Old Park Farm Garden Holders Association

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Looking for a natural way to enrich your soil and keep your beds moist during dry spells? We have access to free guinea pig manure for allotment plot holders.

Often called “black gold” by vegetable growers, guinea pig droppings are a fantastic, organic soil conditioner:

Superior Moisture Retention: Packed with fibrous plant material, it acts like a sponge in your soil helping hold moisture where your crops need it most.

Nutrient Rich: Gentle, slow-release source of Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium.

Safe for Beds: Unlike raw horse or poultry manure, it is a “cold” manure, meaning it won’t burn plant roots when applied or turned into your topsoil.

Want to Try It or See How It Works?
Fellow plot holder Steve York has been using it on his plot with great results and is happy to share his experience, show you how he applies it, and help you get started.

How to Get in Touch
You are welcome to help yourself to the Guinea pig manure from the bay at the bottom of the car park near Steve Yorke Plot, 67, or arrange a quick chat/demo on site, contact Steve directly:

Phone: 0115 8491526
Mobile: 07907817421

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Hi Old Park Farm Allotment Holders.

It was great to see so many involved in the voting of our new committee on Saturday, and I wanted to say thank you on behalf of our new committee.

Secretary: Karol Brier
Treasurer: Anne-Marie Newton
Chairman: Dave Murfet (Plot 56)

Committee Members: Michael Graham, Tom Jeavons, Marcia Nichols, Shaun Taylor, Paul Gibbs, Lorenzo Hines

We’ll keep you updated as we settle into our roles.

Many Thanks
Your New Committee

Hi everyone.

I just wanted to say a massive thank you to everyone who came down to help at the work party on Sunday 19th: Anne-Marie N, Winifred, Jane, Marcia, Scott, Tom H, Ray and Lisa.

The effort we all put in makes such a huge difference to our site, and it is greatly appreciated.

Additionally, before-and-after pictures will be posted on the Facebook page and hopefully here too.

Kind Regards,
Carol Brier
Secretary
Old Park GHA: Members Co-operative

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Good morning, everyone

I wanted to say a huge thank you to everyone who took the time to vote. I am really honored to be your new Secretary for Old Park Farm GHA and I’m really looking forward to getting to work for the benefit of all our plot holders and new committee members.

Furthermore, I would like to thank the federation for coming in to count the votes. A special thanks must go to Steve York—we asked for his help, and he did a brilliant job making sure everything was run properly this time around. I’m very grateful for his help getting us back on track. I would also like to thank Jane for taking the minutes.

However, my main goal is to make sure we all move into this next chapter with a sense of stability and cooperation. I am keen and the new committee to get things running smoothly for everyone, so please do reach out if you have any questions or ideas, you can also keep an eye on our website for the latest updates and information.

Additionally, we have a Facebook page where we can all give friendly tips and advice click on the link  Old Park Farm GHA | Facebook   

For now, while we get a dedicated secretary email and phone number set up, you can reach me directly at karolbrier9@gmail.com or contact me by calling or texting 07903602622. I will get back to you as soon as possible.

Kind Regards 

Carol Brier

Secretary 

Old Park Farm GHA: Members’ Co-operative

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Dear Members,

The committee has received formal advice from Tyler Harris, Legal Adviser at the National Allotment Society (NAS), regarding our upcoming Annual General Meeting on July 18th. At the request of the NAS and the Nottingham Federation, the following advice is being shared with all members to ensure our AGM is conducted fairly and in line with our constitution:

The AGM must be run in line with custom and practice established over past AGMs and in line with our constitution.
The voting system must remain the standard “1 member, 1 vote” format, as changes to this are not permitted under the association's constitutional rules.
It is strongly recommended that the Nottingham Federation act as an independent party at the meeting to observe the registration of members and act as tellers for the vote count.
To ensure members feel comfortable, the vote may be conducted as a paper ballot rather than a show of hands.

The goal of this advice is to clearly establish the committee moving forward, allowing the NAS and the Federation to support us in forging a new path for our association.

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Good evening all members,

I wanted to start by thanking everyone that attended the AGM on the 13^th June. It was fantastic to see so many people there this year. Which is why it is with regret that I have to provide this notice.

Unfortunately, despite the volume of people that joined the AGM and cast their votes, the total number of plot holder members that signed the official registration form was less that the required volume of 20 for the meeting to be deemed quorate. Although the committee do feel that more plot holders did attend, we can not officially record the AGM as a valid meeting, which is why the minutes have not yet been published.

