Hedgehog News

Thank you to Sara for this lovely photo of a Hedgehog which she spotted out on the Scarcroft allotments.

As Sara pointed out, this photo shows why it's not always a good idea to have a fence that goes right down to the ground, as although you might deter the rabbits the hedgehogs can't get in or out to eat your slugs!

The Scarcroft and District Allotment Association 2012 Calendar

Calendar Submissions - last chance

A reminder that you might all wish to take photos of your plots for next year's Scarcroft Calendar.

The deadline for submissions is this Sunday, 16th October



 The suggested theme for the 2012 Calendar is Vegetables, Fruit & Flower from Seed & Blossom, through Growth to Harvest.

We hope that each page in the 2012 Calendar might be devoted to a particular vegetable, fruit or flower - showing all stages of growth from seed to harvest.

The calendar is open to submissions from plot holders and home gardeners.  There is still time to get out in your plots and gardens to get photos of your own produce, or if you have any photos saved which you feel might be worthy of submission, please dig them out and send them in!

 

It's nearly time to begin the selection process for the calendar, so start collecting your photos together and send them to:

sk.austin@btopenworld.com

The closing date for submissions is Sunday 16th October.

Happy Snapping!

Allotment Plot Competition 2011

Posted on behalf of Judith Ward, York Allotments Officer

Dear Allotment Gardeners

Thank you to those people who have sent in nominations for this year's Allotment Competition.  If you've not done so yet, there's still time to nominate plots or to enter your own plot for judging.  Entries and nominations will be accepted up to Friday June 24th.

You can send your nominations by e-mail to allotments@york.gov.uk 

The competition celebrates the skill, hard work and imagination of York’s allotment gardeners.   Is there a plot near yours that cheers up passers by with its flowers, or keeps  several families in fruit and veg?  Have you overcome brambles, docks and thistles on your plot to establish a garden you can be proud of?

Plots will be judged in June and July by a team of allotment site secretaries.  The judges will score each plot on variety and health of the crops, the layout and maintenance of the plot and any special features.  If you’d like a copy of the score sheet please contact Sue Harvey on (01904 553433).

This year the judges have also been invited to recommend plots that deserve special recognition; maybe a new tenant who has transformed a derelict plot in a single season, an older gardener who has kept up high standards over many years or an outstanding community garden.    If you’d like to nominate a plot for special recognition, please give the reasons why this allotment garden is out of the ordinary.

Once again we are very grateful to the competition sponsors.   Brunswick Organic Nursery, Deans Garden Centre and Vertigrow Plant Nursery have all donated vouchers and Nick Milner will be supplying a set of traditional bean poles for each of four area winners.

Prizes will be presented at a special event at the Guildhall, during National Allotments Week in August.

Working Party July 3rd

Help to improve the Shop and the area around it and have a party at the same time (well, just after...)

On Sunday 3rd July from 2 p.m. we'll be working to lay on a water supply to the Shop and to improve the appearance and the amenity of the area around the shop and car park.  the work will be followed by a share of food and drink at 4.30 to reward ourselves for the hard work.  Come along and join in if you can - the more people, the better the party and the lighter the work!

.

Hedgehog Preservation

Local gardener and Hedgehog Rescuer Toni Bunnell will be featured in a report about how to make a hedgehog-friendly garden on the new Alan Titchmarsh programme, Love Your Garden, on ITV later this month.

It will be screened on Friday June 17 at 8pm and will show her hedgehog rescue centre in York, as well as her wildlife garden and two of her hedgehogs being released at York Minster Gardens.

This is a fantastic local interest feature, and I hope you can all tune in.

If, like Toni, you have a soft spot for hedgehogs you can find out more about how you can help the preservation effort at: http://www.britishhedgehogs.org.uk/

Toni's own website can be found at: http://www.tonibunnell.co.uk/hedgehog_menu.html

Butterfly Conservation, Yorkshire Branch, upcoming events.

There will be a series of events in and around York over the coming weeks and months organised by Butterfly Conservation.

