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| sedum, beloved of bees |
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| apple Sunset - aptly named no? |
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| every rose has its thorns |
Something's afoot down at the allotments. Beyond my plot, and the hedgerow and the stream on the other side, there's a big field. It was full of Christmas trees a few years ago, and since then it's been left untouched. It was where the wild things lived. Quite often you could see a rabbit over there, taking a break from eating allotment delicacies such as lettuces and strawberry plants and pea shoots. As nature took over and filled the field with nettles and flowers, the insects had a, well, they had a field day.
But a couple of weeks ago a tractor arrived and started churning the earth up. Then several heavy plants turned up. (Is that the right terminology? They aren't really plants, they're giant yellow beasts that shake the ground and scare the birds from the trees.) It was all most disconcerting. The field was flattened, and still the machines chugged up and down.
An allotment neighbour gave me the low down this morning. It's to be a new football pitch. I didn't quite know what to say to that, being as the children are footballers and I suppose might conceivably play on there one day. But I do wish it was still wild. The allotment had a nice feeling of being right on the edge of the wilderness before. Now it's got a feeling of being right on the edge of the Emirates Stadium. Oh I exaggerate, I know. But I don't like change, and I especially don't like change that takes away wildlife. The fields down the road have been concreted over, and where there used to be cows, now there are houses. I don't have the answers, but I don't like it all the same.
I did some autumn things on the plot. Taking down beansticks, cutting the fruited wood out of the wineberry, digging up some volunteer potatoes. I made Allotment Surprise for tea. I knew what the littlest boy would say before he even said it. "I don't like Allotment Surprise". It was a kind of vegetable hotpot. Onions, potatoes, carrots, courgette, green beans, borlotti beans, tomatoes and a little bit of scorzonera, with some stuffed pasta to bulk it out a bit. I do love meals that come from the plot and the garden. Makes I 'appy.
I would feel the same way about the development near the allotment. I wish they could just leave things alone, especially beautiful, wild things. I'm sorry about the change. I hope it's at least well maintained when they finish it. I like the sound of your meal. My husband tells me that his mother always did the same thing, calling it Surprise Pie. Apparently hers usually contained eggplant, which was unpopular, but yours sounds delicious.
ReplyDeleteI don't like change either, so I can understand you feeling unsettled. Your Allotment Surprise sounds great though - sometimes children can be so predictable can't they?! xx
ReplyDeleteI do like the idea of your Allotment Surprise. Did you ever read Stone Soup? I love that story.
ReplyDeleteI would not like those changes either..not one bit. I know that we are so spoiled where we are and I do try not to take it for granted. I suppose that this change is far better than a shopping mall, but I now it still hurts.
I hate all the houses being built around here on fields. I am so sad when I think of the wild life that has been killed for it. i bore people every time I drive by. I probably won't change it, but maybe someone will listen, and think a bit too. I think I understand just how you feel. xx
ReplyDeleteallotment surprise sounds delicious, can I come to tea?
ReplyDeleteI hope the change is not too hard on you and though the wild space is gone, you get some joy from the sounds of young footballers having a good time. I hope your allotment surprise was delicious.
ReplyDeletei'm not a fan of change either - especially of the habitat-removing variety. still, i suppose it could be worse...like more houses or an oil refinery. hopefully they'll at least avoid using pesticides on the pitch....
ReplyDeletei love the sound of Allotment Surprise....xo
Grumble. I wish you could live where I do.. we live beyond the "Urban Growth Boundary" and you can't build on less than anything under 20 acres. Unless you buy a place built before the UGB, like we have an old farmhouse on 5 acres, but everything around us has fields and pastures and SPACE to breathe. I actually think mankind needs it's own plot of ground where you can do what you want. Sorry about the "progress" by your allotment. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)
ReplyDeleteAs you drive into my little town, there are now a row of grey prison block houses looming right over the allotments, that look very out of character. Makes me very sad... I love hotch potch meals, you discover new flavour combinations.
ReplyDeleteWe sometimes have Veg Box Surprise. Back of Fridge Surprise is even less popular.
ReplyDeleteOh CJ, I feel for you. We've just had the metal roadway lifted at my allotment site which allowed Network Rail to access the railway line embankment with their 'plant'. A few years ago having cut down all the ancient oak trees whose roots supported the bank because of the fear/threat of leaves on the line they built a concrete wall measuring 100 x 20 x 2 feet. That was a lot of concrete lorries going down during a very wet winter. The last few weeks they have been lining it with a plastic solution injected into the concrete. No, me neither! Oh and last year the ancient orchard behind my plot (which I'd surveyed about 10 years ago for the People's Trust for Endangered Species) was grubbed out for yet more paddock and a raised sand school built to exercise horses. It's just not the same. People would say it's progress and residents who work so hard travelling on the train up and down to London need their football and horse riding and a safe journey. It's a dilemma isn't it, balancing wildlife with the needs of a growing population and like you I do not know the answer. The fields around my village are currently being proposed for a new super-size school and the building of 300 new houses to pay for it. I wonder how we are going to feed all these extra people with all the land being taken out of food production especially as I'm now reading that poor diet is now the world's biggest health risk. Your photos, as always, made me feel better. We are so lucky to have our allotments.
