Sharing know-how about UK gardening

Dorothy Wilson (head gardener here since December 1999) showed us around and explained the background to the garden. 'The Mill and associated buildings became a museum in 1976, and the director, David Sekers, wanted to re-create a typical worker's allotment garden of the time, using this space.'

Dorothy continued, 'The information on the food grown then came from old reports and records that included seed lists, and an inventory of the garden. As a result of David's friendship with Lawrence Hills, who was not only interested in organic growing but in maintaining old varieties for future gardeners, a vegetable sanctuary was established here.'

When the allotment strip was begun, in 1981, the Apprentice House was tenanted, but a few years later it was able to be restored and opened to the public. At this stage, the whole of the Apprentice House garden was re-designed to create more authentic surroundings. During this period, an organic gardener, the late Pat Brittan, was employed as head gardener, and tackled the research and re-construction with great passion.