Old Park Farm Garden Holders Association

A New Secretary
Hello from your new Secretary !!! On 1st November I took over the responsibilities of Secretary for the Old Park Farm Allotment Association. I’m Dave. I garden plots 32 and 55 with my wife Becky, son Stevie and dog Daisy. Plot 32 is two down from the Association polytunnel in the centre of the site. Hopefully you can find me if you need to talk to me, otherwise email me at oldparkfarmcic@gmail.com or contact me on 07884 283 907. I look forward to hearing from you.

I want to thank Jackie for her commitment to the Association as Secretary over more than 10 years. I am only starting to appreciate the work that she has done for us all. Most of this work was invisible to me, but allowed me to garden as I wanted. We will miss her knowledge and skill as Secretary and I will also miss her as a lovely allotment neighbour. I wish Jackie and Steve success, fun and relaxation in all their new projects and goals.

The reason why I volunteered to be secretary is because I was concerned that our allotment site would become directly managed by the council if we could not find a new secretary. I think that we will be better off managing the site ourselves and that is why I decided to step forward.

New Allotment Tenants
A couple of months ago, when I started working with Jackie to find new tenants, the number of vacant plots felt a bit daunting. I thought it might take us a little time to find people to take them on. However, in a relatively short time we have let a number of plots. I am delighted to welcome all our new plot holders. They have much work to do so please say hello to them, encourage them and offer help.

We still have 5 plots without tenants. If you know anyone who would like an allotment, please ask them to submit the application form on the website or get in touch with me.

Community Working Party
We had a successful Community Working Party on Saturday 7th November. Around 14 people contributed a couple of hours of their time which was excellent. The group’s hard work on the new path to the annexe means that it is now open. Furthermore work was done clearing glass, brambles and bricks from Harry’s plots (the ones near the main gate). It was also a chance to chat and get to know each other better. Thanks to everyone who was there, your support is really appreciated. I plan the next Community Working Party for 10am Saturday 7th December. Please come along. It would be great if we could get more of us together than last time. Everyone is welcome whether you can do a little or a lot. Possible jobs include making boundaries around the plots, trimming hedges, clearing carpets and rubbish etc. The aim is to get the plots to the stage where we can let them to new tenants. We will meet at 10am near the main gate and there will be tea, coffee, biscuits and maybe bacon and sausages !!!!! I hope to see you there.

Enjoy your allotments

Dave

As members of Old Park Farm Allotments you are again entitled to 50% discount on all packet seeds and 15% off every other item. Offer lasts until September next year.

You can order online and your order will be delivered to your home address. www.dobies.co.uk

We have a few catalogues and order forms for those that don’t want to order online. They will be in the association’s hut.

This is the new code: GD 11 90 F

Please do not give it to non members of our association.

This notification will also go on the main notice board.

I am happy to be able to say that after all our appeals we have had some people come forward to join your committee. There will be no need to have an EGM now. However, if anyone else is thinking of stepping forward then please do. The people who have come on board have done so to stop the association from being run by the council and to keep the rents affordable for all. I am really pleased to say that David Kirkham will take over as secretary from me on the 1st of November. David’s garden is on the main drive 2 up from the association polytunnel next to Charles. I hope you will all give him a lot of support.

David will be helping on Saturday morning at the workday. If you are around even though you can’t help in the work come and introduce yourself. To committee members that have yet to meet him, this would be an ideal opportunity to have a chat before the next meeting on Saturday 2nd November, please note the change of day.

Regards

Jackie

Sorry I must have misread the letter from Dobies, evidently, we will be allocated a new code for this year. I am still awaiting the package which will have the catalogues and new code in it. I will circulate it as soon as possible.

Jackie

We are hoping to get more work done on the site this Saturday the 12th from about 9am onwards. We will have a skip on site to start getting rid of some of the rubbish. There is plenty to do still but I think we can see the wood for the trees. We are still concentrating on moving as much of the bricks and rubble into the pathway as possible. So if you cannot help on Saturday Morning you are more than welcome to wander on-site and move a barrow load or two.

Jackie

We are still looking for more members to come on the committee we have meetings on Sunday 6th October at 10am and again on Sunday 3rd of November. 10am start in the polytunnel lasts for about 1 hour. We need a Chairman and Secretary or enough to help share in the tasks traditionally done by the secretary, with the Chairperson then having an overall view of what needs doing and when. If the committee does not think it has enough people to run the association efficiently then we will hold an

EMERGENCY GENERAL MEETING ON SUNDAY 17th NOVEMBER

there the future of the association will be discussed and what choices there are to carry the association forward. A working association will keep your rents low when compared to around £200 per plot plus water with the council. Personally, I think you have some really good people on the committee so please come and join them. Put the EGM date in your diaries and look for confirmation at the beginning of next month.

I have officially ended our status as a CIC this is because the lease the council is looking to give us ends the need for Trustees who would have personal liability over the allotment land. Also in the future, any committee may wish or need to raise funds and this would make running a CIC more difficult.

We collectively spent enough at Dobies to allow the discount scheme to continue this year. The arrangements are the same as is the code number. However, a few spent a lot of money and 2 of those are leaving the gardens. So it’s up to you if it continues after next August. I should have some catalogues soon. But the winter collection is on their website.

Thank you to those that came to the BBQ it was good fun especially thanks to extra help from Adam and Jane on the burger turning and Ronny and Winnifred on fundraising and those that helped set up. The afternoon cost us about £40 which is not bad for a 50/60 person BBQ.

To help in communication which is very time consuming and wastes paper and plastic please encourage your fellow allotmenteers to log onto this web site and follow. If everyone who was able to do so just did it would save so much time.

Steve and I will not have a garden up here by the end of October. I will continue to do some work for the association for a while so I will retain a key, if you want to have a chat about the future please feel free to contact me.

Regards

Jackie