Background to the Pages of The Sunningdale Allotment Holders

A quick search of the Internet will demonstrate that there are many allotment or gardening sites that contain information on growing vegetables, herbs and fruit. In the majority of cases the content on a given web site appears to have been written from the perspective of a single person, occasionally taking the form of a diary.

The objective on these pages is slightly different: it is to take the sort of useful information that is often gleaned in a one-to-one conversation with another plot holder and to make it generally available. It can include: experiences (both good and bad), growing tips, recommended varieties, crop storage techniques and even recipes.

The approach is to collate ideas and tips; there is no attempt to choose the "best" item on any given topic. There is also no intention to "reinvent the wheel", e.g. to give a blow by blow account of how to grow individual crops. Significant use is made of links to point to useful articles elsewhere on the Web.

In order that an initial version could be created relatively quickly, the information gathering exercise was limited to discussions with 9 plot holders in the autumn of 2006. This was followed by a further 3 in 2007. It is hoped that all plot holders will contribute now that a basic foundation is in place. I feel certain that everybody has at least one contribution to make. I came away from each of the discussions with at least one new tip or idea. I particularly remember discovering American Land Cress (which I previously knew nothing about) from one plot holder who was convinced that she was far too inexperienced to contribute. It might simply be a storage technique, a recipe, feedback on organic approaches to pest control or simply negative feedback on a particular crop variety.

The first "official" version of the pages was made available at the end of January 2007. Many thanks to those individuals who took the time to express their appreciation. Christine Gadd, the new chairman of the Parish Council, was kind enough to write to express her gratitude, particularly for the history of Sunningdale Allotments.

I hope to get round to talk to more plot holders during the course of this year to improve the content of the Collated Experiences pages - so beware of a bearded male surreptiously approaching while you are hard at work on your plot.

Meanwhile, more of the following items would be gratefully received:

• pictures, either actual snaps (which will be returned) or digital images, for inclusion in the gallery
• your favourite recipes that make good use of your produce
• any "garden" recipes for making homemade sprays for use against pests and diseases, liquid feeds, et cetera

Send an email to the address in the left-hand column if you have any items to contribute.

Constructive feedback on the content and ideas for improvement are always welcome.