It was great to see our volunteer Gordon Mitchell on site today.
Gordon manages to fit a site visit to fill up our bird feeding stations into his daily exercise routine every Friday. Cheers Gordon!
With regret we have to cancel our Community Sundays while current circumstances continue and until further notice. Here is a wee reminder of what we will all be missing.
Plotters will be aware of the Council’s new advice on bonfires on allotments. They have a strict set of procedures which must be followed. These are set out as ACC Regulations accessible via the Advice Tab on this site. Please consult these and follow the rules carefully.
I heard today of another allotment site where a plotter had not followed the advice and as a result had caused considerable nuisance to local homeowners. This resulted in a number of complaints. As you know, the Council has issued a warning that if they start to receive complaints about bonfires they will issue a total ban on all fires on pl0ts and allotment sites.
We can’t say we have not been warned. Please pay due attention.
Stuart (Plot 8) has been a very busy bee in recent weeks.
Firstly he has replaced the old, unsightly and dangerous metal fencing around the Micro-plots.
I think you will agree this new fence style is a great improvement on what was there before.
Secondly, he has constructed a new bin to contain the road plantings we use to fill and repair potholes around the site.
You will be aware of Pat Wilson’s email stating that the Council is leaving the decision to the individual allotment holder whether or not to visit their plot during the current national emergency.
Plotters who decide to visit their plots will want to take account of this further advice issued by Stuart.
“Hi Everyone,
You will have noted that the City Council have agreed with the UK government’s advice, expounded by Michael Gove that it is ok to visit your allotment. I think most of us are relieved that we are permitted this freedom when there are so many other restrictions impacting our lives.
I am emailing you to ask that you strictly follow the rules which attach to this freedom to visit your plot. I have repeated the guidance from the BBC Gardeners website below.
Avoid public transport if possible. Instead walk, run, cycle or drive to the allotment, either on your own or with one other member of your household.
Do not pick up anyone on the way and travel to the allotment with them. This is not allowed. If you bump into someone on the way then maintain safe social distancing protocols (stand two metres apart).
Wash or sanitise your hands after using the allotment gate. It would be helpful to others if you wiped down the gate, as well, if you can.
Do not work on the allotment in groups of more than two. If you share the plot with someone from a different household then you must observe safe social distancing rules. Ideally, work out a timetable so you can visit the plot separately.
If you bump into people then maintain safe social distancing protocols at all times. Do not make anyone a cup of tea. Do not share tools. Do not visit the allotment shop.
Wash or sanitise your hands thoroughly before and after eating food, and when you get home.
The key points are – no more than two people on your plot at one time and maintain that 2 metre social distancing.
We don’t want to jeopardise our and our fellow plotters’ freedoms by behaving irresponsibly.
APRIL AUDITS CANCELLED
Pat Wilson has asked me to advise everyone that the Council have cancelled the plot audits for April.
Stay safe and compliant!
Stuart Oram
Chairman
GFAA”
With this in mind The Octagon should not be used for group meetings or coffee breaks until further notice.
Well perhaps. Certainly, our plots are beginning to spring into colour and are teeming with new life.
I spotted these tadpoles to be in my wildlife pond yesterday. Then these:
The two bodies of spawn are in the same small pond, but they are very different in appearance. The first are round and large in a big round ball of spawn. The second lot are small, elliptical and in a flat, thin body of spawn.
Any idea why the difference?
Other than that, all around the site we have some lovely splashes of colour.
Any more photos going? It would be great to have them.