I’ve always loved gardening; my earliest memories are of ‘helping’ grandad in his garden and being amazed every year at the size of the tomato plants he grew on top of the coal bunker. The smell of tomato plants brings back that memory.
I outgrew our postage stamp back garden in 2004 and added my name to the waiting list for an allotment. In winter 2005, I was offered plot 34 and it was my bit of heaven for 10 years. I’d still be there but for the avaricious Duke of Northumberland who believes the land is better with 120 flats rather than 37 plots. 11 years on, there are still allotments at Park Road and I’m now on my third and final allotment.
I spent 6 years at Cole Park allotment and created the allotment of my dreams, two polytunnels, a greenhouse and a wendy shed; divorce and a house move ended the dream. I’ve moved just the other side of the London boundary; a 1930s house with a huge front and back garden, which now contains the greenhouse and one of the polytunnels. That didn’t feel like enough work, so I have a 7 rod plot at the local allotment site.
Allotment Life 