Trumpington Allotment Society in Cambridgeshire holds free open day

The Trumpington Allotment Society will be staging a free open day at its allotments off Foster Rd, Trumpington – a beautiful four-acre site, managed by volunteers – today (August 20) from 12 to 4pm.

The event is part of National Allotment Week, which runs from August 14 to 20. The theme this year is “growing the movement.”

Events taking place on the day will include a scarecrow competition, the sampling of allotment produce, pond dipping, tours of the community orchard and composting demonstrations.

Barbara Newcombe, an allotment holder at Trumpington and a research nurse at Addenbrooke’s, told the Cambridge Independent: “I’m a resident of Clay Farm so we were fortunate to be able to get a plot in Trumpington because the new-build areas have allocated spaces but they haven’t been opened yet.”

National Allotment Week is being celebrated all over the country. “Different groups are doing different things,” explained Barbara. “Some are holding an open day, like us, other things are teas and coffees and produce sales – anything that can be done to promote the allotment idea and movement.”

She continued: “The theme this year is ‘growing the movement’ and that’s about recognising the importance of allotments and the importance of rescuing allotments. Because of the need to build additional homes and expand in residential areas, a lot of allotments have been fighting to retain their space.

“It’s all about giving some support to the communities saying that these are necessary things. We hold events on our allotment sites, sometimes to celebrate the seasons of the year. It’s the whole idea of sustainability, growing your own produce, connecting people with where their food comes from, and it’s wonderful for kids and families.”

Discussing the open day on August 20, Barbara said: “We’re offering an open invitation to anyone in the area to come along and see what goes on, see what an allotment looks like, see we do, talk to us about what we can offer – and maybe what they do on their own allotments.

“It’s really just making people aware because often allotments are tucked away in quiet corners and behind hedgerows.”

Barbara herself will be very busy on the open day. “I’m in the process of tidying my allotment now!” she laughed, “and I and some of the other plot-holders are offering to show people what we do.

“What we’re growing, how we grow it, what we do through the seasons. We’re going to have an undercover area, and we’re going to have produce available – lots of preserves, jams, chutneys and pickles.

“I’m going to have a little area where some of the chutneys and jams that are made, people can taste them. I’ve got fresh bread coming and we’re going to have a little taster session.”

For more on the Trumpington open day, visit: allotments.net/allotments/Trumpington/openday2017.htm.

To put in for an application for an allotment in Cambridgeshire, visit: cambridge.gov.uk/apply-for-an-allotment.

Allotments in Cambridgeshire:

Compared to the rest of the UK, Cambridge ranks highly in allotment provision (between 5.25 – 9.19 square metres per resident), way above the national standard of 1.25 square metres recommended by The National Society of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners.

In total, Cambridge has 22 allotments – eight are managed by Cambridge City Council and the remaining 14 are run by allotment societies.

Cambridge is clearly doing its bit when it comes to encouraging the ‘grow your own’ movement.

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