Colchester Allotment Association

AGM 31 March 2011
Many thanks to all those who joined us for a lively meeting on 31 March, and thanks to all who contributed.
By now all allotment holders will have received the one-off CBC newsletter outlining the key points of the Colchester Allotment Strategy.
The main item for concern is the introduction of a charging strategy so that allotments are no longer subsidised. This will mean our rents will increase, but as this is still under discussion, we have no further information at the present time.
There was some debate about the roles and responsibilities of Site Stewards, as some didn't know who their site steward was or what their responsibilities are.
The name and plot number of your site steward is on the site notice board, and here is a list of the site steward responsibilities that is given to each new steward by CBC, as follows:

to carry out monthly site inspections and report the condition to CBC
liaise with CBC on empty plots and new plot holders
attend meetings with CBC and other site stewards
to report water leaks, broken fences and gates
report any problems with anti-social behaviour on their site
not to get involved in neighbouring plot holders disputes
liaise and assist new tenants
with the agreement of CBC, appoint a deputy site steward for your own site (optional)
to report debris/long grass on vacated plots
anything else that CBC may from time to time require.

Should you have any complaints, please contact CBC direct on 01206 282906.

Subs Increase
As announced at the AGM, we have increased our annual subscription charge to £3.50 or £10 for three years for all newcomers and renewals from 1 April 2011.

Coach Trip to Wisley: Sunday 12 June
If you would like to join us for a visit to this splendid RHS garden, the cost is £15.20 per person.
Admission to Wisley itself is free, so you only pay for the seat on the coach.
We will leave at 8am from Sheepen Road, Colchester, outside the Institute and leave Wisley at 3pm to arrive back in Colchester between 5.30 and 6pm.
If you would like to come and join us for what promises to be a super day out, please email us on colchester_allotments@yahoo.com

New Allotment Plots at Bergholt Road
On Sunday 17 April the extension to the Bergholt Road allotment site was opened, and some of us from the committee went down to meet and greet the new allotment holders.
Most had waited 2 years for an allotment plot, and were very excited about the prospect. Some had travelled from Highwoods and Greenstead, whilst others were within walking distance, a cross section of the community, fathers and sons, families and singletons alike all eager to get started.
Claire Pick from CBC and helpers from BTCV were organising a perimeter hedge planting session which proved a fearsome task, as the ground was solid after too little rain, and so wasn't completed until the next day.
Two water tanks have now been installed and the individual plots marked out, ready for cultivation.
The site steward, Ron, has been very much involved and introduced himself to offer help and advice where needed.

Plant and seed swap/donation: Bergholt Road, 29 May
With the new plots being created at Bergholt, we thought it would be a good idea to help support our new allotment holders by offering any excess seedlings/seeds/plants to help them get started.
We will also have some plant pots and plug trays to give away, and some sundry items such as canes, plant labels and garden string etc to buy.
So please come along and support this event by bringing along your plants for swapping or donation, and have a look at the new extension while you are there.
If you have plants, but can't get them down to the site, please email us at colchester_allotments@yahoo.com

The Big Garden Project
Do you know anyone waiting for an allotment?
If so, you may like to know there is an organic community food growing project at High Woods Country Park.
The garden is open for all, whatever age or ability.
Come and get growing whilst you wait for an allotment plot and share the harvests, meet people and help develop this wonderful garden.
Open Monday 10am - 1pm, Tuesday 11am - 1pm and alternate Saturdays 11am - 3pm.
Phone the Community gardener on 01206 855287 for more info.

Colchester in Bloom
This year Colchester is aiming for Gold in the "In Bloom" competition.
There are many different categories, one of them being allotments.
Last year we had 17 entries and we would like to have more this year.
The judging is marked as follows:

flowers max 25 points
cultivation/neatness max 40 points
quality max 20 points
veg variety max 25 points
fruit variety max 25 points
compost bin etc max 5 points

It's free to enter, so why not give it a go? Email us at colchester_allotments@yahoo.com for an entry form.

The Big Lunch: 5 June
This is a national event that gets bigger every year as more and more people join in.
Started by the Eden Project in 2009, the Big Lunch is about getting together with your neighbours for a simple act of community, friendship and fun.
So how about organising a Big Lunch at your allotment site? It's a great way of getting to know others and swapping some handy tips.
Let us know if you do, and we'll come and take a photo to put in the next Newsletter and on the website!

Watch out for Wildlife
Ernie from Drury/Irvine allotments wants to know what wildlife there is on allotment sites around Colchester; reptiles, birds, invertebrates, wildlife in general.
How many have you seen?
Photos are especially good for identification purposes.
If you've seen anything creeping, crawling or loping across your site, email us at colchester_allotments@yahoo.com and tell us about it!

Healthy Hobbies
Sam from Lexden sent us this article he spied in a newspaper recently.
"Allotment keepers in their 60s make significantly fewer appointments with their GP than those who don't grow their own vegetables, a Dutch study has found. Researchers discovered those with allotments reported a better overall health."
We can all agree with that one.

Articles/letters/ideas/tips for the next Newsletter to:
Colchester Allotment Association, 13 Beche Road, Colchester CO2 7LS
or
colchester_allotments@yahoo.com