Open day at Blackpool allotments after successful breakaway move

A Blackpool allotments site has gone from strength to strength since leaving its umbrella organisation 12 months ago.
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Members of the Cherry Tree Allotments in Marton decided to break away from the Blackpool Federation of Allotment Associations in September last year, saying they had not received enough help to find new plot holders.

At the time 40 allotments out of a total of 140 on the site were unused.

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But now there are just three allotments unoccupied, and the site is holding its first open day in recent times on Sunday September 11 to showcase improvements which have been made.

Cherry Tree AllotmentsCherry Tree Allotments
Cherry Tree Allotments

The event will take place at the site on Cherry Tree Road between 11am and 3pm when there will be refreshments, a raffle, tombola, fresh produce, craft stall, preserves and also a children’s corner.

Evelyne Farolfi, secretary of Cherry Tree Allotments, said: “Leaving the federation has paid off for us, but it has meant a lot of hard work.

“We are still working with the council and making sure we do everything carefully and legally.

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“At the moment there are just three empty plots on the site, and these are all ones which need a lot of work. But we already have people interested in seeing them.

Cherry Tree AllotmentsCherry Tree Allotments
Cherry Tree Allotments

“The site is still a work in progress but we are trying to make lots of improvements. For instance we have moved the cabins and made the car park bigger.

“There are a lot of people wanting allotments now and some sites have two year waiting lists. I think the cost of living crisis is making a lot of people think about growing their own produce.

“We’re looking forward to holding our first open day in a while, and it will also help us raise money for further improvements to the site.”

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Members of Cherry Tree Allotments decided to withdraw from the Blackpool Federation of Allotment Associations, which oversees sites on behalf of the council, after saying they had received no help in finding new plot holders.

The drop in allotment holders had led to neglect and a lack of investment in the site, which has now been turned around.

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