Meeting the challenge

When Louise Price took on an allotment she was initially daunted by the enormous task that lay ahead. But more than 18 months on she has reaped the rewards for all her hard work

- Louise Price

How long have you been growing your own fruit and veg?

I started growing fruit and veg on my plot in June 2020. I have previously dabbled in growing salad and tomatoes at home in my garden and have always been interested in gardening. Unfortunately, work and family commitments have always taken priority so I have never had the time to take on an allotment.

You recently took on an allotment. How have you found the experience, and would you recommend it to others?

I took over my allotment by chance when a friend in the village suggested it to me during lockdown. When my daughter Ruby and I went to view the plot we couldn’t believe how large it was and how much work needed to be done. I must admit, I lost sleep over the daunting task of how large the plot was but I was also full of excitement for what I could eventually achieve. It wasn’t long before I saw the benefits of just how good this was for my mental health and exercise.

What was your first job on taking the keys to your new plot?

The majority of the plot was covered in black plastic to kill offthe bindweed and couch grass. The remaining area had not been tended to since February 2020 so there was a lot of weeding to do. So on the hottest day of the year Ruby and I set about weeding. The ground was extremely hard and with no proper knowledge or experience we used what tools we had at the time: two gardening forks and lots of old coal bags.