Allotment News

Competition Time

The Woking Allotments competition judging will take place on 8th & 9th of July. In addition to the Tunis Cup for the best kept allotment site, there are individual plot holders prizes awarded. If you want to be nominated for any of these categories, please let me know before 21st June.

Individual categories are:

• Ted Smith Shield Best Plot in Borough
• Leam challenge Shield Best 1st Year Plot holder
• Benstead Scroll Best Plot Cultivated by a Gardener over 70 Years of Age
• Ashley Slocock Best Plot Cultivated by a Lady

Available for download are the judging criteria. Last year WBA plot holders were awarded 1st prize for best plot and 1st prize for best ladies plot, 2nd prize for best over 70s, 6th and 7th for best new comer, whilst the site went from 11th to 2nd equal for best allotment site.

Reminders

Bonfires

Spring and summer is not the time for bonfires. The smoke can penetrate growing fruit and vegetables and taint their taste. If you have rubbish you need to get rid of during the growing seasons, please take it to Martyr's Lane.

Paths

Please remember it is your responsibility to keep paths under control, and to help your neighbours mow grass try to keep netting and fencing away from the edge so it doesn't catch the mower/strimmer blades. Any extra areas of grass you feel you can help with is of course always welcome.

Trading Hut

We have now re-stocked with compost, and have managed to keep the price at £4.50 a bag.

Lower Car Park

Many thank to all of you who helped with the lower car park. Particular thanks to Rob and Dave for an excellent job in re-bricking.

Main Gate

We intend to trial the locking of the main gate at some point this year. The concept is that the first person in the morning will open the gate and the last car leaving will lock it behind them. The lock (combination) will be fixed such that you will be able to open it from the inside in case you get locked in. We are awaiting the supply of the lock from Woking BC.

Summer BBQ

If you would like a BBQ this summer, then please let me know. Currently potential dates are 6th, 19th July. I know we can't please everyone, but if you can give a preference... If you are willing to help, that would be great.

In this issue

Forthcoming AGM
Organic Seed Catalogue
Working Parties
Pumpkin Alert

Forthcoming AGM

Please note that we will be holding our 2014 AGM at our usual venue, Our Lady Help of Christians Church on Madeira Road West Byfleet, on Monday 10th November starting at 8.00pm prompt. The agenda will be circulated nearer the date with copies of the last AGM minutes.

Help Required

We have a small number of potential future projects and are looking for help from plotholders to do research into options and costs. If you are willing to help, can spend a bit of time costing items, please let me know.

We are always looking for members to join the committee, so if you would like to become a committee member there will be an opportunity to step forward.

Organic Seed Catalogue

This year’s catalogue is now available.

Mid-November: Orders must be returned to Mike no later than the AGM.
Late-December: Orders arrive and continue as items are available.

To reserve your copy email seeds @ wballotments.org.uk (preferred) or add your name to the list on the notice board or call: 01932 340885. Please make sure you include your name and contact details.

Working Party

We are holding a working party on Sunday 30 November 2014 at 10am to clear leaves from the ditches which lead to the Dartnell Park culvert. Wellington boots and gloves are recommended and useful tools to bring are rakes, forks and leaf grabbers. Please join us if you can, as many hands make light work.

Bonfires

Please restrict your bonfires to the evenings on days when the smoke will not drift over adjoining housing. If you do need to have a bonfire, then please attend it until it goes out.

Pumpkin Alert

Halloween is nearly upon us and those of you who still have pumpkins maturing on your plot be aware that passing locals have a record of liberating pumpkins from plots at this time of year.

Indeed the onset of early dark evenings is often the time we get uninvited human visitors. Please be vigilant, and report suspicious behaviour.

West Byfleet Allotments Newsletter Issue 15,
May 2014

In this issue

It’s Competition Time
Urban Foxes
Cages and Netting
Trading Hut Stock
Dates for Your Diary

It’s Competition Time

The Woking Allotments competition judging will take place on 9th & 10th of July. In addition to the Tunis Cup for the best kept allotment site, there are individual plotholders prizes awarded. If you want to be nominated for any of these categories, please let me know before 23rd June.

Individual categories are:

• Ted Smith Shield Best Plot in Borough
• Leam challenge Shield Best 1st Year Plot holder
• Benstead Scroll Best Plot Cultivated by a Gardener over 70 Years of Age
• Ashley Slocock Best Plot Cultivated by a Lady

Available for download is the judging criteria. Last year WBA plotholders were awarded 2nd prize for best plot and 2nd and 8th for best ladies plot, whilst the site went from 4th to 11th for best allotment site. Remember, as a plotholder you are expected to keep your paths mowed along with the border of your plot on the road. Any extra areas of grass you feel you can help with is of course always welcome.

Urban Foxes

As most of you know we have foxes on the allotments. Some people view these as interesting wildlife, some as something to be encouraged, and some as pests. Urban foxes are a feature of British urban and suburban surroundings and concerns about their impact are common.

Available for download is a leaflet produced by Bristol City Council which is both an interesting read and lays out the facts and dispels some myths.

The foxes on our allotments are a mixed blessing, both helping to keep down the rabbit and pigeon population but also damaging crops. Whatever your stance I would ask you to not feed them or cause them harm.

Cages and Netting

More and more of us are protecting our fruit and veg by erecting cages and netting. And quite rightly so - we’re not growing fruit and veg to feed the birds and other wildlife.

Please! Do not run your cages and netting right up to the edges of paths. This makes mowing difficult, and can snag wheelbarrows, which will damage your netting and annoy your neighbours.

Trading Hut Stock

Following some brisk trading in the last month, we have again re-stocked. We now have more:

8’ canes
Chicken pellets (large 20Kg bags) still at a very competitive price.
Compost (60L)
Growbags (33L)
Organic slug treatment (new 2Kg boxes)

Sorry we are out of stock of 4’ canes and so are our suppliers!

Dates for Your Diary

Horticultural shows are fun and a nice way to show off your veg. If you haven’t entered one before why not consider it – after all, a show isn’t a show without entries, and it’s not all about winning – or is it!

Woking Allotments Judging 9th & 10th July
Pyrford & Wisley Flower Show 12 July
Byfleet Parish Day Show 19 July
Chertsey Show 9 & 10 August
Woodham & New Haw Show 6 September END

Horticultural shows are fun and a nice way to show off your veg. If you haven’t entered one before why not consider it – after all, a show isn’t a show without entries, and it’s not all about winning – or is it!

Pyrford & Wisley Flower Show 12 July

Byfleet Parish Day Show 19 July

Chertsey Show 9 & 10 August

Woodham & New Haw Show 6 September