Category: New

In July the trustees will look at plots to see if they are in good order, and producing crops:  

• Are there crops growing?
• Are crops being harvested and not left to go to waste? 
• Are there are any safety problems like blocked or overgrown paths?
• Is there evidence of rat activity?

It is a rewarding time of year to be on the allotments. Crops are starting to come in, and the birds are singing and the sun is shining (some times).

We are having our annual Plant Bring & Buy Sale on Sunday, 31 May, from 2:00 pm. Each year we grow some extra seedlings to sell to our members and neighbours.  It’s always a great occasion, with some really good plants, home baking and drinks, entertainment, and our famous white-knuckle snail race. There will be useful stuff on sale from the hut, and a free tool sharpening service.

So, when you are sowing your crop seeds, please grow a few extra seedlings. There is always a big demand for sweet corn, courgettes and squash, salads, well grown greenhouse crops like tomatoes and cucumbers, broccoli, and crops that don’t take up too much room or require too much attention.

And please consider donating some home cooked snacks.

If you had to call an ambulance to Hollin Lane Allotments, would you know how to tell them where we are? It can be tricky to give clear directions if you haven’t thought about it beforehand.

Here are two ways to give clear directions that will bring help to the main gates:

• Street Address: Our main gates are on the unpaved track off Hollin Drive LS16 5NE. The start of the track is next to 48 Hollin Drive LS16 5NE. It is a good idea to memorize that post code. Think ‘LS16 5North East‘.
• What3Words: This is a free app for your phone that can pinpoint any location on earth with just three words. Just inside our main gate the What3Words location is ///pocket.loser.gone . A good way to remember this is to think about what happens when you go into a betting shop: “There is money in your pocket, but if you bet and you are a loser it is gone.“

If you are ever in an emergency situation on the allotments dial 999, and don’t be shy about asking for help. Holler if no one is near. If someone is down, you should stay with them and get someone else to open the gate and direct help to where you are.

Stay safe!

Our Annual General Meeting was held on 28 October 2025 at the Meanwood Institute. Our AGM is when we review the year just past and organize ourselves for the coming year. Everyone gets a chance to find out what has been going on and to have their say. We have already begun to act upon the suggestions we received during our discussions.

Have a look at the minutes.

Our annual Plant Bring & Buy Sale is on Sunday 1 June 2025. We open to the public at 2:00 pm. It’s a great chance to pick up some good plants at bargain prices – much appreciated by plot holders and the public. There will be delicious home made refreshments, free tool sharpening and a time to chat. And maybe live music?

Please sow some extra seedlings to bring along for sale. Sweet corn, courgettes, squash, tomatoes, broccoli, beans are always in demand. Healthy fruit plants are also appreciated. Some ornamentals, too.

Some supermarket fruit and veg may look like they were grown in Britain, but that is not always true, according to an article in the BBC.

Of course, if you have and allotment you know where your fruit and veg come from!

The Yorkshire Post did a piece about Allotment Week . It is a good feature on the benefits of allotments and gardening in general, with nice photos of Rosie and some wise words most of us would agree with.

Our annual autumn show of allotment produce will be on Sunday 8th 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.

Here is the schedule of classes for the show.

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