The Westbury on Trym Allotment and Gardens Association (WOTAGA) may be one of the village’s best kept secrets. Yet it has been in existence and thriving for over 30 years.
The Society has a membership fee of only £5 a year, (not much more than the price of a cup of coffee), and for that members get 50% off all seed orders from Dobies, and 20% off live items. They also get access to discounted garden supplies at the very successful Trading Hut on the allotment site on Falcondale Road, just opposite the BP Station.
The 40 plots run alongside the River Trym and just by the main entrance is a large hut where WOTAGA sells a wide variety of gardening supplies at discount rates. The most popular items are the many varieties of compost, manure and soil, along with other indispensable items for the successful gardener. This spring, they were able to give all members a free bag of compost supplied by Bristol Waste.
The joy of this Trading Hut, which is open every Saturday morning from March to early September, is that it is right on the doorstep, saving members time and money driving out to Almondsbury or up to Blaise.
You might also have seen them at the annual Westbury on Trym Village Show where every year they have a stall selling produce and also sponsor a trophy for most successful exhibitor in show, now named the Roger Smith Cup in honour of the eponymous Roger who for many years was Chair of WOTAGA until he stepped down in 2024.
During the summer WOTAGA arranges events such a summer BBQ or other social activities and each year WOTAGA members join Sea Mills Garden Club for their annual outing. This July, the trip will be to two amazing gardens, firstly Stockton Bury Gardens in Herefordshire and then on to Westonbury Water Mill Gardens
Members connect with each other through a WhatsApp group where people share information, ask questions and pick up gardening tips
WOTAGA members come from across the neighbourhood. Some are gardeners without an allotment whilst other members have an allotment on sites around Westbury including Stoke Lane, Canford B and E, Falcondale Road, and Monsdale Drive.
They would very much welcome new members from amongst the Voice readers. To join, email Liz on contactwotaga@gmail.com