A message from our new Site Secretaries: Andy Maycock and Rob Eastman

We, (Andy Maycock and Rob Eastman), are writing to introduce ourselves as the new co-secretaries of Scarcroft Allotments. We are taking over from Claire and Graham who have been in post for seventeen years, and we would like to pay tribute to their dedication and hard work over that time - they’re certainly going to be a hard act to follow! We would also like to congratulate Graham and all the volunteers who helped in any way to bring the new allotment shop and store to fruition. What a fantastic legacy!

We are both keen allotmenteers and have been tenants on the site for many years. Rob has a Diploma in Amenity Horticulture though he claims not to have green fingers! Andy is an ex teacher and joiner. We both recognise that Scarcroft Allotments is a unique site, and that as well as the variety of plots, both in terms of size and styles of gardening, that it is also a very special place for nature. We both love the fact that every allotment is different and that the trees and hedges on the site provide homes for insects, small mammals and birds, not to mention the foxes!

We hope that over the next year we will get to meet many of you on your plots, and want you to feel that you can approach either of us on any matters of concern relating to the allotments, or just to say hello! We would welcome any ideas about how the site could be improved and how new tenants can be helped and encouraged, possibly by introducing a mentoring scheme. Any volunteers?!

One of our first projects is going to be converting Plot 99, which is close to the shop into ten taster plots. To that end, we are organising a working party to clear the site so that it can be marked out and subsequently let at the start of next year. Many new tenants don’t realise the work entailed in maintaining a plot and these taster plots would help people decide whether allotmenting is really for them. If you have an hour or two to spare on Sunday 1st December between 10.30 and 12.30am, your help would be greatly appreciated. Please bring strimmers, loppers, secateurs, and shears if you have them, but there will also be spare tools available. It would be helpful if you could let us know if you can help by emailing us at: scarcroft.sitesec@gmail.com

Best wishes and happy gardening

Andy and Rob

Come and join us for our end-of-season gathering

 

The perfect chance to catch up with your neighbours.

HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!

Onions, garlic, timber... and a date for your diary

 A reminder that overwintering onions and garlic are on sale in our new shop on the Scarcroft site for planting out in the next month or so. There are also broad beans which can be planted now and many other gardening products

The shop will close for the winter break on Sunday 8th December.  At 11 a.m. on that day, we'll be holding our usual end of season social with mulled wine and seasonal snacks - all members and friends welcome!

The shop will re-open on Saturday 8th February 2025, by which time we should have received seed potatoes for sale.  We hope to arrange a social event to celebrate the opening of the new shop on that day - details nearer the time...

Over the next month or so, we hope to clear the wood from the old hut that is alongside the path at the bottom of the site.  This includes sections of the old floor and joists that could be cut up and used for building or repairing fences or compost boxes etc. on plots.  There are also the old roof trusses, which are likewise good, sound, wood with many potential uses.  There is some of the old cladding, which is weather proofed and excellent for repairs or light construction.  If members have uses for this and any other timber there, they should please help themselves as soon as possible.  Any donations to the association if appropriate will be gratefully received!

Regards,

your Association Committee

The new shop is up and running...and looking rather fabulous

Our old wooden hut was much beloved - and much repaired. Delapidated as it was, when it went there was more than a sense that some of our history had gone with it. But look at this: the new hut is bright, airy, welcoming and stocked with fantastic choice of sets, seeds and garden essentials.

The shop is open on Saturdays from 13:30 until 15:30, and on Sundays from 10:00 to 12:00.

Why not come and see the improvement for yourself?

The new shop is opening this week-end...and we're ready for gardening business!

Hello all,

We welcome you to our new-look shop, which will be open from this weekend 28th/29th September - usual times - Saturday from 1.30 to 3.30 p.m.; Sunday from 10.00 a.m. to 12 noon.

Potato orders

If you would like to pre-order seed potatoes, please use the forms which you can download from these links:

as a pdf 

as a Word document

Please note that the deadline for sending us your order is Friday 25th October. 

Standard varieties will also be on sale in the shop without pre-order, but only while stocks last.

Overwintering onions 

We now have these in stock - Senshyu Yellow and Red Winter -  at only £1.20 per 100g, and garlic - Thermidrome - at only £14 per kilo (£1.40 per 100g) while stocks last.

We look forward to seeing you soon!

We need help on Sunday 11th August

 

The Scarcroft shop hut replacement project is proceeding...

Many thanks to those of you who have helped out so far - and to those who have agreed to attend this weekend to complete stripping out the interior panelling etc from the old shop hut.

