February 2024 Allotment News

AGM next month

Our Annual General Meeting (AGM) is on Tuesday 19th March at 7:45pm. the venue is the Athletic Club, Rockingham Road. All members welcome. Paid-up members of the Society can vote on proposals. The details and Agenda of the AGM are on our website – click on the link.

Thanks for paying Rents

Many thanks to all those who have paid their rents and annual subscriptions. Paying online has been really good this year. If you have not yet paid your rent, it is overdue and your plot may be re-let to someone on the waiting list. Contact the treasurer urgently on 07971 492632

New member of the Stewards Team (Margaret Road)

We have another volunteer to join the team at Margaret Road. Andy Payne will be helping members/tenants on line 2. His contact details are below.

1. Margaret Road Line 1 – Rebecca Profit  email: line1steward@hotmail.com
2. Margaret Road Line 2 – Andy Payne 07485 594989 email: andrewpayne2250@gmail.com
3. Margaret Road Line 3 – Peter New – ‭07857 854377        email peternew33@gmail.com
4. Margaret Road Line 4 – John Roberts – 07525 474 302 email: john.roberts999@googlemail.com

Useful Contacts

Manure contact: John Norton  01933 678284

Compost contacts: Chris Foster on 07956 442 043

Trailer load of compost for £45 delivered to your plot. Chris Foster on 07956 442 043

Allotment Shack – full load of compost £140 (approx 3.5 cubic metres), half is £80 plus delivery charge. Contact: 07810 262625

Straw contact: bales delivered to your plot, a minimum order applies (£55) Contact: Lisa Middleton  on 07923 471 513

 1000 litre IBC water tanks (with cage) for £35

£35 each (includes delivery to plot) REMEMBER to ask for a SPOUT when ordering.

Contact: Wayne on 07745 109380

The Garden Shop in London Road

For all of your seeds, plants, potatoes, onions etc we suggest you try the Garden Shop in London Road Kettering. A friendly family business with great service. See their Facebook page.

Safety Reminder

It’s a limit, not a minimum! The speed limit of 5mph applies to all vehicles on allotment land (even rotavators!). Please respect our rules and consider the safety of pedestrians, dog-walkers and our less able members. Driving too fast may also damage your vehicle and the ridings.

Town Council Wildlife Competition

We just received news of this competition from the Mayor – Emily Fedorowycz. Click on the link for details https://www.ketteringtowncouncil.gov.uk/love-wildlife?fbclid=IwAR1rbQnMNhRzhc0eKeByJtL2Zc71U-gjuaFVco8uttTHGy5Uy50-P2BjrSM

January 2024 Allotment News

Happy New Year 2024

The committee sends warm New Year greetings to all of our members and supporters. We hope that 2024 brings good harvests and many successes on our allotments.

Time to pay Annual Rent

Many thanks to those members who have already paid rents and membership subscriptions for 2024 in advance. If you have not paid already, the rents are now due. If you do not pay your rent by the end of January, then your tenancy will be ended and the plot will be re-let to someone on the waiting list. Contact the Treasurer if you have any questions about rent.

How to pay your Rent

For details of how to pay, click on this link to the How to Pay Rent page, or see the menu at the top of this page.

A Good Time to collect free rainwater!

There is sometimes less gardening to do in winter, but it is great time to collect free rainwater in barrels ready for drier months in the growing season. Collecting free rainwater helps keep rents as low as possible – one of our main expenses in our Anglian Water bill. Thousand litre IBC water tanks are often available from Windermere logs or Fox’s Pallets.

AGM on March 19th 2024 at 7:45pm

Save the date – our 105th Annual General Meeting is on March 19th at 7:45pm at the Athletic Club, Rockingham Road Kettering. Full details are on our website – click on this link.

Thank you from the Food Bank

We were touched to receive a “thank you” card from Kettering Foodbank. Surplus vegetables are always welcome there.

Tracks still closed to vehicles.

Don’t be a stuck-in-the mud! many of our tracks are too wet for vehicles and remain closed. Anyone disobeying these signs will be subject to disciplinary action. You may not recover your vehicle until March, so it’s not worth the risk!

