RE-ARRANGEMENT OF BONFIRE AND QUARTERLY MEETING

Due to circumstances beyond our control, the Annual Bonfire Party and Quarterly meeting have now been postponed until 9TH NOVEMBER at 7.00 p.m.

Wood can be placed at the bonfire site from November 2nd.

Please note that the Bonfire Party is for plot-holders (and their invited and accompanied guests) only

CANCELLATION OF OCTOBER MEETING

The Quarterly Meeting and Barbecue planned for the 5th October has had to be cancelled due to family commitments of the Secretary and Treasurer.

It is proposed that the Quarterly Meeting will now be held before the Annual Bonfire on November 2nd and the Barbecue will be part of that event.

COMMITTEE MINUTES 03/09/2013

Present: Rob Hellyer (Chair), Margaret Jackson (Secretary), David Jackson (Treasurer), Gill Chamberlain, Glyn Platt, Barry Savage

1. The Quarterly Meeting / EGM and Barbecue / Thank You meeting will take place on Saturday 5^th October – a notice will be put up on the Amenity Hut
2. The Co-operative’s AGM will be held in February 2104 –
3. 3. Results of August Site Inspections

            Under-cultivation – Letters are to be sent to the plots identified.

 

Flooded Plots – Fred Entwhistle has located a drain which seems to flow across the road immediately above the flooded plots – we cannot however find the outlet pipe – report to Alan Crook

      4. Open Day Report
 

Donation to Derian House –

The Society’s normal practice is to donate 10% of takings on Open day to the chosen charity in this case Derian House. The Treasurer was instructed to send a cheque for £70 to Derian House.

 

There had been representations that more money should be donated to Derian House, particularly the entire proceeds of the book stall. It was pointed out however that many who donated books were donating them to the Society to raise funds for improvements on the site and not to Derian House. In the light of this it was decided that we should stick with normal practice and donate 10%. It was however agreed that should members feel strongly about this issue they should table a motion for the Quarterly Meeting.

 

It was further agreed that next year we must clarify who is raising what money and for whom on Open Day - There is a need to clearly differentiate between stalls raising money for the chosen charity (e.g. Derian House), stalls raising money for the Society and stalls being run for the benefit of the stall-holders and this must be made clear in advance.

 

Members have raised the issue as to whether plot-holders who are not (at the time of the Show) fully paid-up members of the Society should be allowed to enter the Show. It was pointed out that it is the Society’s Show and is not an Open Show. Therefore it was resolved that only fully paid up members of the Society should be allowed to enter the show – the Show Organisers will be provided with an up-to-date Register of paid up members by the Secretary for Open Day.

 

Members have queried whether plot-holders should be allowed to have stalls on their own plots and if so whether they should still pay the stall rent fee (as do those with stalls on the field).

It was pointed out that the Risk Assessment approved by the Council for Open Day assumes stalls will be restricted to the top field and the area around the Amenities Hut (although the provision for ‘open plots’ does create some leeway.)

All activities on Open Day are covered by the Society’s Public Liability and Product Insurance, this includes the stalls.

Anyone with a stall is therefore benefiting not just from the efforts of the Open Day Committee in organising and publicising the event, but also from this insurance provision (paid for by the Society).

It was felt that in fairness all stall-holders should make a contribution to these costs.

 

It was suggested that next year the Risk Assessment document be amended to cover stalls etc. on individual plots.

 

It was further suggested that anyone wishing to sell produce or any other items on Open Day should register with the Open Day Committee in advance of the day and pay an agreed sum which may depend on the location of their stall and / or whether they need a Society Gazebo etc. Anyone unwilling to pay this sum will be required to demonstrate to the Open Day Committee that they have taken out their own Public and Product Liability Insurance as a condition of being permitted to participate in Open Day.

 

It was agreed that the Treasurer look out for cheap deals on pop-up gazebos with a view to obtaining a further two.

 

5. Equipment

Members are invited to make proposals to the EGM/Quarterly meeting as to whether to to buy more equipment.

 

6. Manure Delivery

We are trying to get some more manure deliveries onto the site

 

7. Site Maintenance Work

The shop will not re-open on Sundays until early 2014 (for seed deliveries etc.) However a notice will be placed on the shop door informing members that the shop can be opened on request by any Committee member to enable them to buy goods. The notice will contain a list of Committee Members.

 

A new Toilet and Brew Room Cleaning Rota will be set up (by Susan Jones). Efforts will be made to expand the pool of volunteers involved.

 

8. Update on Plot 70

All persons on the Harpers Lane Waiting List were contacted. All who were still interested were invited onto an induction programme using plot 70. There are 8 people involved. As they complete the programme they will move onto individual plots (if they so wish). Some may wish to remain cultivating Plot 70. It has been agreed that the course members will provide work parties to assist each other with the move onto their new plots.

 

9. Update on Plot 1

The Council has given permission for a communal development on Plot 1, which is being funded by a grant from the Big Bolton Fund. The poly-tunnel (20’ x 12’) has been ordered. Help will be needed to erect the poly-tunnel, build the raised beds and move the contents of the compost bay to plot 1. When completed Plot 1 will be the Society’s main training plot. It was again agreed that the poly-tunnle will be used to raise plants (e.g. tomato or brassica plants) which can be sold through the Society’s shop to raise funds for the Society. There may also be space which can be used by members to raise their own seedlings..

