המאמר שהוגש לירהון בתקווה שיתפּרסם מתרכז בעיקר בנושא ערוגות לאנשים עם מוגבלות וילדים. נ
כדי לראות דוגמאות של ערוגות אפשר לעבור לבּלוג האישי ולהסתכל ביומן אלוטמנת בהמשך
THE GREEN OASES
Living in London can be hectic. However, London is
unique. You can find those quiet spots
and oases of green. There are also opportunities for a ‘return to the
soil’. London, like other parts of the
UK, has a network of allotment sites.
Gordon Road Allotments, part of the Finchley Horticultural Society, is situated in North London, N3, between Finchley Central and the Dollis Brook. If you look from the outside, Gordon Road Allotments looks like any other allotment site, but there is something different.
Leaving aside the social events and summer and winter sales
which is part and parcel of many allotment sites, there is something else which
doesn’t immediately catch the eye.
Enter through the gates and you will see the network of
greenhouses, the tea room, which belongs to the society, and something which
looks like it’s from a Dr Who series. It is actually a Composting Toilet, not a
usual feature on allotment sites.
Look further down towards the Dollis Brook. If your eyes
veer to the right, you will notice a network of constructions made from wooden
sleepers. There are gaps for walking between them. Your curiosity will draw you
on to take a closer look.
As you get nearer, the
‘penny will drop’ and, even if you are not horticulturally-minded, you will
notice these constructions are open at the top and full of soil. They contain compost made from recycled
waste. These are raised beds built at different heights. ‘What is going on here?’
you may ask. This is something unique to this green oasis. These are raised
beds for people who are physically unable to garden at ground level and towards
the end of this complex are more beds for nursery school children and secondary
school children with autism.
Photo by Andrew Brown
Each raised bed boasts a tool box, galvanised water tank with
taps and a drip irrigation system to help those who find it difficult to carry
a watering can. You will also see a wooden building towards the end of the main
complex which looks like a Swiss chalet. Unfortunately there is no sauna inside
but it is there as a resting place for people who tend the raised beds and for
social events.
The funding for this came from City Bridge Trust, the London
Borough of Barnet, Awards for All and a personal donation.
I mentioned before the word unique. What is unique is that a
grand effort has been made to offer a service to people who have a disability
or are not able to cope with working at ground level. In other places they may
well feel excluded but here they can feel part of the community and there is
the added extra joy of hearing the noise of inquisitive children enjoying the
green oasis.
If you continue walking on the allotment, you will encounter
the bee hives. The most delicious honey is produced here, which is sold in The
Allotment Shop during the summer.
Gordon Road Allotment is now on the National Gardening
Scheme register or you can visit by special appointment.
© Eric Hess
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