Community Work Day Sunday 16th Sept 2018

13th Sep 2018 by Dogbury

If anyone has some spare time on Sunday there is plenty to help out with. Harry’s old gardens and another derelict one wants hacking back so it is ready to let. I am away this weekend so, what needs doing is ……..

As you go into Harry’s garden and look to your left the brambles want cutting back to the boundary corner where an opening in the hedge will be made and then following the hedge towards the top gardens at the back of the greenhouse. This is where a pathway will be going. There are a few rose bushes that need isolating ready to be moved. All the perimeter boundaries on the gardens need cutting back to fences or hedges and hedges trimming and cutting back. Plenty to do.

The other garden is open and behind the metal fencing about 6 up from the polytunnel/community room. Work in there is pretty obvious.

Come and help us because the likelihood of the probation service helping out now is pretty slim. We need to get these gardens up and running so they earn us money and do not just lie dormant. Many thanks to those who do help, and to be honest the people who actually turn out on these Sundays already do a lot anyway. There are over 65 people on these allotments an hour or two every few months is not a great deal to ask of you.

Jackie

Posted in Events | Leave a Comment »

Burglary – Here We Go Again

7th Sep 2018 by Dogbury

After a long period of no crime being committed on the site, we have once again had an attempted burglary near to the main gates.  At the same time, there has been an increasing habit of people leaving the gates open and unattended in recent weeks.  It’s therefore probably no coincidence then that the two are almost certainly connected.  Once again please remember that site security is jointly everyone’s responsibility and in everybody’s interest for their safety too.  Unfortunately in the past once some thief has realised there are things to steal on an allotment site they usually come back and do it over and over again, until they are caught, hopefully, this will not be the case this time but we shall see.  We should not have to remind people to keep the gates closed and locked but plainly this is still not the case.  Please pass this information around to other allotment holders who may not see this notice on the website.

Posted in Crime, Notices | Leave a Comment »

Free Beer On Sunday

17th Aug 2018 by Dogbury

It’s the third Sunday of the month again already this weekend. If anyone has some spare time there is plenty to help out with. Harry’s old gardens, another one wants hacking back that has been left a long time and the polytunnel area needs a tidy ready for the BBQ.

Also, if anyone is interested in a third share in one of the gardens can you get in touch with me, please.

Sorry, I lied about the beer I am afraid.

Posted in Events, News, Notices | 3 Comments »

Solicitor Wanted

2nd Aug 2018 by Dogbury

Does anyone know a solicitor who would be prepared to look at an allotment lease, translate it into non legal speak and point out any pitfalls as a favour. Would be very helpful !.

Jackie – 07931 950950

Posted in Home |

OLD PARK FARM BBQ – SATURDAY 1st SEPTEMBER 2018

30th Jul 2018 by Dogbury

ALL GARDEN HOLDERS, FAMILY, AND FRIENDS ARE, OF COURSE WELCOME.  YOU CAN SHOW, VEGETABLES, FRUIT OR FLOWERS, ANYTHING YOU ARE PROUD OF, SUCCESSES, FAILURES, AMUSING OR OF INTEREST.

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. ANY OTHER IDEAS PLEASE DISCUSS WITH ME. PRODUCE TO THE SHOW AREA 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 WISH.

RSVP TO ENSURE WE HAVE ENOUGH FOOD TO GO AROUND.

IT WAS REALLY ENJOYABLE LAST YEAR WE GOT THROUGH 70 BURGERS IT BE NICE TO SEE AS MANY OF YOU THERE AGAIN.

If you fancy working off some calories before come and do a couple of hours of community work in the morning…….you will get bigger portions !!

JACKIE

07931950950

Posted in Events, News, Notices, Sales |

WATER USAGE.  

30th Jul 2018 by Dogbury

OK ITS RAINED A BIT.

HOWEVER!!!!  The Water supply is not the problem its the cost of how much is being used that is the problem.

First of all a big thank you to those of you who have complied with our requests to cut back on water usage.  The amount of water being used is still being monitored on a daily basis. The amount of cubic meters of water used in comparison to other years is still high. If the heat wave continues without regular consistent rainfall this will have a massive effect on our ability to spend any money for the rest of this year and next year. Our bill is already well over the amount we put aside each year to cover the water charges. NO one should be using sprinklers or oscillators to water their gardens. We have considered a number of options the first of which was to ask for your support in reducing your own individual water consumption on site and we continue to ask you to do so.

  1. No Sprinklers/Oscillators to be used.
  2. Hose pipes can be used at the moment to fill water barrels and then the water used to fill watering cans. Which target crops better.
  3. If you must use a hose because you have no storage. Target the plants. Watering a pathway is unnecessary!!  as is watering weeds which should be kept to a minimum to allow vegetables some chance to flourish.
  4. Be realistic. Some crops will not produce edible plants now no matter how much you water them so let them die or wait for rain.
  5. Water once a day and rotate what you water. Greenhouses and polytunnels only need watering every other day.
  6. Do not under any circumstances leave the water running while you do something else and do not use anything that leaks.
  7. Do not leave hose pipes attached to the taps if you are not using them.