The events will involve guided walks through local areas of environmental interest, with a view to spotting all forms of wildlife and interesting plants, as well as butterflies of course.

The locations and dates of the upcoming events are as follows:

West Bank Park, York

Saturday, 4th June 2011 from 11:00

"Dalbyology" Forestry Commission Event - Dalby Forest Visitor Centre

Sunday, 5th June 2011 from 10:30 - 16:00

Clifton Backies, York

Sunday, 5th June 2011 from 11:00

Shipley Station Butterfly Meadow

Saturday, 18th June 2011 from 13:00

 Spurn

Saturday 18th June 2011 from 10:30

Bastow Wood

Sunday, 26th June 2011 from 10:00

Upper Newtondale

Rapers Farm Picnic Area

Saturday, 9th July 2011 from 10:00

St Nicholas Fields, York

Saturday, 30th July 2011 from 10:00

Hob Moor, York

Saturday, 30th July 2011 from 14:00-16:00

The Whins and Bridle Butterfly Walk

Shelley Whins and Bridle and Thunderbridge Meadows

Saturday, 6th August 2011 from 10:30

(or Sunday 7th August 13:00 if weather is poor)

Gunnerside and Low Row

Rowleth Great Wood, Swaledale

Saturday, 13th August 2011 from 10:30

And of course...

Insect Festival 2011 - Yorkshire Museum Gardens, York

Sunday, 3rd July 2011 from 10:00 to 16:00

As well as BC Yorkshire There will be a wide range of exhibits and activities, including:

Live insect displays (bees, hoverflies, aquatic insects and more)

CSI: Crime Scene Insects

Minibeast hunts around the Museum Gardens with experienced entomologists

National and regional natural history societies

The National Insect Week award-winning photographic display

Entomology book and equipment sellers

A Chance to build your own insect home for your garden

Face painting, creepy-crawly cupcakes, insect art and much much more...

The public are encouraged to bring their insect specimens or photos to be identified with the help of our team of IDENTomologists.

Come along for a day of insect fun in the beautiful Yorkshire Museum Gardens. Entry is free for under 16's and only £1 for adults.

Full details of all of these events, as well as contact details for the organisers, can be found at: http://www.yorkshirebutterflies.org.uk/events.html

Please note - dogs are not allowed on field trips.  Children are welcome but must be accompanied by an adult.  Most walks follow rough tracks and require strong footwear.  Be prepared for all weathers.  Sun protection is advised.

The above field trips are open to all, you don't have to be a member of Butterfly Conservation, but if you are interested in joining the required information can be found here: http://www.butterfly-conservation.org/text/20/join_butterfly_conservation.html

Tree Warden Training Day - Saturday 14th May

A Tree Warden training day with Derek Austin takes place at York Cemetery on Saturday 14th May and with bright weather forecast it should be a splendid day.

Derek promises a packed agenda including sessions dealing with the latest on tree law, pest and diseases, arborcultural tools and instruments, tree ID plus plenty of tree TLC.  Something for everybody!

Bring a packed lunch, outdoor gear for the day and small hand tools including handsaws, secateurs and loppers.

You may invite members of other environmental/conservation groups - its for free!

The day begins at 9.30 am and will end around 4.30 pm.  See you there.

Government Review of Statutory Duties - Links & Tips

Further to the previous post regarding the upcoming government review, which could threaten the provision of allotments, here are some more links and guidance with regards to the online forms and what we can all do to help.

The Government has announced a "Review of statutory duties", aimed at identifying and removing duties from local authorities which are a "burden".  One of the duties they are considering removing is the duty to provide sufficient number of allotments for people in the area who want one. This means ALL allotments, including existing ones, not just new ones.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

Look at the Government's web page on "Review of statutory duties placed on local government" at:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/localgovernment/decentralisation/tacklingburdens/reviewstatutoryduties/

Then fill in the "Statutory duties webform" which is in the top right-hand corner, or go to:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/GP7BKKT


Time is short. We have only until 25 April.