We are now seeking volunteers for the next big job, AFTER the hut has been dismantled - when we hope some of you can lend a hand to help move the railway sleepers which have formed the foundation beneath the hut.

This is to take place on Sunday 11th August at 2 pm. Please let us know at  scarcroftallotments@live.co.uk ASAP if you are available and willing to help with this.

Once the sleepers are lifted, we will then be able to get some small flat concrete plinths made as durable supports for the new shop.

 

The first container arrives!

The first of the two shipping containers which will replace the wooden hut near the Scarcroft Road entrance to the site has arrived. Work on demolishing the hit will start soonand we hope to be up and running agagin with the new shop by late August or early September. Watch this space!

Work on the new shop hut is about to start!

 Hi all,

We have now scheduled the project to replace the shop hut on Scarcroft.

The shop will open this weekend 6th and 7th July as normal - but will then be closed during works.

We will later announce a reopening date which will be in early September (or late August if this is possible).

Please see below advice which has been sent by YACIO to Scarcroft tenants. 

Please note these key facts:

• Shop closed after 7th July    

• NO PARKING on 10th July 

• limited parking space thereafter

• NO PARKING from 22nd July onwards 

• From 22nd July onwards, no access via the vehicle gate and carpark area; access to the front paths from other gates only

These constraints are necessary because we must erect security fencing around the work site for public safety. See map of the area affected below

During these works, please use the closest alternative pedestrian routes, and offsite public parking e.g. on Scarcroft Road. 

Thank you all for your co-operation to help us achieve this significant project. We will welcome you back to the new-look shop by September! 

Regards,

your Association Committee

It's time for the AGM

 

The Annual meeting of the Association will be held at 7:30pm on 10 April 2024, at the Hamilton Panthers Clubhouse, Knavesmire Road (near the junction with Tadcaster Road).

**A picture of the Clubhouse (side view, taken from the cycle path across Little Knavesmire where it joins Knavesmire Road) is shown below.  There is free parking on the road and limited parking on site**

AGENDA

download this agenda as a document here

1. Welcome 

2. Apologies for absence 

3. Minutes of the AGM held 26th April 2023 and any matters arising download here

4. Committee’s / Chair’s report

5. Treasurer’s report download last years accounts here

6. Election of the committee 

7. Replacement of Association shop – progress update and opportunity for discussion

8. Any other business

A reminder about any special seed orders: please get your order to us by this weekend!

List donwload here

Order form  here

If you would like to order any seeds, please get your order to us by this weekend!

We do of course also have all the usual (loose, 50p and packeted) seed varieties on sale in the shop, along with desired consumables...

Please note however - the shop has now completely sold out of seed potatoes (unless you still have uncollected pre-order to collect). So our policy of not overstocking seems to have worked (!)... but it does mean that it is worthwhile placing your order at year end, to be sure of securing what you'd like. Sorry to those of you who were disappointed.  

On an IT note: please disregard any email enthusing about the Allotments Association using "Outlook Groups". This was generated unintentionally after an Outlook upgrade - we have now disabled Groups - it is not a functionality which we plan to introduce.   

Regards,

your Association Committee

The water is back on!

 

There are no severe frosts forecast, so Claire and Graham have turned the water supply back on. 

One tap, next to plots 80/81, is not working at the moment, and we've alerted YACIO to this; the nearest working tap to this one is next to plot 78.

It's that time of year again!

 Latest news for 2024:

• Our shop re-opens this weekend; Saturday 3rd Feb @ 1:30-3:30pm / Sunday 4th Feb @ 10am - 12 noon

• Potatoes have not yet arrived owing to the cold weather - we are chasing a confirmed delivery date

• Scarcroft site care day - please come and join us for some light litter picking etc on Sunday 25th February, 2pm - 3:30pm

• Please find here a list of the seeds we stock (Seeds 2024). We welcome suggestions for any further items for general stock. 

• For individual seed orders, please use the seed order form here and refer to the packet seed list 2023-24 here

• Owing to lack of take up, we have decided not to renew the RHS membership this year, so will not be offering use of their discount card for garden visits.

• Planning permission has been received for the new replacement Scarcroft shop! We will now obtain revised quotes, so watch this space for updates!

• Please find at this link notice of St Leonards plant fair on 1st May for which donations of plants will be welcome.

FINALLY

This year's potatoes, onion sets and shallots have arrived at Scarcroft site shop

 

The standard potato varieties, which can be purchased without pre-ordering - Red Duke of York, Charlotte, Desiree, Maris Piper - are all £1.30 per kilo.

