alg issue 4 2013wendoverashbrookallotments.weebly.com/uploads/2/6/0/0/...kg loach t: 01260 275 902...
TRANSCRIPT
ALLOTMENT& L E I S U R E G A R D E N E R • Issue 4 2013
Inside: Features on… Bees – National Pollinator Strategy • Expert Guides • Regional Reports • Seasonal Jobs
ALG Issue 4 2013.indd 1 17/10/2013 11:43
KG Loach t: 01260 275 902 e: [email protected] w: www.kgloach.co.uk 2nd Avenue Radnor Park Trading Estate, Congleton, Cheshire, CW12 4UE
FrEE
Allo
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AloguE
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We are a family run, leading garden wholesaler, supplying Allotment societies and gardening clubs. With over 50 years experience, we continue to offer extremely competitive prices combined with a friendly and efficient service that is driven by our goal of helping you grow.
•Competitive trade prices•Over 50 years experience •Friendly family run business
•Fast nationwide delivery•Over 5000 products
Authorised stockists of all major brands of:• Garden Chemicals• Fertilisers• Composts• Barks• Aggregates• Tools• Seed Potatoes & Onions• Bamboo Canes• Garden Sundries
For all your allotment needs: Call now on 01260 275 902 or visit www.kgloach.co.uk
Call now for your free allotment catalogue
sEEd potAtoEs, onion sEts And gArlic AvAilAblE to ordEr noW
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Contact detailsHead Office Secretary: Mrs D McDaid Administration: Mrs K Maher and Mrs E McInally Legal Advisor: Mrs L Bunting ADI Mentor Coordinator/ Marketing: Di Appleyard [email protected] 0845 8150076
Officers of the Society President: Mr C Nickerson Joint Chairman: Mr A Rees MBE & Mr Alex Mullins Vice Chairman: Mr A Cavill Treasurer: Mr D Rawlings
Local Authority Representative Cllr Mr J Marr and Mrs Sue Radcliffe
Standing Orders Committee Chairman: Mr I Crawford Mr P Lofts, Mr M Merrill, Mr P Merryweather and Mr P Neary
PLEASE NOTE: NSALG enquiries should be made to: Head Office, O’Dell House, Hunters Road, Corby, Northants NN17 5JE Tel: 01536 266576 Fax: 01536 264509email: [email protected]: www.nsalg.org.uk
Design, Print and Advertising Sales Crest Publications1 Rothwell Grange Court, Rothwell Road, Kettering, Northants NN16 8FB Tel: 01536 317000email: [email protected]
ON THE COVER: National Pollinator
SUBMISSIONS ADVICE: Letters and articles for publication should be sent to: NSALG Head Office
CLOSING DATES: Issue 4.2013: 29 November 2013
Magazine Submissions: All submissions should be sent by email to Head Office. Articles should be limited to 600 words. Please include articles in a word document (.doc file) and images as separate jpegs or tiffs. We will wherever possible include articles that are sent in by post but cannot guarantee their inclusion. When submitting articles, please provide name, address, phone number and email address if applicable. If submitting by email, the subject line should read ‘NSALG magazine’.
Photographs and images: Ideally your images should be of good resolution, 300dpi (photos taken with mobile phones are not good enough quality).
If you need help with any of the above please call Jayne at Crest Publications on: 01536 317000 or email: [email protected]
NSALG Management Committee, Officers, Editor and Publishers, do not necessarily agree with the views expressed by contributors to this magazine and do not accept any responsibility for any errors in transmission in the subject matter of this publication. All advertisements are included in good faith and NSALG Management Committee, Officers, Editor and Publishers, cannot therefore accept any responsibility for any services offered by advertisers. No part of this publication may be reproduced without express written permission of the Society and Publishers.
Competition terms and conditions : Competitions are open to all UK residents aged 18 or over, excluding employees or agents of the associated publishing company and their families. One entry per person. The prizes and giveaways are as specified on the relevant pages. No cash alternatives. Entries must be via post or email as stated (no purchase necessary). Illegible entries and those that do not abide by these terms and conditions will be disqualified. No responsibility is held for entries lost, delayed or damaged in the post, proof of posting is not proof of delivery. Your details will be processed by Crest Publications (publishers of ALG magazine on behalf of the NSALG) in full accordance with data protection. Crest Publictions may wish to contact you with information of other services we provide which maybe of interest. Please indicate on your entry if you DO NOT wish to receive such information by post, phone or email. The decision of the judge is final and no corresponance will be entered into. Winners will be notified by phone, email or post, a list of winners is available on request from Crest Publications, 1 Rothwell Grange Court, Rothwell Road, Kettering, Northants NN16 8FB
In this issue…Regions & reps ...........................................................4
Chairman’s Comments ..........................................5
Competition winners................................................6
Legal Update ...............................................................8
Letters ..........................................................................12
Book Reviews ..........................................................13
GENERAL
National Pollinator Strategy .............................. 14
Interview with… an Allotment Officer .......... 16
Expert guide to… Green manures ................ 18
Expert guide to… Water ..................................... 20
Seasonal Jobs .......................................................... 22
Mike Thurlow Q&A ................................................. 24
AROUND THE REGIONS
Northern ...................................................................... 28
Yorkshire ...................................................................... 31
North West ................................................................. 33
East Midlands ........................................................... 38
West Midlands ......................................................... 39
Eastern ......................................................................... 42
South East ................................................................. 46
Southern ..................................................................... 48
South West ................................................................ 50
Wales ............................................................................ 5229
www.kgloach.co.uk
ALG Issue 4 2013.indd 3 17/10/2013 11:44
Regions and RepresentativesNationwide
Mentor name Region Telephone number and email address
Paul Neary South East 0845 313 8422 pneary.nas@gmail. com
John Doherty North East 07934 135470 [email protected]
Phil Gomersall Yorkshire & Humberside 0845 345 5377 [email protected]
Alan Hull North West 0845 313 8425 [email protected]
David Kenyon East Midlands 0845 4786 352 [email protected]
Grant Smith London 0845 478 6351 [email protected]
Martin Moore South West 0845 478 6318 [email protected]
Les Martin West Midlands 07901 520346 [email protected]
Elizabeth Allnutt Northern Region 0845 261 3671 [email protected]
NORTHERN
Northumberland
and Tyne and Wear •
County Durham • Cleveland •
Cumbria • Scotland
John Doherty
63 Dunsgreen,
Ponteland,
Newcastle upon
Tyne, NE20 9EJ
t 07934135470
e jdoherty.nas@
gmail.comgmail.com
NORTH WESTLancashire • GreaterManchester • Merseyside • CheshireAndy Percival 16 Hartford Avenue, BlackpoolLancs FY1 6RPt 07928 896 979e [email protected]
EAST MIDLANDSLincolnshire • Nottinghamshire • Derbyshire • Leicestershire • NorthamptonshireMrs Shirley Fleetwood1 Veronica Drive, Carlton, Nottingham NG4 3QSt 0115 952 6920e shirley.fl [email protected]
btinternet.com
EASTERNBuckinghamshire • Norfolk • Suffolk • Cambridgeshire • Bedfordshire • Hertfordshire • Essex andparts of LondonJeff Barber 39 Seagry Road, London E11 2NH
t 02085 302 842 e [email protected]
WALESGlamorganshire • Gwent • Dyfed • Powys • ClywdMr Allan Rees MBE77 Eustace Drive, Bryncethin, Bridgend,Mid Glamorgan CF32 9EXt 01656 721865e [email protected] SOUTHERN
Oxfordshire • Berkshire • Wiltshire • Gloucestershire • Hampshire • Isle of WightMr Alex Mullins14 Rapide Close, Eastleigh, Hampshire SO50 5RQt 07799 691608e [email protected]
39 Seagry Road, London E11 2NH
SOUTH EAST
Kent and parts of London •
Surrey • Sussex
Mr Steve Clements27 Woodvale
Avenue, South
Norwood, LondonSE25 4ADt 07789 296214
Mentor name
Paul Neary
John Doherty
Phil Gomersall
WEST MIDLANDSStaffordshire • West Midlands
• Warwickshire • Shropshire • Herefordshire • WorcestershireMr Maurice Lander4 Franciscan Road, Coventry CV3 6HBt 02476 502362e [email protected]
SOUTH WEST
Dorset • Avon
• Somerset
• Devon •
Cornwall
Mr Allan Cavill
28 Highfi eld, Taunton,
Somerset TA1 5JG
t 07748 178964
Carlton, Nottingham NG4 3QSt
ebtinternet.com
Regions and Representatives
tebtinternet.com
YORKSHIRENorth Yorkshire • West Yorkshire • South Yorkshire • Parts of HumbersideMr Tony Heeson25 The Broadway, Balby, Doncaster DN4 9BSt 01302 851557e [email protected]
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Head Offi ce
Chairman’s commentsIt is that time of year again when we ask for nominations and motions for the forthcoming AGM being held in June 2014. These items for the agenda must be in to Head Offi ce prior to the 2nd of January 2014. It would be in everyone’s interests if they were earlier so that the Standing Orders Committee can have sight of them to ensure they are formulated correctly. If there are any discrepancies then they can be returned for correction to the person submitting them.
This year has been extremely busy and due to many commitments I didn’t get around to visiting the shows I normally attend such as Tatton Park where Barbara and the team once again put on a magnifi cent display, the Royal Welsh Shows where once again awards were being won, Malvern and Gardeners World; names are too numerous to mention. Once again a huge thanks to all who participated at shows during the summer for their hard work and dedication, whether it’s a local or national project; also those who have opened up their sites for National Allotment Week; a lot of good reports have come through.
I did visit a walled garden in Caernarfon, North Wales at the beginning of August where the Manager is trying to introduce volunteers to use the gardens for growing projects or allotments. Anyone in the vicinity who would like to help out or who wants a plot should contact me so that I can put you in touch with that administration. It is frustrating when we are constantly requesting more land for allotments and areas such as these are screaming out for gardeners. In the last few weeks, especially in my local area, more plots are becoming vacant and those on waiting lists seem not to want them. Several other locations in England have indicated the same.
At a recent meeting of the International the Polish delegation thanked everyone for their participation in supporting their cause,
with well over a million signatures. From this there are now four draft proposals going before the Polish legislators and Parliament to secure allotments for the future in Poland. There has been support from all member nations and I believe others outside of Europe. With this support we would envisage success and wish the
allotment gardeners of Poland good fortune for them and their gardens.
Whilst on the subject of the International this year we submitted two nominations for innovative projects that were successful; unfortunately a third was lost in the post and no replacement was forthcoming. There are awards from
the International offi ce and these are: - Innovative, Ecological and Social project applications. These should be submitted via Head Offi ce in Corby with a 10 minute powerpoint presentation with either moving or still photographs. A minimal amount of text can be included. A written report is required as well, giving details of the whole project.
In the garden this year has been a huge success. Everything has grown to its potential with plenty of crops to harvest. Even though we had long spells of dry weather the only watering I did was in the greenhouse and polytunnel; cucumbers, tomatoes were in abundance as were outdoor crops including weeds. Having had little time myself to spend on the allotment they were growing at what seemed an incredible rate of knots. Yes, there have been the usual problems with slugs, caterpillars, and other such like creatures.
As the year progresses we continue to
work towards the implementation of our Business Plan. We are currently developing NAS policies on areas such as waiting lists, plot sizes, rents and community access and security. This fi rst raft of policies will go before the Management Committee in October for their approval. The ADI Mentors continue to provide further support out in the regions and their work is also guided towards fulfi lling our objectives by a steering group.
At the moment we have limited staff at Head Offi ce. They are striving to ensure standards are kept to the highest level. I thank them for their perseverance and commitment to the Society.
From mid-August 2013 the Management Committee of the National Allotment Society have co-opted Alex Mullins to be Joint Chairman, alongside myself until the election at the AGM in 2014. I would like to welcome Alex to the position and look forward to working closely with him over the coming months.
In August 2013 Iain Blaikie left the Society after
fi ve years employment as Administrator at Head Offi ce in Corby. Iain has taken up a position with the Civil Service and I am sure you would want to join with me in wishing him all the best in his future career.Allan Rees MBE
...tomatoes were in abundance as were
outdoor cropsincluding weeds!
a huge thanks to all who participated at shows during the
summer
For tips andprogress see
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6533_Natsol_Ad_Allotment_Update_ART.indd 1 11/06/2012 17:20
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Join Us Join the National Society of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners today and receive a free copy of Kitchen Garden Magazine.
Membership benefi ts include:• Discounted seed scheme• Quarterly magazine• Specialist insurance for your site• Advice and guidance on legal
mattersAffi liation fees:
• Societies per member £2(minimum fee £20)
• Individual members £20• Life members £300• Schools £10• Local authorities £55+VAT• Landowners £55+VAT
For further details contact NSALG Ltd, O’Dell House, Hunters Road,Corby NN17 5JE Tel 01536 266576 Fax 01536 264509 email: [email protected]
visit
www.nsalg.org.uk
to download an application form.
Get your own personal copy of Allotment and Leisure Gardener
I would like to receive a copy of the quarterly magazine of the National Society of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners
MembersPlease deliver to my address shown below:£6.00 for 4 issues
Non-membersPlease deliver to my address shown below: (non-member)£12.00 for 4 issues
Name of Affi liated Association (must be supplied)
Name ........................................................................................................................
Address .....................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................
Post code ..................................................................................................................
Deliver to ...................................................................................................................
Address .....................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................
Post code ..................................................................................................................
Cheques or postal orders should be made payable to: NSALG Ltd and sent to:O’Dell House, Hunters Road, Corby, NN17 5JEIf you have any queries, telephone 01536 266576Fax: 01536 264509, Email: [email protected], Web: www.nsalg.org.uk
Notice of subs increaseIn order to ensure our fi nancial future and safeguard our position as the leading national organisation upholding the interests and rights of the allotment community across the UK we will be applying a modest increase to our subscription rates - the fi rst increase since 2008. There will now be a 25p per member annual increase on association fees for the next four years.
From January 2014:-Association membership will increase by25p per member – from £2.00 to £2.25Individual membership will increase by £3.00 – from £20.00 to £23.00Life membership will increasefrom £300 to £500There will be no change for the school category or the Local Authority membership.
We would like to say a big thank you to all of our members whose fees help to support our work in protecting sites and promoting awareness of the contribution allotments make to the health and well-being of local communities.
Head Offi ce
thewinnersCompetition winners, Issue 3, 2013
MacWet Gloves(3 pairs to give away)Stan Flatters, GranthamPhilip Dobson, CastlefordMr E W Postans, Bradford
Halls Rainsaver(Win a £45 coupon or a 6ft kit - 3 to give away)Cheryl Nichol, RamsgateGreg Heath, HungerfordValerie Fahey, Trowbridge
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ALG Issue 4 2013.indd 7 17/10/2013 11:44
8
Legal
Water part II - Contamination do’s & don’tsIn my previous article in Issue 3 of the magazine I covered information about the Water Regulations. In this article I would like to concentrate on the problems and how they can occur.
As established in the last article the main purpose of the regulations is to prevent waste, misuse, undue consumption and most importantly contamination of the public water supply.
What are the main causes of contamination?Backfl owThis can occur when water contaminants fl ow in the opposite direction to the intended normal direction of fl ow. One of the most common ways this happens would be where water siphons from a high to a lower level via pipes or fi ttings; this is normally referred to as ‘backsiphonage’.
A second way backfl ow is possible can be where water is forced in the wrong direction by a downstream pressure which is greater than that upstream; this would be classed as backpressure. IngressThis may occur when contaminants enter the plumbing system through poorly installed or inadequately maintained fi ttings.
This often happens by permeation, especially of hydrocarbons, such as diesel or pesticides through plastic pipes.
LeachingThis occurs when contaminants from unsuitable materials dissolve into the water with which they are in contact. Examples of contamination risks on allotments are:• Hosepipes left immersed in troughs,
puddles, drains or on the ground near manure.
• Cross connection with other water sources such as rainwater, recycled water or private supplies.
• Incorrectly installed or poorly maintained water fi ttings which fail to protect against backfl ow.
• Storage of water in containers with inadequate lids, vents, overfl ow pipes or screens.
• The use of unsuitable materials in fi ttings or troughs, resulting in contaminants dissolving into the water.
The regulations require every water system to have adequate devices to prevent backfl ow. A backfl ow risk assessment is required for:• Every water fi tting• Every water point of use • Any appliance that is connected to or
receives water from the plumbing system.The regulations defi ne fi ve levels of contamination risk, which are called Fluid Categories:Fluid Category 1 This category is wholesome water supplied by
the public water supplier.Fluid Category 2 This is water which should be category one but for a change in its aesthetic quality. The effects can be in temperature, taste or odour.Fluid Category 3 This is water with a slight health hazard due to the concentration of substances of low toxicity. This substance of low toxicity could be a common disinfectant or antifreeze.Fluid Category 4 This water has a signifi cant health hazard due to a concentration of toxic substances. Examples include chemical, carcinogenic substances, or pesticides or environmental organisms with potential health signifi cance.Fluid Category 5 This category is water with a serious health hazard due to the concentration of pathogenic organisms, radioactive or very toxic substances.The risk assessment should result in each risk being allocated a fl uid category according to the contamination hazard likely to be present. Each risk must be protected by a backfl ow prevention device, which has a fl uid category rating equal to, or greater than the fl uid category in the risk assessment. Within the regulations backfl ow prevention devices are given a fl uid category rating, which indicates the level of protection they provide.Liz Bunting Legal Advisor
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Ross-on-Wye Community GardenIn March this year, Haygrove a Herefordshire based business, signed a tenancy agreement in Ross-on-Wye to develop New House Paddock into a Community Garden. Over the past few months Haygrove staff have worked with local community groups, schools and organisations working with adults with learning disabilities, long term unemployed and young people in the area. The following pictures show our story so far.
The Haygrove Garden Tunnels are really productive By July we have launched our Veg Bag scheme and are making regular deliveries to Ross Community Larder
By July we have launched By July we have launched our Veg Bag scheme and are
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Planting Onions and garlic
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Planting Onions and garlic
New House Paddock before the clearing up begins
ALG Issue 4 2013.indd 8 17/10/2013 11:44
9
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ALG Issue 4 2013.indd 9 17/10/2013 11:44
10
Insurance
Insurance for Allotment Clubsand AssociationsWhy buy insurance?Insurance is often seen as an unnecessary expense but this view rapidly changes when disaster strikes and an unexpected and potentially unaffordable cost arrives in the post. Many associations operate with small budgets that are simply not equipped to cater for events such as the loss of a clubhouse or the cost of dealing with an award following an injured third party.
The question “Why buy insurance?” might better be replaced by: “What would happen if I had no insurance?”
In the last edition we considered some real, recent claims with one reaching £85,000 excluding the cost of lawyers’ fees. This is far from the largest imaginable award and you might want to consider the impact of being confronted with such an unexpected bill. What would happen to the association or its individual offi cers? Beyond actually affording the cost of a disaster there is also the cost of your time and the worry such events bring.
