Many of you will know that about a month ago our allotment plot was destroyed. We had not been the first to have had our plot torched. About seven years ago a handful of plots on the site had been torched. Early this year two other plot holders lost theirs, and I also learned from reading a local newspaper that two other plot holders have just had their set alight too. Unfortunately one of committees spokesman eluded that the fires were caused due to poor fencing implying that it was external arsonists at work, which I think is not so. As a matter of interest, not one of these plots torched belonged to committee members, their family or friends. Take my plot, snug between the Treasurers and the Presidents plot and neither of theirs had been scorched by the roaring flames. Would you not agree that this is interesting?! All I can say ‘hand on heart’ is that we have been open, honest and kind to people at the allotment site, where we have seen misdemeanours we would say so, where we may have noted unreasonable behaviour we would say, so much so that other people who did not have the confidence or courage of their convictions would come to us for support, D had even joined the committee in October. I think us standing up and doing the right thing has cost us our plot. There is so much wrong with this private allotment site, but one of the major issues are some of the committee and long term residents think they are sitting on a site worth millions and are just biding their time for when property developers make an offer. Hence don’t really care about what is going on the site.
I know D is still very upset about losing the plot, but I can only speak for myself. I am still really hurting, for the loss of the plot, the hut, the tool shed and the plants too. Those that did not survive such as my beautiful lemon verbena that was in the greenhouse. The loss of the growing plants too, that I cannot bring myself to go there and harvest such as: leeks, Jerusalem artichokes, parsnips, beetroot and my first lot of nine star perennial (white) broccoli. The daffodil shoots will probably be out too. We had accumulated so much gardening stuff. In the huts, spades, tools, the hoses, various sized seed pots, recycled materials, rolls of netting to keep the pigeons away, issues of Grow Your Own and Kitchen Gardening magazines and various other bits that amount to hundred of pounds. Of course I know all of these things are replaceable, but it’s the small garden related things that my nephews gave me, some handmade, that hurts me the most, they are not replaceable.

I know some of my fellow blog readers mention
karma, and my mother often mentions something similar too, but a number of life experiences have made me unsure about such things for a while, and this experience has reinforced that even more. I am trying not to be negative but to keep a positive outlook, but it really is not that easy as small incidental things provoke me to close tears. For example, take this lunch time I walked over to the local supermarket and was reminded that Jerusalem artichokes were in season. In this supermarket they were costing £1.50 for 3 that is ridiculously expensive. This angered and frustrated me inside. If I had the will, I could go over to the allotment this evening and dig up a bucketful from my plot, but the truth is I don’t have the heart to go there. I have no love for the place or the people there now.
I was advised by fellow blogger to get in touch with the local council and explain the situation and maybe they would look at my case sympathetically. I did and the Allotment Officer advised as there are long waiting lists, I should basically stick to where I am as it is better than having no plot at all. I completely disagree. There was no understanding at all. So I am hesitant in registering at an alternative site right now, especially in this area. I may change my mind in the future, but right now I am just don’t have the motivation. Instead when good weather dictates, I will put that energy of growing into my tiny garden plot and pots. However, this does not mean I won’t refer to times at the allotment plot, the vegetables and fruit I grew there. We both have fond memories of our time at plot 11 and 45 and will remember them, but now to have some sort of closure on this matter, I share with you a film I made of the plot this time last year. Just follow this
link.