A lot on at Muswell Hill allotments

4:43pm Tuesday 26th August 2008

With a waiting list of more than 50 people, the Muswell Hill Golf Course allotments are sought-after little plots of land.

There are 200 plots, with more than 300 people involved in working on them, including consultants, hospital porters, teachers, artists and tube workers, coming from countries such as Turkey, Spain, Poland, Italy and Cyprus.

Karen Sellars, chairman of the Golf Course Allotment Association, says: “There’s a spirit of community and you mix with all sorts of different people.

“I like the freedom of being in the open air whenever I want, and the challenge of growing things against the British climate, then having good-tasting organic food at home most of the year round.”

One trend Mrs Sellars has noticed is an increase in the number of women applying for allotments. She herself has had a plot on the site for 21 years and grows a broad range of plants, including asparagus, garlic, herbs, cranberries and blueberries.

At their open day gardeners will compete for prizes for the best fruit and veg, and will sell their fresh produce, home-made jams and chutneys, cakes and tea. There will also be tours around the allotments.

Entrance to the Muswell Hill Golf Course Allotments is at the corner of Winton Avenue and Blake Road, Muswell Hill, and the opening will take place on Sunday, August 31, from 1pm to 4pm.

Entry costs £2.50, which goes to charities chosen by the National Gardens Scheme. For more information call 020 8883 8540.

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