A cancer group's new allotment has been officially opened - and by none other than renowned gardener, Charlie McCormick.

After a lot of hard work from members over the winter, The Living Tree now has its own growing space, as well as a place to meet outside.

It is also in memory of two friends and members of The Living Tree - co-founder Jo O'Farrell and Fiona Burkemann - who died in 2018.

The group would get together at Fiona's home, enjoy garden parties. She helped the group meet outside.

The ribbon was cut on the allotments, near St Cecilia's Gardens, Pymore Road, by Charlie McCormick - who has appeared on BBC Gardeners' World and writes on gardening for The Times, The Sunday Times, House and Garden and Pleasure Garden Magazine.

He said: "I was here in January for the first time and it was just covered in cardboard and plastic to blackout the weeds - it is quite a transformation, which is great, it's incredible.

"It's really good to bring everyone together, to bring people out and there is a lot of reward from growing things."

Mr McCormick also had the pleasure of planting the first bean plants at the allotment.

Alison Boyland joined The Living Tree as a trustee around six months ago and was ask if she could lead the allotment project.

She said: "In September we had a seedling of an idea. We were trying to work out how to let new potential members know about The Living Tree, particularly in lockdown."

Jo Cotton, a co-founder of The Living Tree, said: "We had no idea at that point whether we could get back to the Friends Meeting House [where members met before the pandemic] and we had this little lightbulb about having an allotment.

"We had been talking about the benefits of gardening and being outside in nature.

"When we arrived in the autumn, it was all weeds, nettles and long grass.

"Lots of people have come together, people who haven't seen each other for months and months and got involved."

Alison said she knows nothing about allotments.

"But in some ways that helps," she added, "because to me, that isn't a priority, the priority is that it is a support group, so that's first and foremost, it is not an allotment society - it doesn't matter if it's not perfect, it's about making sure people enjoy it, have fun and just have contact.

"People have talked while doing work, they've talked about issues, which is what it's all about."

The group received manure from Waycroft Nurseries, various members donated apple trees, offers of tools, the shed was from John Bright Fencing and cradle beds from Muddy Paws, the raised beds made from pallets in Winterbourne Abbas, donations of a fence and wheelbarrow and wood chippings from Above and Below.

Members are now looking for someone with a chainsaw who can safely create chairs in offcuts from tree trunks. Anyone who can help should email [email protected]

Those wanting to find out more about The Living Tree, there will be a drop-in at the allotment every Wednesday from 10am to 12noon when someone will be there.

More information can also be found on The Living Tree's website.

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