news - Ashford Allotments

Show prizes

27/6/2015

Do you usually go straight to the news page? Take a peek at the Welcome page and see the prizes still coming in for the Summer Show. Your chances of winning something are very good! Specialist tools are obviously the main attraction, but there will be other prizes and a really tempting raffle. Everyone is welcome from 2pm to 5pm, so bring the family to see the show. But don't be shy; bring along the best your plot has to offer - or a jar of last season's jam to compete - between 10am and 11.45. Last year the prize in the cookery competition was won by someone who hadn';t even meant to enter - they brought something along for the teas and we said 'you should enter that!'.

If you bake, then do bring us something homemade for the teas and refreshments - let other people enjoy your skills!

Delphinium week at Godinton

20/6/2015

The coming week 21st - 28th June is Delphinium Week at Godinton House, and the delphiniums are just about primed for their full glory. Click on the picture to go to their website with more details. PS - the rose garden is also in its full splendour right now!

Don't miss out on the Summer Show

20/6/2015

It’s just a month to go till this year’s Summer Show, so if July 18th isn’t already marked on your calendar, get the biro out now!

Don’t think ‘my stuff isn’t good enough’, this is a fun show and there are no monster vegetables or carefully polished 7ft carrots – your fruit or veg may well win the prize. There are, indeed, some really super prizes again this year – who knows, it could well be you.

There will be people there in the morning to help you make the most of your produce and give you all the advice you need, so if you’re a beginner don’t be shy. All the information you need, including a show schedule (if you’ve lost the one you were sent in the spring) and tips on showing, are just a click away on our Summer Show page.

Minutes of the June 3rd meeting.

18/6/2015

The minutes of the June 3rd meeting are now on the Official Stuff page (click on words to go there). Please take the time to read then as they contain important information about the Allotments Review.

Julie Rogers, who is in charge of the Review for the council, gave her report on the Review so far and her plans for the next stages. She confirmed that there was no plan to recommend a 400% rent increase, and that rents will be looked at in the context of what other authorities are charging locally. The results of the survey are on the website after the minutes. The survey is the first stage in the consultation process. Julie Rogers is assembling a working group to include plotholders and a representative from the NSALG to consider the various options for the Review. The council’s proposals will then be presented for discussion at an open meeting for all plotholders in July, and the council’s final Review recommendations will be put to the Cabinet of the Council in the autumn.

Oh dear oh dear; one to be very careful of!

18/6/2015

Not resigning as publicity manager

13/6/2015

Contrary to any rumours that are being circulated, I have not resigned as Publicity Manager nor am I about to. The post of publicity manager will come up for election by the plotholders at the next AGM.

Letter from Jonathan Longley at the Council

13/6/2015

Jonathan Longley has asked that the letter below should go on the website. Jonathan is part of the team conducting the Review. Sorry the print is so small; use the controls at the side and bottom to magnify it and scroll down the letter.

The attached presentation can be viewed on the Council part of the OFFICIAL STUFF section and will be appended to the minutes.

New site rep for William Road/Musgrove New

12/6/2015

Just to let you know that the big William Road complex of allotments has been divided back into two sections for the site rep's post. Due to work pressure, Vivienne Lawson is now site rep for just the Christchurch and Jemmett sections. Mark Cooper is once again the site rep for William Road & Musgrove New. (note: NOT Musgrove Farm, on Beaver Road - the site rep here is Sue Haste).

Some of you may still have Mark's contact details on file from when he was rep a couple of years ago. Those of you who are new, or have lost his details, just drop me a line on ashfordallotments@yahoo.co.uk and I'll send them to you. A notice with the contact details should go up too in due course.

Recruiting a new publicity manager

9/6/2015

As my post will fall due for re-election at the next AGM, I am sending the word out now that a new publicity manager will be required, so anyone considering it can have plenty of time to think about it. The publicity manager maintains the email list and updates the website. The website software is very easy to use (it's designed for amateurs and anyone with simple skills can do it - after all, I do!). Everything has been set up ready so it's just a case of taking on an email account and free website account in perfect working order. The amount of work involved is very modest (and very good fun), and full training will be provided if need be.

The new publicity manager will be elected by the members at the next AGM. They will then be a member of the committee of Ashford Allotment Society, to attend committee meetings. Any plotholder can do it. If think you'd enjoy this, let me know as early as possible.

One of our members has kindly offered technical support with both email and website, which is very helpful, thank you. The new publicity manager will need easy access to a computer and broadband, be familiar with email, and have at least fairly basic word-processing skills. You'll get a chance to meet lots of plotholders, and should be ready to attend about 3 meetings a year, usually on Wednesday evenings.

Take care with weedkiller!

6/6/2015

Every so often there are problems with weedkiller on allotments. If you are using a weedkiller, please make sure it goes only where you intend it to. Carelessly splashing it onto paths or other people's plots - or worse still letting spray drift across onto their plants - is about the biggest sin for a gardener. Carelessly used spray can kill someone's crops or even their fruit bushes.

TOP TIPS

Cans are safer than sprays. If spraying use a hooded spray, hold it close to the ground and check the wind direction before starting.

When filling your can or spray, keep the weedkiller and the can or spray on your plot, and bring clean water from the tap in a clean can to dilute it. Never never dilute your weedkiller directly at the tap or tank.

When you've finished, rinse off your equipment onto bare soil with clean water - don't dribble weedkiller back to your car.

Individual sachets of glyphosate weedkiller are available from the trading store.