ReplyDeleteI love to eat veg straight from the plant, think of all those extra vitamins. Yum! You might have a few extra helpers if there is a football pitch at the bottom of the allotment although I agree it is nice to have the wildness around. :-)
ReplyDeleteI like the sound of 'allotment surprise' for my dinner, I might just pop in about 6 pm if that is ok? I am feeling for you, it is a shame that beautiful wild places get turned into 'essential infrastructure'. On the bright side, the plot next to your allotment is at least not going to be a housing development, or (worse) a shopping development. My favourite woodlands are right next to the council dump, a fact that pains me no end. I hope all the displaced creatures will find a new home. Maybe you could propose to your council the planning of a wild area on a part of the parcel of land to maintain a little wilderness? Councils seen quite aware of the importance of wild spots, in a tick box sort of way unfortunately, and maybe that would tick a box for them and give some wilderness back to you? Loving your photos. Cxx
ReplyDeleteI agree with you I don't like change. The field I used to walk Rocky hound was an overgrown delight a few weeks ago. It has now been completely mown flat & looks like a desert. I don't like it & I wonder where the bugs, bees, moths & birds have gone too. I like the sound of your Allotment surprise, I make a similar surprise soup which my youngest wont even touch or look at come to that.. Take care xx
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't like it either. Too many fields around us which were supposed to be green belt land have ended up being built upon . We now have urban sprawl and are more or less joined onto Wakefield. The green belt was supposed to prevent this happening.
ReplyDeleteI'd prefer places to stay wild too, but it could be worse, a football pitch is better than a housing estate. Allotment surprise sounds delicious, I'll have the littlest boy's portion if there's any leftover.
ReplyDeleteBoo :( I dislike the taking away of nature and natural habitats for wild animals. But I guess on the plus side it's going to be turned into somewhere that local people can socialise and make new friends and not, you know, houses and concrete. I definitely envy your ability to make food from food you've grown. Definitely a goal for the future :)
ReplyDeleteI like the sound of Allotment Surprise. Although my husband would be bound to say, "the surprise is that anyone likes it"..... He knows nothing.
ReplyDeleteI do wish they would leave our countryside alone. We have just been told there's to be yet another development of houses in the village right behind the old school house (which is now a very prestigious house) and understandably the owner is not happy that it will back right onto his garden and spoil the view which was why he'd bought the house in the first place. I think allotment surprise sounds fantastic.
ReplyDeleteSuch a shame, that progress seems to spoil rather than enhance the environment. Different people, different needs I suppose it still doesn't sit comfortably. Love the sound of the allotment surprise, sounds like everyone one coming around for a party, what time do you want me?
ReplyDeleteOh Pants! Can you find out who's in charge and ask whether they'd be willing to leave a strip round the margins wild? It would mitigate to some extent the removal of the entire habitat. Garden Food was eaten here last night too xx
ReplyDeleteLovely pictures, and I hope that those apples are as tasty as they look. Like you I don't like change, especially that kind of change as I always what next.
ReplyDeleteAllotment surprise sounds quite good, and it's something that I'm sure even I can cook.
Enjoy the weekend. Flighty xx
Beautiful flowers and delights from your garden dear C.J, those apples look delicious. Such a shame that the field has been cleared and so many little creatures have lost their home, I love wild spaces and they should be preserved.
ReplyDeleteYour 'Allotment Surprise' sounds great, I love vegetable dishes.
Happy weekend!
xoxoxo ♡
Well that is a big bummer CJ, especially with it being right next to your garden area. At least it will be a "field" of some sort and not a strip mall or housing development. Just this morning my husband and I drove by a housing development that has been underway for 2 years now and it is going to be HUGE, with thousands of apartments, duplexes, and single homes on it. Where all those people are going to work, we don't know. But when we first heard about the plans, we got all huffy and exclaimed that we have to move before all of that happens. Well, we're still here. This slow creeping of development is everywhere. I'm more than ready for my cabin in the woods or farmhouse in the country.
ReplyDeleteOh.my.god. I feel quite sad after reading this, as I always do when I hear about more countryside and nature being ripped up for leisure, or housing, or another mall. All that grass and no wildflowers. I expect the bees and birds will have already flown away to safer habitats. Sometimes change isn't progress at all. Thank goodness for Allotment Surprise - I think that sounds very tasty! x
ReplyDeleteAw that sucks! It will give such a different feel to your allotment and some days will be over flowed with people. I hope they don't go in where your plants are!
