Uckfield Allotment Association recovers after crisis

Uckfield Allotment Association which attracted fresh support after being threatened with closure last year holds its annual general meeting next month.

The meeting is due to take place in The Function Room at The Alma in Framfield Road on Wednesday, February 16, at 7.30pm.

There will be a question and answer session followed by a social meeting in the bar with chance for people to meet fellow gardeners and growers.

At a crisis meeting last year there were fresh offers of help with manning the trading hut, assisting at shows and contributing tips to a newsletter.

Hilary Flockhart, new editor of the newsletter has produced her first edition. She has taken over from Pauline Burnett-Dick who produced it for many years.

Chairman of the allotment association Vic Oliver says in the newsletter that 2010 was a difficult year due to lack of support of association activities by the membership.

He adds: “However, the support demonstrated at the extraordinary general meeting in November showed that there is still a place for the association amongst the gardeners and growers in Uckfield and we have resolved to keep the association going with renewed vigour.”

While the allotment association struggled in 2010 it was a good growing year, according to Mr Oliver.

He said there were plenty of soft fruits for jams and freezers, excellent potato crops and broad beans laden with pods. Later the year year the sprouts did well.

"It was an excellent year for flowers and the hotter weather encouraged people to try new and more experimental varieties."