It’s National Allotments Week!
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It’s National Allotments Week!
In the build up to our allotment open afternoon next Tuesday (18 August at 12.30pm), we’ll be sharing information on our Lalley community allotment, how it works and how it benefits local people.
Our allotment manager, Raddon, tells us more…
Our allotment in Manchester is a vital green space in the area, offering a place for people to learn about growing organic food and flowers in a practical way, while taking time to relax and socialise in a peaceful, natural setting.
We’re a productive site, growing 625kg food last year, most of which was supplied to our community food pantry nearby, with the rest used for outdoor cooking here or by volunteers.
We also manage lots of the space for wildlife, planting flowers amongst the crops, leaving some areas wild and creating ponds. The flowers grown help decorate the Lalley centre, and make both people and pollinators happy!
As well as the harvest, the main impact the allotment has for people is around improving wellbeing.
This has been particularly improved this year, with more activities run than ever, including through the winter for the first time.
One person attending our group for refugees and people seeking asylum expressed this really nicely, saying: “Coming here has really made me feel so happy. I was alone at home before and not going out much. But when I come here I feel I can breathe properly again. I’ve met lots of new people and I feel accepted by the staff and volunteers here. I’ve suffered with depression but I can talk freely here and share my stories. I didn’t have that before. It really helps having kind staff who can speak my home language too.”
People coming to the allotment have shaped it in so many ways over the years, and this year has seen some great developments in creating new flower beds and paths, which were the initiative of people attending via a course run with adult education charity ‘Back on Track’. Using logs we had spare, they helped prepare the ground, design the beds and plant the seeds needed. Check out the before and after photos below to see the difference!
One final benefit that means a lot to me in this role is giving children and young people a chance to do gardening and outdoor activities, which many growing up in the city can’t otherwise do. Whether it’s primary school children from our local school who are taking part in the Caritas Compost Club every day (and just won the Laudato Si schools award for it), or young adults with additional learning needs from Bridge College, seeing them learn to take care of the plants, and the joy they get from doing it, is very hopeful thing.
If you’re an allotment gardener, we hope you enjoy celebrating good harvests this week!
And if you’d like to do more gardening, please do come along to our open sessions and our Afternoon at the Allotment next Tuesday.
In the meantime, look out for more info as we share more about the Lalley community allotment this week!
Any questions or need more information?
You can contact the team by emailing lalleycentre@caritassalford.org.uk or calling 0161 205 2754. Or pop by to say hello: Caritas Lalley Community Allotment, Eggington Street, M40 7RN
You can also get involved as a volunteer and take on some responsibility for growing on the site and welcoming other visitors, if you’re interested just sign up by clicking here.
Find out more about our Lalley Centre, Community Pantry and Allotment by clicking here now.