Snow!

The snow has come for the 3rd time this year.  This picture was taken on Christmas Eve.  I do hope you all managed to dig out your parsnips and potatoes before this last lot arrived!!

Hope you all had a Very Merry Chirstmas and wishing you all a Very Happy New Year.

Sow and Extra Row and help Others in Need

I would like to spread the word - please feel free to pass this GREAT idea on.


This is from a fellow Allotmenteer and Twitter from Ireland.


http://greensideupveg.blogspot.com/2010/11/sow-extra-row-and-help-others-in-need.html

Be Prepared for Winter - FREE GRIT

Be prepared for Winter


Free grit available from Sutton Council

Free 10Kg bag of grit for each household for use on footpaths, pavements or roads at the front of your home.

Can collect from Woodcote Green Garden Centre


Woodmansterne Lane

Wallington
10.30am – 4.30pm on Sunday 7th November

Collect from the Express Drive Thru only


Proof of residency in the London Borough of Sutton is required so please take your council tax bill or current utility bill.

Childrens Competition Cancelled

Stanley Road Allotment and Garden Society are sad to announce the cancellation of the Children's Competition for 2010.

This is due to only have 2 entrants for this year (who of course are entitled to their entry fees back) compared to over 25 last year.

This is a great shame, not only for the 2 children that did enter, but for the work (voluntary) that members of the committee and other plot holders puts into setting up this competition e.g. preparing/designing posters, printing, laminating, putting them up, entry forms, sourcing trophies & fundraising to support all of these purchases.

Lets hope that there is more interested children for our 2011 competition.

Sutton In Bloom 2010

Ali Campbell from plot 144 entered her allotment in the Sutton in Bloom 2010 competition.
This was her first ever entry & she is pleased to announce that she came 4th out of 15 so very well done for a first entry Ali!

The Judges comments were ‘a terrific effort. Good use of all the space. Very well done. Good composting’.

Pictures from the BBQ

A great day was had by all who attended the BBQ on Sunday 4th July 2010

Fun in the sun, harvesting & BBQ 4th July 2010

With the temperatures soaring today, only a few braved the allotments.

However some did find a novel way to cool down - hitch a ride in dad's wheelbarrow!

Nikki also had a good morning harvesting her delicious strawberries! Yummy

Remember that Sunday the 4th July 2010 is BBQ day

12noon until 2pm

Please RSVP to Nigel so he can cater for all that want to attend

nyoungman1@hotmail.co.uk

 This is from the Newsletter emailed to all our members in early June

Site Representative

Your Site Representative is Carl Brown, Plots 10A and 46A. Tel: 020 8770 9760

BARBEQUE

Sunday - 4th July, 2010 - Noon until 2pm

On Sunday 4th July our friends from the Roundshaw Allotments will be retuning a visit we made to them last year at which we will be having a Barbeque to which ALL our members and their friends are invited. Admission is free and refreshments will be at very reasonable prices.

This will be an ideal opportunity for gardeners, allotment and otherwise, to meet and swap tips, tell tall stories and generally boast about their prowess with the hoe and spade.

It is hoped that as many plot holders will be present to support the Committee and make the event a success.

· The Trading Hut will be open and members of the committee will be present to answer questions, to listen to suggestions and to receive offers of support.

Visitors will be welcome to inspect the site but it is requested that you keep to the main tracks and pathways.

· Children Your children and young people are welcome at our allotments where we hope they will learn to appreciate the joys of cultivation and the wonder of watching a tiny seed develop into a beautiful flower or something tasty to eat but PLEASE remember allotments are not playgrounds and can be dangerous places. Children are not allowed on the site unsupervised and when with you please make sure that they always stay on, or close to, your plot.

Final Reminder

BARBEQUE

Sunday 4th July, 2010

12 Noon to 2pm

Bring your family and friends

RSVP

nyoungman1@hotmail.co.uk

Remember! If you have a garden you need

The Stanley Road Allotment & Garden Society

Taps / Saving Water

Don’t waste a drop

When watering on the allotment could everybody be conscious about water usage and wastage.

Hosepipes can be used but must be held at all times.

Sprinklers spikes and bars are not to be used.

Please ensure all taps are turned off fully.

Demand is high at the moment, so please be aware of other plot holders needs.

Any leaks should be reported to the Site Rep.

BONFIRES - what you need to know

Although it is not illegal to have a bonfire, it is an offence under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to cause a statutory nuisance. This includes smoke, fumes or gases “emitted from premises so as to be prejudicial to health or a nuisance” and can include nuisance created by bonfires.

 

 

 

In addition, allowing smoke to drift over nearby roads may also lead to prosecution under the Highways Act.

 

 

 

So, before you light a bonfire, please consider whether there are other ways of disposing of the material e.g. by composting it or by taking it to the Council’s recycling facility at Kimpton Road. This would remove the risk of neighbour complaints.

