A winning team
What have football and allotments got in common?
Until recently, absolutely nothing. But today, the Derby County Community Trust (DCCT), the voluntary arm of Derby County Football Club, are the managers of two beautifully manicured allotment plots situated at either end of Derby city.
Last autumn Luke Wilkinson, DCCT health team leader, made the initial call and asked to meet at what is best described as an overgrown field almost unrecognisable as an allotment.
‘What do you think?’, he nervously asked.
We privately thought it was yet another passing fad by yet another group keen to have a ‘play’ at allotmenting.
‘We hoped you could help’ asked Luke shuffling nervously in his immaculate trainers.
In common football parlance we wondered how we would tackle the plots. Should we scramble back on the subs bench and wait for full time?
‘What is your plan for them?’ asked Julia (armed with pen and paper).
‘We work with thousands of people across Derby and Derbyshire who have the odds stacked against them for a variety of reasons. We aim to use the power of Derby County Football Club to improve those lives’ came the well-rehearsed reply from Luke.
‘We want to help local people grow their own produce and show how easy and affordable it is. Ideally, we want a garden to provide people with a space to think and take in the beauty of flowers and appreciate it as a tranquil space.’
Looking over the eye-height brambles and crumbling structures, Elaine wondered how to tackle the plots, but over the next couple of hours Luke went on to explain that the DCCT green activities were usually indoors and based around physical activities.
By DCCT taking on allotments they would expand their remit by offering nature-based sessions to support people’s health and wellbeing.
This was going to be a first division challenge but, not to be defeated, out came the lists! If in doubt, write a list.
Designs were drawn and in true ‘Blue Peter’ style, 3D models were carefully created.
Hundreds of hours of hard physical work ensued by both staff and volunteers, resulting in the creation and completion of two unique allotment plots.
The challenges?
‘We failed to understand the complexity of planning, planting and growing and importantly, the amount of work needed to start the plots’ replied Sharon, the DCCT health manager.
‘Though we have learned it is easy to grow from seed once you are taught.’
And what are the plans for the future of the DCCT allotments?
‘To maintain both allotments and build on the number of people accessing them’ Sharon told us with a broad smile. ‘We want to showcase the changing face of allotments within the football industry.
‘We are currently developing an exciting roadshow activity to take out to local groups to promote what we can offer in the community with examples of the activities we are involved with.’
No argument - great goal!
To find out more, contact Luke Wilkinson at Luke.wilkinson@dcct.co.uk or 01332 416140.
Sweetcorn
Many plot holders grow sweetcorn as a summer crop. They’re delicious when eaten fresh from the plot, steamed then rolled in butter (oops calories) or frozen whole or stripped of the niblets before being bagged, then frozen.
The sweetcorn plants need plenty of space to grow but are really simple to get going from seed.
Remember to ensure the seeds are all the same cultivar (type) otherwise they will cross pollinate and the cobs will taste starchy and are really inedible (except by chickens!)
We start off our seeds using the ‘takeaway box’ method.
• Pop damp kitchen paper on the bottom of the airtight ‘takeaway’ type box
• Spread the seeds on the top of the paper
• Cover seeds with another piece of damp paper and clip down the lid
• Leave on a light windowsill
• After about three days the seeds will start to sprout
• As they show signs of germination, set a single seed in a single cell of multipurpose compost
• When the plants reach about 3 inches, they are ready to be planted outside in a sunny space
• Don’t let them dry – water at the roots
• Plant as a ‘cube’ e.g. three rows by three columns = nine plants. The plants need plenty of space to grow and enough space for you to be able to get between each to pick the corn cobs! This might seem odd when you first plant them out, but they soon get growing and before you know it, they are too close together!
Sweetcorn ‘self-pollinates’ so as the brown tassels grow, tap the stalks as you walk past them to help them.
Ever wondered what to do with those spare socks you keep finding?
Carefully fit them on your growing cobs to protect them from being eaten by the pests!
Carrots
Myth busters are very similar to Ghost Busters and we can bust some myths about carrots!
Did you know:
• Carrot seedlings can be successfully transplanted
• They do best grown in sand mixed with compost for drainage. This way they come out clean too!
• If protected with environmesh (or similar netting barriers,) the carrot fly can’t get at them
• Grown in tall containers gives them a height advantage – carrot flies can’t fly above 2ft
• Carrot seeds on tapes work!
• Carrot tops are great in salads
There are varieties of carrots for every season, of different sizes and colours.
Alliums
One of the prettiest, most statuesque flowers which appear in late spring and develop through the summer months on the allotments are, without doubt, alliums.
We set the bulbs in late autumn to leave over winter before they quietly show growth in spring.
Then… tad-dah! The bright purple perfectly formed balls appear like lollies on sticks are the main attraction for the busy pollinators.
Each whole head (when carefully examined) is made up of tiny single flowers. And as the colours fade and the flower heads dry, they are much sought after by florists for Christmas arrangements and decorations.
Medlars
There’s only one medlar tree on the whole of our site and probably for good reason – how to use the fruit?
Medlars are a small fruit - a cross between a tiny apple and a rosehip, though also known as ‘a dogs bottom’ (we leave you to draw any similarity?)
Few people have ever seen a medlar tree. It displays large, pure white flowers in spring that develop into the fruit in late autumn.
The fruit is rock hard when picked, but by leaving them to soften and rot over two weeks (bletting) we transform them into stunning pink, fragrant jellies.
