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Dear Whitehawk and Craven Vale Plot Holders,
Tessa, one of our Craven Vale and Whitehawk Hill Allotments Society (CV&WHAS) committee members, came up with some ideas for making the most of our HUB site, just inside the Beresford Road gates. We've had regular monthly openings throughout the winter months* and successful events such as the Hub ‘launch’ and the seedling swap, but would really like the HUB to become a regular meeting place for everyone to enjoy in bad weather as well as in sunshine. It would be great if it could become an established venue for swapping ideas and meeting other plot holders and co-workers from all over our two large sites.
The hub silver container does not have room to accommodate meetings, but so far we’ve been lucky with the weather when we’ve had an event. Tessa’s ideas are centred around making a rain/sun shelter adjacent to the hub, with fixed benches, and also beds planted up with plants that are beneficial to butterflies, bees and other wildlife.
The idea was taken forward to the Brighton and Hove Allotment Federation committee (BHAF) by Jane Griffin, our rep, to find out if site development funding might be available. As a result BHAF committee member, Jim Mayor, who has a connection with Brighton University, thought that maybe the University’s architecture students might like to become involved with the design process.
A small group of committee members and Jane Griffin met with Jim and University tutors, Graham and Andrew, at the hub site last week. Some exciting ideas were discussed – including the use of natural, local materials such as chalk and flint. This might develop into an opportunity for plot holders and co-workers to try out traditional building skills such as creating traditional chalk walls. Yesterday evening two promising architecture students came to look around the allotments sites to get a feel for the place.
This is a call-out for anyone who would like to become involved in the project. It would be great to get wide participation from plot-holders and co-workers – to comment on the students’ ideas and contribute their own suggestions. This is at a very early stage so you haven’t missed anything.
If you are interested, please contact me, Jane Hawkins, chair of CV&WHAS at this email address: jane.hawkins1@ntlworld.com
Follow our Facebook Page; https://www.facebook.com/savecravenvaleallotments * Don't forget, the hub is open the first Sunday of the month throughout the summer (11am - 1pm)
Many thanks,
Jane
Jane Hawkins
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