General News

The manure bins are well used with a constant supply of fresh manure being delivered. However, the structure at the base of the site is composed of Pallets and in recent months has looked in a sad state of disrepair.

We can now report Derek and Pat set about repairing the back of the bin with new pallets, and bolting them into the concrete base to provide us with a more stable bin.

On behalf of all plot holders a big thank you to both Derek Frost and Pat Tilley for giving up their time and effort to fix for us all.

It doesn't seem possible, but the winter months are now closing in, and dare we say Christmas beckons. The Annual Mince Pie and coffee morning is being held on 2nd December, starting at 10 am at the Trading Hut. It is free to all Association members and it would be great to see as many of the plot holders as possible on the morning.

Last year, we incorporated the AGM into the event, which we dealt with briskly to ensure everyone had the maximum time to quaff Tony's legendary mulled wine.

The AGM is a crucial part of the Association, and it allows us to provide you with any news from the site over the last year, plus any feedback from members. As in previous years we will also be awarding the winners of the Annual Allotment Competition their trophies and certificates and as well as enjoying the customary fare which is provided a good opportunity to congratulate and share these successes.

We look forward to seeing you all on the morning,

As many of you will already have seen work on the drainage systems for the new schools development has commenced at the Highfield Road entrance, and as a consequence this access point will be unavailable for four to six weeks.

We have been assured that as soon as the works are complete, the fence will be restored, and the entrance will once again be available for use.

We appreciate everyone's patience whilst the construction company carries out these works.

The Wilderness Foundation are holding an open day on site on Saturday 2nd September. It's a great opportunity to find out a bit more about what the Wilderness Foundation do, take a view of the plots and activity, and on the day there will be refreshments, and apple pressing taking place.

If you are able to support or just pop across whilst you are on site a warm welcome awaits you.

The day is due to run from 10 am to 2pm on Saturday 2nd September.

A band of 'intrepid' plotholders took advantage of the Associations affiliation to the RHS to visit Hyde Hall and the flower show today. After yesterday's deluge, the weather was exceptionally kind, and all of Hyde Hall's gardens were open, together with a raft of trade displays of all kinds, plus craft, food and drink concessions, and music ranging from jazz to choral added to the experience.

As in previous years there was also a marquee which hosted various presentations during the day, from horticultural top tips, gardening Q and A's to talks on gardening for the kitchen from Martin and Jill Fish.

We also benefit from the ability to avoid any queue's at entry with a group entrance, and hope all those who supported the visit had an enjoyable day.

A huge thank you to Karen Lawrence for organising on behalf of the Association.

The Melbourne Park Allotment Association competition was judged on 3rd July by our guest Amy Gill from RHS Hyde Hall. As usual there were two categories for the competition, for those Association members who have held a plot for less than 18 months, and then those members who have held their plot for over 18 months.

Following on from all the effort to remove all the weeds from the base of the trees, mulch and tidy up, much of the area has been shrouded in long grass as a result of no mow may. With a big thank you to Chris Perrin, the Orchard has now been strimmed throughout and we have requested the parks department now tidy up the perimeter and border areas of the Orchard.

A quick reminder to everyone the Annual Allotment Competition is due to be judged on 3rd July. As previous years there are two categories, one for newcomers, who have been members for less than 18 months, and the second for those who have been members for greater than 18 months.

It is essential your plot is marked clearly with your plot number, and your membership fees are up to date. Last years winners were the Marconi Belles (pictured above) and Brian Pickford.

Our judge this year is Amy Gill from RHS Hyde Hall who has kindly agreed to take a wander round the plots and assess. Best of Luck to everyone.

image courtesy of Karen Lawrence

We are organising a trip to RHS Hyde Hall which co - incides with their flower show on Sunday 6th August. Using our affiliation with the Royal Horticultural Society, entrance is free on the day to us as a group. We have provisionally booked 30 spaces, and these are available on a first come, first serve basis. Please book at the Trading Hut via Tony or Karen by 9th July latest as we have to advise RHS Hyde Hall absolute numbers to secure our entry

No transport is provided, and as last year we plan to meet at the main entrance (at the top of the car park) to Hyde Hall at 09.45 sharp on the 6th. We can then enter as a group via the group entrance point which is different from the public entry point.

