Late Summer Newsletter
Annual inspections
This year’s site inspections were held on 21 July and the sites all looked great. The improvements to all sites over recent years were clear to see and so many plots clearly loved and so well used..! We were able to choose all the prize winners too which will be announced in the autumn. ☺
Occupancy
This year the Club has really gone through a growth spurt in terms of members and occupancy. The improvements to our sites over the past few years, the sense of community being created, and our advertising have really started to reap rewards and Covid has made people value being outside and the benefits allotments bring.
Holcroft North, Marquis, Riverside, and Willoughby Road are all currently full and now have small waiting lists.
Crabtree has 1 mini-plot available, Porters Hill Park has just 2 half plots available, and Holcroft South, our largest site, only has about 9 plots left. That’s it..!
HTC repairs & maintenance fund
This year’s repair & maintenance programme again focused on clearance of unlet plots and neglected areas to bring them back in to use. We have an annual fund from HTC of £3,000 to use on projects in order to bring the sites back up to standard and ensure R&M issues are kept on top of. This process was started in April 2018 and we are making progress. The following items were prioritised this year from a long list of requests:
Holcroft South
|
Project |
Brief Description |
Why needed |
|
Continue creation of main path between Plots 16 & 16a and Naturalised area for screening |
Strim and clear area of all brambles, vegetation and all self sown tree saplings, soil mounds and rubbish. |
To create a managed naturalised screening area on the boundary, and finish the main path. |
|
Remove soil mound on Communal plot if mini digger is on site for projects HS.1 or HS.2, spread soil over area being cleared for HS.2 |
Remove soil mound on Communal plot if mini digger is on site for HS.1 or HS.2, spread soil over area being cleared for HS.3, and grass seed resultant cleared corner. |
For easy maintenance mowing by members and further grass bins or sharing barrows. |
|
Clear and cover plots HS16 and HS17 |
Clear and cover plots HS16 and HS17. |
To prepare for rental once item HS.2 completed. |
|
Strim clear and cover plot HS5 leaving a 1m boundary path that is seeded with grass seed to create a grass path. |
Strim clear and cover plot HS5 |
To prepare for rental. |
|
Remove all self sown tree saplings, small self sown trees and brambles in area between the boundary and plots 15 to bark store. Sow grass seed. |
These self sown trees will become maintenance issues and self seed all over the place. |
Keep boundaries clear and maintenance free. 5 fruit trees to remain for communal use. |
Porters Hill Park
|
Project |
Brief Description |
Why needed |
|
Remove self seeded small trees and shrubs and vegetation on Porters Hill park boundary behind plots 14,15 and 16 and remove any hidden rubbish. Leave any Hawthorn and Blackthorn trees to a depth of 2m to grow in a new hedge location marrying up with the newly planted native hedge. Reduce height to 1.5m so can be maintained as a hedge going forward. |
Remove self seeded small trees and shrubs and vegetation on Porters Hill park boundary behind plots 14,15 and 16 and remove any hidden rubbish. Leave any Hawthorn and blackthorn trees growing in the new hedge location and cut low so they grown in to a native hedge. Any gaps can be planted with new hedge saplings. |
Site Security and ambience, sense of enclosure. Create Native hedge on rest of boundary with Porters Hill Park to create sense of enclosure. Will enable plots 14 and 15 to be extended at the rear. |
|
Remove self seeded small trees in left hand rear corner of plot 9 by Porters Hill park boundary fence. |
These self sown trees will become maintenance issues and self seed all over the place. |
Keep boundaries clear and maintenance free. |
Riverside
|
Project |
Brief Description |
Why needed |
|
Replace Riverside tool shed with shed or secure box as per other sites |
Tool shed door is not fit for purpose. It is too easy to gain entrance even when locked |
Security of machinery. Analysis by maintenance team advised this could not be fixed by them. |
They were due to be completed in April, however are obviously delayed due to Covid. We are hoping to see the works completed by HTC contractors this September though.
We have to put forward our list of projects for next year’s fund by the end of November 2020, so if you have any ideas of an improvement you would like to see on your site please let your site rep or anyone on the committee know.
