Food Miles?

How about food yards?

Not sure where we stand at the moment with allotment provision in Cowling, it seems we are still in the "doing our best" phase.  It's true to say that the Parish Council are very good at doing their best, they have been doing it for well over five years! Despite government guidance on the matter stating that even a failing local authority should go from failure to provide sufficient allotments to an acceptable solution in three years!


But I do find it interesting whenever I look into what doing their best might actually mean.  A strange question to a straightforward statement, you would think.  But a little look at certain claims made versus records kept during this process, suggests otherwise.  


For example, in September we had a piece in the Craven Herald. I found the few words issued by the clerk to be telling.  He went on to list all that had been done by the PC which contrasted somewhat with the answers we got when we questioned them on the subject earlier this year. His claims had now grown to include each of the things WE have presented them with as viable options over the past few months.


Still, they are doing there best aren't they?  Maybe they are, but if they were previously unaware of the obvious avenues we made them aware of (and they publicly claim to now be pursuing) what are the chances of them discovering the equally simple avenues that have not yet been presented to them?


Unfortunately I am unable to say much more.  Under the direction of the Chair, the PC now refuses to communicate directly on the matter. The clerk has difficulty in actually receiving mail that goes through his letterbox. The PC meeting minutes for September remain unavailable in November and anyone unfortunate enough to witness one of these meetings knows that even when the minutes do get published they will bear scant relation (on certain matters) to what actually happens. Still, they are doing their best!


Which is more than can be said for the Allotments Working Group, which has been disowned since it was shown up for the sham that it was.  Three Parish Councillors deciding what's "best" over tea and hobnobs until, hoisted by its own petard, someone joined that wanted to actually DO something about:


A) The poor state of current allotments and their management.
B) The woeful lack of provision suffered in the village.


The Councillors then each resigned from the Working Group, one by one in another dramatic display of "doing ones best" to solve the problems faced by the Parish Council.


As for the statutory claims made for allotments, we have submitted another group of representations. But as I have been reminded by one of the enthusiastic amateurs that we sadly rely on to get an allotment in the village:

"our only statutory obligation is to consider the claim"

Most local authorities, seeing where this argument is headed, avoid it like the plague - God Complex strikes again!

Will Cowling see a solution to the pathetically poor provision suffered for so long in the village? I am beginning to think some people are too busy with other irons in their fires to be able to represent the ALL the villagers of Cowling fairly.


Anyone wanting an allotment in this village should consider making themselves heard loud and clear on this issue.  You have a right to an allotment and your government has been acknowledging the need to improve provision of this community asset for years now. Yet your local representatives in charge of providing allotments, amongst their Duties & Responsibilities; consider that what they are currently failing to provide is "Doing their Best".  It's time to ask them not do their best, but to do what they are there to do!

Do nothing and you can be sure of the results!

Mark

An Incredible Inspiration

Today Emma and I had a drive over to Whitaker Park in Rawtenstall and met Paul, the driving force behind Incredible Edible Rossendale.  We have been interested in the rise of Incredible Edible initiatives for some time and have been inspired by the way it has grown into the runaway success that it has become today. With an interest in learning more about getting such a scheme accepted, supported and eventually put into action, we arranged to meet Paul to see how things are going on the community beds in Whittaker Park and to chat about his experiences so far.


As we walked through the gates and into the park we were struck by the well tended gardens in front of the 19th century house built by the Hardman family which overlooked their woollen mill at that time at New Hall Hey.  The house and grounds were later bought by Richard Whitaker with the house opened as a museum in 1902.  Long established trees shade well kept lawns which present flower beds that, although beyond their peak splendor at this time of year, are a testament to those managing the park.  We followed the winding road up towards the museum heading for the community gardens which are found to the right of it. 


There we found Paul busy in the beds and after exchanging greetings were kindly shown around.  The garden currently comprises a Victorian Herb garden to the far left with a bench for anyone wanting to take the weight off.  The centre space is planted with various edibles, a few picnic benches and the area to the right has a series of raised beds and planters containing various herbs and vegetables.  The layout makes good use of space with blackberry canes growing up the sun loving back wall, which also supports plenty of strawberries in planters and a mixture of fruit trees sit amongst the beds.  

It was soon apparent that Paul has worked very hard to promote this initiative and seems to share our enthusiasm for raising community spirit through community initiatives such as this.  A supportive local authority have provided more than just the beds currently in use in the park.  They have improved paths, relaid paving and continue to look to offer other spaces with potential for the scheme.  The combination of a supportive council and Pauls drive has really paid off and with more options on the cards, the future for Incredible Edible Rossendale looks set to grow.  


Whilst we were chatting to Paul you could see the interest in those walking by.  Later a young family walked by and asked about what was growing, so I busied myself with a bit of weeding whilst Paul explained the concept to them.  They left a short time later with a handful of herbs and hopefully that's a few more community gardeners willing to enjoy a few edible rewards for a few minutes weeding or planting from time to time when they are out for a walk.


As tends to happen, time with those with which you share an interest is soon spent and in no time at all we seemed to be saying our goodbyes.  But Emma and I were grateful that Paul had taken time away from his family to spend some of his Sunday with us and hope to keep in touch.  We then walked back to our car (I now know you can park next to the museum!) with some new ideas and plenty of inspiration, which was when I realized - I hadn't taken any pictures!  So we both headed back to the gardens whilst the sun was breaking through and I was about to get some shots of the beds when a lady came by walking her dog.  


We smiled and said our hellos and then she asked us about the beds.  What was growing, what was ready to eat, how to tell when the cabbages are ready, who does the gardening etc.  We explained that they were community gardens and that she was free to help out planting and weeding in return for taking some produce.  We chatted for a good while about strawberries, kohlrabi, courgettes and fennel. We learned that there used to be peacocks kept where the beds are now and threw a few more weeds in the compost bin.  Eventually we said our goodbyes, both sides a little happier for the unplanned encounter and hopefully Incredible Edible has another community gardener now - especially as she walks by 4 times a day!


I didn't get my pictures though in the end, or at least nothing worth using here, which had been my intention.  Instead though I got a fantastic insight into the positive value of community initiatives such as this.  The mutually beneficial collaboration between an enthusiastic group, a supportive local authority and local businesses is inspiring.  Each side adds something to the scheme and all benefit from the positive association of active participation. But the real winner, it would seem to me, is the community.  


People of all ages and abilities are able to take part on their own terms and learn from those they bump into while they are at it.  Some will spend an afternoon and chat, others ten minutes weeding with the dog and some will have a place to plant spare seedlings & cuttings.  Various options become available when a community has such an asset.  I think the tale of the Whitaker Park blackberries just about sums up the spirit of it all.


A lady got on a bus at Waterfoot and traveled to Rawtenstall (I guess 2-3 miles) before making her way up to the Incredible Edible beds at Whitaker Park.  She brought with her a number of blackberry canes and a garden fork.  Despite her rheumatism, this lady went on to plant a row of blackberry canes along the back wall of the beds.  Those canes will provide fruits for many years and should go on to propagate countless new plants in years to come.  


No one can tell what the future holds, but maybe someone will take a battery drill and some wire and fix something on the wall to train the canes along or perhaps a local business will donate a trellis system.  We can't know for sure, but I can say that lady has improved that community garden by her efforts, that she will continue to have a positive effect for a long time to come and that her efforts will hopefully be the motivation for someone elses input.  She certainly inspired me!


Thanks again for taking the time out to meet us Paul, it was a good morning.



Mark & Emma