Stan Pennington Allotments on Aulder Hey road, St Helens, are in a race to raise enough money to save their current site before the current owners sell the land in May 2024.
Giles Whalley has owned a plot on Stan Pennington Allotments since 2007 and it has become an important part of his life; so much so that he is the current chair of the co-operative that represents the allotments. He said: "To be honest I use to hate gardening but growing your own vegetables and your own produce has become a passion."
That affection for Stan Pennington Allotments is shared across the community of 80 or so plot holders in the allotments. Giles said: "It's good for well being and can be a god send for some people." Trish Peers, who has owned a plot for four years, said: "It's a community thing… It gets me out in the fresh air and keeps me active."
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The allotments is also popular with local charities such as the St Helens Coalition of Disabled People who also own a plot and enjoy growing their own fruit and veg. Giles' sister, Kelly, is a member of the charity and regularly visits the allotment. Giles said: "I'm Kelly's full time carer if she isn't at their plot she comes with me to mine which is also wheelchair accessible."
Whilst the Stan Pennington Allotments may have only existed since 2012 when Stan bought the land; there have been allotments on the site for the past 70 years. That could all be about to change as the current owners who have owned the allotment since Stan's death in 2018 are planning to sell the land.
Trish said: "They were originally going to sell the land by November 1 but they have now given us until May 2024 to buy it back. They want to sell the land for £106,000 we have £10,000 so far so we need an extra £96,000."
To save the allotments; Stan Pennington is trying a variety of methods to raise money. The allotments have hosted a Macmillan Coffee Morning and the community are in the process of setting up a GoFundMe page. Father Christmas will also be visiting the allotment this December.
Giles says they will apply for a Community Ownership Fund which is government sponsored support provided to community groups at risk of being lost. The 54-year-old from St Helens said: "Applications are next open in January if we are successful we will get an extra £40,000 on top of our funding so we would need to raise an extra £56,000 to buy the land."
Since this year Stan Pennington has been a co-operative in order to help raise funds to save the allotments. Trish said: "I think becoming a co-operative is better because people now have a say about what they want to see at the allotments." Despite the stress of trying to find the funds to save the allotment; the whole experience has brought the community closer together.
Nevertheless, concerns that the allotments could be lost are still always on the communities mind. Giles said: "I'd be quite devastated if they did close for my sister in particular they are a god send for her mental health and for the routine it provides going to them."
He added: "I've put a lot of time and effort in there so if it does shut down I've got to look for something else to do in my spare time."
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