At Shield we want to ensure that you have the right cover in place that can deal with the unexpected, such as the cost of a new clubhouse or the defence and management of a claim from an injured party. The right insurance should solve the fi nancial impact of rectifying claims, ensuring your allotment association is protected and allowing you to concentrate on running your allotments. Leave the fi nancial and time-consuming strain of dealing with claims in the hands of your insurer.
Taking the decision to buy insurance still leaves you with the question as to which policy is right for you. Do you look for a policy that imposes minimum sums insured that far exceed your needs or do you look for a fl exible policy that allows you to choose limits in each section that suit you? At Shield, we provide insurance designed for the individual customer. If you only need £10,000 property cover but would like £5,000,000 liability then that is what we can provide. There is no need to pay a premium for many tens of thousands of insurance you know you do not need.
Public liability insurance policy benefi ts include:• Protection for your members and
your association against the cost of compensating injured parties who suffered bodily injury or whose property was lost or damaged by an accident happening at your allotments.
• Court Awards – Up to £250,000 cover where you have been awarded costs but have been unable to recover them.
• Up to £10m Public Liability cover is available.
Optional extrasAt Shield we listen to our customers and wherever possible amend our policies to give you the cover you tell us you need.
With this in mind we have added the following optional extras to our public liability insurance:• £10m Employers Liability cover• Trusted Person’s Indemnity• Landlords cover• Cups and Trophies• Buildings and Equipment cover • Abandoned Events cover• Loss of money cover
What does it cost?Premiums start from just £50.00 (including Insurance Premium Tax) and the following examples show how the costs vary for the basic liability cover according to the level of protection you want and number of members in the Club:
The insurance is designed to allow you to ‘pick and mix’ any of the optional extras desired and set the level of cover needed for your specifi c needs. This means you can tailor your insurance to provide the level of benefi ts needed without paying for cover you do not want.
To include protection for buildings worth £10,000 starts at £40.28 and for £7,500 cover on equipment the cost can be as low as £39.75.To speak to one of our specialist team of allotment insurance experts, call 01277 243 054.
CoverageNumber of Members in Club
20 50 70
£2.5m Liability cover for the Club £50.00 £63.25 £82.62
£2.5m Liability Cover for the Club and for the Members £61.39 £98.23 £119.35
£5m Liability cover for the Club £52.70 £76.50 £96.54
£5m Liability Cover for the Club and for the Members £70.19 £120.22 £142.45
Shield Total InsuranceAllotment Fund Call for entries – So far this year fi ve lucky associations have received a £250 grant to help them develop and improve their sites and we would like to ask you to continue to submit your applications; check out the News, Events and Campaigns page of the website or Issue 2, 2013 for full application details.
The judges are looking for innovative ideas that are not only in keeping with the ethos of allotment gardening but will enhance the site experience for its users and visitors. The fi ve sites that met the criteria so far have been.
March Laceby Allotments April Rowbarton Allotments AssociationMay Stirchley Allotment AssociationJune Love Lane AllotmentsJuly Wenhaston Allotments & Leisure
Gardeners Association
The winning projects ranged from educational plots for schoolchildren and other groups to planting a native hedge to encourage wildlife.
The fund is open to current National Allotment Society members who are also customers of Shield Total Insurance, and all current school members. The judging panel will be comprised of representatives from the National Allotment Society and Shield Total Insurance.
The fi ve sites that met the criteria so far have been.
Rowbarton Allotments Association Stirchley Allotment Association Love Lane Allotments
Wenhaston Allotments & Leisure Gardeners Association
The winning projects ranged from educational plots for schoolchildren and other groups to planting a native hedge to encourage
The fund is open to current National Allotment Society members who are also customers of Shield Total Insurance, and all current school members. The judging panel will be comprised of representatives from the National Allotment Society and Shield Total
Rowbarton Allotments Association Stirchley Allotment Association
Wenhaston Allotments & Leisure
The fund is open to current National
also customers of Shield Total Insurance,
ALG Issue 4 2013.indd 10 17/10/2013 11:44
11
Head Offi ce
Annual General Meeting 2014The 2014 Annual General Meeting of the National Society of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners Ltd will be held on Saturday 7th June 2014 from 10am to 4pm at the De Vere Village Hotel & Leisure, Herons’ Reach, East Park Drive, Blackpool, FY3 8LL
There are a limited number of rooms available to NAS members and friends at the following rates.Delegate rate room - Double Room & Breakfast2 people sharing, £90 instead of £125Single room & Breakfast £80
Resident delegates have full use of the leisure facilities, including indoor pool, sauna, steam room & whirlpool spa as well as free Wi-Fi.
Check website for up to date info - Guest Speakerswww.nsalg.org.uk
www.devere.co.uk/locations/blackpool-village-herons-reach.htmlBooking fee may apply, Subject to Terms and Conditions and availability. Contact [email protected] or 01536 266576
Make a week-end and take advantage of greatNAS rate-£180 for two people for two nights B&B
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The Slug Bell is made of metal that lasts for 10 years and its flower pattern will be an attractive feature in your garden.
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Contact: Michael Messina
ALG Issue 4 2013.indd 11 17/10/2013 11:44
12
Letters
In response to Chairman's comments, issue 2, 2013:
£1500 worth of crops from a plotDear Sir,Although one of the silent majority of allotment folk, such was my concern about the above statement that I was urged to write to complain about the possible results of issuing such statements. So I did write, but then thought it would not get an airing, so did not post it; however, it now seems I am not alone as per the many comments in the last issue.
So here goes. The original statement in ALG was quite unambiguous. "The value ...is £1500". My plot always results in a net expenditure. I cannot sell any surplus so it is given away or it goes in the compost bin. This is the norm I suspect (ok, we do eat some too). Whether or not this fi gure is fact or fantasy is irrelevant. Once the genie is out of the bottle it cannot be put back in! It can, will be and has been used against us as a lever, by cash-strapped councils in order to increase plot rents. When the previous fi gure was published a couple of years back I was speaking to councillors, as Federation Chairman and had the £**** quite aggressively thrust at me as a written-in-stone fact to justify rent increases and then the allotment offi cer also referred to the amount as a guide to setting rents. Please, we do not need this, especially from the NSALG. No councillor, executive or offi cer will be concerned with the response of 3.13, if they even read it. A number of £1500 is easy to remember and it will be used. Let’s just hope and pray the press do not use it too. We should make sure that allotments are seen as hard, healthy, social work, which saves the NHS and the UK a packet and be wary of issuing such bold statements. David Percy, Birch Avenue Allots Association, Stockport.
The value of allotmentsDear Sir,I have read the comments about the value of an allotment in the Chairman’s comments and letters sections and would like to comment on these.
Allotments contribute to food security on an individual and national scale. Personally I make approximately £10 a week from my 25 meter by 25 meter plot, going by supermarket prices. This is a very useful addition to a small pension.
It would be very diffi cult not to notice the huge growth in food banks across the country but how many have saved the day by profi ting from a plot. Many thousands I would guess if
we include contributions from family members or, as the media would have it, the ‘Larder of Mum & Dad’.
For local authorities the provision of allotments at reasonable rents is one of the few direct actions that can be taken to alleviate these pressures on their citizens. So more plots, better facilities and fair rents should be the order of the day.
Although most of my comments are based on the UK they seem equally true of most of the rest of Europe, especially Greece where I have visited recently and access to land is the only thing keeping many families afl oat.Paul Sutton
Allan Rees’ response to both lettersSince my comments in the previous magazine there has been some questioning of the remarks made.
In relation to the amount of produce that could be grown, I wrote in the previous magazine what could be produced. I personally do not agree that you can grow that amount; this fi gure was taken from a survey of one allotment and the majority of the harvest was fruit.Allan Rees MBE
ALG Issue 4 2013.indd 12 17/10/2013 11:44
BookReviews
The Joy of Allotments
By Caroline DeputISBN 9780285642003Price £10.00
Containing the author’s own drawings and a diary of two years of life on the allotment, this book is a witty and attractive gift book for gardeners, including armchair gardeners. Follow the seasons, from the high hopes of spring planting to the autumn chores. The joy of allotments is reminiscent of the hand-written albums once kept by Victorian ladies, with its humour and quirky spirit. It would make a nice gift for Christmas.
Once Upon A
FlockBy Lauren Scheuer
ISBN 9780285642355
Price £18.99
Heart-warming, often
hilarious and even the
occasional heartbreak,
this is an account of
the author’s adventures
raising chickens. Written
with warmth and
humour it describes
the friendships and
rivalries within her tiny
fl ock. Documenting the
daily adventures of her
chicken family, we meet all the characters in her fl ock.
There are illustrations and photos, all in full colour
throughout. This is a must for all animal lovers.
TheHealing HutBy Neil Patrick
ISBN 9780957608306
Price £7.99
They say you should
never go back, but
when his life in the
Australian sun implodes
Kyff Pugh did just that.
This is a story about love
and betrayal, friendship
and laughter, but most
of all about roots. When
Kyff needed somewhere
to lie low and recover
from the pain of
betrayal and loss there
is nowhere to go but
back. Back to grey old England to what once was
home.... to childhood haunts on ancient allotments,
and reminders of why he had gone away. Visiting
the amazing hut that was once his eccentric father’s
second home, he feels a strange but benefi cial
force at work. Secrets are revealed, hidden places
unlocked. A nice pleasant read.
The Manualof Seed SavingBy Andrea HeistingerISBN 139781604693829Price £25.00This is an essential reference for all food producers and vegetable growers to small-scale farmers. This book gives you clear, practical instructions on how to grow vegetables for seed. An insight to harvesting, storing and sewing techniques for vegetables, herbs and fruits, this authoritative guide brings together the experience of experts in the fi eld through careful trialing and how to maximise seed quality. A very informative book with colour photos.
Once Upon A
raising chickens. Written
fl ock. Documenting the
Healing Hut
Australian sun implodes
This is a story about love
and betrayal, friendship
and laughter, but most
of all about roots. When
Kyff needed somewhere
to lie low and recover
betrayal and loss there
ALG Issue 4 2013.indd 13 17/10/2013 11:44
14
Feature on… bees
In our last magazine – (Issue 3) we featured the honeybee, discussed the threats to their survival and made some suggestions as to how, by using natural methods, growing pollinator friendly plants, or becoming a beekeeper you could help them to survive. In this issue we have details of government initiatives and the organisations who are working to raise awareness of the plight of all the insects which pollinate our food-plants; these include moths, butterfl ies, fl ies and wasps as well as various other types of bees.
The Bees SummitOn 28 June 2013 Environment Minister Lord de Mauley attended a Bees Summit pulled together by Friends of the Earth, the Co-operative, Waitrose and the Women’s Institute and attended by many other concerned organisations – such as the National Society of Cider Makers, the National Farmers’ Union and the Country Land and Business Association; at the event the Minister announced his plans for a series of autumn workshops and a national consultation on a draft National Pollinator Strategy.
On the 5 July the Government produced the fi rst of two papers looking at pollinators -covering current evidence, policy and actions; the fi rst paper can be found here - Bees and other pollinators: their value and health in England – Review of policy & evidence. The two workshops Lord de Mauley announced were due to be held in September and October 2013. The fi rst workshop was to assess the evidence for the value and health of pollinators in England and the subsequent meeting in October reviewed policies of government and non-government organisations in England that affect pollinators. The National Allotment Society planned to send someone along so that we could take part in these important discussions and we will update you in forthcoming issues of the
magazine.Both workshops will
also provide evidence in support of the production of the National Strategy for Pollinators and recommendations for priority actions in its delivery.
Insect pollinators of crops and wild plants are threatened by land-use intensifi cation (including habitat destruction and pesticide use), the spread of pests and diseases and climate change. However, evidence on
individual and combined effects of these pressures on insect pollination and their implications for policies on long-term food security, human health and ecology are complex and diffi cult to analyse. The Government has been working for many years to improve the health status of insect pollinators and a number of government
departments, agencies, local authorities and non-government organisations play a part in developing and implementing these policies. One such initiative is the Urban Pollinators Initiative research study.
Urban Pollinators InitiativeHave you spotted any patches of wild fl owers popping up in unlikely places around your neighbourhood? These could well be part of the Urban Pollinators Initiative, a project funded under the UK Insect Pollinators Initiative, which is researching insect pollinators in urban habitats in the UK. http://www.bristol.ac.uk/biology/research/ecological/community/pollinators/. The study is led by the University of Bristol, with academic
partners at the University of Reading, University of Leeds and University of Edinburgh. Teams of researchers have visited a range of urban habitats, including gardens, parks,
road verges, allotments, churchyards and cemeteries, to fi nd the best and the worst habitats for pollinating insects and will be producing an interim report of their fi ndings this autumn. We have invited a researcher to come and talk at one of our forthcoming Allotment Offi cers’ Forums and we will post a report on the website.
Pesticide WithdrawalYou may have read in the news over the last few months that the EU has suspended the use of three neonicotinoid insecticides – thiamethoxam, clothianidin and imidacloprid. A series of high-profi le scientifi c studies has linked neonicotinoids – the world's most widely used insecticides – to huge losses in the number of queen bees produced and big rises in the numbers of “disappeared” bees – those that fail to return from foraging trips. This
means that on 30 September 2013 the products were withdrawn
and from 30 November 2013 gardeners using these
chemicals could be prosecuted; to fi nd out where to dispose of any stores visit http://www.pesticidedisposal.org/. Further research will be carried out to assess the withdrawn neonicotinoids effects
on bees and it is possible that in two
years’ time they will return to the market.
In the next magazine we hope to report on the fi ndings of the two
workshops that were held this autumn and let you know what we, as allotment gardeners, can do to support this vital initiative.
NationalPollinator Strategy
a number of government departments, agencies, local authorities and non-government organisations play a part in developing and implementing these policies. One such initiative is the Urban Pollinators Initiative
Urban Pollinators
Have you spotted any patches of wild fl owers popping up in unlikely places around your neighbourhood? These could well be part of the Urban Pollinators Initiative, a project funded under the UK Insect Pollinators Initiative, which is researching insect pollinators in urban habitats in the UK. http://www.bristol.ac.uk/biology/research/ecological/community/pollinators/. The study is led
bees produced and big rises in the numbers of “disappeared” bees – those that fail to return from foraging trips. This
means that on 30 September 2013 the products were withdrawn
and from 30 November 2013 gardeners using these
chemicals could be prosecuted; to fi nd out where to dispose of any stores visit http://www.pesticidedisposal.org/. Further research will be carried out to assess the withdrawn neonicotinoids effects
on bees and it is possible that in two
years’ time they will return to the market.
In the next magazine we hope to report on the fi ndings of the two
workshops that were held this autumn and let you know what we, as allotment gardeners, can do to support this vital
...studies have linked neonicotinoids to huge losses in the number of
queen bees
...researchers have visited a range of urban
habitats, including gardens and parks
ALG Issue 4 2013.indd 14 17/10/2013 11:44
15
Great Early Bird ticket offer for The Edible Garden ShowGrow it, cook it, bake it, brew it - The Edible Garden Show is putting down new roots at Alexandra Palace in London from 28–30 March, 2014 and is offering a “two for £20” ticket deal for National Allotment Society members.
Celebrity speakers include the BBC One Show’s gardening guru Christine Walkden as well as show favourite, TV presenter James Wong. The award-winning ‘grow your own’ event is bursting with top exhibitors, brilliant products, interactive demonstrations, a cookery theatre and all you need to know about beekeeping, home brewing, bread making and green energy.
For more information or to buy tickets visit: www.theediblegardenshow.co.uk or ring the ticket hotline on 0844 338 8001 quoting NAS14 to grab the 2 for £20 offer.
Snippits
newshootsNew games for youngsters at Little Gardeners websiteThree exciting new games - Scare the Crows, Weed the Pots and Create a Little Gardener - have now been added to Johnsons Little Gardeners website, which is aimed at youngsters who enjoy growing plants. The new interactive games are sure to get children challenging their friends and family. Log on at www.little-gardeners.co.uk for plenty of gardening-related fun and facts.
The Informed Voice of British Beekeeping
For a great range of beekeeping gifts and subscriptions this Christmas - visit
Gift Subscriptions Available for
just £27
www.bee-craft.com/christmas
ALG Issue 4 2013.indd 15 17/10/2013 11:44
16
A day in the life of an…Allotment Offi cerSue Radcliffe, Allotments Offi cer with Stoke on Trent City Council and a staunch supporter of the National Allotment Society has shared with us a typical busy day in her demanding role.
8amArrive to emails – post - phone messages – texts - scraps of paper ........ how do I communicate with them all!? • I operate a frontline (customer facing)
service responding to Site Reps, tenants, local residents, tradesmen......and more.
• The Call Centre helps to fi lter simple enquiries like application forms and service request emails to give you time to gather the necessary information before you return the call.
• I have a dedicated landline and mobile phone line for Site Reps.
10am – Out and About• First stop is investigating reports of Anti-
Social Behaviour, theft and vandalism on a site – I spend time talking to the Police and local residents.
• Next is a report of a burst water pipe and an emergency call to the plumbers followed by a drive across town to check on fencing contractors and start plot inspections.
• Finally I meet up with some enthusiastic new tenants and show them their plots.
12pm• Back to base – the messages, post,
phone messages, texts, scraps of paper etc. have accumulated again.
• But I need to go through the fi nances and procurement procedures for some vital items before returning calls and emails with a pit-stop for a sandwich and a cup of tea.
1pm – Legal and Regulatory Services• Now I need to go
through the pile of applications from prospective tenants and deal with terminations – I issue 20 new tenancy agreements and 15 Notice to Quit letters.
• I talk to Legal Services over an eviction and a compensation claim.
• I talk to property services about a land encroachment problem. If it’s left ignored we could lose the title to the land (adverse possession).
2:30pm – Community Practice• A local Allotment Association are
applying to Awards for All for a grant to build a compost toilet on the site. I meet up with the committee to do a funding application and go through their governance procedures and fi nancial management to check that they are eligible for funding.
• I make a few calls to organise the judges for the annual Best Allotment Competition.
• Mediation – I spend time trying to defuse a row between a committee and local property owner.
4pm – Back out again…..• I receive a report of an animal welfare
issue; a neighbour near a site is worried that some hens have not been fed and watered for a few days – site visit required.
• Then on to a site to meet the bereaved family of a tenant. They have come down to the plot to pick up his belongings.
5pm• Finally back in the offi ce to read more
emails – invoice enquiries that require me to contact fi nance team to arrange invoices and debtor numbers for new tenants.
10:30pmI’m on call tonight and am contacted by the Police who want site map and keys. There have been reports of someone robbing sheds – but it turns out to be a homeless person; I contact the Rough Sleepers Team.
Midnight – time to fall in to bed before it all starts again tomorrowSue has worked in both the Voluntary Sector and Local Government; she fi rst took an allotment over 25 years ago and has been volunteer chair of the local Allotment Network; she presently works with 6,000 tenants and service users from the 80 sites in the city. Sue is passionate about the industrial heritage and social history of allotments and in her role as Allotment Offi cer has developed a framework to support the devolving of allotments site management to site committees, which she believes will provide a sustainable, achievable way for sites to build the confi dence and skills they need to manage community land assets effectively.