December 2023 Allotment News

Rents Due on January 1st

The 2024 Rents are payable in January. Rents are increasing for 2024. The rent will be £4 per pole, membership subscriptions remain at £3 per member. Membership is for each adult who cultivates a plot and covers liability insurance and affiliate membership of the National Allotments Society (NAS). Typical rents are as follows:

• a 5 pole plot cultivated by a single member = £23
• a 5 pole plot cultivated by a couple (or 2 friends sharing a plot) = £26
• a ten pole plot cultivated by a single member = £43
• a ten pole plot cultivated by a couple (or two friends sharing) = £46

Click here for details of how to pay

Take great care in wet and wintry conditions

Recent wet weather and the time of year means that some tracks on our sites are not suitable for vehicles. Driving on these tracks now will ruin them for months to come and make them dangerous for pedestrians. Take great care when walking on these tracks to avoid slips and falls. See our Health and Safety Policy for more details.

Discounts on Kings Seeds

The committee has appointed Sarah Dexter as our Seed Secretary for the purpose of the discount scheme offered through our membership of the NAS. This is for members of Kettering Allotment Society (not available to non-members). We now have the facility to add you to the Kings Seeds discount that is available to you through National Allotment Society. If you are wanting a log in to order online please send an email to kasseedsec@gmail.com

Please make sure you include:

• First Name
• Surname
• phone number
• full postal address including postcode
• email address
• Once you have sent your details an account will be created with your log-in details

2024 AGM (Annual General Meeting)

Next year’s AGM will be in March (date to be confirmed). The committee has agreed to bring proposals for an updated tenancy agreement (rules). These rules will be voted on at the AGM. Please read through them. The committee welcomes any comments or feedback on this proposal.

Northfield Avenue planting tree seedlings

Please note – trees are not allowed on allotment plots! (except miniature fruit trees). The Northfield Avenue stewards have received tree seedlings from the Woodland Trust to enhance the wider environs around the allotment site, for example the area between the first plot and the railway bridge at Rothwell Road.

Windmill Avenue hosts Art Students

Our Windmill Avenue site was able to host students from Tresham College recently. The students took photographs and made drawings on the allotments. We plan to continue this sort of engagement with the wider community in the future.

November 2023 Allotment News

2024 Rents – a small increase in January

There will be a small increase in annual rents for 2024. The rents will be £4 per pole. membership subscriptions remain unchanged at £3 per member for the year. Details of when and how to pay are on this page of our website

News from National Allotments Society (NAS)

Use this link to see the latest news from The NAS. You can also follow the NAS on Facebook. See the fabulous story of Ryan’s viking boat plot at our Scott Road site in Kettering.

Time to order seed potatoes

A reminder that you need to order seed potatoes this month at the London Road Garden Shop. You can see their online catalogue here

Competition Winners

Scott Road pumpkin competition winners:- Robert’s pumpkin 6.35 kg. Ellie’s pumpkin 5.75kg. Well done both!

Margaret Road Competition Winners

Thank you to all who joined us last Sunday. We hope to see even more next year and maybe have a summer gathering?

Heaviest Pumpkin – 1st Dai 72lb 6 oz, 2nd John 70lb 8oz, 3rd Pete 48lb 13 oz

Longest Runner Bean – 1st Rebecca 46cm, 2nd Glenda 41 cm, 3rd Dai 41 cm

Heaviest Marrow – 1st Glenda 22lb 4oz, 2nd Pete 15lb 6oz, 3rd Stuart 14lb 6oz

Giant potato – 1st Pete 870g, 2nd Dai 570g

Longest carrot – 1st Pete 15.5 cm, 2nd Dai 11.5 cm

2024 AGM (Annual General Meeting)

Next year’s AGM will be in March (date to be decided). The committee has agreed to bring proposals for an updated tenancy agreement (rules). These rules will be voted on at the AGM. Please read through them. The committee welcomes any comments or feedback on this proposal.

June 2023 Allotment News

Please complete our survey

The committee has decided to conduct a survey. The results of the survey will help to inform the committee’s decisions on future rents. Please take the survey online by Clicking Here or paste this URL into your browser https://forms.gle/QCTrs6LJFxH1pLhw9

If you know allotment members that don’t have internet/email please ask them too request a paper copy. For paper copies of the survey, please see your field steward.

