Surveying buried remains!

Here is a great opportunity to help discover what exactly is below the turf of the green triangle at Scarcroft allotments.

We walk and barrow over it, picnic upon it, meet at it, are entertained upon it, cycle through it, play music upon it, sit in its sunshine...

...But has it always been used this way?

Hannah Baxter of YAT and its Plotting the Past project is returning to Scarcroft to conduct a geophysical survey of the green triangle. If you're interested in being involved with this event just turn up: 

Friday 16th August 10am - 4pm

Poetry and Photography Event

We're really pleased to be hosting an event of 'Pictures and Words' at the Scarcroft Allotment site on Tuesday 16th April from 10.30 onwards. It is organised by Hannah Baxter of York Archaeological Trust and is part of her Plotting the Past community project. It is open to everyone with an interest in allotments, poetry, photography and archaeology, so if you're around please drop in for some, or all of the day. 

Look forward to seeing you there!

AGM Tulip Talk

We were treated to a wonderful talk by Teresa Clements of the Wakefield and North of England Tulip Society at our AGM yesterday evening. She covered so much ground from the heritage of English tulips and the history of the Society, to tulip cultivation and their presentation at shows - in empty beer bottles! It was an informative delight and was well received by all present, who can now happily distinguish between a feather and a flame, or between an English and a Dutch variety.

Group of English florist's tulips
Image from the website of Wakefield and North of England Tulip Society

The Society is holding its 178th Annual Tulip Show, on Saturday 11th May. At Primrose Hall, Horbury, Wakefield, WF4 6EG, from 2.30pm until 4.00pm. Sure to be a worthwhile visit.

If you would like to know more about the Society you can visit their website at http://www.tulipsociety.co.uk/

Plotting The Past

Interested in finding out about the past and allotments?
Would you like to help record our allotments?
Hannah Baxter of York Archaeological Trust is undertaking a year long community project involving allotments across the city. She has many activities lined up including photography, site surveys, oral histories, archaeological finds identification and even film making.

The film idea is to follow several plots throughout this year as they evolve through the seasons. If you grow photogenic carrots, have a Tarantino streak in you, or cut a dash in your wellies and would like to be involved in anyway, just let Hannah know emailing: hbaxter@yorkat.co.uk

Local History Event

There's an exciting Local History Event being held at Clements Hall, Nunthorpe Road.  This is a two day programme of free events Thursday 1st and Friday 2nd November from 11.30am onwards. On Friday at 3pm is a talk that may be of particular interest to gardeners and allotment holders, The History of Allotments in the Scarcroft area by Catherine Heinmeyer. 

Please see this link for more information 
http://clementshall.org.uk/events-2/public-events/local-history-project/

Archaeological Identification Event - 21st April

Archaeological Identification Day with “Bone” Jones

Saturday 21^st April

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

http://www.yorkarchaeology.co.uk/

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

Aerial view of Scarcroft Allotments 1956

Can you see your plot?  I think the shop is the 'triangle' in the middle.  If you want to make the image bigger double click on it.

The site of Scarcroft Allotments in the 1890's

This cottage stood about 50 yards to the west of Scarcroft Road on what is now Scarcroft Hill. The grass foreground is now the site of Scarcroft allotments. The cottage was demolished prior to the development of Scarcroft Hill in the late 1890's.

This image and the one of Scarcroft in 1956 are both from http://www.imagineyork.co.uk/.