Athboy allotments project gets underway

The Athboy Allotment scheme, operated by the local Tidy Town group, has got underway with 12 plots at the Cowpark being utilised. This pilot scheme has been taken up by individuals as well as the 8th Meath Scout Group, Athboy, who have their own plot, and the Tidy Town group itself. It is recommended that the plots are totally organic and soil tests by Teagasc were carried out to check the suitability of the soil in advance. The Tidy Town group has invested €5,000, while Meath County Council provided the site, and installed fencing, water supply and pathway at a cost of €10,000. There are Local Agenda 21 composting units on site. Former Athboy councillor Liz McCormack, a founder member of the Tidy Town group, was invited to open the allotments by the group. The group reviewed the year at its recent rescheduled annual meeting, and paid tribute to former councillor McCormack. Chairperson Nuala McGovern thanked her for her help over the years in securing funding, and said that, without her assistance and knowledge, they would not be where they are to date with all their projects. Activities during the year included a fundraising night at Mullingar Greyhound Stadium, and Ms McGovern thanked all the sponsors and supporters of that event. The planting of birch trees at the spiral bed area for Tree Week, National Spring Clean-Up Week, composting and wildlife gardening workshop; hanging basket workshops, and participation in Anti-Litter League and Pride of Place competition were among the 2009 activites and events. Thanks were extended to members of Macra na Feirme and students of Athboy Community School for their help. In the annual national Tidy Towns competition, Athboy gained nine extra points, which were a surprise as the sewerage scheme construction works were in progress. The meeting heard that the Tidy Town group was some €15,000 in credit, with €10,000 rin- fenced for an approach roads project, which it hopes will be aided with a grant from Meath Partnership. The election of officers resulted in the following committee: Chairperson, Nuala McGovern; deputy chairperson, Carmel Evans; secretary, Tony Potterton; treasurers, Mary Holland and Jackie Leavy; PRO and schools liaison officer, Mary Flood; committee, Vivienne Potterton, Lis Rix and Janie Walthew, with the option to co-opt four further members.