SMALLTON and HEDGE END EXAMINER

No story too small, no turn left unstoned

By Reginald E Porter, Chief Horticultural Correspondent

Mr. D A Trench of 24 Hop Gardens is struggling to come to terms with the loss of 9 prized broad bean seedlings in the greenhouse on the allotment where he works.

‘It’s the rats’ explained allotment neighbour Mr. Steve Trimmer, ‘it’s not right, Doug has paid income tax and national insurance all his life and still has to pay council tax.’

His friend Mr. William Hook said that Mr Trench had only taken up horticulture in his early 60s and had successfully applied for the post of undergardener on allotment 335 in the Autumn. He had sown 50 broad beans in good faith and had been pleased when 42 seedlings emerged. Now he has only 33 left and is fearful that the vermin may return to finish these off. ‘Everyone has been affected by this catastrophe, I was going to plant out my own broad bean seedlings this week but am not sure what to do now. It’s an outrage, we pay a lot to the local authority to rent these plots, something should be done!’

Mr. Trimmer said that everyone was concerned for Mr. Trench, ‘I think he got too close to his broadies and has taken the loss really hard. He is a man of few words at the best of times and these are not the best of times – he seems to have totally withdrawn into himself’.

When approached for a comment Mr Trench shook his head and walked away, muttering ‘f—-ing bastards’.

Smallton Council declined to put forward a spokesperson to answer questions about vermin control arrangements at the town allotments.