Category: Site News

Christmas message from LAA Chairman

Christmas Greetings Lansdowne Allotment Holders,

It’s that time of what has been an unusual year. Socially difficult but crop wise good. See our Christmas fare harvested this week. The potatoes are stored in the shed at home in a frost free environment. Hope you all are doing as well. It’s time to think and plan for the 2021 season.

The vaccines may be just round the corner and many of us are in the vulnerable age group. But whatever our age or health we must stay vigilant and follow all the social considerations until at least April when hopefully the population has been vaccinated and we are in a more normal way of life. I would like to say a big thank you to all for following all the Covid rules we’ve had to follow in 2020 and to continue until we have some control of the Virus.

Happy new year and good gardening.

From John (Chair) and Sandy

Break-in at Lansdowne Allotments

We are sorry to report that there’s been a break-in, our container (located by the shop) has been broken into and tools have been stolen (strimmers, pole saws, hedge trimmers, etc).

We believe this may have happened on Sunday 13th Dec. night/ Monday 14th Dec. early morning but can’t be certain. As far as we know they didn’t go into the allotment sites.

If you’ve got any information, know of any CCTV in the area, or get offered any tools, please let us know committee@lansdowneallotmentassociation.co.uk

Update: Pete’s shop has also been broken into, we’re not sure yet if anything is missing.

Bonfires

TO PLOT HOLDERS 

During this Corvid 19 emergency we request that no bonfires be used as we are surrounded by houses where vulnerable people may be getting their only bit of fresh air through an open window.

This a statement by the National allotment Society.

Thank you for your cooperation.

COVID-19 Lockdown Update

Important Do’s and Don’ts from the National Allotment Society

The big no no is if you are self isolating or you or one of your family has the virus you must not visit the allotment.  

  1. Coronavirus is with us and will be for some time with many restrictions.
  2. Mr Gove has said that visiting your allotment can be a health benefit. We fit it around our daily leisure activity. But follow the basic hygiene guidelines and social distancing guidelines.
  3. Do not chat close, be at least 2 m apart.
  4. keep washing your hands but not in the water barrels on site.
  5. when unlocking or locking the entry gate use gloves and afterwards wash hands or use a sanitizer.
  6. if you are self isolating or and some one in your  family have the virus. DO NOT VISIT THE SITE.
  7. Suggest visit the National Allotment association site link below for more information

National Allotment Society – COVID-19 Guidance

Also I expect this change daily.

John, Chairman

Covid-19 Lockdown

Message from the Chairman

Dear plot holders,
 
Saturday we were down on our plots and we have never seen so many on site for ages. Spring is suddenly showing signs, its sunny and dry in the day time and we want to get on. 
 
However Coronavisus is lurking in background with all life restrictions. It may be a place of our respite and outside self-isolation. However I plead to all plot holders by all means talk to your neighbours as you are used to do but keep at least 2 metres apart.
 
At least we can keep our heads down and prepare our plots for vegetables that we will seriously need this year. So despite the world around us “Get digging and enjoy your allotment!”
 
Cheers, John (Chairman)

Compost Corner Update Spring 2020

We’ve updated our Compost Corner for Spring 2020.

Its Spring around the corner. However the ground is very wet and even the weeds are not showing, so it must be too cold to think sowing. Although if you have raised beds or can put a wide plank across your plot you could plant some onion sets. But a job you could be doing, is sort out your Compost Bins. Depending on what you use follow the following suggestions.

1) Black Dalek type, Look in the inspection hole at the bottom. If there is nice black compost. Then get ready to harvest. Lift off the bin and place close by. Put the top material that is not ready yet into the bin as a starter as it will have bugs and bacteria in it . Then use the black material either spread on your plot or left to one side to deal with later.

2) Pallet Bin type, check the compost and if it’s ready use, use it direct on your plots or easily available to when you are ready. If not just move it into the next empty bin. This will charge it up to face the coming warmer weather for harvesting in the autumn.

