Old Park Farm Garden Holders Association

Small Bonfires are once again allowed on individual plots, provided that sufficient precautions are taken. Massive fires are not allowed. If you have a big pile of hedge cuttings (several plots have) you must not set fire to it. To protect any hedgehogs and reduce the chance of things getting out of hand, you should start a small fire nearby and gradually feed your hedge cuttings onto it. You must be careful not to generate large amounts of smoke.

All bonfires should be of dry material, with NO plastics or other waste and ideally NOT using petrol / diesel as an accelerant. Bonfires should be supervised at all times and only lit when weather conditions are suitable (i.e. low wind or wind blowing away from properties.
Suitable firefighting equipment including water / rakes and soil should be available to extinguish any bonfires if conditions change or reports of nuisance occur.

Following our usual pattern of second Sunday in the month with a few extra days in November, small fires are allowed on the following dates:

12 October

5, 6, 7, 8, 9 November

14 December

11 January

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On my walk around the site today I noticed quite a bad leak pumping up freshwater from the ground on the bottom lane and not from one of the taps. Unfortunately that means the water supply has had to be turned off for now.
Michael and myself have agreed to dig it up during the week to see if he can then remedy the problem, hopefully allowing water for the last part of the water period. If not the water supply may not be turned back on until next spring.
Many thanks

Lisa

The water is usually switched off from mid November until spring to avoid the issue of freezing and burst pipes. Given the amount of rain we have had recently, water butts should be fairly full, if you need help arranging rain water collection, please ask.

Steve

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Following a site inspection today, a council officer has informed us that we are no longer allowed large communal bonfires on the car park. This Sunday’s fire will be the last communal fire and after this no more burning rubbish should be left on the car park.

The summer fire ban on individual plot holders is still in place and will be reviewed by the council in October.

Anything green should be composted and not burnt. Grass, leaves and even green privet trimmings can all go in the compost. Don’t compost perennial roots (Dandelion, Dock, Bindweed etc), kill them first either by drying in the sun or drowning in a water butt for a few months. A compost bay can easily be made from pallets. If anyone needs help or advice on composting please ask a committee member (or a Steve).

Woody hedge trimmings are more difficult, but we have a chipper so we should be using it to make chippings to be used as a mulch.

Larger branches or logs could be saved and given to someone who has a log burner

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Rest assured the rent bills are being produced and will be delivered in the next 48 hours
Many thanks for you patience
Lisa.

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Work is progressing slowly, to help things along the committee is hoping for volunteers to help with a work day on Sunday September 21st from 10 am. If enough people turn up we should be able to get the car park into a usable state. Everyone is welcome, but If you have a plot on the lane near(ish) to the main gate you should make an extra effort because it is likely that you will benefit from using the car park when it is ready.

Hope to see you on Sunday

Steve

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EVERYONE WELCOME from about noon.

Entries for the competition are to be made 10am to 12:45, see a previous post for the schedule. Judging starts at 1:00

Diane will be selling raffle tickets.

Vegetarian or Meat option provided free until 2:30 pm
Bring your own drinks .

Steve York will be judging the vegetables, and presenting trophies to the winners.

Winnie will be auctioning the vegetables, then the raffle will be drawn. (proceeds from the auction and raffle go to Association funds)

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Dear friends,

Martin Harris on behalf of the city council allotment service has asked me to notify all members regarding water usage  during this period of hot weather.l 

Can all association ask their members to ensure

• Watering is carried out before 10am and after 6pm.
•  that sprinklers and hosepipe timers are not used.
• Plot holders with chickens supply adequate shade and water, and birds are checked at least daily to ensure they are not unduly stressed. 

Thank you 

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OLD PARK FARM ALLOTMENTS

CODE OF PRACTICE FOR KEEPING HENS

1. Anyone wishing to keep hens on their plot must request permission from the Committee via email or in writing, stating your name, plot number and how many hens you wish to keep. Your plot will be inspected to ensure that you are able to provide enough space and time to care for your hens. If your plot does not meet the minimal standards according the ‘OPF Garden Standards Policy and Procedure’ then you will not be allowed until this has been rectified. Basically, if you do not have enough time to maintain your plot then you will not have enough time to care for hens. You must provide up to date contact numbers in case there is a problem with your hens, and you need to be contacted.

2. No cockerels are to be kept on your plot, and you must not keep more than 6 hens.
3. Hens should only be kept for eggs and not for meat.
4. You must not keep hens on your plot for the purpose for selling eggs as this is against OPF policy.
5. You MUST register your hens with the Great Britain Poultry Register. DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) requires you to do this to help the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency get in touch if there is a disease outbreak. Failure to provide the registration documents will result in the removal of your hens.
6. Hens are a huge commitment and need to be attended to at least twice a day providing them with adequate food and water and cleaned out regularly – a big clean once a week and removal of droppings and old food daily. You must keep to DEFRA Code of Practice for the Welfare of Laying hens and Pullets and the RSPCA guidelines to ensure the health and wellbeing of your hens. You must not feed your hens with food scraps from your kitchen, including vegetables, as this is illegal.
7. The coop must be a minimum of 0.25 square metres for each hen, have a perch approx. 3cm-5cm with rounded edges, and a nesting box with wood shavings or suitable material to lay their eggs.
8. The run must be provided and fully secure from predators and vermin as much as possible. The run must be a minimum of 1.5 metre square per hen – this will ensure that they have enough space and help prevent fighting. Please provide your hens with areas of enrichment to be able to dig, have a dust bath, climb up steps and roost, preventing them from becoming bored. The run must have shelter/covers to protect them from all elements. You must check the run and coop daily for signs of damage and make relevant repairs.
9. Feed and water containers should be cleaned out regularly and feed should be stored in vermin proof containers.
10. You must ensure that your hens are vaccinated and wormed. You must check your hens daily for parasites and any poor signs of health (please refer to RSPCA website).
11. You must remove any sick or injured hens and seek veterinary treatment immediately. Any dead hens must be disposed of via a veterinary practice. They must NOT be disposed of on the allotment.
12. You must ensure that you have someone to care for your hens if you are away on holiday for example. You must inform the Committee of anyone going on to your plot to care for your hens.
13. Six monthly inspections will be carried out on your plot to ensure that you are adhering to the Standards set out by DEFRA, RSPCA and The Animal Welfare Act 2006. Failure to adhere to this code of practice or/and there are concerns with regards the care of your hens then you will be reported to the RSPCA.
14. You need to do your own research (please see below) and seriously think whether you have the time and money to be able to keep hens. Please seek advice if you are unsure about certain aspects of keeping hens. We would sooner sort out an issue before it gets out of hand.

For information and advice please refer to :-

DEFRA – Code of Practice for the Welfare and Laying of Hens and Pullets.

RSPCA – Keeping Hens as Pets

RSPCA Knowledgebase – this is a really good website providing all there is to know on keeping hens.

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