Old Park Farm Garden Holders Association

This Sunday (12th April) is the burning Sunday for April

Please respect other tenants, the Association and the wider community if you have a fire on your plot.
This is even more relevant during the Coronavirus crisis.
The National Allotment Association has suggested that all allotment tenants should consider whether smoke from bonfires could affect nearby households that are self-isolating and therefore cannot get away from any smoke that enters their house or garden.

The Association has not said that tenants should not have fires this Sunday, but please be even more considerate than normal.
It is not unrealistic to think that any problems caused by fires or smoke from our site could affect whether we are allowed to visit our plots during the coronavirus crisis.

In addition, please remember that the tenant is responsible for any fire that is started on their plot, make sure that all fires are controlled and carefully extinguished before you leave your plot.

Thanks for you help over the weekend

Dave

Secretary
Old Park Farm Garden Holders Association

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The restrictions to vehicle access to lanes on the south side of the site have been lifted. The wet weather over the winter meant that the restrictions were necessary as driving on these lanes would have caused significant damage. The Association would have needed to repair the damage and few people volunteer for this work.  The recent period of weather without significant rain means that the lanes are much drier and so the restrictions could be lifted.
Thank you for your patience while the lanes have been closed. In addition, the lock on the gate nearest the railway line has been changed back to the same lock as the other gates os that access is back to normal. Please only drive on lanes when no significant damage will be caused. Check the conditions before (not after) driving on the lanes so that damage is reduced. Even though the lanes are much drier now, there is still a risk that driving heavy vehicles or driving inconsiderately may still cause damage – especially on the lane by the Post Office site. If we have significant rain we might need to close the lanes again in the next few months or over the winter months.
The lanes do not maintain themselves – volunteers do this work. The Association could employ contractors to work on site but the extra cost would result in a review of tenants annual rent. Please help the Association as much as you can. Each tenant is responsible for maintaining the allotment site directly outside their plot. This includes maintaining the plot boundary, e.g. cutting the outside of your plot hedge and keeping the base of the hedge weed free, but it also includes maintaining the lane outside the plot. Thank you to those people who do maintain the area outside their plot. It would help greatly if every tenant would cut the grass in the lane outside their plot (if the lane has grass on it), and, pick up litter and take it home for disposal. A big thank to those people who do more than their fair share of cutting the grass on lanes, litter picking and hedge cutting outside of plots that are not their own. The Association relies on these people to maintain the site and this was reflected in the Council inspection this year. Let me know if you do want to volunteer to do more for the Association. The Association decides what surface it wants for lanes on the site (roadstone or grass) and this impacts how repairs are done. Roadstone was ordered so that potholes on the site could be fille. However this was just before the Government’s Covid 19 guidance was issued. This meant that the roadstone was not delivered. The Association will arrange the delivery and repair the potholes as soon as possible. In the meantime, tell me if you are thinking about repairing the lanes or potholes, digging drains or using pesticides on communal areas etc, before you do any anything so I can agree the work in advance. Thank you for your help in maintaining our lanes.

Dave
Secretary Old Park Farm Garden Holders Association

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The water is normally turned on around this time every year

At the Committee meeting at the end of March it was agreed to delay turning on the water this year. This was for a number of reasons including:

1) There is a leak in the water pipe after our water meter but outside of the site. Our bill will include the lost water and so the Association will incur costs even though no water is being used when we turn the water on.
2) The winter has been unusually wet and the initial need for water was expected to be limited.
3) Managing the water supply and our suppliers is very time consuming. The time of volunteers spend on water might be reduced of deferred if we delay turning on the water.

In contrast to the weather during most of the winter, we have not had significant water for a couple of weeks and the forecast is for dry weather for the next week. Therefore, in a call between the officers of the Association on Saturday, it was agreed to turn on the water as soon as possible.

Firstly we agreed to measure the leak to support a claim against our bill.
Next the water will be turned on and run through the pipes on the site. This will take a couple of hours while the pipes are flushed out.
It is at this stage that any leaks in the water pipes on site may be found.
These leaks will need to be fixed before water is available from the taps outside your plots.

Therefore I hope that the water will be on for next weekend, but that is dependent on any leaks that are found and how long it takes to fix those leaks.

We rely on Steve Yorke and Steve Williams volunteering their time so everyone can have access to water and the Association does not waste money. I would like to thank them for contributing their time and expertise so that we can all benefit. The work to identify and fix leaks can be especially awkward and messy as deep holes may need to be dug and work done at the bottom of those holes in tight spaces. This may take some time.
Tenants may not be aware of what needs to be done and who does it. The Association relies heavily on both of them and we should all appreciate what they do.