Communal plots and burning areas
Following on from the success of creating this at Riverside last year, we are keen for every site to have a communal plot with a designated fire pit to burn in. So useful for burning non compostable weeds and woody vegetation once you have dried them and somewhere for people to sit and chat too.
We hope using them contributes to everyone feeling part of a community when spending time at our allotment gardens!
Two communal areas have been created at Marquis at each end of the site this year, one with a large fire pit for bonfires, and one with a smaller stacked brick burning circle to burn dried weeds – or even have a BBQ… ☺
Holcroft North will have a fire pit on plot 11.
Holcroft South plot 17 is proposed to have a fire pit on it
Willoughby Road will have a seating area to the right of the store and a fire pit to the left.
Porters Hill Park will have a fire pit on plot 6.
Crabtree’s will be on plot 14.
What are needed for these are lots of regular sized household bricks... If you have any spare please let your site rep know! Then everyone needs to come together to lay the bricks in the grass so the grass around them can be easily mowed up to the edge.
Composting
Everyone must have a compost bin on their plot. No soil piles are to be created; all garden waste must be contained within a compost bin. Having a compost bin on plots ensures no new soil mounds are created, and it is very clear that the vegetation will be used to create compost to go back on your plot. This is one of the great benefits of them – placing your own compost back on your plot is so rewarding..!
Any non compostable items can be:
Dried on your plot and then burn woody items and dried perennial weeds in an incinerator or in a small burning pit on your plot or of course burn in a fire pit on a site communal plot once created.
Drowned and then placed in your compost bin. Place perennial weeds in a bucket of water, and then after a while they will be compostable.
Removed from site and place in your wheelie bin at home.
Try to create a small drying rack on your plot maybe. A couple of bricks stacked up with some wire mesh sitting on top where the vegetation can sit and dry. Ollie on plot ML11 has created a rack over his pallet compost bin using chicken wire which looks like it works really well:
Waste, grass cuttings or rubbish must never be placed on unlet plots or communal or naturalised areas – always take your rubbish home with you and use grass cuttings in your compost bin or put them in the new Grass Cutting bins that some sites now have.
This link sells compost bins at a reduced rate: https://evengreener.com
If you make your own compost bins from wood pallets, please ensure they open in to your plot and not out on to a boundary path.
Volunteer organised improvements
There have been many so far this year, mainly focused on the boundaries and communal areas and plumbing issues. These include volunteers taking the time out of their days to organise and supervise:
Plumbers to fix leaking taps and toilets, and liaise with the underground water specialists to fix the leaks at Holcroft and install additional water meters.
Installing skips so members can clear historic rubbish and mounds from their plots to clear their boundaries themselves. These were so well used and lots cleared by everyone – thank you!
Contractors employed to clear large historic stone/soil/rubbish mounds on boundary paths so grass paths can be created allowing full access to boundary fences and stopping the stepping stone effects for trespassers to enter sites by climbing over our low fences.
Contractors employed to clear overgrown plots left by tenants using their plot deposits so the plots can be covered until rented again.
Security & boundaries
Unfortunately our sites are still suffering from trespass and thefts. There have been thefts at Marquis again this week and at Crabtree, Marquis and Riverside earlier in summer.
Please ensure all your tools etc are locked away or hidden from view to minimise the risk of this. Riverside also suffers regular trespass from fishermen who just climb the gate and walk through on to the site as there is currently no fencing. Fingers crossed for the new high fencing and gates for sites to be prioritised and installed from the allotment reinvestment funds to stop all this.
The boundaries are however vastly improved with some sites now pretty much complete with clear 1 metre grass paths all around the boundary. One member at Riverside described this brilliantly as a‘Jogging track’ all around the site! Hopefully this description helps people visualise what the goal is. At any time you should be able to walk (or jog!) around the whole site unobstructed via the boundary grass paths. Mounds and items placed by boundary fences just act as a stepping stone for intruders to get in to the site as they climb the low fences.
Westfield reinvestment funds
As advised last month, we now have confirmation that £132,500 has been allocated for reinvestment in allotments in Harpenden from the £2,650,000 HTC received from the sale of the EHGC Westfield site land.
