were being increased at a rate above the 25th August in Zurich; this is similar to the event held in expectations. We are also researching why members leave the Birmingham 2010. During this period a day will be allocated for society and we will report on that at another meeting. the European Day of the Garden; it might be an idea to hold an event ourselves in conjunction with allotment week during 2012. At the meeting the Minister for Agriculture was in attendance along with two speakers from his department; one on pesticides During discussions it transpired that there were several member and the other on GM crops. It was very interesting especially states which have break away organisations, as we do in the UK. the pesticide lecture as there is a Directive 2009/128/EC for In years gone by I have expressed concern that if we were to sustainable use of pesticides. Although we have submitted withdraw from the International this would leave the door open three innovative projects I am sure we can muster a few more, for others who have already approached the Secretary General. so anyone who feels that they have a project worth considering In Belgium there are now two factions who both want to be please send to Head Office. present at the International; it is the policy that each country has one representative on the General Assembly (M/C). When I have This year the International Congress is to be held in Copenhagen. been involved in negotiations/discussions especially with Central This event is generally attended by the President of each member Government, the mention of three million members in Europe state. Delegate details are requested by 15th May 2011 due to does go some way to help the cause. it being a holiday period and Copenhagen is extremely busy this Allan Rees MBE time of year. Flights or trains need to be booked at the earliest due Chairman to already large increases in fares.

Secretary’s report Update on Statutory Duty Review We last contacted all our members in April to alert everyone In the Localism Bill which will come into effect in 2012, Greg that the Government were reviewing all duties placed on Local Clarke MP claims; “it will give new community powers enabling Authorities. Until now, there has been no comprehensive list of the people to shape development in their neighbourhood”. Plans will legal duties placed on councils. To remedy this, the Government be passed through referendum and it might ease the creation of agreed with the Local Government Association (the national body new allotments. But we have to be aware of this as it might have representing councils) that they should compile such a list so that the opposite effect. The Government have already announced that everyone is clear what legal obligations local councils have and they want to build three million houses by 2020 and communities check whether the duties are still relevant. The intention of the may decide that new housing or shops are far more important to review was as much about ensuring that vital duties were retained them than allotments. as it was about removing unnecessary burdens. Head Office has now signed up to receive alerts from the DCLG The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) website if anything affects the allotment legislation and we will replied to us in writing and said “There are no plans to change inform all our members. The Statutory Duty Review highlighted the Section 23 of the Smallholdings and Allotments Act 1908. fact that if we need to contact our members urgently, the most The review will not remove statutory protections for allotments effective way is by email, as this is an instant messaging service. and there is no intention to remove local authorities’ statutory We would like to encourage all our members to either get in touch duties to provide allotments or to remove the requirement for with us with your email address if we don’t have it, or create a local authorities to seek the Secretary of State’s consent to use new email account. This is very easy to do – see page 17 this will statutory allotments for other purposes”. help you create a new account.

NSALG were highlighted to this action with only five working There were 1294 Statutory Duties placed on the list for review. days to respond. As you are aware we emailed and wrote to all 6,103 responses were received in total, amounting to 23,533 our members, emailed all MP’s and contacted DCLG to air our specific comments; of those comments,2,947 were in response concerns. Since then we have had numerous responses from to the removal of Section 23 of the Small Holdings and Allotments MP’s and also a reply from the Rt Hon Jim Paice MP (Minister Act 1908. Of the responses therefore, nearly 50% contain of State for Agriculture and Food). He said “Department for a comment on allotments! Of the specific comments, 13% Environment and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) is keen to see more are concerned with allotments. This indicates to us that it was growing spaces made available for people to grow their own a worthwhile exercise, in letting Government know how we feel fruit and vegetables. I recognise that allotments are an important about the protection of allotments for future generations. If we resource in helping us achieve this. The value of allotments in assume optimistically that the 2947 allotment comments all came enabling people to grow their own food was underlined in Prime from allotmenteers; that represents about a 1.5% response from Minister’s Questions on 4 May, where the Prime Minister said: “It allotment holders across England and Wales. Many thanks to is extremely important that allotments are made available; it is a everyone who participated. great movement and it has my full support”. Donna McDaid Secretary

6 information Get your own personal copy of Allotment Join Us and Leisure Gardener Join the National Society of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners today and receive a free I would like to receive a copy of the quarterly magazine of the National Society of copy of Kitchen Garden Magazine. Allotment and Leisure Gardeners Members Non members Membership benefits include: Please deliver to my address shown Please deliver to my address shown • Discounted seed scheme below: below (non member) • Quarterly magazine £6.00 for 4 issues £12.00 for 4 issues • Specialist insurance for your site • Advice and guidance on legal matters Name of Affiliated Association (must be supplied)

Affiliation fees: Name �� • Societies per member £2 (minimum fee £20) Addres �� • Individual members £20 • Life members £300 �� • Schools £10 Post code �� • Local authorities £55+VAT Deliver to �� For further details contact NSALG Ltd, O’Dell House, Hunters Road, Address �� Corby NN17 5JE Tel 01536 266576 Fax 01536 264509 email: [email protected] �� visit Post code �� www.nsalg.org.uk Cheques or postal orders should be made payable to: NSALG Ltd and sent to: O’Dell to download an application form. House, Hunters Road, Corby, NN17 5JE If you have any queries, telephone 01536 266576 Fax: 01536 264509 Email: [email protected] Web: www.nsalg.org.uk

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leisure garden.indd 1 16/06/2011 14:087 legal

The 1957 Act provides that an occupier Common law defines a trespasser as a Occupiers’ must be prepared for children to be less person who: careful than adults. If there is something • Goes onto premises without invitation, on the premises to attract a child e.g. or permission. Liability machinery, a boat, a pond, bright berries, • Although invited or permitted to be this may constitute a trap to a child. If on the premises, goes to a part of the The Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957 (OLA) the child is then injured by the trap the premises to which the invitation or brings together one single category of ‘lawful occupier will often be held liable. permission does not extend. visitors’ to whom an Occupier owes the • Remains on the premises after the ‘common duty of care’. When this legislation In many cases that have been brought under invitation or permission to be there has came into force it was described by Lord the OLA 1957 the question of contributory expired. Hailsham as ‘a little gem of a statute’. negligence is considered and this will impact • Deposits goods on the premises when However, even with this legislation it remains considerably on the amount of damages not authorised to do so. important to distinguish between lawful awarded. This may be because the duty on visitors and trespassers who are governed the occupier is only to take reasonable care Under the 1957 Act a warning will not by the 1984 Occupiers’ Liability Act. to see that visitors will be reasonably safe absolve the occupier of liability, unless in using the premises. In some cases the in all the circumstances of the case, the Under the 1957 Act liability is imposed injured party may by his own conduct have warning was enough to enable the visitor on the occupier of the premises; that is contributed to the injury or exacerbated the to be reasonably safe. However, under the not necessarily the owner, it can be the severity of the injuries sustained. 1984 Act a warning will be more effective person in control of the premises. The against a trespasser, because the occupier important aspect is what power of control The Occupiers’ Liability Act 1984 (OLA is only required to take such care as is the occupier has. Liability associated 84) introduced a duty on an occupier in reasonable in all the circumstances to see with dangers arising from maintenance respect of trespassers, whether they have that the trespasser does not suffer injury and repair of premises will be that of the lawful authority to be in the vicinity or on the premises. person responsible, under any lease. not. This means that an occupier owes a Liz Bunting However, it is not the occupiers duty to duty of care to a trespasser in respect of NSALG Legal Advisor make sure that the visitor is completely any injury suffered on the premises in the safe, but only reasonably so. Occupiers following circumstances: are under a duty to erect a notice warning • If he was aware of the danger or had visitors of any immediate dangers. The reasonable grounds to believe that it duty covers not only risks and hazards exists. Members which have been created by the occupier • If he knows or had reasonable grounds to but also omissions, if the occupier fails to believe that a trespasser is in the vicinity Any diary dates you would protect a visitor from a risk of danger on of the danger concerned, or that he may like added to the the premises. Case law has indicated that come into the vicinity of the danger. in some cases it may be necessary not • If the risk is one against which, in all NSALG website please only to provide notices but also to arrange the circumstances of the case, he may email [email protected] for supervision of visitors on the occupiers reasonably be expected to offer the [non premises. visitor] some protection.

to appreciate the privileges and benefits of membership of the AGM allotment community.

Stoneleigh Park bathed in June sunshine made an ideal setting for As my illness developed and I slowed up strange things this year’s Annual General Meeting. The occasion may be a legal happened. With the aid of a walking stick I would arrive at the site necessity for the presentation of accounts and attendance may to find my plot already watered. Soon weeds began to disappear. be a duty but it is one always brightened by meeting up again with Eventually all I had to do was take the harvest. No request had old friends and acquaintances. been made. Not a word had been said. It just happened. It was the spirit of the allotments in action. This year’s proceedings were enlivened by our guest speakers; Pippa Greenwood who eloquently demonstrated why we respect It was a benefit of being a member of the allotment community. her as the Gardeners’ Gardener and Brian Dennis from the British Beekeepers Association who reminded us that each beehive is Another feature worth recording was a comment in the worth £600 to the British economy. correspondence between the medical professionals assessing the patient’s suitability for the treatment. It referred to my “very healthy Having been out of action for a large part of last year I was concerned lifestyle”. to learn the detail of the reports. To my surprise I discovered that the Society had managed very well without me! 2010 had been a year Twenty years ago we were the relics left behind by Queen Victoria. of soaring, record membership and a good financial surplus despite increased legal costs. Congratulations to all involved in this team Today we are recognised as the pioneers of a healthy twenty-first effort and especially to those leading it – Donna and Allan. century lifestyle.

My absence from the previous year’s A.G.M. had been due to Aren’t you glad you’re a member of the privileged allotment an illness which in the end required open heart surgery. This may community? not be an experience to be enjoyed but it is nevertheless a time Colin Nickerson

8 insurance Public liability insurance. Who is insured? We have been asked this question a lot in recent months and felt criteria. All policies are sourced from well-known major insurance it would help to clarify who is covered by the NSALG insurance providers, so you can be sure of top-quality cover as well as value scheme. The Public liability cover provides up to £5M to protect for money. the following groups or people against allegations that they have been negligent and caused damage or injury: Thanks to your membership of the NSALG you could save a minimum of 10%* from your next home insurance renewal. 1. The Association as a whole. Some of the benefits that are included under the special home 2. Individual members of the association. insurance scheme are: garden cover at home for plants, ornaments, garden furniture and gardening tools and equipment; 3. Immediate family members of the plot holder whilst carrying cover for personal possessions when you are out and about; out gardening activities on the insured’s plot. Immediate family accidental damage cover and cover for your freezer contents. members include: Spouse (including common law and civil partnerships), parents and children. Members taking advantage of the car insurance scheme will be provided with roadside breakdown cover, a courtesy car while 4. Friends of the insured plot holder whilst helping out on an yours is being repaired following accident damage, windscreen occasional basis. cover with no excess if the windscreen is repaired and the option to protect your no claims bonus. As stated in our proposal forms, cover is only provided to associations and members who belong to the NSALG. If only Phone our West Wickham office free on 0800 195 9408 and you 20 members are declared to the NSALG then only those 20 will be put straight through to a friendly, experienced UK-based members are insured. The only exception to this is if one member adviser who will help guide you to a policy that is suitable to your leaves and is replaced by a new member, the new member will personal needs. There are no buttons to press to get through and automatically be covered as it is the number of members declared calls are free at all times. to the NSALG who are insured rather than specific names. If you have any questions relating to insurance please do not Special home & car insurance scheme for NSALG members hesitate to contact me. Richard Church As well as providing Association insurance, Bluefin offers Bluefin Insurance Services members of the allotment associations that form part of the T: 01604 258915 NSALG the chance to save money on their home and car F: 01604 624274 insurance. We have been offering members competitive premiums E: [email protected] on their own insurance policies for a number of years and many members have taken advantage and saved money. *10% saving subject to individual risk acceptance by underwriters. Full details available upon request. The saving of 10% is off the We will also pay your own allotment association £5 for every current insurers next renewal premium, original written proof is member who takes up a policy, as well as another £5 for every required, minimum premiums apply. Offer may be withdrawn at year you renew! any time.

The scheme offers competitive insurance policies for responsible home owners who take care of their property and possessions and for careful drivers, who look after their cars and drive sensibly. Excellent rates are on offer to members who meet these

9 poems

Neighbour Wise Old Owl I think the next allotment is abandoned. I see we’ve got a new chap on the plot right next to mine. I haven’t seen the holder now for months. He’s looking pretty busy setting seeds in a nice straight line Some say his health is broken down for good, One week later Others that he has had to move away. He does a lot of hoeing, but he’s hoeing up his seeds. So now his land is strangely as he left it, Ain’t anybody told him that he’s meant to zap the weeds. Oh so many winter days ago. Two weeks later Black sheeting where he clearly meant to dig; I think he’ll wear that hoe out if he carries on like that. Last Autumn’s apple crop are windfalls in the grass; Maybe I’ll try and catch his eye and we can have a chat. The structured, cordoned pears are overdue for pruning; “Hi - how’s it going?” A row of Brussels sprouts still edible, New Kid on the Block Though maybe a little soft and past it now, I’ve set my seeds and watered them all in a nice straight row Some swedes bedraggled, raddled after winter. And if I see the weeds poke through I’ll zap them with my hoe. In all a Marie Celeste feel about the place. One week later I thought of him today because a feel of spring Well there’s no sign of life as yet, I’m not sure what’s gone wrong. Gave promise of the growth to come. I’m hoeing and I’m watering to chivvy them along. A big, soft faced, fairish man he was, Two weeks later In dungarees and wellies he seemed hale enough. I see the plot next door looks great, he knows a thing or two. He spoke little, barely passed the time of day. His plants stand tall as soldiers at a military tattoo. A good and careful gardener, he handled tools “Hello there, - have you got a minute?” With mastery. I never knew his name. Joy Sykes My mind’s eye sees him still Barton Seagrave Allotments Sitting in the warmth with flask and sandwich, Drawing nutriment from the genial day. If he is gone there is a gap in life. May I still hope the strengthening year will call him back? Bob Mitchell Park Lodge Lane Allotments letter

www.rotaloo.co.uk Allotment Rents Dear Editor We had tremendous support I would like to thank the from the local media and Rota-Loo uk Association’s legal adviser, those on the waiting list (90+) Waterless Composting Toilets Mrs Liz Bunting, for her help who now, as a result of this and assistance that enabled challenge, look as though they Nailsea Allotments Association may be sited on land bought to overturn a proposed 400% for leisure purposes but used rent increase by our landlords, only for grazing at a very cheap Easy to maintain Nailsea Town Council. rent. All in all it has been a very successful outcome and No digging out We were able to encourage brought many issues to the Odourless over half of our tenants, not all forefront, which may not have Supplied with quality buildings members of our association, surfaced without the proposal Amber Rudd MP opens new Rotaloo Hastigs Allotments to attend a special Council to raise the rents so drastically. Meeting at which the proposal was reversed. We also What the situation has also persuaded the Town Council done is given our association to call a special meeting of members some real value for all tenants to discuss self- money from their membership management (to be addressed of NSALG, and hopefully we by our Regional Representative will obtain more members as a Allan Cavill). If that is not result. We are also indebted to wanted by the majority of Allan Cavill for his offer to clarify tenants then we may look to self management to Councilors appoint four members to meet and tenants - which many with four Councillors to discuss hope will materialise. all outstanding issues and Ian Stone produce a five year Allotment Secretary For Churches, Allotment, Outdoor Activities & Private Homes Strategy. In the meantime there Nailsea Allotments t: 01799 598086 [email protected] will in effect be no rent rises Association until April 2013.

10 recipes Tartare Sauce Watercress

A different recipe for tartare sauce, made straight from Do you enjoy watercress but don’t have running water at your disposal? your allotment or garden. Don’t worry; you can grow it amazingly easily in a pot standing in water, or in a growbag which can be kept damp, not having drainage holes in the First, mayonnaise. Make homemade mayonnaise, bottom. Either method is suitable for outdoors or greenhouse cultivation – preferably with your own eggs if you keep hens. Most even a cold frame. people know how to make it but if not, any good recipe book will explain. A pack of watercress from your greengrocer or supermarket will provide an abundance of cuttings for raising from March to October. Cut off the Mix three parts of your mayonnaise to one part of lush tops for your salad and you will be left with some good thick pieces chopped parsley (we all have parsley on our allotments, of stem, some with roots already attached. Plant all of these in your don’t we?!), one part of chopped chives, again readily growbag or pot and after a few weeks they will start to grow. You can start available from our own resources and one part of drained harvesting as soon as the shoots are big enough, just nip out the top bits chopped ash keys. Any multiples of the ingredients may you want to eat. The plants will grow new shoots from the lower leaf nodes be used and the finished product remains viable for to provide a second or third crop. Once flowers form however, the plants weeks in the refrigerator. As a guide, three teaspoons will get on with producing seeds and this is the time to have a new batch of of mayonnaise, one teaspoon of parsley, one teaspoon cuttings or seedlings ready to replace them. Seeds, if required, are usually of chives and one teaspoon of ash keys makes one available from any seed merchant. portion. If you grow plenty try watercress soup or watercress and orange salad – ‘Ash Keys’ you may well ask! These have been used for delicious and full of iron nutrition. many years by our forebears as substitutes for capers. Mrs Pierce The ‘keys’ are the winged fruits of the ash trees collected when fresh and young, boiled in salt water for ten minutes or so, drained and put into warmed jars. They are then covered with boiling vinegar to which pickling spices have been added and strained before use, lids screwed firmly on and left to cool. The sealed jars will keep a long time. When cold the contents are ready for use.

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11 book reviews

She soon finds her feet and masters the art of allotmenteering. Minding my It took years to get her own plot and sometimes wondered if it would ever happen, but getting to know the people on her local allotment site and being invited to work with them on their plot Peas and made the wait not just bearable but utterly enjoyable for her.

Kay’s ‘Top Ten Inspection Tips’ are a must for any site inspection. Cucumbers Rebus the ‘allotment terrier’ accompanies her, as long as she by Kay Sexton doesn’t let him wander; he too has to stick to the allotment rules! published by Summersdale Publishers The job of Secretary is not an easy one, you have to please ISBN 9781849531351 everyone and be the eyes and ears of the allotment world and Price: RRP £9.99 listen to everyone’s ideas, even if you think they are a little quirky.

