Hello, I hope this will a successful resumption of normal services. This is the first update since May ’24 so apologies in advance for any excessive news content.

WHAT’S BEEN HAPPENING?

A fair bit which I’ll try and summarize:

  • Plant swap – The Spring Bank holiday saw us hold a plant swap. Plot holders contributed a wealth of surplus produce and this, together with Sue’s iris information, provided an opportunity for people to meet others, have a tea/coffee and swap or make a donation for a plant or two. 16 people attended on a cold Saturday and £20 was received in donations. Thanks to Miriam and Marina for organising and everyone who donated plants or money.
  • Queensbridge school – What appears to be an annual visit occurred from July 16th – 18th. Twenty year 10 young people visited the site as part of a planned programme of volunteering. Some great work was carried out including trimming the base of the large tree at the Nursery Road entrance, cutting back and clearing vegetation on one of the path on the Kingscote Road side of Chad Brook and cutting back the hedge grow on the Harborne Road fencing opposite Harborne Academy. 
  • The site had another successful waste clearance event for a week in September. It provided an accessible opportunity for  plot holders to dispose of both historic and current waste on their plot. Any further feedback would be appreciated.
  • Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) visit – Via the Birmingham & District Allotment Co-operative (BDAC), sites were invited to offer themselves to be part of a tour of the city’s allotments by an RHS delegation. Working with Guinea Gardens, Pereira Road and Moor Pool allotments, a collaborative proposal was submitted and was successful. Pereira Road and Moor Pool were drawn out of a hat as representatives of sites in this part of the city. An informative exchange took place in the ‘talk and walks’ across both sites.

SITE ISSUES

  • All plot holders should have had notification of how much their rent is for 2024/25. Many thanks to everybody who has made prompt payment. It really helps.
  • From 14/10/24 contractors will be on site working on the trees. Pruning will take place on 69 of these trees predominantly London Planes. Currently, we are unaware how long the work will take. The wood will be chipped and plot holders can help themselves. Chippings will be placed on the grassed area adjacent to plot 7. We have been asked to remove any vegetation or waste left at the base of the trees especially those adjacent to Yateley Road (‘Tenants must leave a minimum gap of 2′ (0.6m) between the rear of their plot and any adjoining boundary fence to allow access for maintenance’ 5.8 Allotment Rules).
  • Bonfires – November is the only month for bonfires. The message remains the same, if having a fire be considerate to both neighbours and those living in the nearby streets and monitor the fire until it is out. The water will remain on for part of the month. No date has yet been set for it to be turned off for winter.
  • Plot update – There has been some movement on the waiting list so that it has now been reduced to 32 with average waiting time down from three years to 15 months. Currently there are seven vacant plots. A warm welcome to new plot holders Vev, Paula, Edward, Jailo, Carrie, Mark, Lauretta, Lorna and Hilary. We hope you enjoy it!
  • Some sad news – We lost a fellow plot holder a few weeks ago. Caroline was a avid gardener, a brilliant composter and recycler. Her funeral will take place on Monday November 4th, 12.30 at St George’s Church. Edgbaston. Everyone is invited with a request to wear bright colours if you do attend.
  • Observations made when carrying out plot inspections and clearances – These include: Lack of a visible plot number sign (rule 12.1), tyres (rule 10.9), carpet or underlay (rule 6.5), corrugated iron sheeting/barbed wire (rule 6.4) and even a rabbit hutch! All these items were found or observed on sites still in use as well as those vacated. Your help in not keeping or using these materials and providing appropriate signage would be appreciated. In addition, many of those with tool lockers need their doors either painted or re-painted. Paint can be supplied.

OTHER ‘BITS N’ PIECES’

  • Copy of the September edition of the Harborne Walkway News attached.

That’s all for now.

Regards.

Tim