It goes without saying that it has been the strangest of years, and we can honestly say that we are so thankful for Carmel.  While we were not able to share the garden as we would like, it gave us a welcome respite from our own four walls and the tough isolation of lockdown.

Unable to socialise for a great period of the year and only able to meet in small groups for the remainder of the time, the wide open spaces of Carmel have been a God send.

Of course, Al and Reet are absolutely unable to sit still for any length of time and so began work on the shed to house our very important porta loo and tea making facilities!

The harvest from the allotment was so rewarding, we had lettuce galore, tomatoes, courgettes, beetroot, strawberries, herbs, squash, runner beans and sweetcorn.

We made the decision, earlier in the year, to go ahead with a mains water connection, which is currently in progress.

Our main hope at the end of this year, however, is that we will emerge from the pandemic, ready to share this garden with others.  We have seen how desperately this kind of space is needed, to support our physical and mental health and we want to use it for other people in the same way.

As we approach the end of the year, we pray for a peaceful and safe Christmas, and to enter the new year with renewed hope for the future.

Thank you to everyone who has supported us this year, it will soon be Spring!