£20,000 of this has been allocated to EHGC to replace the 2 storage garages at Holcroft Road which is good news as they are in a very poor state and full of asbestos. The specification we gave to replace them last February is a detailed quote to rebuild them both on the current concrete bases. They will be built on a brick base, then the walls from breeze blocks and the exterior walls then lined with horizontal wood panels stained black to match the clubhouse. The garage doors will be reinstalled, painted black, and the roofs will be living green sedum roofs. They will be water tight, look really smart, and be buzzing with wildlife on the roofs hopefully. Should really smarten the Clubhouse area up and we cannot wait to see them built..!!
The remaining £112,500 is to be spent on security – ie fences and gates. A decision on how much will be allocated to EHGC will be made in October based on an HTC audit on priority of need across all HTC allotment sites that they will produce during September. Most of our fences are over 50 years old, too low, and broken or totally missing in places. The fencing we have specified should last the next 50 years, and importantly ensure the allotment sites are enjoyed by residents for many years to come and are safe places to be.
Water use
Unfortunately for those at Holcroft there were several water leaks earlier this summer. Thank you to all involved in managing the daily turning on and off of the water so the supply stayed available until the leak was fixed some 5 weeks later and reporting the daily meter readings. Think we just about all survived the stress of it all...?!?
However, what is has raised, is the real cost of water used and that advice and education on water use by members is needed to ensure there is efficient use on all sites. Through taking the daily water meter readings we now know the exact cost of filling a water butt, how many watering cans that is, and that using a hose is far more expensive and often wasteful if not used efficiently and within a maximum time limit, and should never be left on unattended. We expect water to cost about £1,200 this year. We are putting together a document and blog on this and more information will be shared in the autumn. There may well be an annual charge to use a hose.
Water butts on all plots are to be encouraged.
Stones
Since the last newsletter a new rule has been advised by email re Stones. There is a blog on this on the website too: www.ehgc.org/blog/stones-update
Summer prune plum and cherry fruit trees
If you have not done so already – please prune your stone fruit trees to the height as per the club rules:
16. Fruit trees planted must be on dwarf stock and planted a minimum one metre within the plot boundary so as not to encroach on boundary paths and neighbouring plots.
a) Dwarf stock is classified as ‘M27 Very Dwarf Patio tree’ or ‘M9 Dwarf tree’ at garden centres.
b) M27 max height 6ft/1.8m, M9 max height 8ft/2.4m. Self-planted dwarf stock trees are to be pruned annually to a maximum height of 6ft/1.8m.
c) Inherited fruit trees and fruit bushes not of dwarf stock are to be pruned annually to a maximum height of 8 ft/2.4m.
Please see the below links for advice on plum and cherry tree pruning:
https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=339
https://www.treemaintenance.co.uk/when-should-i-prune-a-cherry-or-plum-tree/
The best time for pruning cherry or plum trees is usually spring for young trees and mid- summer for established trees. Formative pruning of Apple trees can be done in summer too if a spring prune has been missed.
Club shop
Following on from the closure of the club shop due to Covid-19, came the brilliant idea of Click & collect by Fiona Partridge & Sue Dawson while they chatted on site at Riverside. Before we knew it, the idea became a reality and opened as a trial on 12th July. The Club Stock spreadsheet was adapted into an order form and posted on the club shop tab on the website, and you simply complete and email your order to shop.ehgc@gmail.com and the order is prepared for collection on the next open date advised. Perfect..! No driving out of town, shop local, and all profits go back in to supporting your lovely allotment club which enables us to make additional improvements which are badly needed.
Payment is cashless - by card only.
We will have garlic and onion sets available this autumn for the first time, and then seeds potatoes in January as always. Netting, matting and fleece to protect crops can all be bought by the meter off the roll. We sell compost, manure, fertilisers, string, wooden stakes and so much more!
We have a fabulous range of Kings Seeds which we buy on sale or return so you always know they are fresh seeds each year – no old stock here. You receive 25% discount off the marked price on the packet, and the club receives 25% as profit too – so win win all round. Stock list and order form available here: www.ehgc.org/theshop
Fiona will fully take on the volunteer role of Shop manager from the end of September – welcome to the committee Fiona..! Do keep an eye out for opening dates advised by email and facebook until it is able to open weekly again. Next due to open on the 6th and 20th September. There is currently still no access to the inside of the shop due to Covid – but collection is on the doorstep along with a friendly smile and chat as ever ☺.
