THE PILGRIM PLOTTERS

Martin Fish visits Boston in Lincolnshire, with its historic links to the Pilgrim Fathers, and finds a thriving community of growers with a concern for health and well-being at its core

- Martin Fish

Gardeners know the real benefits of gardening, growing fresh produce, and getting your hands into the soil. Since the pandemic first struck in March 2020, more and more people have taken to growing their own and allotments have become even more popular as people have discovered the importance of being outside in the fresh air.

One such allotment group that has embraced the health and well-being benefits of gardening and being outdoors is the Willoughby Road Allotment Association in Boston, Lincolnshire.

But for them it’s not new because they have been banging their drum about this for many years and because of all their hard work and dedication, they have created a facility that works not just for individual allotment holders, it also takes in the wider community, including NHS workers.

THE SITE

The allotments on the site were created by the Corporation of Boston back in 1957 with 70 full-size plots. Some of the land was later used as a car park for the nearby Butterfly Hospice and the site now stands at 2.2ha. (5.8 acres) with around 60 plots of varying sizes, with a healthy waiting list. In recent years, many people have taken on a half or third of a plot and this system works very well for those that have less time or want to grow less.