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NEW MEMBERS WELCOME PACK
WELCOME TO GLEBE ROAD ALLOTMENTS
Glebe Road Allotment Association leases the site from Darlington Council. The Association is responsible for letting plots and managing the site. Day to day management is carried out by committee members. The committee is elected at the Annual General Meeting usually held in January. The committee meets approximately monthly and there are about four General meeting per year. All members are invited to the general meetings and may sent suggestions and problems to the committee via committee members or using the post box in the top lane. The names and contact details of the Committee members is posted on the notice board.
ADVICE
For those new to gardening other plot holders will be happy to advise. There many gardening books available including Dr D G Hessayon’s “Expert” series which have a simple layout and are very informative.
Also the Royal Horticulture Society web site www.rhs.org.uk has
useful and authoritive information on all aspects of gardening.
ASSOCIATION AND DOCUMENTS AND GUIDANCE ATTACHED
2017
Chairman: Wilf Whatmore Plot5 07854 651803
Secretary: Keith Robinson Plot 34/35 07958 266 927
Treasurer: Covered by Sec
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POLICY - ERECTION OF SHEDS, GREEN
HOUSES, FENCES AND PLANTING OF TREES
Before any shed, green house or poly-tunnel or fence is erected written approval must be obtained from the Committee. No erection or plantings the cause shading of adjoining plots.
1. SHEDS: approval will only be given if the sheds are constructed to the following specifications:-
a. Maximum floor size to be 6x8.
b. Walls and roof must be timber and of quality construction and appearance.
c. Under no circumstances will any shed be constructed of old doors, windows, bits of metal etc. be approved and any second hand sectional sheds must be of good condition and providing permission is granted for them to be erected a detailed inspection will be carried out to make sure it conforms with the Committees requirements.
2. GREENHOUSES
a. All green houses will be of proper design, i.e aluminium frame or sectional timber frame.
b. Under no circumstances should be built out of old doors and windows.
c. Polytunnels will be approved providing they are of proper construction and that they are maintained at all times.
3. FENCING:-
a. There is no requirement to erect fences.
b. No individual plot fencing is to be erected without previous permission from the Committee.
c. Fencing will be restricted to a height of 1200mm and must be of post and rail or post and wire design.
d. Under no circumstances should any corrugated sheets, old doors, old windows, or bit of metal be brought onto the site.
4. TREES: Not to be planted without consent of the committee. Trees must not shade adjoining plots.
5. WATER SAVING: Sheds and green-houses must be to be fitted with gutter to send rain water to storage butts.
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POLICY - RULES & GUIDANCE – FIRES
RULES
a. Our insurance company requires:
i. The bonfire is attended by a responsible adult at all times
ii. No accelerant is used
iii. Within YOUR* allotment where there is a shovel nearby and water available to extinguish it
iv. In a cleared area with minimal grass and scrub and safe distance from buildings, equipment fences and vehicles.
v. 10 metres from any property outside the allotment site
vi. The bonfire is fully extinguished with water when you have finished with it. You must not use sand or dirt for this purpose instead
b. The council:- has received complaints about allotment bonfires from nearby residents. The council has urged us not to have fires but to compost vegetation and take other material to the Waste Re-cycling Centre. If fires cause a persistent nuisance the council has the power to issue an Abatement Notice. The council will issue permits the Waste Recycling Centre if
required.
c. The Tenant’s Obligations requires [18];- “if a neighbouring plot holder
is present upon your arrival please refrain from lighting fires as this can cause nuisance with smoke”.
d. The Committee has agreed that fires must not be lit on the top row of allotment.
e. No material to be brought on site with intention to burn.
GUIDANCE
a. There is no need for a fire on an allotment site.
b. Other than on the top row where no fires are allowed - if you really feel you must light a fire please:-
i. ensure the smoke is blowing away from neighbouring houses.
ii. Only burn matter arising from the plot, keep smoke to a minimum, vegetation should be dried before being burnt.
iii. No plastics, roofing material, old carpets etc. to be burnt.
