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Community Links

The Bartonian

A team of volunteers write and produce the Bartonian, in collaboration with Barton Town Council, who
have the final editorial approval for each edition. A separate team of 40 volunteers ensure it is delivered
to every house in the town.
This free magazine provides up to the minute information on all local events and happenings as well as
detailed articles outlining the history of our town. Not only does it keep residents informed on every
local aspect, but it also provides an insight into our small North Lincolnshire town, little known to the
rest of the world.
We are very lucky to have this level of community involvement, especially as the Barton Allotment
Society has its own designated slot within each edition written by our Secretary, Neil Jacques.
Below we will include a copy of the latest BARTONIAN article relating to the Allotment Society section.

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September 2024 issue
ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL SHOW!

The show goes from strength to strength, with more exhibits than there have been for the last couple of years. There was an excellent range of entries in the Novice section for first timers and the Fruit section was very well supported. There was also an increase in non-plotholders exhibiting. It was a good day for everyone in the Veg, Fruit, Flower and Novice sections as all those who entered got a first, second or third award for at least one of their exhibits. Most points in show went to Wendy and Cyril Pallister, and most points in Cookery to Christine Patterson. The Children’s Picture on a Postcard competition saw over 120 entries, making it difficult for the judge to pick the winners. The Harry Fowler Best Kept Allotment Shield was won by Ed Cunnah, with the Best Half Plot going to Pam and Phil Coggan. A full list of all the prize winners can be found on our website. The show would not be possible without the generous support of local businesses and groups who sponsored this year, WREN Kitchens, The White Swan, Barton Town Council, Barton Lions and Rotary, MD Signs, The Humber Bridge Garden Centre and CPRE. We are very grateful for their support as we are for all the other Shops in the Town who generously donated Tombola Prizes. Again, a full list of these is on our website. Back on the plots it’s Harvest time, and then preparing the ground for the winter and spring. Green Manure has become more of a favourite on Allotment Plots and in gardens as it improves the soil and provides good organic matter when it is dug in during January or February. It’s also time to start spreading the compost from your own heap or bin over the coming weeks, to get the ground ready for the coming growing season. As ever, if you want to have a plot please do get in touch.

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May 2024 issue

WANTED - young artists, rose and gladioli growers

With the help of the Barton Lions, we are hosting a competition for “Picture on a Postcard” for primary school aged children, to be judged at the Horticultural Show on 10 August. All key stage 1 and 2 children across the area are invited to submit drawings on a standard sized postcard. The picture should be of either any edible plant, or wildlife in a garden or park, or a view of an allotment plot. We shall have a stall at the Carnival on Saturday 15 June to launch the competition and have been in touch with all the primary schools to encourage participation. As well as age range prizes £15, for first place, £10 for second and £5 for third, there will be a special prize for the overall winner. Also new for the show this year is a cup for best Exhibit Gladioli in memory of former Society President, David Dukes, donated by his family. So, the competition is on to be the first to be awarded this new trophy. Don’t be put off if you have never exhibited these flowers before. Last year Best Exhibit Sweet Peas went to a person who entered the Novice Section, beating those who had been exhibiting for years. Rose growers have another opportunity to show off their favourite roses with a new class in the Flower section. Three blooms from the same type of rose are required, one at bud stage, colour and a couple of petals showing, perfect stage up to ¾ open, and another in full bloom. As always events of this nature cannot go ahead without the generous support of organisations around the Town. So, a special thanks to Barton Town Council, The Humber Bridge Garden Centre, the school’s potato competition sponsors, and the Campaign to Protect Rural England all of whom have sponsored elements of this year’s show. For more information on the show and what and how to exhibit, please see our website or contact me.

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March 2024 issue

Sow lots and lots!
Most of the experts tell us to sow little and often with our regular sowings of salad crops and
successional vegetables, but this year I am urging people to so sow more than they need. If
you are like me and sow a bit extra just in case the seeds don’t come up, then it won’t be
much of change from usual. This is why we always end up with a glut of courgettes in the
summer. I sow an extra couple of seeds just in case some don’t germinate or the slugs and
pests get them when planted out, and when they all survive and produce we have well over
100 of courgettes each year.
This year there is a ready outlet for all your surplus produce with the Community Fridge just
started up on Fridays at Wilderspin National School on Queen Street, from 10.30 to 1.30.
Run by Town Councillor Amie Watson’s Slow Circular Earth organisation, they distribute
surplus food that supermarkets can’t sell and will be more than happy to distribute any
surplus fruit and veg people can offer.
So, just what can you sow lots and lots of in the next couple of months? March and April are
the start of the busy period for most people. In March, early potatoes can go in, with
maincrop at the end of the month or early April. Broad beans, early carrots, peas and leeks
can be sown now and tomatoes on a warm window sill. Chives and parsley can be sown in
pots protected by a fizzy drink bottle cloche as can summer cabbages. In April it’s time for
the summer cabbages to be planted out after hardening off, and broccoli and winter cabbage
can be sown outside, not forgetting those sprouts for Christmas. You can start off Runner
beans, French beans and sweet corn in doors in April for planting out in May as the days get
warmer. Regular sowings of salads can also start in March, sowing the next batch of seeds
3 weeks or so apart.
Whatever and wherever you grow, I hope you have a bountiful season of home grown
produce, with enough to share with others!
 

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