Great Bradley Allotments
The Allottment Group has its own Facebook Page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/882372245178530
Click on the pictures below to get a bigger image
Click on the pictures below to get a bigger image
development of the allotments
background to the allotments
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In 2015 the Great Bradley Estate donated some land and worked with the parish council to create some allotments for use by the village residents. The allotments were created on 1 acre of land within a 6 acre field off Matthews Lane (see photos above).
16 plots were created, and by March 2016 nine of the plots were being used by people from the village A shed was installed in 2016 and a water supply was provided, for which the parish council pays 50% of the cost, with the remainder being paid by the land owner. The ground is heavy clay but the allotment holders have added sand and organic matter to improve the drainage and fertility. |
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The first aerial view of the allotments appeared on Google maps in 2017 and in ths year the land was sold by the Great Bradley Estate to the Thurlow Estate, who have continued to be supportive and helped with maintainenance and access issues.
A BBQ for the plot holders was organised in 2018 In 2019 some beehives were added and only a few plots were still available. Another BBQ was held to round off the summer season. Onions grown by Rob Bennet took the First prize in the Onion category at the 2019 Thurlow Fayre and went on to win Best Overall Entry in show and Bob was awarded the Susan Loveday Vase. They have now been entered into the Great Bradley Hall of Fame |
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By October 2020 there were only two vacant plots left because one of the plots was going to be used as a communal orchard. 11 people have joined togehter to develope a small orchard. These people pay for the plot and share the harvest. The orchard was stocked as follows from Simposns Nursery in Fordham in November 2020.
1 x Apple, Bramley M26 - maiden* at £13.50 1 x Apple, Cox Self Fertile M26 - maiden at £13.50 1 x Apple, Discovery M26 - bush at £17.50 1 x Apple, Egremont Russet M26- maiden at £13.50 1 x Pear, Conference QA bush - bush at £17.50 1 x Pear, Williams Communis- maiden at £13.50 1 x Cambridge Gage, Adapt bush - bush at £17.50 1 x Cherry, Lapins Colt - half standard at £20.00 1 x Plum, Victoria- maiden at £13.50 9 x 5ft stakes at £2.75 each 9 x tree ties at £0.75 each *maiden = single stemmed young tree |
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The total cost was £171.50 for the trees plus 4 bags of compost at £4.50. £189.50. That's £17.23. for each of the 11 plotholders who wanted join in with this. Soon after planting the trees had been nibbled by deer and become waterlogged after continuous heavy rain!
