Tuesday 10:25am and the phone rings.

“We have half an allotment available if you are interested.”

By noon I was standing at the allotment gates and met up with the site secretary. I was shown the half plot and the situation was explained that the current plot holder is a man in his 90s and wanted to scale back so had decided to give up one half of his plot. He would retain the greenhouse/shed on his side and outside growing space until such time that he decided to give up the other half. I agreed.

For me having an allotment on a communal site is more about the social aspect. Meeting up with like minded people who have a passion for growing, sharing of tips and drinking tea.

The gentleman will continue to tend to his greenhouse/shed which currently has a health crop of tomatoes.

The first harvest off the allotment will be blackberries, munched as I tend the land. So this is my new half allotment, from the metal pole down to the boundary fence.