January 2021
Not unexpectedly, 2021 began as 2020 had ended; with the country in lockdown. Access was still allowed on the allotment but social distancing posters and hand gels remained in place.
We got snow and the temperatures dipped to -5°. It was easy to keep our distance, with people popping up to pick a bit of Winter veg, but no-one wanting to hang round!
The water system was due for an update and the grant from the Good Exchange was put into use. Replacing the rotting wooden pallets with a metal structure to hold the IBCs.
And some article in the Newbury Weekly News - the community really does seem to be behind the allotment site becoming a permanent fixture, which is good news but we're still only currently guaranteed 2 years more on the site. Great to know that the Hungerford Town Council are backing us up so well and we are registered as an Asset of Community Value, which is exactly what we are!
February 2021
Work continued on the water supply system, in freezing weather. The temperature fell to -6.8°.
COVID-19 vaccination dates were the topic of choice amongst plotholders on the sunny, but cold days, when a few more people were on site.
March 2021
There's nothing like a big bonfire to warm you. Sadly, just a few committee members as a site work party couldn't be organised under the COVID safety rules. Pallets that weren't too rotten were offered to plotholders for use on their plots.
And at this time of year a fresh delivery of manure is so welcome! £1 a barrow-load, that keeps plotholders happy :-)
The HAHA Wildlife Plot was cleared and seeded. Sadly the pond was filled in, as the lease doesn't allow a site pond, but is now a bog garden. The hope is that the wild flowers will curtail the spread of the mares tail, which is already making its way up the site.
April 2021
Aah, April. It feels like the time to really start working our plots, but we know to be careful or at least to just try a few early plantings. Lovely warm sunshine, the grass needs cutting and plotholders are out in numbers.
Spring flowers are beginning to make an appearance and the growing season begins, although we did get some snow.
What a difference 11 years has made to our site
May 2021
The mini-plots are off to a good start, with potatoes and over-wintered onions/garlic being popular.
And the freshly cleared Plot 5 'HAHA Wildlife plot' started to go green. Photos of the plot throughout the year will be posted on this photo site.
June 2021
Now June, that's when we feel safe from frosts. We've never had frosts in June (dangerous words!). Plotholders are enjoying fresh rhubarb but really want something else to harvest :-)
Ivan's amazing Iris Plot is beginning to flower. It's only the 1st year so flowering is intermittent, but provided a great talking point; seeing which blooms had everged overnight. Such a lot of work and such a beautiful plot - in the making.
The HAHA Wildlife Plot has erupted. Invasive plants like thistles and couch were pulled when they were spotted.
Ted captured this shot of a frequent visitor to the site. We don't usually see this female sparrow hawk, but we do see the evidence of her visits - piles of feathers are usually all that remain of its prey. It would appear that she has a nest nearby.
July 2021
Well done to the winners and thankyou for making our site look so amazing!
So many beautiful plots and so interesting to see the different personalities coming through.
July brought us some beautiful weather and the site was so busy with people planting, tidying and harvesting. What a shame it was another year with COVID hanging over us so another missed opportunity to show off our site to the wider community. We still have a waiting list of double figures and no empty plots. Definitely bolstered by people not wanting to risk going on holiday, but hopefully some of these newcomers will have got the bug and will stay with us when we really feel free to venture out into the wider world again!
What a month July is!
And look at the HAHA Wildlife plot! The woundwort and redshank took over rather, but the bees and bugs loved it.
The use of a 4m fishing rod helped get these great overhead shots - what hard work out plotholders have put in to get shots like this!
The rain in July produced so much growth, of course weeds were a huge problem, as were slugs, but we learn to live with these problems
August 2021
Such beautiful flowers - look at this beauty on Trevor's plot. Malope Trifida I believe. One of the great things about allotments is seeing what other plots have growing.
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The HAHA Sunflower Competition produced these results: 1st Place Neale 10ft 3" 3.1242 metres 2nd Place Martin 10ft 2" 3.0988 metres 3rd Place Marisol 9ft 2.7432 metres |
September 2021
The Wildlife plot is providing Winter protection for lots of insects and plants are still flowering, though most have gone over. Some of the old growth (corncockle and woundwort) has been chopped down but should have already done plenty of self-seeding. It's been a success, though the bog garden hasn't been as boggy as we'd hoped. Photos of the plot throughout its first year.
This year the RBL/HAHA Horticultural & Handicrafts Show was back on - albeit a month later than usual. There was still plenty to show.
And Neal came away with another win - what a year he had! CONGRATULATIONS! Here he is with Mayor Helen Simpson.
October 2021
It was certainly a good year for pumpkins! And at least one plotholder wished that there had been a 'longest tromboncino squash' competion - in her re-use of a polytunnel frame.
November 2021
Mostly sunny, but definitely Winter and November brought the first snow.
The mole was busy throughout the winter months; it seems 2021 was a particularly good year for moles.
The sunny days encouraged plotholders to do a bit of Winter prep on plots and when we get a delivery like this it's worth it!
And don't the plots look good as a result - this is one of the rows of mini-plots.
December 2021
Only the hardiest visit the plot in December, unless it's to pick some home-grown veg of course.
6 March 2021