Just got an allotment (Merged)

Calephetos

elantan wrote: »

do you know what law exactly that is and is it english /scottish/welsh/irish/uk wide .....might be interesting to find that out

http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/cm199798/cmselect/cmenvtra/560-iii/560iii02.htm

"Where an allotments authority is of the opinion that there is a demand for allotments in its area, section 23 of the Small Holdings and Allotments Act 1908 puts the authority under a duty to provide a sufficient number of allotments and to let them to persons residing in its area who want them. Representations may be made to the local authority on the need for allotments by any six resident registered electors."

But it's a few years old. Can't track down the Allotments Act just now.

katskorner

When I got my allotment three years ago, the council rotavated it and that was it. We set about fencing it as there are rabbits on site. Then we got loads of strong wood and set about making 21 beds with foot wide paths in between which we coverd with carpet and bark on top. We then loaded the beds with muck and soil conditioner and invested in a big wodge of ROundup to weed-zap as they appeared. We have brambles - well we did then - we don't have as many now. We also built a fruitcage, greenhouse and shed.

After three years we are now back to the stage above (minus the fruitcage) as we lost everything in the floods too.

I have rebuilt the beds, rebarked the paths and spent a while barrowing more soil conditioner on the beds to get it back to good soil again. I have to get a few more muckloads from the farm and then next year will be better!!!

I now have proper bramble killer spray too - no way am I digging up those biggers!!! It works. They are being kept at bay. I have courgettes, pumpkins, beans, lettuce, spinach, salad bowl, jeruslalem artichokes and asparagus growing (the majority since the flood). We have yet to rebuiild the fruitcage and replant fruit bushes though.

Over winter, I am planning to pile on the soil con and muck then cover as many beds as possible with black plastic and let the worms work it all in for me ready for planting in spring.

elantan

thanks gonna have a look at that i would love an allotment and i know a good few others that would as well

Mrs_Dawn

Very proud today, got ourselves an allotment wahey!!!!!
Would appreciate a little advice on any books that would be helpful to a complete novice and her family.
I feel so MSE!
:j :j :j :j

jayne26

hi , you will love it dont know of any books but all the others on the allotment site will give you info and prob a few free plants and stuff. keep you eyes out for cheap seeds in lidi , aldi and willonsons type shops ,bargain prices for experimenting .oh and pick up some paracetomol for a condition called in our house" allotment back" oh and white wine also helps good luck

kandyfloss

Welcome Mrs Dawn to the world of Allotmenteering.
A good book for anyone starting out with their first allotment is 'The Vegetable Expert' by Dr. D. G.Hessayon it was the first book we ever bought when we took on our first 10 pole plot 27 years ago.
It can also be found in a pocket sized version.These books can be picked up in the book section of most Garden Centres,but I expect you will also be able to buy them through the Net.
Good Luck and I hope you have many years of happy gardening

Mrs_Dawn

Thanks very much for that kandyfloss and jayne26, I'm off to the garden centre now seeing as the weather is absolutely awful.
Can't wait to get started.
The kids are already working out how much pocket money they can earn helping out, they are drawing up a chart of charges, this could work out quite expensive interms of pocket money or they will probably get bored after 20 minutes and go to the park in the next field.
:T :T

oxmatt

www.mytinyplot.co.uk is a very good allotment blog with lots of tips

janet6267

We have just got an allotment also, it needs clearing first though as it has not been used for ages. Guess what we will be doing this weekend, my back is aching already!!
Can't wait for next summer though!

the_optimist

Snap, got mine on Monday too - and it's full of weeds, just hoping the weather stays nice...