London Road Garden Shop is closed because of restrictions.
See their Facebook page for any updates and information, link below
https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Garden-Center/The-Garden-shop-257346370953538/
For updated Cover 19 emergency procedures on allotments- check this link to NSALG regularly
The Covid19 pandemic is affecting us all.
Many members are self-isolating if they have pre-existing medical conditions or are unwell.
We are all required to comply with the restrictions imposed by HM Government and are following advice published by the National Allotments Society (NSALG) on its website.
Many thanks to Monica and field stewards who printed and laminated the information and tied it to our gates.
At the time of writing, allotment members are still allowed to cultivate their plots as their daily permitted exercise. Keep your distance at all times and no social mixing or sharing of tools. Check NSALG website for updates or new restrictions.
if we keep distance from others, our main vulnerability on an allotment is touching the gate and padlock. Therefore, please disinfect/sanitise these before and after handling them and wear gloves. Wash hands regularly with soap (but don’t use water buts to wash).
Information from KBC – Kettering Borough Council
These guidance notes in summary suggest allotment holders:
• Keep hand sanitiser in their shed and wash their hands regularly
• Use hand sanitiser before opening and closing any gate locked
• Observe “Social Distancing” with each other 2-3 metres
• Do not share tools
• Minimise the contact with each other for example no handshakes
• Do not wash their hands in water troughs
• Recommend that all communal facilities are closed
• If allotment holders have livestock on the site and must visit twice a day, then they should take a photograph on their phone of their livestock, based on what is happening in other countries they may eventually have to print off a government form to leave the house but if challenged it would be good to be able to show a photograph of where they are going.
• Plan ahead to ensure that you have food and medication delivered to you during this time
• Stay away from vulnerable individuals such as the elderly and those with underlying health conditions as much as possible
• If you display any symptoms of coronavirus stay at home and self-isolate for at least 14 days or until symptoms have passed.
Further advice from the Association can be found at the following link:
https://www.nsalg.org.uk/news/covid19-information/
Many people have contacted us to apply for an allotment. The government restrictions mean that we cannot process these in our normal way. Please be patient.
Meanwhile, nearby in Northampton there is a news story that might interest you
If we cannot get to our plots as often due to lockdown restrictions there are some things we can do to minimise the catching up when we resume.
Cover the ground with black weed control fabric or cardboard and mulch.
This mulch will suppress weeds in the coming weeks. If you then have plants or seedlings to go out then cut a small hole through the mulch and pop them in. see more in our post on low maintenance gardening – link below.
https://www.nsalg.org.uk/news/covid19-information/
March 20th, 2020
Following the Government update on 16 March 2020 and the ongoing situation with COVID-19, all group NAS meetings have been cancelled with immediate effect and will be reviewed on the 30th June 2020. This is a worldwide unprecedented and challenging time for so many people and of course the health and safety of our members, volunteers, and staff remains our number one priority.
I know many Associations, have taken decisions to cancel plot inspections, seed swaps, association trips and annual judging; scheduled Committee meetings and AGM’s should also be postponed. It is important that any plot-holders over 70 years and those with underlying health issues follow the guidance and informationissued by the government. It would be a good idea for Associations to give a telephone or email address for anyone with problems to allow contact.
Any plot-holder who is self isolating because a household member is ill with corona-virus should not be visiting the site.
Associations should display an advice notice on their boards. It is important that anyone attending the allotment takes care to stay the appropriate distance from others, avoid body contact and wash hands at taps, do not wash hands or use detergents in the water tanks and please pay attention to notice boards.
It is essential that no un-authorised people are allowed onto the plots for the duration of this emergency, if you do wish to bring someone to assist with work on the plot, please ensure that that this is notified either to Secretary or Site Manager. Careful consideration should be given to introducing anyone over 70, those with underlying illness or pregnant women.
We are living through a crisis, the likes of which none of us has experienced before, not since war time has the community spirit that exists on allotment sites been more important. Please remember to look out for one another during these very difficult times.
Members should take the following precautionary measures :
Those Association who operate shops will have to consider what action to take, whether to close totally, allow only one person in at a time, currently accepting cash is not a good idea. We must all consider vulnerable families, friends and fellow plot-holders and give assistance where needed.
Government advice about the Coronavirus is updated on a regular basis at this link.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-information-for-the-public
For NHS information and advice CLICK HERE
More details on our website – click below for links to
Some members have made suggestions for ideas to discuss at the end of the AGM including:
Tell us what you think. We value the opinions of our members.
Many thanks to our members and field stewards who have helped lay down gravel and stones on the tracks/ridings at Margaret Road. This work helps to make the tracks more navigable, following the wet weather and damage from vehicles.
Meanwhile, please keep vehicle movements to a minimum when the ground is wet. Please obey signs and advice to avoid driving on soft ground to prevent further damage.
Scott Road has also seen some work on improving and repairing the track/ridings. Many thanks to all those members who have helped. Further work is planned.
