Author: Webmaster

We agreed at our AGM to schedule weekly work parties for a few months. Here are some proposed dates through to the end of February. We really want a wide participation in these work parties – not just the Usual Suspects. Anyone can suggest a job for us to tackle. Anyone can be a work party leader.

Work Parties

Date	Leader	Job
Sat, 2 Dec 2023
Sun, 10 Dec 2023	Rosie	Prepare plot 6T for letting
Sat, 16 Dec 2023
Sun, 7 Jan 2024
Sat, 13 Jan 2024
Sun, 21 Jan 2024	Joe	Skip here. Clear out old hut and tidy up.
Sat, 27 Jan 2024
Sun, 4 Feb 2024
Sat, 10 Feb 2024
Sun, 18 Feb 2024
Sat, 24 Feb 2024
Sun, 3 Mar 2024
Sat, 9 Mar 2024
Sun, 17 Mar 2024

Jobs to Do

Here are some of the jobs that need to be done. Do you know of others?

• Clear last raspberries from above plot 38.
• Prune apples and pears on communal orchard (plot 51)
• Prune back brambles from above the manure gate.
• Shred prunings.
• Clear plots for letting.
• Remove trees growing through the fence.
• Level footpaths and fill ruts.
• Clear paths around the site perimeter.
• Clear weeds on the coppice wood and harvest poles.
• Prepare for new huts.

We held our 2023 Annual General Meeting on 24th October at the Meanwood Institute. Here are the minutes.

Leeds Allotments Federation is taking part in the 2023 RHS Festival of Flavours at Harlow Carr. This year we explore the amazing heritage passed down to us in the food crops we grow.

Our annual autumn show of allotment produce will be on Sunday 10th September this year, with entries accepted from 11:30. Judging will be by Eric Wells and Roger Storr, starting at 14:00.

There will be delicious home-made refreshments available on a “pay as you feel” basis.

We will be have an exhibit of beautiful photos of our plots, so please let us have your best ones.

Here is the schedule of classes for the show.

I am very sorry to have to tell you that Peter Blakey died on Wednesday, 8th May, after a short bout of pneumonia.

Peter joined Hollin Lane Allotments in 1981 and became an important member or our community from early on. He served as Secretary and managed plot lettings for many years before passing that job on to Rosie. He finally retired from the Committee in 2014. Throughout this time, and until his death at 89 years old he quietly looked after cutting the grass on our footpaths, even when he was in considerable pain from his knees.

Peter was an excellent gardener. He won our Best Allotment competition many times, and was a formidable exhibitor of vegetables, often winning prizes at our little show, and at others around the city. I happened to raise the subject the other day and he told me that his exhibits had won 31 first prizes last year. He also contributed to the Leeds Allotments Federation’s winning exhibits at some of the Harrogate and Great Yorkshire shows. He was keen for us to improve our own exhibits and showmanship, and composed a handy guide to showing some of the main classes.

In recent weeks Peter did a huge amount of work turning over his whole plot and ridging it in readiness for the new planting season. His latest project was a massive hot bed – a pit filled with hot strawy manure with a cold frame over it to provide summery heat for growing in cold weather. Not being able to see the conclusion of this experiment will be just one of many reasons I mourn his passing.

Peter was always looking for new ways to improve things – not just his own gardening, but the state of Hollin Lane Allotments as a whole. He loved being here, and did much to make it the happy place it is. We will miss him hugely.

I am sure you will all join me in extending our sympathy to Peter’s wife Kathryn and their family.