Members’ Conference 2009 Centre for Alternative · PDF fileMembers’ Conference 2009 Centre for Alternative Technology. ... Our garden was a bit shady for veg. though as ... have

If at first you don’t succeedIf at first you don’t succeed

Helen HowellHelen Howell

Members’ Conference 2009 Members’ Conference 2009 Centre for Alternative TechnologyCentre for Alternative Technology

TRYING TO GET AN ALLOTMENT ?TRYING TO GET AN ALLOTMENT ?

I’m on the phone I’m on the phone ––‘Hi Lynne’ (we’re on first name terms now) ‘Yes, I’m sorry ‘Hi Lynne’ (we’re on first name terms now) ‘Yes, I’m sorry it’s me againit’s me again-------- Could you possibly have another look and tell me where I Could you possibly have another look and tell me where I am on the list? It’s just that my new seed catalogue came today am on the list? It’s just that my new seed catalogue came today andand----------.’.’

We had had allotments for years We had had allotments for years –– when I say we, I really mean my husband when I say we, I really mean my husband had allotmentshad allotments-- (I used to go down and help with a few things occasionally.) (I used to go down and help with a few things occasionally.) Then, one year, he broke his ankle while taking the dog a walk aThen, one year, he broke his ankle while taking the dog a walk along the long the riverside, was ‘out of action’ for a long time, and the garden griverside, was ‘out of action’ for a long time, and the garden got a bit out of ot a bit out of hand and he eventually decided to give it up. I was tempted at thand and he eventually decided to give it up. I was tempted at the time to he time to keep part of it for myself, but was busy with other things and dkeep part of it for myself, but was busy with other things and didn’t. idn’t. However However –– I became increasingly interested in growing vegetables in our I became increasingly interested in growing vegetables in our garden at home garden at home –– I grew tomatoes, carrots, French beans, courgettes, I grew tomatoes, carrots, French beans, courgettes, outdoor cucumbers in pots. Our garden was a bit shady for outdoor cucumbers in pots. Our garden was a bit shady for vegveg. though as . though as our then neighbour was, I think, developing the National Arboretour then neighbour was, I think, developing the National Arboretum (for um (for Shropshire) in his back garden. Nice to look at but Shropshire) in his back garden. Nice to look at but ––

At about this time the demand for allotments was beginning to grAt about this time the demand for allotments was beginning to grow and our ow and our local Council acquired some land and set up some new ones. By thlocal Council acquired some land and set up some new ones. By the time I e time I put my name down there was quite a waiting list.put my name down there was quite a waiting list.

The real ‘trigger’ for me to spring into action was my visit herThe real ‘trigger’ for me to spring into action was my visit here to last year’s e to last year’s Members weekend. I went on the garden walk and, going home full Members weekend. I went on the garden walk and, going home full of of good intentions to try to make a difference, I decided that I wogood intentions to try to make a difference, I decided that I would ‘have a uld ‘have a go’ at the Town Council to try to encourage them to increase thego’ at the Town Council to try to encourage them to increase their ir provision of allotments.provision of allotments.

SoSo-- I began by contacting them to see how many were on their waitinI began by contacting them to see how many were on their waiting list g list (30+) and also contacted a private landowner who had a site in t(30+) and also contacted a private landowner who had a site in town (20+). own (20+). I let both of them know that I was going to write a letter to thI let both of them know that I was going to write a letter to the local paper.e local paper.So this is what I did. Firstly I wrote formally to the TownSo this is what I did. Firstly I wrote formally to the Town Clerk to ask her Clerk to ask her to put my letter to the appropriate committee to put my letter to the appropriate committee -- I kept it very short and asked I kept it very short and asked them to consider looking for an additional site to buy or rent (them to consider looking for an additional site to buy or rent (under the under the Allotments Act of 1908). I then wrote to our local newspaper aloAllotments Act of 1908). I then wrote to our local newspaper along the ng the lines that when I was a child there were many allotment sites (Ilines that when I was a child there were many allotment sites (I listed those listed those I could remember for local interest) and that as far as I knew tI could remember for local interest) and that as far as I knew there were here were now only two, both with long waiting lists, and even allowing fonow only two, both with long waiting lists, and even allowing for those on r those on both lists there were a considerable number of people keen to geboth lists there were a considerable number of people keen to get ‘growing t ‘growing their own’. I finished by asking anyone who could think of possitheir own’. I finished by asking anyone who could think of possible new ble new sites to get in touch with the Council.sites to get in touch with the Council.

