Discover the 2024 calendar of Redditch allotments from Britain’s ‘dullest man’

The ‘dullest man in Britain’ has dug deep to produce a bizarre calendar for 2024 – celebrating his favourite allotments.

Kevin Beresford spent months travelling around his hometown of Redditch, Worcestershire, to find the best green spaces on offer for gardening fans.

The 71-year-old compiled his 12 favourites into a contender for the most boring calendar of 2024 – devoted entirely to public allotments. Kevin, who admits he could be ‘Britain’s dullest man’, says he dug up some surprising discoveries during his allotment tour.

He said: “I used to think people who do allotments were weird and dull people, but when you get talking to them it’s pretty good. They’re eco-warriors, they’re resourceful people. Whatever is going round, that’s been discarded, they’ll use. They don’t just grow plants, they’re into beehives. They’re digging for victory. They’re very relaxing places.

“There’s one in Astwood Bank that’s very peaceful. I always put my favourite in the December page and that made it. The security for them is quite tight for them because of the veg prices. You do get the guys who call themself in charge. You always get someone who wants to know what you’re doing.”

Kevin has previously produced calendars featuring car parks, village notice boards, roundabouts and even one dedicated to footballer Jack Grealish’s calves.

Kevin said: “These calendars don’t sell for the thousands, but it covers the cost for the printing. It gets me out. I do all the design, I make them. It’s fun coming up with different content. I like to capture a slice of English life and put that into a format.

“Artists have always focused on the mundane. Van Gough would paint his pipe on the chair. I am the ambassador of the mundane. I’m the dullest man in Britain.” The pensioner is part of the Dull Men’s Club and says he takes inspiration from the unassuming and dull aspects of life and turns them into art.

One of Kevin’s favourite allotments is one on Astwood Bank which boasts stunning views of the picturesque Malvern Hills. Another one of his top picks was the Dolphin Road allotments, which took the May spot, where people had turned old bathtubs and toilets into planters.

Other highlights include Walkwood Road allotments for its oasis-like atmosphere and Sandpits allotments on Bendy Close. Kevin added: “Astwood bank is the best, on the most coveted page. Got to be the finest in Redditch, it’s like a park. It has the beautiful backdrop of Malvern hills. You do become a bit of an expert.

“Dolphin Road allotments, this is a sight that is broken into twice a week. An amazing array of produce grown here. Even flowers. This had a bathtub and toilets.

“Anything that can hold bits, as long as it has drainage. These resourceful diggers use anything. Then there’s Church Hill which is broken into twice a week as well. Sturdy gates with huge bits of razor wire to stop people climbing over. This is the sign of the times.”

Kevin said he hopes to fight the negative image of Redditch after it was voted the worst place to live in the UK in one poll. He added: “Some say Redditch is the worst place in England. We can combat that horrible moniker.

“I think with allotments there’s a lot of people involved in allotments. The British have always been gardeners, it’s intrinsic in our psyche. They’re wind up gifts at the moment.”