Kay Sexton finally reaches the top of the list and becomes the The book is witty, well-observed and with excellent recipes dotted proud tenant of an allotment. Thinking she would finally get her through the pages. What will become of the ‘Pagan Plot’? slice of the ‘good life’ reality hits home and she finds herself in Perhaps Kay is already writing the sequel? a world of mysterious rules and tradition, and hose-pipe standoffs. DMc

The Edible Continuous Front Yard Container By Ivette Soler Published by Timber Press Gardening 216 pp, paperback By Sara Begg Townsend and ISBN 13 9781604691993 Roanne Robbins Price £14.99 Published by: Storey Publishing pp 272 Ivette Soler is a writer and garden ISBN: 978-1-60342-702-9 designer living and working in Los Angeles, California, U.S.A. and Price: RRP £14.99 has a few books under her name alongside articles in magazines and online blogs. It is true that most of us fill our containers with annuals that look great with a spectacular splash of colour lasting a few weeks in That said, the book is certainly aimed for that uptown, high end of summer before they have to be completely replanted if we want the market in a part of the world that has a climate of its own and anything more from them. where your front ‘yard’ is that part which we would call our front garden and in Los Angeles, and indeed, perhaps a lot of the rest American garden designers Townsend and Robbins offer an of U.S.A. has to be seen to be envied at whatever the cost. innovative approach that turns containers into a year-round attraction with a vast array of plants and ornamental content. The Edible Front Yard is apart from other vegetable gardening books. It’s not a “how to” book for setting up a front yard farm; it’s They begin with a central feature, which may be anything from a all about designing a front yard that just happens to be beautiful perennial to an ornament, a bush or even a tree branch or two, and produces ‘edibles’ (I hate that word!) too. After all as Ivette then build around it with a secondary planting designed to add points out “beauty also feeds us”. texture and variety. To this foundation they add a support cast of annuals that can be swapped in and out to provide a constant Writing on “planting for where you live” Ivette says “Look at the display of colour as the seasons’ progress. plants in your neighbourhood and pay special attention to what is thriving. Easy-to-care-for gardens need plants that do well in The attractiveness of different combinations is, of course, a matter your area. Don’t discount plants even if they seem too common: of personal taste, but there are lots of different, practical and there’s no such thing as a bad plant or an unfashionable plant, interesting ideas to stimulate the imagination. only a plant that hasn’t been used well.” Alas, that’s where the usefulness of the book ends because unless you live in Los Although the book was written for an American audience, it is Angeles or in a similar part of the world, you won’t find that many entirely appropriate for the British reader. The recommended of the plants the book mentions will survive in your part of the price in this country is £14.99 – a bit steep for a soft back – but planet. you don’t have to look very far, especially online, to get it much cheaper. However, there are pages and pages of information on GHC ornamental ‘edible’ choices as well as plants that add structure and work well together, and some that will survive in the UK, so if you are planning to turn your front of house into a spectacular and edible entrance, then this book may be worth a read. JL

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This is the first readable book I’ve ever read on permaculture and the truly organic methods of gardening. The authors are ARE YOU EX-FORCES? obviously committed organic producers. The book is written so Amazing everyday savings for you and your no previous knowledge of the topic is assumed, but in a way that is understandable by all. No mumbo jumbo about planting family. For just £12 per year you can expect to by dates etc., just straightforward advice and examples as well save at least £550 in one year. as frequently asked questions complete with answers. The book is written to be of use for all types of container growing; that is www.rewardsforforces.co.uk one of the basic tenets outlined in the scheme of things, be it window box, plant pots, back yard planter or full size allotment High Street savings Online savings or community garden. A substantial part of the culture regime using your at involves the use of products from wormeries. Did you know, for rewards forces. example, that a well run wormery, 1300 x 600 x 500mm can rewardsforforces for ID card co.uk produce one ton/1300 litres of worm compost per year? Amazing! Or again, that the chlorine in water from taps is not conducive to growing healthy plants; it should be allowed to stand in butts £13.93 at £60.00 on car hire with Hertz for at least 24 hours. Take heed all you hosepipe users; it’s not Frankie & Benny’s doing things any good! Give them up! I was somewhat surprised to find a recommendation in the book to buy a kilo of worms of the right type. I just scrounge mine from nature, but as there is a £43.00 at £330 on your next recommendation to split your wormery to control the population Vision Express holiday and then to give the surplus to A.N.Other to start them off, buying might not be necessary after all! At this time of the year, the book will make an ideal Christmas gift for any of your family or friends who incline towards organic gardening but need to know more, or £59.40 on an £8.14 on a trip to for that matter get it for yourself! Apple iMac the cinema PJH The Pruning Answer Book serving personnel • veterans • forces families by L Hill and P O’Sullivan Published by Timber Press Paperback Two Wests & Elliott Two Wests & Elliott (AL), Price: £10.99 R4FALG.indd 1 Carrwood Rd, Sheepbridge, 18/7/11 11:40:27 Quality Equipment Chesterfield, S41 9RH for Greenhouse and Garden Once I started this book, I was well prepared Over 2000 quality products to be quite scathing as to the reasons why Americans would think that a book written there would be of any use to us on this side of the pond. Quite the contrary proved to be the case. Despite SpEcial OFFER For a limited period only, we references to plant species we’ll never come across and climatic are offering you the chance to conditions even worse than ours, it was well written and highly purchase a set of 3 Original instructive. Its 383 pages do have some irrelevances to life in Growpots for just £14.95 or Britain, but if you can ignore the use of expressions like, ’the tree JUST £26.95 FOR 6! has just gotten too big’, it’s the most clearly written treatise on the black art of pruning all trees great and small I’ve ever read. A must 36 buy for Christmas for those gardening friends for whom the right �� present is always a struggle. FREE catalogue call 01246 451077 or visit www.twowests.co.uk PJH

13 THE NATIONAL VEGETABLE SOCIETY Who are we? The NVS was formed on 26th February 1960 with the aim of helping gardeners improve the standard of growing vegetables. Today the NVS is organised into five branches i.e. Scottish, Northern, Welsh, Midlands and Southern covering the entire UK and is helping almost 3,000 members get the best from their gardens. What the NVS can offer you... Contact with almost 3,000 like minded people who can help you grow better vegetables.

Quarterly 64 page magazine, containing useful information, news and articles on all aspects of growing vegetables, which also includes the five branch newsletters, dealing with local news, shows, events, lectures, visits and seminars.

An extensive DVD library, on many aspects of growing and showing vegetables, available for purchase by members. For further details please contact our DVD Distribution Executive, Gordon Francis on 01622-710486, or e-mail at [email protected]

Directory containing a wealth of handy information & contacts

The opportunity to become a qualified lecturer or certified national vegetable judge.

For further information contact

Mr. G Cathro FNVS Joint Membership Registrar for Scottish, Northern and Welsh areas on 01382-580394 or [email protected]

Mr Neil Hope FNVS Joint Membership Registrar for Midlands and Southern Areas on 01932-844183 or [email protected]

or visit www.nvsuk.org.uk www.thinkvegetables.co.uk Images:

Annual Membership fees £17 Individuals £5 Juniors (up to 16 years) £19 Societies/Couples

Name ......

Address......

......

...... Postcode ......

Telephone...... Email ......

I/We enclose a cheque for subscription ......

Additional donation if desired ...... Total ...... N Signed ...... Date ...... Send your coupon to: Mr G Cathro FNVS, 14 Dronley Road, Birkhill, Dundee DD2 5QD or Mr N Hope FNVS, 82 Hare Hill, Addlestone, Surrey, KT15 1DN NSALG

141 THE NATIONAL VEGETABLE SOCIETY Growing organically Who are we? on your allotment The NVS was formed on 26th February 1960 with the aim of helping gardeners improve the standard of growing vegetables. Today the NVS is organised into five branches i.e. Scottish, Clio Turton of the Soil Association – the UK’s leading Northern, Welsh, Midlands and Southern covering the entire UK membership charity campaigning for planet-friendly food and and is helping almost 3,000 members get the best from their farming – takes a look at the benefits of organic growing and gardens. the guiding principles behind the organic approach. If you played your cards right at the beginning of the year you What the NVS can offer you... are probably harvesting armfuls of allotment bounty right now. Contact with almost 3,000 like minded people who can help you The hard work of Spring is hopefully over and you can sit back grow better vegetables. and enjoy the warm evenings with a cool drink, instead of frantically digging and planting seeds. Quarterly 64 page magazine, containing useful information, news and articles on all aspects of growing vegetables, which also Tasting the sweetness of the season’s first home grown peas includes the five branch newsletters, dealing with local news, and strawberries are some of the most rewarding moments shows, events, lectures, visits and seminars. of allotmenting, alongside friendly chats with your allotment neighbours and sharing tips on how to grow the biggest and An extensive DVD library, on many aspects of growing and best pumpkins. On the downside there is the perennial battle showing vegetables, available for purchase by members. For with slugs, snails and other creatures that also like to munch on further details please contact our DVD Distribution Executive, the tasty fruit and vegetables that you have so lovingly tended. Gordon Francis on 01622-710486, or e-mail at After seeing your prize cabbage disappear overnight or your [email protected] spinach leaves nibbled to shreds it is tempting to blast these pests with some dreadful chemical. But rather then mastering Directory containing a wealth of handy information & contacts your garden with artificial fertilisers and pesticides, the rewards are ever sweeter in the knowledge that your allotment is also The opportunity to become a qualified lecturer or certified national a thriving eco-system, using techniques that work with nature vegetable judge. rather then against her and providing a haven for wildlife.

For further information contact The Soil Association’s founding principles are based on the connection between soil, food, the health of people and the health of the planet. Nature already has a solution to most Mr. G Cathro FNVS of our problems so organic growers look to utilise natural Joint Membership Registrar for Scottish, Northern and Welsh processes and management-based, rather than product-based, areas on 01382-580394 or [email protected] solutions. Organically-managed allotments are treated as a living whole system. Organic growers use compost and other Mr Neil Hope FNVS natural fertilisers to feed and protect plants in place of artificial Joint Membership Registrar for Midlands and Southern Areas chemicals. The result of this is that birds, butterflies, beetles, bats and wildflowers are encouraged to thrive. A study by on 01932-844183 or [email protected] English Nature and the RSPB found that on average wildlife is 50% more abundant and there are 30% more species on or visit www.nvsuk.org.uk www.thinkvegetables.co.uk Images: organic farms than on conventional ones. Make your allotment bee-friendly. Bees help with pollination, essential for some plants such as pumpkins and sunflowers. Diversity makes any system more resilient to external challenges Attract them by planting a wide variety of fruit, veg and edible Annual Membership fees £17 Individuals £5 Juniors (up to 16 years) £19 Societies/Couples and therefore more stable. Diversity also allows for more flowers - nasturiums and marigolds not only look great in salads sophisticated and specialist processes to act within the whole, they are also great for attracting a whole range of beneficial Name ...... for example niche soil organisms helping to control specific insects and help keep some unwanted visitors at bay. pests. In the 1940s, pioneering organic agriculturist Sir Albert Address...... Howard wisely said: “Pests must be looked upon as nature’s Managing an allotment organically is like being in a professors of agriculture: as an integral portion of any rational conversation with your plot where you observe the response to ...... system of farming.” your approach and then adjust practices as needed. A non- organic approach, with routine use of pesticides and other ...... Postcode ...... Organic growing begins with attention to the soil and relies on artificial inputs, is more akin to a one-size-fits-all lecture. regular additions of organic matter, usually in the form of home- Telephone...... Email ...... made compost. Prevention rather than cure is key. Research The freshest and cheapest way to enjoy food is to be able to different plant varieties and their ability to resist disease and pick it from your own allotment or garden. For families it is a I/We enclose a cheque for subscription ...... make sure your soil stays healthy by rotating your plants after great way to teach children about natural life cycles. Children you’ve finished harvesting or the plants have finished fruiting. are also more likely to try new vegetables if they’ve picked and Additional donation if desired ...... Total ...... This helps to stop pests from becoming too established. nurtured it themselves. Finally, as an extra bonus, with up to 30% of our individual carbon footprint made up of what we Signed ...... Date ...... Avoid commercial pesticides to prevent pests. There are choose to eat and drink, growing low-carbon, planet-friendly N lots of alternatives. For example a solution of water and a food on your allotment is not only fun it’s crucial. Send your coupon to: biodegradable washing up liquid, such as Ecover, in a plastic Clio Turton Mr G Cathro FNVS, 14 Dronley Road, Birkhill, Dundee DD2 5QD spray bottle, is great for aphids and whitefly and on a small www.soilassociation.org or Mr N Hope FNVS, 82 Hare Hill, Addlestone, Surrey, KT15 1DN scale some insects can just be gently brushed off by hand. NSALG

1 15 Gloves for people serious about Gardening

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JAYCO (UK) Ltd. 16 Telephone: +44 (0)23 8040 2025 • Website: www.goldleaf-gloves.com Seven Ages of Allotment Holding

Shakespeare reckoned ‘all the world’s a stage’ but you’d be suggestion of change or reform, and the ability to spend all day at forgiven for thinking that, at present, all England’s an allotment, the allotment with no discernable activity having taken place. and all the men and women merely diggers on it. So what are the • The pantaloon age is becoming increasingly common and seven ages of allotment holding? problematic on allotment sites and is usually dealt with by • First the infant, often accompanying grandparents as they work appointing a lover or soldier to ‘help’ the pantaloon. The early their plot; the infant likes to water and dig and has a fascination signs of pantaloonism can be difficult to spot, as allotment with the wrigglier side of allotment life. sites are home to a variety of tastes and behaviours, but the • Then the schoolchild – whining and complaining, lagging and emergence of gnomes and/or windmills is believed to be heel-dragging, the teenager displays tantrums and trauma. one of the most reliable early indicators. Allotment statuary is Never separated from their mobile phones – and either sulking often followed by the purchasing of increasingly exotic crops if boys or shrieking at the sight of insects if girls – teenagers on (tobacco, dates, mouse melons and tea are examples) and then the allotment are an incitement to arguments with and between by the encroaching of weed and wild on the previously perfect supervising adults. allotment. Pantaloon allotment-holders can be of either gender • The lover is a rare allotment age, but when seen it is quite but it seems the men go first and farthest into pantaloonism and impressive. Usually male, this age is often accompanied by while it can be annoying for their neighbours, at least until they rucksack-carrying, acoustic-guitar-playing, growing the hair long get a co-worker to knock the plot back into shape, there’s no and trying to cultivate a beard. In the female, this stage usually denying that the pantaloon seems to be having a better time emerges as veganism and the tendency to want to live at one than most of us, and that the transformation of a previously with nature. All very well in both cases, but rather annoying buttoned-up justice into a relaxed pantaloon can be a relief to when the soulful lover of all things green refuses to address their everyone on the site. aphid or blight issue so that everybody else suffers too. • Second childhood is rarely seen at present, but as the • The soldier age has become increasingly familiar on allotment population gets older, and we edge into maintaining our sites as militant greens emerge to demand more allotments, allotments in our seventies, eighties and nineties as is becoming organic allotments where there are already enough ordinary commonplace, it is likely that we’ll see many more extremely ones, or carbon-neutral organic allotments if there are already elderly allotment holders, in their wheelchairs, soaking up organic sites! The militant has a compost toilet, counts food the sun while their children, grandchildren and even great- miles, likes to barter and makes his or her own bread, beer, grandchildren get on with digging, weeding and harvesting. wine and fun. Actually they aren’t much good at fun! And why not? That’s an image even Shakespeare would have • The age of justice is a fascinating one, often found only in the recognised and perhaps we’ll all be the better for living out our male of the allotment. It involves joining committees, entering seven ages on the plot! produce shows, and becoming a vegetable expert. While the Kay Sexton routes to justice are quite varied, the end result is always similar: a Author of Minding my Peas and Cucumbers (see book reviews) cardigan or patterned sweater, a tendency to inhale sharply at any

How to set up email Then click on box to ‘check availability’ – if ‘fredsmith’ is already taken then it will suggest other user names or you can create an alternative one. Then We are encouraging all of our members, secretaries in particular, to contact us choose a password – pick something that will be memorable and has a mix of with email addresses. If you do not have an email account and do not wish to letters and numbers. create one, then ask around your committee members to see if there is a willing candidate who will receive emails on your behalf. If you don’t have a computer, You can choose whether or not you would like to set Google as your default visit your local library where you can access computers free of charge and there (home page). Next choose a security question – this is in case you forget your might be some free courses that you can attend.....you’re never too old to learn. password. E.g. who is the leading body for allotments? By emailing our members this will save time and money and electronic mail Then fill in the answer to your question. (email) is quicker and more efficient than traditional post. It’s quite simple too E.g. NSALG once you’ve got the hang of it. Then fill in the word verification system. The reason for this is to determine whether It is possible to create an email account on many websites or not you are a person or a robot. Please type whatever you see from Gmail and Hotmail to Yahoo. written blurred in the box – including both lower case and upper case.

Let’s create an account now. For the purpose of the Then please go to the end of the page and click ‘I accept. Create example I will use Gmail as this has the greatest storage my account.’ capacity, which means you can have thousands of emails in your account and you won’t have to delete them to make This will take you to another page but just click ‘skip’ and then you space for new ones! will finally be presented with your inbox.

Go to www.gmail.com. If you would like to send an email, please click ‘compose mail’ and insert On the right hand side of the page, towards the bottom you will see the email address of the person you would like to send it to in the ‘To’ ‘Create an account’ field. You can add a subject so that the recipient can get a rough idea of the topic of the email or you can choose to leave it blank. Please click on this. Next fill in your details – first name and second name. Then you can You are now up and running; just check your emails on a regular choose what you would like your email address to be in ‘desired login’ basis. If you don’t get an instant reply, don’t worry as you can always – at this stage do not type ‘@gmail.com’ as this will automatically be send another email to jog their memory. there. If you have changed your e-mail recently, or you want to check that An example: type ‘fredsmith’ and then it will look like this: we have the correct address – e-mail us on [email protected] [email protected].

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18 It’s not all about allotments!

Reading through the current magazine, although mostly interesting, I felt that there was something missing from the title’s promise: Allotment and Leisure Gardener.

