I am slowly managing to put some Open day photos on the photo gallery hopefully I will have completed this before we have more photos from the coming BBQ

 

 

 

 

The annual BBQ and presentation of awards will be held this coming Sunday 18th July at 1.00pm. Please make it if you can. Wine, rolls and salads are provided , just bring along something to cook.

 

This years Best Kept Allotment Ciompetition was judged by a RHS judge and the winners are as follows:-

 

1st      Merv Tout

2nd      Peter Sage

3rd      Ray Fulker

H.C.   A Gilligan

H.C.   Mike Ginns

H.C.   Merv Tombs

 

There were only 5 points between the prize winners which shows how high the standard is this year. This is the first time that merv Tout has won the award although he has been among the prizewinners for many years. Merv can be seen most days going between his three plots growing some wonderful crops. Merv has a vast knowledge of gardening and is only to pleased to help any one out with a problem.

It comes as no surprise that all of the prizewinners spend a lot of time on their plots all through the year not just when the weather is good. A first class plot does not come without a lot of hard work.

 

 

 

 

 

Some of our new plotholders have been working hard and the results of the Newcomers Competition are:-

 

1st    Ashley Haigh

2nd   Rosie Collis

3rd   Gordon Thomas

 

I am sure that these newcomers will be challenging for the best kept allotment very soon.

 

There were not many entries for the Scarecrow Competition this year and the results are:-

 

1st    Nick Large

2nd   Peter & Jaqui Crowe

 

Once again our resident sculptor Nick Large produced a magnificent entry which was called ann 'Allotment Harpy'. I am sure if the curators of the Tate Modern visited Nick's plot they would pay a fortune for his work. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We have lots of things to look forward to at the moment. The main event of the year is when we open to the public on July 11th. All plotholders are looking to get their plots pristine for this date with the added incentive that the Best Kept Allotment competition will be judged on July 9th. The annual BBQ will be held on July 18th when the competition prizes will be presented. The   Open Day date coincides with the football world cup final but we are hoping that this wont affect attendance to much.

 

Recently six plots have changed hands for various reasons but I am pleased to report that all of the new plotholders have joined our association. We now have a good mix of people gardening at Daggs. We have families that have picnics on their plots and one of the plots has been taken over by a young couple who are being helped and guided by their father. It's so good to see families enjoying a day out at the allotments. My wife and I are lucky to be able to take our grandson down to our plot where he really enjoys playing with the water and dirt. Hopefully he will soon have his own small part of the plot. I make no excuses for using his photo on the welcome page

 

First of all I would like to say thank you for all the good wishes and messages that I have received during the winter. It is a great comfort to know that so many people care.

 

Many of you will have seen that I have been to the plot quite a lot over the last few weeks and so I should be able to keep the information flowing again.

 

 

 

Our thanks go to Ray Thomas and Ray Fulker assisted on the hammer by Dave Makepeace and Mervyn Tombs for fixing the water leak which happened to coincide with the April dry spell. This should also remind us that the water to Daggs is metered and we should try to limit it use as far as possible to try and avoid the Town Trust getting a massive bill. If you would like the details of the water leak I am sure that the two Rays would love to tell you how they dug their way through a two feet of concrete etc.

 

We are at the time of year when the Best Newcomers Plot is judged, so I hope all those who have had plots for less than two years have been busy. The plots are not judged against each other but for the amount of improvement that has been made.

 

Sadly a few people have had to give up their plots recently for various reasons. Howard Yeomans who I am sure everyone recognises by his numerous and various bicycles is off to Columbia to build an eco house with his partner Heather and daughter Elsie. We wish them the best of luck. I know they do a lot a work with various groups in Thornbury and will be missed by all. Vic King has finally given up battling with his plot but assures me that he will still be visiting Daggs to have coffee and biscuits and a long chat.

 

Finally for early May - look out for frost. I noticed that some potatoes towards the bottom of the allotments have had their leaves blackened by frost. The bottom of the allotments is a frost pocket and potatoes should be kept covered for a few more weeks.

 

 

The 2010 AGM was well attended in spite of the outbreak of flu and general lurgy that has been going around Thornbury. The associations officers all volunteered to stand for another year for which we are reallty gratefull. Once again it was decided to make a donation to Thornbury in Bloom and as last year the sum of £200 was agreed.

 

Members ordered over £1100 worth of seeds from the seed catalogue this year which has meant a healthy contribution to the finances. The NGS Open Day will be held on Sunday 11th July, volunteers will be sought out nearer the day. Our secreatary John Mansbridge is trying to organise some visits to different gardens, members will receive the details by e mail.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Everyone should have received a seed catalogue by now along with a seed potato order form. Peter Bird has once again negotiated a really good deal with the Seed Company and Sue is giving us a good discount on the potatoes. Please make sure that you return your seed order to Peter by 30th

November to give him time to collate the order. Seed Potato orders should be taken directly to Sue.