You can find an archive of our newsletters here.
- Open Day – Scarecrow champions
Once again the Open Day produced a “world class” scarecrow competition with 14 fabulous entries. After a public vote, George and James were crowned scarecrow champions with their fabulous “Shaun the Sheep Scared Ewe”. It was voted best “baa” none and it “bleat” all the others to take the inaugural trophy – well done boys,… Read more: Open Day – Scarecrow champions - Insight into our amazing partner, St Margaret’s Centre
Lisa Harrison, manager of St Margaret’s Centre, received a group of us in the Centre on the evening of 22 June, to explain the work of the Centre, which supports around 250 people with mental health problems, offering courses to improve their health and well-being – allotment gardening (we are delighted that the Centre now… Read more: Insight into our amazing partner, St Margaret’s Centre - SMAA representing at EcoFest
Committee members David and Paul brought the fun for the kiddos and highlighted with festival goers how allotment gardening aligns with the themes of sustainability and the environment. (Who wouldn’t want to stop and chat to these two?) Team SMAA helped children fill their own takeaway pots of ‘magic beans’ and ‘edible flowers’. Yes, we’re… Read more: SMAA representing at EcoFest - More great news of funding success
We are incredibly grateful to the Nineveh Charitable Trust who have awarded St Margaret’s Allotments the amazing sum of £4000 to contribute to our site upgrade works. The works include enhancing access for all , path and hedge restoration and site furniture. Many thanks to the Trust and one and all for their efforts. Please… Read more: More great news of funding success - First ever St Margaret’s Nature Day a roaring success
The day began at 7.00 in idyllic sunshine in the churchyard. Tony and Phil had put up nets, which trapped several birds – a woodpigeon, bluetits, a young robin, a thrush – and, with immense professionalism, they gave us a real insight into the business of bird-ringing. Fascinating to see the birds at such close… Read more: First ever St Margaret’s Nature Day a roaring success - World Heritage Day
On Saturday 19 April 2026, as part of World Heritage Day, David Butler led a group of twenty visitors and plot-holders across the allotments and through the churchyard, exploring the rich historical and archaeological significance of the two sites. Beginning with the extraction of building material for Durham Cathedral, leaving the present hollow where sandstone… Read more: World Heritage Day - Dead hedge installation
A big thankyou to all the team – Steve, Claire, John, Jill, Sally and Vicky – who assisted with the installation of the ‘dead hedge’ alongside Plot 71 and many thanks to Josh for organising. Thank you as well to Tommy Minns (Wildwood Treeworks) for providing some of the stakes and assisting with the work.… Read more: Dead hedge installation - Big improvements are coming!
We have been successful in obtaining £19,976 of grant funding from the National Lottery Community Fund to implement our ‘Enhancing Greenspace in the City project’. The funded works include :  (i) upgrading 232m of decayed paths, not currently wheelchair accessible; (ii) 50m of gapping-up native hedging; (iii) installing furniture for public use on the central Common… Read more: Big improvements are coming! - Bird boxes
We are very grateful to Tony Gibson, of the Durham Bird Club and Northumbria Ringing Group, who arranged for sponsored birdboxes to be made, and then spent a very wet morning (assisted by a group of plot holders) putting them up around the allotments. The birdboxes were sponsored by plot holders and we also have… Read more: Bird boxes - New look for website
We have updated our website with a new look. You can now subscribe to our seasonal newsletter and apply for a plot. Plotholders can log in for extra information.