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Biting insect alert

8/8/2014

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PictureMany times actual size!
Two damp summers and a mild winter has meant an explosion in the numbers of 'Blandford Fly'. This tiny, flea-sized insect lurks in grass and leaps out to inflict a very painful bite. Unfortunately, it has now become very common on allotments. It favours conditions near water, so those allotments in low-lying parts of Ashford are worst affected, but this year they may be found on any site. Their chief period of activity is usually early summer but again, this year they are still biting till well into August.
The initial bite hurts (unlike mosquito bites), and bites can be recognised by a red centre surrounded, initially, by a whiter circle. Some people are lucky enough just to get this painful, itchy small bite. However, many people react allergically to the bite and may experience a reddened, swollen area round the bite or, in bad cases, an expanding area of swelling (oedema) which may cover half the leg.

Blandford Fly bites at dawn and dusk, and in periods of humid, overcast weather when the sun is behind clouds. They rise a couple of feet at most from the ground and usually bite on the leg. In these conditions, it is a good idea to cover up with trousers rather than shorts or a skirt. Take care when bending down to weed as they may then bite on the hand or even the face!!!

If you are bitten and experience swelling or reddening of the skin, an antihistamine or steroid cream available over the counter may help. More severe reactions may make it desirable to take an antihistamine tablet. The ones used for routine hayfever treatment are not necessarily the best for this and it would be best to ask advice from the pharmacist.

In some cases more prolonged symptoms can develop, including fever and joint pains. For more on 'Blandford Fly' bites click here for the Boots website  

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SECURITY ALERT

19/4/2014

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There has been a spate of break-ins to allotment sheds lately. Police are keeping up with developments but these things often go in bursts. Be extra vigilant, especially at dawn and dusk. If you have expensive items in your shed which could be stored at home, you may wish to move them for the time being. If you live adjacent to your site and you hear or see anything suspicious, call the police immediately. Make sure your back gate is secure as thieves have gone in from William Road allotments to gain access to a plotholder's private garden.

The police do not belittle this type of crime at all - they have a zero tolerance policy and every incident of shed break-ins is properly dealt with. Notify all break-ins to the police immediately, before contacting your rep. The number for the incident room is 01622 690690. If a crime actually is in progress dial 999 - the police would just love to catch the thieves in the act.

The William Road site rep is working with police to set up some crime prevention advice. If you are concerned about this and would like help from the Kent Police crime prevention team, you should first speak to your rep. If you are not able to get them to set up a visit, then contact us and we'll take it from there.

More news about crime prevention advice will be posted as soon as available.
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Burning bonfires

14/4/2014

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The Council has asked us to draw your attention to the important guidelines on bonfires.

Bonfires are sometimes necessary on the allotment to get rid of diseased plant material, or where it is impractical to take prunings to the dump for industrial composting.

The dump will take all woody and green refuse. It is open everyday, including weekends. There is no charge for taking things to the dump.
Click here to go to the website for the dump.


You should always be aware of the people living in houses nearby and be a good neighbour. Don't have a bonfire during the daytime when people may be in their gardens or drying washing.

Leaving bonfires unattended clearly isn't safe.

You don't need to burn weeds: even tough weeds like dandelions and bindweed will die if composted properly. Anything which can be composted, should be.
Weedy topsoil must never ever be taken off your plot. It isn't just against the rules to take it to the dump, it's plain daft. You NEED that topsoil and getting rid of it will ruin your plot. It can be piled onto a bonfire at the end to burn out any remaining roots.

You should not under any circumstances burn plastic or polythene: it releases horribly toxic fumes. All such refuse should be taken to the dump: it mustn't be left by allotment entrances. The council does not clear rubbish from allotments.

Here is the council's leaflet for you to read.
Use the controls at the side and bottom of the box to go up and down or make the print bigger.
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A reminder about rubbish

13/4/2014

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 Just a reminder to all plotholders that it is absolutely and entirely the responsibility of allotmenteers to remove their own rubbish. Though, in the past, the council sometimes generously provided a skip, this is – not surprisingly in the current financial climate – now completely out of the question.

Dumping your rubbish by the gate of your site is nothing more or less than flytipping. Other plotholders will be, justifiably, angry and disgusted. So please take everything either to the dump or, where suitable, home for the black bin.

I’m sure none of our plotholders are the sort of people who’d drive an unwanted sofa out to dump it among the bluebells in some pretty stretch of woodland, so help keep our allotments equally appealing by removing all unsightly rubbish in a sensible way.

Picture
Picture
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A disgusting pile of rubbish at Musgrove Farm allotments. After the site rep Sue had bravely bagged up all the rubbish in strong bags, kind and helpful plotholders took it to the dump. No repeat performance though, please!
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Dangerous greenhouses

10/2/2014

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DANGEROUS GREENHOUSES. If you have a glass greenhouse and haven't been to your allotment to check it out since the bad weather, please do pay a visit and make sure it is safe and that there is no broken glass near paths or lying in the grass. The latter is especially important as in this mild weather the grass is still growing and shards lying in the grass will soon become a hidden menace.

Glass from greenhouses cannot be put in your green bin. It should be taken to the household recycling site where it goes in the "soil and hardcore" bin.
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