by Roxanne Blakelock An allotment site has been set up by residents, connecting the young and the old and encouraging teenagers to get involved. Majella Greene, of Newton road, Cricklewood, is part of NorthWestTWO Residents Association wh

by Roxanne Blakelock

An allotment site has been set up by residents, connecting the young and the old and encouraging teenagers to get involved.

Majella Greene, of Newton road, Cricklewood, is part of NorthWestTWO Residents Association which set up the community site at Gladstone Park Allotments in Gladstone Park Gardens, Dollis Hill.

Wilbur Ramirez, from Langton road, Cricklewood, is supervising and teaching teenagers from the area how to grow everything from parsnips to rhubarb.

Ms Greene said: "We need people to donate tools and plants and we are in the process of approaching the Royal Horticultural Society for a grant to create a storage building at the back for schools and community allotments and a greenhouse or a polytunnel."

Mr Ramirez said: "They have done really well. It was a totally run down plot and within three hours the teenagers had turned it over."

Nico Tomlinson, 16, of Temple Road, who goes to John Kelly Boys School, in Crest Road, Dollis Hill, said: "We dug it up from scratch and we can now see stuff growing. We are making it grow smoothly and now I've got into it, it's enjoyable. We will probably have a BBQ here afterwards."

Anthony Kerrigan, 14, of Mora Road, who goes to Wembley High in East Lane, North Wembley, said: "Wilbur came up to us in a park and asked us if we wanted to do it.

"I wouldn't have done it before but it's very enjoyable. There's a good atmosphere and I like working with people. I'm looking forward to the results."

Martin Lyon, 16, from Temple Road, has now left school. He said: "It's a good experience - there's nothing else to do and this is something constructive. I would never have thought about doing it before but now I can't knock it."

roxanne.blakelock@archant.co.uk