IBC water tanks for sale – Margaret Road

One of our Margaret Road members is selling IBCs. Chris sent us this message recently: “I have these for sale £50 each or two for £90. Delivery to you plot or as close to as I can get Margaret Rd delivery any time the other two sites I will have to meet you there 1xIBC 1000 litre capacity 2x wooden pallets (Pallets may be different colours) (IBC may not have the metal cage but 99% off them have) Cash on delivery or bank transfer I’m also waiting on a supplier on horse manure same trailer load £60 pounds (subject to availability)”.

If you are interested, please contact Chris directly on Facebook or Contact Chris 07966 092 079

Health and Safety is no accident

We take our Safety very seriously. Please check out our webpage on this. Recently we have has reports of vehicles driving too fast. there is a 5 mph speed limit on allotment land – walking pace. If you speed you could kill or injure someone.

Work like a CHARM to stay safe on our allotments

C – Check for Hazards

H – Hazards are things that can cause Harm

A – Assess Risks – what is the chance that this Hazard could cause harm?

R -reduce risks as far as possible (eg lone working is more risky than with a friend)

M – Mitigate hazards and risks with Measures (eg wear safety glasses with a strimmer)

Works like a CHARM

Sunflower Competition

Tallest Sunflower competition

To enter: please contact Bec Profit on 07598163776 or
email: line1steward@hotmail.com

SCYTHE vs STRIMMER – guess who wins?

Check out this YouTube film for the answer. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsfIHiBB6xE

News from the National Allotments Society

click on the link to see their latest newsletter

https://us7.forward-to-friend.com/forward/preview?u=48afbbb345d568a89e8001af6&id=9a36aecec1

https://us7.forward-to-friend.com/forward/preview?u=48afbbb345d568a89e8001af6&id=9a36aecec1

Bridgstock Cup 2023

🏆🏆BRIDGSTOCK CUP JUDGING 🏆🏆

🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆

SUNDAY 2ND JULY 2023 10AM

AWARDED TO OUTSTANDING PLOT OVER ALL FOUR KETTERING ALLOTMENT FIELDS 

http://www.ketteringallotments.co.uk/cup.html

TO ENTER:  PLEASE CONTACT SARAH TAYLOR 

TEL: 07521 068820 EMAIL:sarahjtaylor2018@gmail.com

ALSO WE WILL BE DOING THESE OTHER CLASSES JUDGED ON THE 2ND JULY 2023 10am

• BEST PLOT IN EACH FIELD 
• BEST NEWCOMER OVER ALL FIELDS 
• BEST 5 POLE PLOT OVER ALL FIELDS 
• BEST 10 POLE PLOT OVER ALL FIELDS 

🥔🥕🫛🌽🍆🌶🫑🥒🥬🥦🧄🧅🫚🍓🍏🍎🍐🍒🍇🫐

February 2023 Allotment News

A big thank you!

Many thanks to everyone who has paid rent and membership fees for 2023. These funds keep our Society solvent and pay for our water bills, insurance and other vital expenses.

If you have not paid your rent and membership, it is now overdue. A late payment fee is now required – you will have to pay double the rent! Or relinquish your plot to someone on the waiting list. (See rule 11)

How to pay rent -click on the link

For rent queries, please contact the Treasurer

Contact the Treasurer

‭07971 492632‬

email michael.thurland1956@gmail.com

AGM next month – save the date

Wednesday 15 March 2023 7:45 pm 

Kettering Athletic Club, Rockingham Road

AGENDA and supporting documents – click on this link

https://sites.google.com/view/kettering-allotments-agm/home

Annual Accounts sent to auditors

In accordance with our status as a mutual society we publish our audited accounts every year at the AGM and then submit them to the regulator (FCA). The 2022 financial accounts have now been completed by our treasurer and sent to the auditors for checking.

Check your trees

February is a good time to check your trees. Please remember that our rule on allotment trees is that only small fruit trees allowed, with a maximum height of 8 feet. (Rule 36) If your trees are taller than this, please prune them now, before the growing season adds any more height.

Waiting Lists Moving

Now that rents have been paid, stewards have a clear idea of plots that are now vacant. They are working through waiting lists to re-let those recently vacated plots.

