We, (Andy Maycock and Rob Eastman), are writing to introduce ourselves as the new co-secretaries of Scarcroft Allotments. We are taking over from Claire and Graham who have been in post for seventeen years, and we would like to pay tribute to their dedication and hard work over that time - they’re certainly going to be a hard act to follow! We would also like to congratulate Graham and all the volunteers who helped in any way to bring the new allotment shop and store to fruition. What a fantastic legacy!
We are both keen allotmenteers and have been tenants on the site for many years. Rob has a Diploma in Amenity Horticulture though he claims not to have green fingers! Andy is an ex teacher and joiner. We both recognise that Scarcroft Allotments is a unique site, and that as well as the variety of plots, both in terms of size and styles of gardening, that it is also a very special place for nature. We both love the fact that every allotment is different and that the trees and hedges on the site provide homes for insects, small mammals and birds, not to mention the foxes!
We hope that over the next year we will get to meet many of you on your plots, and want you to feel that you can approach either of us on any matters of concern relating to the allotments, or just to say hello! We would welcome any ideas about how the site could be improved and how new tenants can be helped and encouraged, possibly by introducing a mentoring scheme. Any volunteers?!
One of our first projects is going to be converting Plot 99, which is close to the shop into ten taster plots. To that end, we are organising a working party to clear the site so that it can be marked out and subsequently let at the start of next year. Many new tenants don’t realise the work entailed in maintaining a plot and these taster plots would help people decide whether allotmenting is really for them. If you have an hour or two to spare on Sunday 1st December between 10.30 and 12.30am, your help would be greatly appreciated. Please bring strimmers, loppers, secateurs, and shears if you have them, but there will also be spare tools available. It would be helpful if you could let us know if you can help by emailing us at: scarcroft.sitesec@gmail.com
Best wishes and happy gardening
Andy and Rob
