All chipping in to move the chippings

Some of the many volunteers who shifted chippings on to the muddy paths

It was a rainy sunday but loads of volunteers showed up to shift the chippings that had been spread across the car park of the Scarcroft Site.  They were mostly spread along the path behind Wentworth Road and around the main gates.  Once this was done we ferry some up to any volunteers plots that wanted them and then moved what we could of the remainder into the newly built bay.

Many thanks to all who helped out.

If you want chippings please make sure you take them from outsie of the remaining pile in the middle of the the carpark and not the two orderly piles at either end.  Despite 4 hours of labour from a large team we haven't managed to shift all the chippings, so if you want some it would be helpful if you took them from the spread out pile in the middle of the car park.

Before (Sunday 9th) - this may not look masses but believe us it took long enough to shift.

After (Sunday 16th) - the pile was reduced to at least a quarter of its original size

Arlo was extremely helpful and brought his own wheel barrow

Frank and Mike built a new bay for the chippings

Volunteers filled Mike's trailer twice and took chippings over to Hob Moor

Some of the chippings were piled up in the new bay

Did you miss this volunteer event?  Don't worry the next one will be on Saturday 26th of February.  Look out for details nearer the time.

Watch hedge laying in action on Scarcroft Allotments

The folks who have plot 39 on Scarcroft will be laying a very large and overgrown hawthorn hedge this Saturday, Jan 8th (and maybe Sunday as well if it takes too long). If anyone wants to watch and learn from the tree surgeon who is doing it, Don Davies, the plot holders have said they you are most welcome to come along. Don will be using a chain saw as it is such a monster of a hedge.


If you are not sure where plot 39 is either look at the map on the 'Maps of Our 3 Sites' page on this website or look at the map on the front of the allotment shop notice board on Scarcroft Road.
 
It could be an interesting sight. 

New Year Work Out on Scarcroft Allotments

Volunteers wanted

It's time to move the chippings on Scarcroft.

Sunday 16th January 10.30 a.m. onwards

If you can, please bring a barrow, a shovel and gloves, but most importantly bring yourselves.

York City Council was kind enough to give us a huge pile of chippings when they trimmed the trees on Scarcroft Road recently.  These chippings are currently spread quite widely across the car park.  We need to move them soon so that the grass in the car park does not die and the whole area does not become a mud bath.  To this end, we are looking for volunteers to help us move the chippings, we are intending to distribute them around the Scarcroft site to improve the paths.  Please let us know if you think any particular paths need attention, our first thoughts are to work on the central path and the one along the back of Wentworth Road. 

So if you are looking for a January work out in the fresh air please join us.  There is no need for it to be back breaking, everyone is welcome to do as much or as little as you want.  Many hands will make light work!  Meet at the allotment shop. Tea and biscuits will be served in the shop from 12 onwards.

If you want chippings for your plot remember it's 50p a barrow load, pay in the shop.

New Hedgehog Course for March

HELPING YORKSHIRE’S HEDGEHOGS (HYH)

 

Britain’s hedgehogs are in serious decline and the hedgehog has now been placed on the Red List of threatened species in need of conservation

A course, consisting of an illustrated talk and workshop, will be held by Toni Bunnell

Sunday March 6, 2011 1.30 – 4pm

Black Swan Inn

, 23 Peasholme Green, York, YO1 7PR 01904 679 131

Entry: £10

To secure a place on the course, please contact Toni Bunnell (details below).

Course content:

Reasons for the decline of hedgehogs in Britain

First aid treatment

How to treat sick or injured hedgehogs

Caring for baby hedgehogs

Encouraging hedgehogs into your garden

Proceeds to go to York Hedgehog Rescue Centre

with 10% to go to Hull Hedgehog Rescue Centre (Lorraine Jackson)

For information contact: Toni Bunnell (01904 791124) T.Bunnell@hull.ac.uk

Scarcroft Community Orchard Further Update

Dear Friends,


After talking with Brian from Parks at CYC and with the tree supplier at Rogers nurseries this morning, we have, sad to say, decided that it is better not to plant this weekend. We risk too much harm to the trees, and further wintry conditions will mean we can't care for them properly to get good establishment. We will hope to plant towards the end of January/beginning of February, when we have an idea of how conditions are then.

Many thanks for all your enthusiasm for this project - it will happen!

'Til then, keep warm, and enjoy happy festive times.

Best Wishes

Laura Potts

Scarcroft Community Orchard Update

Please note that the Scacroft Community Orchard planting has been postponed until Saturday 18th December 10 - 3pm.

