Ask not what the LPG can do for you; ask what you can do for the LPG
(with apologies to the late JFK)
The LPG operates as a community; despite this a few members only want to work on their plot and do not contribute anything. The LPG is managed by a small committee of unpaid volunteers. All the necessary maintenance to site or equipment is carried out mainly by unpaid volunteers. It is often the same individuals every time. For instance, Danny Mallindine does hedge cutting and he currently has to do most of the lower plot grass cutting owing to a lack of volunteers.
If you see Danny doing work around the site, please do not assume that it is his job and pass by. Even a small gesture would be appreciated such as helping to clear up hedge cuttings; lending a hand with mowing; or getting petrol (receipts can be submitted Jim Retter for reimbursement).
I know this is a bore, but this work isn’t done by the fairies. We might end up paying for essential maintenance and plot rents will be increased to cover it.
Crisis, what crisis! (with thanks to Jim Callaghan, or Supertramp)
Joyce and Diane Bishop are both resigning from the committee this November for personal/domestic reasons. The committee will then comprise Jim Retter, Danny Mallindine and Diane Rhodes but it should be noted that although Jim and Diane are Trustees, Danny will be the only one on the committee who is actually a plotholder and therefore plotholders will be heavily underrepresented, even though it is their committee.
We do need a committee of active plotters to deal with the running of the LPG – it doesn’t run itself. The tasks are not onerous if they are shared out, and meetings are only about 4 or 5 times a year at most.
If no-one comes forward the LPG will deteriorate, plots will remain empty or unworked and money will eventually run out. A sad prospect for one of the oldest continuously worked allotment sites in the country.
Please give serious consideration to this and let Joyce know if you can give your time.
Arthur’s Seat (and Ken’s and Frank’s)
A commemorative bench has been purchased and will be put in place soon.
A set of combinations
Some time ago the committee were faced with complaints about unauthorised vehicles on the site and a sequence of thefts from plots. At the request of plotters, combination padlocks were fitted to all three main gates to secure the site from vehicular access. Up to that point, the LPG was one of the few sites in the country which was not routinely locked.
We chose combination locks to prevent members having to carry keys but some members do seem to be having difficulty with the security concept and a number of non-members already appear to know the gate combination. To maintain security, please:
• DO NOT leave the padlocks open with the correct combination displayed
• SCRAMBLE the combination every time you close the padlock
• DO NOT give out the combination to anyone who is not a registered plotholder
Your co-operation is appreciated.
New Organisation
In view of the high cost and low return for membership of the National Association of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners, we joined a new organisation this year, The Allotments and Gardens Council. The annual subscription is considerably cheaper but they still provide our insurance cover and they produce a newsletter that can be accessed on their website: http://www.theallotmentsandgardenscounciluk.org.uk/
Top of the Class
The LPG swept the board on the ‘Best Allotment’ competition organised by Loughton Town Council. Rosie Partridge was the Winner, with Jan Boucek and Clive Foyle as Highly Commended. Congratulations to all three, and we know who to go to for advice in future.
New Faces
Sally Trewarth at plot 68; Andy Upton at plot 66; Tom McAuliffe at plot 23; Cara Donogue at plot 9T; Carina Powney at plot 56.
More about Mowers
The upper plots now have a mowing team and a dedicated mower. The team is working successfully with the main upper paths being kept cut. The old mower at the top is still working (just) but please DO NOT tip it on its side as this damages the engine. This upper machine is available to anyone, as is the mower on the lower plots.
Plot paths
These are the responsibility of the respective plot-holders. Please keep them clear and cut.
AGM WILL BE SATURDAY 31 OCTOBER 2009, 1PM AT ST. JOHN’S CHURCH HALL
First, our sad news
Arthur Skinner, who has been a plotter for many years and served on the Committee as Secretary and then member, died this week. I know everyone who knew him will miss his advice and help.
Plant Swap
Angela Cater and Chris Haley are organising another plant swap this year. It will be on Sunday 17 May at plot 63 from 11am to 1pm. Open to all, whether you have anything to swap or just want some stuff for your plot. Lets hope the weather is a bit kinder than last year.
Locks on gates
Following a number of thefts earlier this year, representations were made by members in the lower plots for locks for the gates. Padlocks have now been fitted to all three gates (…)
Stop all the clocks
The weed season is upon us and a number of plots are rather overgrown already. Please ensure that seeding heads of weeds (especially dandelions at this time of year) are removed before their seeds are spread to neighbouring plots.
“It seemed like a good idea at the time but………”
There are a number of plots that are showing signs of neglect. If anyone has had a change of heart or cannot cope with their plot, please let Joyce know (joyce.sutton@ntlworld.com) as soon as possible so that she can re-let the plots before the weeds get out of control. We have quite a waiting list so there is no problem re-letting. It seems a pity to let a growing season go by without anyone benefitting.
Is there anyone out there?
In the last newsletter, volunteers for mowing the main paths were asked to contact Joyce or Danny Mallindine. Whilst the upper plots managed to muster 6 volunteers to mow there, only one person came forward from the lower plots. This is rather disappointing. The mowers will soon be restricted to volunteers only and the rest will have to make their own arrangements.
One man went to mow………and crash, bang, wallop
The top mower was given a thorough and expensive overhaul this winter. However, just a couple of weeks into the mowing season, someone has wrecked it. Just for a change, it’s not the blade or motor that has been damaged but the cables. Once again, the damage was not reported to Arthur ( ( 0208 508 0757) so that a proper repair could be done. Someone has done an interesting repair to the stop/start cable so at least it still works. The drive cable does not.
The Committee feels that we can’t keep on like this. The mowers are provided to enable grass to be cut on paths, nothing more. But the mowers are regularly misused and returned to the sheds damaged without anything said. Quite apart from the expense, there is the time and trouble of taking the mowers to get them mended.
It has been decided to ask for volunteers to cut the grass and limit mower access to them. Such grass cutting would be confined to the main paths and plotters would have to make arrangement for cutting their own borders.
If anyone is willing to be a volunteer, please contact Danny Mallindine (( 0208 502 5080) or Joyce on joyce.sutton@ntlworld.com. The more volunteers, the less onerous the job.
Barking mad
We have had a number of complaints about dogs running loose around the allotments. Unfortunately some of these dogs belong to plotters despite requests to keep dogs under ‘strict control’. It is in the interest of all plotholders to ensure that dogs are kept off the plots. This will be a subject for discussion at the next AGM. If anyone has any views on this, please let Joyce know.
No smoke without ire
Now that the days are getting longer and people are enjoying their gardens, please be considerate about your bonfires. We have a communal bonfire site at the top of plot 62 where Danny Mallindine will get rid of any gardening rubbish. That way, we have only one big bonfire occasionally instead of lots of small smouldering ones.
Granted!
Loughton Town Council agreed to a grant of £600 to go toward the cost of the skips. Another skip will be ordered in the autumn.
A blooming competition
Loughton Town Council will be holding a ‘best allotment in Loughton’ competition this year. The judging will take place in July and the winner will get a trophy and £25 gardening voucher. All allotment holders in Loughton are automatically entered so no action required.
New plotters
We have some new plotters in our midst. They are Anna Barnett and family on plot 14TB, Nathan Hurst on plot 14B, Heidi Doe on plot 20B and Des Taylor on 40B. Please give them a warm welcome and any help and advice they need.
