Disabled invited to get digging in Christchurch (From Bournemouth Echo)

Disabled invited to get digging in Christchurch

8:00am Wednesday 21st July 2010 in

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ALLOTMENT holders in Christchurch are appealing for wheelchair-bound people with an interest in gardening to take on part of their new plot built specifically for their needs.

Members of the Roeshot Hill Allotment Association have been busy building raised beds in a section of the land just off Lyndhurst Road to accommodate people in wheelchairs who might be interested in growing their own fruit, vegetables or plants.

Chairman Malcolm Selkirk, who has been helping to build the plot, said: “Ideally we would like to have three people using this plot, Plot 40.

“There will be two raised beds and a side section with easy access for people and a shed which we are kitting out.

“A lot of people in wheelchairs also do not have a garden of their own so there will also be a patio area for them to use.

“We want to appeal for people from the Christchurch area to apply who would be interested in joining our wonderful community down here.”

The site currently houses around 150 plots with 110 people on the waiting list for their own patch.

According to Mr Selkirk demand for allotment land has grown in the past five years as the popularity of organic food increased.

“We’ve such a mixture of people down here now. It’s a great community.”

The plots will be finished in time for the association’s summer show on Saturday August 7 which will be attended by the Mayor of Christchurch, Cllr Nick Geary.