If you want to help them get the water turned on, please let me know.
The Association only works if people offer their help and any offer of help is appreciated.

I want to make you aware that there was a debate at the last Committee Meeting about whether the site should have water on tap at all, or whether the supply of water should be limited in some way compared to the current situation. Committee members expressed many different views and there was a good discussion. . The water supply was planned to be an agenda item for the AGM which was postponed due to the coronavirus situation.
One option is that proposals could be put forward meaning that the water will not be available on site from September. If you have strong views on this, please come to the AGM when it is re-arranged so you can be part of the debate.

The Association encourages all tenants to collect water and reduce the use of water on their plots now, and in the future. Water can be collected from buildings and greenhouses, and stored in tanks and barrels. Steve Yorke has kindly brought many tanks and barrels onto the site which has helped many people store significant amounts of water. I recognise the benefit that has already resulted from those people who already store water on their plots and thank tenants for spending time on this. Please help your yourselves and the Association by finding ways to store water on your plots so that you do not have to use the water that we pay for. This is one way that the site can reduce the natural resources it uses.

The Association may be able to help tenants who do not currently have a way of collecting or storing water – so please get in touch with me by text or by e mail (my contact numbers and e mail address can be found on the website).

Using less water will help to reduce our water bills and will help tenants furthest from the pipe where water enters the site from Old Coach Road to have access to water when demand is high.
Please be considerate and respectful of other tenants on your use of water.

Happy growing

Dave

Secretary
Old Park Farm Garden Holders Association

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These are indeed exceptional times and this note is not something that I had expected to have to write.

Please help me, the Association and the community get through this difficult situation by finding ways that you can help, by being positive, and by not creating difficulties.

A couple of people have asked me to comment on Covid 19 and how this affects our allotments. Fundamentally the Association will follow the Government’s guidance. At the moment the site remains open, if we are required to close the site in the future we will close it and this will be communicated as clearly as we can.

Government guidance on Covid 19 can be found at the following webpage:

https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus

The Association is not able to make any changes to this guidance and any laws. In addition, it is not the Association’s role to enforce or police any guidance and laws and the Association does not plan to interpret the guidance or laws. If you think that an offence has been committed, please contact the police

The Association requests that all tenants follow the guidance, show respect to other tenants, the Association and everyone in the community. Please use good judgment and common sense in following the guidance. I encourage all tenants to consider that if they do not follow government guidance on our site, then it will increase the possibility that the site will be closed and none of us will be able to work on our plots.

There is additional guidance on allotments from Nottingham City Council:

https://www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/leisure-and-culture/events-markets-parks-and-museums/parks-and-open-spaces/allotments/

and on the National Allotment Society website:

https://www.nsalg.org.uk/news/covid19-information/https://www.nsalg.org.uk/news/covid19-information/

As above, the Association requests that all tenants use good judgment and common sense in applying this guidance

If you wish to involve the Association in any issue regarding Covid 19 please contact me (telephone and e mail are on the website). If you have tried all these methods and have not received a reply, then contact one of the officers of the Association or failing that, a committee member.

If you have an issue with another tenant please try to resolve it between yourselves. Do respect each other, use civil language and do not raise your voice. Please remember it is our custom and practice that tenants are allowed to manage their own plots as they wish to so long as that does not adversely impact other tenants.

There is no change to the tenancy agreement or the rules of the Association due to Covid 19. Please help me and the Association by managing your plots within your tenancy agreement at all times.

Thank you for you help

Dave

Secretary
Old Park Farm Garden Holders Association

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As reported on a Sow Seeds e mail I received just now

Michael Gove MP, UK Minister for the Cabinet Office, stated this morning on the television that going to and tending your allotment was considered exercise and therefore allowable under the more stringent rules for slowing the spread of the coronavirus

Please continue to keep at least 2 metres away from other people – more is better! Remember the virus can be spread by contact from surfaces so if you touch something like a gate, padlock or tool touched by someone else, wash your hands with soap and water (even if cold) or use a proper hand sanitiser”

I hope this helps to clarify the situation a little

Keep well

Dave

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The Association has made the difficult decision to
POSTPONE the AGM
The AGM was planned for 10am tomorrow Sunday 15th March
I am sorry for any inconvenience caused. The decision was taken because of the coronavirus outbreak and the Association’s duty of care to its tenants Please share this news to other tenants if you can
The AGM will be re-arranged at a future date
Dave
Secretary Old Park Farm Garden Holders Association

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This Sunday 15th March 2020
Communal Polytunnel
10am start
All tenants are invited to attend

See you there
Dave
Secretary
Old Park Farm Garden Holders Association

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Sunday 8th March 10am to 12pm
Community Polytunnel
Dave – Secretary

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