לאחרונה שלחתי מאמר לירחון שמתרכז בנושא גידול ירקות. מאמר מספר קצת על השטח איפה שהחלקות שׁלי נמצאות אבל


הדגש היא על ערגות שמיועדות אנשים עם מוגבליות וילדים. אבי נפרסקי הציע שאפרסם על הבּלוג.

 לא הוספתי תמונות נוספות בגלל שהיתה תמונה עם ילדים ויש פה חוקים נוקשים.

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.