Gwyn and Tracey, two GoodGym runners in their black tops, joined Lea from Plot to Plate at the Normanton Allotments. To stop us getting baked in the sun (or frozen in the wind), we worked in the polytunnel.

Everything in the allotment was growing so well that some of the plants were toppling. We set to work on the tomato, sauce of the problem, tying it up with string, also looping up the lively cucumbers.

We had a cheery time chatting wih Lea, who is always full of beans and tried to persuade us to join him and two colleagues in a parachute jump to raise funds for the Plot to Plate charity. I'm too much of a chickpea, and kidney do that! However, we can contribute to support the jump on the JustGiving page.

Finally, we put a pint o two of water over the tomato plants in the greenhouse.

Gwyn and Tracey joined Lea from Plot to Plate for another fun-filled session at Little Chester Allotments. We were clearing weeds from a new plot, designed for the use of unpaid carers.

The sides of one of the raised beds had rotted, thanks to our lovely weather, and Lea had made a new box, from donated wood, to replace it. The highlight of our day was when he and Gwyn lowered the box (lined with plastic to delay future decay) over the existing bed, and found it to be an absolutely perfect fit!

We're hoping to be back at the allotments again soon, it's a truly rewarding and fun project to be involved in, making a difference to people's lives.

Plot to Plate is a fantastic project providing accessible allotment plots for disabled people to enjoy. They have acquired a new plot which will be a place for unpaid carers to get together and make the most of the outdoors, feeling the wind in their hair. The project manager, Lea, knows that feeling all too well, having made a tandem parachute jump from San Fransisco Bay!

The established accessible plot at Little Chester Allotments was producing some fine fruit and vegetables, including cucumbers, corn on the cob, raspberries, tomatoes, chillies, pears, carrots, shallots, peppers, and a HUGE pumpkin.

Our job for today was to work on the new carers plot, with a view to turning it into a similarly productive patch. We, Mandy, Gwyn and Tracey, along with Lea, removed lots of weeds, and spread them across the floor of the polytunnel to dry out. There are plenty more weeds to attack, and a range of other jobs to get involved with, so we hope to return soon.

This was Gwyn's 100th good deed, and he was presented with a wooden spoon in celebration. A new red T shirt should be winging its way to him before too long...

If you happen to know of any unpaid carers who would enjoy some respite from their responsibilities to grow friendships and produce in the allotment, then please do put them in touch with Lea using the contact form at the bottom of this page.

Many thanks to Lea for being such a welcoming host, taking several of the photos you can see above, and for sharing some of the delicious vegetables with us.