AN ALLOTMENT in Solihull which has served the community for almost 50 years has become the first in the borough to win a prestigious Green Flag Community Award.
Dickens Heath Allotment opened in February 1978 and has evolved to become a community space with more than 80 members and 40 plots.

Members come from Dickens Heath, Monkspath, Shirley and beyond to sustainably produce a variety of fruit and vegetables, and have recently added new English heritage apple trees to help protect the variety from dying out.

It has even become a sanctuary for rehabilitated hedgehogs who have been released back into the wild as part of a link-up with Solihogs Rescue Centre and Solihull Council.

Now the much-loved site has been recognised by The Green Flag Award, becoming the first allotment in the borough to win the mark of quality for well-managed parks and green spaces.

It has been crowned a winner in the inaugural Green Flag Community Award, which recognises quality sites managed by voluntary and community groups, whilst 17 existing Green Flag Award sites in Solihull have also retained their status.

Solihull Council’s cabinet member for environment and infrastructure, Coun Ken Hawkins, said: “This award is fantastic news and testament to Dickens Heath Allotment Association and the members who have invested so much time and care into it over the years.

“I am also delighted to see Solihull retain all other 17 Green Flag Awards, and I would like to congratulate all of the council staff, our Strategic Environment Contract partner Veolia, Friends of Park groups, and volunteers who have worked so hard to make this possible.”

 

Michael Stott, chair of the Dickens Heath Allotment Association, said: “For us, the allotment is such a peaceful and tranquil place to go and relax.

“We nip in and can say hello to each other and have a catch-up, we share produce, we have coffee mornings, so it is a little community within itself. We have members from a variety of different backgrounds and ages from people in their 80s to families with young children.

“I did not believe it when I found out we’d won,  it has been so exciting.”