Beans growing on one of the few workable plots on the Leyton Lammas Lands where Manor Gardens are relocated for the Olympics
Manor Gardens allotments were established on a site in Hackney Wick as a part of philanthropic work by ex-students of Eton College, in particular by Arthur Villiers, once a director of Barings Bank. The site was given to the Gardens Assocation "in perpetuity". But then along came the London 2012 Olympics and the LDA. The site wasn't actually in the way - just on a couple of paths that could easily have been re-routed. Alternative plans were made that showed new - and better routes. But while many of us saw the gardens as a great opportunity to give the Olympics a green centerpiece, it didn't fit in with the slick modern corporate profit-centred image - nor with the idea that the whole site was an environmental disaster area for which the games would provide a much needed solution. The LDA got planning permission to use common land in Leyton (again 'perpetuity' turned out just to mean until incovenient to the authorities.) At first the LDA claimed the site had good soil, but then had to replace over 10,000 tonnes of contaminated material. Unfortunately what they replaced it with was also unsuitable, and had been treated in a way that killed organic life essential for healthy soil. Things were made worse as the recognised guidelines weren't followed by those who did the work, resulting in excessive soil compaction. It is difficult to dig, becomes waterlogged whenever it rains. Crops planted do badly or rot, and it soon became rancid. Eventually the LDA were forced to send in consultants whose report confirmed the gardeners' complaints. They have proposed further work to loosen up the soil which will disrupt gardening at the allotments. It remains to be seen whether it will make the land workable. The lack of care by the LDA bodes ill for the future. They were promised they would move back somewhere on the Olympic site after the games, but what are the chances they be given a site in a suitable position with suitable soil?
Size: 5040px × 3347px
Location: Manor Gardens Allotments, Marsh Lane, Leyton, London, England, UK
Photo credit: © Peter Marshall / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: allotments, community, drainage, ecology, environment, environmental, forest, gardeners, gardening, gardens, hackney, lammas, land, lands, lane, lda, leyton, london, manor, marsh, olympic, olympics, rancid, redevelopment, relocated, relocation, site, soil, topsoil, waltham, waterlogged, wick
