Rules update - Stones
Having seen how much time and money has and still is being spent removing historic piles of stones to make plots and boundaries usable again – we are obviously keen for new piles not to be created. We added Rule 26 last year re no stones on boundaries and communal areas – but realise we did not cover stones on plots.
So the following new rule applies with immediate effect:
Rule 28:
No stone mounds, or stone paths or edges allowed on plots as they create permanent structures/features that are difficult and costly for future tenants or the Club to remove. If stones are removed from soil beds by tenants, there is nowhere else on sites for them to go - they are to be removed from site by the tenant at the time of removal instead.
a. No stone mounds or piles allowed on your plot
b. No stone paths or edges allowed on your plot
c. If you want to de-stone - take them home
The whole old culture of 'chuck em at the back' has caused us no end of maintenance problems to deal with now. We are just keen for all the good work we have all done over the past few years not to be reversed over time.
Stone mounds create permanent structures. Time-consuming to remove.
As they increase in size, people then add rubbish, soil, etc and we are back to where we started.
Stone pathways and edges create a permanent structure/feature on the plot for future tenants. Time-consuming and/or costly for future tenants or the club to remove. The weeds just grow through in the end too.
Leaving them on the edge of planting beds on plots will cause damage to lawnmower blades, and is really dangerous for you if using a strimmer on the edges too.
There is nowhere on site to dump stones. As said on the last Club Autumn newsletter - they are not all bad - they provide drainage and retain moisture:
Stones in soil help it drain well. They protect it from erosion and evaporation of moisture. They cool the soil's surface on a hot day, but upon absorbing some of the sun's heat, help warm the soil at night — a fact especially important to a gardener wary of frost in spring or fall. (Source: Wikipedia)
“This is a picture from when I just started working on my plot. It was so tempting to collect the stones. However, I soon learnt that there’s no end to this as the stones seem to rise to the surface over time. I just stopped and now ignore them." - Greta from Holcroft Road site.
Remember - under every stone - there will be moisture...!
If you really want to de-stone beds then the only option is to take them to the tip (when open) to be recycled as rubble or to your wheelie bin at home each time you dig them up. Appreciate the big chunky ones you will want to remove - I tended to take the few home each time when I started to my wheelie bin each time in an old empty plastic compost bag if there was no skip.
We have spoken to a few people about stones already and thanks for all being so understanding and for appreciating the reasons for the new rule.