The Councillors also said they would all look out for sites in tThe Councillors also said they would all look out for sites in their wards and I heir wards and I had several people contact me directly after reading my letter.had several people contact me directly after reading my letter.

THEN THEN –– the following letter appeared in the paper the following letter appeared in the paper “Sir, Concerning the subject of allotments in the Journal re“Sir, Concerning the subject of allotments in the Journal recently. We have cently. We have land available for allotments land available for allotments ------. We strongly believe in people growing . We strongly believe in people growing their own vegetables and are willing to help interested gardenertheir own vegetables and are willing to help interested gardeners to achieve s to achieve this. We also have space for cultivating mushrooms and good accthis. We also have space for cultivating mushrooms and good access to ess to horse manure.”horse manure.”

The paper also got in touch with him and published an article abThe paper also got in touch with him and published an article about his offer.out his offer.

Well Well –– yes I rang him up and so apparently did 15 others! And yes I doyes I rang him up and so apparently did 15 others! And yes I do now now have a plot and this is what it looks like. (Show pictures)have a plot and this is what it looks like. (Show pictures)

I wrote again to the paper to thank everyone who had got in toucI wrote again to the paper to thank everyone who had got in touch and again h and again asked for sites. I mentioned Hugh asked for sites. I mentioned Hugh FearnleyFearnley –– Whittingstall’sWhittingstall’s LandshareLandshareproject and gave contact details for that and the National Socieproject and gave contact details for that and the National Society of ty of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners and said that I was pleased withAllotment and Leisure Gardeners and said that I was pleased with the letter the letter from the farmer offering land and I hoped that those still on wafrom the farmer offering land and I hoped that those still on waiting lists iting lists would soon be able to get started.would soon be able to get started.

You will probably realise that there are still quite a number onYou will probably realise that there are still quite a number on the various the various waiting lists, so I’m still keeping in touch with the Town Clerkwaiting lists, so I’m still keeping in touch with the Town Clerk and and --‘‘AlleluliaAllelulia’ they have found a site which used to be allotments that they a’ they have found a site which used to be allotments that they are re hoping to develop this winter; and I have a friend with an allothoping to develop this winter; and I have a friend with an allotment on the ment on the private site who is ‘encouraging’ the owners to make better use private site who is ‘encouraging’ the owners to make better use of itof it

I started collecting cuttings and printing information off the iI started collecting cuttings and printing information off the internet nternet –– anything anything to do with allotments to do with allotments –– and realised that there is a widespread problem with and realised that there is a widespread problem with waiting lists waiting lists –– so this is why I’ve spoken to you today so this is why I’ve spoken to you today –– to encourage any to encourage any of you who are still on that waiting list to have another go at of you who are still on that waiting list to have another go at encouraging encouraging their Council to act their Council to act –– (You can always quote the Allotments Act of 1908!)(You can always quote the Allotments Act of 1908!)

By the way By the way –– my husband who, when I said I was going to get myself an my husband who, when I said I was going to get myself an allotment said “Well it’s up to you, but I don’t want anything tallotment said “Well it’s up to you, but I don’t want anything to do with it” o do with it” mysteriously turned up from a shopping trip with packets of cabbmysteriously turned up from a shopping trip with packets of cabbage and age and purple sprouting seeds purple sprouting seeds –– and soon there were young plants waiting to be and soon there were young plants waiting to be planted out planted out ------Guess where?!!Guess where?!!

Thank you.Thank you.