We do have an allotment, though since best beloved took early retirement, (how soon will that become a phrase of the past?) the gardening in this family has definitely taken on a certain shift in In my own garden I’ve been busy these past couple of weeks division of labour. No more going to the lottie together, more him trying to sort out a shady corner. There’s a beautiful birch tree going off to the allotment while I stay in the back garden. No real which casts a lovely dappled shade, along with next door’s garage hardship there – easy access to toilets, kettle and the sofa when (single height thank goodness) which is a denser shade, but things get tiring. Not to mention shelter from the rain. The problem doesn’t engulf. The bed is roughly triangular in shape with a slight is that I’m starting to feel slightly excluded from the content of the back to front downwards slope, and is pretty heavy clay. (Is there magazine. The easiest way to remedy that seems to be writing such a thing as light clay?) One of the sides of the triangle is a mix an article myself, in the hope that it will get published, and then of rose hedging and Virginia Creeper, while the adjacent side is a encourage other such articles etc. in the same vein – more for the low, open fence; more a support than a fence I suppose. Luckily Leisure Gardener. there are a number of foxgloves already self-seeded there, and there is also an Astrantia which is a very pale cream. The other So what exactly do I want to see more of? Flowers, of course, plant that I want to keep is an Erythronium – yellow, curled back and trees and shrubs; all of the things that go into making a back flowers. I’m pretty sure that by now you can see that there has garden that aren’t about fruit and vegetable growing. How to get never been any real planning to this corner bed, and yet every the best from that back garden without ruining you financially, or year sees me trying to do something with it. taking so much time you no longer have enough of a chance to sit and enjoy it. This is the year! I’m sure of that. Out came the books, the notebook and pens. I looked at heights, seasons, colours as well as suitability for growing in the shade. I was pretty surprised at the amount of choice I would have; it certainly won’t have to be a sea of hostas and ferns. There will be lots of different species. Nor will it have to be a white and green border – definitely not what I wanted – but there will be reds, blues, pinks and some wonderful purples. Lots of them will look a little on the ‘sturdy’ side, but others will have a more ‘wispy’ look to them, creating variations in form as well as colour.

After the planning comes the most delicious part – sourcing the plants. It isn’t all about shopping though; I was surprised at just how many of the shade tolerant plants I wanted were already in the garden in other areas: geraniums, aquilegias, anemones and polygonatum. Once I’ve added in some poppies, pulmonarias and primulas it will be perfect. Fingers crossed. Pam Hetherington A Leisure Gardener

19 Growing for Gold ! NSALG win an RHS Silver Gilt Medal for their wonderful display at BBC Gardeners’ World Live (inc BBC Good Food Show) 2011

BBC Gardeners’ World Live and the BBC Good Food Show Summer this year was another fabulous experience. The five day event gets better year on year, there’s so much do see and do no matter what your level of experience or interest.

The combined Shows have been running alongside each other for five years now and this year attracted a huge audience of over 112k, with an increase of 12% in paid tickets year on year. Despite the current downturn, Show visitors were spending in abundance, and the exhibitors profitability resulted in the Show seeing an onsite re-book rate up 10% on last year.

The Shows included a non-stop schedule of entertainment, inspiration and shopping. BBC Gardeners’ World Live saw gardening superstars including Monty Don, Alan Titchmarsh and Carol Klein take to the stage and the Show Gardens received a mass of awards including 3 RHS Gold Medals for Show Gardens and 36 RHS Gold Medals for Floral Exhibits. The BBC Good Food Show Summer brought live demonstrations from renowned TV chefs James Martin and Rachel Allen. And the MasterChef Experience, hosted by Andi Peters, brought John Torode and Gregg Wallace to the stage with the new 2011 Champion Tim Anderson plus favourites including Dhruv Baker, Lisa Faulkner and Mat Follas.

Edible Patches win an RHS Silver Gilt Medal! Edible Patches, sponsored by Cono Sur Vineyards and Winery consisted of eight patches designed to show you how to make the most out of your garden, growing food to eat, wherever you live. Seven of the eight Edible patches had been designed and built by allotment holders/ sites from the West Midlands region. Each patch was unique, had different functions and they looked so fresh and colourful. Many visitors passed through, stopping to ask questions to members of the NSALG who were on hand in the ‘Community Shed’ to give advice.

20 The location of the patches helped the flow of visitors as they were situated in a prime location next to the Floral marquee, in front of the ‘Grow Your Own Garden’ magazine theatre and Picnic Hill. Visitors were very impressed, as were RHS Judges as it happens because they awarded a Silver Gilt medal which is a first for the Society! I spoke to Christine Brown (BDAC – Birmingham District Allotment Council) who gave me a tour of the plots and explained what they each represented. She was absolutely overjoyed with the news.

Well done to you all!

A brief description of the plots…

EP1 ‘Multicultural Cultivation’ Designer: Mr Peter Wills of Knowle Road Allotments Multicultural growing based on the cut and come again system using the principle of little and often. Lots of plants are quick growing and produce food, herbs and spices to feed the family.

EP2 ‘The North Warwickshire Edibubble’ EP4 ‘Herbal Garden’ Designer: North Warwickshire Allotment Federation Designer: Maurice Lander with the regional NSALG A plot focused on representing the allotment community in North Many herbs are in season throughout the year, many can be dried Warwickshire with a good mix of vegetables and herbs with out for use in the next season. They tend to need little attention something for everyone from the expert to the beginner. and respond well to picking or cutting and can be used both in sweet and savory dishes. EP3 ‘Square Foot Gardening’ Designer: William John Henry of Wheelers Lane Allotments EP5 ‘Rotatability by Windmill Lane A.A Established 1901’ Each square contains a different crop grown at close spacing. Designer: R Preston and Committee members of Windmill Lane As soon as a crop is finished it is replaced with another one. An Allotment Association efficient and popular ways to grow that doesn’t waste valuable A plot divided into four sections demonstrated by the sails of resources or space. a windmill to indicate that you should rotate vegetables into a different plot each year. By using ‘the rotating crop method of planting’ it ensures that the nutrients are fully used and it offers more than a chance of diseases affecting certain crops to die off.

EP6 ‘Mr McGregor’s Garden Today’ Designer: A.M. Murphy of Warstock lane Allotments Planting in blocks and choosing appropriate varieties dwarf and disease and pest resistant types, successful sowing, inter cropping and companion planting can all increase yield from a small space.

EP7 ‘Spend a Year in your bed’ Designer: Stephanie Mucklow They plants displayed on this plot exhibit vigorous growth and good resistance and are suitable for closer spacing in a raised bed. Selected varieties are prolific long croppers, winter hardy, dual purpose in the kitchen with long standing potential on the raised bed, ensuring maximum productivity and usage.

EP8 ‘A Tasty Little Space’ Designer: Rhonda Simpson of Court Lane Allotments A patch divided into smaller areas to make it as productive as possible but still aesthetically pleasing. Planters were used to grow climbing plants and trailing crops planted around the base of the obelisks. No soil was left unplanted and gaps in the pathways filled with edible creeping herbs. Jayne Creer Publicity Editor

21 How quickly the Malvern Spring Show comes round…

We are here again and what a worry this the tension but in the end the stand was (our other hat) who recruited two new year has been in getting the plants ready for awarded 3rd prize. The stand awarded 1st members whilst we were at a lunch break. the show. With the hard frosts and the snow prize should have been judged by the RHS So thank you Meryl, Val and Doug and to the carrots and almost everything else just (it was very good) and after a long debate all the other people who helped to man the would not seem to germinate. Then in April this was awarded a silver gilt so we moved stand for the four long days. we had the hot weather so trying to keep up to 2nd place. the temperature down and the plants drying As usual we found lots of interest in the out so quickly was a real problem. I think we Last year I was approached by Link-a- Society and it is great to talk to so many managed ok though and perseverance paid bord regarding the raised beds which they of the visitors about allotments, all with off in the end. would kindly supply to us. Thank you Ian the same worries and problems that we all Cannon for the raised beds and also to have. On Monday we started to build the stand, Les at Kings Seeds for the seeds they by Wednesday it was complete and ready supplied. I hope to see you at the Malvern Autumn for the opening on Thursday. Show on September 24th and 25th in the On the first day of the show we had help Harvest Pavilion. The morning dawned and the judges were from committee members of the Cotswold Colin Smith making their rounds. I think we all felt Fuchsia and Pelargonium Society

Obviously these events cost money and I am pleased to report National Allotment Garden Trust that my own Regional Council, East Midlands, voted to support the event in Nottingham by donating the entire cost which on Following on from our last report, I am pleased to advise you this occasion was £505.53. Our sincere thanks go to the East all that a further three workshops have taken place, two in Midlands Regional members. We were also fortunate to receive a Birmingham on the 12th March and the 1st April. The extra cheque for £500 from the West Midlands Regional Panel towards workshops were necessary due to the huge amount of applicants the cost of the workshops for that area, and again our sincere from the West Midlands which we could not accommodate at the thanks to the West Midlands Region Members. first event. Both of these events were very well supported. Following the workshops we received many very positive comments Karen Kenny, the presenter, was unfortunately ill on the 12th March and requests for future events but as it is now the summer (?!), the so myself, Donna and Liz Bunting did the presentation as best we growing season and holiday time we felt that it would be best to could and judging by the response we received I think we made a leave it for the time being and start again in September. fair job of it. Karen was back to her energetic self for the third event. We would like to thank Chris Brown of Birmingham Allotments The first event will be in Leicester as requested by the Leicester Council for her sterling work in taking charge of the refreshments Allotments Garden Council (this is individual members not the local at all the West Midlands events. It all helped to make the events go Authority) and that is scheduled for 24th September; venue details well with many satisfied members at the end of the day. will be given out soon. We also have one scheduled for 8th October in Essex and further requests for Leeds, Doncaster, Newcastle, St The third event was held in Nottingham at the St George’s Centre, Albans, Suffolk and the Southern Area. We would like these to be Netherfield on Saturday the 2nd April and, once again, a very on Fridays or Saturdays which will allow those at work to attend. good attendance with some very positive feedback. We expect the workshops to run from September 2011 through to April 2012. Profile on you – be on If anyone wishes to have a workshop we require a suitable room the front cover! with tables and chairs to hold a maximum of 50 people, also a ‘Individual experiences from the allotment’ projector screen and table if possible and, of course, facilities for Whoever, wherever you are, whatever you grow, why not refreshments and toilets. tell us a little about yourself? Don’t be shy! We may be able to come to you to take some professional Any enquiries for a workshop will you please get in touch with photographs of you on your allotment to feature on the me directly, Shirley Fleetwood, 0115 9526920 or email shirley. front page. [email protected] or Karen Kenny 07712 766916 or Please supply approx 400 words/ good quality images email [email protected]. and your contact details and we will be in touch – [email protected] Look forward to seeing many of you in the Autumn Shirley Fleetwood

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23 L–R: Keith Walker, Highland Council Allotments Policy Officer; Mandy Fooks, SAGS Vice-President; Ian Welsh SAGS President; Jenny Mollison GYOWG; Sarah Boyack MSP; Peter Wright GYOWG; Donna McDaid NSALG Secretary Annual Scottish Allotments Conference 2011 in Dunblane

With an opening welcome from Ian Jenny Mollison then told us about Welsh, SAGS President, SAGS Annual the Grow Your Own Working Group Conference held in Victoria Halls in (GYOWG) set up in 2009 to implement the Dunblane on 18th June, 2011 was a well “allotments and grow your own” sector attended and very interesting day. of the Scottish Government’s Food and Drink Policy. The Group is made up of As first speaker, Sarah Boyack MSP herself, Judy Wilkinson and Peter Wright, advised the development of allotments all present as long-term SAGS members. in Scotland had complete cross-party GYOWG completed their first report this support within the Scottish Government. February. It addresses the six main areas With the Scottish Government election of Planning, Legal, Skills, Community now behind us in May 2011, the next Land, Guidance and Funding. As with all step is to lobby those involved with Local Reports, this is just the beginning. Whilst Council elections in March 2012. Sarah one aim, the “Allotments – A Scottish recommended we found out if our Local Plotholders Guide”, is complete, the other Councils had a Policy for Allotments, if not, aims’ success depends on the Scottish Peter Wright completed this section why not, and if so, how good is it and how Government and Local Authorities to make advising both above reports are on is it being implemented. As an ex-planner it happen - it is our job to let them know SAGS website and that our Minister for she said SAGS played a crucial role in what we want! Environment and Climate Change is development of allotments in Scotland. Stewart Stevenson.

Keith Walker, Allotments Policy Officer for the Highland Council then gave a report on their new allotments in an area of Scotland that contains 33% of the land and 4% of the population. It was good to hear such commitment coming from within a Council.

Donna McDaid, NSALG Secretary, then gave an informative talk about the developments of allotments in England. Whilst allotments in England have statutory protection they do not have it in Scotland. Despite this many Local Authorities in England still do not have a policy for allotments.

Donna advised us that each Local Authority will have a budget for “recreational activities” such as swimming pools. Again we have to let our Local Authority know we would like some of this allocation for allotments.

24 Cook of Binn Soil Nutrients Ltd, www. binnsoilnutrients.com, once again attended with SEER Rockdust that feeds organically approved natural minerals to the soil.

Jennifer confirms SEER Rockdust can be added all year round and encourages Associations to contact her for discounts on pallets of 50 x 20kg bags. Ron Gilchrist of Greenway shared the stand promoting his brand new “Grow the tastiest and most nutritious food” book that can be bought via their website www.green-way.org.uk and is reviewed in this magazine. Obituary Jennifer A Cook BSc (Hons) Buzzard Business Services Elsie Allen Mary Lisk from Shetlands Council then It is with sadness that we were informed gave a talk on Allotments set up in their of the death of Elsie Allen, the widow windy environment. She said such are the of the late Bill Allen from Rotherham. Shetlands winds that normal polytunnels Elsie had been a member of NSALG end up in Norway! She was followed by for many years, a life member and a Patrick Harvie, Scotland’s Green Party MSP. previous member of the Management Committee. Elsie suffered a stroke a Several Associations from around Scotland few months ago from which she never then gave a progress report on setting up recovered, she was 95. Allotments. Most were brand new, and all making excellent progress, albeit based on Our sympathies go to Elsie’s family. a lot of hard work and dedication. NSALG Head Office Robert Sweeney, of EM Sustainability, www.em-sustainableliving.co.uk attended with his display of “effective micro-organisms” products. Jennifer Donate excess produce from your allotment to those in need

Do you have leftover food from your allotment that could be donated to those in need?

My name is Toby Fischer and I work with Sock mob, a network of volunteers (www.sockmobevents.org.uk) that provide food and assistance to London’s homeless through planned events and regular street walks, as well as other initiatives aimed to build their confidence and educate the public about life on the streets. I am currently working with a friend to find out how we can help in another area of social malaise; malnutrition and poor access to

affordable healthy food. This is a call to all allotment owners for your advice on whether there is any opportunity for leftover food grown in allotments to be re-distributed to hungry mouths around the UK. If you could spare a minute of your time please complete the following survey via the web link www.surveymonkey.com/ s/36KZMZD.

Your response would be invaluable in assessing whether this avenue could be pursued in order to re-distribute unused food to those that really need it. Alternatively please send your comments to Toby and Andrew on email: [email protected] or contact myself directly on 07775900310. Thank you Toby Fischer

25 Barcham welcomes visits from clubs with and societies

Barcham Trees, Europe’s largest container tree nursery, is opening its gates this summer to garden clubs and other interested societies whose members would appreciate a ‘behind the scenes’ NSALG aims to: look at how it operates. The company is happy to give pre- arranged evening tours free of charge to bona fide groups. There is ample on-site parking for visitors. Barcham Trees, situated between Ely and Soham, Cambridgeshire, has a 300 acre site of more than 125,000 trees ranging through more than 350 species and cultivars. While Benefits its main customers are local authorities, landscape architects and other professionals, it With this copy of the magazine for the third quarter you will get your single seed list with is also able to offer its large, semi-mature trees to private instructions on how to proceed. The Seed Scheme has benefits to all parties concerned, but individuals. maybe not everyone knows the benefits, especially anyone who is new to the secretary’s job. It stresses that it is a working nursery and that, as it is not normally open to the public, it If you want each member of your society to have their own individual copy of the catalogue, is not a garden centre. Anyone the secretary should ring or e-mail Head Office in Corby and ask for extra copies. They will wishing to arrange a visit from their club or society is invited dispatch one for each member registered. It only costs each member £1 to have their own to e-mail sales@barchamtrees. individual order packed for them personally. This avoids one person having to oversee an co.uk www.barcham.co.uk order for their site, which can be very time consuming if you have a large society.

The Seeds are half the retail price and are of good quality, with a choice of over 500 flower, vegetable and herb seeds

Special organic and exhibition seed sections

A percentage of every pound spent within the scheme goes to fund NSALG in spreading the allotment message

Your society makes up to 20% commission from all orders for one site

The members save half of their annual seed bill!

The more you order the better it is all round. You won’t get a better offer than this one, so go for it!

[email protected]

O’Dell House, Hunters Road, Corby, Northants NN17 5JE T: 01536 266576 F: 01536 264509 E:[email protected] W:www.nsalg.org.uk

with

NSALG aims to:

Benefits

With this copy of the magazine for the third quarter you will get your single seed list with instructions on how to proceed. The Seed Scheme has benefits to all parties concerned, but maybe not everyone knows the benefits, especially anyone who is new to the secretary’s job.

If you want each member of your society to have their own individual copy of the catalogue, the secretary should ring or e-mail Head Office in Corby and ask for extra copies. They will dispatch one for each member registered. It only costs each member £1 to have their own individual order packed for them personally. This avoids one person having to oversee an order for their site, which can be very time consuming if you have a large society.

The Seeds are half the retail price and are of good quality, with a choice of over 500 flower, vegetable and herb seeds

Special organic and exhibition seed sections

A percentage of every pound spent within the scheme goes to fund NSALG in spreading the allotment message

Your society makes up to 20% commission from all orders for one site

The members save half of their annual seed bill!

The more you order the better it is all round. You won’t get a better offer than this one, so go for it!

