NWN-291020

Thursday, October 29, 2020 5

NEWBURYNEWS

Newbury Weekly News

Jaynepottingupin thegreenhouse

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A place to restore calm A NEWBURY woman has cred- ited her new allotment – and the family she’s found there – for helping her through the darker days of lockdown. then rushed into hospital, her anxiety only increased. “I find a trip to the allotments, where I can go to my plot and immerse myself in nature, signif- icantly enhances my wellbeing and reduces tension. Allotmenbtringslight hroughthedarkdaysoflockdownasndredundancy Reporbt y SARAHBOSLEY email sarah.bosley@newbuyrnews.co.uk

Jayneonherallotmenwt ithDavidandMarionFenn

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“The space, peace, relaxing atmosphere allows you to listen to the birds, watch the butterflies flutter by, a frog croaking in the nearby pond – even when it is not spring – and to be in contact with the glorious earth; all giving a wanted break from the tragedies of the world and inspiring gentle thoughts of what the soil will provide for the years ahead. “Not much has changed on allotments. “People do the same as they have over generations, digging, growing the same favourites but also experimenting with new things like okra or sweet potato.”

The welcome Mrs French-Dray- ton received so quickly, particu- larly from the stewards – Marion and David Fenn who she cannot speak highly enough about – is something she says she will always cherish. While at a low point, unable to visit her husband in hospital due to the coronavirus pandemic, she found solace in this group of strangers, who all mucked in to help her clear the jungle of an allotment that she had inherited. Mr French-Drayton was discharged from hospital after a four-day stay and has already found another job at Banjo

Cycles; the perfect career for a man who has raised thousands of pounds for Cancer Research UK by cycling all over the world, including some of the Tour de France’s toughest climbs. Now Mrs French-Drayton either cycles or walks her dog Benjy to the allotments from her Andover Road home whenever she can and she said she will always be grateful for her “first real feeling of a lovely inclusive community spirit”. “In these short few months I have learnt so much and been made so welcome,” she said. “It is a heavenly place to be.”

But she found solace in an allotment in Wash Common and is now hoping to encourage more people to get involved, get fitter and give themselves a break. Mrs French-Drayton, who lives in Newbury with her husband and has one son and two step- daughters, said: “As Covid has changed our lives I have found myself getting anxious from time to time – what does the future hold for our children, my husband’s redundancy, the spread of the virus and those not heeding the simple precaution- ary guidelines?

Jayne French-Drayton took early retirement in February after nearly 30 years as a senior executive at Vodafone and decided that an allotment would be a great way to keep busy – and keep fit. Then Covid hit and the world suddenly stopped with her. As a direct consequence of the national shutdown, her husband Chris was made redundant and she admits that there were many sleepless nights, worrying that she’d done the wrong thing by retiring early. When Mr French-Drayton was

JaynewithBenjy

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