AN Okehampton group is this week celebrating, after scooping a cash grant from the National Lottery. The Fatherford Road Allotment Association has been granted £3,248 under the Lottery?s Awards for All programme. The money will allow the association to erect and outfit a large, communal shed to be used for storage and education, to plant bushes and shrubs along both sides of the entranceway and to plant a Devon-specific apple and plum orchard. Tony Dion, secretary of the allotment association, said: ?We are thrilled to get this award. ?For a group like ours this is a large sum of money ? and it will allow us to help our allotment community. ?We?ve worked very hard to develop this project and to write the application. ?Now we?ve got the money it?s time for the real work to start!? Mr Dion said the association members and other plot holders, who number around 50, would benefit a great deal from the communal shed. The planting of shrubs at the entrance would also enhance the appearance of the allotments. ?The orchard will be used as a learning experience for growing fruit trees, as well as a taste experience from eating, cooking and making cider from varieties long gone from the supermarket shelves,? said Mr Dion.
