With our Society celebrating its first anniversary we decided to stretch our wings and take part in Cleethorpes in Bloom, by cultivating one of the Council-owned flowerbeds. Having little cash to spend on a garish Spring makeover we decided to bring an allotment approach to the nearby Davenport Drive roundabout instead. The roundabout is passed by most of our members and we hoped that it would attract more people from the surrounding houses into allotment gardening.

We started with globe artichokes with their architectural thistle flowers, and leeks which grow purple tennis ball-like flowers in their second year. These were joined by dwarf green kale, purple kale, Swiss chard "bright lights", Verbena, Achillea and so on. The planting scheme grew so that, not only was it edible plants but also flowers for pleasure and pollination. All of the plants were grown and donated by members of the Society, except for chives donated by Waltham Herbs.

It is not difficult to grow vegetables under normal conditions but to grow them on a municipal traffic island is a different kettle of fish. The plants are vulnerable to vandal attack 24 hours a day. We didn't have a source of water but fortunately nearby residents allowed us to use their supplies.

This publicity stunt has attracted local and national publicity. We got two full pages in our local paper about the roundabout, an interview on local radio, BBC Look North did a fantastic piece and Kitchen Garden, Smallholder, and Organic Gardening magazines all covered the unfolding events on Beacon Hill?s Incredible Edible Roundabout. The Incredible Edible Roundabout has now made it through to the final of the Britain in Bloom competition, representing Yorkshire and the Humber.

It would not have been possible without North East Lincs Council and their localities manager Alan Fletcher, who gave us permission to take on the roundabout. Next year I have big plans for beetroot and Jerusalem artichokes, so I hope they'll let us stay.

Ernie Brown

First published: ARI Newsletter Winter 2005