In the Autumn Compost Corner I mentioned Leaf Mould. If you have been collecting for a few years this material may be ready for using directly on you plot as Leaf Mould is very good for moisture retention through out the growing season. If you only started recently you could give a turn to give an assistance in the composting process.

Have a good composting year.

John Young

For more information on how to produce excellent quality compost visit our Compost Corner page.

2020 Maintenance Days – Volunteers needed

2020 Maintenance Days – Volunteers needed

digging on the allotment

Planned Dates in 2020

  • 26th January
  • 23rd February
  • 29th March
  • 26th April
  • 31st May
  • 28th June
  • 26th July
  • 30th August

Plot holders, come along and meet us and make some friends. On the last Sunday of each month 10-12am. Tea, coffee and cakes are provided. Everyone is welcome and we hope that every plot holder can at least devote 1 or 2 Sundays per year. It’s all about making our site something to be proud of and those that attend enjoy it.

Compost Corner

Fresh kitchen and garden waste ready to be composted

Winter is now with us. This is an important time of the year for gardeners and their compost bins. Checking the state of the compost in containers. If it’s dark and well rotted it’s time to harvest it and lay it over cleared ground as a mulch. This has the advantage or suppressing weeds and adding humus to the soil. Next if it still needs more time, physically move it into another bins next door. This will give the heap the more oxygen and put into a better position for using in the spring. 

This should give you more space for putting the waste material that comes off the plot that has been all the part of enjoying a good harvest. Remember most waste can go in but any stalks like sweet corn, Brussels etc using secateurs or suitable cutters. Reducing the stalks to no more than 10 cm and in some cases hit them with a hammer to flatten them which helps the rotting process. 

Leaf mould is also a valuable mulching material and this is the time of the year to collect it. It can take 3 to 5 years to rot down , depending on the tree/leaf type. However its well worth the wait. Over the last few years I have shortened the time by putting the leaves into builders bag with holes punched in the bottom with a fork. It works because the outside does not dry out like in a wired area. You can find these bags discarded in many a skip. 

Good composting, John Young

BBQ – 8th September

BBQ Sausage

LAA committee invites our plot holders and their families to a BBQ on 

 8th September at 12.30pm

Salads will be provided

Please bring your own meat or alternative; this will be cooked for you or by you!

Drinks and chairs are required

 

Rubbish Amnesty

If you have any plot rubbish including metal, wood, carpet etc. could you ensure that it is placed onto one of the rubbish piles on one of the disused plots ready for collection. Due to the quantity of rubbish produced the council will be employing a grab truck to collect it all and not a skip amnesty as was originally planned. A date has not been set yet but please do this as soon as possible. Thank you.

Warwickshire Drooper Plums

Could we ask you all to please be careful around the base of all the Warwickshire Drooper plums as we will be lifting as many of the self set suckers as we can in order to try and establish new trees/community orchards and we are also currently talking with a National Heritage orchard scheme who may be interested in taking stock, many thanks.

 

Activity Around the Site

9th October

You will have seen quite a bit of activity recently with a large number of wildlife and conservation organisations being shown around – we are working on some major initiatives to further enhance and protect our delightful allotments.

You will also be seeing quite a few improvements being made to the fencing and hedging and some additional security being added to the gates. This is being undertaken by RBC as part of the conditions that we put in place prior to our signing.

Also a large number of plots are currently being strimmed down by RBC to prevent seed spread and will be re-strimmed and ploughed upon takeover so that we are able to offer clean pots from the outset.

Launch Date Is Getting Close

9th October

We are very close to signing all the documents for the transfer from Rugby Borough Council to the new association – we will be signing in November ready for a December start date. Current plot holders will not receive any further bills from RBC. The payment for next year will be made to LAA and you will receive all of the details regarding the changes, through the post, in November. This will include a new bank form which you must return straight away in order that we can set up the transfer.