HAPPY NEW YEAR 2012 TO ALL OUR ALLOTMENT MEMBERS GOOD LUCK FOR THE COMING YEAR

WELCOME TO VALE ROAD ALLOTMENTS 

HAYWARDS HEATH

michaelbotting@aol.com

GARDENING IS A CREATIVE PROCESS WHICH HELPS MENTALLY, EMOTIONALLY AND SOCIALLY, SO GET YOUR HANDS DIRTY BY GETTING INTO THE GARDEN.

         If you want a bit of history of our site take a look at `Days gone by`

Hi I`m Mick Botting and for those that don`t know me Val and I have the chickens at the bottom of the site. Please feel free to join in anything about Vale Road allotments contributions are welcome.

Any stories, tips or advice. Have you anything to give away sell or exchange? Maybe you have some gardening tips which would help new gardeners.

I want to take some photos of members and perhaps put a bit about them. This may be a way of introducing others that you may not have met. Nothing too intrusive and only with permission of members of course.

It might be a good idea to start off with the committee and a few things about them. A photo perhaps. Anyway I`ll play it by ear, and see how it goes.

 We are the first on the site with chickens and we were complete novices when we took it on. Despite a few initial negative comments about how the foxes will get them, after 17 month so far so good, and we really enjoy looking after them. Although we have a friend who has just had all of her chickens wiped out by a fox, so we need to keep vigilant.

I am going to try to set up a simple site for news, photos, and any contributions. I say simple because I am no great shakes on a computer but I hope I can make it interesting for members. I would like to emphasise that I am not a committee member but I have had an allotment here for more years than I care to remember.

One significant change that has occurred in the last few years is the number of ladies and young families that have taken on plots. And the allotments are no longer  male dominated. It helps to create a balance,and lets face it a pretty lady out there among the plants makes a change.

I have met quite a few characters out here during the years. Anybody remember Percy Frost ? who was as deaf as a post and his shouted conversations could be heard from.400 yards away.  He was fond of the ladies and would make a bee line for any female he spotted among the vegatables and sneak his arm around them as he offered his advice.

Then there was Jack Martin in his sack cloth apron who trundled his wheelbarrow around in all weathers at 93 years old.

Another old timer was Margaret Buckfield who as well as looking after her late husband`s plot, she had time to visit the Age Concern to help out the poor old dears as she delicately put it. Margaret`s husband was a founder member of the allotments and won many prizes in horticulture shows.

Bill Jenner was well known for his comical placards he erected around his plot such as `Don`t  kill yourself in the garden, do it in mine instead` or `Funny weedy things`

We do have a laugh and a joke now and again as well as getting on with the job of growing our fruit and veg. 

AND NOW FOR THE ROGUES' GALLERY

CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE IT THEN CLICK IN SPACE ON RIGHT TO TAKE IT OFF OR IF YOU CLICK ON PHOTO TWICE IT WILL TAKE YOU TO THE NEXT ONE