Interview with…
• But I need to go through the fi nances and procurement procedures for some vital items before returning calls and emails with a pit-stop for a sandwich and a cup of tea.
1pm – Legal and Regulatory Services• Now I need to go
through the pile of applications from prospective tenants and deal with terminations – I issue 20 new tenancy agreements and 15 Notice to Quit letters.
• I talk to Legal Services over an eviction and a compensation claim.
• I talk to property services about a land encroachment problem. If it’s left ignored we could lose the title to the land (adverse possession).
Allotment Officers’ ForumsSue also attends and helps to run our popular Allotment Offi cers’ Forums. These are regular regional events where council offi cers get the opportunity to share knowledge and experience, explore common problems and discuss best practice.
Each NAS Region holds a Forum event twice yearly - NAS membership gives you a priority place. We work in partnership with local councils; the council provides the venue, the ADI Mentor facilitates on the day and the co-ordination is done by NAS staff. The forums are open to council offi cers who manage allotments sites and they are free to attend. They have been running for several years (initiated by the Allotments Regeneration Initiative) and feedback from offi cers who attend has been overwhelmingly positive.
“As a new person to allotment management, I was desperate for guidance on how allotments should be managed properly. I had no maps of the allotments, no site reps etc. The Allotment Offi cer Forum I attended was absolutely fantastic. It gave me everything I needed:• Contacts with other allotment offi cers, so I could ask them about a variety of issues
outside of the meeting e.g.- Excellent Terms and Conditions documents provided by Stoke Council- Best practise on supporting self-managed groups.
• Knowledge of a whole range of publications about components of allotment management, e.g. non-cultivation.
• Understanding of challenges that I hadn’t even thought of e.g. draining down water systems to prevent bursts.
• Information on grant funding sources.• Pitfalls to avoid and good practice.
I came away from the Forum with pages of notes and actions to follow up. Far more than any other forum / meeting / training day I have ever attended – a really good balance of information and discussion”.
If you haven’t received an invitation to the Forum for council staff and offi cers in your region please get in touch with [email protected].
ALG Issue 4 2013.indd 16 17/10/2013 11:44
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ALG Issue 4 2013.indd 17 17/10/2013 11:44
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tips&titbitsNational Allotments Week Competition WinnerOur National Allotments Week sponsors Kelly’s of Cornwall Ice Cream invited our green fi ngered members to grow along with the fruit growing fun by submitting a photo of themselves and their fruit patch, to be in with a chance of winning £500 of garden centre vouchers.The winning entry was Tiffany Crawford from Burniston in North Yorkshire with her juicy raspberries. Kelly’s competition judges said that they had never seen anyone so happy and at home amongst their fruit patch.
Experts guide to…
Green ManuresLes Day, Managing Director of King’s Seeds has very kindly supplied us with a handy chart with information about when and how to sow green manure.
Sowing green manures on empty beds within your plot can have many benefi ts as well as adding nutrients to the soil and improving soil structure when you dig it in. It also helps to prevent soil erosion and the leaching of nutrients by the winter rains. Closely growing foliage can help to suppress weeds and encourage benefi cial insects but you will need to keep an eye out for the slugs and snails who will love the sheltered environment.
Leguminous plantings have the ability to fi x nitrogen in the soil but will only do so in the summer; these are useful to sow before crops that are heavy nitrogen users such as brassicas. Care must be taken to ensure that you take crop rotation into account when using the manures from the brassica family such as Mustard.
Some mulches, such as Tares and Hungarian Rye have the ability to suppress seed germination so will need to be dug in a month or so before any seeds are sown in the area or used before crops such as potatoes or onions.
Living mulchesThe Poached Egg plant – Limnanthes douglasii can be used as both green manure over winter on your vegetable beds or as living mulch under soft fruit bushes. The low, closely growing plants will smother weeds, fl ower and attract benefi cial insects and set seed and die as your fruit is ripening. It will then self-seed for the
following year.
Edible mulchesSome of the lettuce varieties i.e. Corn Salad syn. Lamb’s Lettuce, Valerianella locusta and Miner’s Lettuce. Claytonia perfoliata are hardy enough to give ground cover over the winter and provide a tasty leaf or two for the salad bowl. They
are easy to remove and dig in but will self-seed if left; they can also be ignored in the rotation system.
Name Plant family name
Sowing Time Growing period Dig In Nitrogen fi xer
Soil type Approximate Sowing rate/spacing
Alfalfa Leguminosae April-July 1 year + From 2 months-1 year
Yes Avoid acid and wet soils
2g/sq m sow broadcast
Buckwheat Polygonaceae March-August 1-3 months 2-3 months, before fl owering
No Thrives on poor soils
6g/sq m 20cm between rows
Clover,crimson
Leguminosae March-August 2-3 months, may overwinter
2-3 months, before fl owering
Yes Prefers lighter soils 3g/sq m sow broadcast
Fenugreek Leguminosae March-August 2-3 months 2-3 months, before fl owering
No Well drained 4g/sq m, sow broadcast or in 15cm rows
Field Beans Leguminosae Sept-November
Overwinter March-May, before fl owering
Yes Prefers heavy soil 20g/sq m, 10cm x 15-20cm
Grazing Rye Gramineae August-November
Overwinter Early spring No Most 16g/sq m, sow broadcast or in 20cm rows
Lupin Leguminosae March-June 2-4 months 2-4 months, before fl owering
Yes Light, acid soils 5g/sq m 15cm rows
Mustard Brassicaceae March-mid Sept
1-2 months 1-2 months, before fl owering
No Prefers a fertile soil 5g/sq m, sow broadcast or in 15cm rows
Phacelia Hydrophyllaceae March-mid Sept
1-3 months, may overwinter
1-3 months, before fl owering
No Most 2g/sq m, sow broadcast or in 20cm rows
Trefoil Leguminosae March-August 3 months + 3-4 months Yes Will stand light dry soils, pref. not acid
Sow broadcast
Winter Tares Leguminosae March-May & July-September
2-3 months, overwinter
2-3 months, before fl owering
Yes Avoid acid and dry soils
25g/sq m, 15cm rows
Green manure information
Sowing green manures on empty beds within your plot can have
many benefits
ALG Issue 4 2013.indd 18 17/10/2013 11:44
19
ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE
Take a fresh look at Kew GardensKew Gardens has long been a favourite for allotment and gardening society visits. With extensive gardens under glass reaching up to 27°C, the popular World Heritage Site attraction is a perfect year-round choice.
We all remember the Palm House with its vast tropical rainforest interiors - perhaps the most iconic glasshouse in the world. However the striking Davies Alpine House is a more recent addition, home to rare alpine plants. It is set beside the Princess of Wales Conservatory which itself takes visitors through 10 climatic zones.
The real hidden gem amongst Kew Gardens’ eight glasshouses is the Waterlily House where giant lily pads amaze onlookers with their sheer size. In fact, Kew Gardens boasts several waterlily ponds, both indoors and out, as well as a serene lake.
Did you know that Kew Gardens is also home to a Georgian royal palace? Kew Palace is a beautiful royal retreat comprising princesses’ bedrooms, an intimate dining room and newly restored Royal Kitchens. The adjacent garden gives a flavour of what Georgian kitchen gardens were like with neat vegetable beds and fruit trees.
Kew’s Diploma students tend their very own vegetable plots, growing a variety of fruit and vegetables to the highest standards. The plots can be visited in spring
and summer and students are happy to share ideas with fellow vegetable growers when they’re out of the classrooms.
Discounted rates are available for parties of ten or more. Contact Kew Gardens’ group bookings team on 0208 332 5648 or by email: [email protected].
ALG Issue 4 2013.indd 19 17/10/2013 11:45
20
Expert guide to…
We all take water for granted We all take water for granted. We all know that without it life on earth could not exist as it does. We have water all over the planet, in vast oceans, in lakes, rivers and ponds and even minute traces on some of the driest places on the planet. As gardeners we complain when we get too little or too much, but for us in the UK and for much of the world rainfall is suffi cient for life to fl ourish. But, have you ever considered just how special water is?
Chemists organise the chemical elements into a simple table. The periodic table was fi rst published by Mendeleev, a Russian chemistry professor in 1869 and then independently by a German chemist Meyer in 1870. For the fi rst part of this discussion it is useful to use a simplifi ed part of this table.
Elements in period 2 and 3, groups 4, 5, 6, 7 all form stable compounds with hydrogen (H). The elements in group 8 are the inert or noble gasses and under normal conditions do not react with anything.
Looking at rows 2 and 3 groups 4 to 7 we have the following hydrides and their boiling points:
So from the above data one might expect the hydride of oxygen to boil somewhere between -100 to + 20°C. But the hydride of oxygen is water, which we all know boils at 100°C. If water followed the expected pattern from the elements surrounding it we would have no or very little liquid water on the planet and life as we know it would not exist.
The next fascinating water fact is to do with its density and its solid form, ice. Just about every substance you could think of has the same properties. As liquids are cooled they steadily shrink, and as the same weight of liquid gets smaller the density consequently increases and the cooler liquid sinks. When they get down to the freezing point the solid that forms is denser than its liquid and the solid sinks to the bottom.
So what about water? From its boiling point of 100°C right down to 4°C water behaves just like any other liquid; it gets more dense as it gets cooler and the cooler water sinks to the bottom. However, from 4°C to 0°C it does not get denser as does every other liquid; no, our special water starts to get less dense.
Now for it’s solid. The ice that forms on water is less dense than the liquid so it fl oats and stays on the top. Okay, that’s unique, but what you might ask is
so special about that. When life started on this planet it must have started in shallow seas, lakes or ponds. During very cold spells much of the planet was freezing; if water obeyed all the normal rules the ponds would have frozen from the bottom up. If that happened all the animal life in the water would have been gradually forced to the surface where they would eventually be frozen solid. But with water as it cools to 4°C it reaches its greatest density; this water sinks to the bottom of a pond and stays there at about 4°C. The water at the top will cool to 0°C and then freeze, but this colder water and the ice that forms stays on top protecting the water below. Even fairly shallow ponds in the UK of 15" depth or more stay liquid even in prolonged cold spells. No other liquid can do that for you.
So not only does water have a brilliant melting and boiling point and the ability to protect from freezing bottom up, but a whole range of other properties.
Take the property called specifi c heat. This is the amount of energy required to raise a set mass of liquid by a set temperature. Interestingly, water has the highest specifi c heat of all common liquids. Is this important? With a high specifi c heat water heats up much slower than other liquids and cools down slower. An excellent buffer against extremes of temperature and just what you would want for any life in a liquid system. Just imagine what our little island would be like if the sea temperature rose several degrees higher in the summer and fell several degrees lower in the winter.
Then we have the latent heats of vaporisation and fusion. The latent heat of vaporisation is the amount of energy required to convert a liquid to a gas or vapour. Water has a very high latent heat of vaporisation (approximately 3 to 6 times that of many common solvents), and thus water evaporates much slower than liquids of a similar boiling point. Without this our small ponds would dry up very rapidly, plants and animals would desiccate rapidly and once again life would be diffi cult. And can you imagine what the rain would be like if water evaporated and condensed far more rapidly?
It’s a similar story with the latent heat of fusion. This is the amount of energy required to melt a set mass of solid, or in the reverse the amount of energy you must remove to freeze that mass. Water has a very high latent heat of fusion and thus water freezes much slower than other liquids. Once again this helps to keep our shallow pools from freezing solid. It also ensures our ice caps do not grow far too fast and melt far too fast. Without this high latent heat of fusion the sea levels in the oceans would vary much more than they do from winter to summer.
Is that enough – no way. Now to be much briefer. Water is a brilliant solvent; it dissolves a huge range of minerals and simple organic molecules without which life could not exist. It also dissolves oxygen better than many other solvents, again an essential for life in water.
It has one the highest surface tensions of common liquids. Surface tension is responsible for a process called capillary action. If you dip a narrow bore tube (a capillary) into water the surface tension drags the water up the inside of the tube. This could well be an essential part of the evolution of plants, getting water from the roots to the top of the plant. Capillary action will easily raise water 15 or more feet. With most other solvents you would struggle to get above 3 to 8 feet.
Scientists, of course, have an explanation for much of this; it’s called hydrogen bonding. Essentially every molecule of water is strongly electrically attracted to its neighbours. This makes water dense, it stops it from boiling at a low temperature, and it gives it a high surface tension. When it freezes this strong attraction is replaced by a set crystalline structure and explains why ice is less dense and fl oats. Next time you take a look at water, just marvel at the stuff; it is so good
it could have been invented by God. And, if I am wrong and it was, He or She did a brilliant job.Charles BarrieEx-chemist and now full time-allotment gardenerAs gardeners we
complain when we get too little or too much
Symbol Element Hydride Boiling point deg C
C Carbon Methane -164
N Nitrogen Ammonia -35.5
O Oxygen Water 100
F Fluorine Hydrogen fl uoride 20
Si Silicon Silane -111.4
P Phosphorous Phosphine -78.8
S Sulfur Hydrogen sulfi de -60
Cl Chlorine Hydrogen chloride -85
ALG Issue 4 2013.indd 20 17/10/2013 11:45
21
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Seasonal jobs to do
JANUARY
DECEMBER
NOVEMBERMost of the work should be done by now; If not, don’t panic if the weather won’t allow you to get on.
It is now that we can appreciate the benefi t of those lovely winter vegetables such as sprouts, Savoy cabbage, parsnips and leeks and in the store where we have potatoes, onions and carrots. The last of the celeriac and beetroot has just been harvested. The trench dug for the runner beans is slowly fi lling up with any plant waste and weeds coming off the garden and will continue to fi ll right up until March. When soil conditions allow get on with the winter digging and if your soil is heavy clay leave it in ridges or rough lumps for the frost to break down.
Complete the pruning of blackcurrants by cutting this year’s fruiting wood down to soil level. Red, white currants and gooseberries need to be spur- pruned. Shorten all side branches back to three inches and if you want to encourage the main shoots to grow then shorten them by about six inches cutting just above a bud.
Try to keep on top of the winter digging, keeping off the soil
when it is wet or frozen.
Wait until parsnips and sprouts have been frosted a few times
before harvesting them; it improves their fl avour, making them
sweeter.
Remove any yellowing leaves from brassicas and put on the
compost heap.
Plant out or direct sow hardy, round-seeded early pea ‘Meteor’
and broad beans such as ‘Aquadulce Claudia’ or ‘Masterpiece
Green Longpod’ to over-winter and provide the earliest crops.
They will need some protection from the harshest conditions;
wet will do them more harm than cold.
Check any fruit and vegetables in store. Remove and destroy
any rotting produce. Use the largest onions fi rst; the smaller
ones will keep the longest.
Browse the seed catalogues.
Clear the ground of spent crops; clear and dig the ground when weather conditions are suitable.
Place cloches or plastic sheets over the ground to warm it up for the earliest crops.
Lift a few rhubarb crowns for forcing; also it is a good time to lift, divide and replant crowns, bearing in mind that you won’t be able to harvest them for three years.
When you receive them, set up seed potatoes to “chit” or sprout using seed trays or shallow boxes. Look carefully at the tuber and you will see that one end has more eyes than the other. Place this end uppermost. Stand the trays somewhere that is cool, well lit but frost-free.
Clean any trays or pots that will be used for seed sowing.
Store your seed and potting composts somewhere dry and warm; never use compost straight from a bag that has been standing outside.
Complete the winter pruning of fruit trees and bushes before the end of the month. Remember that pruning at this time of the season encourages growth not fruit.
also it is a good time to lift, divide and replant crowns, bearing in mind that you won’t be able to harvest them for three years.
When you receive them, set up seed potatoes to “chit” or sprout using seed trays or shallow boxes. Look carefully at the tuber and you will see that one end has more eyes than the other. Place this end uppermost. Stand the trays somewhere that is cool, well lit but frost-free.
trees and bushes before the end of the month. Remember that pruning at this time of the season encourages growth not fruit.
ALG Issue 4 2013.indd 22 17/10/2013 11:45
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2014 e-voucher discount bookletBumper crop of offers in this year’s e-voucher booklet and, coming up in ALG Issue 1, 2014, a membership card for every affi liate.
The latest e-voucher booklet on the members section of the website gives members entitlement to discounts with some of the UK’s leading horticultural and leisure suppliers, including Waltons, Mantis, Kings Seeds, Compost Direct, Euro-bulbs, Avanti Holidays and many more. Visit the Members area of the website (www.nsalg.org.uk) and follow the links on the left hand side to access the voucher booklet. If you don’t have a login and password for the Members area please call 01536 266576 and you will be supplied with them.
Site secretaries will notice that contained in their next parcel of magazines (Issue 1, 2014) will be a number of membership cards – one for every affi liate on your site. The cards will need to be fi lled in with your membership number and can then be used to obtain the discounts listed in the Member Benefi ts voucher e-booklet when you visit a supplier’s own outlet.
The cards are also a way of ensuring that everyone on your site knows that they are a NAS member and can take an active part in the National Allotment Society, so please try to distribute them as widely as possible.
Member Benefi ts voucher e-booklet when you visit a supplier’s own when you visit a supplier’s own
ALG Issue 4 2013.indd 23 17/10/2013 11:45
24
Mike Thurlow…QQI have tried to select questions that may be
topical and cover most aspects of the vegetable garden/allotment. Allotment gardening covers a wide range of interests; if you want to include any other areas of gardening please send your questions in.
Regulars
&AApple theftQI am wondering if anyone has had a problem with fruit being
taken off their allotment. I have had my brambly apple stripped of fruit; not my other trees just this one. Has anyone else had a problem at all?Kind regards, Carol Fox
ASadly this is an all too common problem when fruit starts to swell on trees. It used to happen regularly to me when I was the
Head Gardener of a walled kitchen garden. The visitors would see the fruit on the trees and they would just help themselves.
The Rules of the National Allotment Society state that the removal of any produce without the permission is regarded as theft. If the culprit can be identifi ed, it is a case of instant eviction from the site. Unfortunately most theft of produce especially fruit is opportunist, and in many cases carried out by individual(s) entering the site when they think it is safe to do so.
I have just taken on a new allotment and a couple of months ago my strawberries were picked by somebody. All I managed to collect was enough for two dishes. It also happened to me 40 years ago on my fi rst allotment.
The only consolation that I can offer is that the apples would be useless this early in the year but I appreciate that this is of no comfort to you because you have lost a crop that you quite rightly was looking forward to.
I would advise you to report the matter and it may be that other plot holders have also lost produce as well.
Plum tree problemsQI planted a Victoria Plum on dwarf stock four
years ago on the espalier system with very poor cropping up until this year. I sprayed it with Bordeaux mix earlier this year but the fruits on the tree are green and as soon as they start to ripen turn purple. There is amber like gum on the fruit and they shrivel up and drop off. I have tried to understand what the problem is and the only answer I come up with is Bacterial Canker. I pruned the long branches in July but they gave me no indication of infection; they were nice and healthy. I have looked at pictures on the internet of Bacterial Canker but it does not look like the raised amber gum on my fruit.Peter Hansen
AFrom your description it sounds as if your plum trees are suffering from Plum moth. The small white, pink or red ½ “/
12cm long caterpillars tunnel into the fruits during July-August and the damaged fruits colour up and ripen prematurely.
