Spotlight On… Royston Allotments Open Day
If you’ve ever wanted to grow your own food, the Royston Allotments Open Day offers the chance to discover the many joys (and hard work) involved in keeping an allotment.
The gates at Coombes Hole (at the junction of Green Street and Melbourn Road) will be open on Sunday 14th August from 11am – 2pm, and anyone keen to learn how to ‘grow your own’ is very welcome.
Oliver, Johanna, and their son James first took on a plot towards the end of 2021. Like many people new to allotment life, they weren’t entirely sure what to expect: “We could immediately see it was going to be quite the challenge! We weren’t expecting a beautifully manicured plot, but it was very over-grown and needed a lot of work.”
“We listened to other plot holders who told us to tackle it just a little bit at a time. After a while, we found ourselves at the plot most evenings and weekends -we just got stuck in!”
Nine months later, the family’s plot is transformed from mounds of waist-high stinging nettles into a beautiful haven. Their hard work has been rewarded with harvests of potatoes, raspberries, strawberries, and beans, and a whole host of wildlife have made a home in their new pond.
Oliver said: “It’s surprising how relaxed and energised you feel after a decent session at the allotment. It feels really good to look back on all you’ve achieved!”
Johanna added: “I really like planting seeds and potting on the baby plants, Oliver enjoys building the allotment structures and tackling the weeks, and James likes harvesting! We all have our favourite jobs, and there’s always something for everyone to do.”
The family has some tips for those with newly green fingers: “Just give it a go and see what works. We’ve learned a lot from other plot holders. Everyone at the allotments is really friendly and there’s always someone on-hand with advice.”
The Open Day encourages gentle competition among plot holders, with prizes awarded for the best tray of produce and for floral displays. Mayor of Royston, Mary Antony has stepped up to ‘Judge the Jam’ in the ‘Jams, Pickles, and Chutneys’ competition. There’ll also be an allotment themed photography competition, activities for children, a raffle with donations from local businesses, plus a BBQ and homemade cake for sale. You can also pick up some fresh, Royston-grown produce with zero food miles!
Royston Allotments Open Day
Coombes Hole (at the junction of Green Street and Melbourn Road)
Sunday 14th August from 11am – 2pm.
