Current News

Free Garden Museum Entry for Home Grown Produce

Allotment growers can have free entry to the 'Good Life exhibition' at the Museum of Garden History if they take along some of their home grown produce. The exhibition is on till 7th March. This offer also includes entry to the Potato and Produce Plant Fair with Pennard's Plants on Sunday 28th February. Click here for the museum web site.

Joe Swift is the new National Garden Scheme President

The new president is one of the presenters from Gardeners World. Joe Swift launched the latest issue of the Yellow Book in February. The Yellow Book contains details of 3,700 gardens that will be open to the public during 2010. Thousands of amateur gardeners open their gardens to raise money for various charities. Click here for the NSG website

Edible Garden Show Postponed

The first national fruit and vegetable show was due to take place in March at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire. It has been postponed for a year because the number of exhibitors is too low. The new date set for 2011 will be 18th - 20th March. Click here for details.

Allotment Taster Sessions and Courses at Ruislip High School and Hayes End Allotment Site

Ruislip High School will be a new venue for the taster sessions and courses. This is due to lack of space at Highgrove allotment site. The sessions will be in May and June. Details are on the Local Events page. Application forms available from Hillingdon Adult Education  Tel: 01895 634616.

International Year of Biodiversity

The United Nations has declared 2010 as the year of biodiversity (IYB). A number of initiatives will be organised to promote the protection of biodiversity and encourage organisations, institutions, companies and individuals reduce loss of biological diversity. Check out the Schedule of Events. Kew gardens have organised a Great Plant Hunt on their web site. 

Allotment Newsletter Distribution on hold during Council Spending Restriction

The Allotment Officer has announced that the Council will not be able to print the allotment newsletter 'The Watering Can' during the next few months because of spending restrictions. This means plot holders will have access to the online version. The latest copy contains interesting articles and photographs.

Head Gardener(s) Required

The Iver Environment Centre (formally Iver Nature Study Centre) is a 2.5 acre site near Uxbridge. It contains an orchard, meadow, woodland, lake and rain forest. They are looking for a volunteer head gardener(s) to assist with development and maintain the site. Click here for information about the head gardener(s)' role.
Contact: Ian Long, Learning Services Manager, Groundwork Thames Valley,
Denham Court Drive, Uxbridge, UB9 5PG. Tel:01895 270 730 Fax:01895 238 542

Hillingdon's Best Allotment Sites and Top Plots

Top allotment plot winner Gennaro Poeti with the Mayor Councillor Shirley Harper O’Neill

The allotment competition results were announced on Wednesday 11th November. The best large site was Hayes End, the best small site was Hill House in Harefield and the best London Borough of Hillingdon Managed site was West Drayton Cemetery. (Click here for details).
The mayor of Hillingdon Councillor Shirley Harper O’Neill presented awards to representatives from the best sites and three plot holders who achieved the highest scores in the borough.
Ten of the top fifty plots are on the Fairway allotment site. (Click here for the top fifty list, and photos of award winners).