Growing their own

Students have been growing their own fruit, vegetables and herbs at an allotment in Cardiff. Megan David, Welfare and Community Officer at the Students' Union, explains more about the project and how staff can get involved.

"For a few years People and Planet Society have been working with the University and the Students' Union to find a way that would allow students to have an allotment togrow their own fruit and vegetables.

"Last year, the Society was given permission to use the plot of land below the Students' Union on Park Place as a space which could be turned in to a small allotment for students to use.

"After a lot of litter picking and clearing the space and lots of gardening on Wednesday afternoons, members of People and Planet Society have split it in to an allotment section and worked hard to grow potatoes, artichokes, runner beans, sunflowers, nasturtiums, marigolds as well as some fruit bushes of raspberry, blackberry, gooseberry, and blackcurrant. We have also grown a herb spiral with marjoram, thyme, parsley, coriander, dill.

"We were very lucky to have recently been given an allotment up at Allensbank to grow so much more, which is a long term project. Before we had this allotment outside the Union, students used to help out with Riverside community garden scheme - this new plot at Allensbank will be able to replace this.

"We can always do with an extra pair of hands, so if any staff want to get involved with either of our allotments, we'd be happy to hear from them. They can contact me directly at welfareofficer@cardiff.ac.uk to find out more."