Dougie
Moor Green Allotments, Moseley
Dougie talks about his favourite games from back home and how dominoes is dying out now as a game amongst the West Indian community.
Sephi, David & John
Dad’s Lane Allotments, Stirchley
The group share the tale of the dacha shed, belonging to a Polish family on site, and how the dad used to sell his chrysanthemums outside The Highbury pub.
Teresinha
Walsall Road Allotments, Perry Barr
Teresinha shares her experience of being on ‘Gardeners World’.
Eddie
Northleigh Road Allotments, Ward End
From the roses in spring to the dahlias in May, Eddie discusses the various allotment shows each year, disdaining the ‘pot-hunters’ who are only after the prize money. Welcoming new-comers and diversity, Eddie mentions an Asian gentleman who was awarded a trophy for his pumpkin in the show last year.
Betty
Walsall Road Allotments, Perry Barr
Betty expands on the story of the internationally famous Robert-the-cat.
Richard
Hay Green Allotments, Bournville
Richard explores how a number of old Bournville baths provide the site’s main water supply.
Brian & Colin
Guinea Gardens Allotments, Edgbaston
Brian and Colin explore the history of the Guinea Gardens, which has heritage status.
Geoff & Carol
Guinea Gardens, Edgbaston
Geoff discusses his allotment neighbour who was blind and planted rows of things by string; he recounts how he found him dead one day on his neighbouring plot.
Jeevan
Victoria Jubilee Allotments, Handsworth
Jeevan shares the story of the modern history of Victoria Jubilee allotments. She concludes ‘this is all part of Handsworth history’.
Simon
Victoria Jubilee Allotments, Handsworth
Simon begins the story of how a small group took over the Victoria Jubilee Allotments, with the eventual aim of selling it off to private developers.
Sephi, David & John
Dad’s Lane Allotments, Stirchley
The group unfolds the history of Dad’s Lane, which was once farmland on a commercial orchard.
Dave
Aldridge Road Allotments, Perry Barr
Dave willfully ignores the M6 motorway that bisects the allotment and focuses on the 500-year-old oak tree instead.
David Taylor
Longmeadow Crescent Allotments, Shard End
David insists that allotments haven’t changed over the centuries; he discloses an allotment encounter involving someone scattering their grandad’s ashes.
Betty
Walsall Road Allotments, Perry Barr
Betty insists that Robert-the-cat was instrumental in saving the allotments.
Andrew
Thornbridge Road Allotments, Great Barr
Andrew advises on the origins of Thornbridge Avenue allotments and the building of the M6 motorway that cuts through the site.
Hester
Northleigh Road Allotments, Ward End
Hester details the work done on St Margaret’s Road allotments to develop it into a lovely site.
Mick
Blackpit Lane Allotments, Ward End
Mick remembers how he got into vegetable showing and recalls being accepted by some of the old-timers.
Simon
Victoria Jubilee Allotments, Handsworth
Simon explains the success of the campaign, with the developers only allowed to build on a third of the site. A new allotment opened with 80 plots: the largest public allotment site in this country since the war.
Sarah-Jane
Hazelwell Allotments, Stirchley
Sarah-Jane talks us through the brickworks, kilns and clay pits that used to be on the allotment site.
David Taylor
Longmeadow Crescent Allotments, Shard End
David explains that most allotment sites have never been built upon; historically, they have nearly always been farmland. At Shaftsbury Road allotments, there is a 400-year-old oak tree.
Sarah-Jane
Hazelwell Allotments, Stirchley
Sarah-Jane divulges some of things she has dug up on her plot, including stoneware items referencing Moseley Pharmacy & The Craven Arms.
Betty
Walsall Road Allotments, Perry Barr
Betty shares her fondest memory: when she won the battle with Birmingham City Council.
Simon
Victoria Jubilee Allotments, Handsworth
Simon describes the campaign to save the Victoria Jubilee allotments, from printing leaflets to starting legal action.
Geoff & Carol
Guinea Gardens, Edgbaston
Carol explains a little of the history of the Guinea Gardens and describes how important the hedges are; they are listed on the register of parks and gardens.
Mick
Blackpit Lane Allotments, Ward End
Mick reveals that an RHS judge called Mrs Moran taught him everything he knows. She took him under her wing, coached him in the intricacies of vegetable judging and even rewarded him with a cream tea.
Paul Rooney
Moor Green Allotments, Moseley
Paul expands on the history of Moor Green allotments, the first allotment leisure garden and a clubhouse of historic significance.
Betty
Walsall Road Allotments, Perry Barr
Betty recalls how Walsall Road allotments launched a successful campaign to beat the Commonwealth Games developers and save their site.
Richard
Hay Green Allotments, Bournville
As Hay Green allotments are owned by the Bournville Village Trust rather than Birmingham city council, Richard explains how they differ to most other allotments in the city.
David Taylor
Longmeadow Crescent Allotments, Shard End
David has helped in saving Sheldon, Brownfield Road, Tile Cross, Hall Hays, as well as Longmeadow Crescent. He elaborates on the history of the latter.
Sam
Victoria Jubilee Allotments, Handsworth
Sam explains that Victoria Jubilee were the first new allotments for over 75 years in the city.