Syston Allotment Society Open Day 13th August 2022
On a very hot Saturday 13th August, Syston Allotment Society held an Open Day at the plots on Upper Church Street. This was a welcome and long-awaited occasion following a two-year gap during the covid pandemic. Despite temperatures into the 30s the day was well attended by plot holders, families, and local people interested in allotment gardening. Plots are so popular at the moment that there is a waiting list, but there was the chance to look round for those who want to put their names down for a vacancy (contact Syston Town Council, who own and manage the site, on 0116 2607150).
The recent lack of rain has made it very difficult to grow vegetables
but there was a remarkably high standard of entries into the ‘Best Box of Allotment Produce’ and ‘Best Item made from Produce’ Competitions; we also had lovely entries for the Art ‘on the topic of allotments’ competition. Thank you to the wonderful judges, Richard and Jane Thorpe, who had a very challenging job to choose winners (including the arduous task of tasting home-made gin).
Gerald Pownall ran his usual very popular Tombola stall which was much enjoyed, there was a produce/plant stall, and refreshments including a magnificent cake donated by one of our judges, Jane Thorpe.
This was our first Open Day without the indefatigable support of committee stalwart Terry Bailey, who died in 2020. He is sadly missed, and running the Open Day without him only served to underline how much he used to do. His contribution to the Allotments and the committee was enormous; he also championed gardening in the wider community e.g. with children at Merton School. We were very touched that Terry’s family and his widow Elaine were able to attend the Open Day to see the plaque that is now displayed on the Community Shop in memory of Terry.
Thank you to Syston Town Council for their continued support of the Allotments year by year. Special thanks also to everyone who entered competitions and to those who donated produce, plants, cakes and time – all of which made it a day to remember.
PRIZEWINNERS:
Best box of allotment produce:
Gold awards to plots 28A (Mr and Mrs Hastie) and 47A (Mrs Lambert)
Silver awards to plots 47B (Mrs Hames) and 60A (Mrs Ellis)
Bronze awards to plots 27 (Mr and Mrs Shell), 29B (Mrs Wood) and 53B (Mr S. Briggs)
Best items made from produce:
Gold award to plot 27 (Mrs Shell) for raspberry jam
Silver awards to plots 28A (Mr and Mrs Hastie), 73A (Mr Billington, for a walking stick made from plum wood), and an anonymous entry of delicious pickles
Bronze awards to plot 56A (Mr/Mrs Walton) and 60A (Mrs Ellis)
Art:
Three gold awards: Adult section: plot 28A (Mrs Hastie); children’s section: two awards, Plot 65B
Kate Windridge, Plot 54