[email protected]

O’Dell House, Hunters Road, Corby, Northants NN17 5JE T: 01536 266576 F: 01536 264509 E:[email protected] W:www.nsalg.org.uk

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ALG 185 x 128mm pruning.indd 1 20/06/2011 10:35:35 28 Allotment & Leisure Gardener Half Page 185mm x 128mm Landscape cucumbers, peppers and tomatoes through the summer. We You profile on usually start so much growing that the carefully planned crop rotation plan is frequently jiggled about to fit extra things in. Avril Buck With the milder spring, nearly everything has now been planted out and time is taken with watering and erecting windbreaks to We are keen to hear from keep out the fierce winds which sweep across all year. The fruit anyone who wishes to provide a cage contains gooseberries and currants and at home in pots we few words about themselves; tell us have blueberries and my prized small fig tree which is tended to what you get up to on your allotment – don’t forget to send some with greater care than anything else! pictures! It is a nuisance having to cover the different crops from pigeons, Growing vegetables really brings out the creativity in gardeners cabbage whites and the virus that killed all of our leeks last year. and it is quite intriguing to see the different styles that people Thank goodness for fleece and fine net! Guess what we buy for use to grow their crops on our site. I do not think my style is too birthday presents for each other? unconventional as I learnt from my Dad who grew basic food for our family of seven. I can recall helping him and it must have As we are now retired it is more of a leisurely occupation; we tend rubbed off a bit which is why I started growing myself as soon to visit in the week when it is quieter and a real pleasure to sit, as I was married and I have tried to encourage the children and have lunch, read the paper, watch the birds, debate what to try grandchildren, with some success. We had no allotment to start next, admire the new growth on the blackberries growing right with as our garden was a fair size but when we moved to our in front of the shack near where we sit and discuss how many present home the garden was so small and I instantly applied cherries there will be on our fan tree (we had 4 last year!). No two for one and when granted we started the hard work of getting it seasons are the same and we look forward to the challenges each ready to start planting. year. Mrs Avril Buck Although my husband prefers flowers he will happily start off most Swindon, Wiltshire of the vegetables needed in his greenhouse and tend melons,

29 Mike Thurlow answers your Questions I have tried to select questions that may be topical and cover most aspects of the vegetable garden/ allotment. Allotment gardening covers a wide range of interests, if you want to include any other areas of gardening please send your questions in.

I always seem to have some apples with maggot holes in of the tree. Position the collar about Qthem. I don’t want to use chemicals on my fruit trees is there 18"(45 cms) from the bottom of the anything else that I can use to prevent this damage to the fruit? tree and hopefully it will trap the pupae. Remove and burn the collar with The holes are caused by the larvae of the codling moth which the pupae inside it during the Ais active from late July onwards. The female lays her eggs autumn. on the fruit and leaves during June and July. After 10 to 14 days the eggs hatch and the larvae tunnel their way into the apple I love my home grown either through the stalk or eye ends of the fruits. After about a Qbeetroot, what is the best month they leave the fruit via an exit tunnel (the small hole that you way to store for the winter? describe). They then descend through the tree to find somewhere to hide until the following spring. One organic method of trying to Beetroots are always control them is to tie a 6"(15cm) band of corrugated cardboard Aspoilt by frost so it is collar, with the corrugation placed vertically, around the trunk important to get them out of the ground before the first hard frost is expected in your area. This can be any time from the end of September up to the end of October. Only select sound, healthy and undamaged roots for putting into store taking great care not to damage the tap root when lifting them. This is to prevent the root “bleeding” which will eventually lead to it rotting, also don’t be tempted to cut off the leaves - always twist them off just above the top if the root. Once again this is to prevent bleeding.

You can use wooden wine boxes or any similar type of container in which to store the beetroots. To stop them drying out the roots should be stored in damp sand or used potting compost. Spread a 3"(8cm) deep layer of sand/compost over the bottom of the container and gently press the beetroot into this layer, setting them upright and making sure that they don’t touch each other. Cover this with a layer of the storage material and place the next layer of roots so that they are positioned in between the lower layer. Repeat this until the container is full and remember to leave enough space so that the topmost layer can be covered.

Keep the containers somewhere cool, dry and frost free and with luck the beetroot will keep in good condition well into the New Year. For short term storage of only a few weeks, lift and prepare the beetroot as already described but this time put them into a plastic bag sealing the top and keeping them in the salad drawer of the refrigerator.

When harvesting beetroot it is always best NOT to wash the roots because it can cause them to bleed and will spoil the flavour. Try to lift them during a period when they are dry and soil free. If this is not possible allow the soil to dry and gently rub it off taking great care not to break the skin. Good luck!

30 What is the best tool to use for digging, Qspade or fork?

It all really depends on the condition of your Asoil. Digging heavy or compacted soils with a spade is backbreaking work. The soil sticks to blade and weighs heavy on the end of the spade. Use a digging fork to begin the initial preparation of the soil because it is far easier to push into the I have tried to select questions that may be topical and cover most aspects of the ground and to lift and turn over. Both tools have their individual merits, the spade is best to use vegetable garden/ allotment. Allotment gardening covers a wide range of interests, for completely turning over the soil and leaving it if you want to include any other areas of gardening please send your questions in. in lumps or ridges for the weather to break down whereas the fork is useful for breaking down lumpy soil and creating a crumbly texture. They are best used in combination to produce the best results. The real secret to digging is waiting until the soil has drained and dried sufficiently to allow you to walk on it without leaving compressed footprints that can fill up with water.

Probably the most important decision to make is your actual choice of tool. It doesn’t matter if has D or Y shaped handle as long as it feels comfortable to hold them in the New Year first remove every other plant as a bunch without stretching your hand. The length of the handle is critical of leaves so providing you with your spring greens allowing the though. Today’s generation of gardeners are taller than previous remaining plants to grow and fill the space to be harvested as generations and this is acknowledged by the tool manufacturers spring cabbage. who are fitting longer handles to forks and spades. Look out for these and try them out. Try to buy the best tools that you can Over winter varieties of cabbages are very hardy but show their afford, it doesn’t have to be stainless steel but avoid cheap, thin appreciation and reward you with the freshest, greenest leaves steel that will buckle and bend under load. that you could ever wish for.

I want to grow some fresh spring cabbage, how do I go How and when should I harvest my maincrop potatoes? Qabout it? Q Most members of the cabbage family appreciate a long It’s all a bit of trial and error to a certain degree. From the end Agrowing time. To produce spring cabbage the seed must be Aof June the earlies will become ready to lift. Scrape away sown before the end of summer. August is ideal month to sow some of the soil around the potato plants just to see how big the seed of a suitable spring cropping variety. As long as you can the tubers are. If they are bigger than a large egg they are ready get the young cabbage plants big enough to transplant by mid- to dig up. The maincrops have to be left until late September/ October you will be OK. Spring cabbages are sometimes wrongly early October before lifting. Try to get them out of the ground called Spring greens. Spring greens are bunches of leaves rather before the heavy rains of Autumn arrive. Providing that the plants than individual plants with a heart or head. One way to have the haven’t suffered from blight the foliage will turn brown naturally best of both worlds is when transplanting the young plants set and begin to look dry and shrivelled. Get in there with a shears them at 6"(15 cms) spacings. When you want to begin harvesting and cut off all of the foliage; it can be put on the compost heap if you want. Leave the potatoes in the ground for about another ten days before lifting them. This time allows the tubers to “shut down” ready for storing. Wait for a fine, dry spell of weather before beginning the job. Dig the potatoes up using a fork not a spade, let them lie on the surface of the soil for a couple of hours for the skins to harden before putting only the best ones into paper sacks. It is important to use paper sacks because they allow the tubers to breathe and also shut out daylight which will cause them to turn green and become useless.

Store the sacks in a dry, frost free area. From time to time check the sacks just make sure that everything is alright. Your nose will let you know if something is wrong because the smell of rotting potatoes is ..smelly. Mike is the Head Gardener at Audley End Visit: www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout Do you have a question for Mike?

Send an email to [email protected] or write into NSALG Head Office – address on page 3. Subject line: Mike Thurlow Q&A

31 Report of the 2011 Annual General Meeting of the NSALG Ltd Stoneleigh Park, Coventry – 4th June 2011

The meeting was opened by the President, Colin Nickerson, application was received after 2nd January and therefore was who introduced the Chairman, Treasurer and Secretary. He also not put forward. In the absence of any questions, the report was welcomed the Standing Orders Committee and all delegates. The approved. Delegates were asked to select candidates to serve on President called on all delegates to stand for a minutes silence in the Standing Orders Committee. The nominations were counted memory of the members of the NSALG who have passed away in and the results were: Iain Crawford and Peter Lofts were elected the past twelve months. for two years and Mick Merrill for one year.

Apologies were received from: Peter Neame, Allan Hull, Patrick Appointment of Tellers McCall and Jack Sheridan. It was agreed that Tellers would be elected, if required, at a later stage in the meeting. Chairman’s Remarks 2011 The Report of the Proceedings of the 2010 AGM 2010/11 has been an extremely busy and successful year. At The Report was approved by the meeting. the moment the office is still at full stretch; and there are several Government proposals either to repeal all the allotment acts or Annual Report 2011 part of them. Up to now we have had a considerable amount of support from MPs and some AMs in Wales. There is still a vast Membership amount of campaigning to do and once again I urge everyone to be vigilant. The Localism Bill will introduce two key rights – the Membership of the Society continues to increase; overall right to challenge and the right to buy; we have responded to membership is 122,052, just over 10% up on last year’s figures. the public consultation on both of these issues. The aim of this Association membership has increased by 68 but Individual legislation is to place more control in the hands of local people, membership is down 13%. School membership was introduced community groups, charities and parish councils. The Localism in October 2009, and we currently have 34 schools taking up Bill is due to come into force sometime in 2012. The consultation membership, compared to 14 schools in membership last year. on statutory obligations on Local Authorities included Section 23 of the 1908 Act, which, if taken away, would remove the duty The following new members were admitted in 2010/11 of Local Authorities to provide allotments. This has now been Associations ...... 68 withdrawn as a proposal. Individuals...... -160 Local Authorities...... 52 Every year we increase our presence at shows throughout the country and this year’s efforts have been even greater and thanks Advice and Assistance must go to you all who persevere in attending these events on Advice on legal and other issues still plays a major and important our behalf. Our membership continues to increase and for the part in the work of the Society and with the ‘Big Society’ strategy moment subscriptions are to remain the same. There has been shaping up we anticipate a number of calls from Associations and some concern regarding insurance and some members are Local Authorities seeking advice and clarification on the allotment considering other alternatives. It is essential to have insurance and legislation. The Society is actively involved in discussions with the our scheme covers you, your society and member to member; Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG). With others may not have the overall cover that we provide. Please the recent consultation on the government review of statutory read the small print and ensure your officers are covered, as duties, the Society corresponded and emailed DCLG, and all individually you may not be secure within your policy. If you are MPs to bring this to their attention. We also contacted all our insured, please ensure you have a policy document. members and sent out a press release. NSALG was concerned that Government would repeal Section 23 of the 1908 Act; this During the year we have had two new members of staff at the is vital to the allotment movement and we wanted to ensure that office; Liz Bunting, our new Legal Eagle, and Rahki Arora, who is they protected it for future generations. A similar piece of the investigating and carrying out research in some regions as to why Scottish legislation was repealed; now they have no constraints members leave, and also explore marketing strategies. or safeguard and thousands of plots were lost; we didn’t want this to happen in our legislation. The other on-going consultation During the year we held an international workshop in Birmingham is the ‘Localism Bill’; again we will endeavour to keep this at the which proved to be one of the best so far; it was a huge forefront of what we do. Any changes in the regulations will be success and everyone in Europe was very impressed with our well communicated to our members and we will obtain official organisational skills; one comment was “Even the English food guidance on how they can work any changes in practice. was good!”. The International continues to support all member countries in promoting allotments and has assisted recently in There are many landowners who wish to convert their land into helping to retain land in Switzerland. allotments; the National and other like minded organisations have attended meetings organised by DEFRA as they felt there was a My sincere thanks to the hardworking staff at Head Office, the need for clarification. The outcome will be to provide some FAQ’s Management Committee and Officers and members of regional and legal analysis to enable them to achieve their goals. We will committees for their dedication, and, of course, you, the member keep you all updated with the progress. for your loyal support; long may it continue. Applications for consent to dispose The report was adopted Section 8 applications continue to go down; the number of applications for disposal of allotments was 15, 4 of which have Presentation of the Report of the Standing Orders Committee been approved. Most of the applications were in respect of Ian Crawford, Chairman of the Standing Orders Committee, long term vacant land or land which had never been used for presented his report to the meeting. He had previously asked for allotments. Instead of whole sites being lost, it appeared to be volunteers and three nominations were received. David Gibbs’s more of a reorganisation of allotment land.

32 Allotments in general Questions from the floor Allotments continue to be a popular subject for the media. Head Office is often contacted for statistics and figures on allotment 1. Mick Merrill asked if the Chairman could elaborate on the Study related issues. Decentralisation of Government and the Localism Session held in Birmingham in August last year. The Chairman Bill has been at the forefront as we endeavour to safeguard the stated that an update was on our website, but for the benefit existing legislation. of the delegates he said that the Study Session was a great success and the most proactive workshop in a considerable National Allotment Week took at bit of a back seat in 2010, number of years. The International holds a European Day of although it still went ahead; the competitions were temporarily put the Garden and we need to exploit this more in this country. on hold. The National Allotment Gardens Trust is in the process Luxembourg had the backing of the International movement of providing training on topics most frequently requested. The and had saved allotments in their country. training has proven to be very useful and the Trust is planning their next series of presentations and workshops. 2. Paul Gaskin asked if we could investigate if public liability insurance covers sites for wildlife areas. The Society continues to support local participation at the major gardening shows where invaluable work is done in promoting 3. Mick Merrill spoke on recent concerns over the threat to the the Society and the allotment movement in general. Regional legislation and asked what Head Office had done to counteract members put on displays at major shows such as Malvern this. The President stated that we sent out emails and letters (Spring and Autumn shows), Gardeners World Live, Tatton Park, to all members and also contacted MP’s. The Prime Minister Southport, RHS Wisley Spring and Autumn shows. The Edible said in ‘Prime Minister’s Question Time’ on 4th May, that the Garden Show was a new show, launched this year in March and movement has his full support. The Chairman also commented NSALG was one of the leading sponsors. Positive feedback was that we were told that the current legislation would not be received and West Midlands Region also added their support and removed from the duty list and that we would be vigilant help. concerning any developments with the Localism Bill.

International Office The Audited Accounts and Treasurer’s Report were There was an international committee meeting in March 2011 in adopted by the meeting. Luxembourg; the Chairman represented the Society at this event. NSALG hosted an International Study Session which took place Nominations in Birmingham on 26-28 August 2010. 38 delegates from various European countries attended. The Chairman, Secretary, the West East Midlands Midlands Regional Representative and the Eastern Regional Maurice Lander – nominated by the Regional Committee Representative attended from the UK. The session was hailed as the most proactive session for some time. The International West Midlands Congress will be held in Copenhagen on 18-21 August 2011. Shirley Fleetwood – nominated by the Regional Committee

Adoption of the Audited Accounts for the The nominations were accepted en-bloc Year ended 31st Jan 2011 Jim Tandy Award David Rawlings, NSALG’s Treasurer, presented the Accounts. Presented to Dave Morris in Allan Hull’s absence.

Income Answers to questions from the floor – 2010 AGM Affiliation fee income increased by £13,358, a 5.6 % increase on Accepted en bloc last year’s figure. Consideration of Motions Commission on seeds is down this year by 7.8 % on last year’s figures. Kings informed us that plotholders buy some bigger items Paul Gaskin gave a presentation on the structure of a region. Not in bulk and this tends to last them for a couple of years. Insurance all regions are the same and it is unacceptable to assume that commission was also down by 24.5 %. We changed insurance the Regional Representative carries out all tasks. Currently there providers, as the previous provider’s premiums were too high. is no document on how a region should be run. He feels that We are still endeavoring to reach the best possible deal for our some form of training would be beneficial to new and existing members. committee members; officers should not have to pick things up as they go along. This training should be separate to the training Income from investments is about the same level as last year and offered by Karen Kenny on “How to Form and Run Associations”. these continue to be managed by HSBC in their ‘Global Asset John McNab, the present Secretary of the West Midlands region, Management’ portfolio. seconded the proposal by Paul Gaskin, reiterating that there is a great need for training of Regional Officers. Plotholders often Expenditure turn to Regional Officers before they approach the Regional Expenditure is up on the previous year; this is mainly due to large Representative or Head Office. All officers should be well informed amounts of money being paid out in legal fees as a number of to uphold the reputation of the NSALG. cases were referred to our Solicitors. The meeting voted in favour to support the Motion. The increase in Regional grant expenditures reflects the previously agreed increase in the rebates, enabling more money to be Arrangements for the 2012 AGM of NSALG Ltd. available for regional work. The Secretary informed the meeting that it was proposed There was a surplus on the year of £46,342. This is quite a healthy that the next AGM should be held at Ryton (Garden Organic), balance considering the large amount paid out in legal fees. With Warwickshire. The venue is situated near Coventry and has the new Legal Advisor in place, we have not forwarded as many excellent facilities and members could have a guided tour of the new cases to our Solicitors. grounds.

The report was unanimously accepted by the meeting.

33 Presentations Shirley Fleetwood gave an account of the National Allotment Gardens Trust and reported on the funds and donations in place. Pippa Greenwood gave an excellent presentation on Garden She spoke of the workshops/training held by the Trust and Nasties and what to look out for in the garden when it comes to the future dates for further training. Karen Kenny spoke of the diseased plants and pests. excellent feedback from the previous training and expanded on the course content. Brian Dennis from the British Beekeepers Association gave a very interesting and informative talk on how bees are important to Close of the Meeting allotment sites, the history of beekeeping in the UK and modern day methods. The President thanked everyone for coming and looked forward to seeing everyone at next year’s AGM at Ryton. Maurice Lander presented Chris Brown with Honorary Life Membership from the West Midlands Region. Chris was happy to accept the membership and has for many years now been involved with the Birmingham and District Council.

