Friary Drop-In Allotment

Most people don't look forward to the long spells of cold winter weather. For those of us growing vegetables it is a different matter. With the recent number of mild winters, insect pest numbers have been increasing. A decent period of cold weather is nature's way of culling them. We've been a bit luckier this winter, having had a few heavy frosts. One exceptionally cold wet and windy afternoon did prompt a tour of a local garden centre when the weather was too raw for human activity.

The tea shed re-roofing project is coming along with Malcolm and his able crew of keen construction volunteers. The posts are up and the framework is nearly ready to take the roofing boards. The end result should be a steady, waterproof and slightly larger shed.

With the greenhouses currently bulging with seedlings, we just await some kinder weather for them to be planted outside. The winter winds have kept us busy with running repairs.

We are not only going to be affected by Lottery funding becoming sparse, but also to the loss of other funding sources, we learnt at a recent meeting. This has caused Alison and the finances team to look further for possible grants and for us to restart raising flowers for future sales.

The cooler weather has inspired a number of volunteers to try block paving (a physical but warming task). Three separate areas have been constructed by two males and one disabled female volunteer.

Further co-operation with a family group on the allotments has resulted in the donation of surplus paving material, after we helped them to dismantle and move some glasshouses to their allotment. A volunteer has built a new site notice board from surplus wood. This is complete with a glass cover to replace the Allotment Association’s old rotting wooden board.