Old Park Farm Garden Holders Association

I run the website. I publish what I am told to publish nothing more. Today I want to say something personal to me.

Today we had a communal work day, a day when people are asked every few weeks, to help out for just a few hours, so that the allotments can be run for everyone’s benefit. It was sunny and warm and a lot got done by the following usual few: Steve Yorke, Steve Porter, Steve Williams, David Kirkham, John Stooke, Jane Bowden and Jackie Medcalf. Honourable mentions too go to Adrian Robbins, who worked yesterday, and Kay Graham and Peter Groves who are normally there but couldn’t make it today. I was there too. Well done to the band who always turn up and work for the rest of you so you can garden with no responsibility except to yourselves.

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Hi folks.

A reminder that rent is due by the end of the month, see your bill for payment methods. You can pay in person on 21st / 22nd and 28th / 29th between 10am and 12.30. Please bring your bill. Mark Robinson your treasurer will be taking payments in the polytunnel on Sunday 22nd. I will take payments on the 3 other days and will be in my garden. If you have difficulty in paying by the 1st of October now is the time to discuss it with me. If you are vacating your garden I need to know now, please.

On Saturday 21st September. Our few volunteers will be working on the pathway again and on Harry’s old gardens. Your help would be appreciated, it’s only for a couple of hours but more hands to make the work progress would be brilliant. We need to get the work done so we can mark out the new gardens and get tenants on as soon as possible. Which is in everyone’s interest, in the future the council will not give us a discount on non-tenanted gardens which means individual rents may need to rise to cover the deficit.

As you know we need more Committee members we ask that you give an hour or so of your time once a month so it is not arduous and you don’t have to attend every meeting. Every hour volunteered after that is a bonus. We are suggesting the secretary’s role could be split down so job sharing some of the tasks would work out a few hours per month over the year. If everyone on site gave a minimum of 2 hours a year we would be organised.

We need someone who could manage the Web site, which actually takes up very little time is just mainly putting posts up. So if you know how to manage a web site or your partner does, please offer your services. Please contact me for an informal discussion if you are interested. Interest does not mean you commit yourself. Talk to me, please.

Unless we get the volunteers we need we will probably hold an EGM in a couple of months time to discuss how the association goes forward.

Regards

Jackie

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SATURDAY 31st AUGUST 2019
OLD PARK FARM BBQ

AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET YOUR FELLOW GARDENERS.
ALL ARE ALL WELCOME INCLUDING YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

YOU CAN SHOW VEGETABLES,FRUIT OR FLOWERS, ANYTHING YOU ARE PROUD OF (OR NOT) SUCCESSES, FAILURES, AMUSING OR OF INTEREST TO OTHERS.

AN AUCTION WILL FOLLOW OF ENTRIES WITH PROCEEDS GOING TOWARDS FOOD COSTS.

IF YOU WISH TO SELL SURPLUS PLANTS, CRAFTS ETC THEN YOU ARE WELCOME TO SET UP A STALL. PRODUCE TO THE POLY TUNNEL BY 12.30 PM AT LATEST.

THE BBQ FOOD AND DRINKS INCLUDING BEER WILL BE SERVED FROM ABOUT 1.30PM.

YOU WILL BE ABLE TO PAY YOUR RENT IF YOU SO WISH.

RSVPS TO ENSURE WE HAVE ENOUGH FOOD TO GO AROUND WOULD BE HELPFUL.

IT WAS REALLY ENJOYABLE LAST YEAR WE GOT THROUGH 60 BURGERS IT BE NICE TO SEE AS MANY OF YOU THERE AGAIN.

JACKIE
07931950950

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Mainly due to staffing changes at the council we have not yet had our inspection, however, I am expecting to be told who will be doing the formal inspection very soon, so guys you need to do your hedges, please. Cut back to 5ft high or to the wire if you have wire fencing in it. Allotments need to be at least 50% cultivated and be neat and tidy. I will be conducting my own inspection this coming weekend and those that appear not to be doing the minimum lease requirements will be sent enquiry letters or notices to quit, so if you are not doing your garden for a reason I ought to know about then you need to get in touch.

