SAVE THE PLOT

News links

We were on p13 of The Times on Monday August 22, 2005.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-1744664,00.html

And the story was also been followed up in the paper's Comment section:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,564-1747367,00.html

And by the BBC:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/oxfordshire/4173398.stm

We were also on Central TV, but haven't yet worked out how to link the 2-minute clip to this site.

Friday Aug 26. We were the splash/main story on the front page of the Bicester Review. Great pic of Pauline and a good summary of the fight so far too, but this is only the web version, I'll try to get hold of the whole thing by next week:

http://www.buckinghamtoday.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=716&ArticleID=1128114

In the interests of fairness here is the Diocese of Oxford's website. It owns Skimmingdish Lane Allotments. Their website is http://www.oxford.anglican.org - you can read their (untrue, out-of-date) statement (Aug 11) saying why we can't stay under news ... and lots of info about how they support the environment.

Think globally, act locally...

The website also has a news round-up at the bottom left of the page, but bizarrely has not linked Ruth Gledhill's article in The Times. Not sure why :)

Also there is http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/article/250805/oxford_editor_clashes

Which tells the story from my point of view as a journalist, but the time scale is a bit out of kilter (I was over there last spring, so was Bob, a retired policeman, and so were Jean and Neil, and another couple.
The land agents mysteriously got in touch this April when their last legal tenant (who told us he didn't know who owned the land, and to dig in till someone came asking for money!) left the site.)
It was the diocese representative, not the parish* representative, who called me up about the so-called 'vendetta' ... and as a journalist who has covered many positive church stories in my 17 year career and very few negative ones, I was bemused by his use of words. It was only after looking round at my reporters that the penny dropped and I realised that he meant me!
When I realised I was on a contentious piece of land I remember thinking, 'hmm this could be a bit of a story'.
* the parish, both council and just people in the village, have been very supportive of our campaign. Unlike the Diocese.

Also, on the Morecambe Today website I found a vicar who has given up part of his garden for a community allotment...which is a bit different to the vicar's old garden in Launton, which I'm told, was sold by the church for a new housing development some years ago.
Quote from the vicar (in Morecambe, not Launton) halfway through the story: "To my mind this sort of project is what the church in the community is all about. Although it's not a church project, it has been a delight to see what has been achieved. I'm amazed by what it growing here.”
Hooray. Wonder if his diocese will agree to selling the land to the local authority so it can become a statutory allotment and be protected by law, or will they just muscle in and sell it off for housing in the fullness of time? (oh, I forgot, it's not the Diocese of Oxford's fault they have to do this, it's Carter Jonas's, or the church commissioners/charity commission/county council/district council, uncle tom cobbley and all.)

http://www.morecambetoday.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=34&ArticleID=1110066

The National Society of Allotment & Leisure Gardeners

Font of knowledge on all things allotments
(thanks Tim, Geoff and Bryn for all your advice and encouragement)
http://www.nsalg.org.uk

Allotments and land use links

See our link on the CPRE Oxon website

http://www.cpreoxon.org.uk/campaigns/campaigns.htm

This forum has inspired me several times when I've not been able to think of ways to move this campaign forward.

http://www.allotments4all.co.uk

(There's a great thread on there about an allotment in Bicester).

And you can find loads of great sites here too:

Allotments UK - Allotments UK and other related allotment links

How much does your food really cost

check this out

http://www.allotment.org.uk/articles/The_True_Cost_of_Food.php

Garden designer & freelance journalist

Frank Rawlins is an old friend of mine who got me into this in the first place by telling me about his mate Bob who had just got an allotment Check out his website for witty writing and great garden design – very reasonable prices too apparently.

http://www.frgardendesign.co.uk

And if you are looking for a great night out...

Tony Nanton is another friend and is also a very well known DJ in Oxford and beyond. I like the music he plays, and I sometimes join him for nights of quality 80s-00s soul (with some 70s sometimes) and a bit of reggae. Check it out

Check out http://www.barnscourt.com for details of great nights out

Fairport Convention

Back in the late 60s this group helped found folk rock. They are still going strong, and produce some of the finest English music known to man (IMO).
For an introductory course, check out the latest album (Over The Next Hill) and stuff like Portmeirion, Meet On The Ledge (Anthem) and Who Knows Where The Times Goes. (I could go on)

They also hold a superb festival for 20,000 in north Oxfordshire every August.
Read all about them and their festival here http://www.fairportconvention.com

The fight to save and protect historic Skimmingdish allotments near Bicester, Oxon