NEWSLETTER - SPRING 2008
WELCOME
The Committee would like to welcome all new members of the association this year. We wish you every success with your allotment. Anyone with any questions or queries, please feel free to ask a member of the Committee. We can’t promise you an answer straight away but will get back to you as soon as possible.
ALLOTMENT COMPETITIONS
The Wirral Competition will be judged on the 15th, 16th and 17th July. Watch the notice board for more details of this and for the Lily Jones Cup. We will also be holding our usual Sunflower competition – see the secretary for details. Last year’s champion, Fil Moore has nominated The Woodland Trust as this year’s charity.
THE SHOP
The Association shop is open between 11am and 12am on a Sunday morning. We welcome suggestions as to gardening items which members would like us to stock. At present we stock many items including compost, various fertilizers, bamboo canes and sundries. We also have fine mesh netting which will keep off birds, butterflies and insects.
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
Gordale Garden Centre
April 9th 2pm – free demonstration on making hanging baskets easy
April 23rd 2pm – free talk and demonstration on planting and using herbs
Burleydam Garden Centre
April 9th 6.45 – 9pm – talk and demonstration on planting vegetables
April 12th, April 13th 6.45pm – 9pm – free food tasting
MANURE
The following telephone numbers can be contacted to obtain horse manure for your allotment: 677 5144 and 677 2720.
Cow manure can be obtained from the local dairy farm on 632 2584.
If you know of any other sources pass them on to a member of the committee and we will put them in the newsletter.
ARE YOU ON THE NET?
If you have internet access and would like to receive this newsletter via email, please give your address to a member of the committee who will pass it on to the secretary.
Check out this blog from our site www.growingmyown.co.uk and our own website www.hoylake-allotment.org.uk
WAITING LISTS
Wirral Council has received many petitions from people on waiting lists around the Borough. This has had the following results:
Councillors have approved the allocation of £40,000 to "More and better working allotments - That a concerted effort be made to bring derelict allotments back into use and to improve the condition of current allotments by appointing a part-time Community Development Officer for two years to liaise with allotment holders, help them source external funding for improvements, and ensure a sustainable future for Wirral’s allotments." (Council meeting, 3rd March 2008)
At a meeting of the Culture, Leisure and Tourism Overview and Scrutiny Committee on the 12th March 2008, the following resolutions (amongst others) were minuted:
"That the appointment of the new allotments officer be made as soon as possible and that Cabinet review the work of the development officer with a view to making the post permanent. That the new allotments officer be requested to carry out the following tasks:
(a) explore other grant revenue streams;
(b) audit allotment sites to ascertain security and other requirements;
(c) identify any additional allotment sites that are required and areas which currently have no allotment provision...."
Wirral's Allotment Strategy 2007-2012 (including amendments relating to addressing waiting lists) endorsed by Cabinet. (13th March 2008)
DITCHES
Due to the flooding on the site last year, the committee will be looking at the ditches to see if there is any way the problem can be alleviated.
THE WIRRAL VEGETABLE SHOW
This will be held in August in Birkenhead Park. Copies of the show schedule and the dates will be available from the secretary when they are published.
The Allotment Gardener’s Cookbook
If you have a recipe you would like to share, pass it on to a member of the Committee for inclusion in a future newsletter.
THANKS
Bob Branch would like to thank all the scores of members for their encouragement, direct help, gifts of many tools and offers of sheds and greenhouses following the arson attack on his plot. Everyone has been very supportive. Thank you.