Government minister visits allotment site
Baroness Kay Andrews, Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Communities and Local Government, visited a vibrant allotment site on 27 November 2007 as a guest of ARI’s partner organisation, the Federation of City Farms & Community Gardens. The Baroness toured Dorset Road Allotments in the London Borough of Bromley with FCFCG Director Jeremy Iles, ARI Mentors and representatives from ARI’s partners. Dorset Road is a devolved managed allotment site and an exemplar in allotments regeneration.
As part of the tour, Baroness Andrews met with plotholders and representatives from the Bromley Allotments Federation, as well as three of ARI's volunteer Mentors, Jeff Barber, Ian White and Paul Neary. The Mentors were delighted to be able to meet the Minister and were pleased that she was able to make time in her busy schedule to visit an allotment site. “It was heartening to hear and see evidence of the government’s interest and commitment to allotment gardening” said Jeff Barber, ARI Mentor for North London.
During her visit Baroness Andrews was able to see for herself the fruits of the plotholders voluntary work to make Dorset Road a site to be proud of. The 7.5-acre site includes a plot for a local school, toilets, trading hut, clubhouse, polytunnel, recycling yard, communal seating and an events area. The site has been awarded a Green Pennant award for the past five years in recognition of its high standards.