The Association is organising a working party on the 29th April. The principal activity is to tidy up the Community Orchard, weeding all around the base, plus spread chippings around the base of each tree to act as a mulch.
If you are able to spare some time on the morning of Saturday 29th it would be really appreciated, and the more support and help we can secure the quicker the exercise will be.
Please contact Karen Lawrence or Tony Holbrook if you are able to assist so we have a guide to numbers, and please bring a trowel and spade. Thank you.

The trading hut is now open on Saturday and Sunday Morning between 10 AM and 11 AM and is stocked with all your allotment needs. From composts, fertilisers, nettings and ground cover, to a wide selection of tools which have been donated to the association, all reasonably priced.

In particular their continues to be a variety of tools and sundry other items donated to the Association for sale, so do pop in and have a look round, maybe just a friendly catch up chat with Tony and Karen and see what is available.

It may be a little late to publicise but on Wednesday 15th March at Chelmsford Market the RHS are holding a seed swap event which may prove interesting to members. A copy of the poster advertising the event can be seen above.

Thank you to Carolin at the Wilderness Foundation for bringing to our attention.

Dear Members

It is with the great sadness we have to report the passing of our Honorary President Arthur Cornell. He passed peacefully overnight, aged 101.

Arthur was one of the original founders of the current Allotment Association as we know it now, and was also one of the founding plot holders when the original plots of land were distributed post war in 1947. Arthur served in the Middle East and Europe during the second world war, and was part of the coalition and allied forces who helped to liberate Italy. Even when he was serving, he recalled stating the first thing he was going to do when he de mobilised was to get an Allotment.

He and Ada were heavily involved at the site, regularly growing, exhibiting and winning local horticultural and show competitions on both a personal level and in company with the original Association. It was Arthur who convinced various plot holders in 2004 to re - start the Association and re - open the trading hut, and He and Ada could be seen on Saturday and Sunday whatever the weather conditions running the hut for the site. Despite the march of time, Arthur gave up his plot shortly after his 90th birhday and continued to maintain the small garden outside and run the trading hut until he finally hung up his trowel in 2017. Arthur recently paid for the welcome sign at the top of the site which the council erected which acknowledges he and Ada's 70 year contribution to the plots.

The Association and the site has much to thank and remember, and we send our sympathies and best wishes to Arthur's family.


At the early stages of the newly found Association, Tony and Arthur sat down to discuss what it was like on the allotment and how things had changed, and the text of this original exchange can be found and read by following the attached link.
Interview Arthur Cornell

The best efforts of the weather did not deter 20 hardy souls from taking part in an Apple and Pear pruning day at Melbourne Park Allotments. The day organised by the Wilderness Foundation highlighted best pruning practice and provided hands on practical experience using the trees on the Foundation plots, together with the trees in the Site's community Orchard.

The Annual Mince pie and coffee morning, featuring Tony Holbrook's famous secret elixir took place Saturday 3rd December. With a slight change to it's usual format, the social event including the Annual General Meeting of the Association, following which the trophies for the annual allotment competition were awarded.

The AGM provided members with an insight to all that has happened on site over the previous year, details of the annual accounts, and confirmation the existing committee were prepared to stand for a further term. It also took the opportunity to thank Peter Hunnable, Sybil Connery and Ian Moore who have stood down from the committee this year, for all of their effort and contributions to the Association over many, many previous years, for which we are extremely grateful.

The certificates and trophies were presented at the close of the AGM, with the winner of the newcomers section (less than 18 months on site) Brian Pickford, and the trophy for the more experienced plotholders (over 18 months), Marconi Belles. The trophies were awarded by Karen Lawrence, Chair of the Association.

Finally, the Association is deeply grateful to all those who helped make this event happen, from the contributions and donations of food, or raffle prizes, to all those who helped clear the trading hut and put it back together again.

We hope everyone enjoyed the morning, and take this early opportunity to wish everyone a hugely enjoyable Christmas and new year.

Would all members please note the trading hut will be closed on all Sunday's from 1st December to the end of February 2023.

The hut will also be closed on 24th and 25th December, and 31st December, plus new years Day, 1st January.

Up until Christmas the trading hut will continue to be open from 10am - 11 am on Saturday, and the same times on Saturday only through January and February after the Christmas and new years break.