History of a garden

So how did we end up in this situation in the first place? Well, I met Louise at NCT antenatal classes, and met Sarah five minutes later (we all have kids with birthdays within days of each other). The house I live in is sweet but has a tiny garden, so getting an allotment seemed like a good idea. Only problem is, people tend to keep their allotments for a lifetime, which makes getting one quite difficult. So I got on a list. And waited. And, erm, waited. Fast forward, two and a half years later, I finally was offered one.

So, figuring this is definitely a project to share, I asked the girls if they were interested in joining me. So now, here we are, Gardeners Three.

Louise got to see the plot first, and met some of the community. The area is called The Promenade and is in a enviable spot - just off the River Thames. Louise learned, from Corine @ No.17, that our plot (No.20) "was owned by Fred who was 94 when he gave it up! It was his parents' & he first saw it from his pram!!!! He loved roses & there is evidence of some wonderous rose trees in amongst the brambles & stingers."

Apparently Fred was quite the Allotment Lothario, according to Corine he gave all the women in the area a rose plant. "He owned both No. 19 & 20," says Louise, "he had chickens, a goat & rabbits." Although I sincerely doubt we'll keep livestock (oh dear Lord, just what we need), we'll try and keep the allotment within the spirit of Fred.