A great camping holiday suggestion

Dipple Farm in North Devon is highly recommended by one of our members. Get back to nature, enjoy rural landscapes and nearby coastal beauty spots.

dipplefarm.co.uk. camping@dipplefarm.co.uk

Break-ins at Margaret Road

Margaret Road allotments have been victims of crime again. Several break-ins have been reported on our Facebook group. The stewards and committee continue to explore ways to improve our security, but being a large field, there are some limitations. Meanwhile please consider the following advice:

• Please don’t leave valuables in allotment sheds. No strimmers, rotavators or other power tools.
• With no valuables present, thieves will lose interest
• A smart shed with a padlock is more likely to be broken into than a shed with no lock or no door. Thieves think that a smart locked shed has something valuable inside.
• The best use for a shed is to collect rainwater, not to store valuable items

January 2023 Allotment News

What are your resolutions? – some ideas

1. Collect and store free rainwater. Use roofing, gutters barrels and IBC tanks to collect winter rain and store ready for summer droughts. This will help your plot, the environment and the allotment society (our water bills for 2022 were bigger than ever)
2. Cover and mulch soil for as long as possible. Use 100gsm weed control fabric or cardboard and woodchip mulch. This protects soil from extreme weather and also retains rainwater ready for your crops.
3. Make a compost heap to recycle organic waste (weeds, peelings, crop residues etc). The Council will start charging extra to empty green/grey wheelie bins in 2023, so this will save money too.
4. Remove plastic and other non-compostable waste from your plot. Be kind to the environment and take to the recycling depot.
5. Share your passion for allotments. Join our Facebook group and post positive comments to inspire and inform others.

Rents and Membership subscriptions are now due

If you do not pay your rent, your plot will be re-let to someone on the waiting list

Rents and membership subs are due on 1st January. Many thanks to all those who have paid rent early. Please remember these key points:

• Membership subs are now £3 per person who works the plot. This means each person in the family who helps cultivate the allotment needs to pay £3 each
• Rents for those plots affected by flooding at Margaret Road (lower ridings near the river) have been reduced. Contact your steward or the treasurer if you have any queries.
• Click here for how to pay
• Treasurer’s contact details – email michael.thurland1956@gmail.com text – ‭07971 492632‬
• Our rents are very low. The national average is about £5-£10 per pole, so £100 for a small plot.

Time to order seeds

Some suggested catalogues

Kings https://www.kingsseeds.com/

Seeds of Italy https://seedsofitaly.com/

RealSeeds https://www.realseeds.co.uk/index.html

News from the committee – new Policy on fences around plots

The committee has agreed on a new policy for fences on plots. The main reason for adopting this policy was to maintain safety for our members. To see the policy, click on this link to our website.

2023 AGM- date and venue

AGM Wednesday 15 March 7:45pm at Athletic Club, Rockingham Road

New Constitution for 2023 AGM

In order to remain compliant with legislation we need to update our constitution at the AGM. The relevant legislation is the Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014. We are registered with the FCA (Financial Conduct Authority) as a mutual society. The committee will propose to adopt the new constitution at the AGM. What we call a constitution is known as “Rules” by the FCA and legislation. The “Rules” are different from our tenancy agreements that we usually refer to as the Rules. The proposed constitution has been provided as a template from the National Allotments Society (NSALG). Here is a link to the proposed updated constitution (rules).

News from National Allotments Society

See the latest magazine online here

Some gardening advice if snow comes

See this article

December 2022 Allotment News

Rents due on January 1st – how to pay

Time to start thinking about paying your rent for next year. If you are ending your tenancy please let us know as soon as possible, so that we do not send reminders. 

Rents are the same as 2022 but subscriptions have increased to £3 per member. The £3 is to cover our membership of National Allotments Society and its insurance scheme. 

Important note – each adult who works the plot needs to pay £3 per person to be covered by the insurance. Therefore if a couple, family  or two friends work a plot together they each should pay £3 to get insurance cover.

More information on how to pay on our website – link here. Any queries on rent, insurance or subscriptions, please contact the treasurer…..