ReplyDeleteI fully sympathise CJ, I find it hard to embrace change and I hate it when wildlife-rich land gets churned up. Allotment surprise sounds great and the 'sunset' apples look delicious. Have a lovely weekend. Jane xx
ReplyDeleteIt is a shame that change is afoot, but I guess that a football pitch is a lot better than houses or a factory! Trying to look on the brighter side of things. Hope that the end result isn't too bad. xx
ReplyDeleteYour first photo (bee on sedum) is gorgeous. Sorry to hear about the diggers. It must be unsettling. Allotment surprise sounds delicious :-)
ReplyDeleteMy children were not overly fond of my versions of Allotment Surprise...any dish that majored in vegetables :) but I have great memories of the special vegetable based meals we had from the produce we got from my parents garden when I was a child [55 years ago!] in Missouri, USA. When our peas were ripe we would pick and shell a batch and my dad would dig up a shovel full of new little potatoes. My mom would boil the potatoes and briefly heat the peas, then serve them in a bowl with a bit of milk poured over, a little melted butter and salt and pepper...a wonderful meal! Last year at about this time I was able to travel from Oregon back East. I stopped in Missouri and a friend drove me around the area where I had lived. I knew the farm where I had grown up had been sold and was now a housing development, but as my friend drove me around the development I sat there in silence with a steady stream of tears welling from my eyes as I mourned the loss of the wonderful farm land...progress for some, but a change that prompts me to feel sad as well. I appreciate your feelings as the land around your allotment changes, CJ. xx
ReplyDeleteIt's a real double edged sword. You know things change, but you don't want them to. You can see the advantages in terms of things to do for younger people, but you know there is a loss in terms of green time, contact with nature.
ReplyDeleteOn the plus side, there may be some nice muscular footballers running around to provide a view?
A football pitch sounds nice but you just wish they could make it in an area that has already been flattened. I love a wild area.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Meredith
A wonderful bumper crop for you, lovely photos too, it is so sad when fields disappear, there's no going back.
ReplyDeleteThis is a tricky one - I see so many football pitches encroached upon by housing development and I'm saddened to see school playing fields sold, frequently, for housing development too. So to see a football pitch being developed is a pretty rare sight - and hopefully offers opportunities for activity. At least the rabbits should still enjoy the green pitch! Love the sound of your allotment surprise - I think my children would be pretty suspicious though!
ReplyDeleteCaz xx
I am always grateful to live within the conservation area of our village, and worried that the field across the road which is outside it will be built on. It's not even that I'm concerned my view would be spoiled - it would be - but many small villages, ours included, don't have the infrastructure to support new housing developments, not that often stops then. Planners can be so shortsighted it seems to me. Who does the football field belong to? Will the boys suddenly develop an interest in accompanying you to the allotment so they can watch matches over the hedge?
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry about the football field and loss of wildlife. I hope the pitch is a useful, productive addition to your town and brings some happiness to people's lives.
ReplyDeleteI love the sound of your Allotment Surprise meal. My Grandparents always used to call quiche "dustbin pie" because it was great for using up all the leftovers from the fridge. x
said about a wild patch being lost, but i guess - as others have said - at least it's not an industrial estate or car parking, there will be some green to see still (it won't be fake turf, will it?!). maybe you can bomb the edges with some wildflower seeds ... :-)
ReplyDeleteSAD; sorry
DeleteI'm loving the golden light in your photos. Hope the field work doesn't cause too much disruption. XX
ReplyDeleteoh dear... I know what you mean... it must feel very disconcerting...
ReplyDelete(my kids hate the 'bottom of the fridge' soups... mind you they always seem to turn out brown!)
Such beautiful photos - so autumnal - and then that bare field.
ReplyDeleteIt is a conundrum. It is good that people have space to play sport, but it is always sad to see habitats lost. Perhaps they might allow the weeds to grow around the edge of the field?
I think allotment surprise sounds delicious. Gillian's comment about dustbin pie made me giggle. I may steal that.
Allotment Surprise sounds pretty good to me! I am with you on struggling with change, especially when it comes to taking away the few wild spaces left in more urban areas. Growing up, our house was one of the first built on our block and there were many empty lots that my sisters and our few neighbors played in. We built forts, picked flowers and dug big tunnels and holes. When they began to develop the lots, my middle sister and I took one 'For Sale' sign down and threw it into the canyon. It was naughty, we knew, but we loved our wild place.
ReplyDeleteYour pictures from the allotment are wonderful!The apple looks so good I love the unusual varieties luckily I have found our local greengrocers has a few different varieties of apple for sale! Your allotment surprise sounds good. We had gardeners soup last weekend to try and use the vegetables from the garden in a different way! Sarah x
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