SPOTLIGHT: Life on the ‘Grow Eastbourne’ allotment

A SMALL group of people sit on logs under the welcome shade of an old apple tree at the end of an allotment. 

There is banter and plans for a Friday evening get-together (‘bring beer!’) and it seems like a sociable break from a spot of planting, weeding and watering.

The plot has flourishing potatoes and carrots, newly-planted tomatoes, climbing runner beans, a soft fruit selection – strawberries, raspberries and gooseberries – along with lettuces, courgettes and beetroot. 

A summerhouse is festooned with a row of tools, a greenhouse bristles with small plants and the frame of a polytunnel awaits a covering. 

It is undoubtedly sociable and fun. 

Except that some of those involved have given up traditional careers to pursue their passion for living more sustainably and in harmony with nature.  

They work together regularly on the Grow Eastbourne project at the Gorringe Road allotments in Eastbourne, funded by the National Lottery. 

What they all have in common is a drive to help others understand how important it is to work with nature, grow at least some food and benefit from as much fresh air and greenery as possible. 

A lack of access to natural areas has been shown to have a serious impact on people’s health and life chances. 

The King’s Fund, an independent charity working to improve healthcare in England, lists multiple studies which show that regular doses of nature result in better health and fewer long-term illnesses. 

Sally Lee is the paid project co-ordinator, working part time. She was an accountant but read about the effect just the sight of green spaces can have on people’s health and recovery and was inspired to change track. 

She worked in an office from where she couldn’t see outside and where there was little natural light. 

“I was burned out and disillusioned with my environment. I decided I had to turn my anger into something positive,” she said. 

Sally has run 51 sessions since launch in October 2021 and introduced 95 people to community gardening. There is also a community garden in Langney as part of the project and she organises fortnightly sessions for pre-school aged children at the allotment. 

“It is a passion for me – it’s about our connections with nature. Everything that is going wrong I think we can attribute to severing our connection with nature.” 

Research backs up what Sally has said. 

The Centre for Sustainable Healthcare is a charity which helps the NHS and other health systems to reduce their carbon footprint.  

It points out that hospital patients who have a view of trees from the window have been shown to recover more quickly and need fewer painkillers than similar patients who can’t see trees from their beds. 

Steve Fletcher is a volunteer and helps advise the group on planting. 

A former electrical engineer, he became a self-taught gardener and handyman eight years ago, leaving a career he saw as unfulfilling. 

He is passionate about working with nature and showing others how to do this – he has undertaken City & Guilds training to teach the subject. 

“There is a solution in nature to everything. Humans have unbalanced nature and we just resort to chemical solutions. I would be happy if I could teach 20 more people to do things ecologically,” he said.  

Steve, who lives in the Old Town, Eastbourne, is keen on companion planting to solve problems with pests. For example, the smell from growing onions will deter root flies from carrots while flowers such as marigolds, hollyhocks and lavender stand duty on the allotment to attract ladybirds which will hoover up pesky aphids such as greenfly. 

Retired housing adviser Mike Hodgson has cycled a 16-mile round trip from Hailsham every week since January to volunteer at the allotment. 

“If I was not cycling, I would be in my own garden anyway. I am very interested in sustainability – this is also doing something that helps people with the cost-of-living crisis,” he said. 

“The people are lovely. Sally is brilliant – the first time I came, I was a bit daunted but she was great.” 

A couple, who live nearby in a flat with their son, have called by. They helped with the weeding, have a chat, and move on.  

It’s deceptively casual but fiercely focused, with everyone in the group trying to change their little patch of Eastbourne one planted vegetable and pulled weed at a time. 

:: Grow Eastbourne volunteers currently meet on Wednesday mornings at Gorringe Road allotments and on Tuesday mornings at Langney community garden   

Comments are welcome but they are pre-moderated 

:: If you like what you have read, please support our aim of bringing high-quality impartial journalism to Eastbourne 

Please share our stories and follow: