EAST WARD ALLOTMENT ASSOCIATION

Minutes of Meeting Thursday 26 February 2004 at 19:30

at Howard Street

Present: Stewart Young, Claire Stentiford, Andy Henson, Pat Mansfield, Mic McNaboe, Jo Sephton.

  1. Apologies

  2. Roland

    Roland has terminal cancer. It was resolved to send him a card. Rather than attempt to get everyone to sign it and miss someone, SY will get a “Thinking about you” or similar card and sign it on behalf of us all.

    - Action: Stewart

  3. Notice of AOB

    under main headings.

  4. Minutes of meeting of 4 December

    These were not present. David took them and sent them to AH who needs to put them on the web site.

    - Action: Andy

  5. Matters Arising

    None known.

  6. Newsletter

    Thanks to Claire and Stuart for their work.

  7. Manure

    Mr Turner has started deliveries.

    Alternatives proposed (which allotment owners could do themselves) included:

    Garsington: larger loads £40

    Warton Compost Makers, Cassington : they recycle the green waste from Redbridge tip using very hot compost heaps: 2.5 m² for £55 delivered, £9/ m² collected, they sell bags from Redbridge too.

    Mushroom compost. Considered to be worse than that from Cassington because it could be full of chemicals (or is it organic?) Last time we had 75 bags so this time SY might order 60.

    - Action: Stewart

  8. Potatoes

    Shop open from 10am now they've arrived.

    There has been brown rot in some potatoes stored near Wilja. Are ours affected? CS will phone suppliers. For now don't sell the Wilja.

    - Action: Claire

  9. Skip ?

    Should we have a skip near shop? Or just tidy up using binbags? Decision to be deferred until we do a rubbish survey.

    Also SY to phone Bob Standig (from the council) re wall which has fallen down near show entrance.

    - Action: Stewart

  10. Plotholders Conventions

    Mr Castle has been doing tidy up and decorative work but took some soil from another member's plot. He needs careful encouragement to use his own land.

    Also: we need to write to Urban Wildlife Group (UWG) to encourage them to keep the gate between them and the allotment closed. SY to write to Grace Donnely at 69 Lamborne Rd, Rose Hill.

    There are no plans to fence in the new piece of land being transferred to the UWG.

  11. Uncertainty

    Some uncertainty over plots. We are short of plots now, so many have been taken up. “Bonnie's plot” may be free, SY to phone. Plot 125 (near SY) is not taken.

  12. Shop

    Rota – just extend existing rota until new AGM

    Stock – CS to order compost (growbags).

  13. Machinery

    We haven't used the mower since last spring since it was so dry, so no need to service it. Strimmer is new, and rotovator stolen, so nothing to do there.

    J Nichols might be getting a cheap rotovator for £100 – should we go halves with him?

    Hire: £90 for rotovator for weekend - details in newsletter.

    Stats: Bob Standig was asking for statistics and it turned out he was really after how many vacant plots we have.

    Council have a catapillar-tractor-flail machine which can do anything including brambles.

    SY said strimming and glyphosate does brambles – it takes around one hour per plot. Should we get the bramble areas back from UWG since lease not signed yet?

  14. Gate

    Write to John Nichols to get him to close the gate. And request that if his people use our toilet he should clean it daily.

    - Action: Andy

  15. Willow

    CS is going on a willow course 11 March. She will get 30 bits of willow to take away, which isn't much. CS to organise a work party on 14th March for helpers to build the willow tunnel.

  16. Road Mowing

    About 2 people should take turns to mow each road.

    Those volunteering could have an equipment shed key.

  17. AGM

    Thursday 29 April. SY will stay on, as will CS. AH will resign from officer but stay on committee. We need more officers and more committee members.

  18. Grants?

    Nothing urgent?

    Fence needs work? Mic volunteered.

    Trees: 7 or 8 trees need attention near boundary. CS to talk to Country side service.

    - Action: Mic & Claire

  19. Labels

    Labels for plots are very poor at present. We could have wooden stakes or planks dividing plots with a plot number (and arrow showing which side the number applies to) on the stake.

    Jo to ask Powells about number labels.

    - Action: Jo

The meeting closed at 21:15