Gardening in a changing climate
Gardens facing the challenge
Cottonmill and Nunnery Allotment Society
Collective share of resources
Amanda Yorwerth is treasurer of the Cottonmill and Nunnery Allotment Association, St Albans, Hertfordshire.
There are 250 plots on two sites. ‘There were lots of vacant plots when we set up nine years ago. Now there are waiting lists,’ says Amanda.
‘We aim to keep the amount of new raw materials we bring on to the site to a minimum,’ she says. ‘So, for example, local tree surgeons give us wood chippings - for paths and mulch - which in turn keep down weeds and conserve water. We are also talking to the local council about giving us the leaves they collect to make leafmould.’
The group gets a bulk order of manure from local stables to help people make their own compost. Amanda says few people still want to use peat but labelling is often so poor that they buy it in mixtures, without realising it.
Every gardener needs to use some machinery but the group also avoids waste here too, as it has bought a string trimmer and rotary cultivator that members can hire. ‘We all know about the energy machines use to operate,’ says Amanda, ‘but many machines stand idle most of the time. Sharing makes better use of them.’