By Victoria Plum 
By Victoria Plum
Another diverting evening, the Summer Show of Reepham & District Gardening Club, was enjoyed by about 40 members, who filled the town hall on Tuesday 20 August.
We took our entries – flowers, fruit, vegetables and the gardening club fuchsia – and loaded the tables. The democratic process ensured interactive judging by all who were there.
The quiz challenged our brains; the raffle caused the usual excitement (I won a pretty little “pink”); as of course did the wine, punch, crisps and peanuts.
Alvan and Tony’s energetic Auction of Produce ensured ferocious bidding, and put a little more money in the kitty.
The highlight of the evening was a talk by teacher Matt Willer and keen student Lilly Dollman about the Allotment Project at Reepham High School.
This initiative using 2½ acres of ground at the school teaches far more than the obvious gardening skills.
The foresight and energy of Matt and his volunteers, both school and community-based, has in just 4½ years established polytunnels, a rainwater harvesting system, wildflowers, raised beds, bees, a pond, a library, an orchard, woodland, a sustainable learning zone and more.
The big view of this project shows an awareness of mental well-being, the necessity to live sustainably and upcycle, in conjunction with growing, using and selling produce.
They seek to set a good example and change the planet for the better – and have fun doing it. The project can only work because of help willingly given.
So if you have any time, energy or skills to offer, then visit the allotment, either in person or via www.thepapillonproject.com, which is aimed at encouraging allotmenteering, and of course its many, many benefits, in other schools.
How notable that we have two significant green-growing initiatives on our doorstep: Eves Hill Veg Co at Booton as well as the above-mentioned Allotment Project and the three Reepham allotment sites, now well established and flourishing!
Join us next month on Tuesday 17 September at 7.45 pm in Reepham Town Hall to hear about “Fuchsia Care and Maintenance”. We could have done with that talk earlier this year to help us make our gardening club fuchsias flourish!
Photos: Tina Sutton
Geoff Fisher