Digging for victory

This is our new shared allotment after four of us had spent three hours removing a thick carpet of assorted weeds, nettles and thistles. The soil is great and revealed a few decent potatoes as part of its hidden treasure. Next task is to spread a layer of horse manure before winter arrives, then dig that in next spring.

Some of the other allotments there show the signs of years of tender loving care, and it was interesting to have the first taste of shared advice from some of the more experienced hands who have been at it for some time. It feels that it will be quite a social experience too.

The land belongs to the adjacent mill, formerly Ballantynes and now Robert Noble. During WW2, it was turned into allotments for the mill workers in response to rationing, so we are part of a long tradition.

The Allotment Act of 1887 obliged local authorities to provide allotments where there was demand for them, and subsequent legislation reinforced that obligation. German blockades of food supplies during WW1 strengthened the demand for home-grown food, though that demand slackened after the War. WW2 and stronger blockades brought even greater demand for home-grown produce - hence the "Dig For Victory" campaign, and even public parks were turned over to productive use. Demand has waxed and waned since but the allotment movement is currently healthy as more people want to grow their own food.