Key Points
- Community Celebration: Horwich Community Allotment is celebrating National Allotment Week by showcasing its home-grown produce and fostering community ties.
- Long-Standing History: Established in January 2003, the community allotment operates on a shared voluntary work model.
- Weather Impacts: Hot summer weather boosted greenhouse crops like chillies and figs, while outdoor crops like courgettes faced challenges.
- Health and Social Benefits: Members highlight the mental, physical, and social wellbeing gains of participating in the group plot.
Horwich (Bolton Today) August 12, 2026 – Horwich Community Allotment is marking National Allotment Week by celebrating months of hard work, home-grown produce, and a strong sense of community. Founded in January 2003, the volunteer-led group provides an inclusive environment for locals to tend crops, share skills, and support one another.
As reported by staff reporters at The Bolton News, the allotment demonstrates how shared growing spaces promote wellbeing, support mental health, and foster lasting friendships alongside an impressive harvest.
How Does the Allotment Support Local Wellbeing?
As covered by The Bolton News, group member Trish Calderbank shared her personal journey of joining the allotment after moving from a property with private land. Following a bereavement, engaging with the group offered substantial mental and physical support. Calderbank noted,
"It's really good for your mental health".
The group operates on a flexible contribution model with roughly ten active members. As highlighted by The Bolton News, volunteers contribute whenever possible without rigid demands. Members emphasized that work and harvests are shared equitably:
"It's never about 'well, you've only done two shifts so you can only have two beans', we all do what we can, and nobody takes too much".
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What Impact Has the Weather Had on Crops This Year?
According to coverage from The Bolton News, group leader Linda Haslehurst provided details on the wide array of fruits and vegetables produced using organic methods. Haslehurst explained,
"Everything we grow here is organic; we don't use pesticides on anything".
The seasonal weather brought mixed outcomes across different crops:
- Thriving Crops: High temperatures and sunshine benefited greenhouse crops, with chillies producing a vibrant yield. A large fig tree near the front of the plot produced ripening fruit, alongside grapevines in the greenhouse, and a selection of strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries.
- Challenged Crops: Spells of extreme heat created difficult growing conditions for crops such as courgettes.
- Orchard Harvest: Tucked in a sheltered rear corner, the orchard's fruit-laden branches continue to offer a promising seasonal yield.
In addition to crop cultivation, the group maintains designated areas with plants for pollinating insects and bees, balancing production with local biodiversity support.
How Can Beginners Get Involved in Allotment Growing?
In a statement coverage included by The Bolton News, Julian Palphramand, Head of Plants at British Garden Centres, noted that National Allotment Week's theme, 'Grow to Learn', aligns with broader industry campaigns encouraging beginners to start growing. Palphramand suggested planting late potatoes, baby carrots, winter cabbage, and turnips during August to secure home-grown produce in time for the winter season.
While council allotment waiting lists across the region remain high, Horwich Community Allotment highlighted that its shared setup remains open to new members. The group operates sessions on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays. Interested individuals can contact group leader Linda Haslehurst directly on 01204697223 to participate.