CLICK ON ROGUES' GALLERY PART TWO FOR MORE PHOTOS AFTER THESE

Jagger Jagger runs a nursing home in East Grinstead and comes down to his allotment because it`s nice and peaceful he says.	Colin Gurr Committee member Colin is the man to ask if you need any help. Always obliging and seems to come up with solutions to any problems
Revd Jean Sedgley Jean has had her allotment for around four years. She is a retired reverend at Cuckfield church, but is still helping out at various churches around the district. Currently deputising at the Scaynes Hill church.	Ann Atkinson Ann has her plot with her son in law and has been doing it for six years. Ann was a former post office Area Manager that covered Sussex, Hampshire and Kent.
Arthur Meachen Arthur`s been out here for about 11 years. If he`s missing for a few weeks you can bet your life he`s on a cruise. Arthur has a passion for cruising. He is a semi retired refrigeration engineer.	Stuart & Drusilla Miers Stuart and Dru work together on their allotment They are both active members of `Friends of Ashenground and Bolnore woods`. Stuart organises teams of volunteers to keep the woods in good shape. He has also been a main man in fighting to keep parts of the woods the builders have their eye on. Drusilla is a retired nurse.
Rob Forster Rob has got to be the longest serving member on the allotments. He came here in the 50`s from the allotment site in Park road which was taken over for building Ryecroft an estate just off of Woodride.	Richard & luz Richard and Luz are enjoying working their allotment and have added a poly-tunnel. Richard has retired from an Insurance office, while Luz from South America works part time teaching Spanish at evening school.
Tony Hardy Tony has recently stood down from the committee, he has been chairman and secretary all rolled into one in the past and has been instrumental on setting up numerous projects on the site. He built a great verandah attatched to the new shed, and set up a water saving system that all members can use.	Trevor Jordan Trevor is one of our newest members, and is a first time allotment holder. Trevor is very fortunate because his house overlooks the allotments so he can keep a sharp eye out for us. He works for the Gas National Grid.
Mick & Val Botting Val and I get on extremely well on our allotment just as long as I do as I`m told. Note the `Head Gardener` on her jumper. The chickens get more cuddles than me nowadays.	Susan White Susan a retired nurse is lucky to have a plot just outside her own back garden of her bungalow. Susan comes down and gives the chickens tit-bits.
Dave Midmore Dave is a fairly newcomer having just retired. His passion besides gardening is fishing. He was a marathon runner in his younger days.	John Froud John does gardening for a living and has had his allotment for 25 years. John says he was the first to erect a shed over here. Rarely seen without his pipe.
Clive & Jane Cowley Clive and Jane have just started their allotment close to the small gate, they are going to grow mainly fruit to start with.	Neil and Jenner Neil likes to bring Jenner down to the allotment with him, Jenner sits quietly and is no trouble at all.
Steve & Fatima Steve is a keen cyclist and Fatima comes from Somalia East Africa. Fatima has been here for ten years and they have had their plot for 9 years.	Les Webb Les has recently taken his plot and has just managed to put some spuds in
Pam Hardy Pam maintains all of our borders and shrubbery which we appreciate very much. She`s the other half of Tony Hardy.	Arthur & Margaret Arthur has`t been too well for a while but is recovering. Margaret has worked hard keeping the plot going. Just added a poly tunnel.
Jacko Pat Dempsey & Ann Jacko has been involved with allotments for many years.Recently retired he`s finding more time to maintain his plot.	Pierro & Salvatore Pierro (left) has had his prize winning allotment right by the big gate for ten years. His friend Salvatore from Sicily has his plot further down, and he likes to specialise in all things Italian, or Sicilian.
Dawn Newman Dawn still maintains her plot after having moved from Vale Road to Burgess Hill.	Tim Newnham Tim hails from Balcombe originally he and his sons run a plastic business.
Dave Perkins Congratulations to Dave & Anna recently had a baby girl named Poppy. If Dave`s missing from his plot he`s `GONE FISHING`	Dino Bolletta Dino as you can see is a keen cyclist He`s doing the London to Brighton again this year. It`s June 20th and he`s hoping to raise a lot of money again for charity.
Wendy Swinton-Eagle Wendy has her plot by the small gate. You can listen to her every Wed from 3-5pm on Mid-downs Radio on 1350am If you want music played for someone in Hospital the Tel no is 441350	Meet Silvia Ameno-Schummer & family Many hands make light work!!! Silvia parents and children. Italian but been in England for a long time. Took over plot last year.They Have not met our other Italian friends yet.
Bernie & Fee I've known Alan Miles alias Bernie for a long time. He insists though that everyone knows him as Bernie. He and Fee live just a stone throws away.	Nicky Parnell Nicky has been very brave and taken on Ron`s old plot that turns into a pond. She is hoping to ammend that by topping the low bit up so that it doesn`t flood.

CLICK ON ANY PICTURE IN THIS GALLERY TO ENLARGE IT THEN CLICK ON GREEN BORDER TO TAKE IT OFF

Lots more members to come with their permission.

Please use Blog page for any comments, suggestions etc.

Taking these photos have introduced me to members that I have not previously been introduced to.  It`s a good way of getting to know other allotment holders.