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34 Make the Year of the Forests a Royal one

As ‘Royal Fever’ grips the nation the Woodland Trust is calling the next year. These are great opportunities to get together, and for people across the UK to create a legacy by planting trees in planting trees is one way to celebrate the past, present and look celebration of Her Majesty The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. to the future while making a real difference to people’s physical surroundings. April’s Royal Wedding witnessed the start of 18 months of royal celebrations which will culminate in The Queen’s Diamond “Imagine, for the next Jubilee, you could be making food and drink Jubilee in June 2012. In honour of this, the Woodland Trust is for a party from the fruits and berries of your own trees!” encouraging communities to transform their neighbourhoods by planting trees, both to commemorate one of the longest reign’s in Each pack is available in two sizes, as well as four different themes. British history and to usher in a new, younger era of royalty. Species in the packs support a variety of wildlife from songbirds such as starling, blackbird and song thrush, to other animals The initiative is part of the Trust’s Jubilee Woods project, its most including squirrels which thrive on nuts from the hazel tree. ambitious to date, which aims to plant over 6 million native trees and involve millions of people across the UK by the end of 2012. Communities can apply for a free pack of trees by registering The project has The Queen’s support and HRH The Princess online today at http://www.moretreesmoregood.org.uk/jubilee and Royal is its patron ticking the option to receive a Jubilee pack. The closing date is 30th September. Georgina McLeod, project head at the Woodland Trust, said: “Planting trees is a great way to celebrate the Jubilee but also it’s a chance to make your mark on Britain’s future. We hope that people across the UK will want to join us in paying a very special tribute to the Queen, while at the same time creating something living and lasting to hand on to future generations. We can only make this exciting and ambitious project successful with everyone’s help.”

People can apply for a free pack of trees and plant them to brighten up a community space such as an allotment, improve playgrounds and nurseries, sports clubs or even a town centre, or simply to bring friends and family of all ages together and encourage children to get outside. Packs contain a special Royal sapling, grown on Royal estates around the country.

Victoria Hodson, project development manager at the Trust, says: “Street parties will be commonplace up and down the UK over

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36 Chicken Keeping For Beginners 4 Must Know Fundamentals That You Should Follow When Keeping Hens

Raising chickens for meat and 2. Build a coop. The coop must be designed to allow enough eggs is becoming a popular practice space, ventilation and insulation for the chickens. It must also be these days. Anyone who has an ample protected from predators such the vermin and dogs. There are free space in the backyard can give chicken farming a try. Whether plans available online that you can use as construction guides. for business or for one’s own food supply, the poultry farming industry has drawn interest from different kinds of people. Some 3. Provide sufficient feed. Whether you are planning to rear caged experienced poultry farmers have been magnanimous enough or free range chickens, it is important to consider the amount of to share some steps in chicken keeping for beginners, which feed that they will need. Mature birds in full laying condition usually are believed to be helpful for those who are planning to get their require rations that have more protein content than those required hands on poultry farming. for maintenance.

If you want to raise chickens but you do not have enough 4. Establish your own flock by incubating the eggs. It used to take knowledge about it, the best thing that you should do is to learn 18 to 21 days before the eggs would hatch into chicks. The more the steps in chicken keeping for beginners. As a novice in poultry chicks you produce, the more likely you can supply meat and farming, you must be aware that you cannot take any shortcuts eggs for the market. just like what most shrewd yet unethical farmers do. You need to learn the basics to be able to come up with your own healthy Chicken keeping for beginners is necessary for giving the novices flock. Here are some of the fundamentals in chicken keeping for the right idea about raising fowls. There is nothing more valuable beginners that you should be able to follow: than the basics for those who want to establish their own poultry farms. As soon as the established flock grows, the poultry farming 1. Do research on the breeds of chicken and decide which one can now step into the higher level for commercial success. you should raise. Leghorn, Rhode Island Reds, Buff Orpington are just some of the famous breeds that you can keep. Among these Looking for more tips on chicken keeping for beginners? Discover three, the Leghorn breed produces the most eggs. The Rhode everything you need to know and how easy it is to raise your own Island Reds are rather known for their brown eggs. If you are chicken, separate yourself from the usual chicken owners and planning to raise chickens for eggs, it is best to start by rearing a avoid costly mistakes. Visit: www.howtoraisechicken.com flock through the adult fowls. Bob Pearson Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bob_Pearson Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5297234 GOT CHICKENS? Tied down to daily feeding ? Problem free chicken Rodents and birds eating their food? feeding Automatic poultry feeder GRANDPA’S If you’re tired of watching wild birds POULTRY FEEDERS stealing your chicken’s food then ...are made to save you time the inventors behind Grandpa’s and money by eliminating Chicken Feeders understand the the need for daily feeding frustration you feel! Their feeders and stopping the significant have been designed to overcome this problem and over the past amount of food lost to rats, 14 years they have become extremely popular in New Zealand mice and wild birds. These are the ideal feeders for and Australia. They are now available in the UK. 1-50 chickens, allowing you • Feeder lid opens when chicken stands on platform to enjoy the goodness of Grandpa's feeders allow chickens free access to their food by your own farm fresh eggs • Strongly constructed with allowing them to stand on a platform, which opens the hopper without attracting pests and galvanized steel lid and pests such as wild birds, rats and mice cannot access it. their associated diseases. • Water proof The feeders also allow chicken owners to go away for weekends GRANDPA’S FEEDERS, or longer without worrying about feeding their hens, the standard developed and sold in New size feeder holds 9kg of feed and the large 18kg, which will feed Zealand and Australia for Standard holds 9kg £95 + p&p 20 chickens for 6 days. over 12 years have become Large holds 18kg £125 + p&p hugely popular and are now The feeders are totally weatherproof and can be left outside and considered standard equip- Satisfaction Guaranteed or are made of high quality galvanized steel which ensures a very ment for keeping poultry. Money Back! long working life. They come with a total satisfaction, money back For happier, healthier more productive chickens contact: guarantee for 6 months. The standard feeder sells for £95 and the www.grandpasfeeders.com large for £125 (both plus p+p) and the fact that they can quickly t: 01684 311729 e: [email protected] pay for themselves in saved feed make them excellent value. Postal: Grandpa’s Feeders, 126 Clevelode, Malvern, Worcester WR13 6PA For more information visit: www.grandpasfeeders.com or contact [email protected] or call Richard on 01684 311729.

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38 History of the Allotment Movement In Ilford North East Greater London

I have been researching the history of the street where they lived with a lodger allotment movement in Ilford, North East called Jim. Greater London. Prior to Ilford becoming an urban district in 1894, it was a small Because Buck was the only plot holder quiet village, surrounded by farms and recorded in both censuses I was able to market gardens. In 1926, Ilford became a find out more about him than any of the Municipal Borough in Essex County and other plot holders. Nonetheless, I was remained so until 1965 when it, along with able to build a profile of the typical Ilford some of the surrounding areas, became allotment holder. He (and it appears they part of the London Borough of Redbridge. were all men) was English, about 39 years old, married and, on average, had two There were some allotments in this area children. He also lived near his allotment during the nineteenth century, but by the site, usually less than a mile away. Given beginning of the twentieth century, when the number of owner-occupiers in the my research begins, these early allotments Map of Greater London, Ilford area at that time, he almost certainly Ilford/Redbridge area shaded dark grey had disappeared. Allotments reappeared owned his own house, probably financed again when the Small Holdings and through a mortgage obtained from Ilford Allotments Acts 1907 & 1908 obliged councils to provide land Council or the property developer. The most typical type of house when demanded by six registered voters or ratepayers. inhabited by the plot holder was a terraced house with a double- bay window, two reception rooms and three bedrooms (unlike I was particularly interested in who these early allotment holders that suggested by the caption in the picture below). In 1908, were, where they lived, what jobs they had and, in fact, anything this type of house, in Ilford, could be purchased for about £300 else I could find out about them. I used the 1901 and 1911 freehold or £220 leasehold. All of the plot holders I investigated census to help identify them. One of the first allotmenteers in Ilford were employed and their jobs ranged from a general labourer and was William Buck, a florist. Buck was 54 years old and married ‘fish carman’ (mobile fish and chip seller) through to clerks, civil to Phoebe who was 62. William was Phoebe’s second husband, servants and a chartered secretary. although it is not known if he had been married before. Phoebe was described in the 1901 census as a market gardener, but by Although I believe that the families of the Ilford plot holders 1911 she appeared to have retired and William had given up his helped them out on the allotment site, I have no evidence for this florist’s business to become a ‘gardener.’ Sometime between conclusion. (If anybody knows I’d love to hear your memories of 1901 and 1911 William and Phoebe moved into the adjacent long ago). I do know, however, that the women participated in the social activities of the allotment societies and horticultural shows. One newspaper from 1925 tells us how their local show had over forty classes of entry for members and “for the ladies the cake and jam making classes should make a special appeal.” The ladies were also eligible to enter their pickles, cut flowers and cooked potatoes! There was one open class, a Collection of Vegetables, which was won by a woman, although the report implies she displayed them rather than grew them. Thankfully, times have changed and today women are an equal part of the allotment culture. Now any ‘Collection of Vegetables’ is just as likely to have been grown by a woman as a man.

Should you wish to contact me with your memories my email is [email protected]. Lesley Acton

Britain in Old Photographs, from Ilford to Hainault by Don Hewson, Sutton Publishing Ltd (1996)

39 Turn your Shed to Chalet Competition

Is your shed looking tired and dull? Then why not give it a Compact Tiles new lease of life by easily renovating it with a product from the Compact tiles are designed with a low profile corrugation set in Onduline Garden Roof Range. an attractive tile strip contour, providing a tough and durable roof covering compared to mineral felt. Easy to fix to either decking or A world leader with over 70 years experience manufacturing battens they instantly transforms any garden building. bituminous corrugated roofing sheets from recycled fibres Onduline has a new range of lightweight roofing materials ideal for Available in Red and Green on the Onduline eShop at a special new or existing timber structures such as garden sheds, garages, price of £1 per tile whilst stocks last!! summerhouses or workshops. Why not purchase today Onduline Garden Roof products from Onduline Mini -Profile Sheet *(available from nationwide www.onduline.co.uk and take on the easiest of DIY projects this stockists, not online) summer. The Mini Profile sheet is designed using the same manufacturing process as the Onduline classic sheet but with a lower height Submit a photo of your shed before and after transformation for corrugation of 24mm, ideal to enhance the appearance of any your chance to win £100 M&S vouchers, or as a runner up a garden building. The Mini Profile sheet forms a durable and low bottle of champagne. maintenance roof covering supported by a 10 year weathering guarantee. You can either send your images as a digital file to www. [email protected] or as photographs enclosed with your Onduvilla Tiles name, address and contact number to: Onduvilla is an innovative tile strip, designed to form a durable yet desirable roof covering in a 3-tone colour finish of Green, Red, Shed to Chalet Competition or Brown which creates an attractive appearance of clay tiles. Onduline Building Products, Eardley House, Onduvilla tiles are easy to handle with grooved lap joints to provide 182–184 Campden Hill Road, Kensington, London W8 7AS an enhanced weathering performance for any garden building. Closing date 31 December 2011. Please note that photographs may not be returned. Competition terms and conditions Competitions are open to all UK residents aged 18 or over, excluding employees or agents of the associated publishing company and their families. One entry per person. The prizes and giveaways are as specified on the relevant pages. No cash alternatives. Entries must be via post or email as stated (no purchase necessary). Illegible entries and those that do not abide by these terms and conditions will be disqualified. No responsibility is held for entries lost, delayed or damaged in the post, proof of posting is not proof of delivery. Your details will be processed by Crest Publications Ltd. (publishers of the Allotment and Leisure Gardener magazine on behalf of the NSALG) in full accordance with data protection. Crest Publications Ltd. may wish to contact you with information of other services we provide which may be of interest. Please indicate on your entry if you do NOT wish to receive such information by post, phone or email. The decision of the judge is final and no correspondence will be entered into. Winners will be notified by phone, email or post. A list of winners is available on request from Crest Publications Ltd., 20 Moulton Park Office Village, Scirocco Close, Northampton NN3 6AP. A sunshine roof For all weathers. EXCLUSIVELY designed in Italy, our stunning ONDUVILLA Tile Strips have a unique three tone colour finish recreating warm natural colours and are available in slate, red, green and brown. Visit onduline.co.uk ONDUVILLA Tile Strips are lightweight, durable and the innovative tile lapping system enhances weathering to find out more performance. With a Mediterranean bold roll profile, ONDUVILLA Tile Strips are an attractive aesthetic roof finish to enhance your timber frame garden buildings.

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40 Other problems Roofing felt is liable to some movement with changes of temperature that can quite often result in a rippling effect. Do not be alarmed as this is perfectly normal and will not reduce the quality of the roofing felt.

Also, doors and windows will expand and contract with changes in humidity and changes in temperature. To minimise Garden Sheds – the risk of any problems occurring, ensure that all of the sheds windows and How Do You Treat Yours? doors are treated using an appropriate product. It may be necessary to Once you have erected your garden shed it is important to adjust the screws holding the shed in place from time to time. maintain it correctly. If treated and maintained correctly you should enjoy your shed for many years. The Author, Sara Lungley, wrote this article on garden sheds and recommends you visit www.gardeningthoughts.co.uk for more Apart from the floor joists, sheds are usually supplied completely information on sheds, log cabins and accessories. untreated. It is strongly recommended that you treat your shed Sara Lungley within 2 weeks of installation. When treating your shed, bear Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sara_Lungley in mind that colours may appear slightly different due to the Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/ 721403 individual qualities of timber.

When applying treatment to sheds, it is important that you stipple TOP QUALITY it into the corners and log slots as this will help prevent moisture FROST PROTECTION, MULCH & WEEDSTOP, SHADE & WINDBREAKS from seeping in. And lots more if you call us or look on the web – www.daxproducts.co.uk ALL PRICES INCLUDE POSTAGE AND PACKING When choosing your treatment ensure that it is suitable for use on Frost Fleece 1.5m wide Good against Carrot Root Fly. planed wood, and not for sawn timber. Light weight 17gsm. 10m. for £5; 24m. for £8; 100m. for £25; 250m for £75. Heavyweight 30gsm. 12m. for £8, 20m for £12; 40m. for £20; 100m. for £43. Aftercare Fleece re-inforcement / Micro-Climate Crop Cover. Like an ultra strong long life fleece. 2m. wide. Protects the fleece from strong winds – left on in Spring. 5m. £10; 12m. £20. Appearance of gaps Insect Net – A strong, low light loss and long lasting fine insect mesh. Timber is a natural product and thus will vary with changes Easy to water through, light weight to rest on top of plants and veg. in humidity and changes in temperature. When the weather 2m. wide. 5m. £18; 12m. £30; 24m. £60; 48m. £110; £100m. £160. becomes extremely dry, small cracks may well appear between Butterfly Net 4m. wide. Also good as a Pond Net. Black 7 x 6mm. the boards. mesh. 5m. £18; 12m. £30; 24m £60; 48m. £110. 150m. £250 Weed Stop Long life Strong woven Ground Cover. 500mm. wide. These cracks between boards will disappear when the weather 12m for £10; 30m for £20; 100m. for £45. 1m. wide. 18m for £20; 48m. for £45; 100m. for £65 100m rolls:- 2m.for £120; 3.3m for £190; 4m. for £220; normalizes. Small cracks that are formed after a long drought 5m. x 100m £275 period cannot be avoided; however, they do not affect the static Weed Control, Mulch or Landscape fabric. 1.5m. wide 50gsm. load bearing capacity of the shed. 9m. for £7; 48m for £35; 100m for £50; 250m for £120. Plantex. 1.5m wide. 8m. for £15; 48m. for £70; 100m for £120. If gaps begin to appear between the boards of then it’s quite Windbreak and Shade Nets. Strong product for gusty locations. possible that the storm braces have been fitted too tightly. The Knitted to reduce tearing. Used in the Highlands and Islands. first thing to do in this case is to loosen off the bolts of the storm Available in many options – see a few below. 40% 24m. x 1m. for £40; 50m for £60, 100m for £100. 50m. x 1.5m. for £90. braces to see if this allows the shed to settle back into position. 50% 12m. x 1m. for £25; 50m.for £85; 100m for £125; 50m. x 1.5m. for £125. Ammonium Sulfamate ( ROOT-OUT) is available in packs of 908g for If problems persist with gaps appearing between logs and £12.75, 2.27Kg for £26, 5Kg for £46, 10Kg for £80 and 25Kgs for £107. loosening the storm braces does not resolve the problem, you can Due to EU rules you can only use Root-Out as a compost accelerator! try placing a block of wood into the ends of the logs and using a Root-Out must not now be used as a tree, tough weed Marestail, Knot- mallet, hit them back into place gently. weed or bramble killer. Showa Garden Gloves - a choice in sizes of the 310 and 370. £5.50 a pair. Showa Thermo Gloves - a choice in sizes. £6.50 a pair. Gaps will also likely appear between the boards if you restrict the movement of the boards in anyway. It is strongly advised that you All cheques to: Dax Products Ltd. T: 0115 926 9996 e: [email protected] do not install any fixtures that will restrict the movement of the shed. 18, Marlborough Road, Woodthorpe, Nottingham. NG5 4FG

41 dax040411.indd 1 15/7/11 10:32:05 advertisement feature Managing Heat for a Bumper Berry Harvest!

Here in Herefordshire we have had one of A great example of this is Rick Grose in We are very much looking forward to the the warmest April’s on record. As growers of West Sussex, as you can see he too has NVS Show at Llangollen at the end of soft fruit the Haygrove Farm has experienced enjoyed a bumper harvest of quality soft August. If you are planning a visit please ideal conditions for berry production over fruit under his Haygrove Garden Tunnel call into the Haygrove Stand. the last month. The clear, warm days along with a wide range of vegetables and and frost free nights have led to a bumper hanging baskets coming on nicely too! harvest arriving 2–3 weeks early. With a considerable increase in yield and berry sweetness we were pleased to be providing quality, juicy berries to all major supermarkets over the bank holiday weekends.

Temperature has been a considerable factor in this success but good tunnel management is key. On our farm all tunnels are covered by light diffusing plastic covers allowing rays to be scattered, preventing shadowing and plant scorching and ensuring light penetrates right into the plant canopy. Temperature control is vital as strawberries are originally a woodland species and don’t thrive in temperatures over 25˚C leading to the plant becoming thermodormant. Haygrove Tunnels are regularly vented to allow good air circulation around the crop and ensure optimum growing conditions are maintained.

