The first visit...

OK, so it's freezing outside, there's no one on site, and no one from the council was available to show me around, so, armed with a map, the allotment number, tape measure and my husband (I need someone to bounce ideas off) I arrived in my wellies, thick coat and hat with a huge nervous smile on my face.

My warning from the lovely lady at the council was "It's very weedy, if you prefer to wait until a better one becomes available that's fine." To me, that was like being 10 years old again and choosing the one eyed lonely hamster because no one else wanted it.
 I knew I'd take it, regardless of what it looked like - even if I was told to expect a jungle. After all, that way the before and after photos will look even more impressive right?

I've got to say, I was pleasantly surprised. I was after all expecting a mess of an allotment, with giant brambles, a broken rotten shed and random dug out sections. 

So this is what I had greet me...

Not bad right?! Ok, so overgrown is right. However, no shed, no random holes anywhere. It's actually really flat, and it looks like it's been quite some time since it was once used for anything. Another allotment was available one up and to the left of this one, however that had a very high fence on the south side blocking most of the sun...sort of hoping this is just left, as it looked like a good spot for frogs in the summer and hedgehogs and things. 

So, I proudly stood in the centre of my allotment, thankfully still with a big grin on my face. This would definitely need some turning over, but I was expecting that!

So, it was time to get the tape measure out. It measures 13metres long by 6.5metres wide. Not large at all, but perfect for someone who works full time and works as a print maker on weekends & evenings. 
 The small size did not prevent my getting excited though and planning things in my head.

I already knew a few things I wanted. I definitely want a pond, and due to the unkept allotment to the left I think the best place for the pond will be the top left. It will be less disturbed there too. I will obviously need a shed, and ideally some sort of greenhouse. I also know I want to companion grow.

So, I spend the rest of the weekend putting my plans together. Drawing it out (to scale of course - with help from my husband as I'm not a particularly "to-scale" sort of artist). 

So far, this is my current plan...

So, there is my plan for 2015. Obviously this is subject to change, but we shall see how it goes!!

Job number one over the next week or so: try and get ahold of some sort of petrol strimmer, or cultivator type thing... Wish me luck!!