Early August Allotment Report

West End Allotment
Thanks to John for a report from the West End Allotment. That is the allotments, the other side of the A34 from Tesco, on what was Abingdon Common before the A34 destroyed it.

Allotments don’t have to look pretty. Allotments were created to allow us town dwellers – with not enough land – to grow some of our own produce.
West End Allotment
John says “in spite of the drought there’s some enterprising plots (not mine!). Here you find the latest in bird scarers; runner beans are pretty, squashes and pumpkins are popular, as are polytunnels and self-build sheds, even summer-houses.
West End Allotment
August is here and it is time to concentrate on bringing what is in flower to fruition – pinch out the top of tomato plants and let the plant concentrate on what it has already.
West End Allotment
It is community gardening, and if you are new to it there will always be somebody there to give advice. The town council owns the allotments, but the day to day running of the allotments is done by individual allotment associations. There are three for the three allotments in Abingdon: West End featured here, Wildmoor (also over the A34 but a little further north) , and Drayton Road (so called because it was once on Drayton Road before houses crowded it out, and now is to be found close to the sewage works).

Old Gaol – July Progress

Old Gaol From Museum Roof
Looking down from the museum roof, not a huge amount of building activity has happened in July. Archaeological excavations have progressed and more of the earth has the look of being dug over or terraced.
Old Gaol From Museum Roof
It also looks like a lot of material has been bagged and boxed up for going through with a teaspoon at a later date.