We extend these commercial benefits to all our Garden Tunnel customers as even on Spring days temperatures over 25˚C can easily be reached under unvented plastic covers. Each Haygrove Garden Tunnel has a unique light diffusing cover and inbuilt venting system as standard allowing growers to maintain optimum growing conditions for their crops whilst maintaining a pest free growing environment. Inside Rick Grose’s Haygrove Garden Tunnel in West Sussex Brokers warned off overseas insurers

Brokers have been warned to take heed of current legal A broker source told Insurance Age that a current area of concern restrictions when they consider working with offshore providers. was that certain offshore insurers had been writing motor and household business via their UK service companies under EU The British Brokers’ Association (Biba) has voiced concern freedom of services. Ian Russell, director at APC, said it was after hearing reports of offshore providers approaching brokers interesting that the same old situation kept arising. “With many in the marketplace. Head of compliance and training at Biba, offshore markets around, brokers need to check all the credentials Steve White, said that while the rules allowed Brokers to arrange of any company they work with. There have been so many horror insurance in any way, a broker could not act as an offshore stories unravel in past years with offshore insurers coming into the insurer’s agent unless they had been approved by the Financial market and writing sectors cheap - less than half price in some Services Authority (FSA). Biba issued this advice to brokers: cases - and a lot have ended in tears with large claims being “Members are reminded that where they hold a binding authority unpaid and premiums being taken without cover”, he added. with an overseas insurer, they must ensure that the insurer has the permission of FSA to effect and carry out contracts of insurance”. There is also, of course, the separate issue of offshore providers being bereft of a credit rating. Mr White said it was Biba’s legal It has been suggested that certain offshore providers have in opinion that ”the duty of care sits with brokers to ensure they are the past had binding authorities in the UK that had been illegal. dealing with solvent insurers and those without credit ratings will It is understood they have claimed to have something called a be incompatible bedfellows”. “memorandum of understanding” with the FSA when in reality, if anecdotal evidence is to be believed the regulator tried to take Printed with the kind permission of Insurance Age them to court. By LIZ MCMAHON

42 43 Win a ‘Grow Bag Frame’ Courtesy of Crown Garden Products Limited (3 to give away)

‘Why didn’t someone think of this before?!’ has Wisley in their trial allotments as well as for sale been one of Crown Garden Products Ltd favourite through their shop and also direct from www. comments about their new Grow Bag Frame. The crowngardenproducts.com frame is an innovative, stylish and simple product that supports a grow bag on its side to give To win simply answer the following simple better soil depth, a watering space, vertical plant question: supports and the chance to move your planted grow bag without damaging the plants! Q: The UK made frame is made from recycled what? The frame, made in the UK from recycled galvanised steel wire, simply clips together and is Send your answer along with your name, easy to flat pack away at the end of the year. When address and contact number to: plants reach the top of the straps, just tie canes to Grow Bag Frame Competition – ALG.3.11, the two metal cross bars to continue supporting Crest Publications Ltd, plants as high as you require. It is a great tool for 20 Moulton Park Office Village, Scirocco Close, gardeners young and old, and allows everyone Northampton NN3 6AP the chance to grow vegetables, fruit and flowers or email: [email protected] anywhere, on a balcony, patio or in a greenhouse. (subject line Grow Bag Frame Competition – ALG.3.11). Closing date: 31.8.11 The Grow Bag Frame is suitable for use with all sizes of grow bag and is on display at RHS Competition T&C apply

Competition terms and conditions Competitions are open to all UK residents aged 18 or over, excluding employees or agents of the associated publishing company and their families. One entry per person. The prizes and giveaways are as specified on the relevant pages. No cash alternatives. Entries must be via post or email as stated (no purchase necessary). Illegible entries and those that do not abide by these terms and conditions will be disqualified. No responsibility is held for entries lost, delayed or damaged in the post, proof of posting is not proof of delivery. Your details will be processed by Crest Publications Ltd. (publishers of the Allotment and Leisure Gardener magazine on behalf of the NSALG) in full accordance with data protection. Crest Publications Ltd. may wish to contact you with information of other services we provide which may be of interest. Please indicate on your entry if you do NOT wish to receive such information by post, phone or email. The decision of the judge is final and no correspondence will be entered into. Winners will be notified by phone, email or post. A list of winners is available on request from Crest Publications Ltd., 20 Moulton Park Office Village, Scirocco Close, Northampton NN3 6AP.

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44 ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE The Walk-In Wonderwall® (Patent Pending)

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wonderwall020611.indd 1 8/7/11 13:58:34 4533 In issue 2. 2011 we asked you to share your lovely winter gardening/ outdoor scenes with us. Here are the winning entries…. ‘How to’ DVD winners – ALG 1.11(each winning 2 DVDs)

Joint first place: Don Booth and Douglas Johnson

Third place: Martin Hadfield

Fourth place: Fiona Mitchell (scarecrow)

Order your unique nsalg christmas cards now! Merry Christmas

A must have for any allotmenteer!

The entries from Don & Douglas (Joint First Place Winners) will feature on the Official NSALG 2011 Christmas cards. Name ��

Order your pack of 10 for just £5.00 including p&p Address ��

Complete your details below and return with your cheque* to: ...... Christmas Cards 2011, National Society of Allotment & Leisure Gardeners Ltd, O’Dell House, Hunters Road, Corby, Northants Postcode �� NN17 5JE Tel �� * Cheques should be made payable to: NSALG Ltd Email ��

46 Northern

Northern Regional Report

Not a lot to report this quarter, but it hasn’t been quiet by any depressed, I listened to a tirade of means. Several new members have turned up as usual, and as reasons from the floor why the gardeners usual, my blood boils sometimes when older member societies didn’t want self-management, as this Peter Horrocks decide to reduce their headcount to try and save a bob or two. would lead to them losing their current Regional Rep This is no more than theft! If you’re in an organisation and that rights to keep horses, sheep, goats, organisation charges a fee per member, then all members should dogs etc. The council’s job was to run the site for them, that’s pay it. In your working life you wouldn’t try to opt out of paying what councils are for. The council would insist on standardised your union dues or your social club membership fees so why buildings and what about the cabin my father had built with the should you try and rob the poor old NSALG? That money goes timbers from the pit shaft, a foot thick and held together by two towards fighting the good fight to promote, preserve and protect foot long steel bars etc? One of the other reasons the council allotments throughout the country which surely is a worthwhile was keen to see self-management was the fact that the water objective! But the fight costs money! £2 per year per member is bill for the council sites exceeded the total rental income and this not much, mind you. That’s less than the cost of a pint of beer financial burden was unsustainable. One good outcome of the per year per member!!! I’m starting to draw up a little list of sites meeting was the agreement of the gardeners to elect site reps where I now know under-declaration of membership is in place. to meet on a regular basis with the council to discuss common They won’t get the same level of commitment from yours truly in problems such as the water costs. It also emerged that some the future. I’m going to try and get the management committee of the standpipes were outside the allotment boundaries and it to insist that we get the full list of member’s names for each site was widely known that taxi drivers etc. were using the water to with their renewal fees. It is already specified in the society’s rules, clean their vehicles. Apart from my initial terror, some good did number 7 if you want to look it up. We don’t want addresses, just come from the meeting; at least the council and the gardeners names. They will be used to decide who Head Office will or will were meeting regularly to try a common approach to their joint not talk to and to decide who is to be covered by insurance and problems. My final thought was “so that’s why no drinks were our legal scheme! That will also give the insurance company a allowed into the meeting room!” check on who is and who isn’t covered under the Public Liability Insurance scheme. Some societies pay for the same number of Liz and I have attended both the NSALG and the SAGS members each year. That, in itself, is surprising with not an empty (Scottish Allotments & Gardens Society) AGMs in the past plot in most of the country, and plots being divided in half or three weeks. Nice to see the same faces year after year! There less to provide more people with the chance to try their hand at were approximately 70 members at each event, both held on a gardening. It is also a fact of life that most of the larger sites in this Saturday. The Scottish membership is 5,000, ours is 125,000! region vary their numbers, thank heavens, usually upwards each More than half the attendees in Scotland were ladies, and the year to reflect the increased demand. average age was much lower than that at our event. They have two MPs speaking, and a series of short presentations OK, rant over. for gardeners who have succeeded against impossible odds in creating new sites up there. The most memorable statements at I am sometimes asked by local councils (usually parishes) to the SAGS event came from a lady from Shetland who described address the assembled hordes of their allotment gardeners on the creation of the only two sites in that area. Their first traditional the benefits of self-management, usually in company with our polytunnels (you can’t grow in the open air) ended up in Norway, Regional Secretary, John Doherty, the regional ARI mentor who 250 miles away! They are nearer to Bergen which is their nearest knows everything worth knowing about fund raising among other railway station than to mainland UK. The polytunnel problem skills. This is arising as a result of the devolvement of allotment was solved using 4 inch diameter steel struts, concreted into the management from district councils to parish and smaller town ground at half the normal gap, reinforced with similar cross pieces, councils. They don’t know allotments and don’t want to have covered in polythene which was then weighted down all over with to learn the skills; they would rather have self-management, as fishing nets!! They have at least one force 12 (hurricane) each would any self respecting group of allotment gardeners. The year and 14C is considered a heatwave. And you thought we had future is then in the gardeners hands rather than the politicians. climate problems!!! You must be able to do a better job than them! The meeting usually goes one way or the other, the majority opting for at least partial or full self-management with a proviso that some council funding will be in place as well as a long lease with rents remitted to the gardeners for site repairs on a day-to-day basis. One such recent meeting in the area was an eye-opening experience. I was invited by one of the gardeners and then by the council to address, and in fact, chair the meeting in the local social club to expound on the benefits of self-management. I was warned in advance by the members of the parish’s allotment committee that there was likely to be some opposition to the proposal. The meeting opened with an intro by the chairman of the allotment committee, followed by a one line attempt by me to explain the benefits of self-management. A man with a large voice in the front row put up his hand to ask a question. He said, “Who asked you to come here and talk to us?” I replied, “a gardener and the parish council”. “Well” he said, “we don’t want to hear you”. Somewhat

47 Northern

Chapel Row Allotments, a Good News Story!

The Chapel Row Allotments in Ferryhill that our neighbour was going to take would be 75% - 25%. I haven’t yet seen are owned by Viscount Emcombe/Lord over and manage the gardens which we the deed and unfortunately have not yet Eldon (part of Eldon Estates). When my all really objected to as this neighbour met the Agent. I really should have taken father first used the allotment gardens had been bragging for the last five years the day off last Tuesday when he came over 20 years ago they were managed by or so that he was going to boot certain on site here because then I could have Ferryhill Town Council. During the nineties people off the gardens. After arguing with had a quick look at the draft deed. we took on some other gardens as well. the Agent on the phone and letting him Then in 2003/2004 Smiths Gore took know that no one wanted to have this He informed us that the legal fees for back the management of the allotments neighbour manage the gardens the agent this transaction would be in the region of from the Council. At that time we had a relented and performed a U turn. £3,500 possibly a bit more which I think very large area of allotment gardens, on is rather on the high side but at this point part of which my husband and I kept two I had sought the advice of Mr Jamie we’re not going to argue over such a horses having been given permission by Corrigan, a member of Ferryhill Town generous gesture from the Eldon Estates. Ferryhill Town Council. Council, and he suggested that we offer We want the signed deed in our hands to buy the gardens from Eldon Estates along with the bill which hopefully will be One of the neighbours has constantly with a condition that if ever they were well itemised and if not then I will phone pestered the agent of Smiths Gore to get sold for development purposes Eldon the solicitors and ask them to justify more and more of the allotments from estates would get 90% of the profit and costs. I think all should be finalised within us. He managed to succeed in getting the association 10%, a well known type about three weeks. There’s always a fly half back in the late nineties. Not satisfied of claw-back agreement. in the ointment though; despite losing with this he has been pestering the agent the war, the next door neighbour is still to be allowed to take over the whole We did this and the Agent came back making waves over boundary fence lines, of the allotment gardens. Last year we with the offer of a Deed of Gift with footpaths etc. We do hate a sore loser! decided to form an allotments association certain conditions. We would need four Janet McDonagh to try and have a bit more clout. We had trustees and the other members named received a letter from the Agent saying as beneficiaries and the percentage

Holder House Allotments

Some people are very fortunate. I was talking to John Stephenson, the chairman at the above site recently and he told me that the site had recently applied for and been granted £10,000 to purchase 36 x 10’ by 10’ polytunnels for the members on site. This money came from the National Lottery Fund. He also told me that the site is represented on the Community Action Forum in the town, which has access to council funding to encourage social cohesion by granting funds to the various member bodies. The members have to meet quarterly and decide in which way the ward councillors can best promote cohesion. For the last six years, the allotment committee has applied for a £1000 grant to provide a day trip for their members; this covers transport costs to a local attraction, entrance fees and a good lunch. Mind you, their council charge the highest allotment rents in the Northern region, over £75 per standard 300 sq yard plot!

On the down side for the site, a garden rubbish fire was left unattended last month and got out of hand. Fifteen allotments had their buildings and fences destroyed, an appeal was made to local residents and businesses to try and set up a hardship fund to replace the destroyed property and people have been very generous. Money and supplies have been donated as well as gifts for a large raffle to be held at a social evening on July 1st. This should raise sufficient funds to rebuild the greenhouse and sheds. Good luck! Peter Horrocks Regional Representative

48 Northern

Widdrington…. A tale of persistence rewarded After only three months our new allotment site was closed due to (possible) contamination; we were gutted. In a village of three thousand people we had only nine allotments and the six new ones were a godsend. We were told the site had cement board asbestos and possible copper and zinc traces. The only option would be to remove one foot of soil and replace with two feet of topsoil at a cost of £120,000! Impossible!

The gates remained locked for eighteen months and then came an application from the landlord to build houses on the site. The first thing that sprung to mind was, NOT A CHANCE and so began our fight. We approached the Parish Council and demanded this be stopped and it was; the application was refused. We decided to contact our local MP Sir Allan Beith and he asked that the contamination report should be made available but were told it was a private report and not available to us. I contacted Peter Horrocks, our regional rep and he attended meetings with us arguing that this material could not be absorbed by plants, but again this fell on deaf ears. I then suggested to the landlord and environmental health officer that we place a porous membrane over the site and cover it with chippings or road planings, as this would allow water to pass through but stop weeds coming up and place raised beds on each plot and this was agreed, subject to planning approval. The result now is that I managed to raise £25000 for the project and after a four year battle the site opened in March 2011 with seven tenants in place and disabled plots in use.

Never give up the battle. Keith Moore, Secretary Widdrington Allotments.

49 Yorkshire Do NOT eat your veg!

An article appeared recently in the Halifax Courier (Tuesday The full article can still be read at: www.halifaxcourier.co.uk/news/ May 24th 2011) stating that Calderdale allotment holders had local/do_not_eat_your_veg_1_3408632 been told not to eat their own produce after horrifying levels of contamination were discovered. The newspaper article read, ‘Vegetables grown at the Milner Royd site in Sowerby Bridge were found to contain high doses of arsenic, lead and various hydrocarbons. Plot-holders had asked for their veg to be tested after worries over contamination. The land, which neighbours a former landfill site, is owned by Calderdale Council. Environmental Health officers have now told allotment holders not to eat produce from the site until further notice’.

The Toxins found were: Arsenic which is used in the production or application of pesticides. Related to heart disease, cancer, stroke, respiratory diseases and diabetes

Lead Exposure can stem from air, water, soil, food, and consumer products.

Lead paint exists in many homes, especially older homes. Bryan Crossley Elland, West Yorkshire

Easter fun down on the allotments

Young and old alike had fun at Easter egg hunt for the the Easter egg hunt at Victory children, with cake and coffee Garden Allotments in Rawdon for the adults, was organised on Easter Monday. by plot holder Cindy Cleasby and held on a beautiful sunny It is the only site in Leeds Easter Monday morning. to have had a substantial extension with 30 half plots Children and adults enjoyed being added adjacent to the event; not only did the the original site. Many of the children find lots of Easter eggs new plot holders have young all over the site they could also families and there are a good take away a potted plant to number of children who help grow. with the gardening and the growing of fruit and vegetables. The adults enjoyed home made cake and coffee and After the hunt This extremely successful many said it was good to meet

50 Yorkshire

because there was more water inside Lottery funding for than outside at times. So over the next couple of years we did various repairs but it came to a point when we Tweendykes Allotments were repairing the repairs. We invited a surveyor to come and inspect it and I have had the honour of being the Secretary he informed us that unless the roof was Mr Tony Heeson of Tweendykes Allotments for about ten years completely removed and a new one was Regional Rep now. We have had ups and downs, good built the structure would collapse during times and bad. a downfall of heavy snow or rain. We are not a wealthy society; the cost was beyond us completely so we approached Awards Our allotment site came into being sometime in For All England in conjunction with the National Lottery. The the 1960s as far as I am aware. The council at that time gave the forms are not too difficult to fill in, one just needs to read all of the society a plot of land next to the gate; this in time became the site paperwork carefully. We were successful and in March of this year meeting hut/ small shop selling compost and so on. The meeting took receipt of £5,000 - funding for a new roof! It is now in place hut is a vital place to meet and talk to everyone; we hold meetings and we hope it will in there, we drink our cups of tea and coffee, tell many tall stories last for another 50 and also meet representatives from the council, police, schools years! also and members from other sites. It is a vital part of our site. We encourage A few years ago during the floods, which affected our city very others to apply for a badly, we realised that we needed to repair the roof of our hut grant. Mr. B Tongrack Secretary Tweendykes Allotments Leads Road, Hull

! #"! !$ %%% #"! !$ & & & & Easter fun down on the allotments other plot holders whom they would not normally meet when & gardening at either end of the & site. & Following the success of the & event plans are underway for a summer BBQ.

The site also has magnificent views of Ilkley Moor and the wind farm at Mythemroyd can also be seen from the site. Phil Gomersall, Secretary. Cindy Cleasby, Background – children relax after exhausting egg hunt

51 North West

North West Regional Report

The NW Region of the NSALG held their 2011 AGM in the magnificent setting of Blackpool Town Hall’s Council Chamber on the 14th May. The turnout was very disappointing for which I may be partly responsible, as the 14th of May was the day of the FA Cup Final. That will teach me not to use my Tranmere Rovers diary to fix the dates of meetings as there was no mention of the 14th of May being an important date in the club’s diary! The AGM was officially opened by the Mayor and Lady Mayoress of Blackpool, Cllr Don Clapham and his wife Barbara. Being a very enthusiastic gardener and veg grower Don didn’t appear too disappointed that he had missed the early kick off for Blackpool’s last home game of the season. He managed to catch the second half of the match but sorry to report, despite his support, they were eventually relegated.

