Marion puts down roots at the Dig It allotment
Marion Turner says a community allotment run by a National Lottery-funded project called Dig It has transformed her life.
The 70-year-old from Saffron Walden spent 20 years working as a health care assistant at her local NHS hospital. When she injured her shoulder and was no longer able to lift and move patients, the only job open to her was in administration.
Marion turned it down because, “I’m not an admin person – I’m a do’er”.
But retirement proved a challenge for this dynamic septuagenarian. Marion said, “I was still waking up at 5:45 in the morning because of my body clock, but I didn’t have anywhere to go. I desperately needed something to do.”
A visit to Citizens Advice saw her referred to Dig It, a community allotment in Saffron Walden that welcomes people of all ages and abilities. Marion, who had never stepped foot on an allotment previously, decided to give it a go.
Dig It, which started in 2014, has grown into much more than a humble allotment. It has a greenhouse and a wheelchair-accessible summer house that can hold up to 15 people. Raised planters and wide paths also help people using wheelchairs tend to the plants.
Two years since her first visit, Marion has become an established volunteer. She supervises people referred to Dig It by projects including Mencap and Enterprise East, a Saffron Walden-based project that helps people with additional needs find work.
Enterprise East, which is also supported by The National Lottery, has been using vegetables grown on the Dig It allotment in its community cafe.
Marion still gets a buzz when seeds planted at the allotment grow into tomatoes, cucumbers or lettuce.
She said, “It gives you great pleasure when you can see everyone’s effort turning into something beautiful. This is an absolutely fantastic project. It’s been brilliant for my mental health because I was going crazy stuck indoors.”
Dig It’s project manager Laura Thompson-Harper said socialising at the allotment is just as important as learning how to grow fresh vegetables.
She said, “We often get people who are struggling or who have been isolated. This is a calming place. People come to us with things that are happening in their personal lives and we have a cup of tea and chat. Once we start the activities you can just see people relaxing.”
26th July 2024
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