The Show

It may not have been the kindest growing season with a very wet and windy summer but you would not have known from the exhibits on show on Saturday. Here is a story of the day in pictures. To view all the pictures in a particular category just click on your picture of choice below.

Just for fun

Worthing and District Allotments and Garden Association winners were: Peter Webb – the best kept allotment, the most points for vegetables, the best exhibit of vegetables, the best exhibit of flowers, the best collection of vegetables and the top tray for vegetables. Janice Shambrook – the best exhibit of fruit, the most points for flowers, the RHS Banksian medal and the best exhibit in show for a set of plums. Jim Short – the best front garden. Arthur Burt – the Rose Trophy. Brenda Cox – the Floral Art Cup. Christine Brown – best novice collection of vegetables. James Ellis – the Cookery Cup. Jack Powis – the Wine Cup. Orchard Chamberland – won the snake, swan or doll competition and the most points in the children's classes. Ben Edwards – best exhibit for his 'growing picture' showing the association's diamond jubilee.

(09/09/08)

A full list of winners, by class, is given below:

FRUIT
1. J Nutt; 2. C Brown; 3. J Powis; 4. J Shambrook; 5. M Hollingdale; 6. T Edwards

VEGETABLES
10. P Webb; 11. P Webb; 12. C Stowe; 13. P Webb; 14. P Webb; 15. W Woodcraft; 16. P Webb; 17. P Webb; 19. P Webb; 20 P Webb; 21 J Rudland; 22 P Webb; 23. P Webb; 24. P Webb; 25. C Stowe; 26 C Stowe; 27. P Webb; 28. J Shambrook; 29. J Rudland; 30. J Rudland; 31 P Webb; 32. P Webb; 33. P Webb; 34. P Webb; 35. P Webb; 36. D Richardson; 37. J Powis

FLOWERS
40. C Powis; 41. P Webb; 42. P Webb; 43. J Shambrook; 44. A Burt; 45. A Burt; 46. A Burt; 47. P Webb; 48. P Webb; 49. P Webb; 50. J Shambrook; 51. J Shambrook; 52. A Burt; 53. P Webb; 54. D Rolph; 55 J Shambrook; 56. J Shambrook; 57. P Webb; 58. P Webb; 59. A Burt; 60. D Rolph; 61. P O'Connor; 62. A Burt; 64. J Nutt

FLORAL ART
70. M Hollingdale; 71. B Cox; 72 B Cox

PHOTOGRAPHIC
75 Ken Willo

COOKERY
80. C Powis; 81. J Ellis; 82. E Willo; 83. J Rudland; 84. B Maslin; 85. J Ellis; 86. D Richardson; 87. C Powis; 88. A Nutt

WINE
90. J Powis; 91. J Powis; 92. J Powis; 93. J Powis

COLLECTIONS OF VEGETABLES AND FLOWERS
100. P Webb; 101. C Brown; 102. S Chamberland; 103. B. Edwards; 104. P Webb

CHILDREN'S CLASSES
110. O Chamberland; 111. C Silburn & B Edwards; 112. C Silburn & B Edwards; 113 E Silburn

Best Kept Allotment 2008

The winner of this year's Best Kept Allotment competition was Peter Webb of Chesswood site. Peter also won last year so, Come on, the rest of you, and pull your fingers out! Here's a couple of pictures:

                                                 
                                                  Notice the cabbage protection

Whilst we're on the subject of Peter Webb, he also took Best in Show at Shoreham Horticultural Society Show on 9th August and at Southwick Horticultural Society Show on 16th August. See pictures below.

                           
Shoreham                                                    Southwick

(01/09/08)

Findon Village Gardens Association Show

Findon Village Hall hosted the show which was opened at 2.15pm by BBC local radio gardening guru, Jean Griffin. Just as well it was all under cover as the constant drizzle did its best to dampen spirits but came nowhere near succeeding.

As you would expect, flowers were of quite a high standard, especially the dahlias, after what was a very windy week prior to the show. The entries were up on last year with more people entering more classes. Apart from the expected floral displays there were also sections for fruit, vegetable, cookery and handicrafts, including photography. There were also special competitions for children.

If just looking on wasn't enough there was a tombola, raffle and stalls selling produce and gardening equipment. The Produce stall...(Chutneys and veg and fresh laid eggs) was very successful together with the old tools and equipment stall . I just missed out on the £2 lawnmower to Jean Griffin! Naturally there were refreshments too so we had to try out the cakes to make sure they were all calorie-free. They weren't but they did taste good. All in all, pretty good value at 50 entrance and free to members of course.

All exhibits in the photographs below were winners in their class.

       
Jean Griffin

		Painted children's pictures were supplied by Lambstails pre-school and the Vale.

(10/08/08)

PRESS RELEASE FROM WORTHING BOROUGH COUNCIL

Join Worthing's happy allotment growers

Worthing’s allotment waiting list re-opens after two years of closure when a decision was taken by the Council, supported by the Worthing and District Allotments and Gardens Association that the waiting lists - already very long - represented an unreasonable wait of many years for someone interested in renting one. Bryan Turner, Cabinet Member for Clean and Green Environment says: "The waiting lists for Worthing's eight allotment sites have been closed since 2006, and although there is still a lengthy wait, we have realised that we no longer have a good idea of what the current demand is for our popular allotment plots. With the increase in good nutrition and physical exercise, twinned with rising prices in the supermarkets, we believe that more people would like to turn their hand to growing their own fruit and veg. And so the decision has therefore been taken to reopen the waiting lists."

