WAGS keep busy during lockdown

Following the National Allotment Society advice, Westfield Parish Council supported keeping the allotment sites in Waterford Park and Larch Court open. For many of the members of WAGS this has been a great way of getting out of the house and doing some much needed exercise in these difficult times.

Paul Millard, the acting chair of WAGS, explained that the usual meetings and work parties have not been able to go ahead but with the recent lockdown changes we have managed to start working on the communal areas – whilst maintaining social distancing.

A skip was hired to clear rubbish and the flower beds surrounding the disabled and children’s raised beds were weeded. The whole site is looking amazing with all the plots in use and the polytunnel filled with tomatoes, cucumbers, melons and chilli peppers. Given that initially, garden centres were closed, the allotment holders have managed extremely well to source seeds and plants. Of course, one area which we have had to continue to maintain during lockdown is the orchard and bee hives. Last September we took on a bee hive under the care of Clive Chandler, one of the allotment holders. Clive is supported by an apiary expert and Clive and Paul have joined a local bee keeping club.

Earlier in the summer we managed to start a second hive and everyone is looking forward to sampling some honey.

WAGS has also successfully developed Larch Court allotments. In its first full year the site looks fabulous

and is a great use of the previously unused area.