The allotment at the Golden Lane housing estate continues to be run by an enthusiastic group of residents known as the Golden Lane Baggers and enables 40 residents grow a variety of vegetables, fruit and flowers. Each resident is responsible for their own bag, the maintenance of the site and the social activities of the growers’ community. There is a children’s digging planter and a small wildlife area with an emphasis on bee, butterfly and insect friendly plants. The allotment as it is today was put together using a Capital Growth grant in 2010.
The Golden Lane Baggers hold regular social and community events and join in an estate wide programme of activities, including market days and contributing to improving the greening and biodiversity of the estate.
In 2015 the members participated for the first time in London Open Garden Squares weekend with over 490 visitors on the Saturday. At the time the baggers were growing 29 different types of vegetable, 10 types of herb, 12 different flowers, strawberries, raspberries, rhubarb and grapes. There are regular monthly Social Sundays where members meet to carry out communal maintenance and a free day coach trip to RHS Wisley was organised for all estate residents. 35 people attended ranging in age from babies to over 90’s.
Latest improvements include a 810 litre water butt, a new children’s digging planter and communal beds of soft fruit including tayberries, blackberries, red and black currants, and a gooseberry bush. More communal beds are planned along with the purchase of a potting shed.
The members participate in RHS Big Dig Days and Capital Growth open days and network events.
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