A LABOUR OF LOVE

KG editor Steve Ott travelled to Lincoln to meet a group of gardeners who came together to create a haven in the heart of a bustling city

- Steve Ott

Plot holders at the North Lincoln Allotments Clarence Street A site know when it’s time for a brew – they listen for the chiming of the nearby cathedral bells. Or if it is Saturday morning, it might be a signal to make their way to the onsite store selling cut-price essentials, for a chat to the friendly crew who generously take time out from the weeding to run it for the 170-plus members.

THE STORE

The store and community garden in which it stands has been a labour of love for several of the members and is a project which has taken more than eight years to complete. It has been achieved by converting the long-neglected site office of what was once a stone quarry supplying limestone for the cathedral and many other projects around the UK.

Long-time allotment holder Dave Seal wears many hats – he is vice-chairman, treasurer and storeman and along with former chairman Alan Shuck took on much of the work. They didn’t do it alone of course and in the best allotment tradition were helped by many others, one of whom, volunteer Ian Mosley, I met on the day.

My main guide for the tour was the chairman of the North Lincoln Horticultural Society (NLHS) that oversees the store and garden, Malcolm (Mal) Reynolds.

He told me: “The shop is open to most plot holders – you’ve got to be a member to purchase from the store. We have a wide range of garden and allotment items that they can buy ranging from composts and fertilisers to liquid fertilisers and grit – all sorts of things.” Members are charged just £4 a year which is soon recouped once they start buying from the store.