Blandford Allotment Society

Blandford Allotment Society annual scarecrow competition demonstrated the variety of how to scare the pigeons!

It was very competitive and gave the judges a challenge to identify the winners. Well done to all.

History of the Scarecrow

A scarecrow is a decoy or mannequin that is often in humanoid shape.

Scarecrows remain an iconic symbol of agriculture, combining historical tradition with practical crop protection.

While their effectiveness can be limited by habituation (animals and birds get to know that this static form is not a threat) , enhancements in design and modern technology continue to make them a valuable tool for safeguarding crops from avian and other animal pests.

Well, they certainly bring a smile to all our faces and brighten up the day when passing the plots.

Potato competitions are a beloved staple of agriculture fairs and community festivals worldwide, celebrating both horticultural skills and light-hearted rivalry.

In these lively events, enthusiastic allotmenteers like to demonstrate their cultivation skills by producing the heaviest crop grown in a sack.

Ultimately, our competition is less about intense rivalry and more about honouring agricultural heritage, sharing cultivation secrets and bringing communities together for a fun and enjoyable day

Winners of the 2026 Heaviest Crop Competition are:

1st Judith Potts – 4.65kg

2nd Mike Hewlett – 4.0kg

3rd Ian Ricketts – 2.50kg

For some time, the society has faced a shortage of good‑quality manure. Many farmers have begun using all their own manure as fertiliser on their fields, which has reduced the amount available for purchase and driven prices up. The committee recognised that the only sustainable way forward was to secure our own supply by sourcing manure directly from small stables in the local area.

Two weeks ago, we received a lottery grant of four thousand one hundred and twenty pounds (£4,120) to purchase a trailer. Using a combination of a hired tractor and our own tractor, we set up a local connection service. We had the option to buy a ‘fit for purpose’ trailer or restoring one ourselves. Owing to the lack of availability of a suitable trailer, we bought one locally and will be restoring it.

We’ve decided to launch a blog to share the progress of this project, and we’ll soon be calling for volunteers to help with the work. There’s plenty to do. We want to increase the height of the trailer’s sides, check all the hydraulics, inspect the wheels and bearings, possibly replace the tyres, and maybe even add some smart new logos. It’s a few weeks of solid graft for a handful of stout‑hearted volunteers — but the end result will be well worth it.

We have already tested the tipper and hydraulics and have moved the trailer to a safer and more user-friendly position.

Please watch this space for more information.