Archive for the ‘News’ Category

Seed Potatoes

One of our members is selling small range of seed potatoes. All certified Scottish seed. the list at the moment is

  • Foremost,
  • Maris Bard Red duke of York ( earlies )
  • Wilja Kestrel Charlotte Yukon Gold,
  • Catriona,( second earlies )
  • Pink Fir Apple,
  • Cara.

Prices will be known after Christmas but will be less than the retail route. Please let us know if there is demand for other varieties and he will se if he can get them. If yo are interested please email enquiries@hart-allotments.org.uk

HAA Social Media

HAA have a general Facebook page here but it’s not used so much. There is a (more used) private Facebook group (for current Pilcot tenants only) – ask to join here 

Hart’s Green Garden (administered by Hart District Council) also has a private tenants Facebook group here

Hart District Council Press Release – Hart’s Green Garden at Edenbrook

Gardening gloves at the ready for Hart’s Green Garden

Hart District Council’s Countryside Service has broken ground on an exciting new green gardening space at Edenbrook Country Park in Fleet.

The Council has been working closely in partnership with Hart Allotment Association and Hart Voluntary Action to develop the Green Garden – a community space for residents to Grow Together, in more ways than one.

Hart’s Green Garden has separate plots available for members of the local community to rent, as well as offering a generous shared gardening space.

The project aims to create a welcoming, sustainable, and inclusive gardening space where people from diverse backgrounds can come together around the shared interest of gardening. An artistic impression of how the garden will look can be seen at www.hart.gov.uk/harts-green-garden.

Councillor David Neighbour, Leader of Hart District Council, said: ‘It’s fantastic that we have been able to work in partnership with two well-known community organisations in the local area, and secure the support of Groundwork, a landscape architecture organisation.

“Everyone involved in the project has worked together to share their expertise to help create a community garden that is a beacon of sustainability, supporting our aspiration to establish Edenbrook Country Park as an award-winning site and a centre of excellence for health and wellbeing.”

The Council appointed community-focused landscape architects Groundwork and contractors Southern Landscape Construction to start the creation of Hart’s Green Garden. Works started on site at the beginning of June.

Ben Coles, Director of Development and Strategic Programmes at Groundwork, said: “We are delighted to help create Hart’s Green Garden – a project with such great support from the local community. We couldn’t agree more with the sentiment of this being an inclusive, sustainable and welcoming space. Groundwork now more than ever are committed to working in partnership to create spaces which will re-connect communities and increase wellbeing.”

Hart’s Green Garden will enable structured social and therapeutic horticulture activities run by Hart Voluntary Action. It will also facilitate use of the space by local community groups and voluntary organisations whilst providing opportunities for local community members to get involved and support the project.

Shared areas include a covered outdoor space, compost bays and a variety of raised beds which is hoped will encourage connections between all site users.

Caroline Winchurch, Chief Executive of Hart Voluntary Action, said: “We are looking forward to welcoming anyone who is interested in community gardening to the Minding the Garden area of Hart’s Green Garden – we are open to enquiries from individuals and organisations and seek to cater for all abilities. Membership is open to all.”

All of the plots in Hart’s Green Garden will be offered, in date order, to those already on Hart Allotment Association’s waiting list. The waiting list is extensive, and it is expected that all the plots on this site will be allocated through this process.

If you wish to join the waiting list for a plot please visit www.hart-allotments.org.uk where you will find the plot application forms for this site and the Pilcot allotments site on Hitches Lane. For any other allotments please contact your Parish Council.

If you are interested in being part of the wider shared garden – please contact Hart Voluntary Action on 01252 815652, email mtg@hartvolaction.org.uk or visit their website at www.hartvolaction.org.uk.

Further information and updates are available at www.hart.gov.uk/harts-green-garden.

ENDS

For further information please call the press office on 01252 774460 or email amy.summers@hart.gov.uk.

Green Garden 1a

Green Garden 1: From left, Adam Green, Countryside Manager at Hart District Council, Alan Oliver and Sylvia Cresswell, both of Hart Allotment Association, and Caroline Winchurch, Chief Executive of Hart Voluntary Action.