The form is a bit confusing, so please find below some model answers which you can use, or you could of course write your own. But do fill in the form!

Statutory duties webform questions, with some suggested answers:

1. Please quote the reference number for the duty or duties you are commenting on.
DCLG_136

2. What does this duty help local authorities to achieve?
Provide sufficient number of allotments for those in their area that want one.

3. Does undertaking this duty present local authorities with a burden?
NO

4. In your opinion, could this duty be removed?
NO

5. What are the particular benefits of this duty being removed and who would benefit?
...

6. What do you consider are the adverse effects of removing this duty and who would this affect?
We could lose many allotments just at a time they have become hugely popular in
many sections of the community, and when were are increasingly concerned about
the need for more exercise and a healthy diet for individuals, and about food security
for the nation...

7. Are you aware of any guidance - statutory or non-statutory - associated regulations or powers that are associated with this duty? If so please list them here.
Non statutory guidance: "Allotments: A plot holders' guide" at
http://www.farmgarden.org.uk/ari/resources/allotments-a-plotholders-guide-new-edition-mainmenu-151

8. In your opinion are powers and/or guidance helpful or do they create a burden?
The guidance is helpful.

9. Would you like to add any general comments about this particular duty?
Local government allotment provision has functioned well and at very little expense for many years.
The benefits to the public are difficult to measure, but must be substantial, and reach beyond allotment
holders and their families to the community at large...

Your chance to have your say - local council allotment provision

Our local council allotments officer has drawn our attention to the following, which should be of interest to all.


The duty of local councils to provide allotments is included in an ongoing government review of 'burdens' on local authorities.

 Please follow the below link to see details of this "review of statutory duties placed on local government":

http://www.communities.gov.uk/localgovernment/decentralisation/tacklingburdens/reviewstatutoryduties/
 
Allotments are only mentioned at line 137 of the first spreadsheet, so this item takes some finding.

The review is under consultation until next Monday, April 25th and responses are invited from the general public as well as from councillors and council staff.

If you'd like to register your views, follow the link on the right of the web page to the  'Statutory duties webform'.  It's quite quick and simple to complete.

Bean Poles, Fence Posts & Bamboo Canes

Various structural support solutions are now available at the Allotment Association's shop on Scarcroft http://bit.ly/eDlEZv.

Come on down to take a look.

Silver Birch Bean Poles: £9 for 15 poles

These 8' Silver Birch poles (pictured above and below right) are cut from sustainably managed woods in the Vale of York.
The uneven texture of the poles gives the plants a better grip than imported bamboo cane.
A bundle of fifteen poles will make a sturdy frame with seven uprights each side and one crosspiece.
Properly stored they will give you several years' service.

Fence posts: £2 each, 5' 6" x 2"

Sturdy fence posts are also available at the bargain price of only £2 each, pictured to the right resting amongst the bean poles, and modelled below by the glamourous hut assistant, George.

Bamboo Canes: Various lengths available

See attached photo, always available in the Association Shop.

Seed Potatoes: Now only 50 pence per Kilo!

Seed Potatoes at just 50 pence per kilo, now available at the Allotment Association's shop on Scarcroft http://bit.ly/eDlEZv.  Assorted varieties available, come down to the shop to take advantage of this special offer before they are all snapped up.

Meet our new PCSO

Keith Hall PCSO 5457

Meet Keith Hall, one of our new police and community support officers.  His colleague is John Iemboli, not pictured here.  Scarcroft and Hospital Field allotment sites are part of their new patch, they are members of the Safer Neighbourhood Team.  Do say hello when you see them around, they are often to be seen on foot or on their bikes.

Remember, if you have any problems on the allotments - vandalism, criminal damage, trespass or rough sleeping (if rough sleepers present a problem for you) please let the police and the allotment association know.  If you witness a crime in progress ring 999, if you want to report a crime that is not happening at that moment please ring 0845 60 60 24 7.  The police may not be able to do anything about these non immediate crimes, unless there are witnesses, but telling them about what crime is happening on the plots with as much detail as possible about what, when and where, helps them build up a picture of the key times and areas and allows them to adjust their patrolling patterns accordingly.  And sometimes they will be able to act, as rumour has it that they were able to lift finger prints off one Scarcroft Allotment plot holder's smashed up greenhouse last year and were able to link the prints to an individual who was subsequently arrested.

