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There are regional variations: in Wales the figure hasn't changed, and even the local chair of the NSALG has had to wait five years. But better news: one Gateshead allotment association was given nearly £30,000 by the to rediscover the north-east's rich allotment history.

As if we didn't know it already: the spring of 2011 officially came earlier than any in living memory. A found flowering, fruiting and the emergence of key species happened sooner this year than, in some cases, since records began in 1891.

Horse chestnuts, lilacs and dog roses flowered earlier, and six species of migrant birds arrived before they ever had, while 11 of the 13 tree species surveyed leafed up sooner than since at least 2000. To find out what effect that has on autumn, get involved with the next survey via .

Elsewhere on the web...

While we're on the subject: visiting allotments, during Allotments Week or under the (adding more allotment sites to its gardens open for charity every year), is instant inspiration. went to one of the country's finest, the Model Allotment at Garden Organic's near Coventry, showing us all how it should be done.

Meanwhile Janet at tells it how it really is (caterpillars 'n' all) over at her plot; and you can help , facing the tough decision to give up half her plot, decide which half to keep.

This week's good read is Country Life editor Clive Aslet's eye-opening roundup of alternative approaches to garden pests, in which he reveals that is his fox deterrent of choice.

And a good listen: Questions, Questions, on Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú Radio 4, got lost. In the maze at in Cornwall, to be precise: Stewart Henderson's exploration (3m 15s in) of these hedge-tastic enigmas, in answer to the question 'what are mazes for?' was a delight.

Out and about...

Like visiting gardens? How about visiting five, or ten, or fifteen at once? On the same day?

It's peak season for village garden open days, a good excuse for spending a sunny Sunday nosing around neighbouring gardens in the same village. Three villages throwing open the garden gates tomorrow: ten gardens in in the Shropshire Marches include tiny cottage gardens and a ten-acre conservation garden; , in Cumbria, offers two very different gardens and a traditional village green; and the village of Barr, in Ayrshire, includes a '' created by the local primary school.

Dahlia lovers are in for a treat as the month-long begins at Anglesey Abbey in Cambridgeshire, filling house and garden with spectacular flowers. Next Saturday dahlias also take centre stage at 's place in Perch Hill, East Sussex, with demonstrations and Sarah's flower- and veg-packed gardens to explore.

And don't miss the on Merseyside, starting next weekend. With a 'vintage' theme, Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú Radio Merseyside, and gardening wisdom from Matthew Wilson, Geoff Stebbings and Tony Kirkham among others, it should be a cracker.

Sally Nex is a garden writer and blogger and part of the Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú Gardening team.

Read Sally Nex's Gardening Blog posts.