Hart Allotments

Archive for the ‘News’ Category

Our next Hart Allotments AGM is to be held at 3pm on Saturday 10th January 2014 at the HARLINGTON CENTRE in Fleet. The agenda is here.  Apart from the ‘formal stuff’ we would also like to do a seed swap.  So if you have some seeds that you can share with others please label them up and bring them along to the meeting. Only members are being invited to the AGM.

As testament to the fantastic effort everyone has put in this year, I’ve added a few photos of the allotments, taken at the end of August, to some pages on the website. The photos may be seen in full glory on the Hart Allotments Facebook page here - I know that many of us use the Pilcot Tenants private page, but it would nevertheless be great to see other plot holders’ photos on the public page too!

Humble pie time – we’ve just realised we had a problem with the “contactus” email address we had in the “Useful Info” section of the website, with the result that no emails sent to this address were received. If anyone has used this email address and been wondering why they had received no response then firstly please accept our apologies, and secondly, please email us again using enquiries@hart-allotments.org.uk

Hart Allotments now has its own Facebook page – some members have already found it and posted some great pictures up! All are welcome to add photos and comments – please keep it clean and tidy, just like the site!

We’ve also created a Facebook Group for Pilcot tenants only – search in Facebook for Hart Allotments Pilcot tenants – this is a forum intended for private communication amongst plot-holders only so it is a closed group, therefore you’ll first have to join the group then I’ll need to ‘approve’ your joining – when you’ve requested to join please email admin@hart-allotments.org.uk  confirming your Facebook name so I can correlate your Facebook and email and be sure you are a tenant!

The ploughing and farrowing has been completed, and all the plots marked out. Pilcot allotments are now go!

Access to the allotments is via a padlocked main gate on Hitches Lane – tenants, please check your email for the padlock combination code. To unlock, dial in the combination code on the bottom of the padlock, push the u-bend into the body and it will open; to lock the padlock, shuffle the numbers on the bottom so that the code is no longer shown, then press the padlock together and it will click locked.

When you open the padlock and go through the gate please remember to re-lock the padlock and chain on to the mesh next to the gate so that nobody can walk off with it. The last person leaving the site must lock that gate, ensuring that our padlock is locked through the farmers’ padlock.

On the inside gate is our new noticeboard including:

• Plot Plan with the layout of the plots (please be sure to note on the plan which end of the plan is closest to the gate – plots in row 1 are closest, and as you look from the gate, plots in column A are on the far right and plots beginning H are on the far left nearest the road) – Tenants please check your tenancy agreement if you have forgotten your plot number
• Tenants’ notice board for you to communicate with other tenants by using sticky notes or a dry marker).
• Health and safety notices – such as warnings for uneven ground (getting to and on site), and nails in marker posts.

Water is currently available from the trough at the far end of the field.  You may need to bring containers or a watering can if you need to water seedlings.  The farmers are scheduled to lay in the pipe next week for a tap.  (We didn’t want to delay folk getting on to the site – so bear with us on this one.)

Paths - We are waiting for the wood chippings to arrive on site – tree cutting has also been delayed due to the weather.  This will be used to to cover the internal paths, in the meantime, take extra care if it’s muddy.

Rubbish – Once we are up and running and we have got hold of some more pallets we will construct a composting site.  In the meantime please take any green and normal rubbish home with you.

Fencing - You will need to speak to your neighbours if you want to share fencing.

Rules – Please refer to the Rules and Regs section to check what is currently permitted on site.  See the overview document that gives a summary of what is covered in the policies and procedures.

Big thanks to the farmers for all the ploughing, harrowing, mowing and ditch clearing, and also to all the volunteers who helped mark out the plots!

Happy digging!

A quick post to summarise what most of you know from emails and give you the latest update:

Following the Picot tenants meeting, the farmers treated the allotment area with Roundup, then on 7th April attempted to plough the area - unfortunately the plough got stuck in the mud and had to be pulled out by another tractor and so the operation was abandoned.  As you may remember we again had some had some heavy rainfalls that week, and the farmers advised that we may need to leave it a couple more weeks for it to dry out a bit and hope for better weather.

The committee discussed various alternative options such as hiring rotivators to dig the land, however this has been put aside for now on the advice of the farmers, and the experience of some of the committee members, as this is a lot of hard work and will not be effective in getting deep enough down to get to the roots (if we don’t get down deep this could store up problems for us later).

