#BEEASY ACCESS Accessible plots and Solar Powerc. £11,000 Fund raising PROJECT COMPLETED Q1 2023.

Reason: to give easier access growing areas to plot holders experiencing reduced energy, flexibility or mobility due to the passing years or health. Keep people growing their own food for longer.`

Aim: Retain tenants on the allotments and increase the potential for growing for new plot holders.

How: The creation of an area for quarter plot size spaces each with two one metre long raised wooden trugs accessible without bending or kneeling. The trugs to  be filled with compost.  Revised  – see where below: To include a shared greenhouse, compost bins and potting areas. Plus a seating area for the whole allotment Community to use to socialise together.

Putting in a solar power system to enable the Community Shop to be open during the Autumn and Winter months and for small electrical appliances in the Community Hut to make hot drinks and food.

Where: John Lockyer, a fantastic allotmenteer, set up the Community Bees at the allotments many years ago, but sadly passed away in 2021. The allotment is close to the gates and Community Hut. The Community Bees are being moved to the plot as a fitting tribute to John, subject to being able to organise a team of bee-keepers to look after them. The original plan was for four trugs on an area behind the Community Hut.  This was revised to eight trugs on four quarter plots and may increase to 10 trugs on five quarter plots. . 

Funding: £1,500 needed to  be raised or goods donated to complete the expanded project.
Grants have been obtained from Salford CVS Wellbeing Fund, the Police Standing Together Community Fund, and Salford City Council Community Committee Devolved Funding with 25% cash match funding provided by the not-for-profit Weaste Allotments & Gardening Association.
An application has been submitted for 1 tonne of compost from Recycle for Greater Manchester and SUEZ Recycling and Recovery UK.  Received and gratefully spread.
In addition the plot holders will provide time and item donations which cover over a quarter of the total project cost. Over 300 hours of volunteer time went into completing this project. Thank to everyone who put so much effort into it.
Futher funds were  raised by individuals doing their shopping on Co-op brands. There is a donation of 1 pence for every pound spent with their Co-op Member card through the Community Cause funds from the Co-op.

The work has been undertaken in 2022 and Q1 2023. Some info in News and on our Facebook Page of the progress and completion. To complement this work we are researching and hope to be undertaking the Accessibloo Project seeking funding, skills and assistance to provide an accessible toilet facility in 2023/4