Sport
Cricket
Women's Army Auxiliary Corps members playing
cricket during World War One
During the First World War allotments were created to help deal with food shortages. Edinburgh Corporation opened a depot at Hope Park Hall, East Meadows for the sale of the various seeds, plants, implements, etc. required by allotment holders, with these items sold at cost price.
Meetings were arranged by Councils in connection with the Garden Allotments and War Savings Movements. One such meeting, arranged by the Council representatives of the St Stephen's Ward, was held in Stockbridge School on 7 February, 1917.
Councillor Macfarlane presided and those in attendance included Lord Provost Lorne MacLeod, Council members and Mr J.W. McHattie, the City Gardener.
Dealing with the question of garden allotments, the Chairman said that people were going to make considerable sacrifices in giving up golf courses and recreation grounds, including part of the Braid Hills golf course and the Saughton and Portobello courses, and, if they were going to do that, those who had private recreation grounds must do something similar. He mentioned as a nearby example the Grange cricket ground and said it might not be necessary to destroy the central part, which was used for the cricket pitches. The ground round about could be used for cultivating fruit and vegetables.