Members of the committee met with  the farmers to inspect the site  on Saturday 12th April. The good news was that the Roundup application had obviously worked as the marked area is now yellow, however the field is obviously not plough-able at present – we saw where the ploughing tractor got bogged down and had to be pulled out. Phil was most apologetic about the delays but we all agreed after the wettest winter for 100 years its not surprising the ground is waterlogged. To help with draining the field Phil arranged to clear the ditches around 2 sides the field using a digger, and to unblock the ends of the land drains that run from under the field into the ditches. Some/most of these drain ends have got blocked over the years by cattle going into the ditches.  This ditch and drain clearance will help drainage of the field and the clearing was planned to take place last week (the week before Easter).

There has since been further rainfall and we are awaiting an update on the success of the ditch clearing – it’s certain the ground will eventually dry out enough for ploughing, but the no-one can put a date on it yet as its weather dependant. We are all pretty disappointed in this news, but don’t really see any alternative but to stick it out and hope for some dry weather. We’ll keep you all posted as we know more.

The minutes from the meeting of those memebers who are Pilcot tenants, held on 22nd March 2014, may be viewed here

The minutes of the AGM held 9th November 2013 can be viewed here

The latest newsletter is now available: HANewsletterNov13

Dear all

Thanks to all those who responded to the consultation document that we sent out over the Christmas period advising that the planning permission had now been put in by Berkeley Homes to build phase 2 of the Edenbrook estate which includes the provision of allotments(possibly ready summer 2015).   We got a ‘mixed bag’ of results from the consultation with  people on the list advising that they:

• had got allotments elsewhere
• were waiting to hear about the allocation at Church Crookham before deciding
• wished to withdraw from Pilcot farm allotments
• wanted to continue with the Pilcot farm allotments
• wished to be taken off the waiting list

and we had a high number of non-responders.  We still need those people who did not respond to complete the consultation please (as this confirms that you are still interested in obtaining an allotment somewhere).

The committee met earlier in January.  The proposed lease arrangements (for Edenbrook and Pilcot Farm) and the consultation results were discussed.   It was decided that there was too much uncertainty at the moment to determine the long term viability of Pilcot Farmallotments.   We do not want the farmers to pay lots of money providing car parking on site, building tracks etc.  if in a couple of years time individuals have left to go to Edenbrook, Church Crookham, Elvetham Heath or Yateley allotments.   We therefore discussed with the farmers the idea of providing a TEMPORARY site at Pilcot Farm for 2 years allowing time for things to settle and allowing us the opportunity to get growing and plant up this year and next.    After that time the viability of the site will be reviewed and a decision can then be made as to whether we have sufficient people for both the Edenbook and Pilcot Allotments.  (Once allotments are up and running we will advertise the availability of plots in the area if numbers are low)

The farmers have agreed to this temporary site and they are able to:

• plough and cultivate the field (once the weather improves)
• provide a water standpipe
• keep livestock out of the allotment field (thereby using the existing boundary fence)

Individuals will be able to drop off tools etc. at the site and then park elsewhere.  Suggested examples are Leisure Centre, old Hitches Lane by school, just off new Edenbrook roundabout, Country Park/Show house car park at Edenbrook.

We will be sending a separate e-mail to those people who have already applied for a plot on Pilcot Farm.  This contains a link to a new survey.  We would kindly request that ALL people who have applied for a Pilcot Farm allotment complete the survey.  The survey asks whether this changes their decision regarding plot size, whether they wish to now withdraw, when cheques will be cashed (15th Feb) /destroyed etc.   Having a temporary plot on Pilcot Farm will not alter anyone’s position on the waiting list.

For those who now wish to apply for a temporary plot on Pilcot Farm, please visit the Hart Allotments website, (www.hart-allotments.org.uk) download the application form, complete it and send payment.

Since we changed out status to an Industrial & Provident Society (co-operative) we need to have members.  You need to be a member of Hart Allotments in order to have a plot on Pilcot Farm or Edenbrook (when they become available).  Even if you do not want a temporary plot on Pilcot Farm at this time, we would still love your support and encourage you to become a member of HartAllotments.  This helps us carry on with the work of securing and organising allotments for our area.  Only members of Hart Allotmentswill in the future be invited to and be able to vote at the next AGM.  Annual membership is £10 per annum.  If you would like to become a member please complete the membership form attached and return with your payment of £10.

Many thanks
Sylvia Cresswell
Secretary Hart Allotments