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As well as the members who rent plots we also have a large number of garden members who take advantage of the National Society's excellent Seed Scheme. A Newsletter is distributed twice yearly and two meetings are held - a public Spring Meeting where we invite a speaker on a relevant subject, and our AGM followed by, again, a speaker OPAGA is operated by a committee consisting of Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, Seed Trade Representative, Publicity Officer and five committee members. A mower is owned by the Association and, during the growing season, a Mowing Rota is organised to keep the grass down on the paths between the plots. There are three water troughs on the site and the plots themselves are different sizes ranging from five to eleven "lugs" (a lug is a local measurement meaning a rod or five and a half yards!) The annual rental is £1.80 per lug plus an annual subscription to OPAGA of £2.00. One of the member's brother-in-law owns a farm so we receive a generous helping of manure twice a year - sometimes more.
A promising crop of runner beans |
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The plot holders (over 25% of whom are ladies) grow a wide variety of vegetables and flowers ranging from potatoes to sunflowers, strawberries to dahlias. The warm wet climate in the west means that we are relatively free from hard frosts although, being near the River Severn, it can be a bit windy. Surrounded by farming land and trees we often see plenty of wildlife - buzzards, robins, swifts, blackbirds and, unfortunately, pigeons, while the warm, dark compost heaps provide a cosy home for slow worms, mice and - not such welcome residents - rats. The growing interest in organic, home-grown, fresh vegetables over the last few years means that more people are "returning to the soil" and taking on allotments again. If you are interested in one contact Dave Fullman by e-mail on janfullman@btinternet.com or Eric Garrett, Chairman, on 014554 613019.
"Got to tell you - I've got a bird's nest in my hat!" |
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