Since the launch of Knucklas Castle Community Land Project in May 2009, the Growing Group has been putting into action the aims of  KCCLP that apply to growing food on the fields below the castle.

To start, allotments have been established – with 24 plots now occupied – and have proved very successful and productive, even in just 6 months. A rabbit-proof fence was put up around the allotment site with much help from volunteers and the ground ploughed and harrowed by Colin Evans and Ray Matthews – many thanks to them – also for providing a water bowser and refilling it when necessary – although water shortages were hardly a big problem this summer! Also a new access path to the fields, particularly for use for events, was built this summer.

In August  we held an Allotment Open Day to help to mark National Allotment Week and to celebrate the achievements of our hard working allotmenteers. It was a happy occasion with scarecrow competitions, best allotments and best raised bed competitions and a chance for everyone to get together to discuss all aspects of growing.

Throughout the summer we held a weekly local produce stall, giving allotment holders and local gardeners a venue to sell their excess produce and also sharing the benefits of fresh local vegetables, fruit, jams chutneys, bread and cakes etc with the wider village community.

The current focus for attention is the planning of a community orchard, which will be planted this winter with the help of a small grant from Powys Environmental Partnerships…and much volunteer labour! If you have an interest in fruit trees and orchards and would like to help choose varieties and orchard layouts and planting and staking of the trees, please do get in touch. We’re going to need all the help we can get!

The Growing Group is Adam Davies, Siggy Haines, Andy Kenyon-wade, Ann Leighfield, Sammy Lewis and Will O’Leary. If you would like to join us and help to plan the future for our community growing fields – again – please do get in touch.

[Posted by Andy  Oct.2009]