The award-winning lavender field at Stanley Road Allotments needs your help! Carshalton Lavender is offering the public and local businesses the opportunity to Adopt-a-Row of lavender this spring.

The many rows of lavender have been battling against persistent perennial weeds for over 10 years and now need serious help. Carshalton Lavender have tried other options but concluded they must find enthusiastic and committed people to weed the rows thoroughly or, reluctantly, resort to careful spraying.

For a small annual financial and time commitment, you can improve your fitness and gain personal satisfaction from involvement in a local community project. It is also an opportunity to socialise (or to weed in quiet contemplation if preferred). Adopters will receive an Adopt-a-Row certificate, a free bucket of lavender per row and there will be a prize awarded for the most weed-free row.

Adopt-a-Row would make a great gift for individuals or families with reasonable fitness and would be ideal for businesses wanting to contribute to their local area and benefit from some teamwork. Sarah Mooney, Carshalton Lavender volunteer, said “we were keen to find an organic way to rid the field of weeds and to involve the local community more, so when a friend suggested Adopt-a-Row, it seemed the perfect solution!”

The field needs to be looking its best for the pick-your-own harvest weekend, which this year is 25^th and 26^th July, 10am -4pm , with the usual great range of lavender-themed stalls and activities for all the family.

To find out more about Adopt-a-Row, contact Carshalton Lavender by emailing carshaltonlavender@yahoo.co.uk, or call Kathleen on 020 8669 4106 as soon as possible. You can also download more information and an application form at www.carshaltonlavender.org. Ideally, applications need to be received by the beginning of April, so don’t delay, call or email today!

Notes to editors:

1.            The environmental charity, BioRegional Development Group, established The Local Lavender Project on Stanley Road Allotments in 1996, with the London Borough of Sutton, Downview Prison and sponsorship from several sources. Its aim was to restore the world-famous lavender industry of Carshalton and Mitcham.

2.            Since 2003, Carshalton Lavender (a volunteer group) has managed the lavender field and organised the harvest weekend at Stanley Road Allotments in Carshalton.

3.            Adopt-a-Row will cost £10 per row per year, or £7.50 per row per year if adopting 2 or more rows.