Collect up and remove all of the damaged plums during July-August and destroy them before the moths have time to leave them. The amber gum is a sign of plum moth activity.
Plum moth damage can sometimes be confused with Plum sawfl y attack but the symptoms with sawfl y are seen as early as June.
There is a fungal disease of plums known as pocket plum that causes the fruits to shrivel on one side. This again shouldn’t be mistaken for plum moth or sawfl y damage.
Bacterial Canker appears on the woody parts of the tree and not on the fruit.
The removal of any produce without the
permission is regarded as theft
Carrot fly–SeptemberQI have covered my carrots at
my allotment with fl eece and I was wondering when it is safe to take the fl eece off to avoid carrot fl y.Thanks, Gordon Fisher.
AI would keep the fl eece in place until the end of September
because there is always the possibility of late hatchings of carrot root fl y still being active and attacking the crop.
ALG Issue 4 2013.indd 24 17/10/2013 11:45
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Confused onionQThis onion looked normal enough from above but
when lifted from the ground looked like it was heading for Australia. I am puzzled as to how it could have a green shoot when buried in the earth.
APoor onion, what a state to be in. The growth of the underground ‘bulblets’ is as a result of the base
of the onion being damaged at some time. It could be before it was planted, at planting time or at any time during the growing period.
If it was grown from a set the most common cause of damage is pushing the set into the soil. This action compresses the soil underneath the base of the set which injures the basal plate. It is always best to use a trowel to open up the soil and keep it loose. Text books state that onions need fi rm soil but it shouldn’t be made too hard. Onions produce extensive root systems that can only develop in reasonably open soil.
Onions also produce their roots near the surface of the soil; that is why it is better to hand-weed around the bulbs and avoid hoeing too deeply and too close to the individual bulbs.
Always check the basal plate on onion sets before planting them and throw away any that show signs of disease or damage.
Onions grown from seed need the same care and treatment assets from planting time to harvesting. They may suffer damage or injury when they are being pricked out or potted on.
It is surprising how much natural light can penetrate the upper surface of the soil and that is the reason why you observed the green shoots growing through the soil. The natural light levels can also affect the speedy germination of seeds.
Wasps - friend or foe?QI wonder if you could give me some advice. One of our
allotment tenants has reported a wasps’ nest in the compost heap on her allotment plot. What is the best way to deal with it and who is responsible, the Parish Council or the tenant?Liz Pinchen, Deputy Parish ClerkCambourne Parish Council
AFrom my own experience, if it is practical to do so I would rather leave the nest alone and live with it because wasps are major
predators in the garden. They continue to operate towards the end of summer even when temperatures are beginning to fall. They clear plants of a large number of aphids and caterpillars. Wasps should be viewed as the gardener’s friend and tolerated rather than persecuted.
If the nest has to be destroyed it is best carried out by contractors who are trained in the use of any chemicals used and also wear the appropriate safety clothing. The chemicals that professionals use are far stronger than anything available to the amateur. If the nest has to be destroyed it is far better to be certain that it is safe and clear to re-enter the area afterwards and that there is minimum suffering to the wasp colony. Many local authorities use retained pest control contractors so it may be worth contacting them fi rst before going any further.
I have attached below the contact details of a very good website that covers all of the information on wasps and their nests.
http://www.waspnestuk.co.uk/Wasp-Nest-Removal-UK/how-to-get-rid-of-wasps.html
Badgers?QOur allotments are surrounded by 3 feet high rabbit netting
but this year we are having trouble with badgers eating our sweetcorn. Several of us have checked the perimeter fence and there are no holes. Have you heard of badgers climbing over fencing like this?Many thanks, George Taylor,Herstmonceux Allotment Association
AA wire fence isn’t strong enough to deter badgers; they are very strong animals and would have no diffi culty in demolishing
it quite quickly. If they did fi nd the fence an obstacle they would have tunnelled underneath it; they are extremely effi cient diggers. The major signs of badger activity in an area are lots of digging and disturbance of the soil. A lot of the damage to an area is a result of the bulk and strength of the badger. Badgers are not normally climbing animals and I would guess that the damage to the sweetcorn is as a result of vermin; more than likely rats. They are on the move at this time of the year and are stocking up their larders for
the winter. They create stockpiles of food scattered over a wide area to visit
in the colder months. You may want to contact
a local Badger Protection Society and they may visit the site to advise you or you could contact your County Wildlife Group to discuss the matter
with them.
to the wasp colony. Many local authorities use retained pest control contractors so it may be worth contacting them fi rst before going
I have attached below the contact details of a very good website that covers all of the information on wasps and
http://www.waspnestuk.
Removal-UK/how-to-get-rid-of-
Badgers?Digging made easy
Buy online at:www.backsavergardentools.co.uk
Backsaver Autospade- ideal for the vegetable gardener!The beauty of this tool is you dig from a standing position: there is no need to bend to lift and turn the soil. Take a spit; pull back on the handle bar and a large spring at the base of the shaft acts to throw the soil forward.
Dig without the strain of bending and at twice the normal speed.
• Twice the speed• No back strain• Less effort
The Backsaver Twinn is a two handle spade that allows you to dig without bending. Available as a border spade it’s light and simple to use. It will remove the strain of bending and allow you to keep pottering in the garden.
Contact us below or see the video of the spades in action at www.backsavergardentools.co.uk.
Backsaver Twinn- ideal for the �ower bed!
Backsaver Garden Tools Ltd16 The Sidings, Station Road, Guiseley, Leeds, LS20 8BX
Tel: 01943 870486 Email: [email protected]
Backsaver Garden Tools.indd 1 17/12/2012 15:03:46
ALG Issue 4 2013.indd 25 17/10/2013 11:45
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Immerse yourself in the living history and the present-day glory of Borde Hill GardenIn 2014 visitors can absorb themselves in the conception and fascinating history of Borde Hill Garden. Created in the 1890’s by Colonel Stephenson R Clarke (SRC) with plants collected by the Great Victorian Plant Hunters, Borde Hill hosts many rare trees and shrubs. We are proud to have 83 ‘Champion Trees’, some of which are detailed in our Woodland Walk Trail for visitors to guide themselves through our woodland exploring the numbered trees.
SRC was a great naturalist, with botanical interest and garden design playing equally important roles. He started planting the Garden from 1893 and in 1898 created the Ha-Ha. He sponsored many expeditions by the great plant collectors to China, Asia, Tasmania and the Andes. From these expeditions many plants were gathered and placed in the best suited areas of the grounds at Borde Hill. We recently undertook a project sponsored by English Heritage, where over 8000 listed specimens were mapped. The next step will be cataloguing and collating the data gathered.
Arts Council England and The Great Victorian Plant HuntersWe are especially excited about a new project funded by Arts Council England which will culminate in an Arts and Cultural Strategy for Borde Hill. We are working alongside arts consultants Frances Lord and Belinda Holden to create displays and information about the Victorian Plant Hunters at Borde Hill.
Our fi rst artist in residence, botanical artist Louise O’Reilly, has researched the history of the garden and individual plant histories and is putting together special displays which will be exhibited in one of
our Victorian Glass Houses this autumn (for more details see website). There will also be interactive workshops, free copies of Plant Histories booklets, thought-provoking displays and interpretation boards that will connect the seeds and samples that were transported for miles all of those years ago, with the impressive fl ora and fauna within the Garden today. Among the many archives of family history are the beautifully written letters to SRC from the Plant Hunters; these letters in themselves are beautiful pieces of art history and allow us to understand and appreciate the work and achievements to a much greater degree.
The Garden and Parkland in the 21st centuryBorde Hill Garden is not only English Heritage Listed Grade II*, but is set in 200 acres of an Area of Outstanding Natural
Beauty with spectacular vistas across the Ouze Valley Viaduct.
The Garden was planted in a series of intimate outdoor ‘rooms’ which include the Azalea Ring (1912), Garden of Allah (1922) and sub-tropical Dells. Later added were Jay Robin’s Rose Garden, the Mediterranean,
Mid-Summer Border and Italian Garden. The Rose Garden, created in 1996, was designed by RHS Gold Medallist Robin Williams and planted with over 500 scented David Austin roses. The Italian Garden was previously the family tennis court which was transformed into a rectangular pool with Italianesque-themed plants established around the borders.
Beyond the formal Garden are magical woodlands with giant rhododendrons and carpeted with bluebells - ideal for tranquil walks to enjoy the fauna and fl ora.
A day out at Borde HillBorde Hill is a great destination for all ages; there is plenty to see and do. The Children’s Adventure Playground is a great area for parents to take the weight off their feet whilst the children burn off some steam. Picnics are allowed anywhere within the Garden and BBQ’s and ball-games are permitted in the Parkland. Dogs are welcome on leads.
Each year there is a programme of events for visitors to enjoy the Garden with a new focus and dimension. For 2014 we will be hosting our ever-popular regular events such as Easter/Summer/Halloween Fun, nature trails, music and art events, as well as some new and exciting additions to the calendar (including the Plant Hunter exhibits).
Jeremy’s Restaurant (which won The Good Food Guide Regional Readers’ Restaurant of the Year 2013) is ideal for fi ne dining. Cafe Elvira offers a wide-range of good quality home-cooked meals and cakes for more relaxed refreshments.
There is also a gift shop, plant sales & gallery on site. Garden is open every day from 22nd March to 2nd November 2014.
Visit www.bordehill.co.uk for more information.
Borde Hill Garden, Borde Hill Lane, Haywards Heath, West Sussex RH16 1XP
Borde Hill Garden is set in 200 acres of an Area of Outstanding
Natural Beauty
Garden HighlightsMarch – AprilMagnolias and CamelliasApril – MayRhododendrons and AzaleasMayRhododendrons and BluebellsJune – SeptemberRoses and Herbaceous plantsSeptember – OctoberAutumn colour
ALG Issue 4 2013.indd 26 17/10/2013 11:45
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Northern
Prudhoe Gardeners’AssociationJubilee Town Show September 2013Prudhoe Gardeners’ annual Town Show is free to enter and open to everyone. Hence we get exhibitors coming from all over the region, making it one of the most prestigious shows in the allotmenteers’ calendar in the North East of England providing medals and certifi cates from the National Vegetable Society, National Dahlia Society, National Chrysanthemum Society and National Rose Society.
Following the exceptionally good weather during the summer months there has been an anticipated increase in the Flower and Vegetable entries to this year’s Town Show.
Unfortunately the strong winds recently and the heavy and prolonged rain prior to the Show put paid to some of the fl ower exhibits much to the dismay of the growers. Gladioli were the fi rst to succumb to the weather followed by any sweet peas grown outdoors. Those lucky enough to have them undercover were at a great advantage when it came to winning fi rst prize and the accompanying trophies.
This year there were two new exhibitors to the Show with excellent stands of fl owers winning them prestigious awards. Gordon Wallace from Whickham, a long-standing member of the Rosecarpe Society and Dennis Brennan from Washington, another
long-standing member of Rosecarpe, with outstanding sweet peas won all the awards. He explained that he had a protective plastic roof over his exhibits which protected them from the heavy rain recently and won him the coveted sweet pea trophy.
In the Junior section, one of our regular young exhibitors Dominic Anderson romped home with the Best Exhibit and Most Points, a great accolade for a nine-year-old.
It was a well deserved result having shown great imagination and patience in painting and model making.
However, the really good weather conditions increased the vegetable entries by 50% giving a very high standard of exhibits with a lot of competition between exhibitors.
The Show Cup was retained for a second year by Jean Phillips with an amazing number of entries in Home Baking, Jams and Preserves – giving her a massive lead over all other exhibitors.
The Prudhoe Gardeners’ Association allotment holder with most points in fl owers and vegetables was Ray Cooke (a very new allotment plot holder), very closely contested by Chris Newton, another recent convert to allotment gardening. Only one point separated this nail-biting contest.
Overall the Show was an unparalleled success with thanks due to all the sponsors, exhibitors and the committee who managed and ran the Show.
Next year will be the 50th Anniversary of the Prudhoe Town Show with many new and innovative ideas to improve this popular Show in the Tyne Valley.Joan Russell (PGA Show Sec)
Jean Phillips – Show Champion Sheila Potts and Joan Russell setting up
Sam Mountford – Youngest Exhibitor
ALG Issue 4 2013.indd 28 17/10/2013 11:45
29
Northern region news
Our quarterly meetings are continuing as usual and we are pleased to welcome Liz Bunting, Legal Advisor, to our October meeting. Meetings are held at the Belmont Working Men’s Club, Carrville, Durham and all members are welcome.
The next meeting will be on Saturday 25th January 2014 at 2.00pm.
The Members’ Forum can be relied upon to bring new and unusual challenges to the meeting every time.
I have been pleased to pass the show banners and other show materials to 5 different associations across the region during the summer. They have been well received and promote the NAS very well.
I have over 390 email contacts in the region and keeping in touch with all of you is easy from my point of view but it does depend on people informing me of changes in personnel in their associations or changes in contact details. I am pleased to receive requests from people who wish to be removed from the contact list and
correspondingly details of new offi cers in societies.
I have postal addresses of some 85 members, mostly life or individual in the region and I cannot manage to write to all of you more than once a year. Please inform me of changes in your situation. I cannot keep you informed unless you tell me or the national offi ce what your up-to-date address is.
I was pleased to be invited to the awards ceremony at Preston Lane
Allotments in Stockton on Tees. Judging had taken place at the beginning of July with points being awarded for different aspects of gardening excellence. Just like Chelsea they gave Gold, Silver Gilt, Silver and Bronze awards. The result was that around half
the plot holders achieved an award and many aspire to do better next year.
The criteria for judging allotment plots are very fl exible but consistency, good criteria and an impartial judge are the main requirements. John DohertyNorthern Regional Representative
Regional Rep John Doherty presents Certifi cates of Merit at Preston Lane Allotments.Burn Valley Allotment Association
On Sunday August 18th Hartlepool BC held its Allotments show which was set up for all Hartlepool allotment groups to participate in and to show their respective sites off.
This was the second such show and was built on the success of the fi rst one. The Burn Valley allotment site again participated and gave a good account of itself.
The main category was the “Allotment Challenge” which was a full table (plus) display to show the best of each site.
Attached is a photo of the Burn Valley Allotment Association entry which took the 1st prize, rosette and cup. The produce was supplied by members of the BVAA and was set up and arranged by Jim Wilson.
Many thanks to Jo, Jasmine and Helen from the HBC allotments team for running the event and being ‘on call’ throughout the day.Sincerely, Pat Hays (BVAA Sec.)
The Members’ Forum can be relied upon to
bring new and unusual challenges
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Northern
Roddymoor Community Allotment AssociationIn January 2000 N.A.S. bought the Roddymoor allotment site from the Coal Board Authority. The site was already in decline, as at that particular time, interest in allotment gardening was on the wane. Things got steadily worse over the following years and with no committee to oversee the management of the site some plot holders were taking advantage of the situation, i.e.dumping rubbish on empty plots, not attending to plots allocated to them and burying glass on plots. In September 2012, after rallying the support of most of the remaining plot holders a general meeting was called with the object of forming a committee to run the site and attempt to reverse the current trend. From this meeting a committee was formed with Colin Hemingway taking the Secretary's job and Tommy Brown as his Chairman. There was not a penny in the funds. Indeed, not even a bank account. With the help of local councillor John Bailey who forwarded us £200 from his Members Initiative Fund a start was made to pull the site back from the brink.
Rules were laid down and a constitution formed as members set off on the long road to recovery. Some noses were put out of joint during the initial couple of months as attempts were made to break down the culture that some folk had followed during the previous regime. Now a steering group of hard-working committee members had been formed who were determined to raise the standard of the site.
Our fi rst task was to acquire funding for a project idea of Colin's. This was to develop a community room and garden. An application was made to Durham County Council for funding from a £500k pot of money that had been allocated for the Crook area to be spent on local voluntary movements. What Colin wanted to do was to involve the local community, the young, the old, the disabled and bring them together on the only community facility left in the village, not just for gardening purposes but to use the proposed community room as a drop-in centre where people of all ages and backgrounds could come and share a cuppa with other like-minded people in a warm and friendly environment and perhaps plant up one of the raised garden beds in the proposed community garden.
In order to forward our application
though, the Council needed to see proof that there was a desire for this ambitious project. Colin's committee worked hard on this and conducted a 400 homes survey around the local area. The response was
an overwhelming 60% positive attitude to the project. We also enlisted the help and support of the local primary school and contacted AGE U.K who offered us their support too. Armed with these results an application was made for a share of this pot of money to turn the committee’s dreams into reality. It
wasn't an easy process to undertake as the bulk of the work rested on only two or three people’s shoulders. There was loads of enthusiasm which made up for the lack of experience in this fi eld, and a lot of sleepless nights were spent hoping
we got the correct terminology. Offi cers at the Council provided understanding and advice on a number of matters regarding form fi lling.
As to who would receive a share of the pot was to be decided on a public vote. With no limit as to how much each applicant could apply for, Roddymoor Community Project went in for £70k. The committee worked tirelessly on very scant resources to promote our idea. Unfortunately though, things didn't work out as planned at the public vote. The winning bid took all of the £500k that was on offer and none of the other eleven applicants received a penny to the dismay of every one and the disgust of many. In our case it was back to square one. Although bitterly disappointed we picked ourselves up, dusted ourselves off and prepared to start all over again.
To be continuedColin HemingwayRoddymoor A
Some noses were put out of joint duringthe initial couple
of months
ALG Issue 4 2013.indd 30 17/10/2013 11:45
31
Yorkshire
Abbey Playing Fields Allotment AssociationCompanies come in for a lot of stick these days. Shoddy, overpriced work seems to be the norm rather than the exception but today the members of the Abbey Playing Fields Allotment Association witnessed what can only be described as the very best in real British workmanship. Let me explain.
About 15 months ago the Association were handed the keys to 25 brand new allotments by the members of Hatfi eld Town Council, near Doncaster in South Yorkshire. Funding had been obtained to transform part of a disused school playing fi eld into 25 new allotments following identifi cation of a need in a recent village survey. Security fencing was erected, car park laid and plots marked out for those enthusiastic, successful bidders of the available spaces.
The only thing lacking was water. Sadly there was no access to the mains. So, over the past months members have had to carry supplies from their homes whenever nature didn't provide.
The solution, it was decided, was a borehole. Despite the expense we set about researching via the Internet. Where were we to go to get the best job at the best price? Well, not far as it transpired. By way of recommendation we were put in touch with a company based not 10 miles away from us - David Hughes and his son Darren of Doncaster. This father and son outfi t quickly impressed with their down-to-earth, no nonsense approach. Their knowledge, based on years of experience in the industry both at home and abroad as well as their enthusiasm convinced us that this was where we should place our trust.
Plans were put in place. Every aspect of the legalities was expertly explained leaving nothing to chance so that, come the day, everything would happen as described.
