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Our first event as a Society since Christmas 2019 ! A barbecue gave us a chance to meet up again and enjoy ourselves outdoors – with social distancing of course.
It was also the first Society event on our own plot and making use of the grand shed bequeathed to us by Stuart for which we are most grateful.1st World War
In 1914 there were somewhere between 450,000 and 600,000 allotments in the UK and although the 1907 Smallholdings and Allotments Act had forced local authorities into providing allotments, there was still some resistance. That resistance soon faded as the severity of the impact that Germany’s blockades had on food supplies came into realisation. There was then a serious move to increase the number of allotments, and local authorities were given powers to turn any derelict land into allotments.
On 12th January 1917 Beaumaris Town Council held a public meeting when “the Town Council’s scheme to acquire land for allotments to assist in the food-producing movement was explained” and it was agreed that allotments should be provided in Beaumaris. Subsequently thanks to an agreement reached between “Sir Richard Henry Williams Buckley of Baron Hill” and “The Mayor, Aldermen and Burgesses of the Borough of Beaumaris ... a piece of land part of Castle Meadow in the said Borough” was leased to the Borough and so Beaumaris Allotments were formed. By 10th March 1917 it was reported that “work has commenced in real earnest during the past week and the various allotment holders are now busy preparing their holdings for planting”.
The government and local organisations issued booklets and information for inexperienced gardeners including “War Time Gardening – How to grow your own food” which stated that “the country has appealed to all who cannot share in the fighting to see that our food supply is secured”. It included details on everything from “How to prepare your plot” to “Breeding rabbits for the table”. Even children were encouraged to get involved in growing fruit and vegetables with schools digging up their playgrounds to provide gardens.
In Beaumaris, a “Mr Glyn Williams of Bangor University College attended on the allotments ... and addressed the tenants on the desirability of spraying the potatoes as a preventative of blight. He gave a practical demonstration of the methods and commented that ‘The allotments are looking remarkably well and if appearances count for anything, there should be excellent crops of all sorts’” (N. W. Chronicle, 6th July 1917). Mr Williams’ advice obviously paid off as subsequently “Mr Edward Owen of Rating Row dug from his allotment garden this week six potatoes which weighed together 7lbs.”
As now there were some problems such as “allotment holders have been watching their growing crops with anxious eyes as the soil was becoming so dry that the use of the hose and watering can barely sufficed to vivify the parched ground”. Whilst in those days “complaints were rife of extensive thieving of produce from the allotment gardens” thankfully, unlike 1917, Beaumaris Allotments now has a comprehensive CCTV system in place to deter thieves.
After the end of World War I, demand for allotments was still high, and returning servicemen joined the waiting lists for plots. Unfortunately much of the land that was requisitioned for the war (50,000 acres) was returned to its original purpose – often recreational land and the interest in allotments began to decline.
2nd World War
By 1939 there were only 819,000 allotment plots being cultivated. But with the outbreak of war, based on the experiences in the First World War, the government immediately called on allotments again to help with food supplies. Another half a million plots were created in the UK. The press coined the name “Dig for Victory” for the campaign, and this slogan was soon adopted by the government with posters displayed throughout the country. The government produced almost 10m propaganda and gardening advice leaflets, and several programmes were aired on the radio offering gardening advice. Again everyone was encouraged to do their bit for the war effort. The area given over to allotments in Beaumaris was at its maximum during this period. Unfortunately, over the years, land has been reclaimed for various reasons including creating a public car park thus reducing the number of allotments available.
Recent history
The Beaumaris Allotments Society, made up of the plot holders themselves, now manages the site on behalf of Beaumaris Town Council and there are currently 62 members enjoying all the benefits of not only growing their own fruit, vegetables and flowers but also taking part in an active social calendar. This includes such popular annual events as a BBQ, a Fun Quiz, The BAAFTAs (Beaumaris Annual Awards For The Allotments), plus The AllotFest. This is always a really popular event when plot holders bring along jars of their jams, chutneys and pickles plus home-made cakes and desserts, all made from the produce of their plots, and everyone gets a chance to try the delicious results of all that hard work.
BBQ 2021
Our first event as a Society since Christmas 2019 ! A barbecue gave us a chance to meet up again and enjoy ourselves outdoors – with social distancing of course.
It was also the first Society event on our own plot and making use of the grand shed bequeathed to us by Stuart for which we are most grateful.Hot-dogs, burgers, meat and vegetarian together with a wealth of cakes and biscuits ensured that nobody went away hungry.
Special thanks to Chris whose plot we invaded and greatly admired.
