Frome Allotment Association (FAA) has been awarded a grant from the Big Lottery Fund ‘Awards for All’ programme. ‘Cultivating Communities in Frome’, is the name of the project and it begins at the end of April.
The funding will help FAA develop food-growing skills in the wider community and will also provide a full access toilet facility on the Muriel Jones Field, Birchill Lane.
“I am delighted with the award,” said Frome Allotment Association Chair, Neil Cameron. “It’s important that we extend the facilities at the Muriel Jones Field as the site is used by community groups as well as our members. This year we are running courses at the site in conjunction with Frome Community Education. These include a parent and child gardening course and a food growing course for people on low incomes.”
There is no main water connection at the Muriel Jones Field, so the toilet will be a waterless, full access composting facility, designed to last a long time with a favourable environmental impact.
“We have an excellent group of volunteers on our allotments,” said Neil. “Once again we will be calling on the expertise of Muriel Jones site rep, Arthur Gasson. The volunteers will prepare the site in readiness for installation of the toilet. We’ll employ a local contractor, using our association funds, to excavate the ground to house the vaults and soak-away pit. Our volunteers will landscape the surroundings, once the toilet facility is installed. We’re looking forward to getting started.”
The bid for the award was written with the help of Steve Macarthur who is employed by Frome Town Council to help local groups access funding. “We are very appreciative of this kind of support from Frome Town Council,” said Neil.
