After years hidden away, Oldham’s memorial to six local volunteers who died fighting fascism in the Spanish civil war has been restored to public view, marking both a victory for campaigners and a renewed tribute to the town’s proud International Brigade heritage, says ROB HARGREAVES
IN SURVEYS and studies, tomatoes generally come first on the list of the most popular vegetables for home-growing in the UK, even ahead of potatoes. In a way that’s quite surprising.
Of course, toms needn’t take up much room, and you don’t need an actual garden or allotment in which to grow them, but they aren’t the easiest crop, being prey to numerous diseases and other problems. Besides which, tomato seeds tend to be relatively expensive.
Commiserations if you failed this year, MAT COWARD offers six points which, if followed religiously, will ensure you succeed next year
MAT COWARD sings the praises of the Giant Winter’s full-depth, earthy and ferrous flavour perfect for rich meals in the dark months
TOM STONE sings the praises of one of the oldest open-air festivals in Britain
MAT COWARD rises over such semantics to offer step by step, fool-proof cultivating tips