Special thanks to Chrissy, Ann and Jill for all the organisation.
It was also the first Society event on our own plot and making use of the grand shed bequeathed to us by Stuart for which we are most grateful.1st World War
In 1914 there were somewhere between 450,000 and 600,000 allotments in the UK and although the 1907 Smallholdings and Allotments Act had forced local authorities into providing allotments, there was still some resistance. That resistance soon faded as the severity of the impact that Germany’s blockades had on food supplies came into realisation. There was then a serious move to increase the number of allotments, and local authorities were given powers to turn any derelict land into allotments.
On 12th January 1917 Beaumaris Town Council held a public meeting when “the Town Council’s scheme to acquire land for allotments to assist in the food-producing movement was explained” and it was agreed that allotments should be provided in Beaumaris. Subsequently thanks to an agreement reached between “Sir Richard Henry Williams Buckley of Baron Hill” and “The Mayor, Aldermen and Burgesses of the Borough of Beaumaris ... a piece of land part of Castle Meadow in the said Borough” was leased to the Borough and so Beaumaris Allotments were formed. By 10th March 1917 it was reported that “work has commenced in real earnest during the past week and the various allotment holders are now busy preparing their holdings for planting”.
The government and local organisations issued booklets and information for inexperienced gardeners including “War Time Gardening – How to grow your own food” which stated that “the country has appealed to all who cannot share in the fighting to see that our food supply is secured”. It included details on everything from “How to prepare your plot” to “Breeding rabbits for the table”. Even children were encouraged to get involved in growing fruit and vegetables with schools digging up their playgrounds to provide gardens.
In Beaumaris, a “Mr Glyn Williams of Bangor University College attended on the allotments ... and addressed the tenants on the desirability of spraying the potatoes as a preventative of blight. He gave a practical demonstration of the methods and commented that ‘The allotments are looking remarkably well and if appearances count for anything, there should be excellent crops of all sorts’” (N. W. Chronicle, 6th July 1917). Mr Williams’ advice obviously paid off as subsequently “Mr Edward Owen of Rating Row dug from his allotment garden this week six potatoes which weighed together 7lbs.”
As now there were some problems such as “allotment holders have been watching their growing crops with anxious eyes as the soil was becoming so dry that the use of the hose and watering can barely sufficed to vivify the parched ground”. Whilst in those days “complaints were rife of extensive thieving of produce from the allotment gardens” thankfully, unlike 1917, Beaumaris Allotments now has a comprehensive CCTV system in place to deter thieves.
After the end of World War I, demand for allotments was still high, and returning servicemen joined the waiting lists for plots. Unfortunately much of the land that was requisitioned for the war (50,000 acres) was returned to its original purpose – often recreational land and the interest in allotments began to decline.
2nd World War
By 1939 there were only 819,000 allotment plots being cultivated. But with the outbreak of war, based on the experiences in the First World War, the government immediately called on allotments again to help with food supplies. Another half a million plots were created in the UK. The press coined the name “Dig for Victory” for the campaign, and this slogan was soon adopted by the government with posters displayed throughout the country. The government produced almost 10m propaganda and gardening advice leaflets, and several programmes were aired on the radio offering gardening advice. Again everyone was encouraged to do their bit for the war effort. The area given over to allotments in Beaumaris was at its maximum during this period. Unfortunately, over the years, land has been reclaimed for various reasons including creating a public car park thus reducing the number of allotments available.
Recent history
The Beaumaris Allotments Society, made up of the plot holders themselves, now manages the site on behalf of Beaumaris Town Council and there are currently 62 members enjoying all the benefits of not only growing their own fruit, vegetables and flowers but also taking part in an active social calendar. This includes such popular annual events as a BBQ, a Fun Quiz, The BAAFTAs (Beaumaris Annual Awards For The Allotments), plus The AllotFest. This is always a really popular event when plot holders bring along jars of their jams, chutneys and pickles plus home-made cakes and desserts, all made from the produce of their plots, and everyone gets a chance to try the delicious results of all that hard work.
BBQ 2021
Our first event as a Society since Christmas 2019 ! A barbecue gave us a chance to meet up again and enjoy ourselves outdoors – with social distancing of course.
It was also the first Society event on our own plot and making use of the grand shed bequeathed to us by Stuart for which we are most grateful.Hot-dogs, burgers, meat and vegetarian together with a wealth of cakes and biscuits ensured that nobody went away hungry.
Special thanks to Chris whose plot we invaded and greatly admired.
Special thanks to Chrissy, Ann and Jill for all the organisation.