HAHA - Hungerford Allotment Holders Association

Welcome to 2020 - not the year we dreamed of

January 2020

What a wet end to 2019 and an even wetter start to the new year. The whole site was soggy and polytunnels were looking the worst for wear after the winter storms.

Plotholders mostly stayed away, except to pick a few Winter crops. Better to stay home and browse the seed catalogues while make plans for the year ahead.

We did receive the belated, but MOST WELCOME, news that the lease had been signed by all parties confirming that we can keep gardening on the Marsh Lane site until at least 31st December 2022 - HOORAY!

February 2020

After all the rain February turned out to be windy - so windy that polytunnels and other debris gathered at the North end of the site - what a mess.

Storm Ciara caused quite a lot of damage and Storm Denis just made it worse!

And what a grim start to the year (I'm writing this in May 2020, I know the year is going to get significantly worse).

March 2020

March arrived and brought the first of the Spring flowers - always a welcome sign.

But then Coronavirus sent the country (and the rest of the World) into lockdown on 23rd March. Social distancing measures were imposed and we were informed that we should stay indoors.

Local police posted a notice on our noticeboard.

The HAHA committee had many discussions with Hungerford Town Council, the police and other self-managed allotments. Via a Zoom (virtual) meeting the committee decided on a plan.
After much debate it was agreed that the site could remain open but there was to be no driving to the site, restricted hours of opening and committee members would open and close the gates to take the risk away from plotholders, along with some other measures. It didn't go down that well with some plotholders, but the committee need to work in the long-term interests of the whole site so the restrictions continued for about a month.

April 2020

Following the National Allotment Society advice, the committee agreed to allow cars back on site from 25th April and the opening hours were extended. Social distancing still applies, no fires/barbecues and the site only to be used for exercise, not the usual social niceties that we enjoy, and parking 3metres apart and continuing to wear gloves at all times. It seems to be working and hopefully people sticking to these restrictions will keep the virus from spreading because of the allotments.

And, irritatingly for anyone who is still not in a position to get to the allotment, April 2020 has been an especially warm and sunny month - with Summer-like temperatures! Oh well, there's always next year :-)

May 2020

The weather remained good during May and the earth was getting parched even this early in the year.

Meanwhile the waiting list continued to grow and the site was fully occupied with new plotholders preparing the way for their plans.

The Newbury Weekly News picked up on the increase in interest in allotments and produced this article.

June 2020

The weather stayed hot with some welcome rain at the beginning of the month. So many plotholders sowed flowers this year and the site was beginning to look amazing and full of colour.

What a beautiful month June was

and the vegetables were enjoying it too! These are some of our mini plots - specifically created for people who only want a small growing area or who want to see whether allotmenting is 'their thing' before taking on a new plot - they've proved to be very successful with several mini-plotholders taking on larger plots in subsequent seasons. It's amazing how much you can grow in a small space (about 1 pole (25m²) each).

July 2020

July arrived with the opportunity for people to help HAHA raising some funds for improving our water setup on the site and thank goodness for the water supply this year! The fundraising request remains open until March 2021, people have already been so generous but it seems the cost of replacing the water storage area may cost more than initially expected so donations are very welcome!

The site was looking beautiful - ironically, probably the best we've ever seen it. With so many beautiful plots and with furlough continuing plotholders had more time to tend their plots.
Even terrible COVID-times have a silver lining.

Plotholders continued to socially distance and use the covid measures on site, so none of our usual gatherings but plots prospered as a result and wildlife was in full flight because of the many flowers.

And all those pollinators have helped with the veggie production!

August 2020

August brought a heatwave - officially recognised by the UK Met Office because the temperatures were over 30° or higher for 6 days. Phew and it was humid so plotholders tended to stay away. Would have been perfect for a get-together, but not this year.

With lockdown continuing for many, the highlight of August was the manure delivery! Well, it's always a welcome sight :-)

September 2020

No RBL/HAHA Horticultural & Handicrafts Show this year because of COVID, but the waiting list continued to grow and so did Ivan - look at all those spuds!

Empty spaces appearing on the plots as harvests are taken home, but the flowers kept the site looking beautiful.

Of course, polytunnels aren't just for growing. As well as for sheltering from the rain (what rain?!) they're good for drying onions.

Such a shame that no site gatherings or public open days were available on such a beautiful year - but plotholders appreciated the haven that is Marsh Lane x

Produce kept on coming in abundance, with lots also being taken to the food banks that were needed in our COVID-hit country.

One gathering - nicely socially distanced as you can see - was the committee clearing one of the covered plots - it's a 'marestail-plot' which had been covered for more than 2 years.

Because of the ever-lengthening waiting list it was decided to convert it to four new mini-plots. The hope was that mini-plots would contain the spread of the marestail.
There! That looks better. A nice way to spend a morning.