 

 

 

If, however, you decide to have a bonfire, please observe these simple guidelines:

 

 

 

• Show consideration for the neighbours in the surrounding properties. Ideally, let them know when there is going to be a fire.
• Avoid burning at the weekend and on bank holidays when people are more likely to be in their gardens. Choose a suitable week-day evening after 6.30pm.
• Avoid lighting up in unsuitable weather conditions. Smoke hangs in the air on damp, still days and in the evening.
•  Avoid burning when the wind will carry the smoke over roads or into other people’s property. 
• Only burn dry material. Never burn household rubbish, rubber or anything containing plastics, foam or paint. 
• Never use old engine oil, methylated spirits or petrol to light the fire or to encourage it. 
• Do not light fires near a boundary fence or near sheds. Remember sheds may contain petrol and other highly combustible materials.  
• Never, never leave a fire unattended or to smoulder.
• Before you leave the site, douse out the fire with water. Don’t take a chance that it might rain overnight or that the fire will burn itself out. It might not and residents from a nearby property might mistakenly call the fire brigade on a false errand.

 

Let’s avoid this situation.

 

Thank you for your cooperation.

 

 

 

The Council Inspectors......

Just in case you were wondering, it's not a myth - the council inspectors really do come to the Site every year to carry out their non cultivation inspection.

Here's the proof!

Wednesday 19th May 2010

Spring has Sprung at SRAGS

The sun was out, and so were the allotment plot holders!

I decided to have a little walk around the site and take some photos of the happy people digging, potting, reading, tea supping & simply enjoying the good weather, the plane free skies and the fresh air!

Rebecca and her space hopper with Mum & Dad in the background planting potatoes

Michael working hard (as always) on 121a

Making a protective frame

Weeding the Strawberries

What a perfect plot!

Number 82 standing on guard

Plot Holder 56a reading up on pear tree pests!!

Mr & Mrs digging away - together!

Plot 109 having a cuppa

Sifting the soil is hard work in this sun!

A young allotmenteer helping with the weeding

A young family working the plot together in the good weather. 

It was very encouraging to see so many people out and about today.  Lets hope that this great weather continues and more plots are cultivated!

However, please do not be lured into a false sense of security - we are still getting a slight morning frost, so if you do plant out young plants / seedlings remember to protect them with a horticulture fleece or a poly tunnel cloche - all available from the TRADING HUT  - only £2 a year - yes only £2 a year to benefit from huge savings and a friendly smile with every shop!!

Site Inspection May 2010

SITE INSPECTION

Plot holders should be aware that the Council is expected to carry out a site inspection of this allotment in late May.

The precise date is not known. Plot holders should take advantage of this early warning and of the improved spring weather to ensure that at least 75% of the plot, on a visual inspection, is cultivated. This 75% figure was the criterion applied last year and it is reasonable to assume that it will apply again this year.

Also, remember to ensure that your plot is clearly marked. This could make a difference. Plot markers are available from the Trading Hut for as little as £1.

If anyone is aware of any extenuating circumstances why someone is unable to work his/her plot, then please let me know. Otherwise, let’s get down to it and avoid the controversies of last year.

Site Rep

18 March 2010

Behind the Scenes

This is what goes on at the allotment site when a delivery arrives for the Trading Hut.....

It's all hands on deck....

The lorry arrives. Arthur & Derek are keen to get stuck in straight away....

That's Arthur & Derek

Ron is making a cup of coffee for the driver

  Arthur & Derek are keen to unloading straight away....

Ron is inside helping with the stacking up of the goods

And all this has to be supervised....

So John volunteers for that job!

When the lorry is unloaded, a cup of tea is called for because all that hard work is thirsty work!

Well done lads!

APPEAL for HALF A PLOT

Are there any SRAGS plot holders out there, who are finding a whole plot too much for them to manage?  Did  you not get as much allotment work done as you would have liked to last year?  Are you in fear of being "told off" for non cultivation of your plot?

If you can answer YES to any of these questions, then we have the solution for you!

Mr Brian Tiernan, a local resident & a Member of SRAGS, who is a regular of the Trading Hut, is keen to take on half a plot & is even more keen to get stuck in to the work needed to fully cultivate half a plot that will take on the vegetable growing capabilities that is required  for 2010

ASAP.

If you would like to take on a "partner" then please call Brian on 0203 044 4072 - that's 0203 044 4072

OR

Call into the Trading Hut on a Saturday or a Sunday morning to leave your details which will be passed on.

Thank You.

Potatoes, Spuds, Tatties - READY FOR COLLECTION NOW!

Yes it's that time of year again!  Your potato orders are in at the Trading Hut

& ready for collection

Please see Nigel on Saturday or Sunday

To collect yours ready for chitting!

ALSO

2010 Membership Fees are now being collected - also at the Trading Hut

so please come to see us ASAP

to renew your membership

&

to avoid having John Bresman call at your door!!

The Good Growing Guides by my friends at Fennel & Fern

Take a look at this invaluable website Fennel & Fern . You will find lots of growing tips for all garden lovers be it flowers or vegetables. Written by people passionate about gardening, you will soon find yourself absorbed in "Real Gardens" or "Monthly Jobs."

I want to share their "Grow" section with you. Click on this tab "GROW" you will be directed straight to this great page. The Good Growing Guide is a series of downloadable, quick reference postcards with all the information you will need down at your plot! Great idea!!

On Tuesday the 5th January 2010 these postcards will be available for sale, so go and take a look - they will make a great gift for you (treat yourself) or someone that you may know who is just starting out in the wonderful world of allotment gardening!