Plotting The Past

Interested in finding out about the past and allotments?
Would you like to help record our allotments?
Hannah Baxter of York Archaeological Trust is undertaking a year long community project involving allotments across the city. She has many activities lined up including photography, site surveys, oral histories, archaeological finds identification and even film making.

The film idea is to follow several plots throughout this year as they evolve through the seasons. If you grow photogenic carrots, have a Tarantino streak in you, or cut a dash in your wellies and would like to be involved in anyway, just let Hannah know emailing: hbaxter@yorkat.co.uk

Compost Giveaway

Yes! ...Free Compost!

Yorwaste Ltd in partnership with City of York Council Waste Services, would like to let you know of the free compost giveaway dates. The compost has been made from garden waste collected from the city’s green wheelie bins and is now available on the dates shown below.
Don't forget to bring a shovel and bags! 

Seed Potatoes

Yes! Seed potatoes are now in the allotment shop. 
Choose from Lady Christl, Rocket, Arran Pilot, Pentland Javelin, Orla, Vanessa, Wilja, Kestrel, Charlotte (including organic), Maris Piper, Cara, King Edward and last but not least Desiree.       A potato for every season, from extra early to main crop.

If you placed an order before Christmas then it will be bagged and ready for collection. Otherwise just pop along and purchase.

Harvesting Desiree

Notice of AGM 2013

We're pleased to announce details of our forthcoming 2013 AGM 
Date: Wednesday 20th March
Venue: Southlands Methodist Church Hall, Southlands Road 
Time: 7.30pm ending by 9.00pm 

Please put this date in your diary, we're keen to see as many members as possible. This is your chance to hear from the committee and share your views and ideas. More details concerning the guest speaker and the agenda will follow.

Autumn Social

We hope you can come and join us at our annual end of season social event at The Golden Ball, Friday 23rd November, 7.30pm onwards. Look forward to seeing you there!

York Get Growing! Courses

York Get Growing! have organised a wide range of free courses and sessions for Autumn and Winter 2012 -2013
For further information or to book a place 01904 644300
or see http://www.edibleyork.org.uk/project-partners/get-growing/training-courses

Local History Event

There's an exciting Local History Event being held at Clements Hall, Nunthorpe Road.  This is a two day programme of free events Thursday 1st and Friday 2nd November from 11.30am onwards. On Friday at 3pm is a talk that may be of particular interest to gardeners and allotment holders, The History of Allotments in the Scarcroft area by Catherine Heinmeyer. 

Please see this link for more information 
http://clementshall.org.uk/events-2/public-events/local-history-project/

2013 Calendar

Look out for the Scarcroft and District Allotment Association 2013 Calendar

On sale in the Allotment Shop, Pextons and Frankie & Johnny's Cook Shop on Bishopthorpe Road from first week in November. Priced £5 
Yes! Only £5 how's that for solving Christmas gift ideas.
Limited number printed so don't delay.

Once again this community project would not be possible without the photographic contributions from Association members and the support from our local businesses.

In case of vandalism

Unfortunately there have been a number of incidents of vandalism on Scarcroft Allotments recently.

As a reminder to plot holders if you find any damage done on your plot, please call 101, the police non-emergency number, and report it. 

Because few of the incidents that have happened have been reported, the site has been taken off the list of places for routine patrolling by the neighbourhood police team. 

If we report every incident, we’ll get routine police patrols again and that police presence does act as a deterrent!

'Losing The Plot' performance

Mikron Theatre Company are returning to York with their hilarious play 'Losing the Plot', first seen by 100+ in an open air performance at Scarcroft allotments in May. No one who has, or has had, or wish they had an 

allotment should miss their best night out!

Read what the York Press review had to say...

http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/leisure/theatre/9716343.Review__Losing_The_Plot__Scarcroft_Allotments__York/

The company has now clocked up over 60 sell-out performances around the country and happily for us are 

returning to York for a second performance on 18th September at Clements Hall, Bishophill 7.30pm 

Tickets can be purchased from Pextons Hardware, Bishopthorpe Road, 

Or send cheque payable to Mikron Theatre Company to: 

Willy Hoedeman

7 Howe Hill Close

York

YO26 4SN

Include a pre-addressed envelope and the tickets will be posted to you by return.

Any queries please E-mail willyh@phonecoop.coop 
or text 0797 486 7301

A special family rate will give you up to 5 tickets for the price of going to the movies! 

It's VERY teenager friendly, so bring a crowd of rowdies!

Look forward to seeing you there!

Bugs on Scarcroft Review

Despite Yorkshire being practically underwater on Friday 22nd June some hardy enthusiasts came to the very successful evening about small friends and foes on the allotments. Chris Malumphy from FERA was a very enthusiastic and knowlegeable visitor and told us lots about new invading pests which is his speciality, and helped us identify a number of insects and other invertebrates found on the site. Chris was impressed by how few pests we actually had, and suggested that the number of birds around was keeping down caterpillar numbers. 


We did find a few butterfly and moth caterpillars, Peacock caterpillars in particular. Peacock and related butterflies feed on nettles, a good reason to leave a few in a sunny position! Hopefully we will have some of these attractive butterflies on the site in a few weeks time.  More info http://www.butterfly-conservation.org/text/1758/the_peacock_butterfly.html

Peacock butterfly caterpillars on nettles

Mullein moth caterpillars on mullein

We also found the gardeners friend - the 7 spot ladybird and it was interesting to compare it to the Harlequin lady bird which we also found. Sadly it is possible that the introduced Harlequin lady bird will replace native ladybirds as it has in North America. We also delved briefly into the sex lives of aphids as we found some on sycamore and ragwort plants, both looked after by ants which tend the aphids and move them around so they can feed on the honeydew they produce. There were plenty of snails and slugs around although my new technique of putting sharp sand around my plants seems to be working!

Nail galls on a Sycamore leaf caused by tiny Aceria mites

Chris asked us to keep an eye open for a fairly new pest the Asian long horn beetle which has been found in Kent and is very damaging to wood and woodlands. More info  http://www.fera.defra.gov.uk/plants/plantHealth/pestsDiseases/asianLonghornBeetle/documents/pestAlert.pdf In future we may be contacted to look out for new pests as allotment sites could be a good place to spot them with lots of gardeners and a variety of crops.

Altogether a really interesting evening and many thanks to Chris and his son Daniel the most succesful bug hunter!

Millthorpe Art Exhibition

If you haven't already... 
then please check out the exhibition of allotment inspired art work from year 11 students of Millthorpe School. The display is on show on the side of Scarcroft hut until end of July.

Association Member Benefits - RHS Membership Offer

Scarcroft & District Allotment Association members can enjoy reduced membership fees for the Royal Horticultural Society.

Join the RHS as an individual member for just £35.70, a saving of 30%.

Further details and application forms for anyone interested are available in the Allotment Association's shop on Scarcroft.

Follow the link for details of the Association Shop and opening times:

http://scarcroftanddistrictallotments.blogspot.co.uk/p/allotment-shop.html 

And you can find out more about the RHS here: http://www.rhs.org.uk/