Topsham Allotments and Gardens Society
Topsham Allotments and Gardens Society
Welcome to the website of Topsham Allotments and Gardens Society (TAGS).
We celebrated our 50th anniversary as society in 2017 and today we are a thriving group of more than 150 members who live mostly in Topsham or the surrounding area.
Our common interest is in gardens and gardening. While most members have gardens of all sizes or allotments or, indeed, both, membership is open to all with this interest. So, if you share this love of growing things, have a look at the benefits of TAGS Membership by clicking on the button below.
This month it just has to be May Blossom
May blossom or hawthorn is a useful hedgerow plant giving food and shelter for a variety of wildlife and the beautiful white blossom puts on a fine show each year.
It can live for up to 400 years and grow to 15 metres if grown as a tree. Usually hawthorn is grown as hedging and is part of most country hedges.
There is much folklore about hawthorn. It is an old pagan symbol of fertility and the origin of the maypole. When dancing the maypole the girls used to use the flowers in their headdresses.
To bring May blossom into the house was taboo when I was growing up as it was thought to bring death into the family. Folklore is strange as one story has it that is a fertility symbol and another says it brings illness and death. No sense to that is there?
Anyway if you have room in your garden for some hawthorn, the wild life would love you for it.
Sue Parr, Garden Rep
Details of what is involved are available and getting more involved with TAGS is a great way to widen your circle of friends and get involved in the community.
HELP WITH OUR MEMBERS OPEN GARDEN SCHEME
Also, as our activities continue to grow and improve, we are looking for a 3rd Garden Rep whose sole Job would be to organise 3-4 open gardens for each Spring and Summer for TAGS members only. You would liaise with our Social Sec's Stella and David and garden owners to help organise visits to their gardens, help provide and drink tea on the day and ensure things go smoothly!! For more info give Stella and David a call on 01392 877318. This may also involve biscuits!!