Scarcroft and District Allotment Association 2010 Calendar is selling fast

This is proving to be very popular, so if you don't want to miss out get your copy soon.  You can get them from:

• The Association Shop on the Scarcroft Site
• Pextons - the hardware shop on Bishopthorpe Road
• The Good Food Shop - on Bishopthorpe Road
• or by emailing the association on scarcroftallotments@live.co.uk

At only £5 they make an excellent Christmas present.

Autumn Social

It's that time of year again.  Join us this Friday at the Golden Ball Pub from 7.30pm onwards for the Scarcroft and District Allotment Association Autumn Social.  It's a great opportunity to discuss the successes and failures of the season.  This event was very popular when we held the first one last Autumn, so much so that not everyone could fit in the pub so get there early this time to ensure you get in.

The Golden Ball is a great little CAMRA pub, which sells a good selection of real ales along with all the usual stuff. It's the place where we hold all the committee meetings. If you walk through Victoria Bar from Nunnery Lane it is straight ahead and on the right. http://www.goldenball-york.co.uk/

The committee will be providing nibbles.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Community Orchard Planting

Come help plant the community orchard on Scarcroft Green.  Allotment holders with their own tools and experience of tree planting are particularly welcome.

Deadline for ordering seed potatoes is November 21st 2010

Double click on the table if you want to make it bigger.

2011 Allotment Association Calendar is on sale now

Did you know that our beautiful 2011 Scarcroft and District Allotment Association Calendar is on sale now, at £5 each?  This lovely calendar is made up of 60 different photographs taken by plotholders (from Hob Moor, Hospital Field and Scarcroft) and private gardeners.  It was expertly compiled by Sarah Austin, a Hob Moor plotholder and talented graphic designer.  Please note that we only printed 300 copies and we have 254 members, so please get yours soon to avoid missing out.

Front cover

A month view

If you want to pick up a copy, you can get one from Pexton's or the Good Food Shop on Bishopthorpe Road or at the Allotment Association shop on the Scarcroft site, or by asking any of the site secretaries (on Scarcroft Claire Pickard and Graham Sanderson, on Hob Moor Malcolm Hainsworth, on Hospital Field Chris Adams).  Johnny and Frankie from Pextons and Caroline from the Good Food Shop have very kindly offered to help us sell our calendars, without any benefit to themselves, except the warm glow of knowing that they are supporting a local community group.  We think this is particularly generous when you consider how precious display space is at this time of year. So thank you very much.

By the way did you know that the Good Food Shop has a weekly newletter?  It highlights new and interesting products they are selling, gives recipes and is often really quite entertaining.  If you are not yet a subscriber, email info@thegoodfoodshopyork.co.uk and Caroline Lewis will add you to the mailing list.  Let her know that you heard about her email from our website.

http://www.thegoodfoodshopyork.co.uk/
http://www.bishyroad.net/shop/pextons/

Please remember that the Scarcroft and District Allotment Association shop is only open at weekends Saturday 1.30 - 3.30 and Sunday 10 - 1pm (and only 11 - 1pm in December).

Vote for Holgate Windmill

On Monday 22nd of November, you, colleagues and friends will be able to vote for York's Holgate Windmill Society and help us win £50,000 from the National Lottery People's Millions, arrranged in conjunction with ITV. Two worthy causes are being featured each evening on ITV Calendar news, for four nights. Our Windmill is appearing on Monday November 22nd, along with a Rotherham-based Arts project. Viewers and other supporters can ring a special phone no to vote for their favourite. So either York or Rotherham will be the winner. The voting phone number for Holgate Windmill will only be advertised from 9am to midnight on November 22nd on our website at http://www.holgatewindmill.org/ at http://www.peoplesmillions.org.uk/ and in the Daily Mirror. You can ring between these times to register your vote.

We invite you to support the only Peoples Millions project in North Yorkshire, by voting Nov 22nd. Please put the date in your diary. Your vote that day will really count, and should we win, then the £50,000 award will be a significant contribution to replacing the Mill's five main sails next year.

Grateful thanks

Paul Hepworth

Press Officer

Holgate Windmill Preservation Society

Autumn Leaves

The heaps of fallen leaves everywhere will make great leaf-mould to spread on your soil in a year or so's time. Just gather them up in a black plastic bag, put a few air holes in the bag with a fork and leave them in a corner until they've rotted down... free compost to enrich and protect the soil over winter next year!

Friends of Rowntree Park - Conservation sessions

Edible York: The Launch Event

Friday 19 November 2010, 6.30-9.00pm, Friends Meeting House, Friargate,York
YO1 9RL

Do you want to be part of a more resilient, self-sufficient York? Come along
to our free, lively launch event and help shape an Edible York.

More information:
www.edibleyork.org.uk
info@edibleyork.org.uk
0777 908 6713