The Nuneaton Town Community Foundation and Triton Showers are preparing for a successful spring harvest after volunteers braved the cold weather to sew the seeds of seasonal fruit and vegetables on the community allotments, which opened in September.

Now the preparation for winter is complete, the Foundation and Triton have one last hurdle to overcome. “We have battled with the cold snap over the last few weeks to ensure the allotment provides us with a healthy crop in the spring,” says Steve Farmer, General Manager of the Nuneaton Town Community Foundation. “What we really need now is a container to protect our tools from the bad winter weather and we would be keen to hear from someone in the local area who may be able to donate something suitable.”

Forming part of the Foundation’s Vitality Programme, the allotments were cultivated from an area of disused land on the south side of the Triton Showers Community Arena. They are used to teach local children how to grow, prepare and cook fresh fruit and vegetables.

Development of the allotment space has continued throughout autumn. Volunteers from the local area have erected infill polyurethane tunnels which are used for insulating the ground and protecting crops during the colder weather. With specific areas dedicated to hardy vegetables like spinach and broad beans, the team are working together to protect the new shoots from the winter chills so that they can be harvested in the better weather next year.

Tina Simpson, Marketing Director for Triton Showers, concludes:

“Preparing the allotments for winter has been an enjoyable challenge for everyone involved and a lot has been learnt about how seeds and bulbs grow and the process of preparing the ground and planting to achieve the best results.

“As well as protecting the young plants over the coming months, we also need to think about how to protect the tools and equipment that we have collected at the allotments. We have our green fingers crossed that someone from the local community is in a position to donate a container to the Foundation so we can continue to collect and store gardening supplies for use with youngsters in 2011.”

Those interested in volunteering or donating a container should contact Steve Farmer at Nuneaton Town Football Club at steve.farmer@nuneatontownfc.com

Further information on Triton Showers’ visit www.tritonshowers.co.uk or call 0844 980 0750 for a brochure.