Due to the recent outbreaks of E coli 0157 linked to farms in the UK, the council has asked us to raise the issues of safety in relation to crops on allotments. In particular, the council has asked us to advise: –
1] That no fresh manure should be applied directly to plots but should be composted for at least 12 months prior to applying;
2] Manure should be thoroughly dug into the ground before planting any crops;
3] Hands should be thoroughly washed following the handling of manure;
4] All crops should be thoroughly washed after picking
5] Particular care should be taken that young children should not be allowed to handle animal manure.
for more info click highly informative government document
to download this plan of the Ashley Vale Site click here: avaa good map.pdf
The following information on how to run a productive plot and AVAA in general is handed out to new members as part of their starter pack. Current plot holders will also find lots of useful stuff – as well as some rules and regs – in here.
Download PDF or read on …
Ashley Vale Allotment Association
The council owns the site of Ashley Vale Allotment Association. The land is private and technically only committee members and council officials have the right to go on other peoples’ plots.
The association is billed for annual rents, which it collects, keeping a small proportion to cover running costs.
All allotment holders on the site are automatically members and are welcome to put comments forward to their field representative who can present them at committee meetings. Alternatively join the committee and have a direct say.
The Committee consists of several volunteer positions, including a chairperson, treasurer, secretary and committee members. Issues brought up are discussed at regular meetings. For contact details please see the notice boards on site.
There is an AGM every year, which takes place in the bottom compound at the committee room. Everyone is welcome to attend. We hope to hold an informal free BBQ afterwards. This was successful last year.
Animals and children
In some areas of the site there are serious health and safety hazards including, steep drops, broken glass, rusty metal panels or spikes, manure, ponds and chemicals in sheds. These can be extremely dangerous for children and animals, if not to adults as well. Please be careful on site and keep minors supervised.
Please take rubbish home with you and keep you plot tidy and safe.
Ideally dogs should be kept on a lead and you should always clear up after them.
Plot inspections and waiting list
There has been an out and out growth in applications for plots these last few years. This now puts pressure on tenants to work their allotment. Plot inspections are planned for the autumn and spring for the foreseeable future. If there are concerns about the neglect and use of a plot a letter to remedy will be sent out. This will give a periods grace to remedy the plot and the opportunity to contact the association regarding the situation. If a compromise can not be found a letter to quit will be issued, effectively ending the tenancy.
Insurance
Ashley Vale Allotment Association has public liability insurance.
AVAA Newsletter
The newsletter comes out several times a year. It contains information, articles and news relevant to the allotment site. It can be posted or sent by email. If you have any information you wish to contribute, please contact us
Gates and Security
The combination for gates with locks is available to all plotholders – if in doubt please contact a committee member.
Feel free to oil the locks if sticky.
Please make sure, if you are the last person out, to lock the gates behind you. We don’t want our allotments to become like a prison camp – and we’d like the rest of the community to enjoy this green space as much as we do. We have had cases of theft, vandalism and arson, so please be vigilant.
Skips and rubbish
Skips are ordered with some degree of regularity. There are two positions on site where they are situated. The main place is down in the flat compound at the bottom of the site, behind the farm. The other site which we try to coordinate through the newsletter as to timing and warning plot holders of its arrival due to heavy fly tipping is on the concrete standing off Ashley Down Road.
There may be a lot of rubbish on your plot when you take it on. Please try to clear it as much as possible and keep it free of rubbish for health and safety and amenity value. Please think carefully about articles brought onto site as you are then responsible for them. Of particular concern is underlay and other plastics that fragment and of course the bane of several plots broken glass or glass that is breakable. Please be tidy and responsible.
Glass
There are problematic and dangerous accumulations of glass on some areas of the site. Please clear away what you might have the misfortune to find, and be particularly vigilant when bringing glass onto plots to clear up immediately and safely if any gets broken.
Water
There are mains fed water taps situated around the site. They are turned on in spring after the last of the frosts and switched off in autumn before the first heavy frosts.
The taps are on water meters so the Allotments Office must pay for however much is used.
The rules state that hosepipes must not be used directly to water allotments. However while we have taps you can still use a hosepipe to fill up water butts.
Please be observant of water usage when using the taps.
Paths
Existing paths should be maintained to a minimum of 18 inches and preferably as wide as is practicable. If there is no existing path when you take the plot on please be practical and leave room for a path around the plot.
Main pathways through the allotments are under review for improvements. Please respect them and not let your plot encroach on them. Feel free if woodchip is available to improve any surface in need of attention.
Trees
If you wish to plant trees or large shrubs please consult the secretary for advice and permission as large numbers are being planted with much enthusiasm and sometimes little regard for practicality. Any large plant should not obstruct allotment space with regards to shading and root space. If you wish to plant large plants for wildlife please contact the wildlife group and the secretary for advice and permission.