That day was Friday 7th June 2013. We awoke early to a beautiful warm dry day. David and Darren arrived precisely on time with their heavy equipment and were soon in position to commence drilling. We were instantly impressed by their shiny new drilling rig. Effi ciency was obvious to see. Everything had its place. Drill rods neatly laid in precisely the right position. Father David operated the remote control unit which carefully raised and lowered winches and a hydraulic drill whilst Darren expertly screwed and unscrewed sections of drill rods in a carefully choreographed routine that in no time at all saw the drill plummeting into the ground.
After the fi rst 3 or 4 metres it was obvious that they had already reached the water table. Good news for the eagerly awaiting allotment holders as we now knew that our plans to use a manual pump capable of lifting from a depth of 6 metres would be realised.
On they went, down into sandstone
where an endless supply of pure, clean water could be accessed. The rig made light work of the task, cutting through sandstone as easily as it had the sand layer above it.
At 30 metres David decided that they were deep enough to ensure a constant supply of water for our members. As the rods were extracted all that remained was an 8" diameter steel pipe which stretched down into the sandstone and was capped off at the surface awaiting arrival of our new pump, sometime the next week. What a
thrill to peer down this pipe to see the water so near to the surface.
Before long everything was neatly loaded back onto the rig and the site returned to normal save for the steel pipe protruding from the ground. We had spent a fantastic day in the company of David and Darren. Nothing had been too much trouble. They had welcomed onlookers and been eager to explain every procedure as they performed them. For our part we ensured a constant supply of coffee and bacon butties.
David and Darren came by way of recommendation and I and my colleagues
recommend them to you and anyone interested in sinking a borehole. These were true craftsmen, totally profi cient in their chosen careers and, by the way, the best price as well.
By way of information, anyone can have a borehole. Information can be obtained from the Environment Agency. Provided that you have the permission of the landowner and you are not planning to extract more than 20 cubic metres per day then no licence is required. All the water extracted is free of charge. Quality testing is advised but not essential except if used for commercial purposes. David explained that in some areas undesirable elements such as iron can be traced which require fi ltration systems putting in place. Fortunately he is expert in these matters too. In fact any aspect of water extraction, well or borehole, boreholes for ground source heat pumps fi ltration and pumping systems fall within his expertise whether for commercial, local authority or personal use. He will travel anywhere in the country with his rig but will offer advice to anyone in the world.
He can be contacted as follows:- David Hughes, 8 Birchwood Court, Bessecarr, Doncaster DN4 6SX. Tel: 01302860160. Mobile 07796694724. E-mail [email protected]
A good time was had by allDespite all the upset with increased rents and conditions of tenancy being imposed by Leeds City Council, the allotment holders of Leeds had a good time at their ‘Allotment do’, organised by the Leeds & District Allotment Gardeners Federation.
The Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress were in attendance to present trophies and prizes to the winners of the ‘Leeds Allotment Competition’. The competition has been administered by the Federation for the Leeds City Council for more than 30 years.
There was a new trophy, the Alan Gledhill trophy, in memory of Alan who sadly passed away earlier this year. He was one of the leading fi gures in the formation of the Federation and a founding member of the self-managed allotment movement which brought Leeds to the forefront in the allotment world. It was quite an emotional time as Alan’s wife Brenda presented the trophy with the Lord Mayor to the two most aesthetically pleasing sites in Leeds, Gatescroft Allotments, Calverley and Swillington Allotments.
It was also announced that next year the Federation will be introducing into the competition a completely separate category for schools in Leeds.
The chairman Ian Wood also
announced that following the Federations huge successes at the Harrogate Spring Flower Show and the Great Yorkshire Show with their ‘Techno Allotment’ demonstration allotment garden, achieving ‘Best in Show’ and ‘Large Gold Medal’ plus ‘Champions Certifi cate’ respectively, the Royal Horticultural Society has invited the Federation to create an allotment garden at the Chelsea Flower Show 2014. This news was greeted with great excitement by all.
All proceeds from this most enjoyable evening at Sheepscar Club will be donated equally between the Arthritis UK and the Neuroblastoma Alliance (helping to fi ght an aggressive childhood cancer) charities.Phil Gomersall
Lord Mayor, Cllr. Thomas Murray, Brenda Gledhill, Vivien Tomlinson, Geoff Hull
What a thrill to peer down this pipe to see
the water so near to the surface
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Yorkshire
“Leeds allotments are a joy to behold”, a comment made by all of the judges of the Leeds Allotment Competition.
The Leeds and District Allotment Gardeners Federation (LDAGF), one of the largest and most active Allotment Federations nationally, have organised, managed and judged the Leeds Allotment Competition on behalf of Leeds City Council (LCC) for more than 30 years now.
There are some amazing allotment sites and plots in Leeds; their quality is always increasing, making it a diffi cult task to pick the winners. However, the following were judged recently as the ‘Best in Leeds’ 2013.
The criteria for judging has also been regularly updated to take into consideration the requirements of modern day allotment gardening incorporating composting, water retention, in some cases toilet facilities and many other environmental measures.
A good two thirds of allotment sites in Leeds are self-managed (leasing the allotment site and the allotment association managing it). Self-managed sites cater for almost 80% of all plot holders in Leeds. The
people on them are proud of their sites, one of the reasons why the quality of these sites is generally so high.
One other benefi t to the city is that the 3,100 gardeners on these sites create a small profi t for the Council whilst the 680 gardeners on the Council run sites rack up a loss for the local authority.
It is unfortunate that there has not been more participation in the competition from sites directly managed by the LCC this year.
Plans are afoot to create a whole new competition category for schools next year.
Throughout August there has been a revolving slide show in Leeds Art Gallery of many of the allotment sites in Leeds as part of their ‘Grow your own’ theme.Phil GomersallPublicity Offi cerLeeds and District Allotment Gardeners Federation
Lidgett Lane Allotments – ‘Best allotment site in Leeds’Brian Jenner, Hayleys Field Allotments – ‘Best allotment plot in Leeds’Joan Waite & Bridget Beer - ‘Best newcomers in Leeds’Alan Sidebottom, Seacroft Hall Allotments – ‘Best LCC plot in Leeds’Special Certifi cate – Ros Dunlevy, Hollin Lane Allotments.The new Alan Gledhill Award – this year awarded for the most aesthetically pleasing site – shared by – Swillington and Calverley allotments. St Anthony’s School, Beeston was awarded – ‘Best schools plot in Leeds’
Leeds Allotments - A joy to behold
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North West
Radcliffe Self-Managed Allotment AssociationLast year we were pleased to help the grandson of one of our members to complete one of the sections in the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, thus enabling him to gain his certifi cate.
The picture shows Douglas Davies with his Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme certifi cate, presented to him in June this year, on the Homer Street allotments in Radcliffe.
For the Skills section of the Award scheme, Douglas chose Allotmenteering, and cultivated a section of his Mother's and Grandmother's allotment. In his 15 square metre plot from spring to autumn of 2012 he successfully grew a selection of vegetables, including lettuce, potatoes, onions, sprouts, cabbages, radishes, peas and beans.
Brian Fawcett, Chairman of the Allotment Association, acted as supervisor and assessor, and commented on how well Douglas had done to grow so much.
On the allotment site with Douglas in the photograph are, from left, Brian Fawcett, Grandmother Emily Nortley, and Ben D'Amore the Association Secretary.
We hope that now Douglas will continue
to help out on the allotment, and maybe one day he will have a plot of his own.Mildred D’Amore
Joint SecretaryRadcliffe Self-Managed Allotment Association
“Supplying allotments throughout
the UK”
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34
Great summer events around the regionWe have been blessed with some wonderful weather this year and that has been shown in the produce grown on plots, the variety of open days and events including RHS Tatton & Southport Flower Show.
Bebington Road Allotment Society on the Wirral held their Summer Fete beneath a perfect blue cloudless sky (what a contrast to 2012 when it was a washout!). They had their usual stalls of tombola; white elephant; veg and plants; cakes, cream teas; bbq and kids games and a brass band to add to the atmosphere. The Mayor of Wirral was also enticed to come along to mix and mingle, have a cup of tea and plant a Royal Oak to commemorate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth 60 years ago. A good time was had by all and it was a wonderful atmosphere in which they also managed to raise some funds for their Society.
Lawson Road Allotment's Open Day was opened by our local ward councillors and there was a queue waiting to get in as they offi cially cut the ribbon. This year we had a new bigger area for the marquees with lots of fresh produce and homemade cakes with fresh teas and ground coffee on sale. We were privileged to have Stephen Lowe and Radio Lancashire broadcasting live from the Open Day, speaking to local plot holders and members of the community who were all enjoying a great successful day along with the naming of the lanes on
the site and even Axeman Corner named after Stephen. This year we also saw the scouts helping on some of the stalls and, in memory of Maureen Horn who helped form the group but sadly died suddenly earlier this year, we donated the takings from the stalls to the scout fund to help them continue as a new group.
Produce showsThe North West is increasing with produce and fl ower shows organised by local allotment associations or federations; already this year we have had shows in Wirral, Hoylake, East Lancs and in Blackpool, all reporting the number of entries increasing year on year. These shows are for fun and to encourage interaction between allotments.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Sad news: Death of Gordon HathawayI am sorry to have to report on the passing of one of the North West allotments most memorable personalities. Gordon Hathaway represented the Bury area for many years on the NW Committee. He lived life to the full during his 80 plus years and it was only in the later years that he gave up his beloved allotment. A character who will be sorely missed and our sympathies are extended to Gordon’s family. You can appreciate the character of the man by his coffi n which refl ected his other great interest of fi shing and his personality. He would have loved to see the smiles it produced on people’s faces.
North West
West Lancashire Allotments Federationare Winners at RHS Tatton!
Our individual allotment garden at the show, 'Recycle and Grow' earned us a 'Highly Commended' Award.
On the allotment we featured a greenhouse made from recycled bottles, a compost bin made from recycled pallets and raised beds from recycled pallet collars. We also demonstrated a selection of mulches from recycled materials that included wood chip, leaf mould, seaweed and straw, also Nettle and Comfrey liquid manures.
The larger joint venture with other North West Region Federations; NAS Community Allotments 'The Magic of Growing' received a 'Best Show Feature' Award.
The Mayor of West Lancashire, along with the mayors from most of the other boroughs involved, attended on the fi rst press day. On Saturday Rosie Cooper, the Member of Parliament for West Lancashire, paid us a visit on our allotment garden.
Southport Flower ShowThis year's edible garden won a Gold Medal at Southport Flower show, after a week of hard work between members of Wirral Allotments & Blackpool Federation. A wonderful display was created including beehives enriched under lines of fruit trees, chickens enjoying the sunshine, growing grass wall and ample planted beds full of produce and harvest festival. We moved location this year and along with the kind weather the show which was on for 4 days was a total success, topped with David Bellamy visiting the display to present the award to Andy. I want to thank everyone who sponsored or donated not only display items & fresh produce but the many hours that the helpers put in building the display and offering NAS information on the stand. Just around the corner from our allotment was Ashbridge School with Chorley-born Horticulture Manager Estelle Bryers. This show garden, the fi rst ever to be entered at Southport by a primary school, is a miniature representation of the glorious kitchen gardens and grounds at our beautiful Ashbridge School and Nursery in Preston.
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Party on the plot 2013 Harpers Lane Allotments is a statutory site of some 70 plots situated in north Bolton. For one day every summer the Harpers Lane Allotments Society throws open the gates of the site to our surrounding community and beyond. This year’s ‘Open Day’ on August 4th coincided with the start of National Allotments Week so we decided to make it a ‘Party on the Plot.’
At the heart of the day is the Flower and Vegetable Show. Harpers Lane Allotments Society has its origins in a Chrysanthemum Society set up on the site over 100 years ago. That Society and its successors always held Autumn Shows; indeed the current Site Secretary remembers as a young girl presenting a bouquet to the Mayoress at one such Show. However, about twenty years ago these shows fell by the wayside. About fi ve years ago, the Society decided to reinstate them, but as part of a wider celebration ‘Open Day’. This year’s show was well supported with excellent crops of onions, carrots and cabbages in particular. This year the principal prizes: the Master Gardener (six varieties of vegetables on a platter), The Maher Cup (for onions) and the Best in Show (Flowers) all went to female members; Sue Colman, Veronica Platt and Margaret Jackson respectively. Male plot holders need to raise their game! The prizes were presented by Cllr John Byrne, Executive Member for Neighbourhood Services, the section of the Council that manages allotments in Bolton.
Next to the Show tent there is a small fi eld where some 14 stalls were set up. Some were raising funds for local charities (such as Derian House Hospice or the RSPB), others (the Tombola and the Second-hand bookstall) for the Society’s own projects. No Lancashire fete would be complete without a Tombola and Open Day had two, the second being a Bottle Tombola with the star prize a litre bottle of whisky. The other stalls featured local producers and craftspeople, offering everything from traditional handmade clogs to Lancashire Cheese, from jams and chutneys to handmade cards, from canvas bags to garden plants.
For those needing sustenance there was a barbecue and burger stall.
One particular feature is the ice cream stall. This began when a plot holder used soft fruit from the plots to make a batch of homemade ice cream for our fi rst Open Day and has since grown into a small artisan producer which now sells its products at a range of Farmers’ Markets across Lancashire. This year the ice cream stall was at the bottom of the hill, next to the Amenities Hut near the entertainment marquee.
We have two marquees, bought with a grant from the Big Bolton Fund two years ago. One is used for the Show, the other houses a performance area. Each year a team of volunteers builds a stage out of pallets and tongue and groove; it’s our own mini-Glastonbury! This year saw the return of local Appalachian dance group ‘Leap to Your Feet’ and their backing band, the ‘Soyaband’. We also had an appearance by 13-year-old magician ‘Lorenzo’ who managed to involve Cllr Byrne in his escapology act.
Next to the entertainment marquee is the Tea Room, where a dedicated team served sandwiches, cakes and tea and coffee all afternoon to an appreciative public.
Finally there are the plots themselves. Many members of the public take the
opportunity to walk round the site, and see the plots. Unfortunately most days the site is closed to the public behind gates and a security fence. We’ve reluctantly made that move due to a number of serious incidents of fl y-tipping when the gates were left open during the day. We even had a wagon load
of asbestos tipped. This year some
plot holders took the opportunity to sell surplus vegetables to members of the public as they walked round. Many years ago, it was the norm for plot holders to sell tomatoes and chrysanthemums to the public, but modern tenancy regulations now
prevent such practices except on special occasions such as Open Day.
It’s hard to be exact about how many people attended as we don’t charge an entrance fee but based on sales of ice cream and refreshments and a rough count by the gate marshals, we think there were about 400 visitors on the site during the afternoon.
We think it’s important that the Allotments Society reaches out to its surrounding community. We want local people to be aware of and to value the site. Open Day was our second event this year that was open to the public, the fi rst being a performance by the Mikron Theatre Company in early June – another good use of the marquees.
We raised about £680 on the day. This will be divided between our chosen charity, which this year is the Derian House Children’s Hospice and the Society’s own projects which aim to enhance the site. On the day the Site Secretary recruited eight new people to one such project (suggested by Council offi cers) – an Induction Course in Allotment Gardening – and sessions began the following Sunday.
There’s more information about the Society and the Site on our ‘blog’; http://harperslaneallotmentssociety.blogspot.co.ukDave JacksonThe scene around the Tea Room
A stall set up on their plot by allotment holders
we think there were about 400 visitors
on the site during the afternoon.
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North West
Part I: Sue’s story of Eden Gardens Allotment AssociationJust over a year ago our neighbours, Bill and Gert asked if we were interested in having a plot on the allotment they had just joined. My husband, already having a go at growing potatoes and carrots on the patio, said he could most probably spare half a day a week and was quite interested in taking a look.
The following day we both went along with our neighbours to the allotment to see where it was situated and what it would entail.
After driving down a small off-road passageway to a very small car park, we opened our car doors to the roar of the local motorway, hardly being able to hear ourselves think. I wondered where on earth we had come to and how could there be an allotment here.
We all walked through the rickety gate, which was in danger of falling over, onto a fi eld of parked cars and children playing, to a view of total chaos, almost six foot weeds and a total mud bath.
There were a few plot holders already there who had been trying to grow for a few years, making the best of the conditions they had to work in, but without an awful lot of success but mostly without support or help.
They were disillusioned with everything, receiving no help or assistance from anybody.
We were shown around the allotment and had a choice of almost any other plot we wanted. After choosing the one we thought we could manage in its relation to size, we both stood there wondering what on earth we had taken on. At that time we needed a project, something to concentrate our energy into. It was a big challenge which I was unsure we could manage.
Bill and Gert, full of smiles, gave us both
a nudge of enthusiasm and took us along to their plot to show us what they had achieved in the short space of time
they had being working the plot. We also took a good look at the plot at the far end of the allotment just behind the one we had chosen. We could see these people had also made an effort which drove our enthusiasm on a little further to have a go. I was beginning to feel inspired by what I had seen.
We paid our money and the fun began.We each lost half a stone in weight just
clearing the weeds. This was beginning to feel worth the effort, the buttons on my blouses were beginning to fasten, without gaps. Any woman would understand what a good feeling that is.
As the fi lm title goes ‘what lies beneath’ was an understatement. We literally began
to sink and on rainy days, which last year was most days, it was almost impossible to walk on the land. We had taken on this venture mid to late autumn so we knew it was going to get cold, wet and windy but this was not quite the challenge we had anticipated.
Our plot neighbour, Ged, had a shed of sorts, built to specifi cations any man would be proud of, kindly provided coffee for us, which we will be eternally grateful for, and then early spring, Bill and Gert had a shed built and further refreshments started to come on a regular basis. We wondered if we would ever be in a position to repay them both.
There was an old shed with only three sides, no roof lay on our plot with some contents still inside which had been exposed to the elements over a long period of time. Everything was mouldy, full of fungus and mice had made their home in what was left of a cupboard which still had one rotten draw left in it. Unfortunately for them, they had to go. We cleared out the rubbish making many trips to the tip leaving some items in a storage cabin just in case the previous people returned and wanted to keep them. We both then looked around the allotment for the many bits of shed which had blown away. After making many repairs to the wood we had found, replacing all the missing bits we could not fi nd, my husband then rebuilt the shed, not practical for what we needed; it was very fl imsy, but something for the time being.
Not too long after the shed was rebuilt, the lady who used to have the plot wanted her shed back. Ok, a little set back.
We then searched online for another shed which we eventually found, locally, in Gorton. We bought the shed not knowing how we were getting it back to the allotment. Fortunately, we were in our
Bill and Gert, full of smiles, gave us both
At that time we needed a project, somethingto concentrate our
energy into
ALG Issue 4 2013.indd 36 17/10/2013 11:45
37
local garden centre at Heaton Park telling the owner what we had done and he very kindly offered his tail-lift van to us for the following day.
We awoke the following day to a howling wind and storm but we had to get the shed whilst we had the opportunity of a van.
Arriving in Gorton, driving through terrible weather, traffi c lights had been blown down along with various other road side boardings, we arrived at our destination. The shed was on an allotment and had to be dismantled; it was owned by a young couple who had just had a baby and could no longer manage the allotment, which was a slight hic-up but we all soon got ‘stuck in’.
