Pupils from Yalding Primary School join allotment association secretary Anne Purnell on a quarter sized plot

by Chris Hunter

Ever fancied a little allotment to grow your dinner in?

A tasty looking new initiative from Yalding Allotment Association is offering just that chance, but not much more – because these new mini growers' plots will probably only just fill a plate of mashed potato and peas with a bowl of rhubarb crumble to follow.

But then again, what more could you want?

The seeds of the new scheme were planted earlier this year, when members discussed how to make gardening more attractive to a wider cross-section of people, and have now sprouted to fruition.

A decision has been taken to slice and dice the current allotments into quarter size plots which are now on offer from the association.

"There are some young mothers and older people in the village who find even half-size plots might be too much," said association secretary Anne Purnell.

"But a quarter size plot is a vegetable garden size – we thought that might be a nice idea.

"It's something people will look at if they haven't got so much time."

She said the move sought to tap into a latent interest in gardening – which if given encouragement could end up sprouting like a bumper crop of marrows.

"I think there's a wide swathe of the population that think growing their own food would be a nice idea.

"TV programmes have helped but that could be a double-edged sword, because some people see the programmes and think it's easy, but they don't know the weeds grow faster than anything – that's why we think smaller plots are easier to keep under control.

"Basically I think we're hoping to attract a range of people."

For more information on the allotments, which are on land near The Kintons playing field off Vicarage Road, call Anne Purnell on 01622 871161.