Roots are of particular concern in several areas of the site as there are underground storm drains running through the site. Inappropriate planting could result in the need for heavy machinery and consequent disruption and damage for any area concerned.
Bonfires
Bonfires are acceptable on site if they consist of clean materials. Brambles, weeds and clean wood are ok. Plastics, painted or treated wood, felt and any other obnoxious material is strictly unacceptable. This is due to air pollution in the valley, potential harmful and toxic ashes being left on the plot you are currently tenant of, and of course common courtesy to others.
Carpets
The allotments office has recently banned carpets. This is because carpets degrade leaving very awkward messes, and as they do so pesticides, glues, dyes and fire retardants may be washed into the plot. Even modern hessian-backed carpets are mostly synthetic right down from fibres to chemicals. They are not recommended for organic use and are banned on site.
Notice boards
There are two notice boards on site. Keep an eye out for new information – meetings and social events are publicised here and of course you can revisit the website as often as you like.
Leaf Bays
There are three leaf bays in the bottom compound where the council put leaves gathered from parks from mid autumn to early winter. They are there for all plot holders to collect free. It is not advisable to put them straight into the soil and should be rotted down first. They are slow to rot but make an excellent soil conditioner when they have.
You may need to be prompt as they can go very fast.
If there is space outside of the leaf season it is acceptable to use the space in the leaf bays to have manure dropped as long as it is not inconvenient for others and is moved promptly. It is wise to put a sign on of who’s it is as others may assume it is free to take. The association for loads delivered to this communal area can take no responsibility.
Manure deliveries
To buy a load of manure delivered to the site call Mr Hannam on 0117 967 4456 to obtain a price, was £45 on 18th December 2008, per tipper truckload of either horse or cow manure.
Free manure can be obtained from the farm at the end of Boiling Wells Lane in St Werburghs. Be prepared to make your own transport arrangements or ask if they can deliver.
Examples of previous loads can usually be seen in the compound down the bottom, at the end of some plots. You will need to find a spot where it can be tipped that does not cause a nuisance to anyone else. The leaf bays are not available while they are in use for leaves.
Erosion
Many of our plots are quite steeply sloping. If you look carefully at the soil when it is raining you can see the particles of soil falling away and moving downhill. Over the years this has worked rather like a glacier, slowly taking the topsoil from the top of any slope down towards the bottom. When digging and particularly when using an African hoe (as is natural, facing uphill) the soil tends by gravity to move downhill. Now many of the plots have less than one spade’s depth at the top end before the pure subsoil comes to light. (The subsoil looks sticky, pale and yellowish or red.) This is no good for growing vegetables in. At the same time, at the foot of the slope there is a pile of topsoil, which is wasted.
We can do a lot to counter this erosion:
- Ideally there should be at least a spade depth of topsoil.
- Subsoil is yellowish or reddish and is a poor growing medium as it contains no organic matter and is nearly pure clay.
- Mixing subsoil with topsoil should be avoided so be careful not to dig too deep. If the topsoil is thin you will probably find that there is excess at the bottom and ideally would move it back uphill to rejuvenate the plots. This would be particularly beneficial to the site where the downward flow is slowly swallowing main paths, and reduce the hazard of someone slipping or falling.
- When terracing do not pull the topsoil downwards as this compounds the problem.
- When viewing the plot for the first times take into account how steep the slope is and how much higher the soil level at the bottom of the plot compared to the path below. This should give an indication of the volume of downward movement there has been. This in turn should give an idea of how little topsoil there is at the top.
- Have a look at the paths that divide our plots. These generally indicate the original soil level before cultivation.
There is a wide variation as to degrees of erosion of different plots. If the plot you have taken is particularly affected the points above are well worth remembering.
Ponds
If you wish to build a pond there are some vital points to bear in mind:
- Small children can drown even in very shallow water. Please be considerate if situated near a main path as children may wander.
- Most pond wildlife depends heavily on the ponds edges. When building a pond always leave a shallow edge where marginal plants can grow and wildlife flourish. Don’t just dig a steep sided hole.
- Baths and similar shaped ponds are potentially lethal to amphibians. Make sure there is an access ramp for them to get out.
- Use of the more expensive purpose made pond liners is recommended. These usually have a guarantee of 15 years or more. Liners improvised from other sorts of plastic usually go brittle and degrade in sunlight. As ponds improve as they become established it is wiser to get one purpose made.
- Duckweed can be a real nuisance as it blankets the pond surface, blocking out light. It is very common and may come stuck (as a small floating plant) to shop bought plants as well as the usual borrowing from other ponds of plants. Pick and rinse off before it goes in the pond. Inspect plants and rinse them, as well as skimming off bowls of tadpoles for the floating plant.
Good luck!
Adapted from an original article by Joe LeGris