New Wapley allotments officially open

On Saturday the new Dodington Parish Council allotments at Wapley were officially opened by the council's Vice-Chair John Davis.

He was joined by Wendy Mayo, Clerk to the Parish Council, who did a huge amount of work to get the project up and running. There was also a representative from Merlin, who provided grants towards parts of the project, and of course there were allotment holders of all ages.

Claire Young was there as the local ward councillor. The land used to be part of the South Glos Council-owned Wychwell Farm. When the council decided to sell it off, as it was too small to be viable, Claire had a meeting with an officer and suggested the Parish Council might be interested in purchasing some of it for allotments. That was the easy part! It was then over to Dodington Parish Council to do all the hard work involved in a project of this kind.

The allotment holders are doing a fantastic job, looking at the thriving plots it was hard to believe they only started at Easter. As one of them commented, it really is bringing together people of all ages, from tiny tots to pensioners.

At least it's good for the allotments...

Many of us are depressed by the currrent weather, but people say the rain is good for gardens and allotments. Cllr Mandy Sainsbury recently judged the Dodington Allotments Association competition (just before the deluge started!) and here are some of her photos.

Allotments are rather scarce. If you live within Dodington Parish (Birds, Shire Way, south side of Rodford Way, or the country area out to the motorway) and you would like to go on the waiting list, please contact Dodington Parish Council on 01454 866546.

If you aren't a Dodington parishioner, the Parish Council can give you a contact number for the company that owns the private allotments alongside the railway line.