Additionally, if you want to report crimes to the association, either do so by coming into the allotment shop or by emailing us on our usual email address scarcroftallotments@live.co.uk. If the committee knows how extensive crime is on the plots, they are able to put pressure on various groups to make reducing crime on the plots a priority.

You can make a difference to the level of crime on our plots by doing the following:

• don't leave any valuables in your sheds or hidden on your plots
• mark any tools you do leave on your plot so that they are less easy to sell on
• don't leave petrol on your plot as it can be used to set fire to sheds
• don't leave weedkiller on your plots as it can be used to vandalise other plots
• either leave your sheds and greenhouses unlocked or lock them with a very sturdy lock
• get to know your neighbours and challenge people you don't recognise (if you feel safe to do so).  Remember most paths on the sites are not public rights or way so people are trespassing if they are not going to visit a plot.
• always take your phone with you when you go to your plot so you can call the police if you see vandalism in action or call a friend to come an join you if you feel threatened
• make friends with your local dog walkers as they can be our eyes and ears early in the morning and later in the evening when fewer plot holders are around
• display the 'there are no valuables in this shed' sign on your shed - these are available free from the allotment shop
• visit your plot regularly so, if you are the victim of a crime you are able to give more accurate information as to when it happened

Here's hoping for a crime free season.

York University - Approaches to Growing

York University's Catherine Heinemeyer (BSc MSc) is running an urban horticulture course starting Monday 18 April.  Their website describes the course content as follows.

Cities may appear to be unlikely and sometimes hostile environments for food growing, yet traditional societies have overcome equally adverse conditions (water scarcity, soil erosion, extremes of temperature). We will look for inspiration and strategies from a variety of sources: creative ‘closed-loop’ solutions from traditional agriculture; modern technological approaches; gardening philosophies and movements from conventional, to organic, to permaculture. Students will learn basic gardening principles to assess the constraints and potential of sites for growing, and use these as the basis of sustainable ‘closed-loop’ garden design. We apply these lessons also to cities in general – how the urban food cycle could become more productive by tapping the resources available. The module will make use of visits and guest speakers, and end with a project in which students investigate the potential of currently underused compostable resources in York.

Term: Summer
Day: Monday
Start Date: 18 April 2011
Time: 7-9pm
No. of weeks: 11
Full fee: £107.00



More information and Enrolment details can be found at: http://www.york.ac.uk/inst/cce/accredited/socialsoc.htm#grow
Or you can contact the Courses Administrator, Helen Briggs, using the following details:
Centre for Lifelong Learning
University of York
Tel: 01904 328473
E-Mail: helen.briggs@york.ac.uk

National Trust Gardeners' Question Time Event‏

The National Trust are holding an event at Treasurer's House which I am sure will be of interest to our members.

Gardeners' Question Time and Tea will be held at at Treasurer's House, Minster Yard, York (YO1 7JL), on 4th May from 12pm - 2pm.

It will feature an afternoon with a National Trust Gardener who will be able to answer your questions and give you hints and tips, whether you have a window box or an allotment plot.

Beginners are welcome too!

After question time enjoy a delicious gardener’s tea in the tearoom.

Cost: £12

Booking: Booking essential, call 01904 624247 or e-mail treasurershouse@nationaltrust.org.uk

NGS Gardens Open For Charity - 8th May

As part of the National Gardens Scheme's Gardens Open for Charity programme of events, John Plant's garden in Skewsby will be open to the public on Sunday 8th May 2011.

Admission will be £3.50 (children free) and there will be plants for sale.

All monies raised are for the National Gardens Scheme charities.

If you cannot make it along on this occasion, it will also be open on Sunday 24th July 2011.