The shed was fi nally loaded onto the van and we began our journey home, thoroughly soaked with the driving rain, and very cold. Not being experienced van drivers we were being very careful of our load because of the severe wind blowing us from side to side. Yet another new experience for us, and believe me it was a relief when we arrived back at our own allotment. We quickly unloaded the bits of shed and looking a little like Laurel and Hardy in a comedy sketch we carried everything to our plot, took the van back to our kind man at Heaton Park Garden Centre and went home for a much needed cuppa and something to eat.
Not giving in to the weather, we returned to the allotment that afternoon and started sorting out our shed bits and pieces once again. Our neighbouring plot holder Ged must have taken pity on both of us and came over to help and again provided much needed drinks. I wonder if he saw me prostrate, face down in the mud, trying to carry one of the larger pieces of shed. We can laugh about it now and to be honest we laughed at the time. Never had we ever done anything like this before in our lives. All in all, it was beginning to feel good. I was getting used to being up to my knees in mud, and without any question, we were both feeling fi tter than we had done for some time.
The following week, my husband laid the foundations for the shed which had to be of considerable strength otherwise the paving stones would have just sunk in the mud. The shed was erected and at last we could begin to bring tools down to the allotment and refreshments for ourselves and the kind people who had looked after us whilst we were trying to get started.
Because of the ongoing problem of weeds which was such a horrendous problem, and still are to this day, we bought bags and bags of wood chippings and sand hoping it would give us both a chance of standing on the ground without sinking. To tell you how bad it was, you could pour the sand direct from the bag straight onto the ground and it would instantly disappear, we had never seen anything like it. We poured numerous bags of sand on top of the ground with the hope of stabilising it and still it disappeared. We thought, how on earth are we both going to grow anything in this soil?
Our own plot was waterlogged but we were also getting run-off from the plot behind us. After much thinking and deliberating we decided to dig down and try to sort out the drainage. It was a waste of time trying to grow anything without trying
to deal with the water problem fi rst. The digging began. My husband worked very hard, never giving up. But one day, feeling very tired, hungry, wet and cold, I stood looking at the mess and my heart also began to sink. It was defi nitely beginning to beat me. I could see no end to the mess. Then, standing at my side, was Gert, seeing
how despondent I was beginning to feel, gave me the encouragement I needed to carry on, and again a much needed cuppa.
More and more chippings were bought allowing us fi nally to have a foothold.
The vegetable beds were beginning to take
shape and we also managed to get hold of an old greenhouse. Putting that together was a work of art. It was very old and in bits, lots of broken panes of glass or glass missing, worse than an old jigsaw with pieces missing. I would never have guessed my husband had so much patience. He put such a lot of work in to building the shed and greenhouse. Never once did he say he wanted to give up.
Fortunately, a local gardener needed to dispose of his wood chippings and we needed as much as he could throw at us and because the whole allotment had this terrible mud problem the chippings were very welcomed and eventually enabled us all to walk over our plots without getting quite as muddy as before.
There had always been a problem with the water-well on the allotment which was fed by a natural underground spring. It over-fl owed every time it rained which was, no other word for it, a fl ood, especially with the weather being so wet during 2011/2012.
It was a nightmare for the plot holders as each morning they came on to the allotment not knowing what to expect, wondering how far down the allotment the overfl ow had reached this time. You could see the dismay on their faces.
Read part two of Sue’s story in the next edition to see if they managed to eliminate the water problems on the allotment.
at last we could begin to bring tools down to the allotment and
refreshments
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East Midlands
The Grow2eat team and Blisworth Allotment Society at The Blisworth Canal FestivalSaturday 10th and Sunday 11th August 2013
Blisworth Canal Festival has rapidly grown over the years into a major canal and county event. An estimated 20,000 visitors attend the festival over the weekend each year.
It’s free to attend and there is lots to see, do and taste! There are many traders and attractions including pony rides, rural craft demos, boat trips, a laser arena, children’s fairground and more....
The Grow2eat team were lucky enough to have been invited along by Jane Percival and Blisworth Allotment Society who had an amazing array of stalls. One was selling an abundance of home-grown produce including some unusual vegetable varieties that many hadn’t seen before! Another stand encouraged passer-by’s to adopt a
cuddly toy for £2. A good variety of jams and chutneys were also on offer to purchase and there was a tombola too. All proceeds generated went towards the running of the allotment society.
We were able to erect our Grow2eat banner promoting ourselves as the horticultural discount scheme that we are and enjoyed handing out free A5 booklets containing lots of discounts and savings for avid gardeners to enjoy.
We were all located alongside the canal near the bridge at Chapel Lane and enjoyed a very sunny, albeit windy day. It’s just lovely to chat to like-minded individuals at the end of the day and share tips and ideas.
www.grow2eat.comwww.blisworthcanalfestival.co.ukwww.blisworthallotments.co.uk
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West Midlands
Nationally, it seems plots are being let to
people who have waited a long time for them
“Councils did have to provide land for
allotments, but did not have to provide funds”
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Notes from West MidlandsAugust Quarterly MeetingThe third quarterly meeting of 2013 in the West Midland Region, organised by the Donegal Road Allotment Association, was held in Sutton Coldfi eld in August. The Regional Representative, Maurice Lander, started by congratulating the Edible Patch contributors, organised by Chris Brown on behalf of the West Midlands Region, on being awarded an RHS Silver Medal at the Gardener’s World Live Show 2013.
The Regional Treasurer, Mr. Bob Preston advised that the current thinking by the National Allotment Society was that if a Region had the equivalent of eighteen months’ expenditure in their bank account, then their annual grant would be withheld.
He explained that in the last quarter only one allotment site had requested funding for publicity materials, including fl yers and other advertising banners, though the availability of funding had been well publicised in recent magazines. The procedure is very simple – just ask the Regional Secretary (preferably in writing).
The National Allotment Society had recently been given some very welcome and useful advice regarding the proposed self-management of some Birmingham sites. Members at the meeting were reminded that the Society has a wealth of experience in this area and should be consulted as a matter of course when self-management is proposed by either the plot holders or site owner.
The meeting was advised of the self-management proposals for Birmingham and the issues surrounding this. The agreement, once confi rmed, would remain in place for fi ve years. Birmingham City Council was looking for full cost recovery, and sites which felt they were unable to satisfactorily manage themselves would be passed to a management company who would pass any charges to the tenants. The meeting
was told that Coventry allotments had been self-managed for many years and this had proved most successful. A detailed discussion took place regarding various issues of self-management, such as water usage, costs and so forth.
Mrs. Christine Brown told the meeting that after fi ve days hard work at the Gardeners’ World Live Show at the National Exhibition Centre, and many months of preparation, the Edible Patches had received an RHS Silver Medal in June. She did feel that, whilst the event had been very enjoyable over the past years, Birmingham’s involvement should come to an end and she would no longer be co-ordinating the event on behalf of the West Midland Region. Mrs Karin Cartwright and Mr. D. Welland informed the meeting that the North Warwickshire Federation might be interested in taking this event forward in the future, and would report back to the
Regional Representative following discussions with their members.
As Secretary of the Birmingham and District Allotment Confederation, Mrs. Brown told the meeting that the allotment show to be held on 31st August and 1st September was taking
place in Bordesley Green again, instead of in Kings Heath Park and encouraged everyone to attend. A ‘Big Dig’ is scheduled to take place at Birmingham Botanical Gardens on 15th September and items
were requested for display, the theme being “Harvest Festival”.
A question was raised regarding an often repeated claim that “Councils did have to provide land for allotments, but did not
have to provide funds”. The Regional Representative confi rmed that this was the case. Councils were only legally obliged to provide land, but often they did more, but it was up to them. In cases where land was not provided the advice was that interested parties form pressure groups to approach their own councils. (Some boroughs in London were not covered by this legal obligation.)
A recent phenomena also arose for discussion, regarding cultivation and failure to cultivate plots and what was the understanding and defi nition of “cultivation, maintenance, tidy, weed-free.” This was discussed in depth. Nationally, it seems plots are being let to people who have waited a long time for them and then make no attempt to cultivate the land. Have
they just discovered that soil preparation takes slightly longer than the length of a gardening programme on television?
The meeting closed with Gordon Shaw thanking Donegal Road Allotments for their hospitality in hosting this meeting.
The Annual General Meeting will be held at 2.00p.m. on Saturday, 9th November at Manor House Lane Allotments, Yardley, Birmingham.
Footnote: Apologies to Victoria Allotment Association, Uttoxeter for confusing their name in the previous Report.John McNabWest Midlands Region Secretary
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West Midlands
Edgbaston Guinea Gardens, BirminghamIn 2011, Brian Sheridan approached the committee of Edgbaston Guinea Gardens in Birmingham as he wanted to take photographs of the allotment site and plot holders for his university project. During early 2012 and into the autumn of 2012 he started to record the site and its current occupants.
The Edgbaston Guinea Gardens site has a long and interesting history. The site was established in the early 1950’s and harks back to an earlier time of eighteenth-century gardens that surrounded the growing city of Birmingham. These original ‘Guinea Gardens’ were swallowed up by the expanding city. The layout of the Edgbaston Guinea Garden site was heavily
infl uenced by the original gardens and has many distinctive features; most obvious is the hawthorn hedging that surrounds each of the individual plots creating discreet areas that are managed and transformed according to the desires of each plot holder.
Brian’s images were used as part of the presentation at the AGM in November 2012 and copies of his images have been on display at the society shop. The images have been very popular and have caused a great deal of discussion. The committee set an objective at the AGM in November for collaboration and working together and Brian’s project has been seen as an important feature of that approach. It is hoped that Brian will continue with the
project as it aims to build and develop a photographic and social history archive of the site from 2011. There is an expectation that the images will be exhibited on site and will provide an archive of the ever-changing community and site structure.
The Gardens have historic importance in Birmingham and a study was undertaken some time ago, culminating in a report presented in July 1993. The current committee have a desire to update the observations and data in the report and Brian’s project could be the necessary impetus and reason that it undertakes this task.Jo JohnsonSecretary
North Staffs Allotments Village ShowThe North Staffs Allotments Network, working in partnership with Stoke on Trent City Council and the Friends of Burslem Park, obtained a lottery grant of £9,800 to put on a Village Show on 1st September 2013. The accompanying photograph shows volunteers who helped to make the day a success, from putting up the equipment to helping to sell the vegetables, fl owers, fruit and jam that had been donated by members from the city allotment sites and, of course, fi nally clearing up at the end of the day!
The day was a great success and many new contacts and friends were made. Many of the local allotment holders turned up to support the event so a big thank you to them and all of the volunteers.Jayne Stokes, Secretary, North Staffs Allotments Network
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Red House Allotments Open DayThe weather was fi ne and the Lord Mayor opened the day by cutting the ribbon leading to the refreshments and brand new composting toilet which was completed on the day just before the Open Day.
Speeches were given by the Lord Mayor and the President of West Midlands Region of the National Allotments Society.
Red House Allotments won the Most Improved Allotment Site Competition and from just a few plot holders they now have a waiting list. A lot of hard work had been put in to make this possible.
The standard of the produce was very good. The site had formerly been owned by the Awson Carriage Company and is now owned by Coventry City Council.
Coventry Police presented the Chairman of the Red House Allotment Association with a Certifi cate of Achievement for his work in the local community.
Karen Kenny from Eastern Region took charge of the auction and £137 was raised. Well done, everyone.Maurice LanderWest Midlands Regional Representative
Red House Allotments won the Most Improved
Allotment Site Competition
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Eastern
Anyone for Iconography?You cannot be serious!! Er, well, yes – up to a point. Icons have a power, an aura and a mystery of their own with messages and meanings beyond their mere presence. The Orthodox churches of Eastern Europe, lacking the statues of the Western European Christian churches, have a long tradition of icons unchanged for centuries allowing all the powers of those strong images of the Madonna and Child to stay within our mind’s-eyes today. But as with so many other words ‘icon’ has shifted to embrace popular culture: two of the best known present-day uses are ‘sporting icons’ and ‘fashion icons’.
Both of those terms make a nod in the direction of celebrity of course but by what means have those fashion and sporting individuals been moved beyond their considerable natural and acquired talents to become something more? Brand Beckham we know and it is one that is carefully and properly managed but other icons can have their meanings stereotyped and manipulated so that the positive powers are weakened or even lost. So what is the iconography of allotments and allotment holders and who produces those meanings? I will assume that if you have read this far (thank you) you will have your own positive image of the meaning of your allotment and allotments in general: the supply of quality food ingredients, the physical exercise, the mental well-being, the realisation that you are not really in charge and each year’s plans are thwarted, the acceptance of that yearly confrontation with the elements of the natural world, the maintenance of a distinctive type of green space in both rural and urban areas, the real community spanning ages, genders, ethnicities and social and economic backgrounds. To you it is a special amalgamation of aims produced and reproduced each year by working a small tract of land from season to season. But is your image of the allotment one that is accepted let alone respected by ‘others’, specifi cally by non-allotment holders? And if not why not?
So what do non-allotment holders feel that allotments represent? There is probably a wider, more divergent set of views – the number of people represented is much larger of course. A green oasis in a desert of bricks and concrete? An open space free of new unsympathetic buildings? A site for old men to pursue a dying craft? An eco-friendly, food security aware enclave? A third world shantytown? A neglected, untidy, overgrown area unused for years?
And then what are the views of the landlords of their allotment sites? Overwhelmingly but not only they are local authorities at the various levels of local government and once more there is
no single answer with both positive and negative mental images. A community resource to be treasured and encouraged? An exclusive right to use a piece of land that properly should be public space? A worthwhile and valued part of the services the local authority offers? A service that can be squeezed fi nancially remains a drain on resources and can be offered as few facilities as possible? Spare building land that can be used more profi tably as and when occasion arises?
Even at the level of national government there is a view of allotments although it is not one that surfaces often. But it is there that something that applies to all the mental images of allotments is made clearer: there are always opposing views because we have an offi cial Opposition in government. Allotments are just not on the radar of many M.P.s but some have made signifi cant contributions in debates since the mid-1990’s on both local and national allotment issues. Within each of the main political parties in national and local government bodies there are differing views held about allotments. Similarly within the looser allotment site communities there are differences of what allotments represent. I don’t think there is a Campaign for Real Allotments yet - but we have all had the
conversations. Always, there is the
need to ask just how these images are formed, by whom and how applicable they may be to the realities on the ground of 2013? All of the opinions outlined above are out there; some are not currently applicable, others do not measure up against the
criteria necessary for beliefs to be justifi ed and validated soundly enough to become knowledge. At the individual level there is often a longing, wish or assumption that this imperfect world will change for the better and in the ways that you want it to. All that is needed is the same type of patience practised in waiting for the year’s harvest to take its course. But although allotments are rather like restaurants,
public places that people go to be private, individual plot holders will, by proactive actions and inputs, increase the well-being and positive image of allotments. Simple good neighbourliness is a start, knowing and cultivating the strengths of those around you as well as coming to terms
with their weaknesses. Any allotment association builds its own image and that of the site through the ways it applies its tenancy and other rules by good governance; the positive things it does on and off the site – open days, excursions, newsletters, barbecues, training sessions. All of those give
meaning to what the allotment provides at an individual and family level. If some of those events allow guests and visitors the image of the allotment as a community resource it starts to spread into the consciousness of immediate neighbours.
Linking with the local authority or your landlord takes image building into a wider fi eld of view. Contact whether through formal or informal forums or federations, with goodwill on both sides, will take your image into an important wider area: you may not get all you wish for but you will become part of an ongoing discourse with offi cers and elected members. Similarly a good constituency M.P. can defend local allotment interests strongly but only if he or she is made aware of them.
The National Allotment Society does provide enabling services at all these differing levels. Checking through documents of associations not only for legality but also for the quality of governance provided, providing advice on the way on which other plot holders and associations and landlords have dealt with issues are part of the service. The “Allotment & Leisure Gardener” will always contain something that you will regard as potentially or immediately useful. There is a collective wisdom here in the National on what has happened and what is happening, which shapes the image of allotments. But beyond all this there lies the point I am trying to make as clearly and strongly as I can. If allotment holders themselves do not build and sustain their own truer images or icons someone else will and their intent need not be as honourable. Just look at the local and national press, social network sites, television and radio – all are image building by selection of items and extent of coverage. Individually and collectively we need to have our own PR and marketing. What others might provide is a view of our cherished world we would not recognise nor wish to recognise. Iconography? No choice really.
Jeff BarberEastern Region Representative
Any allotment association builds its own image and that
of the site
Within each of the main political parties
there are differing views held about allotments
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New allotment site in Shefford, BedfordshireBack in December 2011 word went around town that new allotments were going to be made available to the people of Shefford. So based on a ‘chinese whisper’, a small group of residents attended the monthly Town Council meeting to sign up for a plot. However, it wasn’t that simple. We listened to a short presentation from Town Mayor Paul Mackin and Karen Kenny, NAS Eastern Region Representative on what allotments were all about and how to set up and manage one. Before we knew where we were we had committed ourselves to helping the Town Council set up an allotment site and after an impromptu vote we walked away from the meeting as the Shefford Allotment and Leisure Gardens Association SALGA.
After further meetings with the Town Mayor and the Town Clerk we ascertained that approximately 1.14 acres of land was being leased by the Town Council from the Robert Lucas Trust (a charitable trust set up in1560). The Town Council would then lease the land to the people of Shefford and have the site managed by SALGA.
The plot of land earmarked for the site stood right in front of the new Shefford Health Centre and we soon realised that the development of allotments should not in any way detract from this splendid new building and so we set about designing a modern
pristine allotment site that both we and the people of Shefford could be proud of.
Many hours were spent establishing exactly what the specifi cation should be for the site and discussions relating to the traditional 10 pole square plot (a
measurement most of us had never heard of before but equating to approx 250m2) soon became common language. We researched the size and layout of plots, planned a network of taps/dipping tanks, interconnecting pathways, composting methods, tool store/community shed, on-site
parking and even the possibility of a composting toilet.
We discussed our wish to build a vibrant community of people working hard making the land work for us in return. We also wanted to develop an environment where we could learn from one another and hopefully see fruitful returns not only in the produce we grow but in the way we feel mentally and physically through working outside with like-minded people.
We decided to plan the site with two plot sizes, 125m2 (25mx5m) and 62m2 (8.4mx7.4m approx) giving us 15 full-size plots and 12 half-size plots.
Once we’d done our homework and
drawn up the site plan we notifi ed the people of Shefford in a local newspaper and magazine asking for interested parties to register an interest in having an allotment and within a couple of days we had over 60 names all keen and eager to get involved, including the Home Farm Trust (an organisation for less able adults) who took on a plot we’d allocated for raised beds.
It then took another 15 frustrating months to get through the legal wrangles until in May 2013 the leases were signed and we took over the site and the physical hard work began.
A number of working parties were set up to clear the weeds and debris and mark out the 27 plots. We were amazed at the effort that went in over a period of a few weeks to catch the end of the planting season and
here we are in September and already we are harvesting potatoes, green beans, marrows, beetroot and courgettes.