The meter will continue to be monitored and if the dry weather continues into late August we reserve the option of reducing the supply or turning the water off completely. This has been a very strange year weather-wise, no one person has experienced different weather to the rest of us, this is your association and everyone should be pulling together and helping each other not acting in a self-interested way.

We will be looking at how we can keep our finances secure and if extra charges are needed as a one-off this year then they will be imposed. Baring in mind there has been no rise in water charges for many years we will be discussing that option. I am also thinking about how in the future we manage conditions like this. My preference is to ride this out and decide at the AGM next year what to do and when hopefully the council’s rent policy may be clearer.

BUT IF THE DECISION NEEDS TO BE MADE TO PROTECT OUR FINANCES THEN THAT DECISION WILL BE MADE WHEN NEEDED.

Please support what we are trying to do.  

Jackie

Posted in News, Notices, Services, Weather |

Water Usage

15th Jul 2018 by Dogbury

First of all a big thank you to those of you who have complied with our requests to cut back on water usage. The amount of water being used is being monitored on a daily basis and over a weeks measurement, we are still using over £200 pounds worth of water per week. The amount of cubic meters of water used in comparison to other years is mind-boggling and unsustainable. If the heat wave continues without regular consistent rainfall this will have a massive effect on our ability to spend any money for the rest of this year and next year.  Our bill is already well over double the amount we put aside each year to cover the water charges. There are some who are continuing to use an average weather years water on their gardens and using sprinklers/ oscillators. We have considered a number of options the first of which is to ask for your support in reducing your own individual water consumption on site.

  1. No Sprinklers/Oscillators to be used.
  2. Hosepipes can be used at the moment to fill water barrels and then the water used to fill watering cans. Which target crops better.
  3. If you must use a hose because you have no storage. Target the plants. Watering a pathway is unnecessary as is watering weeds which should be kept to a minimum to allow vegetables some chance to flourish.
  4. Be realistic. Some crops will not produce edible plants now no matter how much you water them so let them die or wait for rain.
  5. Water once a day and rotate what you water. Greenhouses and polytunnels only need watering every other day.
  6. Do not under any circumstances leave the water running while you do something else and do not use anything that leaks.

Over the next few days the meter will be monitored and if the rate has gone down no further action will be taken as yet, however, over the next couple of days if there is no significant decrease then the water flow/pressure will be halved.  I am away for the next two weeks and if needs be other members of the committee will impose a hosepipe ban and ultimately we reserve the option of turning the water off completely, but that seems to be a waste of the money we have already spent. Hence the action as above.  This has been a very strange year weather-wise, no one has experience different weather to the rest of us, this is your association and everyone should be pulling together and helping each other not acting in a self-interested way.

We will hold another committee meeting when I return and if necessary we will have an EGM very soon after.  We will be looking at how we can keep our finances secure and if extra charges are needed as a one-off this year then they will be imposed.  Bearing in mind there has been no rise in water charges for many years we will be discussing that option. I am also thinking about how in the future we manage conditions like this.

Please support what we are trying to do.

Please note though that if Severn Trent imposes a hosepipe ban then no matter what our meter is telling us we will have to comply. We also reserve the right to turn the water off if necessary.

Jackie

Posted in How To, News, Notices, Services | Leave a Comment »

Sunday 15th July

12th Jul 2018 by Dogbury

First of all a big thank you for respecting the no fires call on Sunday and hopefully for respecting our call to minimize water consumption.

This year we have more than normal amount of overgrown gardens two people have told me they are not continuing and some have gone via requests to do so. If you have given up this year due to the conditions which is understandable please get back on your garden and hack the weeds down, as it is not fair on your neighbours to let your garden get overgrown and spread weeds around, especially Mares tail.

If you have a problem other than the conditions this year then please contact me. Next month i will be sending out enquiry letters/non offer of tenancy letters. The allotments may not be a priority in your life at the moment and things happen, where we can we will help and accommodate anyone who is having difficulties, but we cannot do so unless you tell us there is a problem but you still wish to retain your garden.

SUNDAY 15th July is Community work day.

The hedges on the main road need doing urgently and there is plenty of strimming to do. Please bring your own shears and trimmers with you. You don’t have to give up a whole day of your time, just an hour or two can make a big difference so thank you in advance.

BBQ.

Hopefully the weather will supply some rain soon but equally hopefully not on Saturday 1st September although it would be ironic if it does. There will be a light hearted show and this year it could be very lighthearted, indeed, raffle and sales if anyone wishes to sell plants, crafts etc..
As a change, i am suggesting that for an hour or two before the food is served people could help out on the gardens and do some community work. I am sure a reward of free beer or wine could be arranged as a thank you.

Jackie

Posted in Events, News, Notices | 1 Comment »

« Newer Posts - Older Posts »