HIS - Ken Manning - 24A & 31A

In the last 25 years it has been a privilege for me to have at first one, then two half allotment plots on this wonderful site.

I have always been interested in plants, whether it be in my professional career or as a pastime, and growing some of my family’s own food is incredibly rewarding. Not only is it a perfect excuse for exercise, it also ticks many of my other boxes. Having fresh produce which quite literally ‘money cannot buy’, is one of these. Those that ask: ‘Why don’t you just buy your food at the local supermarket?’ miss the whole point of growing it yourself. Freshness is essential for the best flavour, texture and nutritional value. During a long winter we dream of new potatoes, carrots and peas harvested and eaten on the same day.

Although officially Ken is the Association’s Treasurer, in reality Ken’s dedication to our site over the past 20 years is the reason why we are such a thriving community. © Rob Lavers

So, what is special about growing your own on Wellesbourne Allotments ? We have inherited a rich history of providing for the family and the precious, fertile soil tended with care for generations is the result. It is a pleasure to work the land knowing that it gives back more than it receives. Of course, ‘we’ do not grow the produce that we harvest, the plants do all the hard work, we just help this along by trying to provide the right conditions. Being part of the renewal of life from a tiny seed to a delicious meal takes me back to my roots.

The vagaries of the weather, pests and diseases continually provide unpredictable challenges for us and this involves learning from past experiences and adapting our practices. I often see plot holders mulling over their plot trying to understand how they can do better in future. It may be a relatively short time, but in 25 years I have witnessed exciting but also worrying changes. There are new crops and varieties to try and this year I am looking forward to tasting my first yacon, a root vegetable ‘super food’ from South America. We almost take for granted growing outdoor tomatoes, melons and sweet potatoes in the Midlands, but nature reminds us we are not in total control. The very wet winter, harsh late spring frosts, exceptionally dry April and May, relentless winds and high temperatures setting new meteorological records, are a mark of global climate change that feels like we are hopeless observers.

Ken greets Matt Baker onto his plot before sitting down to film their chat about the history and role of allotments for the 2019 BBC’s TV Countryfile episode about Wellesbourne Allotments. © Rob Lavers

In my role on the committee the community aspect of our allotments has been very important to me. Our plot holders come from all walks of life who share a love of their plots. Members of the committee are volunteers who work closely together with a common aim to protect and improve our cherished site. I am grateful for their continued support and I am proud to be a small part of this community.

HERS - Anne Manning - 29B

We moved to Wellesbourne in 1995 and part of the attraction of our new home was its proximity to the allotments.

It wasn’t long before my husband Ken acquired his first plot and gradually became involved as a committee member. Although I have always enjoyed gardening I had never grown vegetables and rarely ventured out to the allotments.

When I retired from work in December 2017 I began to wonder what I was going to do with all this extra time. I had often bemoaned the fact that there was no room in our garden for flowers for picking. Ken suggested perhaps I should get an allotment too. I wasn’t sure about this but we went to have a look. I was very lucky that at this time there were several vacant plots. One in particular attracted me – at the back of the allotments but convenient for our house. I said I only need half of that but was persuaded to have the whole plot – actually a bit smaller than average.

I took possession of my plot in June 2018. It was very overgrown with lots of weeds and the remains of an old polytunnel. I spent most of that first summer clearing the plot. Couch grass was my arch enemy and I was determined to get rid of it. It was a very hot summer and the ground was hard and dry. I got into the habit of watering a strip about a meter wide in the evening then digging it the next day. The task was made more enjoyable by the company of a blackbird and a robin both ready to pounce whenever I turned up a juicy cockchafer grub or an ants nest. I enjoyed the challenge and the growing heap of couch grass roots was very satisfying.

Eventually the plot was cleared – I dug it all over again to remove any lingering pieces of couch. I didn’t grow much that first year – a couple of pumpkins and some herbs. I sowed a row of wallflowers and watered them religiously as it was very dry but nothing came up. I gave up and sowed some in a tray instead. About 3 weeks later it rained and guess what the original seeds started to germinate. Isn’t nature clever? I still marvel at how effective a good rain is compared with laborious hand watering.

So 2019 – no excuses now I had to decide what to grow. I knew I couldn’t compete with Ken so decided to try everything I could and see what worked best.