THE GRAND PRODUCE SHOW
at NEW ORIEL HALL, LARKHALL
on SUNDAY 31 AUGUST 2008
is an open competition for locally grown fruit, veg, flowers, arts, crafts and culinary skills - children are catered for too.
Anyone who lives or works in B&NES can enter but notification of entries must be forwarded to the registrar, Brigitte Sibbick, by 5.30pm on Saturday 30th August.
Schedule/entry forms available from:
www.banes-allotments/centenary/events
or send me your postal address by email
The show celebrates the skills practised by gardeners growing fruit, vegetable and flowers over the last 100 years. Larkhall allotments were set up in 1908, following implementation of an Act of Parliament which, in essence, is still in place today.
The 1908 Allotments Act enabled families to grow their own food on land provided by the local authority. Admittedly, at the time, this applied to poor people who would otherwise have starved but the principle is still valid: anyone who wants to grow their own food should be able to.
However, the rising waiting lists for allotments in Bath (along with many towns and cities in England) indicate a growing need that has to be satisfied.
Broadlands OrchardShare will have a stand (and some early apples) at the Grand Produce Show - see below...
The Grand Produce Show 2008 looks to the future as well as the past. Current dependence on the supply of food from around the globe needs to be balanced with greater availability of locally grown produce. Most of the land that used to supply Bath in plenty has, long since, been developed. Pockets of land need to be found to provide more growing space. The Allotment Association is working with B&NES Council to increase the number of allotment plots available.
Local community groups involved in community food growing will be participating in the event including Larkhall Saves The Planet ( a 'spoke' of Transition Bath), Bath Organic Community Garden and Broadlands Orchard.
The Show will be open to the public from 2pm. Admission £1 at the door.
The Show is being organised by B&NES Allotments Association as part of a season of events to celebrate the allotments centenary. The season ends with two public lectures at the Guildhall, Bath by Professor Chris Baines and Gardeners World's Carol Klein. Further details will be sent out in September.