In support of our plans for the future we’re now waiting for the outcome of our various requests for funding for a network of taps/dipping tanks, a communal tool store/
community shed and compost bins but we’ve made great progress and the future is bright.John Blackham Shefford Allotment & Leisure Gardens Association
we set about designing a modern pristine
allotment site that we could be proud of
within a couple of days we had over 60 names all keen and eager to
get involved
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Soil pH, Soil Acidity and Lime UseSelwyn Richardson is a retired Soil Scientist and Chairman of Hale Road A&GA at Swavesey in Cambridgeshire. He spent over 40 years with ADAS, the Government’s former advisory service for farmers and growers. His philosophy on crop nutrition is “keep it simple”.
Soil pHSoil pH is a measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions in the soil. In chemical terms it is “the negative logarithm of the hydrogen ion concentration”. After more than 40 years as a Consultant Soil Scientist I still don’t understand this defi nition so it probably doesn’t matter. Suffi cient to know that pH 7 is neutral, less than 7 is acid and above 7 is alkaline.
Some soils are naturally calcareous (containing chalk or limestone) with a pH above 7 and may not need liming for decades or even many hundreds of years. But maintaining a satisfactory soil pH is basic to soil fertility. Lime is continually being lost from soil at between 500 and 1,250 kg/ha per annum (1,000 kg/ha = 3 ozs/sq yard). It is removed by crops, neutralised by the acidifying effect of nitrogen from fertilisers and manures and washed downwards in drainage water, especially on sandy soil. The majority of soils in the UK require lime addition every few years as they gradually turn acid. Commercial farmers are well aware of the importance of liming their land and it is just as important on allotment sites.
The target soil pH levelVegetable, fruit and fl ower crops will tolerate a wide pH range but most perform best at around 6.3 to 7.0. At less than pH 6.0 there is a risk that most vegetable crops will be damaged by acidity. However, some such as potatoes prefer slightly acid soil at around 6.0 to 6.5 whereas others such as cabbage, caulifl owers and other brassicas and also blackcurrants prefer a higher level of around 6.8 to 7.2. Blueberries, rhododendrons, azaleas and some heathers are among the few that prefer particularly acid soil at about pH 5.0 to 5.7. Conversely, when pH is above about 7.0 to 7.3 there is increasing risk of trace element defi ciency in many crops such as manganese defi ciency
in beetroot and parsnips or iron defi ciency in raspberries.
How to measure soil pHAccurate measurement of soil pH is always included in standard laboratory soil analysis as detailed on page 20 of issue 3, 2013 of this magazine. A lower, but entirely suffi cient, level of precision can be had from on the spot soil pH testing kits costing only a few pounds. These are available from larger garden centres or by mail order. They are based on pH-sensitive colour change of a liquid or a paper test strip. It is often more reliable for the test to be done by a lady since ladies are less likely to be colour blind than men, especially in the green to red area.
What to use and how muchWhen soil pH is less than 6.5 it should be raised by addition of ground chalk or ground limestone, both of which are forms of calcium carbonate. The amount needed depends on initial soil pH and on the soil type. The table shows the quantity in metric and imperial amounts to raise pH to a suitable level. It should be very thoroughly mixed into the top 15 to 20 cm (6 to 8 inches) and since both materials are only sparingly soluble the best time to do it is autumn to allow winter rain to boost its activity. Liming land is not a precise science so there is no need to fret over getting it exactly right – the most important issues are i) get it done and ii) thoroughly mix it in. For fruit it is extremely important to correct
acidity before planting while the liming material can be mixed in. For established fruit check the surface 7.5 cm (3 inches) for acidity and spread around only a third of the amount recommended in the table. This will necessarily be spread on the soil surface and it should be moderately watered in to speed up pH rise.
Can soil pH be lowered?There is no practical way to reduce soil pH across an entire plot. However, provided the topsoil has a pH of no more than about 7.7 and does not contain clearly visible and signifi cant amounts of chalk or limestone it is possible to manipulate a soil planting pit to successfully grow such as rhodos, camellias and blueberries. Acid peat is used and Irish sphagnum moss is the most effective. Simply excavate a pit of 60 cm (24 inches) diameter to 40 cm (16 inches) depth then mix a quantity of the excavated soil with an equal volume of sphagnum peat and replace the mixture to 50 cm depth to allow for settling over time. The shrub will grow well for many years although eventually as more of the root system penetrates the surrounding soil of higher pH its foliage will turn paler green as iron defi ciency sets in.
In truth, trying to reduce pH is hardly justifi ed so concentrate on maintaining a suitably high soil pH to support vigorous crop growth.S Richardson Hale Road Allotment Association
Amount of ground chalk or ground limestone required to raise soil pHApplication rates are based on Defra’s Fertiliser Manual (RB209, 2010).
For a given starting pH clayey (heavy) soils need larger amounts than sandy (light) soils. However, sandy soils normally need repeat liming about every 4 to 6 years whereas clayey soils need treating only about every 8 to 10 years.
Eastern
Starting pH
Sandy soils Loamy soils Clayey soils
gms/sq m ozs/sq yd gms/sq m ozs/sq yd gms/sq m ozs/sq yd
6.2 480 14 640 19 800 24
6.0 640 19 800 24 960 28
5.5 1,120 33 1,280 38 1,500 44
Rosedale Road and Bull Meadow Allotment Association hold their first Open DayRosedale Road and Bull Meadow Allotment Association held their fi rst Open Day for National Allotment Week 2013. On Sunday 11th August, from 10am–1pm, the gates at Rosedale Road opened to the general public. Visitors were able to sample homemade cakes and tea as well as purchase from a selection of produce grown by members.
Over £80 was raised which will go towards running the two sites, which are self-managed.
Thank you to everyone who got involved,Andrew Klecha, Chairman
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Netted Brassica / vegetable TunnelThe Walk-in Wonderwall provides a wall against the elements and garden pests.
While, at the same time allowing rain and sunlight to enter. The Walk-in Wonderwall is designed for the garden / allotment growers budget and is ideal for the organic grower.
After fighting a losing battle year after year against pigeons, cabbage white butterfly and other garden pests, we realised that we needed something that could both eradicate these problems and also be affordable and hard wearing.
We came up with the Walk-in Wonderwall.No more having to remove net to weed
or thin out. No more makeshift bits of wood / bamboo cane frames etc. No more height restriction for our brassica (with the Wonderwalls 1.9m height).
The unique light weight, yet robust pvc frame needs no base and fixes directly into the earth. The frame is then covered with a fine heavy duty uv rated netting, which drastically reduces wind speed within the tunnel and can withstand very strong winds. The entire growing space can be worked
with ease and watering can be carried out from outside or inside the Wonderwall.
Assembly time is 2-3 hours, using our easy to follow instructions.
Each stage of assembly is accompanied by a full colour photograph. No specialist tools are required for assembly.
Buy direct from the manufacturer. Not available in any retail outlets.
We have Wonderwalls in the Orkney isles, the Shetland isles, the isle of Arron, Republic of Ireland, France, Jersey, Croatia, and also –
Port Stanley in the Falkland Isle.The wonderwall has a standard width
of 3.5m and is sold in lengths from 2m upwards.
We can however, manufacture wonderwalls to fit your raised beds exactly ie; 2.5m width x 3.2m length.”
For more information and customer feed back, please visit our website www.walk-inwonderwall.co.uk
The Walk-In Wonderwall®(TM)
ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE
DESIGNED – MANUFACTURED – PACKAGED – HERE IN BRITAIN.HELPING TO GROW THE GREEN SHOOTS OF RECOVERY
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Digging for victoryWith more than 1200 people on the waiting list, demand for allotments in Medway has never been higher.
The growth in popularity can be traced back to the Second World War and the Dig for Victory campaign. By the seventies interest had waned slightly, then came the television sitcom “The Good Life.” The exploits of Tom and Barbara as they battled to become self-suffi cient inspired a new generation of gardeners.
Now with growing interest in food and how it’s produced, the upwards trend shows no sign of abating.
Five years ago there were 918 allotment plots in Medway. Now there are 1,129 covering an area equivalent to about 30 football pitches. The Council has responded to demand by investing more than half-a-million-pounds in creating extra plots over the last six years.
It has included the development of two brand new allotment sites – one in Watts Meadow, Rochester, which has provided 16 new plots and another at Chapel Lane in Hempstead, which boasts 129 plots and is thought to be the largest development of its kind in recent decades in the whole of England.
Redundant sites in Kingsnorth Road in Twydall and Cornwall Road in Gillingham have also been brought back into cultivation providing a further 28 plots.
Waiting lists coupled with a current occupancy rate across the borough in excess of 99 per cent, has required other measures to increase availability, including the creation of some smaller gardens by splitting the traditional 12 rod plots in half.
It’s a practical solution to a problem and is often welcomed by gardeners, who want to “grow their own” but don’t necessarily have the time to cultivate a large area.
Schools in Medway are encouraged to learn gardening skills and to discover more about where their food comes from. Some have enthusiastically developed their own allotment gardens, including All Saints Primary School in Chatham, Kingfi sher Primary in Prince’s Park and Westbrook Primary in Brompton. The Bishop of Rochester Academy has also recently taken on an allotment plot on the Great South site, opposite their new campus.
There are fi ve active allotment associations and societies in the area, who are represented at bi-monthly meetings of the Medway Allotment Federation, an umbrella body. They provide valuable feedback, as well as helping to manage allotment sites and encouraging new tenants.
As an allotment gardener myself, I understand the appeal. I grew up watching my dad grow his own on the Priestfi elds site and went on to have my own plot there, long before taking up this job. I’m a fan of lunar planting, as well as organic gardening, but above all I like the peace and solitude the allotment offers, helped by a couple of beers from my shed!
So, if you’re on a waiting list, please be patient – your time will come. If you’ve just been given the keys to a plot, good luck. Finally, if you’re new to it, be prepared for a lot of joy, but also a lot of hard work. Happy digging! Paul SchmoegerMedway Council
South East
South East Regional ReportIt is the end of a season where a lot of you have said that the weather caused a lot of crops to go prematurely ‘to seed’. We’re never happy are we? It’s either too wet or too dry; still the fruit has been the best for a number of years. It may not have reached the ears and eyes of some of you that Kings Seeds, the Company that supports the NAS and offers us preferential rates and quality seeds, gained a Gold at this year’s RHS Chelsea fl ower show; CONGRATULATIONS. For a very long time I have been satisfi ed with their products and service and this endorses what I have been trying to pass on at the South East Regional show stands.
During one of the breaks at this year’s AGM at Birmingham a couple of comments were made to me that (1) what a solemn sombre programme without any speakers and (2) what a pity that a representative from our auditors was not present to answer questions regarding our fi nancial position. Noted and should be addressed at our 2014 AGM.
Unfortunately Ham House, Richmond, cancelled their garden show within the walled garden in early September, due to some onsite facilities not being operational. We are due to have a presence at The Wakehurst Seed Festival in late September, and the Taste of Autumn, RHS Wisley in the middle of October. Reports will feature next time.
Problems and queries continue to come my way, most of which I am able to answer but occasionally I call on Liz Bunting; thanks Liz, you are a fountain of knowledge, to bail me out.
I am sure that there are sites in the south east that have successes and experiences which would give others throughout the country hope and enjoyment in their dealings with local authorities, legislation or even neighbours, or perhaps you have a recipe that you would share; come on, submit some words to Head Offi ce for inclusion in a future magazine.Steve Clements
Christine Walkden judges Scarecrow CompetitionLast Friday evening BBC The One Show resident gardener, Christine Walkden dropped into the Roffey Allotment Society, off Beech Road in Horsham, West Sussex to judge the scarecrow competition.
Christine was accompanied by a couple of members of the committee and spent an enjoyable hour inspecting all of the entries and chatting to some of the allotment holders who happened to be working there that evening. She commented on the imaginative outfi ts and different types of scarecrows. She fi nally made her decision and the competition was won by Stella Eve for her scarecrow with a beard. 2nd prize went to Sarah Page. Prizes will be given out at the AGM on Wednesday 18th September at the Roffey Millennium Hall in Horsham.
Before leaving she did make a couple of suggestions for other competitions ... So watch this space!
The committee would like to express their thanks to Christine for taking the time to come along; it was a great success.Marion NedenCommittee Member Roffey Allotments in Horsham
Christine with the winning scarecrow
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Chilton Lane EastChilton Lane East allotment site has 110 plots varying from half plots to full plots. We recently entered two competitions and did really well. The fi rst one was the Kent Allotments and Garden Council competition. It was held on the 1st July 2013. We had to enter 6 plots to enter the competition. It was extremely diffi cult to pick 6 plots out of 110 but we did.
The main competitionJim Bailey came 7th, John Millgate joint 9th with Paul and Kaye Daniels, Godfrey Power 12th, and Malcolm Humphries joint 13th with Margaret and Chas Cummins. The Golden Grow Trophy (best leisure garden)Paul and Kaye Daniels came 2nd, J. McCarthy and M. Warden 3rd and Lauren Lambert 5th.Joan Sparks Trophy (under 40’s)Lauren Lambert came 1st, Mrs N. Macaulay 2nd and Chris Price 3rd.Jack and Lil Conyard Trophy (children)Chilton School plot came 1st and Ella Lambert 2nd.Bloomfi eld Memorial Trophy (large site)Chilton Lane East allotment site came 2nd.Medway Trophy (6 best plots)Chilton Lane East allotment site came 4th.Ladies CupDot Bryant came 4th, Lynne Goff 5th, W. Marsh and B. Bleasdale 8th,Sue Appleton 9th, Mrs Adey 10th, Barbara Roe 11th, Miranda Dunn came 12th, Lorraine Blay 13th and S. McDonald 14th.I mentioned to the plot holders that I had entered the allotment site into 2 competitions but I did not remind them when they were. I wanted the allotment site to be judged on how we are on a daily basis.
We also entered the Kent Wildlife Trust competition. We have a school plot on our site and they did very well in achieving Bronze and Chilton Lane East allotment site achieved Silver. We were extremely thrilled with this result and are waiting for the feedback on improvements that can be made to the allotment site. We will get the feedback at the presentation ceremony. Once again plot holders
were informed that I had entered the site into a competition but not when it was taking place.
On Sunday August 11th we held our annual site BBQ. 80 people attended and we had a very lovely time. Everyone said how much they enjoyed themselves and there was plenty of food for everyone, phew!! At the BBQ we held the judging of the onion competition. There were some very good onions even if one was not edible, haha!
After all the onions had been weighed Jim Bailey won 1st prize, Paul Daniels came 2nd, Sheila Redmond 3rd and Godfrey Power 4th. After the plot holders saw the onions that won, there are now more plot holders keen to try and beat the record. The challenge is now on! We are a very friendly allotment site and try to be as encouraging and positive as we can.Mrs Kaye DanielsSite Rep, Chilton Lane East Allotment Site, Ramsgate, Kent
There were some very good onions even ifone was not edible,
ha ha!
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Tynings Allotments – Warminster
From a beat up old cabin to a pavilion for the 21st century.
Tynings Allotments, in Warminster, have existed on the same site for over 100 years and occupy an area on Warminster Common of approximately 9 acres although on maps of the 1900’s the site was over 52 acres. The site is owned by Wiltshire Council and there is a management lease that devolves the day-to-day running of the site to Tynings Allotments and Leisure Gardeners Association.
A dilapidated storage unit had provided the meeting room for a considerable number of years. A new building was opened on 27th July, which was constructed with grants of £10,000 from Awards for All (Lottery fund), £10,000 from Community First (Hills Waste) and £4,000 from Warminster Town Council. The grants paid for the materials to construct the building but all the labour was provided free by a core group of fi ve plot
holders. The building provides a meeting room, kitchen and two toilets, one with disabled access. This enables the allotment association to provide better facilities for plot holders and other less able people and is the hub for social events for the wider
community.There are currently over
150 plot holders and plots vary in size from 100 sq metres to several hundred sq metres although on average they are around 200 sq metres. Plot holders are of all ages and although originally the domain of older men now
there are an increasing number of younger people and women who have plots.
Former Warminster Town Councillor, Veronica Burden was asked to offi cially open the building because she has provided considerable guidance and support with getting the information required to gain the formal planning consent. In her opening address she said
she had decided to help the Association because she could see they had the drive and dedication to see the project through to completion and were ready to help themselves and not rely on others to do the work for them.
The opening was attended by Warminster Deputy Mayor, Mr Andrew Davis accompanied by Toni Davis, Bill Parks who represented Town Clerk Mrs Heather Abernethie, Mary Hardwidge representing Community First and Mr Alex Mullins on behalf of the National Allotments Association plus over 130 plot holders.
Mr Alex Mullins said it was a credit to the enthusiasm and effort of the members to achieve this result. It shows what can be gained by members with a determination to progress and provide improvements for the benefi t of all. Everyone enjoyed a hog roast and other food and refreshments provided by the allotment committee and even the rain that arrived half way through the proceedings could not dampen the spirits of those who came. Robin Stedman, Secretary
Southern
Opening party: the names left to right are as follows:- Bob Nix, Mike Dickins, Robin Stedman (secretary),Alex Mullins National Society Regional representative, Mike Forward (vice chair), Ann Jones (chair), Bill Parker (plot manager), Ann Byfi eld (treasurer), Kate Menzies, Ivor Curnick (partly hidden)
Old cabin New building
The building provides a meeting room, kitchen and two toilets, one with disabled access
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Role reversal The traditional anecdotal description of allotmenteers is one of an old man in a soft cap digging his patch and bringing the produce home for the wife to cook and the traditional anecdotal description of WI members is that of jam making and knitting.
There was a time when women could or would not do the jobs men did, like go down a mine, drive a truck or dig an allotment. There was a time when men did not do or care to do the jobs women did, like wash clothes, push a pram, cook or make jam.
Now, women compete for gold in Boxing at the Olympics and men stay at home to look after the children. Times and circumstances change and necessity is the change maker. There are few occupations or activities that are off limits to either sex.
I am an allotmenteer who enjoys making jams and preserves and Abbie is a woman who enjoys digging and growing fruit and vegetables. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy the digging and growing. Ask Abbie what she likes about digging and she says, “I enjoy the idea of producing the raw materials for feeding my family. I like to produce food that I will use later by making preserves and hope to supply most of my yearly requirements from my allotment”.
She is typical of the, I won’t say ‘new
age’, but ‘present age’ person who is mindful of the raw materials we use to make our meals. If we have a chicken that lays an egg we know all we need to know about it. We don’t know what a supermarket chicken is fed or treated with (that produces an egg for the supermarket.) We now know about meat pitfalls and more and more are using butchers to supply our meat instead of supermarket processed meat. But what of the general food palate? I hope we are not naive enough to think that a carrot in the supermarket has had the same treatment as one we grow ourselves. Just ask? How are they all the same?
Women in allotmenteering are a growing trend. Not too many years ago, the number of women to have an allotment was low. Now, almost half of all allotment holders are women that either have or share an allotment and they are not the traditional age bracket. They are young with young families, and by young I mean it is not unusual to see a few weeks old infant in a cot asleep in the cabbage patch while mum
works the land. You might say that this role reversal is
nothing new. Woman had to step up to the mark when there was a shortage of men to fi ll their normally traditional role during the wars. Women drove trucks and planes and men dug for victory as well as fought.
