Whitehill Allotment Society Web Site
Newsletters 08
ISSUE 15 JAN / FEB 2008
GRANTS SCHEMES ‘GERMINATE & BRING FORTH FRUIT!!!!’ Well most of you know by now that we are lucky in the fact that we received grants for improving the site in certain areas. The funds are centred around the wildlife area and wildlife improvements around the site (nest boxes etc) and a full breakdown on what has been applied for can be found if you ask a member of the committee – there is so much that it would take up a lot of space here , in this newsletter.
Sources for these funds came from the National Lottery, SMBC ‘Greenspace’ and SMBC local Area Grant funds. This summer should be really nice on here and we all look forward to great times all we ask is you respect the area and take your rubbish home with you please.
Extra parking on site…. Well this is not strictly true – at the bottom end of the site is a small ‘bay’ it is aimed at visiting people who may have disabilities, as a site, and committee, we are aiming to open up the area to some voluntary groups in the locality. So please remember – there is no parking on site officially (apart from the small area near the gates and that is ‘unofficial’!) and that if you park on the ‘bay’ then be prepared to move it at short notice – really you should drive on drop off and get off!!!
SUNDAY VOLUNTEERS Thanks to those who came out on the 9th March. It is appreciated. There was a notice on the board for awhile to inform people of the need to come and clear the site up a bit. It is getting less and less work the more we do – and in preparation for this summers judging by the council we would like it to be a good one! There are a few tasks left - but they will either have to wait or another poster goes up to let you know what’s what.POLYTHENE / BLACK MATERIAL If you use this stuff on your plot please weight it down properly – it can be hard but if you think you have enough bricks on it then add some more!!! It can go all over the place – and after it has been windy – check the plot – come down, allotments require attention even when the weather is not at its best. It has been noted that some people now just pick up and throw away this if it blows all over their plot and who can blame them? On the tidy ups it will be bundled off the hedge and thrown in the tip or re distribute to those who will weigh it down!
If it is not weighted down it is a mess and gets everywhere.
YOUR RUBBISH – YOUR PROBLEM Due to the fact that some people see the trailer(s) as a skip, let’s clarify what is acceptable to the committee and a majority of the plotholders. The provision to remove rubbish does not exist!! It is purely down to Phil the Treasurer (if he has time) with his trailer to move stuff voluntarily. The white area where the muck is delivered is being slowly emptied of large items that need to go into a trailer. It is not for plotholders waste. So please take your litter home.
ROADWAY MAINTENANCE As you will have noticed – the roadway has been re surfaced of sorts around the site – the committee managed to get 4 tonne of stone off the council for free early in the month. So please ensure that if you have a delivery of muck, soil improver etc that you also factor in the cost of a cover for the road – we want this to remain in good order and be kept clean. Tarpaulins are available cheap from builder’s merchants and B&Q. It just stops this becoming an issue. Whilst on the subject of deliveries – if you now want a delivery of anything bulky to your plot please ensure you can move it in 24 hours so as not get in the way of others – just a bit of good neighbourliness there really, we readily appreciate people have work commitments and that sometime a ‘bargain’ comes along but there are 60 odd other plotholders on site to think of as well.
WILLOW WHIPS Well some of you may have noticed that a ‘spare’ and somewhat waterlogged plot in the middle section of the site has been ‘regenerated’.
The committee would like to thank the few who rallied to the call to clear plot 43 and allow for willow whips to be planted. This has two benefits – one is willow loves wet and will suck up a lot of the excess water when it grows and secondly we can start a sustainable resource – you can coppice it and us it for pea sticks , wigwams even weaving in basketry (anyone brave enough to have a go at that one?) etc. Of course all this will be a years or three off yet but it is a start and helps our societies environmental credentials no end. Thanks also must go, with a special mention to Tina for her help in getting us on the right track – she is to impart her knowledge which has been gained from Reddish Community Garden on this subject to those who are interested.
PATHS, YOU AND OTHER STUFF… The time has come to be a bit stricter with the application of certain rules on site – not only because we want the site to look good, but also to ensure that it is safe. Please ensure that the path to the right of your plot is safe to walk on and cover all wells and dangerous holes. Pretty self explanatory that one! Also please either cover or strim bits you are not using – especially if the area is substantial as it can get untidy quickly and look a mess – the rules do state you should cultivate your plot after all. We are determined, as a society, to win best in Borough 2008 – so think on that a bit please.
Borrowed anything good lately? Well if you have, did you look after it? Someone ‘borrowed’ a wheelbarrow from one of the plots and then broke the wheel, placed it back on the plot and did not even have the decency or manners to apologise to the plotholder – just leaving them with a broken barrow. We thought we were better than this type of thing here at Whitehill. So if it was you then think of your actions and the fact that someone had to struggle because of your selfishness.
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