Culture Secretary Andy Burnham visited a Grade II-listed pigeon loft threatened with demolition.

Mr Burnham was taken to the cree, on an allotment in Ryhope, near Sunderland, by local MP Fraser Kemp.

English Heritage granted it listed status in 1998 but the land’s owners, Newcastle-based Worktalent Ltd, want to redevelop the allotments.

The cree’s owner, 75-year-old Maurice Surtees, and 21 other allotment holders have vowed to save the loft and the surrounding land and their efforts have been backed by local campaign groups and MPs.

credit: striatic

The allotment holders were offered a £250,000 compensation package to move out, but they all turned it down.

Another developer has started talks with Worktalent hoping to broker a deal to save the site.
Mr Surtees said: “My message to the developer is if he has got any decency, take the offer and leave us alone.

“We just want to live in peace. Give up? Never. I’d rather drop down dead than give up.”
Mr Burnham said: “The cree is a unique piece of culture in this part of the world.
“I represent an area similar to this one in the North West and from my point of view heritage is not just in other parts of the country.

“We have got to celebrate our culture wherever we find it.
“The cree is listed for a good reason. I know there is a decision on-going and it is not for me to intervene in that.”

The row has reached Parliament where Labour MP Fraser Kemp, whose constituency includes the cree, tabled a Commons motion backing the pigeon fanciers.

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Shed tags: Allotment > Environment by Wilco
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Future Sheddie and Interior Architecture student Emma, has asked if we can help so here you go.

I am designing a shed for an allotment for a first year project. I study Interior Architecture at Nottingham Trent University. From my research it is obvious people take great care and pride in their allotments, our aim is to create a space within this environment where you can do anything from storing equipment to working, relaxing and even sleeping. This questionnaire has been created to get a better idea of what you, the client, requires.

I would appreciate it if you could take the time to fill in this short questionnaire and maybe even pass it on to your friends. Please feel free to add any comments, your input would be fantastic. Thank you, Emma! xXx :0)

1. Do you have an allotment? (If no, go to question 7)

2. If so, how much time a week do you spend at your allotment?

3. Ideally how much time would you like to spend at your allotment?

4. What do you mainly use your allotment for?

· Growing crops for a business

· Growing crops for personal use

· Exercise

· Time away from the ‘missus’ (or ‘mister’)

· For peace and quiet/relaxation

· General hobby

· Other (please specify) ….

5. Do you keep animals at your allotment?

6. If you do keep animals, or would like to, what kind?

7. Do you have a shed?

8. If not would you like a shed?

9. What is your shed made of?

10. Did you buy your shed flat packed or did you build it yourself?

11. What would you keep in the shed? (e.g. Tools, animals, seeds, plant pots, etc)

12. If there was a bed in your shed would you use it?

13. Ideally, what other utilities would you like in your shed (e.g. Electrical point, heater, kettle, toilet, sink, games console, TV, etc. )

Please email all replies to emma.farren@students.ntu.ac.uk

Shed tags: Allotment > Sheds by Wilco
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We have blogged about the treatment of the Manor gardens allotments before, to make way for the Olympics, anyway according to the BBC a student is doing some art thing about their plight.

Memories and stories from allotment holders in east London have been used to reconstruct their community shed for an art exhibition.

Artist Thomas Pausz, who built the hut from reclaimed materials, took his inspiration from members of the Manor Garden Allotments in Hackney Wick.

The shed will stand next to the Royal Albert Hall in west London and house an exhibition about allotment life.

Manor Garden Allotments was closed last year to make way for the 2012 Olympics.

The original shed formed the hub of the 100-year-old community which stood by the River Lea.

If anyone is around Royal Albert Hall please take a photo and pop it up on flickr and let me know, would like to see it

UPDATE:
Onemanandhisdig has a picture in their familiar named post.

Shed tags: Allotment > Shed News by Wilco
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I mentioned this before about allotments being closed to make way for the big Olympic movement

But this story is that they are being given access to their hard work to harvest their crops, big deal, these people have been on the sites for years and the big bullys come along, the whole point of the Olympics is for community I thought.. but they are getting a new shed, which does not make up for it at all.

“As part of our continued support, a limited amount of plot holders will be allowed supervised access to their current site for a few days a week until September. After the Games we will be reproviding a larger allotment site on a landscaped Olympic Park.”

The LDA has been working with the allotment holders for two years to identify and secure a site.

Other forms of LDA support include £850 disturbance compensation for each allotment holder, new shed and moving existing greenhouses to the new site.

bean-sprouts have more| or the supporters of the Manor garden allotments. Some great pics of the allotments

Shed tags: Allotment > Sheds by Wilco
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