The old part of Allern Lane
known as “Frank’s Lane”
Saddlers Way / Allern Lane, Tamerton Foliot, Plymouth, Devon, PL5 4PP
After you have scrolled down this “Home page” come back to the
top and select another item from the menu bar above.
Below here tells you what is behind each heading in the menu bar above.
2024 updates
April 2024. I created a stone snake with all the existing stones in the lane. With a sign suggesting to paint a stone to add to the snake to see how long we can get it.
Also in April, I moved the entrance at Allern Lane end along the road a little bit away from the mud to make it easier to access the lane.
Also renewed the Fairy doors as the others had started to rot.
Before / After
Photos of before and after. I didn’t think about taking photos of the lane until after I had already cleared a lot of the rubbish, so you don’t get a true picture of what it was like before I stated work.
Compliments.
A few comments taken from the Tamerton Facebook page from visitors to the lane.
Directions
Directions on how to get to "Frank's Lane".
2021 events.
May 2021. Julie Wetherel kindly painted and provided a painting for the lane.
June 2021. First anniversary of when the horse shoes and fairy doors were installed in the lane.
December 2021. The lane decorated for Christmas.
2022 Events
7th May 2022. I had a stall at the Tamerton Foliot Carnival. Raising money for The Devon Air Ambulance.
28th May - 12th June 2022. Celebrating the Queen's Platinum Jubilee.
23rd October 2022. Plymouth Roborough Rotary and volunteers planted Crocuses in the Lane. Maintaining the awareness of the fight to end Polio.
3rd December. Frank was presented with an award from Plymouth Roborough Rotary Club.
Christmas 2022
Photos of the Christmas Lane
Flowers and plants.
Flowers and plants in the lane since June 2021.
Items in the lane.
Items that visitors have left in the lane during their visit.
"Frank's Lane" disclaimer.
I Francis Clemens, accept no responsibility for any personal accident, injury or public liability while using this old part of Allern Lane known as "Frank's Lane".
You are responsible for your own safety and that of any accompanying children and/or pets when using "Frank's Lane".
"Frank’s Lane"
History of "Frank's Lane"
This used to be the end of Allern Lane, but when the Naval Estate was built, this part of the lane was blocked off, a new junction was then made for Allern lane in Linton Road.
Over the years it had become a dumping ground.
November 2019 I took it upon my self to tidy it up. There were tyres, car batteries, a large iron gate post, plus a lot of other rubbish.
April 2020 I erected a sign with information on what I had done, I also added a post to the "Tamerton Foliot Community" page on Facebook.
It was well received by everyone, so I then cut through the banks of earth and rubble at each end to make a path way that everyone could use.
May 2020, I found six horseshoes when digging on the other side of the hedge, I thought it would be a good idea to hang them on the trees for the children to find.
June 2020, I made the three fairy doors and a fairy house which my wife Rose and I painted and put in the lane.
At the same time we added some animal ornaments to find.
Since then visitors to the lane have added lots of painted stones, dinosaurs, animals, dolls and many other items.
My neighbour gave me a sign for the lane. "Welcome to Frank's Lane" and since then it has been known as "Frank's Lane"
I have created a notice board.
The left side has information about the lane.
On the right side are photos of things to find in the lane.
I have used a plastic cover from a record player deck to keep the sign dry, which can be easily taken off to renew the details.
I have now made and added to the lane two seats. Visitors can now rest and enjoy the flowers and listen to the birds.
October 2020 I made 5 bird boxes and put them in the trees up through the lane.
This year 2021, there has been a lot of activity around the boxes, so far one box has had a pair of Blue Tits with their young.
A local lady Julie Wetherell painted and provided this beautiful painting for the lane on 29th May 2021
Julie with her painting
Close up of her painting
Close up of the centre panel.
June 2021.
The anniversary of the
six horse shoes erected,
three fairy doors and
one fairy house installed.
September 2021, Martin Baggs managed to get “Frank’s Lane” registered as a poke stop. For those that play Pokémon Go. Thank you Martin.
Thank you to everyone who has given me plants, shrubs, trees, soil, gravel, shillet, slabs and wood to make the lane what it is today.
It has been gratifying to hear from so many people how the lane has helped them through this covid pandemic, it has been somewhere to take the children, also just to sit, relax, enjoy the flowers and listen to the birds singing.