Now instead of fl ower arranging, women are arranging where to grow the celeriac, the chillies, the aubergines and the daily requirements of potatoes, lettuces and onions. At the same time talk to a male allotment holder and the conversation will almost invariably turn to what he did with the surplus courgettes and where he found a way of producing sun dried tomatoes with a 60 watt bulb and a cardboard box.
To get an allotment, contact your local Council Allotment Offi cer or check out the National Allotment Society web at http://nsalg.org.uk. For information on the WI go to http://www.thewi.org.uk/Alex MullinsJoint Chairman of National Allotment Society
Abbie is a mother of two and has an allotment in Eastleigh
Alex has an allotment in Eastleigh and a kitchen at home
If you want to grow, you’ll need to goAllotment societies and clubs have always been the stalwart of this country and since the popularisation of community gardening, promoting the joy and advantages of growing your own produce, it has become even more popular. Not just the with the men, ladies and even children are becoming hooked on this profi table pastime.
Gentleman have always had the advantage over the ladies and many a compost heap has benefi ted from the fertiliser that has been timely sprinkled there! There’s always been composting toilets, some smelly and simple, some large and complicated and very expensive.
‘Ecotoilets’ offers you the ideal solution. A dry separating composting toilet which works on the principle of the human body.
By keeping the urine and solid matter separate there is no smell, no need for sewage systems, no plumbing, no water, easy installation and you, are rewarded with two of the best fertilisers money cannot buy. For those of you who do not have the facilities for housing a loo, we have a complete package, cabin, toilet, solar panel, battery, lights, PIR detector, hand sanitising gel etc. They are easy to use, easy to maintain and very competitively priced.
Ecotoilets can offer you everything for your convenience!The Canal Shop, Hillmorton Wharf, Crick Road, RUGBY, CV21 4PWTel: 01327 844442, Email: [email protected], Website: www.eco-toilets.co.uk
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Grand Opening!This is an article as featured in ‘The Tower’ (Churchill Parish Council Newsletter) Issue 27, Summer 2013.
The Grand Opening of the Allotments took place on 29th June 2013 with the ribbon being cut by Chairman Jackie Bush.
The sun shone on a successful afternoon which was enjoyed by over a hundred people who came along to look at all of the hard work that has been done to create two thriving fi elds of produce and sample the barbeque!
Mr Allan Cavill of the NAS was in attendance and spoke of his pleasure in seeing the site completed.
Special thanks to Thatchers Cider Company for donating cider, Alvis Bros Ltd for the burgers and sausages that were enjoyed and to Sharon Schroeder for her help with the catering.
South West
Allotment eviction:A cautionary taleAn allotment association in the South West has recently been compelled to defend itself in the Small Claims Court against a very complex claim by a former member. He was seeking substantial fi nancial redress for loss of crops over a 3 year period (the anticipated waiting time for a new plot locally) and exemplary damages for distress caused to himself and damage to his reputation.
The rights and wrongs of this case are not relevant here, but the consequences of the action are.
The Committee discussed this matter over a very long period of time, and followed our own Rule Book’s guidance on evictions. Copies of the Acts were obtained and studied, interpreted, discussed and argued over. The Legal Advisor at NSALG, Liz Bunting, provided invaluable advice and guidance. Evidence was gathered and collated, along with witness statements. The claim was defended vigorously and in great detail. Several visits to the Small Claims Court for procedural advice were undertaken.
Our Secretary estimates he and another spent over 140 hours, many sleepless nights and a great deal of worry in defending this claim on behalf of the Association and its Members.
Two hearings were attended before the fi nal decision was delivered by the Judge. CLAIM DISMISSED.
What is the “Cautionary tale” in all this? Quite simply to be very conscious of all legal matters that affect Associations and Committees. Be sure of your legal position before evicting one of your members. Make sure your own rules and procedures are watertight. Seek the excellent advice and support of NSALG, without whom we may not have been successful in defending this claim.
Hopefully, this sort of situation will not arise in Allotment Associations elsewhere, but it just might, so please be aware of the need “to get things right” to avoid considerable hard work, distress and heartache.Lewis Jones
people who came along to look at all of the hard work that has been done to create
Article and images kindly provided by: Aleana Baird, Clerk to the Council and Janet Mortimer (Website & The Tower newsletter)
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Des’s “big do”Des Rao retired on the 27th July 2013 after fifty years tending his plot on the Boot Road Allotment in Maesycwmmer, South Wales. Members of Boot Road came together to wish him Au Revoir on a damp afternoon which did nothing to lower the spirits of all concerned. Des says that he will miss all of the hoeing, weeding and digging but above all he will miss the chats and banter with all of the other members.
Des took up his plot in July 1963. His father in law, Geoff Clarke was Chair of the Association and Des says that he did not have much choice about becoming a member. He remembers Boot Road opening with only seven members and recalls many changes over the years. He enjoyed early competitions among members, e.g. for veg growing, He was an expert on constitutional changes and frequently held everybody to account in meetings. Our Chairman, Adrian Barwood, said that he has been a real character and had his own inimitable way of dealing with things. In fifty years as an allotmenteer he tells us that he only missed three meetings of the Association.
To celebrate his retirement a fellow plot holder, Dave Exall, painted a caracature of Des on his plot at Boot Road. Dave took great pride in undertaking this task and the whole thing was done under a cloak of secrecy. To say that everybody was pleased with the result would be an understatement and Des was thrilled when the presentation was made. In fact he became quite emotional and it was obvious that this will take pride of place in his home.
We all went on to enjoy a damp barbecue after the presentation was over and the rain did nothing to lower our spirits. This is an event we will repeat in the near future-without the retirement!! Des still lives in the village and will still be seen at Boot Road. Everybody here wishes him well and I feel sure that all members of NSALG would wish to do the same.Ian Lewis, Secretary Boot Road Allotment Association
Wales
Welsh ReportThe inaugural meeting of the Rhymney Valley Allotments Federation (RVAF) took place on 28th June 2013. Fourteen allotment sites were represented, our guest speakers were Mr. Allan Rees M.B.E., National Chairman of NSALG, Mr. Nigel Powell, Parks and Development Officer for Caerphilly Borough County Council and Ms. Zoe Williams on behalf of the Gwent Association of Voluntary Organisation who assist and organise funding options for organisations such as allotment sites.
The meeting was opened by the Chairman, Ken Jones. Mike Cattle, who, along with Ken Jones and Dave Rees are the initiators of the Federation, gave an insight as to the aims and objectives of the Federation with a copy of the Constitution, adopted by the Federation, for perusal by those in attendance. In his speech, Allan Rees addressed the benefits and advantages of being members of NSALG. Nigel Powell explained the Council’s perspective towards the future of allotments in the borough and reassured the meeting that, although we have been handed our sites free of charge, the Council will always be available for advice and support to RVAF on behalf of its members. Zoe Williams gave an insight in applying for grants and funding options applicable to allotment associations.
The Chairman and Secretary explained that this Federation was primarily concerned with the numerous small sites within the Valley that had been established for generations which, for whatever reasons, had no officers or committee to implement the self-management criteria that was required by the Council in their securing Lease or Tenancy agreements for their sites and would offer assistance and guidance as to the compilation of, or templates for, such requirements as Site Constitutions , Site Rule books , procedures etc. and also in doing so to provide an arbitration facility to assist in disputes that cannot be resolved at site level.
With a generous donation from the Council to help cover initial admin costs, we feel that all sites in the Rhymney Valley can but benefit from this new concept and would therefore invite all these sites who have not already done so to join us and help those sites that are not in a position to survive without assistance.
Working in PartnershipRVAF is working in partnership with the Cym Y–Mynydd Timber Yard, a department of Caerphilly County Borough Council, to provide recycled timber products for its members.
The Cym –Y – Mynydd Timber Yard, based in Aberbargoed, Caerphilly receives fallen trees from within the borough and surrounding areas. They then process these timbers into products to be used by local community groups. The products produced are various sized boards, posts, planks, pegs, log trimmings, wood burner log offcuts and woodchip.
The aim of the partnership is to provide a sustainable future/use for fallen trees so that the whole community may benefit from what is seen as a waste product within the county borough budget.
Community groups that benefit from the reuse of this timber are local allotments, schools, special needs groups, local woodcarving groups (not for profit), community gardens and local Groundwork Caerphilly.
The RVAF coordinator works with the members of the Cym – Y – Mynydd timber yard to prioritise orders placed for timber products & woodchip to ensure a fair system for all their members.
It is hoped that this new scheme will go from strength to strength and all RVAF members will get their fair share of products and we wish our members to bear with us.
Hopefully what we have started in Caerphilly may be adopted in other parts of the country, if not already in place.Carolyn Llewellyn
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Walled Garden CaernarfonThe Gwynedd and Ynys Mon Youth Justice Service has been involved with Glynllifon Gardens since 2009/10.■ Our access to the gardens is secured on a rolling 6 month
contract with the owners and we do not profi t from this arrangement, only in the sense that it gives us a perfect environment to deliver horticultural and work experience projects for our client group.
■ More than 150 children and young people from our area have accessed the project and assisted us with saving the gardens from further neglect.
■ The fi rst few years were spent reclaiming the gardens after approximately 10 years of neglect and, to say the least, it was a bit of a jungle when we fi rst arrived.
■ In the last 2/3 seasons we have managed to produce crops and many charitable organisations have benefi ted; local schools have made apple juice from the fruit trees we saved, the local food bank and housing associations (families and individuals on low
incomes or are homeless) have received vegetables from our allotment and polytunnel.
■ We have not only used the garden for our unpaid work schemes, special schools and youth organisations have used the garden as Green Gyms and educational class activities and our Prevention team have used the garden for diversionary activities for those children who have been at risk of becoming offenders.
■ As you will have seen this is a huge venture and requires the assistance of other agencies and groups now to take the restoration of the gardens to the next level. It would be
a great shame if this remarkable place was to return to the neglect that it received before we arrived, there is so much that could be achieved with some support, guidance and willpower.
Further information can be obtained from:Stephen Wood, Service ManagerGwynedd & Ynys Mon Youth Justice Service01248 679 183/683002 or 0777 648 [email protected]
Bullying on AllotmentsAs a grower/ gardener I am passionate about what I do, and I am sure that there are a great many who feel the same. I have been an allotmenteer for four years and I am an active member of our committee. Before this I was a keen gardener but with little space to do so. Hence when having waited patiently for my plots I have taken them on with a passion which sometimes can be taken as total madness by my non-gardening friends. I do it to be out in the fresh air; to be able to grow my own fruit and veg (and the odd few fl owers) and know that the produce is healthy and not fi lled full of chemicals; to enjoy the health benefi ts that come alongside the work involved (even if I do moan when I ache from head to toe following a hard day preparing for the season ahead); and fi nally to enjoy the good old fashioned community spirit which does prevail among “most” plot holders. As you can see, it is a leisure activity which has very many plus points.
For the last few years my husband and I have had the privilege of being able to represent The National Allotment Society at national level with information stands and show gardens at the Royal Welsh Agricultural Show, Builth Wells. It has been a very interesting time for us, meeting like-minded people who call in to our stand/display to chat about their allotments. Sadly this is where I have also been greatly disappointed with the human race. The number of people who came in and openly gave us information regarding cases of varying descriptions which can be seriously classed as bullying, by other plot holders or more often by heavy handed committee members. We were gravely disturbed to hear that in some cases the tenants were so distressed that they gave up their plots – even when they had not broken any society
rules. These incidents are higher than we expected, but at the same time should not exist at all. The current re-release of the programme “Allotment Wars” not only highlights the problem but is so true to fact that those who are not involved with allotments fi nd it highly amusing. Having seen this programme on two occasions now, I can relate to most things that were depicted. Respected association committees will not tolerate any kind of inappropriate behaviour/language/actions, and given positive evidence, the offending tenants could well fi nd themselves evicted from their plot.
The National Association has a list of rules which should be adhered to, and yes, it is up to the offi cers residing on the allotment committees to uphold them. On private sites where they are not affi liated to the “Association” rules should still be
adhered to and each site should have an elected committee. This does not mean any member of the committee should act like “God”. Rules and regulations are there for a reason. If you are not sure what the actual site rules are – ask for a copy – you should actually
have received these when you signed the tenancy agreement. Any case that may show signs of needing attention should be dealt initially with contact from the site secretary – assessing the situation and then offering gentle guidance in the correct method. An advisory letter may be issued at this time. If then at a second visit the same problem exists and has been discussed by the committee, a letter can be issued detailing the problem and the rulings – no need for bad language or belittling the tenant – just being fi rm and to the point. If the tenant’s problem is illness, then maybe a little compassion might be
required – we have all been there. If there is a necessity to talk to the offending plot holder again, a termination letter might be issued on agreement with the committee requesting that the tenant vacates his/her plot. Most members would agree they have been helped at some time by other allotment holders when they have a problem. It goes without saying that the community spirit actually does exist! We are there to help and guide you.
Could I just fi nish by saying that the association banner reads - The National Association of Allotments and Leisure Gardeners – yes, leisure gardeners! Please, all you wonderful allotment gardeners out there, read this and take heart; we are there to help you and defend your rights as a plot holder not to hinder. Look at the bigger picture and bring allotment gardening into the 21st Century by promoting, protecting and preserving. We need more
young people on allotments and more allotments
nationwide. The country needs people
like us to teach future growers and consumers what food and nature is all about. Sow, Reap and Enjoy.Margaret Horner
It goes without saying that the community
spirit actuallydoes exist!
there is so much that could be achieved with some support, guidance
and willpower
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The Missing Allotmenteerby Leslie Oldfi eldA fi ctional story that we shall bring to you in four parts.To read the ‘The Missing Allotmenteer’ in its entiretyplease visit the NAS website: www.nsalg.org.uk
Part 3:
Linda looked on it as similar to a home invasion and was very angry and concerned about it. She rang her husband immediately and asked him to come to the site at once. Geoff, who had been helping Sonia repair her greenhouse, came to Linda’s side within minutes. When her husband arrived she raised her voice and said, “The audacity of it, the bloody audacity of it. We put new fencing all around our allotment and it is obvious to anybody that is occupied and cultivated. It’s a bloody cheek”. She vehemently continued her tirade to her husband by saying that the tramp had no right to trespass on the plot. She added that there were plenty of empty and unused allotments and he could have entertained himself in those.
Linda’s husband agreed totally with his wife and was annoyed that the tramp had smashed down some of the new fencing that he had recently and painstakingly put up. He said to Linda that he would repair the damage but thought that the tramp would be wanton enough to break in again and would consult Sonia about what to do. She, he thought, would probably have had experience of intruders and might give the couple some good advice about what to do with the unwanted visitor.
It actually transpired that Sonia had had no problems with intruders in her many years as an allotmenteer and it appeared that the tramp, who was nicknamed the Black Fox, seemed only to be interested in using Linda and Geoff’s plot as his impromptu drinking and sleeping domain. Apparently, she was informed that Geoff, the previous tenant (who was called Ron Brindley), had given him permission to use the allotment when he had nowhere else to go. Moreover, and this came as a big and unwelcome surprise to Linda’s husband, he had been considered by the police as the main suspect in the mysterious disappearance of Mr Brindley twelve years ago.
Linda looked aghast at her husband as he informed her what Sonia had told him and stomped her feet on the ground and exclaimed: “That’s why the allotment had been unoccupied for so many years. Everybody knew its bad history except us. We were the bloody mugs who accepted the tenancy”. Her husband quietly nodded his head in agreement and went on to tell her more about what Sonia had said.
Since he was last seen working on his allotment on a hot and sultry July night twelve years ago, no trace or sighting
of Ron Brindley had been seen since. Apparently, so Sonia said, the whole allotment had been dug up by the police and the forensic department had scoured the other allotments looking for clues to his disappearance. However, nothing was ever found and as time went by the police spent less and less time on the case.
Many of the allotmenteers thought that foul play had taken place and wanted the police to treat it as a murder inquiry. Ron, they argued, was a creature of routine and a very stable and conservative individual; it was very unlikely
that he had just boarded a bus or train and gone walkabout. No, the consensus was that something bad had happened to him and “The Black Fox” was the likely culprit. The police, indeed, must have thought the same because they repeatedly brought him in for questioning but could not charge him because no proof could be found to link him with the missing person.
Linda stood fl abbergasted at what she had just heard and felt angry that no one had the decency to tell them about the
history of the allotment before. She was grateful for what Sonia had told her husband but wish she had informed him earlier. It occurred to Linda that if she and her husband had known about the former tenant’s disappearance they might not have taken on the tenancy of the allotment. It was very possible, she darkly thought, that a murderer was lurking
about their precious plot.She contacted the council’s Parks and
Open Spaces offi cer, Peter Wharton, about the situation and she also made a complaint to the police. A police community offi cer came round to see her and her husband and seemed very sympathetic to their situation. He commented that the trespassing tramp, “The Black Fox”, whose real name, he informed them was Terry Richardson, had been a nuisance on the allotment site for many years and he had indeed been treated as a suspect in the
unexplained disappearance of Ronald Brindley. The robust police offi cer divulged to them that Richardson
had served as a soldier in Bosnia and what he had seen happen there had seriously disturbed him. Apparently, his character completely changed for the worse and he became an alcoholic with a propensity for violence. He reassured them that he would keep an eye on the situation and have a word with him when he next encountered him.
Many of the allotmenteers thought that foul play had
taken place
“The Black Fox”,had been a nuisance on the allotment site for
many years
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A Rotten ProblemRaised beds are becoming increasingly popular with many gardeners, but the problem of choosing the most suitable material is a tricky one. Wood rots, bricks and blocks require a concrete base, metal sheets rust and plastic does not have the strength. So what is the answer?
Many gardeners are now turning to TPR (Thermo-Polymerised Rock), a material launched last year following 5 years of development and testing by the National Physical Laboratory and the BRE (Building Research Establishment).
TPR is manufactured from non-toxic and traceable plastic waste that cannot usually be recycled, but don’t let the word plastic fool you; TPR is stronger than concrete, despite being 30% lighter. It doesn’t rot, rust, melt, or leach chemicals; it has excellent thermal resistance, is sustainable and recyclable and offers a service life in
excess of 80 years. Unlike mainstream recycled plastics,
cement and chemically treated products TPR has such a low carbon footprint it is supported by the Carbon Trust. During the development period it was the outright winner of the prestigious Sustainable Product Development of the Year and because of its remarkable properties it is now specifi ed by local authorities, corporations, housing associations and the MoD.
TPR has now been made available to the public by Brodco, a company producing raised beds and secure garden sheds. Managing Director Nigel Broderick states “Our products are made for a purpose, not for a price. Our raised beds are generally purchased by people who are looking for a long term solution and who want to spend time gardening rather than doing maintenance.”
The Daylight garden shed has proved to be a huge success, offering a level of security and practicality not previously available. The shed is currently being tested for the police Secured by Design accreditation and if successful, as it is expected to be, it will be the only garden shed to gain the coveted seal of approval. They are sure to become a common sight on allotments all over the country in the next few years.
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