BREAK-INS

There was a break in of the brick building near the railway last month and last week we had a garden broken into by cutting a gate lock. I am pretty sure that we know the reason why the latter was done, the conclusion is that one of our gardeners was looking for something in particular. No one should go on any allotment apart from their own without an invite. Anyone caught breaking into a garden, stealing or attempting to steal anything will immediately lose their tenancy and will be reported to the Police which in certain circumstances would be classed as a burglary. It is not pleasant to know we have a thief amongst us once again but apparently we have. Obviously, you know who you are so maybe you could just do everyone a favour and the honourable thing and leave us!

A reminder that the social event this year is Saturday 31st August, after comments at the AGM any practical suggestions for a different approach will be welcome.

Week commencing Monday 15th July we are hiring a small digger to complete the pathway and lift up carpets on Harry’s gardens. ON SATURDAY 20th IS THE NEXT COMMUNITY DAY we will be looking for help from you to do some jobs on that land but mainly to cut the hedge back on Old Coach Road. If you can spare an hour on the 20th it would be appreciated and any help during the previous week would be good.

As you know both myself and Steve Yorke are stepping down next March. Next year we will need more committee members to share out the responsibilities of running these gardens so that nobody has to have a burdensome amount of work to do. If you wish this association to continue and avoid paying council high rents then we need more to get involved. If there are not enough committee members to run the allotments then the association would revert to being a council direct let site. The rent per sq meter for such a site is currently 46p plus water charges you are now paying 13p plus water charges. So it’s up to you, step forward and commit a few hours a year or risk paying higher rents and let the council run it. Your choice really.

Jackie Medcalf
Secretary.

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Big, big thank you to, Steve Yorke, Steve Williams, Kay Graham and Peter Groves, Teresa Nason, John Rick, Dave Kirkham, Charles Dewa, John Stooke, Jane Bowden and Steve Medcalf for working so hard today. Results speak for themselves.

Thanks guys, very much appreciated.

Jackie x

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What a difference a digger makes!

Big thank you to our Chairman for organising the hire of a JCB and overseeing today’s work.

The back-breaking work a few of us were facing has been sorted and we can now see the end game more easily. Next Saturday, come and help pick up bricks to put into the new pathway, help take out a large bush/tree to continue the path into the annex. Bit of strimmer work needs doing, carpets and any miscellaneous rubbish needs gathering for a skip. Help plan and measure the new allotments. The boundary of the site needs tidying, in particular, the fence on Old Coach Rd. Just an hour of your time will be a great help. Get involved in your association.

New committee members wanted so that next year we can look at a slightly different way of running the association. Come and join us on Saturday, all welcome.

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At 8.30am this Sunday 26th May we are expecting a digger on site to start work on the new footpath from the main site to the annex and do the heavy work for us on Harry’s old gardens. This will include removing some hedging and earth from the side on the main driveway. There may be some disruption to access to the site so please look before you attempt to drive down, if you are early you may need to park on the road. Please be patient and helpful if this occurs.

A new stock of compost is arriving on Friday 24th at 10am. Any help would be appreciated.

On Saturday 1st June we will hold a community help day. Much of the work will depend on how further forward the digger has taken us on our plans for the plot. So I will confirm jobs on Harry’s next week. All the boundaries need a trim of weeds and brambles and we have some potholes that want filling. So rakes, shears, loppers and strimmers will be needed. We will base ourselves in the polytunnel and refreshments including cakes (as it’s my birthday! ) will be available to those who help. We will be there from 10am until about 2pm. So if you can spare some time, even half an hour please come and join us.

Jackie

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Be aware.

It appears someone has broken into a garden on the annex, nothing was taken but it looks like they were having a look round. Please report anything unusual and do not keep anything in your sheds of value. Advice is not to put expensive locks on your gardens it makes trespassers think you are hiding something.

Jackie

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