Sadly though, the public are advised that the likelihood of anyone joining a waiting list now and getting a plot in the near future is quite slim. But with patience new tenants should be able to expect in time to be able to join Worthing's happy band of fruit and vegetable growers. Bryan adds: "We would also like to apologise though to the many people who have tried to join the waiting lists since their closure, and would encourage them to reapply."

There are eight allotment sites within the town boundaries and any resident over 18 can apply to rent one of the 986 plots which average 126.46 sq metres (5 square rods) in size. If you are interested in getting your name on the waiting list call Continental Landscapes Ltd on 01903 227070 (choose option 2 – allotments) or email: fiona.martin@continental-landscapes.co.uk .

(08/08/08)

	Allotment Watch Launch

Worthing Allotment Watch was duly launched on Sunday morning with free tool engraving at West Tarring Site. A big CCTV police van and a police car turned up for a 10.00am start and the council was represented by Councillor Oakley and Sasha Bryson (WBC). Allotmenteers presented an array of tools to be security marked and details were duly logged in black and white for police records. The drizzle did its best but, not to be put off, the police got round this by erecting a rainproof gazebo while some took shelter in Ian's store. The service was provided free of charge and is part of the venture brought about by the joint workings of West Sussex Police, Worthing Borough Council and The Worthing and District Allotments & Gardens Association. Further engraving sessions will be held at Chesswood and Humber this week at evening times detailed in the article below, dated 20/07/08.

(04/08/08)

Good News

The chemical that contaminated so much manure, aminopyralid, has been removed from the market and its manufacturers are trying to work out what the problem was. Not such good news - it may remain active for 4 years.

Allotment Watch comes to Worthing - Protect Your Tools!

So what is Allotment Watch? Well, as someone put it, "It's a bit like Neighbourhood Watch but aimed at allotments." Pretty close. Allotments by their nature (i.e. nobody lives there to keep a constant eye on things) are an easy target for vandals and thieves. The scheme aims to raise awareness with allotment holders of the need for crime prevention measures and educates them on how to make their sites and property more secure.There are several schemes already in operation in various parts of the country including nearby Littlehampton allotments.

The Worthing venture is a result of the joint efforts of Worthing Borough Council, the police and The Worthing & District Allotments & Gardens Association. If you bring your tools to one of the venues listed below at the times stated, the police will engrave them for you with your postcode, making them undesirable to thieves and also easily identifiable at boot fairs or when found by police. This service is only available to tenants who have an allotment on one of Worthing's eight sites and your details will go on a police data base.

We have arranged for the launch of Allotment Watch to be:

                     Sun 3rd August          West Tarring         10am - 1pm
                     Tues 5th August        Chesswood Farm     6pm - 8pm
                     Wed 6th August         Humber Ave            6pm - 8pm

You can attend whichever session you like. And it's FREE!                                                      (20/07/08)

Palatine School and Oak Grove College Garden Open Day

The two schools held their Garden Open Day on Sunday and £3.50 gave admission to both gardens. The weather was kind, just right for admiring the beauty of the plants and the hard work done to create and maintain the gardens. Palatine School Garden is now quite established and has held open days for several years but this was a new venture for Oak Grove College which has only been open for three years since the local reorganisation of education for pupils with special needs. Palatine School is now the primary school and Oak Grove College the secondary, teaching students up to the age of 19. Below are some pictures of each garden. If you didn't make it this year perhaps they might give you the desire to see the gardens for yourself next time.

Palatine School

Oak Grove College

Teacher Jennie Rollings said she would be delighted to hear from anyone who would like to volunteer to help with the gardens in any way, so if you think you could spare a little time and fancy a bit of gardening to help others get in touch with her at: tjrollings@gmail.com

(13/07/08)

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Lancing Horticultural Society 70th Anniversary Show

Saturday saw Lancing Horticultural Society's 70th Anniversary Show at Boundstone School with entertainment provided by the musical duo, "Two in Accord". In addition to the usual classes there was also an inter-society challenge competition where various local societies were each given a 6ft table on which to display their wares. Fittingly Lancing HS won.
The day proved a splendid one for well known competitor, Jack Rudland, who won several competitions, including sweeping the board with his carrots. His wife, Win, had baked the celebratory fruit cake pictured above.
But let the pictures tell the story of the day. Each exhibit depicted was a winner in its class.

(12/07/08)

Plant-killing manure

Gardeners and allotmenteers all over the country have been hit by damage to their crops, especially potatoes and tomatoes, caused by using manure contaminated with an aminopyralid-based weedkiller. The weedkiller has been sprayed onto grass which then finds its way, via bedding or the animals' digestive tracts, into manure which has then been delivered to unsuspecting gardeners. Unfortunately it can persist for years and even in very dilute quantities (parts per billion). Affected plants show growth distortion, cupped leaves and fern-like growth. Unfortunately no one can guarantee that affected plants are safe to eat and it has been known to hit beans, peas and salads as well as some flowers such as roses, delphiniums and phlox.
To speed up the rate of breakdown of residues on contaminated land, rotovate or dig over the soil several times. This ensures the manure is fully incorporated into the soil and increases microbe activity.
Stacked manure
Unfortunately, residues in manure can remain for extended periods, even up to two years. The best advice is to return the unused manure to the supplier for them to spread on grassland. However, as these weedkillers are widely used in agriculture and can be grazed by livestock within seven days of application it is very unlikely that there is any risk to pets, children or the environment from contaminated manure but remember no assurances can be given that the produce is free of weedkiller and safe to eat. If in doubt, it is probably best not to consume affected crops.

See also feature on Ramblings Page (07/07/2008) 

And there's more. Read this letter to Paul Neary of the Allotments Regeneration Scheme

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