The Community Allotment team have been celebrating Imbolc, a Celtic festival marking the start of Spring, as a new season of work on the allotments begins.

Imbolc, first day of February, celebrates regrowth, looking to the future, clearing out the old and making space for new beginnings. The Allotment team marked the date by writing hopes for new beginnings or wishes for the future onto pieces of wood thrown into a fire.

The team also planted snowdrops, the traditional flower of Imbolc, in the Wheel of the Year Garden. The Wheel of the Year garden was built last year with help from a team of volunteers from Allia. Positioned in the Winter and Spring beds nearest to the Imbolc archway, these snowdrops will hopefully reappear year after year as a reminder of new starts in spring.

Reflecting on the significance of the celebration, Ruth Wood, Allotment Coordinator, expressed her fondness for Imbolc: “Imbolc is always one of our favourite celebrations as it feels so positive as we’re coming out of the dark months.”