A few more metal Heras panels have been fitted along weak points in our boundary hedge. In time, the hedge thorns will grow through the metal wires and become an impenetrable barrier.
Local author Julia Thorley’s latest book is all about our chairman Clive (see below for photo) and his first year of retirement
A sparge bag on the washing line is an hilarious account, with many adventures on his allotment at Scott Road
Many thanks to all of our members who have paid their rents. These funds keep our society running smoothly. If, however, you have not yet paid, the rent is overdue and rule 11b now applies. This means that if you wish to keep your allotment you must pay two years rent. Alternatively we shall re-let your plot to the person at the top of the waiting list.
Our waiting lists are now moving as we have had confirmation from several retiring members that they no longer wish to continue when their rent reminders arrived. It has been sad to say goodbye to many long-standing plot-holders, including one who is 93 years old and has enjoyed his plot on Scott Road for very many years. On the other hand, people who have been waiting for a plot for several months can now start allotment gardening and continue cultivating the fertile soil of Kettering
Our 102nd AGM will be held on Tuesday 10th March at the Corn Market Hall. Please put this date in your diaries. Full details on our website, link below
http://www.ketteringallotments.co.uk/agm.html
The potatoes are in stock at local garden centres and shops. See the catalogue of the London Road garden shop here. Don’t delay as once they’re gone, they’re gone! Time to get chitting.
https://russellattwood.wordpress.com/2019/10/24/seed-potato-catalogue-2020/
You can mulch at any time of year. Now is a great time to use mulch as the weeds have not started growing, so mulching now prevents them. There is less to do on the plot now as it is winter. Some suggestions are:
1. Securely placing 100gsm weed control fabric on the soil. No need to dig, just cover and secure it so the wind does not move it. (see photo below)
In the Spring you can roll the fabric up, rake the soil and plant directly, for example make a hole for potatoes or onion sets
Or you can leave the fabric there, cut small holes in the fabric and plant through them into the weed-free soil below the fabric.
2. Cover the ground with cardboard then use a thick layer (at least 4 inches, 10cm) of plant shreddings or straw to completely cover the card. Again, there is no need to dig. In Spring you can plant straight through the composted mulch, or rake it aside and plant into the soil.
Both methods above require no digging, apart from the occasional forking of one or two persistent weed roots
See links below for photos and more detail
https://russellattwood.wordpress.com/using-mulch/
https://russellattwood.wordpress.com/easiest-way-to-grow-crops/
Welcome to 2020 to all our allotment members and WordPress followers. We hope you had a great 2019 and are looking forward to a new year of gardening. If you would like to share your plans or gardening resolutions for 2020, please contact us. Use the link in the menu above.
Our annual rent and membership fees are due now. Many thanks to all those members who have already paid for 2020. If you have not paid yet, please see this link of how to pay, or click on the link in the menu at the top of this page. If you do not pay by the end of January your plot may be re-let to someone on our waiting list.
http://www.ketteringallotments.co.uk/rent.html
https://russellattwood.wordpress.com/allotment-rents/
We have been working very hard to keep our records accurate and up to date. Some members have retired from their allotments or reduced the size of their plots so that new members from the waiting list can have a plot. If you are giving up or moving house etc, please contact us so we can amend our records. If you have already given up and are receiving this newsletter by mistake, please accept our apologies and let us know so we can amend our records
There have been some reports of gates being left open. Please lock all gates as advised by your stewards for your own security. There has also been a case of theft of a polytunnel cover from a Scott Road plot. Please report all incidents to the Police – call 101 or use their online reporting form
https://www.northants.police.uk/ro/report/ocr/af/how-to-report-a-crime/
It is not often that we see how deep parsnip roots go, as they usually break off when we dig them out. The very wet weather has made the soil very soft and muddy and one of our Northfield Avenue members has harvested some parsnips with all of their roots. Well done Harry!
Hopefully everyone is aware that our railway line to St Pancras is being electrified. This major infrastructure investment is nearing completion. Network Rail will be doing some vital safety work to improve the fence on our boundary with the railway. Please observe all safety instructions if this is near your plot. Remember that the cables are 25 000 Volts, so beware!
see their latest newsletter below. See Page 30 for a most interesting article on coping with deluges and droughts
Our annual rents are due on 1st January 2020. The rents are the same as last year, no increase. Full details of how to pay are on the page in the menu above
Citizen science project from UCL and BBC radio 4’s Inside Science
The above BBC Radio 4 programme has teamed up with one of the UK’s top universities to conduct a citizen science experiment on composting. Details are in the links below
https://www.bigcompostexperiment.org.uk
https://www.plasticwastehub.org.uk/news/announcing-the-launch-of-the-big-compost-experiment
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0009yxv
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/headlines/2019/nov/big-compost-experiment-launched
Now is the perfect time to order your seeds. The widest selections are available online. Here are some suggestions:
The latest edition of the Allotment and Leisure `Gardener magazine from theNational Allotment Society features an article on
Coping with Droughts and Deluges by Russell Attwood (see page 30 of the magazine)