 

10. Future projects

Business Partnership Scheme at Bolton CVS has been mothballed over the summer – we hope they will start up again in September / October – aim for a scheme for new plots and woodland gardens etc. members have suggested that that this scheme include Communal Beekeeping. The Treasurer will also investigate a Co-op funded initiative called Plan Bee.

 

 The Secretary introduced the idea of obtaining a large canteen / office container-cabin which would provide a larger meeting place and a storage area for furniture, perhaps a even a training room for future courses etc. (The Treasurer will investigate Awards for All, Co-op Community Fund etc. over the winter)

 

11. Harrogate Trip

The trip is now fully booked. The Society has agreed to make up the deficit on vehicle hire.

 

12. Association of Bolton Allotment Societies (ABAS) report back

Following the last (August) ABAS meeting an email was drafted and sent to Sarah Schofield (AD, Neighbourhood Services) outlining the Association’s views on the abolition of the post of Allotment Officer plus the Association’s proposal that a) ABAS take over the organisation of the Fairhurst and other trophies and b) that ABAS investigate bringing back a Borough-wide Allotment Show. Ms Schofield has replied agreeing to meet ABAS to discuss these issues.

 

OPEN DAY

Open Day was a huge success (despite the competition from the Ironman event and a concert in Queens Park). Many thanks to Cllr John Byrne who came along and presented the prizes for the Flower and Vegetable Shows, thanks to our friends from the Association of Bolton Allotment Societies for acting as judges, and to Gill and Barry for organising the shows. Thanks to everyone who had a stall on the market area (especially Gladys on the Bookstall and Doreen and Pauline on the Tombola) and especial thanks to everyone who helped in the cafe.  As always thanks to 'Leap to Your Feet' and the Soyaband for providing the entertainment (and to Lorenzo for his magic act).

The event raised £686 which will be divided between this year's charity (Derian House) and the Society's own projects to enhance the site.

Veronica Platt won the Mahers Cup which this year was for the best entry of Onions

Sue Colman won the 'Master Gardener' Trophy for a platter of six vegetables

Margaret Jackson won the Best in Show for Flowers

June Christian's grandaughter Pheobe presented a bouquet to Councillor John Byrne for kindly presenting the prizes

The cafe area attracted large crowds all day

The ever popular ice-cream stall was back

Leap to Your Feet and the Soyaband were in the bottom marquee

Lorenzo did his magic Houdini act

The Best Plot Front (voted for by the visitors) was plot 7 - congratulations to Gladys for Mexico

Jo and Gunther's display was popular

Gary on Gary and Kath's Card stall

 

Tony and Sue's plant stall

Foxy the Clogmaker was a popular stall

 

A view of the 'market' area.

 

 Thanks to Mick Riley for taking these photos

OPEN DAY

It's OPEN DAY on Sunday.

Let's hope for good weather and a good turnout.

There are competing attractions (the Iron Man for example) but do come along and support your Allotment Society and of course this year's chosen charity Derian House.

We still need volunteers to help erect the marquees on Thursday night and Friday morning, and with putting up Gazebos on the Saturday. David could probably do with help making the stage for the dancers once the botton marquee goes up (carpentry is NOT his strongpoint).

Thanks to veryon ewho's pitched in so far - especially Richard, Barry, Rob and David for strimming the grass areas (hope your back recovers for the weekend, Barry)

See you all on Sunday

Margaret

Harrogate Autumn Show

Pauline (plot 9) is organising a Society trip to the Autumn Flower Show at Harrogate on 14th September 2013.

The Vegetable displays at the autumn show are really amazing and there are various talks and question and answer sessions on growing that we've always found useful.

There's a wide range of stands with plants, seeds, tools and equipment and the stand staffed by volunteers from the Leeds Federation of Allotment Societies always provides something new and interesting (at the Spring Show it was how to build a greenhouse heating system from an old radiator and some lengths of piping).

The cost will be around £23 per person which will include entry to the Show and coach travel from Harpers Lane to the showground. (The Society is providing a small subsidy from the funds we were given for fact-finding missions by the now defunct Allotment Regeneration Initiative).

There is a notice up in the brew room for those interested to 'sign up' or simply see Pauline or Margaret.

Society Projects

PLOT # 1

 This space will be the Society’s second Communal Plot.

Thanks to a grant from the Big Bolton Fund work will begin after Open Day on a project to create our second communally worked plot (the other is Plot #70)

Plot # 1 will have a communal poly-tunnel which will be used as a nursery to grow plants which can then be used by Society members on their plots. There will also be five raised beds (one for each stage of the crop rotation) plus a fifth for e.g. strawberries.

 Plot # 1 will also be used as part of the training / induction courses in Allotment Gardening which the Society will be running at the request of Bolton Council. The first such course has been restricted to those near the top of the Council’s waiting list but subsequent courses will be open to a wider group

 PLOT # 70

Plot #70 was taken back by the Council from its previous tenants on the grounds of inadequate cultivation.

The Society is now repairing the poly-tunnel and the shed.

Plot # 70 is to be used as the base for the Society’s first induction course for new plot-holders.

Those on the first course will be drawn from those at the head of the site’s waiting list. They will have a number of sessions learning about allotment gardening. A side-product of the course will be that plot #70 will be returned to a more attractive condition!

Following the course they will have the choice of being allocated a vacant full- or half-plot elsewhere on the site or working a portion of plot # 70

 Contact Margaret Jackson, Site Secretary, on 01204 844727 or by email at harperslaneallotmentssociety@yahoo.co.uk or see our website http://harperslaneallotmentssociety.blogspot.co.uk where details of future courses will be posted.