Demonstration Allotment Garden a huge success.
Following my appeal last year for volunteers from the Leeds & District Allotment Gardeners Federation membership, a team was formed and got together in November 2011 to plan a demonstration allotment to be displayed at the Harrogate Spring Flower Show 2012.
It was obvious from the outset that the team was a good one with enthusiasm bubbling up the minute we met, in fact after the first planning meeting one of the team had produced a complete scaled model of the proposed allotment by the very next day
The team kept in touch and was informed via a group email so any changes to the allotment design or progress of each individual’s tasks were shared with the team.
Sponsorship was a bit of a letdown, as many larger shopping chains didn’t even bother to reply to our requests. However Gro-well Horticultural Supplies and Greenscapes Nurseries did come to our rescue. Gro-well providing half a pallet of compost for the allotment and Greenscape Nurseries the loan of half a commercial greenhouse to bring on the plants. Our sincere thanks go to these two organisations.
As time grew closer to the show I personally had one or two fears as to whether the plants would be ready in time or whether they would flop when brought into the cooler environment, all my fears were allayed as they perked up and created a really health display of vegetable plants. In fact I was quite blown away with the finished garden, it was beyond all my dreams and expectations.
The team worked very hard for three days prior to the show and produced an allotment garden, which was admired by all who saw it. So many complimentary and positive comments were made, it was very gratifying; one or two even said it was the best display in the show. It created a huge amount of interest with the public and the visiting allotment gardeners were particularly interested in the innovative use of some recycled materials used in the garden. The demonstration allotment garden has been a huge success for the allotment movement and a feather in the cap of the Leeds & District Allotment Gardeners Federation.
My thanks go out to those wonderful volunteers who completed this task on the LDAGF member’s behalf.
Phil Gomersall, Publicity Officer, LDAGF.
