Duston allotment receives £350 from developers building 70 new homes in Northampton

Housebuilder Bellway has given £350 to a community-run allotment group near its Duston Gardens development.

The Grow Together Allotment in Berrywood Road opened in 2016, as a partnership project between Duston Parish Council and ‘Clubs for Young People’.

The allotment is managed by Jenny Evans and is looked after by a handful of other volunteers.

Bellway’s donation has funded the purchase of new lightweight gardening equipment for the volunteers to use, to help the younger and more senior members of the group.

The allotment is just a mile from Duston Gardens, off Bants Lane, where Bellway is building 70 new homes.

Jenny said: “We are delighted that Bellway has offered to support us in purchasing this new equipment. We have a few older ladies who volunteer with us, and this new lightweight equipment will make it a lot easier for them to help out.

“As a community-run group, we need funding and donations like this to keep going. The group has been a godsend to so many people during the pandemic, especially as many volunteers live alone and, with restrictions in place, many were becoming lonely.

“Having the allotment was a great way to interact with others in a safe and socially distanced environment. It gave people a purpose to their day and it’s great to have a bit of company doing something you enjoy.

“This summer we have recommenced our children and young person’s programme of activities to the allotment. We believe it is very important to introduce allotment skills to the younger generations and is of great benefit to them being active and outside.”

Andrew Odams, Sales Manager for Bellway Northern Home Counties, said: “It is a pleasure to be able to support a group so close to our development.

“It is an important part of our role within the wider community to build long-lasting relationships and to help out where we can, especially at a time when money has been short for lots of people and donations have been few and far-between for many charities and community-run groups.

“We look forward to seeing the allotment and the community grow together.”

Bellway is building a collection of two, three and four-bedroom homes on the former British Timken site in Duston. The site is part of a wider scheme to redevelop the former factory site, which closed in 2002.