1 – We Have A New Allotment

7 July 20219 June 2022 M C

We have finally been offered an allotment, its been a long time waiting (about 6 years).

I’m Mark Calloway, I live in a small village in the Worth Valley, Yorkshire. Its a wonderful part of the world, it still has a running steam railway and the historic village of Haworth where the Bronte Sisters lived.

Main Street, Haworth © G Laird :: Geograph Britain and Ireland — Haworth Village

K .& W.V.R. | Oakworth Railway Station.used in the film The … | Flickr — Oakworth Train Station

Im a keen gardener but most defiantly a novice, Ive been doing out my own garden for about 5 years now but couldnt tell you the name of most of the plants. I usually buy them because they look the part and hope they don’t die. This new allotment is going to be a learning curve and expect to make many mistakes.

Anyhow enough about me and back to this new allotment I have just taken responsibility for.

Its an end plot and has been abandoned by its previous tenant for many years so is in a very poor state. As soon as I got the news I went down that evening to take a look at what we have.

Hmm, looks like I have my work cut out.

But it wont just be myself, my wife and two boys (2 & 4) will all be helping out too.

Although its much welcomed I happen to be a very busy person at present so will have to try and steal as much time as I can to go down and get clearing. As I’m writing this after the fact I can tell you it will be hard work.

Whats this at the bottom, looks like a shed but doesn’t look too sturdy. After a quick inspection it rotten and if you open the door the whole thing looks like it going to fall over. Inside its soaking wet and mouldy and the bramble has taken root, think this just needs a good push and the whole thing will be over. Maybe some of the less rotten wood could be reused as edging but think most of it will need taking to the skip.

Looks like we have a few grow boxes being used as compost bins, fresh veg inside so presumably one of the houses nearby are dumping their waste in it.

One side of the shed is missing, not sure if the previous owner removed the panels and tried making a window with a bit of mesh.

We have a dead tree stump in the middle and what looks like an apple tree just below it however our friendly neighbours in the plot next to ours says its never fruited, will be fun getting rid of them.

There are strawberry plants everywhere, if there was once a strawberry patch the runners have soon took over the place. I originally planned to completely clear the allotment when I got one and start a fresh but I might try save the strawberry plants and make a new patch for them somewhere.

Im sure I can make this plot work, think I will write this year off for growing anything but hopefully with some hard work i can get it cleared and ready before autumn.