What this means

This means that the 13th June AGM results are null and void, and the committee reverts to the structure in place prior to the nullified AGM until a new quorate AGM takes place.

In the interest of working together to resolve the situation, the committee has voted to co-opt Carol, Winnie and Tom into the committee until the new AGM, bringing our current number up to the maximum of nine people.

A new AGM will be held on Saturday 18^th July, at 10.30am in the Polytunnel.

It is vital that as many plot holders attend as possible as we will only be handing out the voting forms to those that have been verified for voting purposes, and have signed the registration document. The meeting will only take place once the quorate volume has been confirmed: 20 plot holder members, including at least 2 officers.

If you wish to be considered for either an officer role, or an ordinary committee member, please ensure that you submit your nomination form to Steve York by no later than the 12pm on Thursday 16^th July. Nomination forms will be available in paper format in the Polytunnel, or please speak to Steve of the Committee members if there aren’t any remaining.

All nominees will have the opportunity to speak at the AGM to present why they believe they should be voted for. The ballot box will be opened only once all nominees have spoken.

We will once again be arranging an independent adjudicator to accompany the meeting to count the votes.  

If anyone has any questions or concerns, or if you would like a digital copy of the nomination form, please do contact me on opfgha.treasurer@gmail.com.

Thanks

Anne-Marie

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Important Notice – Seasonal Heatwaves and Temporary Fire Ban on All Allotment Sites

Dear Allotment Holders,

With the current period of hot, dry weather and the increased risk of fire, a temporary fire ban is now in place across all allotment sites until further notice.

This means that the lighting of bonfires, incinerators, fire pits, barbecues, or any other open flames is not permitted on allotment plots. Even small fires can spread quickly in dry conditions and pose a significant risk to neighbouring plots, wildlife, site infrastructure, and surrounding properties.

We appreciate your cooperation in helping to keep everyone safe during this period.

Water Use and Conservation

Although no hosepipe ban has currently been announced for the East Midlands, we would like to remind all tenants of their responsibilities under the Allotment Handbook and Tenancy Agreement.

Water is a very important asset for gardeners, but it is also an expensive and valuable natural resource.

As part of your Agreement, you must not:

• Use the water supply for purposes other than allotment gardening.
• Leave a hosepipe running when you are not using it or leave a tap on unattended.
• Use a hosepipe if a hosepipe ban is in place.

If you do use the water supplied to the site, please:

• Be aware that other plot holders may also be waiting their turn.
• Try to use watering cans rather than hosepipes wherever possible.
• Ensure hosepipes do not leak and are securely attached to the tap.
• Store rainwater using water butts, IBC containers, and other suitable collection systems.

Helping Your Plot Through Hot Weather

To reduce water use and protect your crops during heatwaves, consider:

• Watering early in the morning or late in the evening.
• Applying mulch around plants to retain moisture.
• Prioritising young plants, seedlings, and crops most vulnerable to drought.
• Making the most of stored rainwater before using mains-fed supplies.

Thank you for your support and understanding. By working together, we can help protect our allotment sites, conserve water, and reduce the risk of fires during the summer months.

Nottingham City Council
Allotment Services 
Greenspace and Natural Environment Team

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Dear Members,

Due to the extreme heatwave forecast for the coming days, please be aware of the following safety measures to keep our site secure and everyone safe:

• Extreme Fire Risk: The site is at significant risk of fire. No fires are permitted. Please avoid any activity involving ignition sources.
• Damping Down: To reduce fire risk, please feel free to “damp down” dry grass or vegetation on your plot using a watering can or hose. Please do this carefully and use water sparingly—remember our water usage costs are a major concern for the Association, so please only use what is necessary.
• Personal Safety: We strongly advise against heavy physical labor during the hottest parts of the day (11:00 AM – 4:00 PM). Please stay hydrated, take frequent breaks in the shade, and look out for your fellow plot holders.
• Site Hazards: Please stay alert for hazards such as broken glass, which can magnify sunlight and start fires in dry vegetation. Please clear any glass or metallic debris you find on your plot or on the paths.
• Vigilance: If you see any signs of fire or smoke, please report it immediately by calling 999.

Please take care of yourselves and each other during this period.

Kind regards,

Carol Brier 

Secretary,

Old Park Farm GHA;Members’ Co-operative 

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