St Ann's Allotments Heritage Talk

St Ann's Allotments are hosting a heritage talk on Saturday 24 October, run by Mo Cooper at the Visitor's Centre. It's a free session that runs from 14:00 to 14:30, so it's a short one—about half an hour—and it sits right in the middle of the site's Apple Day and Community Orchard 25th birthday celebrations.

If you've walked past the allotments without stopping, it's worth knowing what you're actually looking at. St Ann's are the oldest and largest area of Victorian detached town gardens in the world, Grade 2* listed by English Heritage. They cover 75 acres, with 700 individual gardens and more than 30 miles of hedgerow running through them. It's a massive piece of the city's green history that most people just see as a backdrop when they're passing through.

Mo Cooper's talk focuses on the social history and heritage of the site, so it's more about the people and the stories behind the plots than just the gardening side of things. It's part of the wider Apple Day and Community Orchard celebrations, and once the talk wraps up, you're invited to wander through the Community Orchard yourself. If you want to see more of the site, there's also a separate paid heritage tour you can book.

To find it, head to the Visitor's Centre at St Ann's Allotments, opposite 80 Ransom Road, Nottingham, NG3 3LH. The talk is on Saturday 24 October from 14:00 to 14:30, and it's free of charge.