Events
2022
Harrogate & District Allotment Federation Annual Show
11. 00 - 16.00 on 21st August 2022 in the Sun Pavilion, Valley Gardens
Forty-three exhibitors entered their prize produce, flowers and baking into our 61st Allotment Show. The Veg & Fruit judge, David Allison, said: "I just wanted to congratulate you on a first class and well run show, with some quality veg and fruit to judge. One of the best supported shows I have been to this year. Everyone was very friendly and helpful, and the stalls outside the showroom added to the visitors’ enjoyment."
Bea Treetops won the Harlow Hill Junior Cup and Angela Dicken won the Margolis Trophy for most points from an exhibitor from Harlow Hill. Our tombola stall raised £271 - many thanks to everyone who helped on the stall and who donated prizes.
The surplus produce from the Show benches was donated to Resurrected Bites and £600 from the profits of the Show was donated to Woodlands Community Garden.
Our tombola stall
Open Day 29th May
A fine day saw about 100 visitors have the opportunity to look around our site and buy plants, cakes and refreshments. Craft activities for children kept them amused too. We raised £500 to be shared between Harrogate Homeless Project and Resurrected Bites. Many thanks to Baltzersen's, Harrogate for their kind donation of a tray of cinnamon buns and to everyone who supported the event
AGM: 17th March
Our first in-person AGM for two years began with an interesting and informative talk by Andrew Willocks from RHS Harlow Carr on 'No-dig' gardening.
No-dig helps to increase the worm population in the soil and prevents disruption to Mycorrhiza in the soil, which help the plants to resist pests and access nutrients.
Add a layer of compost about 5cm thick on the surface of the vegetable patch in November. This mulches the soil and prevents the germination of weeds. The worms take the nutrients into the soil and also help to aerate the soil.
Richard Wriglesworth presented the Roland Buckton trophy for Most Improved plot to Steph Byrnes.
2021
Picnic-on-the-Plot: 7th August 2021 from 12.00 noon
14 people came to the Picnic on the Plot. The weather was a little cool and it started to rain towards the end, but we enjoyed some lovely cakes and it was nice to be able to catch up with people we hadn't seen for a while and get to know some new plot holders. The trophy for the Most Improved Plot was presented to Peter Stevenson during the picnic.
Harrogate & District Allotment Federation Annual Show
11. 00 - 16.00 on 15th August 2021 in the Sun Pavilion, Valley Gardens
The Diamond Jubilee HDAF Allotment Show was celebrated one year late due to Covid-19. With a few safety measures in place, we were able to exhibit our best produce and enjoy each other's company again..
The Harlow Hill Tombola stall raised £269. Many thanks to everyone who donated prizes and particularly to those who helped with the stall on the day. The 2021 charity was Ripon Museums Trust and £500 was presented to them in October. All the left over produce was donated to Resurrected Bites.
12 people from Harlow Hill Allotments entered the Show this time. Beatrice Treetops won the Harlow Hill Junior Cup, Angela Dicken won the Margolis Trophy for most points from an exhibitor from Harlow Hill and also the Society Trophy for best exhibit in the cakes section; Sarah Stead won the BUPA Care Homes Trophy for the best exhibit in the novices section. Congratulations to them all.
AGM: March 2021
Our AGM was conducted via email due to Covid-19.
2020
Sadly, due to Covid-19, all other events were cancelled in 2020.
AGM : 12th March 2020
Carolyn Rothwell from Horticap gave an entertaining and informative short talk on the work of Horticap, its development and work in the community. A selection of plants from Horticap to encourage ground cover for invertebrates and provide food for bees at a time when their food supply is scarce, was sold in the interval.
2019
Picnic-on-the-Plot: 31st August 2019 from 12.00 noon
Our 2019 picnic was a rather wet affair as the heavens opened right on cue at 12 noon. Some hardy stalwarts stayed around until it stopped and it was lovely to welcome to the site some people who are on our waiting list.
Harrogate & District Allotment Federation Annual Show
11. 00 - 16.00 on 18th August 2019 in the Sun Pavilion, Valley Gardens
The 59th HDAF Allotment Show included over 600 exhibits - prize crops, flowers and cakes - from plot holders, associate members and their children from sites across the Harrogate District. Harlow Hill was again very well represented with 17 exhibitors - many more than from other sites.
The Harlow Hill Tombola stall raised £381. Many thanks to everyone who donated prizes and particularly to those who helped with the stall on the day. The Show is a charity event, with all funds raised this year going to Henshaws Arts and Craft Centre in Knaresborough to support their horticultural activities. All the left over produce was donated to Harrogate Waste Not, Want Not.
Ruth Wickens made an amazing cake and won the trophy for best exhibit in Cakes. Ruth also shared the trophy for most points in Cakes & Preserves. Effie Wickens won the Harlow Hill Junior Cup and Angela Dicken won the Margolis Trophy. Well done to everyone who entered.
Plant Sale 18th May 2019 and Open Day 3rd August 2019
Our plant sale raised £160 to share between Harrogate Homeless and Horticap. A beautiful sunny day on 3rd August saw lots of visitors to Harlow Hill Allotments and a further £140 raised for our two charities.
AGM: 21st March 2019
Our 2019 AGM started with an interesting talk on fruit growing by Rob Gooderidge from Ripon Walled Garden.
Here are some of Rob's tips:
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Grow for flavour e.g. Royal Sovereign strawberries, Concorde or Conference pears.
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Only water acid-loving blueberries with rain water.
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Use trained forms of fruit on the allotment e.g. cordons, espaliers, fans. These are pruned in the summer.
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Cox's Orange Pippin apples don't do well in the North. Ribston Pippins do much better.