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RATS:-If you see rats let the committee know.
a. Discouraging rats at the allotment site is everybody’s responsibility - help prevent them making your plot their home.
b. Turn the contents of your compost bin regularly (at least twice per year). This not only disturbs any rats that have taken up residence but also aerates your compost heap which speeds up the process of digestion and reduces the amount of methane (a greenhouse gas) your heap emits. Have a shovel ready to hit any escaping rats as you do it.
c. Plastic compost bins should be given a small gauge wire mesh lining at the base or can be placed on paving slabs to prevent rats from burrowing in underneath.
d. Regularly kick your compost bin to ensure it is not a peaceful place for rats to sleep and check they are not taking up residence in your greenhouse.
e. Never put meat, dairy, bones, cooked foods or other inappropriate items in your compost bin. This will attract rats and make your bin smell.
f. Harvest ripe fruit and vegetables promptly and take them home to enjoy. Rats particularly enjoy sweetcorn cobs, as many of us know to our cost. Do not put unwanted cobs on the heap, take them home to the wheely
bin.
g. Do not leave discarded fruit and vegetables on the ground; clear them away to your compost bin, as these are a source of food for
rats and other pests.
h. Do not feed wild birds or other animals to excess – you may be feeding rats as well.
i. Remember to thoroughly wash (and peel if appropriate) any food you harvest. Vegetables with signs of rat damage should be destroyed. Rats carry risk of Weil’s disease, Salmonella and Leptospirosis among other things and they urinate wherever they go! It is good practice to wear gloves when handling compost and soil.
j. Ensure that your allotment does not become overgrown or allow rubbish to build up e.g. timber, stockpiled materials etc. as this provides cover for rats to live under.
Please report specific problems with rats to members of the allotment committee.
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GUIDANCE - HORSETAIL
https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=257
Horsetail (Equisetum arvense), often called mare’s tail, is an invasive, deep-rooted perennial weed that will spread quickly to form a dense carpet of foliage, crowding out less vigorous plants in beds and borders.
Quick facts
Common name Horsetail, mare’s tail (misapplied). Botanical name Equisetum arvense
Areas affected Beds, borders, lawns, paths and patios
Main causes May establish from spores, but usually arrives via rhizomes from neighbouring gardens, or stem fragments in composts or manures
Timing Seen in spring and summer; treat in late summer.
What is horsetail?
Horsetail is an invasive, deep-rooted weed with fast-growing rhizomes (underground stems) that quickly send up dense stands of foliage.
Appearance
Horsetail is easily recognised by its upright, fir tree-like shoots that appear in summer.
In spring, fertile light brown stems, 20-50cm (10-20in) tall, appear with a cone-like spore producing structure at the end of the stems.
In summer, sterile green shoots develop into fir tree-like plants, 60cm (2ft) tall.
The problem
The creeping rhizomes of this pernicious plant may go down as deep as 2m (7ft) below the surface, making them hard to remove by digging out, especially if they invade a border. They often enter gardens by spreading underground from neighbouring properties or land.
Control
Non-chemical controls
Removing horsetail by hand is difficult. Although rhizomes growing near the surface can be forked out, deeper roots will require a lot of excavation. Shallow, occasional weeding is not effective and can make the problem worse, as the plant can regrow from any small pieces left behind. However, removing shoots as soon as they appear above the ground can reduce infestation if carried out over a number of years.
If horsetail appears in lawns, it can be kept in check by mowing regularly.
Chemical controls
Infestations of horsetail can be weakened with weedkiller.
On vacant soil, where there are no herbaceous perennials, bulbs or crops, you can use Bayer Ground Clear Weedkiller containing glyphosate*/flufenacet/metosulam to inhibit new shoots·
Tough weedkillers containing glyphosate* (e.g. Scotts Roundup Tree Stump
& Rootkiller, Scotts Tumbleweed, Bayer Tough Rootkill, Bayer Garden Super
Strength Weedkiller, Doff Maxi Strength Glyphosate Weedkiller or Westland
Resolva Xtra Tough Concentrate or for spot treatment use Scotts Roundup Gel) can be applied in late summer when growth is strong. Before using, bruise the shoots with a rake to ensure effective penetration
Remember: horsetail is persistent, and several applications – possibly
over a number of years – may be necessary to completely eradicate the
problem.
*A note on glyphosate May 2016: After reviewing glyphosate, the European Parliament has given the go ahead to relicence it but proposes disallowing certain uses such as public open space and restricting it to professional use only. The final resolution will be decided by national authorities this summer which may mean the withdrawal of glyphosate-based weedkillers for home gardeners in the UK. Check the RHS website for further updates.
SO STOCK UP ON ROUND UP !