Keyworth Charity Allotments
2022 Winter Newsletter
It’s been a strange year for growing! With record temperatures and almost drought conditions it hasn’t been the easiest of years on the plots. Some of our usually “dead cert” crops like runner beans were almost impossible to grow in the heat of July and August, but potatoes have been tremendous with no signs of blight or slugs.
Welcome to all our new Plotholders
I’m afraid that there have not been many new faces this year. In the early part of the year the large waiting list vanished into thin air as a lot of people who registered their interest during Covid restrictions suddenly decided that they really didn’t fancy the hard work associated with keeping a plot. Sadly very few new people have applied this year and there are currently two people on the waiting list and with 3 empty plots to view so we hope they will be taken soon. We’re currently not offering any new half plots – half plots really helped us during the pandemic, but it’s become like a tough game of chess trying to move people around to match everyone’s needs.
Plot inspections
The Trustees have continued with regular plot inspections, and aim to carry them on in future years. We have concerns that plots can very quickly get out of control and would request that if anyone is experiencing difficulties in maintaining their plot that they tell us sooner rather than later, and also tell us what provisions they’ve made so that their neighbours aren’t suddenly inundated with masses of weeds.
There is an enforcement procedure in the rules – and the Enforcement notices are never lightly imposed – but the Trustees do have concerns that plot holders could just walk away leaving us with a mess to clear. To avoid this happening the allotment rules have been amended, and anyone who has received two Enforcement Notice Number 1’s in the past 12 months will be asked to pay a “Good Maintenance” deposit. We’ll be writing to the people involved shortly.
Graham Raymond
You’ll remember that Graham, our much-loved plotholder and Chairman of the Trustees, died tragically in September. Graham was a real “Action Man” who loved his mountains and his plots, and one of his actions during the lockdown was to totally revitalise the “big green metal shed”, giving it a total spring clean and adding lots of hanging hooks. In recognition of this we’d like to rename the shed as “Graham’s Bothy”. Graham’s family are delighted with the idea and a plaque has been organised which will shortly be fixed to the shed. It was Graham’s wish that his own rotavator should be donated to the Charity, and we recently collected the machine from his family. This very kind gesture should ensure that we will always havea rotavator on site in a good working condition.
Communal Manure
One of our empty plots is number 56, which is the first plot on the right just inside the Selby Lane gate. Tim Flint would be very happy to be able to drop manure on plot 56 if he has no one on his waiting list. If you would be interested in barrowing manure from 56 on to your plot would you please drop us an email, so that we can judge the likely level of interest.
On the subject of manure, you may recall that we invested in a new stiff brush this year, stored underneath Graham’s Bothy – the central path does have lots of remnants of manure which will produce more weeds in the months to come, so would everyone with a front plot please use the brush and do their best to sweep away any droppings which are on their part of the path.
Donations
One of the objectives of the Charity is to give financial support to local good causes and this year the Charity has made donations to Keyworth Abundance, Keyworth Advice Centre, Keyworth and District Community Concern (the community bus), Rushcliffe Community Volunteer Scheme (a one-to-one car scheme for the frail and elderly in the area), Keyworth Community Projects (the Keyworth Food Bank), South Notts Riding for the Disabled, the new Keyworth Community Garden, Maggie’s Centre Nottingham and the Brain Tumour Charity (the last two in Graham’s memory).
We’ve been asked by Keyworth Abundance to thank everyone who has donated produce to them this year, they’re very grateful for your help. The Trustees hope that you support these donations and are always eager to hear of any cases that are deserving of our support.
Contacts with other allotment associations
During the last year the trustees have contacted the West Bridgford and Rushcliffe Allotments, specifically Dick Crofts who is the manager/trustee of the Burleigh Road Allotment site, with a view to sharing best practice on our plots. We visited each other’s site to see how the sites are cultivated and managed. It was interesting to note that the rents are higher at Burleigh Road and they have to pay for their manure to be delivered. The sites are very different in layout, with high security fences, locked gates and mid-height hawthorn hedges around each plot at Burleigh Road. In comparison, KCA is a very open and accessible site – let’s hope we can keep it that way.
Internet searches and personal visits to allotment sites in Northumberland and Derby indicate that KCA is probably the least expensive site in England, especially when water and manure are factored in – and we have a toilet!
Dick runs a sales hut at Burleigh Road, but they do charge a small premium that goes to support the site. Again, our prices from Kings Seeds and Codnor are cheaper, so do please make use of this annual facility for your discounted seeds (Kings), and spuds, onions, canes and fertilisers etc. (Codnor). One outcome of our new link is a ‘Guide to Composts, Manures and Fertilizers’ reproduced courtesy of the West Bridgford and Rushcliffe Horticultural Society which we hope you will find of interest.