 

Pre-ordered 2kg bags of other varieties are £3.00 (£4.50 for Pink Fir Apple). 

 

Onion sets (two varieties) are £ 2.50 for a pack of 50 (average 220g) or £1.25 per 100g loose.

 

Shallots (two varieties) are £4.50 for a pack (400g) or £1.10 per 100g loose.

News from our Site Secretaries

Dear Scarcroft Allotments Tenants,

Happy New Year!  We hope it’s a successful one for all gardeners!  

At the beginning of February, we’ll be doing an inspection of hedges on the site.  Please make sure that work to trim the height of your hedges is at least under way by then so that it can be completed by the beginning of March.  Your tenancy agreement states: Hedges and fences should not normally exceed a height of 1.5 metres above soil level. In the case of hedges 1.5 metres is the trimmed winter height (e.g. hedges must be cut back to this height at least annually). Where there is a case for exceeding 1.5 metres in height, for example for environmental, safety, or security reasons, this must be agreed by YACIO.  

Please also look out for any self-sown saplings in your hedge or plot, usually ash trees.  These need to be cut right down, or removed if they’re small enough.  Any brash from cutting back hedges and saplings must be taken away to the tip or kept within the plot; please do not dump brash elsewhere on the site.

There are more high winds forecast over the next few days so it’s worth spending time supporting vulnerable plants and checking that any structures on your plot are secure.

We’ll be doing our usual full inspection of allotment plots around the end of March, to give time for everybody to have their plots ready for the growing season.

One of our tenants has a children’s slide which he would be happy to give away to anyone whose child would enjoy it.  If you’re interested, please contact Rob on 07989 539503.  

We also have a child’s swing, a small playhouse, a plastic sandpit and a small child’s bouncer (sprung surface with safety handle) on a vacated plot.  Please contact us at scarcroft.sitesec@gmail.com if you would like to have any of this equipment.

You may have already heard that after seventeen years of helping to manage the site as volunteer site secretaries, we’ve decided that this year will be our last in that role – time for another allotment tenant (or tenants) to take over!  Do think about taking on the job (you don’t have to commit to seventeen years!) and discuss it with other tenants, especially if you think you’d like to share the role with someone else.  If you want to know more about what’s involved, we’re happy to have a chat.

All the best,

Claire and Graham

Blogger's Note: everyone who gardens at Scarcroft owes a huge debt of gratitude to Claire and Graham for all the work they've done over the years as site secretaries: they've carried it out with diligence, humour and understanding and they will be a hard act follow.

Join us for an end-of-season gathering

On Sunday 3rd December at 11.30 a.m., we're holding our usual end-of-season social get-together at the Association Shop on Scarcroft site, with mulled wine (and soft drinks) and mince pies. We'd love to see you there.

If you have a little time to spare, and are perhaps looking to volunteer in a community initiative, you might be interested in getting more involved in your Association in 2024. We welcome any members who might like to contribute in any way - particularly anyone who would like to join our volunteers running the shop at weekends. If this appeals to you, then even once every few weeks would be a great help to us! Email us, or just drop in on Dec 3rd.   

Autumn update from the Association Committee

 Here are some updates for you, to help settle into autumn:

Manure

Manure has arrived TODAY at Scarcroft - £2 a barrowload - please put through hut letterbox, or pay during shop opening hours, or online (enquire if details needed). Why not apply this season, and let the worms do the work over the winter !!

Autumn-planting onions - Senshyu and Winter Red - now on sale in the shop Sat/Sun.

Autumn-planting garlic - Solent Wight - will be on sale from early October.

Seed Potato Orders

This year, you can pre-order 2kg packs from a wide range of varieties, at very competitive prices.  These must be pre-ordered in coming weeks - we need to receive your order by Friday 27th October latest. Please see all the details on the order form which you can download here.  

In addition, we'll be offering four popular varieties (see order form) that we will pack in 1kg bags. These can either be pre-ordered now as above, OR bought when we receive the potatoes from our supplier in February (while stocks last only). 

Lawn care products

We're doing a clearance sale of large bags of lawn care products. 

Feed and Weed:    We have 2 x 25kg bags which we're offering for £20 each (current internet price average is over £40 each!) OR £35 for the two;

Lawn Sand:    We have 2 x 25kg bags which we're offering for £10 each (current internet price average is over £25 each!) OR £15 for the two;  we also have 1 x 16kg bag (current internet price average is £19!) which we're offering for £8.

Good gardening to all!

Regards,

your Association Committee