Chair of WAGS report

I became acting chair unexpectedly in March 2020. Shortly after this, covid struck, forcing us all to remain at home with limited social contact.

It was a priority during lockdown that we did everything possible to keep the allotments open for all to enjoy safely. We followed the National Allotment Society guidance which enabled us to keep the allotments open and covid safe.

The National Allotment Society guidance was last updated on 19 July in line with the lifting of legal restrictions and we can now hold our AGM.

I take this opportunity to thank the members of the allotment committee who have worked tirelessly to help maintain the allotments during the last 16 months.

We received a grant from Westfield Parish Council, to improve the fencing and orchard and create a new woodchip bay. The orchard was fenced off for safety due to the beehives. Several members helped with this work which was carried out in a socially distanced way. The pergola area has also been maintained and our hanging baskets look lovely again this year. This work has much improved the appearance of the allotments from the street and allotment entrance and has received many positive comments from both allotmenteers and neighbours. The woodchip has been removed from the orchard following infection spreading from the woodchip to some of the trees which needed to be removed. The orchard has now been sown as a wild flower meadow with a wide variety of wild flowers to attract bees and other insects and looks amazing. We continue to have beehives on site, the bees are a point of interest and benefit the allotment site as pollinators. Britain in Bloom visited both the main site and Larch Court allotments on 21st July. The inspector was suitably impressed with both sites, particularly the wild flower orchard and we expect a good result again this year. We are continuing to provide excess produce to Crop Drop this year, as we did at the end of last season. We supply Swallows Café each week which is very much appreciated by them. In looking forward to the year ahead without covid restrictions we hope to hold an event for members later this summer to celebrate our allotments. We are also considering a street party next year for the queen’s jubilee weekend. I am honoured to have been elected as chair and end by thanking all allotment holders for their continuing work on their allotments and the communal areas of the sites which are looking fabulous again this year. Paul Millard, Chairman Westfield Allotments and Gardening Society