Treasurer contact details:

Mr Michael Thurland, 274 Windmill Avenue, Kettering

07971 492 632

email michael.thurland1956@gmail.com

Poultry Regulations in Force

The bird’ flu (Avian influenza) epidemic has lead to Government Regulations being imposed on all poultry. Please be aware of biosecurity measures (aka “chicken lockdown”)

Dogs on allotments

Most dog owners are responsible and considerate. This message is not intended for them; apologies for stating the obvious. There have been unpleasant incidents recently at Margaret Road, so…  Please remember our rules – dogs to be kept on a lead on allotment land. There have been some incidents recently at Margaret Road where dogs have been unleashed and have fouled allotment land. Dog walkers must bag up and safely remove any dog waste – take it home or dispose of in an approved dog waste bin. 

Mini-plots at Scott Road

One way of reducing our waiting lists and helping get people allotments is creating mini plots. This is now going ahead at Scott Road. An area near the top car park is being turned into 6 mini plots – smaller than 5 poles, but at least something for new people to start their allotment gardening experience for 2023 instead of waiting for another year on our growing lists. 

Don’t be a stuck-in-the-mud!

Please respect the signs when ridings are closed to vehicles in winter. Getting stuck in the mud is no fun and leaves the ridings in a terrible state for everyone else.

Break-ins and vandalism at Margaret Road

Last month there were several break-ins at Margaret Road. Please be vigilant for suspicious visitors and intruders. We suggest that tools are not left in sheds, take them home for winter – especially hammers that may be used by vandals to smash into someone else’s shed.

New research evidence – “compostable” plastics aren’t compostable.

See this article

Slug problems – some ideas on this page

See this page for ideas on how to control slugs. Now that the rain has returned and conditions are wet the slugs have emerged after their summer hiding in the drought.

Stay safe on your plot and remember the basics

November 2022 Allotment News

Rent for 2023 – some Good News

The committee has decided that the Rents for 2023 will be the same as 2022 – no increase.

Membership Subscriptions 2023 – a small increase

It is necessary to increase the membership subscriptions for 2023. The current membership is £2 per year and this will increase to £3 per year in January. This increase is necessary because our subscription to the National Allotments Society is £3 per member and we need to cover this cost. We get many benefits from the National Allotments Society including members’ liability insurance. We hope you agree that this is good value.

New email address for our Treasurer:- michael.thurland1956@gmail.com

If you have any queries about your rent payment or subscriptions, please use the new email address michael.thurland1956@gmail.com

Bird Flu (Avian Influenza) – new Government restrictions – click on link below

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/avian-influenza-housing-order-to-be-introduced-across-england

Fun Competition at Margaret Road

The annual competition for largest marrows, pumpkin etc was held on Sunday October 23rd and was great success despite very heavy rain earlier in the morning. The pouring rain stopped ten minutes before the event and the hardy gardeners gathered, Rebecca provided some lovely iced buns and a good laugh was had by all. Thank you to all who turned up, including the giant cabbage – an idea for next year. Results are below:

Early November Bonfires

The 5th of November is a traditional time for bonfires. The committee recognises this fact and has issued updated guidance and clarification on bonfires. The clarification is that bonfires are banned on Sundays; there had been some inconsistency and confusion on this, so the committee has confirmed the ban bonfires on Sundays (BBQs are still allowed)

Updated Bonfire guidance summary – “Dos” and “Don’ts”

DON’TS

• No fires on Sundays (BBQs are allowed, even on Sundays)
• No fires that produce lots of smoke
• No fires when the wind is blowing smoke towards houses
• Do not burn wet or green waste, only dry woody material
• Do not bring material to the allotment to burn – take it to the tip
• Never burn plastic or other non-woody material
• Don’t allow fires to spread, or risk damage to sheds etc

DOs

• Ask your neighbours before lighting a fire, check they don’t mind
• Talk to field stewards about best practice
• Risk Assess the hazards and have enough water ready to douse the fire if needed
• Only burn dry woody material
• Compost any green waste, weeds, crop residues
• Take any other waste to the tip
• Check the wind direction and speed
• Only start a fire if the wind is blowing away from houses
• Thorny woody prunings may be burned when dry, but might be useful next to the wire fence to improve security, ask stewards about this
• Avoid fires if at all possible

Resource Centre at Grange Shops

Please consider donating any surplus crops to the Resource Centre at the Grange shops. The Resource Centre provides hot meals at a very modest cost on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. Please donate on these days.