If you would like to volunteer to do a shift at the shop on Sunday mornings please email Fiona on shop.ehgc@gmail.com and she will add you to the rota on days when you are free. It’s fun – Get Involved...!
Dobies seeds
For those members who cannot get to the Club shop on Sunday mornings, we also have a group discount scheme with Dobies Seeds where you also receive 25% discount on seeds and 10% on other goods (and the club receives the discount too as commission – so another win win all round...) We have just been advised we will receive £220.41 in commission in September for last year’s purchases which is fab news. (Covid sales helped i am sure ☺) New catalogues will be received in September which will be available for
collection from the club shop, and the new code is GD1112G (which should start working in a week or 2 once the catalogues are delivered I am advised. The old code expired on Sept 1st). You can then order on line all year using the new code. www.dobies.co.uk.
Website
Please look out for regular informative Blogs that are posted on the website, and all the info you need re rules, site maps, the club shop etc are all there including pictures of sites and the plots available. A new Info tab is being created that will have useful documents on Composting, Machinery use, Water use, etc. Watch this space. Huge thank you to Greta Zabulyte for managing this for us all..! www.ehgc.org
Organic club
It may be a coincidence, but since we have become an organic club and banned weed killers, I have noticed a real increase in frogs/toads on site this year and less slugs..!
Did anyone try the organic alternatives suggested on the autumn 2019 newsletter Neem oil or Bacillus Thuringiensis? We would love to hear if they were a success.
The bees this year have been amazing too; you can’t walk past any of the amazing sunflowers on sites at the moment without a bee being seemingly stuck to it..! Beautiful.
Grass cutting & machinery
As you all know, everyone is responsible for cutting the grass paths on site.
The full width of all 4 boundary paths surrounding your plot must be regularly mowed and the edges cut and trimmed.
All plot holders must cut the main paths too.
If everyone cuts the full width of the main path by them, then all the main paths will get regularly maintained and show off the sites to their best and make them welcoming places for everyone to be. For the new communal areas/plots that need mowing – everyone needs to take their turn. Think of it as a nice walk around the allotments gardens – as you mow...!
The Club machinery belongs to everyone and is a collective responsibility to maintain.
Always clean it after use. Hard brushes are available in the machine store for this purpose. Leave machinery as you would wish to find it.
Try to avoid hitting large stones and damaging blades, which are expensive to replace.
Everyone is responsible for making sure there is petrol available for the next person after you have finished. Never put an empty petrol can back in the store, please refill it at the petrol station and email a photo of your receipt to Martin Bevan (treasurer.ehgc@gmail.com) along with your bank transfer details and you will be quickly reimbursed.
If a machine fails in any way, please report it to your site rep, your site WhatsApp group, or a committee member. It will not get fixed if no one knows it is broken.
Perhaps we should think about each site having a machinery rep who is the first point of contact and can advise initial checks to make and organise who from the site takes the machine to the repair companies to be fixed? Let us know if you are able to volunteer for this role on your site. Training can be given re the initial things to check for.
A one page document is being created re fuel mixes for strimmers etc.
Committee members and site reps
As ever - big thanks to all the Committee members and Site reps who volunteer their time to help run the club. As you know the club is run on a devolved basis and relies on volunteers, so if you would like to get involved do please get in touch. We will be creating a ‘How our Club works’ document which will be on the website and there will be a blog on it too.
What to grow/do now
In September why not try the following...!
Sow Veg seeds such as Spinach, Spring onions, Radish, Kohl Rabi, & Broad beans.
Sow herb and salad seeds such as Parsley, Coriander, Rocket, Winter salads like Mizuna and Mustard, and Pak Choi, and Rainbow Chard.
Sow hardy annual flower seeds like Cornflower for early flowers next spring. They will overwinter outside if they are established by autumn.
Dig over your planting beds ready to plant garlic and onion sets in the autumn.