WITH the hot weather of the last few weeks, gardeners with plots at Okehampton's allotments and the Okehampton Com-munity Garden have been out in full force getting their hands dirty!

The town has three allotment sites, at North Road, Castle Road and Fatherford Road. The three sites are all owned by Okehampton United Charity with plots rented out to residents of Okehampton and its hamlets on a yearly basis.

Karen Percival, clerk of Okehampton United Charity, is in charge of making sure the allotments are all let out and tended to properly by the people renting them. She said that having an allotment not only provides an opportunity to get outdoors but to meet new people and stay fit and healthy.

She said: 'Now on our sites you see a real mix from the traditional allotment holder, perhaps a retired person or couple, to young couples and families who maybe don't have big gardens. We have a lot of interested people living in newer houses who don't have big gardens or gardens big enough to have a vegetable patch.

'When I first got involved with the charity there were ten people on the waiting list and that quickly went up to about 30. Now we only have three people actively waiting for a plot so it is a good time for people to find out more should they want to.'

Bruce Neal and Mary Kennedy have neighbouring plots at the Castle Road allotments. Mary, aged 87, took over her plot around five years ago while Bruce has been tending to his own plot with his wife Mary for around 13 years. This year Bruce and his wife are growing soft fruit, leeks, squashes, and courgettes while Mary uses her plot to grow raspberries, leeks, peas and corn on the cob among many things.

The relationship between them shows the friendly atmosphere of the allotments. Bruce said: 'Mary from the plot next door needed the path around her plot strimming so I did that for her and in return she gave me some leeks from her plot. We have a friendly atmosphere and there's definitely a friendly rivalry between our allotments and the others in the town.'

Mary Kennedy said: 'In the summer I come down to the allotments two or three times a week to tend to everything. It definitely keeps you active — it drags me off the sofa! As long as I can drive my fork into the ground and keep digging I'll keep coming. It's also nice to meet people here. The plots are so well maintained, Bruce's plot next to mine is wonderful, very impressive.'

Denzel Jennings, who has rented his plot at the North Road allotment for the last six years, was on the waiting list for three years. He grows an assortment of fruit and vegetables.

He said: 'I took on the plot just as I retired. It keeps me handy and occupied. When I'm home I come here every day to look after it. You build good relationships with other allotment holders; when you're away other people here will water it and tend to it for you if you need them to.

'I absolutely love it. It is a dry old garden and you really have to keep on top of it —there is work involved but I love it.'

On a sunny day the Fatherford Road allotment has a tranquil atmosphere with views out over the rolling hills and little sound but the breeze and chattering of birdsong. The site has special raised beds which are used by the Fulfilling Lives service. The service offers flexible and varied support for people with learning disabilities. The users visit the allotment two or three times a week to tend to the plants, get outdoors and enjoy fresh air and activity together.

Rita and Danny Ware have had their plot at Fatherford for three years. Before they got their allotment, neither was a particularly keen gardener but now they tend to the plot most days to ensure their plants are watered and healthy. They said that the peas, swede, cabbage, broad beans, strawberries and raspberries grown on their plot helps to keep grocery bills down.

Rita said: 'The other allotment holders up here are lovely. There is a young couple on a plot next to ours that bring their children up here and it's nice to see. Everyone is very friendly.

'It has such lovely views, it really is beautiful here in the summer. It keeps us active and out doing things, it is great.'

Neighbouring the Fatherford allotment is Okehampton Community Garden. The garden got given the go-ahead in January 2012 by Okehampton United Charity, following the hard work of a steering group who presented its designs to the charity before receiving approval. The land is owned by the charity and was previously used for pasture. It has been intended to provide a new green space for the community to grow fruit and vegetables, keep chickens and bees, and help care for plants and flowers.

After some planning issues last year the garden site is now fully open and members are busy growing again. As well as areas for growing fruit and vegetables, the garden has areas for composting, fruit bushes, an orchard, herb garden, pond and wild meadow area.

Community garden chairperson Linda Harper said: 'Things have been going really well at the community garden since the start of this year; we have seen an increase in the number of people regularly popping along to help. In recent months we have seen an increase in membership by approximately 25%.

'There has been more interest from people wanting to get involved in the behind the scenes aspect of the garden and we hope to have a stronger committee this year which will give us more time with which to apply for the funding we so desperately need to move forward with our plans.'