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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.
ISSUE 16 - AUTUMN 2008
BEST IN BOROUGH… Most of you will know that after achieving ‘most improved’ in 2007 that the site has gained ‘best in Borough’ for 2008 – thanks to all those who have contributed time, effort ideas and enthusiasm…and the occasional brew. This means that Whitehill, as a society, has good standing in the allotments in the area and is a credit to us as all. The school children are really enjoying coming down here and please make them feel welcome – they are after all going to see what allotments are really like and might just think twice when older and realise that they are definitely not worth the effort of breaking into!NEW ALLOTMENT OFFICER FOR COUNCIL SMBC have appointed a new allotment officer recently and are awaiting final references before officially announcing the appointment – however this is only a formality. The council are keen to ensure that plots are being used as per the tenancy agreements as there is a chronic lack of plots in the borough so please read the rules when you pay your rent and ensure that it looks tidy , has covered or well turnd areas – not a mass of weeds and grass and is safe and clean. It may not only be the committee that writes to you if not!WAITING LIST If you know someone who wants an allotment tell them not to be put off by the waiting list we have – people move on , things change and if they are not on it then if something comes up we cannot get in touch – yes we have 20 and it is growing but you never knowRENTS This year the committee will only be collecting rents form tenants on site in person – we cannot accept cheques left in the post box etc. We need to see each member to give them a copy of the rules, an update on some issues the council want to see addressed and also to update full contact details. The times / dates for collection will be published on the notice board after the AGM for you to be able to drop off your rent for the coming year We like to stress that this is voluntary for the committee to do this and as such please come down on the times and dates specified to pay, bring correct money and if applicable an up to date leisure pass – if it is out of date in the collection period – you will have to pay full rent. For those who state they cannot make it on the dates and times – then it is part of the society rules (not the committees) that you have to find an officer to pay it to – the committee however gives up a lot of time collecting rents and then sorting out lists for the council etc – it is not hardship for tenants to give up 15 minutes to pay their subs. Please note also that rents not paid by 30th November incur a £10 surcharge as agreed at the AGM in 2007 by majority vote and under the rules those not paid by 1st January will cease to be a member of the society and lose their tenancy under the agreement.
WILLOW WHIPS Soon we will be able to harvest the first lot of whips from the willow area – we have to wait until they have died down and gone dormant for the winter then we can start to collect them – there are various ideas that they can be used for from small arbours to pea stick. More on this when we get started – please keep an eye and an ear out for when we are harvesting if you are interested in obtaining some for projects –plus we have some people on site who know what to do with them – so that helps!
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