Mikron Theatre's latest performance 'Pure', at Scarcroft Allotments

We are over-the-moon to once again welcome Mikron Theatre to Scarcroft Allotments for the fifth time...
And even better - linking in with York's chocolate heritage, they will be performing the premiere of their latest production, 'Pure, The Business of Chocolate'. If you haven't yet seen Mikron's unique story telling, witty performances then this is a must; and if you have, well we're confident that this latest offering will tickle your taste buds just as before.

Tuesday 7th June at 7pm on the green triangle, Scarcroft Allotments.
No tickets required. Cash collection to be taken after the show

Gardener's Question Time review

The recording of BBC Radio 4's Gardener's Question Time at Clements Hall on Monday 18th April proved to be as entertaining and informative as any gardener could wish for. The buzz of anticipation was apparent as we queued up outside the venue early that evening - sharing the wording of our questions and pondering upon whom may be on the panel to answer those who were lucky enough (and brave) to be selected. It was a full house, all tickets sold out within 48 hours of going on sale the previous week, the audience was keen...

Yet, the backstory of how we came to this point will not be known by many. It was more than three years ago that committee member, Sarah Austin first proposed the Association put in an application to the BBC. So together the committee put their collective heads together and duly submitted one. Nothing was heard and it was assumed we had been unsuccessful... that is until the Beeb phoned Graham Sanderson (Chair) just 4 weeks prior to the proposed recording date. Emails flew in all directions... could we deliver in such a short time frame? After meeting with Linda Speidel, manager of Clements Hall, it was clear everyone was on board and keen to proceed. After a successful sound check by the BBC's technical crew we were given the green light... the cat was out of the bag and the horse was running (or is it the other way round?) Tickets went on sale and the rest is history. Our heartfelt thanks are due to Judith and her team at Clements Hall for taking up this unexpected challenge and tackling it so brilliantly and with such enthusiasm. Thanks are also due to Scarcroft School for the loan of their staging, and to all other individuals whose contributions made this event proceed so smoothly.

So what of the recording...?
The questions from ten intrepid participants were selected, and they were duly seated along the front row. The scene was set, the producer had done his warm-up act, and the panel was introduced...

Chaired by Eric Robson, the panel comprised, Matthew Wilson, Christine Walkden and Bob Flowerdew, each tackling the questions, 'discussing the purposes and positives of show gardens and advising on how to get the most out of supermarket herbs. They also recommend climbing plants fit for adorning a child's climbing frame and unusual plants to put in raised planters' (www.bbc.co.uk). To hear all questions and answers, the airing of the programme can still be heard here on BBC iplayer.

The recording also provided an interesting insight into how the programme itself was constructed. There was the occassional break in questions for the chair, Eric Robson to say specific pieces, such as his link to the recording made at York Minster earlier that day, as well as the re-recording of brief pieces of speaking.

The airing of the programme took place on 29th April. It was only through listening to it that everything fell into place, including the significance of making a recording in York. For we learned that the concept and design of Matthew Wilson's garden at Chelsea Flower show was inspired by the Minster's medieval Great East Window, and is titled, 'God's Own County - A Garden For Yorkshire'.

To sum up, it was a memorable evening's entertainment born out of a tiny seed planted three years previously, that was well nurtured to the point of harvest, and then supported and consumed by our city wide gardening community.

Mikron Theatre, 'Beyond The Veil' review

The scene on the Scarcroft allotment green at 7pm on Wednesday 29th was reminiscent of a typical British summer festival. An audience of around 60 people wrapped up in blankets and waterproofs, sheltered under a large canopy of eight gazebos, whilst the sky progressively darkened with the promise of more rain. And then the four actors of Mikron Theatre began their opening song and we knew that whatever the weather that evening, we were in for a real treat. 

Mikron provided a skillful mix of wit, music, racy narrative and larger than life characters, in their telling of the murder of April May, a plot holder and bee keeper on Thistledale allotments. Detective Starkey, wearing trenchcoat and trilby, was responsible for solving this mystery, yet there was, "Something about this crazy case about as likely as a heatwave in Hull".

The play was set within the wider context of bee keeping, and so we were informed of the different lives of queen, worker and drone bees. In this respect a definite highlight was the song of the Drone Bee which had us all giggling and laughing over the top of the now steady rain drumming on the canvas above us.

Needless to say the mystery was solved at the end of an excellent evening's entertainment. And the rain did stop, just long enough to take down the gazebos and pack everything away. We now eagerly await 17th September when Mikron returns to York performing, 'Don't shoot the Messenger' at Clements Hall.

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

'Losing The Plot' performance

Mikron Theatre Company are returning to York with their hilarious play 'Losing the Plot', first seen by 100+ in an open air performance at Scarcroft allotments in May. No one who has, or has had, or wish they had an 

allotment should miss their best night out!

Read what the York Press review had to say...

http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/leisure/theatre/9716343.Review__Losing_The_Plot__Scarcroft_Allotments__York/

The company has now clocked up over 60 sell-out performances around the country and happily for us are 

returning to York for a second performance on 18th September at Clements Hall, Bishophill 7.30pm 

Tickets can be purchased from Pextons Hardware, Bishopthorpe Road, 

Or send cheque payable to Mikron Theatre Company to: 

Willy Hoedeman

7 Howe Hill Close

York

YO26 4SN

Include a pre-addressed envelope and the tickets will be posted to you by return.

Any queries please E-mail willyh@phonecoop.coop 
or text 0797 486 7301

A special family rate will give you up to 5 tickets for the price of going to the movies! 

It's VERY teenager friendly, so bring a crowd of rowdies!

Look forward to seeing you there!

Hedgehog Preservation

Local gardener and Hedgehog Rescuer Toni Bunnell will be featured in a report about how to make a hedgehog-friendly garden on the new Alan Titchmarsh programme, Love Your Garden, on ITV later this month.

It will be screened on Friday June 17 at 8pm and will show her hedgehog rescue centre in York, as well as her wildlife garden and two of her hedgehogs being released at York Minster Gardens.

This is a fantastic local interest feature, and I hope you can all tune in.

If, like Toni, you have a soft spot for hedgehogs you can find out more about how you can help the preservation effort at: http://www.britishhedgehogs.org.uk/

Toni's own website can be found at: http://www.tonibunnell.co.uk/hedgehog_menu.html

Local Radio Star

Scarcroft allotmenteer, eco warrior and familiar face to local dog walkers - Sara Robin, was on Radio York again.  This Friday, the 11th of September, Sara was interviewed by Radio York in her capacity as a Scarcoft  & District Allotment Assocation committee member, on the demise of our national gardening skills, in particular how our forefathers knew how to garden organically, with nature instead of against it.  However, we de-skilled modern gardeners shouldn't despair as the piece was all about how the Soil Association is starting a programme of Organic Farm Schools.  These schools are a series of hands-on courses in growing your own food, rearing animals, cooking and rural crafts. The courses range from a one-day basic introductions to more professional ones - in bee-keeping, chicken keeping, vegetable growing, willow weaving, hedge laying or dry stone walling and so on.  If you want to brush up on the gardening skills our grandparents had follow the soil association link below.  If you want to listen to Sara's interview follow the link to the BBCs listen again site.  I believe Sara comes on about 30 minutes into the programme.

BBC York Listen Again Jonathan Cowap

Soil Association Organic Farm School