Fen| Community
Eureka Moment For Wilburton Growers
NEW LIFE IS BEING BREATHED INTO VILLAGE ALLOTMENTS... T
he Wilburton Allotments are being transformed from an over-grown, unloved field
to a green space for the whole community, Martha How reports. Located off the Twenty Pence Road, it started as an idea of an enthusiastic and energetic parish councillor, Steve Morgan, but the Wilburton community has got behind Steve to turn this idea into reality.
The patch of land comprising the site of old sandpits and a field has been available for use as allotments for some time; it is clearly marked on a map dating 1902. When Steve was first shown the site in May 2019 he saw that it had become unkempt and overgrown and sadly only one allotment holder maintained his patch. The reasons for this decline were clear with the challenges of no water on site, nowhere to park and difficult access part way down the busy Twenty Pence Road.
Steve had something of a
“eureka moment” and came up with a proposal to develop the site not just for allotments but also for wider community use. He took his proposal to the Parish Council and they approved a budget of around £10,000 to revive the site. Five years ago the Parish had developed a “community land plan” which aimed to identify safe places for families with children, dog walkers and people in general to enjoy green spaces. The geography of Wilburton makes this challenging because of its situation straddling the busy A1123. The “New Life on the Old
Above: The patch of land comprising the site of old sandpits and a field has been available for use as allotments for some time, it is clearly marked on a map dating 1902.
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West” project heard about the plan and since their objectives are to enhance natural heritage and connect people with the local landscape, they offered to develop a community green space in the allotment field incorporating a pond and fruit trees. New Life on
Above: Allotment gardening is
good for you and is credited with offsetting loneliness and improving fitness and mental health.
Below: Allotment plot-holders become part of a community of like-minded people. Pic. National Allotment Society
The Old West is Heritage Lottery funded. Steve, assisted by Kara Atkinson, then applied to the Woodland Trust for a “Community Tree Pack” comprising 405 trees and hedging along with support poles and tree guards. This application is about to be approved and the trees will be delivered in November.
The history of allotments goes back over a thousand years to
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