Author: Jeannette Henderson

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Brilliant Bonfire Night

We had a great turnout for our annual bonfire night party on Saturday 4th November.

Our members, family and friends joined us for a wonderful evening.   There wre craft activities for children – including the lanterns  they made to help light the way to the amazing firework display.

People holding lanterns watching a firework display

We had a fabulous bonfire and were able to cook Polish sausages on the embers.

Bonfire

There was also sausages (from Murray’s butchers in Penge), pumpkin soup, baked potatoes and loads of home made cakes to eat in our Clubhouse.

The Committee would like to thank everybody who donated fireworks, baked cakes and helped to set up and run the event.

 

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Open Day – 21 May 2023

We will be opening our gates on Sunday 21 May 2023 for our annual Open Day.

The gates will open at 11am and we will have plants for sale so you can recreate the allotment at home!

There will also be children’s activities, a barbecue, tea and home made cakes and lots more.

We hope to see you there!

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Clubhouse refurbishment project

Our Clubhouse has a long history.  It began life as the changing rooms for the Crystal Palace Park Concert Bowl (there is a short video about the history of the concert bowl/platform here) .

Map of Crystal Palace Park with the concert bowl and changing rooms circled in blue

In 1997 when new permanent concert facilities were built the changing rooms were bought by the allotment with funds raised from members,  dismantled and moved to our allotment site.

The former changing rooms dismantled at our allotment site

With the help of volunteers and with the Council the building was re-erected and became our Clubhouse.

The Clubhouse being re-constructed

Completed Clubhouse

It has seen hundreds of community events since it was officially re-opened by the Mayor of Bromley in April 1999.

It has now been the centre for member and community events for over 20 years – not bad for a wooden building constructed in 1962 as temporary changing rooms!

The Clubhouse has been used by generations  of allotment members, the wider Bromley allotment community, bee keepers and local residents and community groups.

Bromley Allotment Consultative Panel having lunch after touring the site in 2001
Jim Dowd MP viewing stalls at our open day.
The 19th Bromley Beavers having lunch after their community day planting trees and seed bombing in the wildlife garden.

Untold cups of tea and slices of cake have been consumed at events, meetings, birthdays, wedding and funeral receptions.

Christmas wreath making workshop

In 2019 it was renamed The Tom Douglas Clubhouse in honour of our former Secretary who was instrumental in securing the building for the site and contributed so much to support our allotment and allotments in Bromley.

Whilst our Clubhouse has been maintained by our members, it is now in need of refurbishment.

Our refurbishment plans include:

  • improving the accessibility
  • recladding the exterior
  • installing insulation and new double glazed windows
  • relining the interior
  • replacing the recycled 1980s domestic kitchens.
  • installing new energy efficient heating and hot water.

This will make it a brighter and welcoming space for use by our members and the wider community.

We are currently fundraising to refurbish the building to ensure it can continue to be the heart of our allotment community for future.

Watch this space for future fundraising activities and news of the project.