Disciplinary Policy

The committee has decided to amend slightly the Society’s Disciplinary Policy. There is an additional paragraph, copied below in italics

• Bringing the Allotment Society into disrepute will be considered as a disciplinary matter as will abusive language or threatening behaviour towards any person.  Members, plot holders, stewards, committee members and visitors have the right to feel safe on allotments and not be subjected to swearing or intimidation of any kind.

First Aid on allotments

There are risks and hazards on allotments, so please stay safe. If you are injured on your plot the committee recommends the following 3 things: 1. before going inform family members of your whereabouts to reduce the risk of lone working 2. carry a mobile phone to call for help (112 is better than 999 on a mobile) 3. Have a first aid box in your shed or car

News from the National Allotments Society- click on the link below

https://online.flipbuilder.com/cwao/sjkh/?fbclid=IwAR0k76e3bxbnBnhw2DcIku1iqdNf0XlGieeWmIoipwE9mN–Isuv56Cz_qI

Vermin Control Suggestions – click on the link below

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/lifestyle/home-and-garden/get-prepared-4-ways-to-prevent-rats-entering-your-home-as-peak-rodent-season-starts/ar-AA133KMA?cvid=7b5c914d0bfa423bacb89eaa55933713

A final thought…

Remember that having an allotment is an enormous privilege. Thousands of people in the UK are on waiting lists, the average wait is 7 years. Those of us who are lucky enough to rent an allotment can do our bit by looking after the environment and being good citizens.

February 2022 Allotment News

Thank you for paying annual rent

Many thanks to all our members for paying their rent last month. If you have not paid, then your plot may be re-let to someone on the waiting list; if you want to keep your allotment and pay late, you should contact the treasurer urgently on 07745 363 236

How to contact us and your field stewards

see this page on our website for ways to contact your stewards

Dry January

Remarkably dry weather last month has left the soil drier than usual. Normal winter rains help fill up reservoirs, water tables and our barrels, so the dry weather is not all good news. The pattern of droughts then deluges seems to be continuing. We suggest everyone invests in as many rainwater collection barrels as possible. Another way to cope with droughts and deluges is mulching. Remember, you can buy thousand-litre IBC water tanks for £45 delivered from Roy at windermere logs. Further advice on coping with droughts and deluges on this link.

thousand litre IBC £45 from Windermere Logs

Scott Road break-ins in January

See this account on the news website, Northants Live. Our allotments community showed great spirit and support by coming together to repair the gap in the hedge created by the thieves. The site is now more secure. Many thanks to everyone who helped.

volunteers help repair the hedge at Scott Road

AGM on March 9th

Our AGM is scheduled for Wednesday 9th March at 7:45pm at Kettering Athletic Club, Rockingham Road. We did not hold an AGM last year because of Covid restrictions, so we have 2 years of business to report. All members welcome to attend and vote. It is your chance to support and participate in our society’s democratic process. Full details on our website.

Margaret Road – change of email address for steward

Please note the new email address for Peter peternew33@gmail.com

Green/grey bins still free in Kettering (for now)

See this news story from the Evening Telegraph. We advise that you take home and bin those difficult-to-compost things, like dandelion roots, brussels stalks, couch grass roots. Use your grey bin while it is still free! This is far better than burning them as we are trying to minimise bonfires and smoke pollution – see this page from our website

Waiting Lists

Stewards work hard to reduce our waiting lists. Our policy is on our website – see this link.

Tips from Charles Dowding

see this article on the web or search for Charles Dowding on YouTube

Seed offer from Kings Seeds

Please remain vigilant for rats

We had one report of rats. This is not unusual in winter, as rats visit compost bins for warmth and shelter. Please report any sightings to your stewards and check out our advice and guidance on this on our website here.

Why not try worm farming?

see this article

Possible road closures at Scott Road?

Clarification from the Council. We will still have access from one side only of Scott Road, so a short detour for some, but otherwise no problem. Any further updates will be posted on our Facebook page