The Llangattock Horticultural Society was formed in 1922. Its aims were “to promote and improve the cultivation of Flowers, Fruit and Vegetables, and to encourage neat and good gardening amongst Cottagers etc.”
The Society evolved over the years and the Llangattock Annual Show became a major event involving not only a horticultural event with flowers, fruit and vegetables but sports events, sheep dog trials, a livestock show and open gardens.
Sadly, due to a terrible storm one year, the major marquee blew away and was wrecked. Replacement costs were unsupportable; the organisers decided to call it a day and the Society’s activities came to an end.
In 2008 a group of like-minded souls came together with the idea of creating a community allotment in Llangattock. The perfect site was found between the Recreation Ground and the Vine Tree, and Llangattock Community Council, who own the land, granted the allotment society a 15 year lease and charge an annual rent.
Cultivation of the hitherto sheep pasture began in Spring 2009 and soon 50 allotment plots began to take shape. The rocks that were excavated from that river valley ground could have built a small house.
Allotmenteers set to and put in a rabbit-proof fence, an edible hedge and an orchard. The crowning achievement of the hard-working committee was to win a grant from British Gas to sink a bore-hole and install a solar-powered pump to give the allotments a plentiful supply of water. Until then, all water had been either saved from rainfall, or brought in containers on to the plots.
Further grants were awarded by the Big Lottery Fund and Waitrose to set up a raised bed area for those with back or other mobility problems. This is now nearly completed with a seating area, pot plants in place and vegetables flourishing and is set to become one of the Society’s focal points. An approach has been made by the National Gardens Scheme to include the allotments as one of their gardens to visit but the Committee feels more work needs to be done yet to bring it up to scratch.
Alongside the transformation of this patch of Llangattock land has been the social side of life – wassailing evenings and non-fireworks bonfire nights in the darker days of the year, summertime theatrical events (subsidised by the Arts Council of Wales), BBQs and last but not least, the Annual Allotment Show and Party held in early September.
This year’s show is on Saturday 6th September between 2pm and 6pm – it won’t be on the scale of last century’s shows, but it’s a chance for allotmenteers to show off their fruit, vegetables and produce to each other as well as come along for a bit of a sociable get-together. Entry free – all welcome!
I am moving to Llangynidr in October, are there any vacant plots please?