When Jim Bridger (81) decided it was time to move from his detached house and garden to a retirement apartment at McCarthy & Stone’s Ridings Court development in Reigate, he knew how much he would miss his garden.
However, little did he know that his gardening days were far from over and 12 months down the line, he would be part of a thriving allotment and providing residents at Ridings Court with an abundance of fresh vegetables to enjoy!
Mr. Bridger explains: “I wanted a home that would be easier to manage and I really liked the idea of buying a retirement property that would enable me to maintain ownership of my own home in later life and give me an opportunity to meet like-minded people. The only drawback was I wouldn’t have a garden.”
On looking around Ridings Court, Mr. Bridger discovered the development backed onto six acres of allotments and, knowing how much he loved to garden, his daughter-in-law applied to the council on his behalf for one of the plots.
Shortly after Mr. Bridger moved in, he was pleased to receive confirmation from the council that he had been allocated a plot. “I was absolutely delighted,” he explains, “Until I saw the plot! It was 250 square metres of weeds at varying heights and I later discovered it had become a bit of a dumping ground over the years. I was crestfallen and realised my dream of growing my own fruit and vegetables was slipping away.”
Mr. Bridger was fast coming to the conclusion that the allotment would be too much to handle until one day, while chatting with other residents in the lounge, he began talking to two gentlemen, John Roberts (83) and Brian Freehold (80), who had also left large gardens behind when they moved.
“Whilst talking to John and Brian, a wonderful idea came to me! What if they shared the plot with me?” Mr. Bridger explains.
He approached Mr. Roberts and Mr. Freehold and they jumped at the opportunity to get back out in a garden again – even if this one did need a lot of renovation!
At one time, the whole six acre site, now 81 allotment plots, had been used as a training ground for the British Army Cavalry. During the course of early clearing and digging, the three gentlemen discovered stumps of original gate posts and they used these to create plot boundary markers so that each of them had an area of the allotment to call their own.
The trio set to digging over the winter months and by springtime, the ground was ready for sowing and planting.
Mr. Bridger explains, “Like all gardens and allotments, there are so many variables in the gardening cycle that it is hard to predict what you’re going to get and, being the first year, it was very hit and miss. However, to all of our amazement, the crop proved productive in both quality and quantity so much so that we brought the surplus vegetables back to Ridings Court to share out amongst all the residents. It was wonderful!”
Mr. Bridger continues: “We have been greatly surprised by the friendliness shown to us by adjoining plot holders and they have given us lots of help and advice – it’s created a great deal of camaraderie across the site. Our first season has finished. The plots are once again dug over and these three eighty year olds are looking forward to 2010 and what the ‘good earth’ will produce!”
Ridings Court is a development of 30 apartments consisting of one and two bedroom retirement apartments exclusively for the over 60s.
Designed especially for retirement living, special care and attention has been paid to incorporate features such as electrical sockets at a raised height to reduce bending, illuminated light switches, a security entry system, easy grip lever taps in the bathroom and kitchen and energy efficient heating.
Residents at Ridings Court can also enjoy landscaped grounds, socialise and relax in the communal lounge and invite family and friends to stay in the development’s guest suite.
See Also: Property News (6699), McCarthy and Stone (109), Ridings Court (3), Reigate (1)
Date Published: 02 December 2009
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