Green Garden 2

Green Garden 2: From left, Alan Oliver, of Hart Allotment Association, Councillor Jane Worlock, Vice-Chairman of Hart District Council, Councillor David Neighbour, Leader of Hart District Council, Sylvia Cresswell, of Hart Allotment Association, Patricia Hughes, joint Chief Executive of Hart District Council, Councillor Simon Ambler, Chairman of Hart District Council, and Caroline Winchurch, Chief Executive of Hart Voluntary Action.

Green Garden 3

Green Garden 3: Councillor Simon Ambler, Chairman of Hart District Council, and Councillor Jane Worlock, Vice-Chairman.

 

 

Pilcot allotments and Coronavirus – update

Following the announcement of the relaxation of some rules made by the Prime Minister on 17th May, we have now re-opened the communal area and allow the sharing of tools/equipment.  This is on the understanding that tenants are individually responsible for their own safety and those of others on the site and are responsible for wearing gloves or taking and using disinfectant to wipe tools/equipment.

HAA Accounts for year ending 30 Nov 2020

Given the extraordinary last 14 months, it was not possible to have our usual AGM. The time limits for submitting our accounts does not allow for a hastily arranged meeting prior to the deadline. Please find the links to view the accounts for yourselves as per Sylvia’s email. The Excel version is here or a PSDF version is also available here.

Allotments and the Coronavirus

Dear All,

Following the Government announcements and in response to some questions from members, the committee had a conference call yesterday evening to discuss the impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on our allotments and what, if any, action HAA should take.

First and foremost, please abide by whatever the current Government advice is for you personally (e.g. age group, ‘at risk’ group etc.) – should Government advice change we may have to reconsider its impact on HAA.

Michael Gove yesterday confirmed that going to an allotment is an allowed type of exercise, so there is no reason why you shouldn’t visit the site unless you are unwell, in isolation or your personal advice from the Government says otherwise.

HAA will:

  • Permanently open the car-park gate to prevent having to touch it or the lock.
  • Leave the field gate ajar enabling access without having to touch it
  • Tape off the communal area – no access to the shed, communal tools or communal wheelbarrows

When you are at the Pilcot site, please:

  • Observe social distancing – keep 2-3 meters (6’-9’) apart from anyone else, including people on adjacent plots. Please just be sensible e.g. keeping to opposite sides of the main path when passing others, wait rather than passing on the narrower spur paths, don’t get to close to others at the topsoil or manure piles.
  • Do not use the communal tools or wheelbarrows or go into the communal shed.
  • Don’t touch other people’s plots / things, unless by prior consent.
  • If you must bring children, ensure they always remain on your plot and that they too observe social distancing.
  • Leave the gates as they are, including leaving the Lane gate locked and unused. This shouldn’t present a problem as cars are forbidden onsite for the foreseeable future and everything else can go around the gate.
  • Contain your own germs by sneezing/coughing into tissues or sleeves so as not to spread the droplets, especially where others may be passing you and walk into the vapour.  Consider wearing disposable gloves/masks.

Please do also let us know if you will not be able to visit the site until the crisis is over. While we cannot organise any immediate assistance, it would be good to know this from a site maintenance perspective.

It is also inevitable that the Community Tidy Days will have to happen later in the year than usual. Once we’re able to congregate, this year’s jobs may include digging plots whose tenants were unable to attend due to the crisis.

All the best and stay healthy.

HAA 2020 AGM minutes

The minutes of the AGM from 11.1.20 are here

HAA 2019 AGM minutes

Click here to see the 2019 AGM minutes!

 

Hart Allotments AGM – Saturday 19th January 2019

Members, please add 19/1/18 to your diaries for the next AGM. Will be from 2.30-4pm in the Function Room of the Harlington as before. If there’s anything you’d like raised in advance for the AGM agenda please email admin@hart-allotments.org.uk by the time of the next committee meeting on November 26th – alternatively come along and raise it on the day.  Thanks!

2018 ‘Best produce’ gathering

Thanks to everyone who came along at the weekend  - lots of communal jobs done and finished with a lovely social gathering and a good turnout of entries for the produce competition.HAA_160918prizes