Sunday 29 April 2012

"Losing the Plot" on Scarcroft Allotments





Mikron Touring Theatre Company will be staging a free performance of their new show, ‘Losing the Plot’ at Scarcroft allotments at 7pm on Thursday 17th of May.

The producer, Peter Toon, is originally from York and is pleased to be bringing his unique theatre company to the City.

Mikron already have 60 venues booked for the 'Losing the Plot' tour, from Yorkshire down to Oxford and London.  But Scarcroft will be your nearest venue so don't miss this chance to see this great show.

The performance will start at 7pm. There are 40 seats available, or you can bring your own folding chairs if you don't have far to come.


If you are not bringing your own chairs, arrive early to be sure of a seat.

If the weather is less than summery, fear not - there will be gazebos aplenty to keep off any showers.

You can bring a picnic for the intermission, but soft drinks and simple snacks will be available on site for very reasonable prices.

As well as refreshments, there will also be "facilities" on site, for your enjoyment and relief at intermission time.

There is no admission charge for the performance.  However, the company will make a collection after the show so bring some change to show your appreciation.

There will be a 35 page full colour programme for sale, with play synopsis, lyrics of all the songs, and a quiz.

You may already have seen a poster on the notice board of your local allotment site, but meanwhile there’s a taste of the play here:

http://www.mikron.org.uk/plotBlurb.php



Losing the Plot is a play about Love, Life and Allotments.


The gardeners of Thistledale Allotments are a rag-bag bunch of diggers and dreamers. Strong personalities frequently clash over the best treatment for mealy bugs, and the annual 'Heaviest and Longest' competition is always a time when old feuds and new flirtations threaten to undermine the fragile peace.


Then Harvey from the Council pays them a visit and they realise that they must pull together, or forfeit their precious plot forever. But can they agree on a strategy? How will they convince Harvey of the vital role allotments have played in the life of the nation for centuries? What will they do when things inevitably get completely out of hand?


Told with a rollicking mix of old music hall tunes and brand new songs, Losing The Plot is a story of love - between people and the land; between people and people; and between people and their giant vegetables.



You can learn mote about Mikron and the work they do from their site:

www.mikron.org.uk


Thursday 12 April 2012

Archaeological Identification Event - 21st April



Archaeological Identification Day with “Bone” Jones
Saturday 21st April



Andrew “Bone” Jones, from the York Archaeological Trust, will be on the Scarcroft site on Saturday 21st April.

"Bone" will be available to identify any historic finds dug up from your own plots or gardens.

If the weather is nice we also hope to be able to venture out for some real-life archaeology on the Scarcroft site.

This should be a great event for adults and children alike.

We will be meeting at The Allotment Association's shop on Scarcroft at 14:00.

You can bring along any potential treasures for identification between 14:00 and 16:00.




Here's a little of what "Bone" has to say about his work and his passion for Archaeology, taken from the University of York website:

“Archaeology grabbed me as a fusion of practical activity and thinking about the meaning of your finds. And then there's the great joy of discovery. Introducing archaeology to children has been a big part of my life. It's too interesting just to leave it to academics! Everyone can relate to a find like a shoe or a sock - it brings the past to life. At the York Archaeological Trust we have an experiential, hands-on approach to education.”

You can find out more about the York Archaeological Trust here:


Hope to see you, and your artefacts, at Scarcroft on the 21st!


Monday 2 April 2012

The Future of Urban Horticulture - Course Details





The University of York Centre for Lifelong Learning

What is the future of Urban Horticulture? - Urban Horticulture: Policy and the Future


11 week course starting Thurs 19 April 2012, 7-9pm
10 credits at Undergradate level 1
£107 full fee / £25 reduced fee (evidence required)


Local, ‘bottom-up’, community-based initiatives are only part of the solution to changing the global food system; ‘top-down’ support from policy-makers is vital.

In this module we will study different ‘policy instruments’ such as taxation, subsidies and education, and examine policymakers’ attitudes to urban horticulture both in the UK and globally, particularly in developing countries.

We will explore various approaches to changing policy in this area, such as transition towns, the Fair Trade and Trade Justice movements, and the ‘sustainable urban food policies’ being developed in many cities worldwide. Catherine Heinemeyer BSc MSc