10th February 2010
Press Release
Action 21’s Community allotments, on Dobson Lane in Whitnash, need volunteers to help clear the land and want people to apply for allotments.
Volunteer work parties to be held on Saturday 20th February 10 - 3pm and Saturday 20th March 10 - 3pm.
Will you dig it?
Since last summer local residents have been volunteering to help turn Whitnash wasteland into thriving community allotments and now they are looking for more people to help.
Richard Davy has lived in Whitnash for 35 years:
“I was stuck at home recovering from a heart attack when I saw an advert in the local paper asking for volunteers. I turned up with my secateurs, leather gloves and wellies and got stuck in to clearing brambles and broken down greenhouses. The place had gone into disrepair and turned to nature. I used to look after my father’s allotments and then my father in laws. When I saw the allotments at Dobson Lane I thought this used to be someone’s pride and joy. Turning this land back into allotments is hard work and altruistic, but good fun”.
If you could spare some time to help Richard and the other volunteers the next work parties will be to clear the communal woodland area. Woodland work parties are on Saturday 20th February 10 - 3pm and Saturday 20th March 10 - 3pm. Come along and get some fresh air, learn new skills, do some pruning or clearing of brambles and meet other local people. There will be hot drinks on offer throughout the day, to help keep you warm, and soup for anyone volunteering for more than two hours.
You will need to wear plenty of old warm clothes and sturdy footwear or wellies as the ground is quite uneven. Gardening gloves will be provided but you may want to wear some thinner gloves, as glove liners, to keep the cold out. Remember your woolly hat and you’ll be all set.
There will be tools on the day but if you have secateurs, loppers and/or pruning saws then please bring them along - but be sure to clearly label them. The side toilets at the Community centre will be open.
Allotments are a great way of bringing local people together and producing fantastic food. They first gained popularity during the scarce times of the Second World War but then saw a decline in demand. There has recently been a surge in their popularity and most allotment sites now have waiting lists.
Allotments are accessible to everyone regardless of age, background or disability. Action 21 plan to have some raised beds and the local children’s centre have already put their names down for two plots. Anyone who wants to grow vegetables on organic principles free from pesticides and weed killers can get involved and get growing. There will be approximately forty plots at Dobson Lane becoming available from April onwards Allotments will be given out on a first come first served basis and twenty have already gone, so get your name down and get growing!
To apply for an allotment you can either:
- Email Louise at louise@action21.co.uk,
- Download an application form from http://www.action21.co.uk/dobson_lane_allotment.html
- Pick up an application form at Whitnash library.
- For more information on the Dobson Lane allotments please see http://www.action21.co.uk/dobson_lane_allotment.html
If you would like to get involved in the Woodland Work Parties call Action 21 on 01926 456067 and we will make sure you receive a warm welcome.
Author: Robyn Dorling