The following awards were presented: Presentation of the Jim Tandy Award to Alan Hull, ARI Mentor for the NW and Chairman of the NW Counties of the NSALG. Regeneration of an existing site/establishing a new allotment site - conducted of the Waiting Lists in the 323 English Principal The Weston Allotment Group, Cheshire East Authorities. For practical reasons it was not possible to include the 8,000+ Parish or District Councils who also have responsibility for Award for Community Involvement – Diggle Lane Allotment allotments. Association, Bury Award for Contribution to the Allotment Movement in the NW – The Survey found that there were 86,787 people on Waiting Lists Alan Hull, St Helens and Chairman of the NW Region for the 152,442 plots covered by this survey.

Many congratulations to them all. North West Allotment Officers Forum The latest meeting of the NW Allotment Officers’ Forum was The NW’s Secretary Phil Spark announced that he had decided recently held in Leigh, Wigan and was attended by Allotment to stand down. Kath Smith (Blackpool Federation) was elected as our new Regional Sec. I informed the meeting that it was with regret that I had also decided after four years to resign as the Regional Rep, unfortunately as no other candidate put themselves up for election. I agreed to continue on a temporary basis pending a suitable replacement (if you feel that you may be willing to take on the role please contact me and I will let you know what is involved). Our guest speaker was Donna McDaid, our National Secretary who spoke about recent developments in the world of allotments and the NSALG in particular. Alan Hull brought the AGM to a close thanking Justine Hall, Blackpool’s Allotment Officer, Kath Smith and members of the Blackpool Federation for their all of their hard work in organising the AGM.

Our thanks go to Margaret and Ian Campbell of Transition Town West Kirby, Wirral, who undertook the 2011 Survey of Allotment Waiting Lists in England. This is the third Survey that they have

Table: Allotment waiting list surveys since 1970 People waiting Total plots in survey Councils surveyed Total waiting lists per 100 plots 1970 532,964 *All 5,870 1 1977 497,793 *All 121,037 24 1996 296,923 All 12,950 4 2009 156,490 Principal 76,330 49 2010 158,796 Principal 94,124 59 2011 152,442 Principal 86,787 57 * Numbers for 1970 & 1977 apply to England and Wales; the 1996, 2009, 2010 and 2011 numbers apply to England only.

52 North West

co.uk/ again a link can be found on the NSALG website. The council have made funding available via use of Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 by which as part of the planning process developers contribute towards Mr D Morris community infrastructure. Does your Regional Rep council use section 106 to help to establish new allotment sites? If you want to know more about the process please contact me.

I had my 15 minutes, actually two minutes, of fame as the “Allotment Expert!” on the One Show concerning a story about a group of residents in Ashton in Tameside nr Manchester who having been promised allotments for seven years by the local council decided to take matters into their own hands. For the full story see www.bobsbackyard.co.uk/AAA/ (again link on the Officers’ from 17 different councils. We discussed a range of NSALG website). I will report back in our next magazine on topics that are currently causing problems to allotment officers. progress with their campaign. A recurring theme was the importance of having proper Tenancy Agreements which clearly set out the roles and responsibilities of On a slightly lighter note. I frequently get asked to visit a site by the council and plot holders. You can find copies of the NSALG’s a plotholder when they consider that they are being victimised by recently updated model Agreements/Leases/Tenancy Agreements the owners of the land. In this particular case the plotholder had on the member’s part of the NSALG website. The meeting also been served with an eviction notice for his failure to maintain his enabled me to present the NSALG’s Jim Tandy award to Alan Hull plot to an acceptable standard. Needless to say I didn’t offer him for his outstanding support to the NSALG and his contribution to much support or sympathy. (see photo) the allotment movement in general (with all of these awards his trophy cabinet must resemble that of Man United!). On behalf of Finally an appeal from Bill Taylor, Chorley Allotment Society for Alan and the ARI may I thank Wigan’s Allotment Officer, Michael allotments stories and photos as he has been asked to do a talk Fishwick for arranging the venue and organising a tour of local on the history, present role and possible future for allotments at allotment sites. the Southport Show, with a view to turning it into an article for the NSALG magazine later. He would like to feature photos and The full Survey Report can be accessed via the NSALG website, stories from plotholders generally and of the development of where via a link you can find the results for your Principal Authority allotment clubs and societies in particular anywhere in the county, and if they were unable to provide the figures there is a further link but especially in the North West if the material exists. so that you can see why they stated that they were not able to provide the information. If anyone has any old records or photos and would be willing to let him see and possibly use copies of, he would be grateful I am sad to report that for the first time in many years the NSALG if they could contact him at [email protected] or on will not have a stand or display at either of the North West’s two 01257 262130. Hopefully he can assemble some information and major Flower Shows. I am hopeful that we will be back at both scanned period photos that will contribute to the presentation and next year with renewed vigour and enthusiasm. We will have a article. presence at the Knowsley Flower Show on Sunday the 7th of Dave Morris August and the Wirral Flower and Veg Show on Sunday the 14th Regional Representative of August. For more information see the Regional News on the NSALG website and please look at the news for other events in your area and let me know of any events you wish to be included on the NSALG website or the NW website: www.northwestallotments.btck. co.uk/ Whilst mentioning the NW website may I express our thanks to Andy Percival (Blackpool Fed) for all his hard work on the website. It is your website so please contact Andy via the website (see link on the NSALG website) with any stories, photos, useful information or forthcoming events.

I have visited many new allotment sites in my time as a Regional Rep but I have rarely been as impressed as I was on a recent visit to Hesketh Bank Allotments near Preston. The site has been established in the past twelve months with the support of the local Parish Council and is a wonderful example of what can be achieved by local residents and their council working together. Please visit their amazing website to see the story so far www.heskethbankallotments.

53 North West

Well done Alan

It was unfortunate that Alan Hull was unable to attend the NSALG Annual General Meeting this June. If he had been there he would have been presented in person with the very prestigious Jim Tandy Award for his outstanding contribution to the development of the allotment movement in the North West of England.

Dave Morris, the NSALG Regional Representative for the North West stepped up and accepted it on his behalf. Dave gave a glowing report on Alan’s dedication to the allotment movement and how the many positive actions Alan has instigated in turn have led to the vibrant and active allotment scene in the Northwest.

It was at a recent meeting of AMAS, the NSALG regional body, of which Alan is Chairman that he was finally presented with the award.

Alan is always very busy as he is also an active Allotment Mentor with the Allotment Regeneration Initiative, a man of many roles. All who know Alan know that this recognition of his efforts and achievements is very well deserved.

He is immensely proud to have received the award. Friend and colleague Phil Gomersall Alan with the Jim Tandy Award Wind blows fair for local gardeners

A group of local gardeners have become “It’s been a long time coming,” said project the first to erect a large community-owned leader Jerry Spencer, “more than two years wind turbine on their site at the Lister Drive in the planning and fundraising but it’s here Allotments in Old Swan. at last.” He went on, “the great thing is the number of people and organisations who The 15m high turbine on an unused plot believed in us: the City Council, the Co-op has now been commissioned and is and the Community Sustainable Energy already generating green energy which will Programme.” produce cash for the local association as well as helping combat climate change. The origin of the idea came from former secretary of the Lister Drive Allotments The turbine will be officially ‘switched on’ Association, Dave Atherden, who saw it as a by Stephen Twigg MP in the presence way of making the site more sustainable and of Councillor Tim Moore, the Executive financially secure. “The money we earn from Member for the Environment and local the government’s ‘Feed In Tariff’ and selling ward councillors on June 4th at a the electricity will all go back into improving the ceremony at the site. site and reducing our dependence on grants.”

“We want to say a big thank you to everyone who helped, especially Foundation, the Fund for Climate Change, the local planning department and Mike Kearney, the Head of Leisure Services, who helped us through the bureaucracy and had so much faith in us”, added Jerry Spencer.

www.lister-drive-allotments-liverpool.btck. co.uk.

54 East Midlands

This was the third event organised by Ellistown Goes Bananas! Ellistown Allotment & Garden Society (EAGS) and featured for the first time a Gardeners of all ages gathered at Ellistown School in competition to make a vegetable animal. Leicestershire on Saturday 7th May to bring and buy plants, swap their spare seeds and have a chat about their favourite hobby over The best animal was Barney the Banana a cup of tea and a slice of homemade cake. Allotment Societies Dog made by Ellen Shimwell of Ellistown, Mrs S Fleetwood from around the county were invited and many took advantage of who was presented with her prize by Una Regional Rep a wet day when they could not work outside to come to an indoor Birt who judged the competition. gardening event. A selection of plants including tomatoes, There were more than eight courgettes and sweetcorn were chosen as varieties of squashes and a donation for the Garden Club at Ellistown pumpkins, six varieties of School which the allotment society is helping to tomatoes, as well as brassicas and set up over the summer term. flowers all available as mature plants Barbara Weston ready to plant out on the allotment or Secretary, Ellistown Allotment & in the garden. Garden Society

The first group of customers at the Plant Sale Ellen Shimwell holding her winning vegetable animal Barney the Banana Dog with the judge Una Birt Calling all Derbyshire members…. New derbyshire federation

For some time now we have been trying to set up a Derbyshire SO WE ARE CALLING ALL DERBYSHIRE MEMBERS…. if you are federation of the NSALG. The basics of the federation have been interested in helping to set up a federation specifically for Derbyshire in place for some time. We have a banking account and funds are members later in the year, please contact me direct by telephone available from the East Midlands Regional Panel. I have spoken to 0115 9526920 or email [email protected] a number of people who all say that they are interested but as yet Shirley Fleetwood have not contacted me. Regional Representative

Absolutely free to join. You will make savings! What are you waiting for? grow2eat savings, benefits and discounts .com from your favourite horticultural retailers t:01604 495495 e:[email protected] www.grow2eat.com

g2e.indd 1 18/7/11 11:42:5255 East Midlands

for some fun competitions and games. This year, the event will Claylands Avenue be held on Sunday 10th July 2011. We are delighted that Notts County Councillor Sybil Fielding will be joining us again and also Gardeners Society our Regional Organiser, Shirley Fleetwood. For 2011/12 we are raising funds to create a Community Garden Claylands Avenue Gardeners Society was formed as a non-profit on the site for groups with learning and physical disabilities and organisation in April 2010 out of the old Worksop Allotment to support the local schools “Food for Life” program. Funding has Association. The Society serves an eight acre site off Claylands been secured from Notts County Council and Veolia Environmental Avenue, Worksop in North Notts. Four years ago, our site had a Services in support of this project, but we still need another mere 16 gardeners, now we have over 100 gardeners on our site £12,000 to complete the project in full. Current funding will secure aged from early 20’s to mid 80’s. the civil construction works and the composting toilets. If you are part of an organisation that may be interested in taking on part The principle aims of the Society are to promote and preserve of our Community Garden or donating additional funding, please allotment and leisure gardening and to serve and protect the come up and see us during the shop hours or contact us via our interests of the plot holders on the Claylands Avenue Site. We website. have a great community of gardeners who swap and share knowledge, plants, seeds recipes and who are not adverse to the We have prepared and submitted a Planning Application for our odd cuppa shared on a garden in the sunshine with a slice of cake Learning Centre and toilets and hope to have the majority of the made from an abundant crop of courgettes. civil works completed this year.

Last September, we held our first annual Family Day (Issue 4 Is your site considering self-administration or self-management? If 2010) giving gardeners and their families a chance to get together so, watch this space as over the last 16 months we have worked very hard to achieve this status and should be in full control of the site by April 2012. A big thank you to our Regional Organiser, Shirley and to Richard Merville of Bassetlaw District Council, without whose help this would not have been achieved. The transfer of responsibilities from the Council will commence over the summer months, with the first bills being issued by our Society in October.

Who says ‘allotmenteering’ isn’t fun? We certainly think so, and apart from growing great food, it’s a great opportunity to work with the local community.

For more details of where and who we are, current events and projects and our on-site shop, you can find us at www.claylands. org.uk. Martin Hadfield Chairman, Claylands Avenue Gardeners Society

56 East Midlands

fertilizers and many more small items. Double funding success The students even painted a mural on the end wall of the shed (see photo, they call Robin Hood Allotments at Carlton, involved in and did we want more money? themselves ‘Plantastick’). Nottingham applied for funding for two Of course we said yes! They suggested projects recently from the Grass Roots that we opted for a bespoke shed to fit A grand opening was arranged for Monday Community Fund. Both, I am pleased the group’s requirements of having an 23rd May and senior members of the to say, were successful, one for £4620 outdoor classroom. Tom Grainger who is New College Nottingham attended and for the erection of some weldmesh the tutor of the group and who incidentally although it was somewhat chilly everyone fencing to complete site security and to is also a plot holder got a very good quote enjoyed the event. refurbish some of the avenues which had for £2718 which allowed for a large shed become dangerous due to some very with extra strong floor, a ramp suitable for The allotment plot is now looking splendid large potholes caused by last year’s bad wheelchairs, double doors and shuttered with a large outdoor classroom, raised weather. We have a number of disabled windows. Further money was spent on beds with funds donated by Warburton’s people on site, others with scooters and equipping the shed with forks, spades, bread and Robin Hood Committee, as it had become obvious that we could hoes, rakes, a wheelbarrow, various hand well as a varied collection of fruit trees and be in trouble if anyone had an accident. tools plus chairs, a table and water butts. paths wide enough for wheelchair access. Although we do have site insurance There was also sufficient money left over Shirley Fleetwood through BlueFin of Public Liability of to purchase a good supply of compost, Site Secretary £5 million it’s best to avoid trouble if possible.

We were able to recruit a local repairman, Jim Corbett, with a mini digger to refurbish the avenues. He was able to secure a good contract for the necessary materials and all at a special price to us. I had made some enquiries to a few commercial companies and the quotes received back were eye watering, to say the least. Thanks to the quality of work by Jim we now have a secure and safe site (as far as allotments can be).

The second amount of funding of £4000 went to replace a very dilapidated shed on the plot used by our group of adults with learning difficulties. We applied for £1500 initially but the fund people called us to say they liked the project very much, it was just the sort of thing they liked to get From Inner Street Allotment Association, Grantham

Grantham Inner Street Allotment Association Chairman, Dave Sissins received and tested a new pallet disassembly and reclamation bar for permanent assessment on the plots. He had received this from plot holder Stan Flatters, who persuaded the Managing Director of Cargo Cycles of Norwich to part with said bar!

It really does work; those testing it were very surprised and impressed!

Anyone interested in obtaining one for themselves or a frame for their camel saddle or elephant howdah, not to mention useful cargo carrying bikes, should contact: Cargo Cycles 45 Ivy Road, Norwich, NR5 8BF Telephone: 0160 362 2954.

For a You Tube demo see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipQLy-0Pfag Stan Flatters Committee member

57 West Midlands

Notes from the Quarterly meeting at Meadow Road, Edgbaston

The West Midland Region’s quarterly meeting was held at Honorary Life Membership by NSALG Mr Maurice Lander Meadow Road Allotments in Harborne, Birmingham on Saturday, for her contribution to the allotment Regional Rep 14th May 2011. Situated less than 150 yards from the busy movement. Hagley Road, a main route into the city centre from the west, it was hard to believe that a short distance away there was such Dave Rawlings, the Regional Treasurer, advised that two requests a scene of total tranquillity. In the absence of the Chairman, Mr for grants had been received; one for a banner and another for Gordon Shaw, the meeting was opened by Paul Gaskin, the banners and publicity leaflets. The meeting voted 8:5 in favour former Regional Secretary. of making full payment. Criteria for paying grants was explained to the meeting, which is that any request must be to assist the Amongst others, apologies were received from Len Parnell and promotion of allotment gardening and the NSALG. Maurice Lander, both of whom were indisposed. Chris Brown told how successful the Edible Garden Show at Stoneleigh had been. Regarding the NEC Show, Chris Brown described how the show The Region had a stand and a small garden, and workshops were plot would have eight patches, supported by groups from across held during the event, to demonstrate that vegetables could be the Region, showing what could be achieved in a small space. An grown in almost any location. Advice Centre would be provided by the RHS, with experts being available on all Show days. Up to the date of 31st December 2010 regional membership numbers stood at 13,681 with several new sites having joined In another capacity, as the NSALG’s Kings Heath Show stand over the last few months. The Department for Communities & organiser, Chris confirmed that the show is still scheduled to take Local Government website had indicated that there was the place this year, but was likely to be known as “Gardenfest” to possibility of a threat to the statutory status of allotments and the bring it into line with the “Artfest” which was taking place in the removal of 1908 Small Holdings & Allotment Act requirement that City at the same time. if six Council Taxpayers signed a petition requesting a suitable allotment site be provided, this should be considered by the Local The meeting closed at 4.30 pm with Paul Gaskin thanking Authority. A question in Parliament had led to a clarification of the Meadow Road Allotments for their hospitality. matter, when the Prime Minister stated that there was no intention to alter the status quo. Date of next meeting: Saturday, 13th August 2011 at Cross Houses Old Chapel Community Centre, Cross Houses, Near Paul Gaskin referred to his motion to Conference requesting that Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY5 6JH. a working party be appointed to review the internal structure of the Regions and make recommendations as to how the Regions Date of A.G.M: Saturday 12th November 2011 at Over Whitacre should be organised and what training Officers and Regional Village Hall, Furnace End, Over Whitacre, Near Coleshil B46 2NP. Representatives should receive. John McNab (Regional Secretary , West Midlands Region) In the Regional Representative’s absence his report was read by the Secretary. Three very successful and well-attended NAGT Allotment Training days had been held in Birmingham and Nottingham and it was hoped that more would take place throughout the Regions for Secretaries. A proposal that a NSALG at Gardeners’ contribution be made towards the cost of future training days was accepted by the meeting. Chris Brown had been granted World Live 2011

West Midlands Region set up nine individual vegetable beds and the exhibit was awarded the Silver Gilt medal.

