Fillongley Allotment
Association was formed in 1948 on a 2 acre site provided for the use of
villagers by the William Avery Trust charity. At that time the 20 plots were in
full use. When a by-pass was planned to drive a path through the site in later
years and the older members retired, interest waned and the site became
overgrown. By May, 2004 barely 5 plots were in use.
The remaining members
reformed the Association and applied to the
Allotment Regeneration Initiative (ARI) for £5000 to renovate the site. The
application was successful and the money given, by the
Esmée Fairbairn Trust, in October 2004. Much of the project is now
complete. The site has been cleared and ploughed and the soil worked down. The
hedges have been cut. The plots have be re-marked out and rotovated and plot
holders are back on site, growing vegetables for the new season in 2005. A
container has been purchased to store supplies and maintenance equipment. To
celebrate the successful outcome of the project, the allotment folk had a
'container warming' party in May, 2005.
Funding and
support
The Association applied to
ARI for a further £250 under the
Beer and Buses scheme. This allowed our members to visit other successful
sites in the local area. So far, we have been entertained and supported by the
Ansley,
Moorlands and May Lane Allotment Associations. A further trip is planned to
the
Narborough Allotments who are busy installing solar power.
We were also granted a
generous discount by
B&Q when we purchased supplies and maintenance equipment.
Latest news
The Association are pleased
to announce that the
Heart of England Community Foundation have granted us a further £2000 to
cover the cost of a new fence. This work is planned to start in the nest few
months.
Join us
There are still a very few
plots available on the regenerated site – although they are rapidly being
snapped up. If you would like to consider having one yourself or going on a
waiting list, then please contact us. We are a diverse group of people of
differing backgrounds and ages but we all share a passion for growing
vegetables, fruit and flowers. Do come and join us – our meetings are usually
held on the first Monday of each month at 8:00pm in the Fillongley Working Men’s
Club, or come and visit the site by the Village Hall in Fillongley.
