Oswestry Town Mayor, Cllr Olly Rose attended Gatacre Allotments last weekend as part of the 2023 National Garden Scheme, which opens over 3,500 private gardens to the public each year.

The National Garden Scheme gives visitors unique access to exceptional private gardens in England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and the Channel Islands, and raises impressive amounts of money for charities through admissions, teas and cake. Thanks to the generosity of garden owners, volunteers and visitors, the scheme has donated over £63 million to nursing and health charities.

Gatacre Allotments are owned by Oswestry Town Council and are managed on their behalf by the thriving Gatacre Allotments & Garden Association. There are sixty-seven allotment gardens in two adjacent plots in the Woodside and Gatacre areas of the town. The site is managed by a small committee dedicated to keep an informal relaxed environment. There is a good mix of ages, and everyone is more than willing to lend a hand.

The allotments were featured on BBC’s Countryfile in September 2019 and are always well supported and loved by local residents. You will find a vast array of fruit, flowers, vegetables in every shape and size grown on the allotments, the main pathways are wheelchair friendly and there is a disabled WC at the site.

At this year’s open day on Sunday 23rd July, allotment holders were on-hand to talk about their produce and give advice. Visitors could see diverse growing methods, novel ideas, and decorative structures that each individual brings to the site.

During the day, awards were presented by Oswestry Town Mayor, Cllr Olly Rose for the tidiest allotment, most productive allotment and the Mayor introduced her own award for the most biodiverse allotment that attracts pollinators. There was also an award for the tidiest side, which is hotly contested between Lloyd Street and Gittin Street!

Cllr Olly Rose commented “Many thanks to all the visitors to the allotments and supporting the National Garden Scheme. We had a wonderful time swapping tips, eating lots of cake and raised £670 on the day for the NGS. Thank you also to the volunteers, members of the committee and the wonderful cake makers. Earlier this year, the Gatacre Allotments & Garden Association also raised £120 at the gardening market stall, which will be donated to local community kitchen and garden ‘OsNosh’.

Winners

Tidiest Allotment. Mr and Mrs M Knight.

Most Productive Allotment. Susan Davies.

Tidiest Side. Lloyd Street. Trophy collected by Mrs Olive Morris.

Most Biodiverse Allotment. Mr Chris Lloyd.

For more information on the National Garde Scheme, visit https://ngs.org.uk/. You will also find leaflets at Oswestry Tourist Information Centre at Castle View, Oswestry, SY11 1JR.

For information on Gatacre Allotments, visit https://www.oswestry-tc.gov.uk/en/council-services/allotments.html