NORVIC for NETS It was the brainchild of Chris Brown, Secretary of BDAC who was the main contact with the RHS. Beds were staged by North Warwick Federation, Wheelers Lane AA, Windmill Lane Manufacturers & Distributors AA, Warstock Lane AA, Knowle Road AA, Maurice Lander, Chris Brown and Court Lane AA from Erdington who were Nets for fruit cages, tunnels, cut lengths awarded an inscribed glass vase for the best edible garden or bulk rolls for retailers. patch.

Also polythene & twine The stand was supported by Shirley Fleetwood from East Ask for our catalogue Midlands Region and numerous members from the West Midlands Region. We were quite busy talking to members of the public who showed a lot of interest. Norvic - Tel: 01603 788933 Fax: 01603 410332 Maurice Lander Email: [email protected] Regional Representative

58 norvic.indd 1 6/4/11 12:11:59 Eastern

We are pleased to have a training session Eastern Regional Report booked for Essex in October and we are currently searching for a venue for Suffolk. The last few months have continued to be filled with meetings There is also the possibility of a session in with Councils and ‘would-be’ allotmenteers to talk about creating Hertfordshire and surrounding area. new sites and also about upgrading existing sites with a view to funding applications by Associations. A few disputes on some We must all be on the look out for more Karen Kenny sites are always of concern in a movement that prides itself on land for allotments and make out plans Regional Rep co-operation and community cohesion but there are bound to be to ensure there will be land in the future. a few hiccoughs here and there. The Suffolk Show proved to be The Localism bill may well help if you, the important people, exciting and productive, sweeping the board of the silverware! ensure engagement with these issues. Well done to all those involved. Be vigilant and, like Oliver, ask for more at every opportunity. The entire region is forging ahead with more and more Karen Kenny associations becoming active. Regional Representative

Fred Bayles – Plot Holder for You are what 60 Years at Maldon, Essex you eat, says Maldon Town Council has recently made an award to Mr Fred Superman Steve Bayles, one of the longest serving tenants on the Warwick Crescent site on Maldon. Steve Cone cultivates plot 34 of Stradbroke Road Allotments, Fred is a senior statesman and a well-respected tenant at the Lowestoft and on reaching 60 on Warwick Crescent site in Maldon, Essex. His first allotment plot the 4th of May 2011 he decided was on the Longfields site in 1951, which he tended out for three to celebrate his birthday by setting years. When the site was taken over to use as open space he himself a challenge. ‘The Length and then moved to the Warwick Crescent site where he has worked Width Charity Bike Ride 2011’ has on various plots ever since. started Steve cycling round England, canoeing, surfing and climbing four Fred knows everything about the site and its history and not afraid mountains (Snowdon, Scafell Pike, to air his views on a variety of topics. Although the size of his plot Hellvelyn and Ben Nevis). has reduced in recent years he has produced a fine crop of peas this year which he and his wife will enjoy. Steve makes Superman look puny.

Due to ill health he was unable to attend the ‘Maldon in Bloom’ What we are all trying to figure out is what he grows on his presentation evening held last week so the presentation went to allotment and eats to make him so strong! Steve reckons ‘you are him. The town mayor, Cllr. Stephen Savage visited Fred at the what you eat’. Action For Family Carers Day Centre at Brickhouse Farm, Maldon where Fred was presented with a framed certificate and a pot Last I heard he’d climbed Scafell Pike in a gale and sleet. You plant recognising his 60 years as a tenant. can follow superman Steve on http://www.justgiving.com/teams/ Maldon Town Council lengthandwidth with Twitter and Facebook links. www. maldontowncouncil.gov.uk Rod Earp Plots 23/24 Stradbroke Allotments Dagenham’s Centenarian Plotholder

Percy Puzey, who is still a plotholder on the Exeter Road site in Dagenham, celebrated his 100 birthday recently. Born on 20th June 1910 he was the oldest of seven children. His first job was working in a greenhouse in Brentford before joining Wimpey’s. War service as a Gunner in Kent followed and then a stint abroad before returning to England in 1946. As a staunch Fulham fan he attended every home game from 1950 to 1999 when the journey across London became too difficult. Family and friends organised a proper 100th birthday celebration and the photograph shows Barking & Dagenham’s Mayor Cllr. Nirmal Singh Gill presenting the special award to Percy to celebrate his centenary. Jeff Barber

59 Eastern

‘Allotments sweep the board’ For the second year running the Suffolk County body of NSALG methods of growing and be introduced to new vegetables and were invited to attend and display at the Suffolk County Show 2011 fruit crops plus, of course, new recipes and new friends. held over two days on June 1st and 2nd, attended this year by the Princess Royal, Princess Anne. The show is regularly attended Also in attendance was John Greenacre and his Pumpkin by around 90,000 visitors, 800 trade stands and 2,500 livestock Challenge, now in its 6th year. The challenge raises many and equine entries from across the county. World-class displays hundreds of pounds each year for the East Anglian Children’s are shown in the grand ring. There was a full equine and livestock hospice supported by the Ipswich Allotment Holders Association, programme plus much more in the way of food, art and crafts etc. showing how allotments help charities.

Once again the county came up trumps with an outstanding Not forgetting of course the important visitors that we try and display conveying how modern allotments are a community attract to allotments with the provision of social housing for insects resource. We were up against 261 other trade stands, mainly etc. Built by master builders Ian and David Holder, this certainly companies and councils with far larger resources than the proved to be a star in the show and we now expect to see more Suffolk Society of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners but as a non of these buildings popping up in the East Anglia region due to this agricultural trade we still managed to win the prestigious ‘Perennial ‘show house’. Piles of logs and stones were also in evidence for Memorial Award’ Silver cup and also the ‘Best in Show’ Silver those that prefer this habitat. Salver of our category. We were so proud to have achieved this for the allotment movement, an outstanding result. Kay Spencer, Stella was also on hand to explain the benefits of raised beds organiser of the Monmouthshire Show and one of the two judges in the form of a manger kindly donated by Harrods Horticulture. said, ‘The winning stand encompassed a lot of what we are trying Stella is mobility challenged and often has to use a wheelchair; to achieve in education and community involvement.’ this device enables her to enjoy gardening when she can by leaning against the bed or even garden from her wheelchair. The display consisted of a T-shaped set of three raised beds containing vegetables and a fruit garden, all with various mulches The allotmenteers were all on hand during the show to cater for to remind visitors of the importance of water conservation. There visitors’ questions on all aspects of allotments and of growing and were containers with potatoes, strawberries, herbs and vegetables they were kept very, very busy throughout the two days. as well as pots of sweet peas for those with no gardens and no allotments! Children’s pots and equipment were encompassed This was a great example of people working together, providing alongside the grown ups showing how we involve the whole family such an excellent display that was appreciated by so many. This on allotments. We had no less than 13 frogs, two snails, one could not have been achieved without the help of the following frog and a fairy hidden for the children to have fun finding plus a people: Stephen Miles who invited us to the show and provided chicken on her nest of three eggs and a cockerel (the cockerel the three beds and filled them with soil, Graeme Proctor of Crown was only visiting, of course!). Nurseries, Ufford who provided the fruit bushes and strawberries, Suffolk Creating the Greenest County sponsored the marquee Community integration as part of allotments was well promoted and KG Wrights of Worlingworth who once again specially by the Peoples Community Garden Project situated on a site in built, erected and removed the very important Allotment Shed. Ipswich. They created an African keyhole garden showing how Thanks also go to Kings Seeds for their continued assistance we can grow food even in a barren area with little soil and how we with providing plant plugs and seeds grown on by our Ipswich can encourage and integrate people from all nations, learn new volunteers. Also, all the other allotmenteers around the county who grew plants for the display, helped to build and man the display as well as breaking it down after the event.

Special thanks go to Derrick Holder, Chairman of Ipswich Allotments who spent many long hours fetching and carrying to and from the show, watering and bringing on the plug plants and organising the planting assisted by more volunteers from Ipswich; to Maurice and Leo from Felixstowe Allotments who not only provided plants and planting but also the ‘loving couple’ sitting on the bench; to Louise and her Hadleigh allotmenteers for plants and to Capel Association who also supplied the excellent ‘Master Gardener’ overlooking the whole display; to Suffolk Chairman David Curry for his encouragement and help to Lowestoft Association in the way of marvellous Ray Bedwell who keeps our monies on track and who sets up the display, boards and the Kesgrave Association. Pete and Ray are hoping for new allotments by the end of the year. Finally thanks to Geoff Sinclair who provides the allotment Forestry chairs and hazel supports etc.

A true team effort, we can now start planning for next year!!! Karen Kenny Eastern Region Rep Karen Kenny -Eastern Region Rep. Derrick Holder - Chairman Ipswich Allotment Holders Association. (In Hat) David Curry – Chairman, Suffolk Society of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners. (In Green) Iain Dunnett – Suffolk Creating the Greenest County

60 Eastern

Our Festivals go from strength to strength! Not just one Festival; we have held five churches, and obtained straw bales from a enjoyable events, each attracting over farmer creating a country style event. 1,000 people. We’ve raised money and encouraged allotment gardening. We charged 50p admission with accompanied children free. Again the Area Seven Kings and Goodmayes Allotment Committee supported us and members Society runs six sites in the Redbridge publicised the event locally. Over 900 London Borough. It has 300 members turned up, thankfully not all at once. and full sites, but on its 75th anniversary in 2003 there were many empty plots. Susan Cunningham then took over organising. We bought our own marquee Our first idea was to hold an open day, but after a member saw one going cheap. then we thought of stalls and live music and Susan developed the formula drawing Eastbury Concert Band agreed to play. East around 1000 people each time. Held London Organic Gardeners had a stall, we in early September we’ve kept country sold homemade jam, made hot drinks on activities and stalls from local groups. original Primus stoves and demonstrated composting! We hired a band marquee To add to the country atmosphere we from a city farm and borrowed church hall decided against ice cream and burger chairs in return for a donation. vans. Instead we had homemade teas and cakes, an ice cream stall and strawberries A world premiere! and cream, adding an English apple stall in Tips for success Allotment Regeneration Initiative and 2009. Eastbury Band remains popular but • Festivals are hard work but generate Redbridge Council Area 7 Committee gave now we also have Morris dancing. goodwill. Some suggestions for success grants for local leafleting. Redbridge Arts are: Council supported our commissioning new We did have a bouncy castle in 2007 but • Have a committed organiser and a team music composed by local musician Ewan have decided against it in subsequent of helpers before, during and after. Have Parker. A world premiere and our society years. They require close supervision. rotas for different stalls. was a patron of the arts! Admission was • Time spent early on planning is free, with a small charge for a programme. We started a vegetable competition, worthwhile. Agree budgets to avoid Hundreds came. The event was auctioning the produce after prizes had overspending. successful, but underorganised. been won. Although the events were never • Do risk assessments. Ensure you have intended as money-spinners all festivals public liability insurance and first aiders. Bigger and better festivals have made money. Community police will attend. The next event was at Goodmayes in • Learn about event management – your 2007, scene of subsequent festivals, Stalls include wildlife rescue, Ilford local Council for Voluntary Service or held in early September. Dean Bradford Horticultural Society, gardening books and equivalent may run training. organised, learning from an event plant sales and for children face painting • Don’t overcharge; people then spend management course run by Redbridge and an animal sanctuary. Beekeepers and more on stalls! Council of Voluntary Service. Again home-grown produce are consistently • Develop contacts e.g. churches, scouts, Eastbury band played, but we needed popular stalls. Susan organised tours of schools, to gain resources. an events licence by law. Dean arranged the site nature reserve, organised a hedge • Keep sites free of cars. stalls from community groups, involved a laying demonstration and held a scarecrow • Local leaflets and word of mouth bring city farm, borrowed chairs and tables from contest! most visitors but use posters, Council website and newspapers. We run free prize draws listing publicity to find the most effective. • Produce - jam, teas and cakes sell brilliantly. • Invite people who’ve funded you. Look after them!

Visit us The next festival is at Goodmayes Lane Allotments on Sunday 4th September 1-5pm. Bus 387 passes gate, 150 and 128 go nearby. Route signed from Goodmayes Station.

SKGAS website www.skgas.org.uk. Roger Backhouse Vice Chair, Seven Kings and Goodmayes Allotment Society Email [email protected]

61 Wales

Welsh Spring Festival 2011 at Builth Wells – A first time event for NSALG Mr A Rees MBE Regional Rep The Cwmbran and South Torfaen about vegetable and fruit growing. They Allotment Association were responsible had come from far and wide, north, mid, for compiling ‘The National Society of west and south of Wales and some from Allotment and Leisure Gardeners’ stand the east of England as well as the borders for the Welsh Spring Festival event on the and Midlands. 21st and 22nd May. The main talking point was about the This was the first time NSALG had had a availability of allotments, where in their presence at this particular event. Alan and locality could they find some and how they Margaret Horner made sure that we had could get onto the local waiting lists. Alan an attractive and informative stand which had that covered, if necessary, with the had plenty of information on allotment online address and contact numbers of the gardening, a computer information point councils duly looked up on the computer and plenty of giveaways. A range of the and then printed out for the enquirer. We very informative ALG magazines were gave the NSALG contact details to many also displayed; they included some very as a backup. Many were aware that there useful articles on beekeeping, companion were allotments in their local area and planting and deep beds and a selection of they were pleased to discuss allotments NSALG leaflets on aspects of husbandry and gardening with fellow enthusiasts. and running an allotment. The NSALG There were specific questions on planning paper bags kept all freebies together for matters – a village council chairperson the visitor to carry away. wanting to know the next steps to take as several villagers had asked her about The stand was in the Floral Hall next to allotment provision. Several owners of a display of chrysanthemums, which land in Mid-Wales wanted to offer their had come from the people who supply a land for allotments and how did they go certain high street store concerned with a about it? With NSALG contact details and saint. Opposite were several prize winning membership forms in hand they were duly displays and a seed merchant whose waved goodbye and good luck. There range included vegetable seeds in brown were a number of gardening enquiries envelopes with a very good display of especially fruit and vegetables, even from salads, herbs and fruit trees/bushes. people who did not have allotments!

The day started slowly but by 10am the Everyone was very enthusiastic and very successful weekend. The other hall was buzzing; a steady flow of people pleased to see us there. With well over stand holders were very supportive of were coming to the stand to talk about 100 callers each day, it was deemed allotmenting, especially in the Green allotments, make enquiries or find out by Alan and Margaret to have been a Horizons (Eco) Exhibition.

There was a record attendance at the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society’s Spring Festival ‘The Smallholder and Garden Festival’. This was the eleventh Festival to be staged by the society and over the weekend of the event 26,026 people passed through the gates of the showground at Llanelwedd, Builth Wells, beating the previous best attendance of 25,588 established in 2007.

So, for all things growing, visit us at the NSALG Allotment show garden at ‘The Royal Welsh Show’ in Llanelwedd, Builth Wells on July 18th to 21st. Stuart Ashley June 2011

62 63 Crest back page June 2011 15/06/11 1:01 pm Page 1

ONION SETS AND SHALLOTS ORGANIC VEGETABLE SEED EXHIBITION VARIETIES FRUIT SOFT GARLIC HERBS

ONION SETS ONION SETS Red Onion Electric Senshyu Yellow Harvest 4-6 weeks earlier than Heavy yielding variety for autumn sowing and June spring planted sets. This variety harvesting. Very hardy has good symmetrical globe Japanese variety, semi-globe shaped bulbs. Glossy dark red shaped bulbs with golden skin

BABY LEAF colour on rings and skin. and white flesh. Approx. 50 sets N31518 £2.95 Approx. 50 sets N31520 £2.25 5kg NONS 08 £15.25 5kg NONS 04 £14.50 10kg NONS 08 £26.50 10kg NONS 04 £23.50

Get-ahead for autumn TO Z OF A Get your autumn sowings off to an early start

GREEN MANURE Field Beans GREEN MANURES Winter hardy from sowing in September to Improve your soil the natural way. Green November. Good nitrogen fixer. Pack for 6 sq.m. N80504 70p manures feed the soil, prevent soil erosion PRODUCTS COIR FLEECE NETS PHOSTROGEN INCLUDING SUNDRIES FLOWERS NTER AND NTER SUMMER SQUASH 2.5kg for 125 sq.m. N31432 £9.75 and suppress weeds. They also attract useful winter predators.

WI GREEN MANURE Fenugreek Grown mainly to increase humus content. Quick into growth to suppress weeds but slower to flower than mustard. GREEN MANURE Pack for 15sq.m N80512 70p Winter Tares 1kg for 250sq.m N31408 £6.45 Annual and fast growing. Fixes nitrogen and is winter hardy. Dig KINGS AUTUMN OFFERS ORDER FORM in during the spring before flowering. Qty/ Item Code Unit £ Pack for 10sq.m N80524 70p Weight Price 2.5kg for 100sq.mN31423 £9.45

BROAD BEAN Aquadulce Claudia Traditional white seeded variety for sowing October/ November. Winter hardy. S/C 45 N30103 70p FREE P&P ON ORDERS OVER £25 P&P £1.50 2.5kg NBRB 02 £7.50 5kg NBRB 02 £13.75 TOTAL UK mainland addresses only. For despatch to UK islands and the Scottish Highlands, FLEECE please telephone 01376 570000 before placing your order. Spun bonded polypropy- Please send a cheque payable to E.W. King & Co Ltd., NSALG, Monks Farm, lene, protects plants Coggeshall Road, Kelvedon, Essex CO5 9PG. For credit/debit card payments against low temperatures telephone our order line on 01376 570000. Offers end 30 September 2011. for optimum crop growth Name and yield. Highly effective Address as a barrier against insects transmitting Postcode damaging viruses. Air and Daytime Telephone water permeable. Heavy duty strength. OR please debit my Visa/Mastercard/Maestro account (delete as applicable) Size 1.5m x 20m 30g N45193 £19.95

Valid from ...... Expiry ends ...... Issue no (Maestro only)...... Last 3 digits of your security code located on the signature strip ...... Kings Seeds are the official suppliers Card Holder’s Name S ignature of seeds to the National Society of ...... Allotment and Leisure Gardeners

Kings Seeds, Monks Farm, Coggeshall Road, Kelvedon, Colchester, Essex CO5 9PG Tel: 01376 570000 Fax: 01376 571189 A TO Z INCLUDING OF VEGETABLES GREEN MANURES ORIENTAL VEGETABLES The people that know about seeds